“Dad… what are you saying?”Scarlett stared at Mr. Larson in shock, unable to believe what she’d just heard.Mr. Larson’s expression remained cold, his tone leaving no room for argument.“I said your paperwork’s almost done. In a few days, I’ll be sending you to study abroad in Brolanya. Start packing.”His words hit her like a slap. Her eyes immediately welled with tears, and her hands began to tremble. But her voice, though choked, was firm.“I’m not going.”“You don’t have a choice.”He slammed his hand down on the desk, the loud thud echoing through the study.But Scarlett didn’t flinch. She lifted her arm and wiped her tears roughly with her sleeve.“I’m an adult now. You may be my father, but you can’t control my freedom. I’m not going, and that’s final.”She didn’t give him a chance to respond. She turned and stormed out of the study.The moment she stepped into her room, all her bravado crumbled. She bit her fingertip and began pacing in circles, muttering to herself,“Wh
The Larson Residence.Mr. Larson had been busy with arrangements to send his daughter overseas. He’d quietly reached out to old friends, building connections abroad. Once everything was in place, his plan was to send Scarlett ahead while he handled the transfer of assets.Scarlett, however, had no idea what her father was up to. She wasn’t in the right headspace to think about anything else right now.All she wanted was for her father to accept Steven and give them his blessing to stay together.Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t be so anxious. But things were different now. She could sense a shift in her father’s attitude, and if she didn’t do something soon, she might be facing a bigger problem.She bit her lip, mulling it over.Should she cry, scream, threaten to run away?Would any of that soften him up?Just as she was deep in thought, a knock came at the door.She jumped up and rushed to open it.Steven stood there with a thermal container in hand, eyes full of wa
“Did you ever truly see me as your daughter?” Lucy asked, her eyes rimmed with red. “Or was I just another pawn for you to use?”Mrs. Chancer’s expression flickered, but just as she seemed moved, the baby in Charlotte’s arms cooed softly. At the sound, she hardened again.“Lucy, how could you think that?” she said, forcing calm into her tone. “You know how much I’ve loved you. I’ve always protected you, haven’t I? The only time I ever let you down was because of this child. But you’re his aunt. Of course you should’ve protected him.”The disappointment in Lucy’s eyes deepened. This answer was exactly what she’d expected and dreaded.Her voice trembled as she continued, “What if I told you… that my time in that mental hospital was a living hell? Would you regret it then?”Mrs. Chancer’s brows creased. She reached out and gently grasped Lucy’s arm. “Sweetheart, you’re a Chancer. Why would anyone there dare treat you badly? Your brother made all the arrangements—”But Lucy wrenched
Back at the villa, Sarah was brought into the same room as before. She noticed immediately that everything had been restored to how it was, as if nothing had ever happened.Leon set her down on the bed, then immediately backed away.“Don’t worry,” he said, keeping his distance. “I won’t touch you again without your consent.” To make his point, he stepped back even farther.Her arms and legs ached with dull, persistent pain. All she had left was exhaustion and the need for rest.“I hope you mean that,” she murmured, eyes already fluttering closed.Leon turned and left the room.—At the Chancer residence, James had been distracted for days. Every time he saw Charlotte, he was reminded of what Lucy had said—how she’d conspired with Leon and Mrs. Sanders, how she had tried to hurt Sarah.Charlotte entered the study with their child in her arms, her voice soft and sweet. “James, look at the baby. He misses you. You haven’t held him in days.”Lately, James had gone back to his old
Leon pulled Sarah out of Zachary’s grasp and gripped her hand tightly.No one had expected her to choose Leon—not Zachary, not the bodyguards blocking Julian at the door. Even Julian himself was stunned.Inside the luxury car, Sarah sat in the back seat, her expression shadowed.Leon’s heart was overflowing with a brief, startled joy. But before he could savor it, Sarah doused him with cold water.“You don’t actually think I chose you because I like you, do you?” Her voice was icy. “I only did it because I can’t stand Zachary. Seeing him gives me a feeling I can’t describe. It makes my skin crawl.“And you? I’ve always hated you. So whether it’s mild hatred or deep hatred doesn’t really matter.”Leon’s smile vanished. His hands clenched into fists.In another car, Zachary sat in the back while Steven drove up front, the air inside heavy and cold.“Zachary… where’s Miss Sanders?” Steven asked quietly.The driver shivered, glancing at Steven as if to say, ‘wrong question.’Stev
“Have you been holding up okay lately?” Zachary asked carefully.Sarah’s face stayed blank. “I’m fine.”But inside, that same bitter, choking feeling rose again—like something lodged in her throat that she could neither swallow nor spit out.Zachary’s voice grew gentler. “Sarah, Scarlett’s already gone home. When she left she could talk and interact normally again.”“That’s good… she doesn’t know what’s happened to me, does she?” Sarah’s heart tightened.Zachary shook his head. “No. Nobody knows about her situation either. Don’t worry.”Sarah exhaled in relief, then asked, “And Melvin?”“He’s been going crazy trying to find you. After you were taken, he immediately stripped Mrs. Sanders of all her positions. But he’s worried about you.”“I’m just glad he’s okay.” Sarah’s need to confirm the truth was urgent; she had no idea if what Leon had told her was real.Leon sat nearby, watching the two of them talk as if they were old friends. Their quiet back‑and‑forth only made his bl