Chapter 6: Chapter 6

“Brother,” I said, turning away from him.

We let my children play first, so they wouldn't hear what Erin and I were talking about.

“You made us worried; you vanished like a bubble, then came back as if nothing had happened?” asked Erin, but he was disappointed by what I did.

I just watched my kids play. Tears streamed down my cheeks. I took a deep breath and looked at him.

“Brother, it's hard to leave, but it's necessary…” I explained. I just smiled because he was surprised by what I said.

It is hard to leave alone, and it is even harder to raise children alone.

That's why I was grateful to Claire for always being by my side, no matter what.

“Didn't you think about your parents? Didn't you think about the family you left here? And then you come back with two kids?” my cousin Erin kept asking.

To stop my tears, I bowed and covered my mouth. I don't want people to wonder why I'm crying, although they recognize me as a knight.

“Please, Brother? I don't want to talk about it,” I said to him as I stood up to go to my children, but his question stopped me.

“Will you run away again?” he asked. I couldn't speak right away because I didn't know what to say.

Will I just run away again? Will I escape from my problem?

Yes, I'm still a coward. I'm still unable to solve the problem.

I took a deep breath, looked at Erin, and smiled. “If that's what it takes, brother,” I said, my fists clenched. “I'll run again because I don't want my children to be hurt,” I said to him, wiping my tears away before leaving him to continue asking.

Apologize, Brother. And I'm not quite ready to tell you everything.

While Erin and I ate at a restaurant, my children told stories about their lives in the province.

“You know what, uncle Erin? Mom is always sad, and we don't know how we can make her happy,” said Carrie to Erin, and I was stunned. Erin and I exchanged glances, but I was the first to avoid it.

“Why is she sad, darling?” asked Erin, smiling. My daughter was sad that I'm in a state of panic. I did not know they were watching me.

“Because of our father? I'm uncertain. I always see her crying,” said Carrie, causing me to look away.

Not only that, but I don't think I just vent my sadness in the room when I'm alone. Because Dominic is on my mind when I'm alone.

How he betrayed me. How I wasted the few years we had together. And how he failed to keep his promises to me.

I did not know Carrie was looking at me while crying.

“Carrie,” said Agustin. Carrie bowed her head and pouted.

“You know, brother, Uncle Erin can help mom, and I don't want mom to be sad like she is right now,” said Carrie to her brother. They were taken aback when I stood up with my fists clenched.

“M-Mom, I-I'm s-sorry…” said Carrie. I gave her a genuine smile and stroked her hair.

“I'm fine; I'm going to the restroom,” I explained. Before I went to the restroom, I smiled at them.

I shut the door, leaned back, and tears fell.

Why does everything appear to be so difficult for me? Why do my children have to be a part of my life's chaos? This is not what I imagined for my children. This is also not the life I planned for my children.

Maybe Erin is right. I got into some trouble. Regardless of what I do, it's impossible to stay out of trouble. I'll never be able to put a stop to everything because I know my family is asking… How did I get into this situation?

I fixed myself and left the restroom, but when I saw the two people who made me miserable, I felt moved to return inside and hide.

“You're so clingy to my Uncle Erin,” Sophia's daughter told Carrie, who was hiding behind Erin.

“What are you doing here, Sophia?” Erin asked.

Sophia grinned. “Of course, we want to take Tara shopping,” she explained. Dominic also seemed troubled because of his fiancé, which I noticed.

“Why don't you just go back to where you came from?” Tara suggested to Carrie, who was crying.

“Shut up!” Agustin shouted at Tara, who was stunned.

“Why? Isn't it true? You don't belong in this family!” Tara shouted.

My fists are clenched; she inherited this from her mother.

Dominic yelled at his daughter, Tara, who immediately bowed.

“How can we not be a part of this family? My mother is a knight! She is the daughter of grandma and grandpa!” Carrie cried to her. My fists are clenched; I despise hearing my children cry.

I exhaled and approached them.

“Mommy!”

Carrie hugged me, and she buried her face in my shoulder as I picked her up. I just heard her cry. So, I bit my lower lip and rubbed her back before confronting the two people who had hurt me.

“Didn't you teach your daughter proper manners, Sophia?” I asked. Sophia's eyes widened as she moved her daughter away from me.

“Maybe it's your child you're not teaching good manners to! She hurt my child!” she shouted at me, and I grinned back.

Here we go again…

“Even though I was alone, I raised my children so well; I taught them how to be Knights. And how about your daughter? What did you teach her? Your stupidity?” I asked with a smirk, and I even laughed a little because she was getting embarrassed.

“You do not know what I can do the next time your daughter gets in trouble with my kids,” I said. I rubbed Carrie's back, who was still crying. When I remembered something, I looked at her. “Why are you here? You're not following me here, are you?” I asked. Her eyes widened as if surprised by my question, and I grinned even wider.

Sophia, I know you too well.

You're curious if I'll tell Erin what really happened to me. You're so pathetic.

“Scarlett,” said Dominic, and I turned to face him, but I returned my gaze to Sophia, who was silent next to me.

“You should remember this, Sophia. The next time you screw up one of my children; the chairman will know the truth, and he will know who is the traitor between the two of us,” I said to make them stop. But I was also taken aback by what I said because I felt Erin's gaze on me.

F-ck. You’re a fucking idiot.

I shook my head and returned my gaze to Sophia, who seemed too confused.

“W-what are you saying? W-what are you talking about?” she asked.

I just laughed and shook my head at her, as if she was completely clueless. As if she were unaware of the betrayal she had committed. I clenched my fists because Erin's reaction was all that important.

“It's just funny when the chairperson said I should follow you to choose a man?” I chuckled, brushing my hair. “It's funny! It's so funny, I feel sorry for you, you know what I mean…” I glared at her before dragging Agustin out of the restaurant.

I feel like slapping them. I want to hurt them the way they hurt me before, but I can't because it would make me look miserable. Nobody will believe me.

“Can you tell me the truth, Scarlett?”

I was taken aback because I had forgotten Erin, who was bothered about what was happening to me and Sophia.

“Why do I have the sense that something is going on between you three?” he asked, and I shook my head because whatever happened… I'd never admit it.

“Are you going to tell me, or will I find out on my own? Carter won't be happy if he finds out, and you know how important you are to him,” said Erin, and I was taken aback. I don't think I'll be able to get through it. I'm also concerned that if they act, everything will get worse.

Oh! crap.

I can't let my cousin Carter find out because he's worse than everyone else. Carter Knight is my oldest cousin. I'm familiar with his personality.

If our family finds out, I'm afraid of things will only get worse.

I took a deep breath and put Carrie, who had fallen asleep from crying, on my lap. Carrie was the crybaby of my twins, already crying with just a few words, and she got it from me. She and her twin are not the same.

Dominican Agustin, like his father. He was intelligent, but he did not inherit his father's personality, which he inherited even more from Carter.

I smiled. They are my only weakness because I don't want them to get into any trouble.

I took a deep breath and looked at my cousin. I've told Erin because I trust him. He won't be able to explain to the rest of the family why I left.

I sighed and clenched my fists. “I'm willing to tell you everything if you promise not to tell our family,” I told him.

I'm never going to run again. I'll face it on my own. Not only that, but I will never, ever hide again.

I'm just going to let fate determine what happens.