Scarlett was standing in the small hall of the Atlanta Hotel. Initially, they planned to celebrate Suellen's wedding at Aunt Pittypat's house, but there were too many guests and not enough space in the house to accommodate them. She felt beautiful in her new blue velvet dress with a plunging neckline that set off her skin and of course, she wore the earrings that Rhett had given her.

The ceremony itself and the festive dinner had already ended and the guests scattered around the hall. Some were talking and some were dancing. Suellen was the center of attention, accepting congratulations, smiling at everyone, and showing off her wedding dress. Frank was so proud as if he had married Queen Victoria and not her whiny sister.

Scarlett noticed Ashley approaching her.

"Scarlett, you look great tonight" He looked at her with delight.

"Thank you, Ashley, that's nice to hear. How do you like the celebration?" she tried to be polite.

It was the first time in recent times that they had talked about something other than work. She was pleased that Ashley had noticed her dress.

"It's wonderful, you've done a great job. It reminds me of the good old days when we used to meet at Twelve Oaks, have dances, laugh, and enjoy the company of old friends."

His face took on that wistfully sad expression that always appeared when he was reminiscing. But today, she didn't want to remember the past at all.

"Ah, Ashley..."

She didn't have time to finish because she heard a familiar voice.

"Miss O'Hara, how nice to see you." She turned around and saw Rhett.

As always, he looked perfect in his expensive tailcoat. He seemed cheerful and even carefree, but only at first glance. His eyes glittered dangerously as he studied her and Ashley. He tried to appear calm, but she could see that beneath the surface he was seething with rage, fragments of the last conversation flashing in her head. But the last thing she wanted right now was to stir up a new conflict.

Scarlett held out her hand for him to kiss and felt the touch of his soft lips, which sent warmth through her body. Pulling away, he glanced at her, stopping at her eyes and she saw the mockery.

"Captain Butler, I'm glad you're here." She was sincere and wanted to say something else, but Rhett turned his gaze to Ashley.

"Mr. Wilkes, good evening. The last time we saw each other was back at Twelve Oaks."

"Yes, Captain Butler, it was a long time ago. I didn't know you'd be here today."

Scarlett stood between the two men and felt a tension that was almost palpable. She felt Rhett take a small step forward, coming almost close to her.

"Miss O'Hara, Scarlett, invited me and I couldn't refuse." She couldn't see his face, so she would have to turn around to do it, but she could see Ashley's face, which looked like he had been hit.

"Our Scarlett has done a wonderful job with this wedding." Ashley looked at her and smiled.

"Yes, she really is very talented, even many men can envy this." She heard the mockery in his voice and felt the light touch of his hand on her back.

It was the strangest dialogue Scarlett had ever participated in. She felt the awkwardness that came from Ashley and the ill-concealed hostility that came from Rhett.

Ashley cleared his throat.

"Well, I think I'll go and find Melanie…Scarlett...Captain Butler" he turned around and hurriedly left them.

She heard laughter behind her.

"Well, Mr. Wilkes has decided to run away and leave you at my mercy."

Scarlett turned around and looked into his eyes. He was amused, obviously pleased to put Ashley in an awkward position. At first, Scarlett wanted to tell him about it, but assumed that it would end in a quarrel with Rhett again and decided to keep silent.

"Rhett, I think we need to talk."

"Really? He raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Well, let's talk."

Scarlett looked around and noticed that the guests were watching him with interest.

"Not here... I'll be waiting for you in the garden in five minutes."

Without waiting for his answer, she went to the garden of the hotel.

She sat down on a bench, straightening the folds of her dress. She was nervous, thinking about what she wanted to say to Rhett. Looking at his behavior tonight, he had not forgiven her and would not make this conversation easy for her. Scarlett heard footsteps and straightened up, looking at Rhett, who was approaching her with an easy gait.

Scarlett hoped he would sit next to her, but he stopped in front of her, lighting a cigar.

"Did you want to talk Scarlett?" He looked completely indifferent, but his eyes were watching her closely.

She shifted on the benches and stood up, approaching him.

"Rhett, I wanted to apologize for our last conversation. I shouldn't have said what I said." She searched for any changes in his face, but nothing came. "That was rude, I'm sorry. It's just that every time we start this conversation about Ashley you..."

He tensed and his face hardened.

"That's a good excuse, Scarlett, to start accusing me of talking about your little gentleman again."

"That's not what I meant," She paused, "Rhett, I... I lied to you." She swallowed, preparing to say the most important thing.

He laughed, throwing away his cigar.

"Did you lie and decide not to apologize?"

"No, I lied to you then, saying that there was something between Ashley and me."

He tried to appear indifferent, but for a split second she saw a flicker of surprise on his face.

"And why do you think I need to know these details?"

"I don't know," she sighed, it was harder than she thought. "I just thought I should tell you."

"Why did you lie to me?"

"Because you were acting like a boor and I wanted to hit you harder." She looked at him stubbornly from under her eyebrows.

Scarlett heard his laughter again and saw him coming closer to her.

"It's nice that you've decided to tell me the truth now." She heard a note of relief in his voice.

"So Mr. Wilkes didn't try to break his marriage vows and remained faithful to his wife?" He sounded smug.

She definitely noticed that this information lifted his spirits noticeably as if a heavy weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Was he really worried that something might have happened between her and Ashley? Was it because he was possessive and didn't want anyone to be with her when he had told her more than once that he wanted her; or was there something more behind it?

She wouldn't give in to him, no. He never apologized for being rude to her, which meant he deserved to suffer a little.

Scarlett smiled into his eyes.

"I didn't say he didn't try. I would say that he even took some liberties." She saw her words achieve their goal.

His face contorted.

"Scarlett, what did he do?" He grabbed her by the shoulders.

"Nothing I'll regret for the rest of my life Rhett."

"What made him stop? Did he remember his honor?" He smiled, but his smile was more like a grin.

"No, I stopped him." She looked at him defiantly.

He looked surprised.

"Why?" She wasn't going to give an answer.

Scarlett couldn't tell him the truth about how the memory of his kiss had stopped her from possibly making the biggest mistake of her life. No, it will stay with her forever.

"Scarlett, tell me why did you do this?"

He looked too impatient. She felt uncomfortable, he couldn't know the truth.

"I do not know, I just decided that it was wrong." She shrugged, trying to look as indifferent as possible.

Rhett watched her closely, but then stepped back, releasing her. Scarlett was glad that he didn't insist.

"I think it's time for us to go back," she looked at Rhett questioningly.

"Yes, I'll join you in a few minutes."

Scarlett returned to the hall and was intercepted by Melanie.

"Oh, Scarlett, there you are. India was looking for you to find out about Christmas dinner. She wanted to ask about the menu."

Melanie looked behind her and smiled radiantly.

"Captain Butler..."

Scarlett turned around and saw Rhett walking towards them. After their last meeting, his behavior changed. He seemed calm, and he was smiling at Melanie.

"Mrs. Wilkes, it's good to see you." He bent down and kissed her hand.

"Scarlett told me that you gave Suellen the fabric for her wedding dress. That was so sweet of you. What could be more important for every bride than to look radiant on such a day?" She looked at him with such admiration, as if he had taken her out of Atlanta again, and not just spent money in some store.

Scarlett rolled her eyes and then saw that Rhett noticed it and grinned.

"It was a pleasure to give a gift to Scarlett's sister. You're absolutely right, Mrs. Wilkes, the bride should look her best."

Scarlett did not want to listen to this small talk, so she excused herself and went to look for India to find out exactly what she wanted. Talking to her wasn't the best thing in the world, but it was better than listening to Melanie babble in front of Rhett.

After a while, she was left alone and lazily began to look around the hall. Her gaze landed on Ashley, who was talking to Frank Kennedy. She remembered his previous words that this evening was similar to the ones they had before the war. Maybe he was right. The people around were laughing and drinking punch. They danced and had light conversations as if there was no war. Once she dreamed of becoming the mistress of Twelve Oaks; holding receptions and standing side by side with Ashley. In her dreams, they would walk arm in arm through the alleys of the plantation, watching the peach trees bloom and talking about everything in the world. It would be such a wonderful life.

"Scarlett, can I invade your thoughts?" She heard a familiar deep voice in her ear. "I understand your fascination with Mr. Wilkes, but you shouldn't watch him so closely in the presence of his wife and prying eyes, dear. It won't do you any good," Rhett said reproachfully.

She didn't notice that she was really staring at Ashley and the fact that Rhett noticed it made her angry.

"Thanks for the advice, Captain Butler, but I'll figure it out on my own."

She wanted to leave, but he grabbed her arm.

"Let me ask you to dance, Scarlett."

"Only if you stop talking about Ashley, please."

Rhett didn't say anything, just nodded and led her out onto the dance floor. Scarlett heard the familiar waltz melody and felt Rhett's hand pull her towards him. He pulled her too close for it to be considered proper, but now she didn't care. She hadn't danced in so long, and Rhett waltzed divinely. She looked up at him and saw him smiling.

"You look magnificent today, Scarlett. The color blue suits you very well."'

"Thank you for the gift, Rhett, it was very sweet." She looked at him from under her eyelashes and was rewarded by his laughter.

"You're welcome dear, and on this beautiful evening I will even let you flirt with me like with your plantation boys."

"Oh Rhett, don't be so nasty, it's such a wonderful evening." He pressed her harder.

"I can't disagree. By the way, Mrs. Wilkes was so kind and invited me to Christmas dinner. Dare I hope to see you there?"

"You already know that I helped her organize it, I'm sure Melanie told you about it, so yes, of course I'll be there." She frowned.

"You've got me figured out, she really did tell me about it."

"I'll be glad to see you, Rhett."

He raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"Really?"

"Why is this surprising to you? We always have a good time together." He laughed even louder.

"Yes, Scarlett, you're right, you and I are having a great time trying to kill each other. If you promise me this adventure for Christmas, I definitely can't miss it."

Scarlett wanted to get angry and yell at him, but the only thing she did was laugh. He was really right. When they were together it was explosive, but it made her feel alive. The fire that they kindled with their verbal sparring flared up so much that it could consume anything and everything in its path. But wasn't that exactly the point? To have a person with whom you don't have to hide your thoughts? A person who will not condemn you for showing your true feelings?

It made her realize that she didn't feel hatred or contempt for Rhett. Of course, there were times when he annoyed her. Oh, there were plenty of those moments. Otherwise, though, he was a very pleasant companion. Smart and insightful, able to fight verbal battles with her, in which she always lost, but nothing stimulated her brain like him.

Most of the time Ashley talked about lost dreams and illusions that she couldn't understand. He was a bright reminder of that life that will never return. No matter how painful it was to realize this, Scarlett knew that she needed to move on. Ashley, on the other hand, stubbornly tried to cling to something that no longer existed.

Rhett on the other hand always talked about the here and now. He was the earthly one, the one who stood firmly on this earth. The one who it seemed could not be knocked down by any storms. An indestructible wall to lean against and lean on.

No matter what, he was always there when she needed him. This will make things easier for her to carry the weight of her life problems and make things easier for her. No matter how annoying he was, infuriating her with his statements, he always seemed to be right. It was nice to have a person who supports you and doesn't judge you for every act.

Suddenly, one treacherous thought popped into her head. It was so unexpected and so inherently frightening that Scarlett wanted to run and not look back.

She wanted Rhett Butler...