Family (2)

Beth impatiently tapped her right foot on the floor as she sat awaiting Jack's return. She had given him the thing he wanted most, but he didn't stick up for her before his mother.

She was his family now. Soon to be his wife and would not take his mother looking down on her.

Her family wasn't rich like Scarlet's but it wasn't like she was poor. She had been getting by just fine before she met Jack. 

Beth smiled as she thought of being underestimated and overlooked. She faced it before when others thought she wouldn't steal Jack from Scarlet and now look at her living the dream life. Those very people were now trying to reach her for help, but she didn't need most of them anymore.

'I need to get pregnant soon,' Beth thought.

She wouldn't be able to put off Jack trying to get her to see the doctor. Until the wedding happened, Jack needed to keep thinking that she was pregnant.

'Unless I lose it,' Beth considered. It would have to be lost in a way that Jack wouldn't blame her and the blame would go to someone else. This was the only way to get herself out of the mess she created.

"It would be nice if Scarlet would be that person. She would never recover from the gossip. I just might," Beth plotted. 

In the future when she married Jack, Beth knew she would be compared to Scarlet. She was lacking a few things Scarlet had so she had to succeed as the better woman. One that was not cold-hearted. One that showed how she loved her husband and one that wouldn't be so jealous she would harm a pregnant woman.

"There you are," Jack said, joining Beth. "I don't want to hear your complaints right now."

Beth smiled, getting up from her seat to sit on Jack's lap. "I am not angry," she lied. She was furious, but complaining would only annoy Jack. "I know that it will take time to get your mother to like me so like I said, I will work hard. Once her little grandson is here, she will slowly like me. I hope the child will look like you to get her to like me faster."

Jack enjoyed Beth's understanding with his mother. There was never a moment when he felt frustrated around Beth. Coming to her helped him to relax. 

Jack pulled Beth close, mindful not to hurt her belly. 

Beth stroked his hair, letting him seek comfort in holding her. "We will get through this because we love each other. The father can't be stressed at this time so rest. I will get the kitchen to prepare something warm for you when you wake."

"I should have found you sooner," said Jack.

Beth thought differently because he wouldn't have paid attention to her then. He came to her because he was frustrated with Scarlet and wanted a good time with a woman. Had they met differently, her background wouldn't have intrigued him.

Beth was already aware that he came to her only to sleep with her and then discard her, but she knew how to work him to keep him in the palm of her hands. She had him searching for her.

Beth watched as Jack closed his eyes, getting rest after having a stressful week. Now that she had him so close to marrying her, she was not letting go.

…

"What is it now that you come to trouble me with?" Scarlet asked, looking up at her lawyer.

"All of your demands were sent to Jack and surprisingly he agreed with them. He no longer wants a part in your business and wants the divorce to be over with. You can go ahead and end your ties to him," said Nolan Hurley, Scarlet's lawyer. "I think news of the baby led him to give up and want to move on."

"Well, there is one good thing that came from that day. Give me the paper for me to sign," Scarlet said, ready to officially cut Jack loose.

Nolan placed the papers before Scarlet. Though she was ready from the beginning of the divorce to end everything, Nolan felt that she might have a little regret ending her marriage and might be hurting behind closed doors.

"You can sign it whenever-"

"I am doing it now to put an end to this or tomorrow the papers might say that I am continuing to prolong the divorce. He will want to marry the woman carrying his child. Deal with this quickly so I can be Collins again," said Scarlet.

"Each time I visit the servants are already referring to you as Collins. It is evident that they are all on your side," Nolan noted.

"Most of them were here before my marriage to Jack and those that came with him already left. Is there anything more I must know of?" Scarlet asked since there was another paper in his hands.

"Some of your relatives are making a bit of noise saying that this estate is too big for you. They've started to bother your grandfather, but he continues to ignore them. They can't take the estate from you in any legal way since it was rightfully passed down to you and your great-grandfather made sure it couldn't be stolen. I suspect they will keep bothering you," said Nolan. 

Nolan was approached a few times since Scarlet's divorce was made public and asked why a woman would want such a large estate to herself. Few tried to bribe him into convincing her to sell it. 

They tried to act concerned, claiming that she might be lonely, but Nolan knew they were after the riches left behind in the estate throughout the years.

"They have already bothered me. They are making the mistake of bothering grandfather when he made it clear he wants a life of peace. There," Scarlet said, pushing the paper back to Nolan. 

Nolan picked up the divorce papers which was the last of his business with Scarlet as her lawyer, but there was something personal he had to ask.

"About the diamond ball in the palace, I will also be in attendance without a partner. If you need anyone to escort you there so you are not alone, I will be happy to join you. Would you like to go together?" Nolan asked, nervously awaiting the answer.

"It is a kind offer, but I prefer that we are around each other for only business. I don't need you to protect me more than as my lawyer. You may get back to your business now," Scarlet said, dismissing Nolan before the awkwardness grew.

Being seen with her lawyer handling the divorce would fuel more unnecessary rumours and since they were not in any kind of relationship, it wasn't worth the trouble. Scarlet was saving Nolan from being questioned.

"Right," Nolan answered, disappointed. He turned to leave Scarlet for her to also get back to her work.

Scarlet rested her head back on the chair, deeply bothered by something. She could not get the taste out of her mouth and yearned for the tea she had yesterday. "I should have taken the pot."