2 Save your tears (2)

"We are here, Lady Scarlet," Harry announced, turning around to look at Scarlet. She was resting back on the carriage seat with her eyes closed and arms crossed. "Hopefully your husband has collected his things and left."

"That does not concern you," Scarlet said, opening her eyes. 

Jack being present in her home did not bother her as long as he was only gathering the last of his things. Therefore it should not be of any concern for her servants. 

"Harry," Scarlet said, looking out the window to the familiar view of the Collins estate. "Will you get the door or should I?"

"Oh, right away," Harry replied, fumbling with the door to get it open. "What is wrong with me today?"

Scarlet sighed, annoyed by the events of the day so far. Everything was out of place and did not stick to schedule. Her tea had been interrupted and now Harry was a nervous wreck as if he was the one about to meet his ex-husband.

"Just take the carriage around and make yourself busy," Scarlet ordered, opening the carriage door herself.

"M-Milady," Harry stuttered, his hands trembling as he reached for the opened door. "I was going to aid you. I will do my best tomorrow."

"See to it that you do not make any mistakes then. You're normally more composed than this," Scarlet said, swooping her red hair to the side after she got out of the carriage. 

"Yes," Harry said hastily. As he watched Scarlet head into the mansion, he absentmindedly took off his black hat and squeezed and twisted it. "Please let him be gone," he whispered.

Scarlet strolled towards the massive yet intricate gates of her home, unaware of Harry's worried looks. 

"M-Milady, " said Florence, the head maid. She was not expecting Scarlet's return for another hour. She would have been ready to open the door for Scarlet. Florence's palms started to sweat. She glanced nervously at the second floor where the lady's husband was gathering his things.

"My tea was disturbed," Scarlet said, taking off the black gloves that matched her dress before turning her attention to the stack of boxes placed neatly by the front door

"I hope you have been keeping a careful watch on him. None of my family heirlooms are to go missing."

"Maids are helping him pack what belongs to only him. Everything is in the study or the boxes. He should be done soon. Should I prepare another room for you to use for the time being? He is currently in your bedroom-"

"Why?" Scarlet asked, handing over the gloves to Florence. "All of his things were moved from my bedroom and taken to his old study. He is not allowed there. Get his carriage ready. He'll be leaving shortly."

Scarlet left Florence to get the carriage and headed up to her bedroom. There was nothing for Jack in their old bedroom. He should not expect otherwise when the very reason she kicked him and everything he owned out was so she could get rid of every memory of him.

When she reached the top of the stairs, she could already hear Jack's cursing in her bedroom thanks to the open door. The curses only got louder as she walked down the hallway. 

One look at the mess and she decided she had enough. "Nothing," she declared, "belonging to you is here. Everything should be in your old study. You had the chance to search the other rooms to see if the servants missed anything." 

Jack stopped his hand still on the knob of the drawer he was about to open. "Where are all the documents?" he demanded.

"Whatever belongs to you is in the study," Scarlet repeated as she entered her room cautiously. She couldn't wait to have the maids thoroughly clean it again. "Go look for whatever you seek there." 

Now that she was inside, she saw the two maids standing off to the side with their heads lowered.

"You are dismissed-"

"They are helping me," Jack interrupted, looking away from the drawer to his cold-hearted wife. "Where are the documents on our businesses?"

"Our? I'm afraid you are confused, Jack. I am not the right person to help the confused," Scarlet said, coming to a stop in between Jack and her maids. "You are dismissed. Linger for more than three seconds and you may find yourselves unemployed."

"Yes, Lady Collins."

"Collins? Of course, you would be so quick to go back to that name," Jack remarked. "You don't want to fix our marriage. You were quick to kick me out of our home-"

'This is the Collins estate. Your name is not on the deed. You are not a co-owner in any sense of the word. I gave you an hour to grab your things and leave. You have overstayed your welcome. Take what is at the door and leave," Scarlet said, sick of his presence in her home.

Jack let go of the drawer knob. "Of course, I was not made part owner. You never saw a future with me. Never trusted me. You were quick to call for a divorce but you're taking your sweet time with your lawyer. If you want to work on our marriage, now is your last chance."

"You brought someone else into our marriage. There is nothing to fix," Scarlet retorted. "Get out of my house."

"Ha. Your house. You already have the servants calling you Lady Collins again," Jack snapped. It's like a slap to his face. "You were also responsible for the failure of our marriage. Nothing is more important to you than business. You never had time for me. You turned away whenever I tried to touch you-"

"I was your wife. Not some whore obliged to satisfy you whenever you wanted." Scarlet touched her temple. She could feel a headache coming. "If you refuse to move, I will get the guards to remove you and your belongings from Collins's land. Remember, you're standing on Collins's land, my land. I have every right to kill you."

"You heartless bitch!" Jack spat. He wouldn't have looked elsewhere if his wife had shown him a bit more emotion. At least tried to act like she loved him. 

"Then why are you so hellbent on salvaging a failing marriage with a heartless bitch?" Scarlet asked, tired of this conversation. They had talked about it so many times already. She reached towards the phone, ready to summon her guards. 

"No need to call them. I am leaving with my things. You're going to suffer without me. Divorced, no children, and no friends to care for you. What man would want someone like you?" Jack questioned, reminding her of her current position. "Twenty-five and already divorced."

The gossip of how Scarlet was coming out of this marriage with nothing to show for it had already reached his ears. His adultery received little criticism, especially after he started making it known that the reason for their failing marriage was Scarlet's barrenness. 

A few tears and almost half the town was on his side. Not because he was particularly convincing, but because the town was glad to finally have something to talk about the young heiress Scarlet. The rare opportunity to ruin her had presented itself, and those who envied or hated her were jumping on it. 

"Keep that woman out of my sight before she ends up missing. I've warned you enough times," Scarlet said as she walked towards her closet. 

It was where she kept her gun.

She went straight for the box that was tucked away between her shoes.

"We are not done speaking," Jack said, following Scarlet into the closet. He was owed at least this for his time as her husband. For what he had endured. 

Scarlet flicked the box's lid. She never kept it locked to make it easier for her to arm herself should her life be in danger. 

Inside the box was a small black gun decorated with the symbol of a falcon.

"Y-You," Jack stammered, shocked. Since when was there a gun in her closet? "Have you lost your mind?"

Scarlet calmly pointed the gun at him. "Get out of my house. Take what your carriage can hold and never come back. I've been more than gracious to you."

Jack had little doubt that Scarlet might shoot him. Her crazy family had a strange liking for guns but he still clung to his pride. "You have lost your mind," he said once more. "I look forward to seeing the town destroy you. See how well you do without me," he said as he slowly backed out of the closet.

Scarlet kept the gun pointed at him. Even when her arm started to tremble, she kept the gun pointed. She bit her lip till it was sore, adamant about not letting any sound escape her mouth. 

She refused to let him detect any weakness in her.

"Don't you dare!" Scarlet commanded herself in a cracked whisper as she fought back tears. 

She should never cry over the words spoken by a man like Jack.