Prepare for the upcoming chapters; they will be intense.
Scarlet’s hand stretched toward the doorknob and her fingers barely grazed the cool metal when a large hand slammed against the door.Her heart jumped to her throat.She frantically twisted the handle and pulled with all her might but the door wouldn't move an inch.Scarlet slowly turned around in defeat, dreading what she’d see.Her 5'4" frame felt impossibly small as she faced Dane, who towered over her with his broad shoulders blocking any escape route.The fluorescent hospital lights cast shadows across his face, making his expression even more menacing."Going somewhere, doctor?" Dane’s voice was soft yet held an edge that made her skin crawl.He shifted his weight, placing his supposedly injured arm against the door and leaned down to her eye level.The arrogant smirk she'd grown to hate played on his lips, but there was something darker in it now."Mr. Creighton, I need you to step back. This is completely inappropriate for a doctor-patient relationship." Scarlet tried to keep h
Scarlet was a crumpled heap on the floor, racked with uncontrollable sobs that shook her entire frame. Her face was buried in her hands, but it did nothing to muffle the heart-wrenching sounds of her anguish.Dane hadn't approached her out of the blue - no, he had an agenda. And Scarlet was painfully aware of that. But who could she turn to for help? Lincoln would surely lose his mind if he found out.He would turn her world upside down in his rage. At the end, she'd be exposed, lose her job and her reputation irreparably tarnished.Then there was Michael to consider. His brand of "assistance" would no doubt involve firearms and outright bloodshed, consequences she couldn't begin to fathom.Scarlet shuddered at the thought, cradling her arms around her midsection. No, she couldn't risk either of them finding out, not when her attacker was clearly a dangerous and unhinged man who didn't scare easily.A fresh wave of sobs tore from her throat as the realization crashed over her.She was
Lincoln was in no better condition than Scarlet, his own body thrummed with an intoxicating blend of desire and concern as she practically devoured him with her desperate kisses.He grinned when she eventually pulled away, panting hard against his kiss-swollen lips."Not that I'm complaining, but...damn, baby," Lincoln rasped, resting his forehead against hers as they both struggled to catch their breath. "Where did that come from all of a sudden? I mean, not that I've ever known you to be shy, but..."Scarlet swallowed thickly. She averted her gaze, fighting to regain her composure.She knew she needed to come up with some plausible excuse for her erratic behavior, something that wouldn't raise too many red flags with Lincoln.The last thing she wanted was for him to start prying into the truth behind her current state."I...the attending doctor I was working under today, he...he reprimanded me pretty harshly in front of the entire staff," Scarlet mumbled at last, hating how weak and
~Meanwhile~Dane’s fleets of convoys finally pulled up to one of his nondescript warehouses.He sat back against the deep red leather seat, rubbing a hand over his stubbled jaw as he eyed the well-guarded building.He couldn't afford to delay this particular victory any longer - not if he wanted to keep his tenuous grip on his rapidly unraveling sanity.The itch beneath his skin had been driving him to distraction for days now, an insistent craving that could only be satisfied by indulging in his...darker tendencies.He pushed open the car door before his men could and stalked towards the warehouse's main entrance with purposeful strides.He didn't bother announcing his presence. Every one of his men stationed here knew better than to loiter in the open when he was due to arrive.Sure enough, the entire place was deserted and cloaked in shadows as he stepped across the threshold. Except Chris who was following behind him.The men in black stationed at the main office in this warehouse
Dane threw his head back, letting out a harsh, mocking sound. “There won’t be another time, bitch.”With that, he raised the belt high in the air before bringing it down with brutal force.The poor girl couldn't dodge it. A terrified gasp left her throat as the belt struck her with such intensity that it tore into her skin—especially the iron tip biting deep into her flesh.Another strike came down on her body, drawing a scream from her but the soundproofed walls of the apartment absorbed them completely, ensuring no one outside would hear her cries for help.Despite her desperate pleas for mercy, the belt continued to lash down on her without mercy.Her skin soon became a canvas of dark bruises, and her cries gradually diminished into soft whimpers.Dane lost count of how many times he struck her, but he was determined each lash would leave her incapacitated.Finally, he stopped and tossed the belt aside, feeling a cold satisfaction at having achieved his goal.He felt a wave of excit
~The next morning~Scarlet sat on her bed after showering and getting ready for work, then reached for her phone to call Lincoln. They had aagreed to talk the previous evening but he never called. She began to worry when his phone rang several times before he finally picked up."Hello, my love," Lincoln said, sounding tired."Lincoln, are you feeling alright?" Her brows furrowed at his tired tone.He let out a big sigh. "I'm just exhausted, babe. But I'll be fine." He tried to downplay it."Are you coming? Do you think you can still make it? Or should I come over?"There was a heavy sigh on the other end. "I'm just...really tired, babe. Drained. You really don't have to worry about me.""Don't give me that," Scarlet chided, already hopping off the bed. She knew that weary tone - he was definitely not fine. "Where are you? I'm coming over.""Scar, you don't have to-""Yes, I do!" She grabbed her keys off the nightstand, the phone cradled between her ear and shoulder. "Now are you still
Scarlet’s return to the hospital was anything but voluntary. The resident doctor had called to utter a stern ultimatum: attend immediately or face disciplinary action akin to that of a novice trainee.With a heavy heart, she pecked Lincoln goodbye and hastened to the institution that demanded her presence.Upon arrival, Scarlet made a beeline for the doctor’s office. Her knock on his door was light and almost hesitant.“Come on in!” the no-nonsense doctor’s voice rang from behind the door, and she stepped inside to confront the aged man who presided over her work.Scarlet gave a respectful bow as a greeting but was met by a gruff response."Within these hospital walls, titles and social status hold no significance. You are not the daughter of the governor of the capital, nor are you the fiancée of the son of an economist. Here, we are all equal, united in our pursuit of healing and well-being. Do you understand?” The doctor's words were laced with a rising anger, reminding her sharply
~That evening~Michael trudged through the front door, dead tired after a brutal day. All he wanted was to faceplant onto his bed and pass out. But when he walked into the living room, he found his mom slouched on the couch, looking like someone had run over her puppy."Aw, man, not this again," Michael groaned inwardly before shuffling over to plop down next to her. "Hey, mom? You alright?"Mrs. Wovers jumped a little, like she'd been a million miles away. "Michael! Oh, honey..." She blinked rapidly, trying for a smile, but it came out more like a grimace. "I'm fine, dear, just fine."Michael felt the urge to wrap his arms around her and ask what was weighing so heavily on her mind.His mother's sad, deflated demeanor was concerning. However, he restrained himself and kept his cool, patiently waiting for her to open up instead of bombarding her with questions.Finally, he couldn’t remain silent anymore. "Mom, just tell me what's going on already. You know how I hate having to guess a
Both mother and daughter clung to each other, their sobs filling the room.Scarlet felt like her chest might burst from the intensity of it all. For the first time in what felt like forever, she let herself sink into her mother’s embrace, into the warmth she thought she’d lost forever.Her face pressed into her mother’s shoulder, and she breathed in that familiar scent—soft and floral, the smell of home, of safety, of unconditional love. It was the same perfume her mom had always worn, and the familiarity of it made her cry harder.Mrs. Wovers eventually pulled back just far enough to take in Scarlet’s face.Her hands cupped Scarlet’s cheeks, trembling as though she couldn’t believe this was real. Then, she began pressing frantic kisses all over her daughter’s face—her forehead, her cheeks, her closed eyes, the tip of her nose. She even gave a quick peck on Scarlet’s lips, just like she usually did when Scarlet was a little girl.“My baby,” she whispered between kisses. “My sweet, bea
Scarlet’s stomach churned the moment Michael mentioned their father had moved back into the mansion.It wasn’t fear. No, she’d burned through her fear of that man long ago. What churned inside her now was pure, undiluted hatred.Not a single part of her cared about his wellbeing. Not his health, not his life—nothing. The mere thought of him being in the same space as her made her jaw tighten.Her hands curled into fists on her lap. “I swear to God, if he tries to touch me…” Her voice was low, venomous, muttered like a warning to herself.She didn’t finish the sentence. She didn’t need to. The thought alone was enough to make her blood boil. She’d rather disappear into thin air than let him so much as glance at her again. After all, he was the one who had destroyed her life.The car slowed as it passed through the mansion’s towering gates. Scarlet glanced out the window, her eyes scanning the familiar grounds. The sprawling gardens, the stone pathways, the grand house… it all looked th
Michael leaned forward to kiss her forehead before pulling her into another hug. "Lincoln is struggling without you. He's been seeing a psychiatrist due to his parents persistent and concern for health."The hair on Scarlet's head stood on end as she looked at his face for confirmation.He nodded solemnly. "You don't know how much he's suffered since you left. His condition is deteriorating. The doctors have warned his parents he might even... hurt himself."Lincoln!Scarlet gasped.The fear of facing him had driven her to her extreme actions, and now it was what kept her tied to her lie.But learning of his despair, she realized the extent of her selfishness. Even though she loved him truly, she feared him too.There would be no one else besides Lincoln in her life. The will to return for him, her mother, and her brother was what kept her going all these months.As for the devil responsible for shattering her dreams, she would do whatever it took to get rid of him from her life.Tear
Scarlet felt the weight of immense shame pressing down on her.She averted her gaze from her brother's intense stare, unable to meet the internal fire that burned relentlessly in his eyes.Tears flowed freely down her cheeks in a torrent unlike anything she'd ever experienced before.She drew in a shuddering breath, steeling herself to finally confide in him about the depths of agony she'd endured during her time living alone in a constant state of distress and fear."The fact that I became his...his whore, it shattered me, Michael," she confessed in a broken whisper. "I never should have been tainted by that indelible stain, that filth. You can't possibly understand the weight of shame and disgust that oppressed me, that shook me to my very core."Her voice took on a haunted edge as she pressed onward. "I lived in constant terror that Lincoln would somehow find out, would start to question my purity. And that's a doubt any man in his position would be justified in having, isn't it?"
Scarlet's face contorted in agony as she tried to locate the source of the throbbing ache pounding through her skull. Her eyelids fluttered open gradually, squinting against the harsh light assaulting her senses."Scarlet."She turned her head slowly at the sound of her old name spoken in a deep, achingly familiar voice - one she'd feared she might never hear again. Tears immediately welled up in her eyes as she drank in the sight of Michael hovering over her bedside, his expression a mix of raw hope and guarded restraint.Seeing him there, alive and whole, felt beyond her wildest dreams. But the new persona she'd crafted for herself, this "Hanna" she'd become, was utterly unprepared for the onslaught of emotions his presence stirred up. Lying to him seemed like a terrible thing to do...but maybe it was for the best, at least for now."Who...who are you?" she rasped out, her voice little more than a tremulous whisper as she fought to keep it steady.The look of stunned disbelief that
Dane remained atop the mall building, his sharp gaze fixed on the suspicious events unfolding below. As is customary, Chris stood slightly behind him to his right while a couple of hulking bodyguards stood some distance away from them."Isn't that...?" Dane trailed off with a slight frown creasing his.Chris nodded. "Yes, sir."Dane hummed thoughtfully. "I'm curious about the identity of this female he happened to run into, and then abruptly left with such urgency."Chris gave another solemn nod, his gaze lowered deferentially. "Got it, sir."After a few more tense moments watching the drama play out, Dane turned on his heel and strode away, his entourage falling into step behind him.He climbed into the backseat of his Bentley while Chris took the front passenger seat, and they peeled away from the mall.As the city scenery flashed by outside the tinted windows, Dane couldn't shake the unsettling feeling of nostalgia the glimpse of that girl with the short black hair had stirred with
Hanna jerked violently in Jean's arms at the sound of the familiar booming voice, her body going rigid with terror.If Jean hadn't been holding her so tightly, she would've crumpled bonelessly to the floor. As it was, he collapsed back with her dead weight still clutched firmly against his shoulder, struggling to keep them both upright."No, no, no, don't let him take me," Hanna rasped out desperately, her voice little more than a ragged whisper of panic.Her eyes were wide and wild, darting around like a cornered animal searching for an escape route."Calm down, Hanna. Nobody is going to take you away, I promise," Jean murmured, trying to soothe her with a gentle tone even as his own heart hammered with anxious confusion.He glanced around and noticed his mother and sister standing just a few feet away, completely oblivious to the drama unfolding right under their noses.His chin quivered with the effort of holding the trembling girl against him, but in the end, he couldn't stop the
~END OF FLASHBACK~The family of three plus Hanna made themselves comfy in Jean's modest sedan, then hit the road towards the big city. Jean had some chill tunes playing, setting a relaxed vibe in the car while Hanna gazed out the windows, watching the fields and countryside roll by. It had been a while since she'd seen streetlights.Unaware that for some, daily concerns were more about having their basic needs met and feeling secure in their homes rather than money or hatred, Hanna pondered the simple, kindhearted love this family seemed to share.She snuck a sideways glance at Flora, whose face was alight with awe and wonder at the bustling cityscape coming into view. In that moment, Hanna was struck by the wide-eyed innocence of a child raised amidst the fields.Mrs. Kemron had tagged along too, and she seemed just as gobsmacked by the city's modern visuals - the towering skyscrapers with their massive ad screens, the brightly lit buildings. Even though they'd seen it all before, t
Flora was not pleased by the overly chipper tone the girl used. "I pray I live long enough to see you smile for once," she pouted, jutting out her lower lip. "Now up. We're all going out and about after breakfast. You, me, and Jean."Hanna sat up with a start, the sheets pooling around her waist. "Go to the city with you guys? Why?""Jean needs some machines for his business and decided to bring us along," Flora explained, rolling her eyes. "So come with us and have fun, forget about the past for once...even if you can't actually remember it."Hanna reluctantly swung her legs over the side of the bed, nervously rubbing the back of her neck. "I appreciate you know I can't recall my past," she began, pulling out a simple summer dress from her wooden closet and turning back to Flora. "But you guys go ahead and have fun. I don't really want to go into town."A long, dramatic groan escaped Flora's lips. "But Jean wants to take us! He's doing this for you, Hanna. He wants you to be happy!"