Scarlett sat on the steps watching her husband ascend the stairs…his cold and harsh words were slowly sinking in. Her own actions were playing over and over again in her mind. She had just humbled herself in front of Rhett Butler. She had done things she swore she would never do again. She had begged, pleaded, and declared love to a man when she didn't know if he would say it back. Where did this get her? Nowhere, yet again. Never again would she put herself in this position. Slowly, Scarlett's sadness turned to fury. The tears that were falling down her face were engulfed in the flames of her eyes. Never had Scarlett O'Hara been made a fool, not until there was Rhett Butler, and he proceeded to make it his personal pastime. Yes, Scarlett was furious.
Slowly she arose from her crouching position on the stairs. She was in a trance-like state, oblivious to all around her. The only thing that mattered at this moment was revenge. Rhett Butler had to pay. Scarlett began working the details of her plan, as she walked out the front door. She was in such deep concentration, she didn't even notice the old peahens staring at her. She also did not notice when they tried to approach her and called her name. Scarlett was determined. Luckily, her silence was misconstrued by the Old Guard as devastation for Melanie. Scarlett didn't even realize what this did for her reputation…but it would not be enough to fix what she was about to do.
Scarlett had made up her mind, so the whole morning she made preparations. She bought a train ticket to Tara, and one to Marietta. She went and took out hefty sums of money from all of her accounts, and Rhett's, charming the teller saying she was planning a surprise for her husband, so he didn't need to know about it.
Scarlett was amazed at herself for getting prepared so quickly. She arrived back at the house and began packing her bags. She packed lightly, mainly just her money and the essentials, and found Rhett in his room still packing. Scarlett slowly entered the doorway to Rhett's room.
"This is the test." She thought to herself.
"Scarlett, I hope you've not come to beg me anymore. I have already told you, this facade is over. I do not love you, and I am leaving and there's not a thing you can do to stop me or change my mind." Rhett said maliciously while leaning over and finishing his last bit of packing.
"Rhett Butler, you have insulted me, mocked me, made fun of me, and made a fool of me for almost 12 years now...but never again. I am Katie Scarlett O'Hara, descended from the kings of Ireland." Scarlett said heatedly, interrupted by Rhett's laughter, and immediately, Scarlett's fury rose.
Rhett slowly turned, laughing even more loudly at Scarlett. He looked deep into her eyes from across the room in the way that only he could. "I can see that fiery Irish temper now, Scarlett O'Hara. I can see it in your green eye…" but he was interrupted by the gleam of the gun Scarlett was holding in her right hand. She fired two quick shots at the laughing Rhett Butler, forever silencing him. He fell to the ground with a loud thud, after hitting his head on the nightstand. Scarlett turned on her heel, grabbed her bags, and walked out of her house. It would be a little while before anyone found Rhett, thanks to the enormous house. No one should have heard the shots, no servants, and no neighbors. She got to the train station and said a quick prayer, not asking for forgiveness for killing her husband, but for forgiveness from her best friend for not being able to pay her respects. Scarlett's conscience was clear as she rode the train out of Atlanta and to Marietta. She would pick up her children, and they would travel now. There was no one to stop them, make fun of them, or belittle their love. Then and there Scarlett decided that all of the love she had mistakenly put into loving Rhett would now be towards Wade and Ella. They were the only people who had ever loved Scarlett no matter what and who never made fun of her. Why, if she loved them back, they could be so happy together. Scarlett drifted off into a deep, peaceful sleep with a smile on her face and happy thoughts about the future.