<h4>Chapter 449 Meet Simon Gilwynn (3)</h4>


    After texting Rnd Gilwynn, Scarlett settled onto the sofa with herptop in herp, immersed in reading the important files sent by Cruz. Yet, before she could make it through half a page, her cell phone vibrated, disying Rnd Gilwynn''s name on the screen.


    "Gosh! Why are these two Gilwynns so troublesome?" She attempted to calm herself before picking up the phone.


    "Good morning, Scarlett," Rnd''sposed voice greeted her from the other end. Her response was curt. He continued, "Regarding your text, are you certain Simon is now en route to your location?"


    Scarlett instantly regretted sending the text. Taking a silent sigh, she replied, "If I wasn''t sure, I wouldn''t contact you," her tone held a trace of annoyance.


    "I understand—" Rnd responded. A pause seemed to hang in the air before he continued, "Don''t worry, everything will be fine. Stay there, don''t go anywhere."


    As Rndid out his n, Scarlett listened and eventually agreed with what he said. As soon as the call ended, a knock echoed at her door. She nced towards the door, her heart beginning to beat a little faster.


    "Wow! He''s here? Gosh, he really can''t wait, huh..." She muttered while ncing at her watch. "Unbelievable, a kinging to an appointment 5 minutes ahead of schedule!?"


    Scarlett didn''t know whether to be happy or worried. She immediately stood up from her seat and walked to the door, asking, "Who is it?"


    "Ma''am, your guest has arrived," Logan''s voice came from behind the door.


    After adjusting her expression, Scarlett opened the door and motioned for Logan to leave the room. She needed to speak with Simon alone, not wanting someone to hear her mother''s and Rnd Gilwynn''s dark past.


    Resistance shed in Logan''s eyes when he heard Scarlett''s order, "But, madam, please let me stay. I can''t just let you—"


    "Don''t worry," she interrupted Logan, "...His Highness won''t harm me." Scarlett''s voice was calm as she gently patted Logan on the shoulder and walked toward the living room.


    As Scarlett''s gazended on the figure of a man standing by the window with his back facing toward her, she couldn''t help but feel her heart skip a beat. He was dressed in a navy suit that perfectly wrapped his tall and slender frame. His hair, neatly cut and styled, bore a striking resemnce to hers—ginger hair color. Just observing his back was enough to stir up nervousness within her.


    Though she had already familiarized herself with his face through photos and videos circted on the inte, the prospect of this face-to-face encounter still left her with a sense of anticipation.


    As Scarlett watched Logan close the door, the room was left with only her and Simon. She approached the seating area, purposely making a slight noise to alert him to her presence.


    Upon hearing the sound, Simon turned to face her, and Scarlett worked to keep her expression calm. Observing his features, she noted the resemnce to the most recent photograph she had seen of him. While his face didn''t mirror Rnd Gilwynn''s entirely, there was a certain shared quality—most strikingly, their eyes. Those eyes were the same as hers and Rnd''s.


    They locked eyes for a moment, a silent exchange between them that carried more weight than words ever could. Scarlett didn''t take long to detect a flicker of surprise in Simon''s eyes, though it quickly vanished as he made his way to the seating area.


    Breaking the silence, Simon spoke first. "You must be Scarlett Piers, correct?" His words came apanied by a friendly smile.


    With a nod, Scarlett replied, "Yes, I am." She gestured for him to take a seat across from her.


    "Apologies for disturbing your morning," Simon conveyed as he settled into his seat. "... You already know about me, right?"


    Scarlett returned his smile, although it didn''t fully reach her eyes. She responded politely, "Yes, Your Majesty, I''m well aware of you."


    "Excellent," Simon''s warm expression gradually shifted to seriousness. "However, today, I''m not here as this kingdom''s king but as Simon Gilwynn. You can converse with me in a rxed manner; there''s no need for excessive formality."


    Hearing his words and observing his expression, Scarlett grew perplexed. ''Why is he urging me to rx when his expression seems otherwise?'' She just stared at him, awaiting his following words in silence. At this moment, she had no particr reason to converse with him.


    "What is your purpose in approaching my father?" Simon''s tone was casual, but his words contained a warning.


    Aware that Scarlett hadn''t responded and was merely observing him, Simon continued, "You know my father, Rnd Gilwynn, right?" His curiosity about her deepened due to her reserved demeanor.


    Before Scarlett could respond, Simon said, "I know we share the same blood, Ms. Scarlett Piers. Please don''t hide anything from me; I''m well-informed about you." His gaze carries a curious intensity.


    Meeting Simon''s eyes with a polite but standoffish smile, she said, "It seems you don''t know me that well, Mr. Simon Gilwynn. If you did, you would understand my presence at your birthday party and what I was talking to your father about."


    There''s a half-smile appearing in the corner of Simon''s lips.


    "Indeed, my understanding of you is limited. Care to enlighten me about your intentions toward my father?" Simon''s inquiry carried a subtle pressure.


    She appeared calm, but she was internally venting her anger toward Simon. How audacious of him to appear before her with such inquiries. Her respect for him plummeted abruptly.


    "Mr. Gilwynn, perhaps it would be more appropriate to direct your queries to your father. Why go through the trouble ofing here to ask me?" Scarlett replied with a yful tone while maintaining her Monalisa smile.


    She had no intention of offering an exnation. Why should she? She had made it explicitly clear to Rnd Gilwynn that she wished to avoid entanglements with his family.


    Had Rnd Gilwynn not enticed Scarlett with clues about her mother, she would have promptly declined his offer for a meeting.