Scarlett OHara sat in the car, staring in disbelief at the two red booklets in her hands. Was she really... married? To a man she had known for less than a day? The whole thing seemed unreal, and yet, here she was, holding the proof of her hasty decision.
She had learned the mans name was Jay Gatsby after seeing it on the marriage certificate. The name sounded vaguely familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere before.
"Tonight, will you stay at my place or shall I move in with you?" Gatsbys gaze flicked over the red booklets in Scarletts hands, hiding a smile behind his serious expression.
"Uh?" Scarlett was still processing everything. "What do you mean, your place or mine?"
Gatsby raised an eyebrow. "See the little book in your hand? Notice the three words written on it? Do you understand what it means? Youre now my lawful wife, and Im asking to live with my lawful wife. Is there anything wrong with that?"
Seemed reasonable, didnt it?
But something felt off.
Scarlett couldnt quite put her finger on it.
"I havent told my family yet," Scarlett said. She hadnt even told them about her breakup with Tom Joad. She and Tom werent married, but they were engaged. Her OHara family wasnt as wealthy as the Joads, but they were still a prominent family. Everyone in their social circle knew about her and Tom, and now this...
Scarlett regretted her impulsiveness, but she couldnt imagine continuing her relationship with Tom, let alone marrying him.
"Thats fine, when do you plan to introduce me to your family?" Gatsby asked her, not showing any signs of anger.
"Can you give me some time?" Scarlett asked cautiously. She didnt know why she felt so intimidated by this man.
"Thats acceptable," Gatsby replied, seemingly always patient with her.
Scarlett breathed a sigh of relief, but Gatsby continued.
"But just agreeing so easily, wouldnt that make me seem a bit too lenient?"
Scarletts heart skipped a beat. "So, what do you... want?"
"Kiss me," Gatsby said with a light laugh. "If you give me a kiss, Ill agree to any request you have."
Scarletts heart trembled even more. "You..."
Gatsby leaned his handsome face towards her. "Just one kiss."
As if under a spell, she clenched her hands, took a deep breath, and slowly leaned in. She was mentally preparing herself; it was just a kiss on the cheek, there was nothing to be afraid of...
But just as she was about to touch his cheek, he turned his face and captured her lips in a deep kiss.
She instinctively tried to pull away, but he held the back of her head, trapping her.
The atmosphere in the car gradually became charged with an intense, intimate energy...
After what felt like an eternity, Gatsby released her, pulling the dazed Scarlett into a tight embrace.
He was panting heavily, apologizing into her ear, "Im sorry, I couldnt control myself, I really..."
Scarletts mind was blank, but she could clearly feel the change in his body.
"If you really feel sorry, then dont..." she said, her face flushed and her breathing irregular.
A low, pleasant laugh sounded by her ear.
She heard him say, "Perhaps its just that he misses you too much and cant control himself."