[TIDK] 49 – Hitting A Wall

“…is this repayment?”

Scarlett continued, averting her gaze.

“People say that you won’t divorce me because I’m good in bed. But you’re...”

“Who?”

“I heard it at the party.”

“So who?”

His low tone startled her. She paused, contemplating what she should say.

“Official Thebes, him.”

“Ah, that bastard. There's no weight to what he says.”

“Aren’t you cousins?”

“We aren’t on good terms.”

Viktor returned and calmly looked down at her.

“So, you believed him?” He probed.

She smelt his cologne when he was up close to her.

She didn’t understand. Viktor was a heavy smoker. Why on earth?

Scarlett pushed against his chest, in an attempt to prevent him from coming closer to her.

“It was a better excuse marrying me because it was burdensome to find another.”

Viktor crumpled his face at her words.

“Who said that?”

“Everyone else.”

Viktor groaned; her words were absurd.

Scarlett continued.

“I liked hearing it.”

“What?”

Scarlett dropped her head and murmured.

“I thought of that reasoning: how nice it would be if it were true. Married because you couldn’t be bothered to pursue another woman, it’s far better because of skills in bed.”

“...”

“At least I’m useful somehow.”

Scarlett, muttering, looked up.

“So? Is there a reason why you and I remained married?”

“Both are correct.”

“Both…”

“It was bothersome to find someone else, and I liked sleeping with you.”

“…”

“And I felt content when you loved me.”

Scarlett looked up at Viktor, speechless. Then she clenched her fist and hit Viktor hard on the shoulder.

She couldn’t control herself; she beat him with all her strength, but Viktor didn’t even flinch.

He only avoided the fists that came for his face. But he didn’t dodge the others. Viktor remained passive, relenting to let her continue.

Two minutes.

It was all it took for all Scarlett’s strength to deplete.

Pummelling him was like beating a wall. In the end she was the one hurt, and she staggered, bent over in an attempt to barely catch her breath.

Huff, huff.

Scarlett leaned against the glass door. Viktor stood in front of her and straightened his crumpled tie.

“Enough?” He smiled casually.

“...”

Scarlett glared at him, and the corners of Viktor’s lips perked up in response.

“The worst.”

Scarlett gumbled, weariness laced her voice.

Viktor’s hand approached. As the startled Scarlett closed her eyes, his long fingers brushed through her thin hair.

Viktor stroked her hair, sweeping it in caressing motions. It was so intimate. Her body shook at his touch.

Viktor stared at Scarlett silently, then leaned down until she could feel the proximity of his breath. He drew the hand resting against his chest to his lips and kissed the back of it. 

Scarlett shut her eyes.

When she reopened them, Viktor had tilted his head and was staring intently at her.

“Stop it and go to sleep. If it’s not enough, you can hit me again after you’ve rested.”

Without letting her protest, Viktor swept Scarlett into his arms and princess-carried her trembling body to the bed. 

Without a word, he left.

Alone, Scarlett rubbed the back of her hand against her nightdress. She brought her hand to her lips. She feared Viktor Dumfelt would leave a trace of himself on her body.

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