Chapter 578 Scarlett Changes
The phone buzzed, and the reply was just a short sentence: "Nice job."
Around the corner in the hallway, Michael put away his phone, his gaze slipping through the slightly open door to where Emma lay on the hospital bed. She was hugging her knees, silently crying, her thin shoulders trembling slightly in the sunlight.
The door to the room was gently pushed open, and Emma hastily wiped away her tears, looking up to meet Michael's deep eyes. He held a bouquet of pure white calla lilies, which stood out starkly in the dim room.
"Hey, patients shouldn't cry." Michael's voice was low and gentle as he placed the bouquet on the bedside table, conveniently covering the soup stain Scarlett had spilled.
Emma forced a weak smile. "Michael, what are you doing here?"
Michael didn't answer immediately. Instead, he carefully poured her a glass of warm water and gently wiped the remaining tears from her face with a handkerchief. His movements were incredibly tender, as if handling a fragile treasure.
"Michael, tell me, why do people change so quickly?"
"Because..." He sat on the chair by her bed, his long fingers gently holding her cold hand, "Some people just aren't worth your effort."
Emma tried to pull her hand back, but he held it tighter.
"Especially the Russell family. Emma, I regret it. I wanted to compete fairly with George, but now I regret it. He can't even protect you." A shadow of gloom passed through Michael's eyes, but it quickly softened again. "Emma, you deserve a better life."
The sunlight outside the window gradually slanted, stretching their shadows long. Emma looked at Michael, seeing a certain obsession in his eyes that made her heart tremble.
Meanwhile, a black car pulled up in front of the Russell Villa. Sophia held Seraphine and Lucas's hands, the children clutching carefully prepared gifts.
"Grandma! Great-Grandpa!" Seraphine excitedly pressed the doorbell, while Lucas tidied his little bow tie obediently.
The door opened to reveal Scarlett's sullen face. She coldly scanned the three of them. "What are you doing here?"
Sensing the tension, Sophia maintained a polite smile. "Grandpa said he missed the kids, so I brought them to visit."
"Visit?!" Scarlett's voice suddenly rose. "Take your Stuart family and get out of here!"
Seraphine hid behind Sophia in fear, and Lucas's face turned pale. Sophia protected Seraphine and Lucas, her expression changing sharply. "Scarlett! What's gotten into you?"
The commotion upstairs caught the attention of Charles, who was sunbathing in the courtyard. He heard Scarlett's harsh words.
"I've had enough of you, Stuart family people! Emma, that wretch..."
"Shut up!" Charles's roar shook the wind chimes. He struck his cane heavily on the marble floor. "Say one more word about Emma, I dare you!"
Scarlett was stunned by Charles's anger, but quickly stiffened her neck. "Dad! You don't know, Emma, she..."
"I don't care what happened!" Charles pulled Seraphine and Lucas into his arms. "These children are Russell blood. Who gave you the right to drive them away?"
Lucas looked up, tugging at Charles's clothes timidly. "Great-Grandpa, I missed you."
Charles's eyes reddened instantly. He knelt down and hugged Seraphine and Lucas tightly. "Great-Grandpa missed you too, every day."
Sophia watched coldly, then suddenly took Seraphine and Lucas's hands. "Mr. Russell, it's clear today isn't a good time. We're leaving."
"Sophia!" Charles hurried to stop her. "Don't mind Scarlett."
Sophia shook her head, her eyes resolute. "Scarlett, I thought you had changed. But it seems you're beyond saving. From today on, the Stuart family has nothing to do with the Russell family. As for the children..." She looked down at the confused Seraphine and Lucas. "They won't set a foot in this house again!"
Scarlett sneered. "Good riddance!"
"You!" Charles trembled with rage, raising his cane to strike, but the butler held him back firmly.
Sophia left without looking back, the heavy sound of the villa door closing marking the end of the relationship between the two families.
Behind the curtains on the second floor, Wanda put down her phone with satisfaction. She had just sent the video of Scarlett's hysterics to Michael, the scene clearly captured.
"Ms. Salazar," the butler appeared silently behind her, "Mr. Russell requests your presence in the study."
Wanda's heart skipped a beat, but she quickly composed herself. She smoothed her dress and walked gracefully to the study. When she opened the door, Charles was standing by the window, his back to her, the sunset casting a long shadow.
"Ms. Salazar," Charles's voice was unusually calm, "I heard you were with Scarlett all day?"
Wanda's heart raced, but she kept her composure. "Yes, I was visiting..."
Charles suddenly turned, his sharp gaze piercing. "Did you tell her those ridiculous lies?"
Wanda forced a calm demeanor. "Mr. Russell, I don't understand what you mean."
"Get out." Charles pointed to the door, his voice low but commanding. "I see through your tricks. You're not welcome in this house!"
Sophia, holding Seraphine and Lucas's hands, had just reached the fountain in the front yard when a black Maybach slowly drove through the gate. The car door opened, and George stepped out, his suit immaculate, though his face showed signs of work fatigue.
"Mom?" George saw Sophia's stern face and the children's distressed expressions, his brow furrowing immediately. "What happened?"
Sophia turned away coldly, unwilling to say more. Seraphine broke free from Sophia's hand and ran to George. "Uncle George! Grandma yelled at us and said we had to leave!"
George knelt, hugging Seraphine tightly. Her small face buried in his shoulder, her warm tears soaking his suit. Lucas stood still, clutching his clothes, trying not to cry, but his stubborn, hurt expression was even more heartbreaking.
"Lucas, come here." George extended his other hand. Lucas hesitated, then finally ran over and threw himself into George's arms.
George gently patted the children's backs, looking up at Sophia. "Did my mom say that?"
"She didn't just say it, she was very nasty about it." Sophia's voice was icy. "George, I thought your family had finally come around, willing to treat Emma well. But it seems I was too naive."
George felt a wave of dizziness. He recalled Scarlett's recent change in attitude towards Emma, her promises to make up for the past. How had she suddenly reverted to the old, bitter Scarlett?
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