[TIDK] 48 – Repay Bastards With Your Lips

At that moment, the large room door opened as Viktor entered with the servants.

When he met Scarlett’s eyes, he furrowed his brow and walked over to the sofa.

Scarlett turned her gaze away after a moment.

“Thanks.” 

The servants left the medicine and lukewarm water for her, and left without a word. 

Out of habit, Viktor took out a cigarette and was about to light it when he remembered she was a patient and went out on the balcony, crumbling the cigarette in his hand. Scarlett, wrapped in the blanket a maid brought her, asked from inside the room:

“Why don’t you smoke?”

“Because I have a patient.”

“…Evidently.”

Scarlett got up and leaned against the balcony doors. Resting against the door frame she asked, “How did you know?”

Viktor stayed silent. 

In a resigned voice she continued, “Thank you for your help today, but don’t do that in the future.”

“Should I just ignore it?”

“It’s easy. If you don’t show up around me, you won’t know that I’m in trouble, so you won’t feel obliged to help me.”

“You need help.”

Scarlett laughed at his words.

“I know, that’s what you think. That I had a poor childhood. But no. You grew up privileged in a great family, but that doesn’t mean that my family was bad. I grew up being loved enough.”

Scarlett relied on her childhood memories. All the love and care she received until she was twelve. They were so precious and shiny. She mistakenly believed that he too would be delighted, if he received such love from her. 

It wasn’t until most recently, that she admitted she could not give Viktor what he wanted. Viktor wanted Scarlett to help him, but her love wasn’t the kind of help he wanted.

Scarlett felt her body shiver even more at the thought, so she tightened the blanket around herself.

“Anyway, I will take care of my business. I am truly grateful for today,” she said calmly.

Viktor remained silent.

 Feeling uncomfortable, Scarlett turned her head towards the room.

“Are you here to sleep in this room?”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“That’s all you want from me.”

Scarlett murmured tiredly. She closed her eyes for a moment, looking like prey that had given up on running away from its predator. 

“Does it really look like I’m doing this to sleep with you?” Viktor’s upset voice rang in her ears.

Surprised, she looked up into Viktor’s eyes, and felt pitiful.

“Yes.”

It was custom in Salantier that if married couples had a child before both had reached their twentieth birthday, the child would be weak.

To that effect, Viktor had used strict contraception until Scarlett reached her twentieth birthday. Still, seeing that he wanted to sleep with her at irregular intervals, it mustn't have been just for the sake of making an heir.

Viktor's face contorted at the absurdity of the words that came out of her mouth.

“If that were all I wanted, then you aren’t the only woman in the world.”

Scarlett stopped at his words, Viktor laughed and continued.

“I am not such an easy person.”

He looked at Scarlett, leaning against the door with her white, dry lips. Then he walked over, bent his body and tried to kiss her.

Scarlett turned her head.

“...Stop it.”

“When you asked if I was here to sleep, weren’t you allowing it ?”

At his words, Scarlett bit her lip.

Catching her chin and turning her face towards him he asked, “Or was it just in return for saving you? If that’s the answer, I’ll think about it.” Viktor said teasingly and immediately took her lips.

After he spoke, her body trembled in surprise. It was despicable of him to say such a thing. His big, cold hand wrapped around Scarlett's back.

Their lips sucked against each other, as she made small short gasps. Viktor watched her closely, breathing. “Are you going to repay other bastards like this?”

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