Scarlett's body tensed instantly upon hearing Xander's voice from behind.
'Did he overhear my conversation?' Scarlett wondered, turning to face him with a gentle smile on her face.
"Xander, I need to go somewhere..." Even though she worried he would refuse her request to leave in the middle of the night, she gathered her courage and spoke up.
"Where to?" Xander approached her and took hold of her hand.
He waited for her response, but Scarlett found herself unable to utter a single word as she gazed into his eyes. He smiled, cupping her chin and keeping their gazes locked.
"You want to go to The Fox headquarters!?" Xander asked nonchalantly, but to Scarlett, it felt like thunder crashing in her ears.
He knows!?
"Xander, you..." Scarlett's voice trailed off as confusion clouded her mind.
It wasn't that she didn't want to be honest with him, but finding the right words to explain her involvement with the Foxes was a struggle. She also needed to gauge his knowledge of her identity as a member and the Foxes as an organization.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Baby, let's sit down first..." Xander gently guided her to the sofa. They sat side by side, their closeness making Scarlett feel his skin's warmth whenever she moved.
"You know about the Fox?" Scarlett finally mustered the courage to ask, her senses sharpened.
Xander chuckled and shook his head slowly. "Baby, you have to answer me first; is your organization the Fox?"
Scarlett was taken aback, but she no longer wanted to hide anything from him. She was tired of concealing her true identity from someone like Xander.
"Yes!" she replied, locking her sharp gaze onto his, eager to know his reaction. After a few seconds passed by, she was surprised to find calmness in his eyes, despite having heard her confession.
Did he truly understand the depth of her involvement?
"How much do you know about Fox?" Scarlett continued, pressing further. She needed to know if Xander viewed Fox negatively or positively.
Scarlett's hands clasped tightly in her lap, nervous at his response.
Xander smiled as he noticed Scarlett's tension. He gently placed his hand on hers and spoke reassuringly, "I am aware of everything regarding the Foxes' activities... But there's no need for you to worry. I understand the reasons behind what you all do, and I won't judge your organization."
Curiosity sparked within Scarlett as she asked, "When did you first suspect my involvement?"
Xander replied, "I had my suspicions for a while, especially after witnessing the incident where you single-handedly took down a group of criminals in a warehouse on Island B. I realized you were not an ordinary hacker."
Scarlett was left speechless. Her throat felt dry as she managed to utter, "You... you knew it was me who killed them all?"
Xander nodded with a smirk. "Yes, I knew. I began to piece things together during that encounter, especially after working closely with Rex on X country. I recognized one of the members of the Foxes..."
Scarlett couldn't help but bury her face in her hands, feeling embarrassed and surprised.
"Baby, don't be shy," Xander chuckled. He gently placed his hand on her neck, lifting her face to meet his gaze. With a hint of authority in his tone, he said, "Look at me, Scarlett Piers."
Scarlett slowly raised her face, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She remained silent, realizing that she had been keeping her identity hidden from Xander, but he had already uncovered her secret. She felt a sense of shame overwhelming her.
"I know you're not a weakling. And I understand the nature of your organization, but hey... that doesn't matter to me," he reassured her. "As long as you love me and stay by my side, whatever you do with the Fox, I don't care. You don't need to worry about how I perceive you, dear," he added with a gentle smile.
Xander could sense Scarlett's internal struggle as she tried to reveal her true identity.
"Thank you!" She smiled weakly at him. She felt her heart lighten after hearing Xander's warm words.
Scarlett no longer had to conceal her involvement with the Fox to Xander. She also felt a sense of relief knowing that he discovered the truth on his own, sparing her the need to betray the organization by revealing it to him.
"Babe, you're only a hacker there. You've never been in the field on an extreme mission, have you?" Xander asks casually, his fingers playing with her soft hair. "...Well, being a hacker there is much better than being an executor," he adds.
Scarlett, "..."
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Babe?" Xander raised an eyebrow, noticing her lack of response to his question.
After a soft, deep sigh, she gathered her courage and said, "X-Xander, have you forgotten? I once told you that I'm not an innocent woman. I have killed a lot of people... So..."
Xander's expression froze momentarily, a mix of surprise and concern crossing his face. But he immediately calmed down, not wanting to upset or worry her.
He chuckled pretending he wasn't shocked by her confession.
"...I know. I'm just kidding. By the way, I heard you wanted to talk to me about something earlier. What was it?" he asked, attempting to change the subject.
Scarlett sat up straight. She remembered the captured Withers Assassins and felt an urgency in obtaining information from them regarding her mother.
"Xander, I need to go out for a few hours," Scarlett said, observing his tense expression. She hurriedly added, "...Rex informed me that he has detained the Withers Gold Assassins, and I want to interrogate them."
"Are you heading to the Fox base camp?" he inquired.
"Yes, they're being held there," she confirmed.
"May I accompany you?" Xander's expression seemed casual, but his tone carried the weight of an order rather than a request.
'Gosh, Why did he want to come to our base camp? What would he like to see?' Scarlett went awry. Although she was reluctant, she also could not refuse him.
"I will ask first..." She immediately rose from her seat and called Rex.