Chapter 238 Infertility
Bernard pushed on. "Scarlett saved your life after getting poisoned by that snake, which left her unable to have children! You know how crushing that is for a girl, especially since her dream was to be a mom! How can you still treat her so coldly?"
Alex's face darkened, and he stayed silent.
Bernard was right.
Fifteen years ago, Alex was injured and hiding in the village grass when a venomous snake bit him. The poison spread fast, leaving him blind and helpless.
A little girl saved him by sucking the venom out, saving his life.
Later, he found out the girl was Scarlett, the Mitchell family's second daughter, vacationing in the countryside.
He also learned that Scarlett got poisoned that day, damaging her health and making her unable to have kids.
He couldn't make up for Scarlett's loss, so he always tried to be there for her.
A month ago, Scarlett came to him in tears, saying she saw a classmate get married and pregnant and felt envious. She wanted to be a mom too.
She said having a child would make her happy and she wouldn't bother him as much, avoiding misunderstandings with Katherine.
He knew it was wrong, but out of guilt, he agreed after thinking it over.
Scarlett suggested adopting an orphan from a poor country where they wouldn't need a marriage certificate or other complicated procedures.
She didn't want to tell her family, fearing they'd stop her. She didn't trust other men, so she begged him to go with her as her boyfriend to help adopt a child, promising not to trouble him afterward.
They spent half a month traveling, completing the adoption, and returning.
The day they brought the child back, the kid got sick with a fever and went straight to the hospital. Luckily, it wasn't serious.
Katherine called him for the last time that day at the hospital before disappearing.
Thinking of the missing Katherine, Alex's eyes darkened with bloodshot veins.
After all that, Bernard noticed that Alex remained unresponsive and sighed. "Scarlett can't have kids, and adopting doesn't fully make up for it. Alex, Scarlett's only wish is to be with you; only you can make her happy! Even though our families have issues, I'm willing to reconcile for Scarlett's sake. So, I hope you will too!"
Alex snapped back to reality, looking at Bernard with deep eyes.
He said, "Bernard, have you forgotten? I'm married; I can't remarry. Bigamy is illegal."
Bernard was taken aback, then sneered, "Married? You mean your so-called marriage with Katherine, right? As far as I know, you never got a marriage license with her. You married her just to appease your family and get Jackie to cooperate with the transplant surgery."
Even though Bernard hit the mark, Alex's expression didn't change. "We didn't have time to get a marriage license, but we did have a wedding. Legally, that's considered a common-law marriage. Bernard, I get your concern for Scarlett. I'll spend my life trying to make up for what she lost because of me, but I can't give her marriage or the happiness you speak of. I'm sorry."
With that, Alex checked his watch. "I've finished eating. I have a meeting at the company this afternoon, so I'll leave first."
He stood up and left without hesitation.
Seeing Alex's cold reaction, Bernard couldn't contain his anger and stood up abruptly. "Alex! Do you have any conscience left?"
At that moment, Scarlett returned with the cake. Seeing Alex getting up to leave and Bernard's angry face, she was confused. "What happened? Alex, where are you going? I brought the cake; let's try it together!"
"No need, I have something to do," he replied.
Alex waved dismissively, put his hands in his pockets, and walked past Scarlett without a glance, striding away.
Scarlett called out to him, but he didn't look back or stop, "Alex."
In the end, she could only watch his back as he left the restaurant, then turned to Bernard with some resentment. "Bernard, what did you say to Alex? Why did he leave?"
Bernard suppressed his anger towards Alex, concerned about upsetting Scarlett, and swiftly composed himself, speaking gently, "Nothing. Alex had some urgent business at the company and had to leave. Scarlett, come sit down and have some cake with me!"
How could he bear to tell Scarlett that the man she loved didn't want to marry her at all?
With her beloved gone, Scarlett's spirit dampened as she sat down with a disappointed expression. Even her favorite cake seemed tasteless.
Suddenly, a thought struck her, and she turned to Bernard, asking casually, "By the way, Bernard! Why was Katherine in your office today? She was hiding behind your bookshelf, looking very suspicious! It seemed like she was trying not to be seen, so I pretended to see a cat there!"
Bernard hadn't meant to keep Katherine's visit a secret from Scarlett. While eating, he calmly answered, "She came to apply for the position of my secretary today."
Scarlett looked stunned and surprised, her eyes widening like a startled deer. "What? Katherine applied to be your secretary. Did you hire her?"
Just as Bernard was about to answer Scarlett, his phone rang.
It was Billy.
Glancing at the caller ID, Bernard squinted, anticipating that the Arabian client might have declined the deal and was likely on a flight back home.
Arabia was the country with the richest mineral resources. Losing such a big deal wouldn't weaken the company, but it was still a pity.
Bernard frowned and answered the call. Before he could speak, Billy's voice burst through the phone, filled with excitement. "Mr. Mitchell, it's done! Katherine negotiated with the Arabian client, and they'll be at the company tomorrow morning to sign a ten-year mineral cooperation contract!"
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