淑女的欲望

When Scarlett sat so close to Melinda, she couldn't help but admire her beauty. Melinda's face was strikingly radiant, and even though she was over fifty years old, she still looked to be in her early forties.

What captivated Scarlett the most were the captivating eyes that Melinda possessed, bearing a resemblance in color and shape to her own.

'Jeez, no wonder Theodor fell in love with me the moment he laid eyes on me! Our eyes are so mesmerizing!' 

Scarlett reminisced about her first encounter with Theo, where he had seen her true appearance.

"Scarlett, you know, when Theo mentioned that Xander's wife was incredibly beautiful, I became even more curious to meet you. That's why I force Theo to invite both you and Xander for dinner at our house..."

Melinda chuckled, finding amusement in her own insistence. "Please don't be upset at him, Scarlett," she quickly added.

"No, Auntie. I'm not upset with Brother Theo. In fact, I'm delighted to have the opportunity to visit you. Xander already considers you his own family," Scarlett's throat felt dry as she uttered those words, for her true motive in coming here was to uncover more about the Gilwynn family.

"You are truly kind-hearted, Scarlett," Melinda felt very pleased with Scarlett. Besides, she is beautiful, and she also has a soft heart. "If only my son could find a wife like you, I would be overjoyed," Melinda continued.

"Auntie, I believe Theo will find a partner soon," Scarlett smiled awkwardly, recalling Theo's confession of love a few months ago.

"I hope so. By the way, Scarlett, if you have a sister, perhaps you can introduce her to Theo. He's quite picky when it comes to choosing a partner. Whenever we arrange a marriage for him, he always declines," Melinda paused as she glanced at her son.

She leaned closer to Scarlett and whispered, "...I am concerned that my son might not be interested in women."

Scarlett nearly choked upon hearing Melinda insinuate that her son might be gay. Goodness! If Theodor were to hear this, he could be choking —  she was certain that Theo still likes his opposite sex.

"A-Auntie, please, don't worry... I guess Theo still has an interest in women," Scarlett reassured Melinda, hoping to ease her worries.

"I'll make sure to introduce him to a wonderful girl, Auntie. You don't need to worry," she continued, pondering her single friends, and suddenly Zara's face came to mind. Goosebumps tingled down her spine.

'Zara!? Zara and Theo?' Scarlett felt a surge of excitement at the thought. If this pairing actually happened, it would be amazing!

"Hahaha, thank you, Scarlett. You're truly kind," Melinda couldn't help but feel amused at the idea of Scarlett successfully setting up Theodor with her friend.

...

"...I heard from Theo that you're from W Country, just like Xander, isn't that right?" Melinda shifted the conversation to learn more about Scarlett.

"Yes, Auntie, I was born there, but I grew up in the US," Scarlett shared her childhood experiences on B Island. However, she chose not to mention Jonathan was not her biological father.

Scarlett didn't realize how effortlessly she was opening up to Melinda. She didn't hold back any details about her personal life. It felt unusual because, before meeting Melinda, she had been a very private person, rarely discussing her personal matters with someone she just met.

...

Talking to Melinda Gilwynn felt like conversing with her own mother. Their discussion carried on even after dinner had concluded.

They now found themselves in Melinda's private space, a multipurpose room where she worked from home and entertained guests and friends. The room was adorned with pastel colors and a cozy interior design, setting it apart from the previous living room.

Settling on one of the sofas, they continued their conversation while enjoying dessert.

"Scarlett, would you like to see pictures of Theodor when he was little?" Melinda didn't wait for Scarlett's response. She promptly stood up and made her way to the shelf at the end of the room. Within moments, she returned with several photo albums in hand.

"Here are our family photos," Melinda offered Scarlett a photo album, which she eagerly accepted, brimming with enthusiasm.

With hands slightly trembling, Scarlett opened the photo album before her.

She feels amused looking at Theodor's childhood photos. However, after a few minutes, her heart suddenly quickened as her eyes locked onto the image of a man she believed to be Roland Gilwynn.

Without her noticing, her hand rose and gently stroked young Roland's face, noting the striking resemblance to her own. The young Roland Gilwynn looked tall and firm, looking magnificent and noble. 

'Oh-my-god! Why does he resemble me so much? Could he really be my father?' Scarlett whispered to herself, her thoughts racing.

However, her fists automatically clenched as her gaze shifted to the elegant woman beside Roland. She assumed the woman to be Roland Gilwynn's lawful wife.

'Mom, how come you have a relationship with him? Did you know he was already married?' Scarlett's inner turmoil grew as she contemplated her mother's decision to have a romantic relationship with Roland Gilwynn.

A heavy weight settled upon her chest at the realization of her mother's involvement with a married man.

"Oh, my dear Scarlett," Melinda exclaimed, taken aback by Scarlett's pale face and teary eyes. "Are you alright? Do you feel unwell?" She grew frantic, deeply concerned for Scarlett's well-being.

Scarlett mustered a smile and looked at Melinda's worried gaze to snap out of her sorrowful reverie.

"Auntie," Scarlett reassured her, gathering warmth in her voice. "I'm fine, just feeling a little envious looking at these photos..." she explained.

"Hmm? Why would you be envious?" Melinda's voice trailed off as she recalled Scarlett's loss of her mother at a young age. "Scarlett, I'm so sorry for reminding you of your late mother..." She tenderly squeezed Scarlett's hand, seeking to offer solace.

"Thank you, Aunt," Scarlett replied, smiling as she closed the photo album. She couldn't bear to continue looking at the pictures, fearing she might break down in tears without realizing it.