My mother was a breathtaking beauty who could topple kingdoms, yet she ended her life in a sanitarium. Before she died, she repeated one sentence: "Scarlett, remember, hide your face well. Never let a man fall in love with you because of your face." That year I was eight, half-understanding. But I listened to her. From then on, heavy bangs and deliberately applied dull foundation became my norm. In the eyes of others, I was an out-and-out ugly woman. And today, is my 100th blind date. Chapter 1 "Miss Scarlett, is there some misunderstanding?" The man opposite pinched his nose, looking at me with disgust. "I admit my family is pushing hard, but not to the point of being desperate, right? Look at you, hair greasy enough to fry vegetables, glasses thick as beer bottle bottoms, and this complexion... Miss Scarlett, do you have liver disease?" "And you are an orphan, no proper job, just relying on writing some novels online no one reads to scrape a living. While I, graduated from Ivy League, iron rice bowl in state enterprise, have house and loan. The gap between us is wider than the Grand Canyon." Sparse customers in the cafe cast their gazes in unison, with undisguised ridicule and meaning of watching a show. Ten years, from when I started disguising myself at sixteen to today at twenty-six, I've heard such words if not a thousand times, then eight hundred. "So?" I asked calmly, long accustomed to this scene. Seeing me so calm, the man seemed a bit annoyed, voice suddenly rose: "So, if you want to marry me, don't dream about a big wedding, you have to bring a car worth over 20k as dowry, do all housework after marriage, and immediately prepare to have a son. After all, what value do you have besides having children?" I took a deep breath and smiled: "Sir, you look like a human, why don't you act like one?" "Stop!" He slammed the table, voice raised an octave, "Want to leave? Treating me like a monkey? Wasted my whole afternoon, want to just let it go?" He picked up the iced Americano on the table, eyes full of vicious pleasure, "I'll teach you today what self-knowledge means!" Cold liquid mixed with ice cubes poured over my head and face. Coffee dripped down my hair, lenses blurred, embarrassed to the extreme. Snickering around pierced my ears like needles. I trembled all over. Just when my brain went blank, not knowing how to react, a hand with distinct knuckles handed over a tissue. I looked up blankly. Against the light, I couldn't see his face clear, only felt it was a very tall figure, with a reassuring oppressiveness. "Need help?" His voice deep and pleasant. Before I answered, he already turned to the man who splashed coffee on me, eyes indifferent but with unquestionable majesty: "Apologize to her." "Who are you? Meddling in other's business!" Mr. Wang shouted fierce in appearance but weak inside. The man didn't speak again, just took out his phone, dialed a number, concisely said a few words: "West Side Wang's Real Estate, let them disappear from New York tomorrow." Mr. Wang's face instantly turned from red to pale, he seemed finally recognized who the man in front was, bean-sized sweat beads rolled down from forehead, legs soft, almost knelt down. "Mr... Mr. Sterling... I, I have eyes but didn't recognize Mt. Tai! I didn't know this lady is your friend..." He stammered explaining, then turned to me, bowing desperately, "Sorry! Miss Scarlett! Sorry! It's my dog mouth can't spit ivory! You are magnanimous, don't lower yourself to my level!" I haven't recovered from this dramatic change, that man called "Mr. Sterling" already took off his suit jacket, draped over my wet body. "I am Lucas Sterling." He introduced himself, gaze falling on my face, in those deep eyes, there was no trace of dislike, only calm scrutiny. I awkwardly took off glasses to wipe, whispered: "Thank you." "Miss Scarlett, right?" He asked. I nodded. "Interested in getting married?" I suddenly looked up, thinking I hallucinated. Cafe quiet enough to hear a pin drop. Lucas Sterling, this name thunders in New York business circle, helm of Sterling Group, top tycoon countless socialites flock to. Such a person, wants to marry me? An "ugly woman" just publicly humiliated? "Why?" I asked dryly. He looked at me, eyes calm like a deep pool: "I need a wife, a quiet, dutiful wife who doesn't cause trouble. I think you are very suitable." I looked at his calm waveless eyes, thought, maybe, there really are men in this world who don't look at faces. I nodded as if possessed: "Okay." Chapter 2 My marriage with Lucas Sterling had no grand wedding, no blessings from friends and family. We didn't even notify my family. I only told my dad I got married, let him not arrange blind dates for me anymore. He was relieved, didn't even ask who the other party was. Life after marriage was incredibly calm. Lucas was a perfect husband. He gave me a Black Card with no limit, let me spend at will. He remembered I don't eat cilantro, it never appeared on the menu at home again. When I curled up on sofa with period cramps, he would clumsily make me a bowl of Hot Chocolate, although taste hard to describe, that intention warmed me hot. He found I like writing, specially renovated a study for me, with most advanced equipment and a whole wall of books, all works of writers I like. When I stayed up all night writing novels, he would silently drape a blanket over me, then put down a cup of warm milk. He never interfered with my career, even when I became slightly famous for my novels and established my own studio, he let his assistant handle all complicated legal and tax issues for me. He never disliked my appearance, once I was unhappy home because of ridicule, he clumsily comforted me: "In my heart, you are the most beautiful." Gradually, I fell in this tenderness. I felt I was the luckiest woman in the world. I married a man who doesn't love me, but got respect and considerateness more reliable than love. I started to be greedy, I wanted more. I started learning to be a real wife. I learned to make soup for him, match ties for him, massage his temples when he was tired. He never refused, nor showed extra joy, just eyes would become very deep, then touch my head, say: "Thank you for hard work." Until that car accident happened, I completely believed I was special. That day was our third wedding anniversary. I went to company to pick him up, but car was hit by an out-of-control truck on way home. Car severely deformed, he was stuck in driver seat, forehead bleeding, but tightly holding my hand: "Scarlett, don't fear, I am here!" When rescuers arrived, car front started smoking, signs of fire. Lucas disregarded his leg stuck, desperately said to rescuers: "Save my wife first, she has claustrophobia, can't stay in ambulance." No one knew my problem, not even my dad. It was once I took elevator with him, elevator malfunctioned, I trembled with fear in darkness, held tightly in his arms comforted for half an hour. I thought he forgot. He remembered. After being rescued, he disregarded his injuries, insisted accompanying me until confirming I was safe and sound, then pushed into operating room. Doctor said, to protect me, he had second-degree burns on back. Outside ward, I cried choking. At that moment, I firmly believed this man loved me. Even if not intense love, must have love. Otherwise, who would willing risk life for an irrelevant person? This dream, I dreamed for full three years. Until at the end of hospital corridor, I heard conversation between him and his mother. That day, I sent soup to him, walked to ward door, heard quarreling inside. "Lucas, when will you stop messing around? For that woman, you don't even want life? Look at that thing you married, ugly and can't be shown in public, our Sterling family face all lost by you!" It was Mrs. Sterling's sharp mean voice. My hand holding thermos froze in mid-air. Then, I heard Lucas's voice, calm, but with a trace of tired cruelty. "Mom, I said long ago, marrying Scarlett is to disgust you guys. As long as you don't agree Bella entering door one day, Scarlett is my Mrs. Sterling one day. More you hate her, more I want put her in that position." "So what if Bella's dad is a murderer? I love her person! Isn't Scarlett just a shield, what are you angry about?" "As for this car accident... just an accident. But also good, let her be dead set on me, later even Bella comes back, she can also be dutiful, won't give me trouble." Boom—— Something exploded in my brain. Shield. To disgust you. Let her be dead set on me... Thermos in hand "Clang" fell on ground, boiling chicken soup spilled all over. Ward door opened. Lucas saw me, a trace of astonishment flashed in eyes, but soon recovered calm. Mrs. Sterling behind him, mouth corner hooked a smile. I looked at Lucas, the man I loved for three years, asked word by word: "Is what he said true?" He was silent. And his silence was the loudest answer. I smiled, tears flowed down uncompetitively. Turns out, I am not lucky, I am just... pathetic. Chapter 3 Heart death, often just a moment thing. I didn't cry, didn't make scene, calmly went home, then found best private detective in New York. I want to know, who that woman called "Bella" is. Three days later, a detailed file placed in front of me. Bella, an ordinary rural girl, Lucas's first love girlfriend. University two loved vigorously, but when discussing marriage, because Bella's father was murderer, mother was dancer in night club, met fierce opposition from Sterling family. To force family compromise, Lucas planned this "absurd" marriage with me. He deliberately chose "ugly" me, to humiliate and confront his family. In file, there was a photo of Bella. Long hair to waist, eyebrows gentle, wearing white dress, smiling peaceful and quiet. Indeed cloud and mud difference with me living in gutter. I burned file, then sent message to Lucas. [Let's divorce.] He called back soon, voice carrying unquestionable command: "Scarlett, don't make trouble." "I am not making trouble." My voice calm like dead water, "Lucas Sterling, you are free, can go marry your First Love." Phone other end was long silence. "I don't agree." Long time, he coldly spit three words. "Why?" I smiled, "Is shield not useful anymore? Or, your play hasn't acted enough?" "Scarlett!" He called me by full name, with suppressed anger, "I said, don't make trouble. Wait I discharge, we talk well." Talk? What else good to talk? I hung up, blocked all his contact ways. Next day, I drafted divorce agreement, went to hospital. Haven't arrived his ward, met Bella in corridor. She makeup exquisite, carrying Hermès bag, seeing me, a trace contempt flashed in her eyes, then actively walked over. "You are Scarlett right?" She looked me up and down, "I am Bella, Lucas's friend." Friend? I lazy act with her, bypassed her want to go. "Stop." She blocked in front of me, face still hanging gentle smile: "Miss Scarlett, do you know? Bird occupying magpie nest won't have good end. That position, originally was mine." "Is it?" I looked at her, "Then watch well, now, I don't want it." I slapped divorce agreement into her arms, "Trouble you, pass to him for me. Tell him, from now on, we owe nothing." Bella's face instantly became ugly. I lazy look her one more glance, turned and left. Chapter 4 Divorce not overnight thing, Lucas disagreed, I could only go legal procedure. I moved out of that home carrying my three years dream, checked into a hotel. During period, Lucas found me few times. He blocked at hotel door, face gloomy, grabbing my wrist. "Scarlett, what exactly you want?" "Divorce." I looked at him calmly. "I said I don't agree!" He almost gritted teeth, "You want leave me so much?" "Lucas, don't you think asking this sentence is ridiculous?" I threw off his hand, "From beginning to end, which day did you hope I stay by your side?" He was asked speechless by me. Tug of war lasted half month. Until Mrs. Sterling's birthday banquet. I didn't want attend, but Mrs. Sterling personally called, tone unkind, inside outside words all threats, if I don't go, she let my studio can't survive in New York. I went. I still that "ugly" dress up, out of place. Lucas stood in center of crowd, surrounded by stars. And beside him, stood smiling beautiful Bella. Talented man beautiful woman, match made in heaven. Bella wore a pure white evening dress, sat before piano in center of banquet, played a piece Lucas liked most. Piece ended, applause like thunder. She stood up, shyly looked at Lucas, said: "This piece, is first piece Lucas taught me. Today is his mother's birthday, I offer Buddha with borrowed flowers, wish Auntie Sterling happy birthday, also wish me and Lucas... can be lovers finally become family." Everyone's eyes focused on me, with sympathy, ridicule and schadenfreude. Mrs. Sterling smiled satisfied. Lucas frowned, but said nothing. I picked up a glass red wine, step by step, walked to them. Under everyone's astonished gaze, I poured that glass wine from top of Bella's head, slowly down. "Miss Bella," I looked at her embarrassed appearance, smiled, "I also heard story of dove occupying magpie nest. But in story, magpie drives away dove, not some cat or dog. You, also worthy?" Banquet hall dead silent. Bella screamed, tears falling down, pitifully hid behind Lucas, "Lucas, I... I didn't mean it... I just love you too much..." Lucas face iron green, he looked at me, eyes cold as ice, "Scarlett, apologize!" "I not wrong, why apologize?" I looked straight into his eyes, "CEO Sterling, your First Love publicly provoked your legal wife, you turned blind eye. Now I fight back, you come blame me? Don't you think double standard too severe?" "You!" He was blocked speechless by me. "Crazy woman! You are simply crazy!" Mrs. Sterling trembled with anger, pointing at my nose scolded, "Security! Drive this shameless woman out for me!" I didn't wait security move, turned myself, head high chest out walked out of this disgusting place. That night, New York rained pouring rain. I walked alone on street, letting rain wash my face, couldn't distinguish rain or tears. Three years marriage, a joke.
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