~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
Dane was in his office, surrounded by towering stacks of documents that required his signature when a sudden commotion erupted outside.The noise was unexpected and jarring, shattering the quiet atmosphere of the office.Dane's brows furrowed deeply, lines of irritation etching themselves across his forehead.Who had the audacity to cause such a ruckus in his workplace?With a sense of urgency, he grabbed the remote control from his desk and hit the power button to activate the surveillance camera.The large screen mounted on the wall flickered to life, revealing the feed from the surveillance cameras.What Dane saw made his blood boil. Ten men in crisp black suits were being led into the building by a young man who exuded an air of confidence and purpose.Dane's pupils dilated in disbelief. In an instant, he sprang to his feet, his chair rolling back and hitting the wall with a dull thud.Anger simmered just below the surface, threatening to boil over at any moment.He marched toward
Dane's rage had not fully abated - it had merely simmered down to a vengeful wrath that stubbornly refused to be extinguished no matter how hard he tried to douse the flames.He flung open the heavy metal door to his warehouse with an aggressive force, causing a resounding boom to echo like a thunderclap as it crashed against the walls.The sound of his shoes striking the marble floor reverberated menacingly like predatory stalking as he advanced further inside where his men awaited their fate.They were all standing at rigid attention in a straight line, shoulders back and heads bowed in a posture of submission fit for a firing squad.Not a single one of them dared to make eye contact as Dane slowly patrolled in front of them, his piercing gaze lingering over each of their tense forms in turn like a general inspecting his troops.The heavy silence stretched on interminably until Dane finally came to a halt before them."What...should I do...with you useless bastards now?" he pondered
Scarlet was practically bouncing around her room, moving with a cheerful lightness as the wedding date crept closer. Just the thought of all the high-profile guests that would be attending had her buzzing with excitement.She could already picture the headlines - "Doctor Scarlet, Daughter of Governor Wovers, Marries Lincoln Blake of the Prestigious Blake Family Fortune."Her heart swelled with joy at the thought of the prestige and status their union would bring."Babe! Hurry up, I've got a ton of work to do today!" Lincoln's urgent voice shattered her reverie."Just a sec!" she called back, hastily doing one final sweep of the room to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything before hurrying out."Okay, I'm ready, let's go!" she announced breathlessly.Lincoln clicked his tongue in irritation at her delay but didn't comment further as he headed for the door.Scarlet was still brimming with anticipation. She gave her mom a quick peck on the cheek before scurrying after Lincoln.As soon
Scarlet froze. Horror and disbelief rendered her momentarily immobile as she took in the man's easy, mischievous smile and the dark promise lurking in his eyes.“Lincoln—”Her voice was strangled into silence as a rough hand clamped over her mouth.The scream died in her throat, leaving only muffled whimpers and panicked breaths.Scarlet’s hands flew up, pushing against his shoulder with every bit of strength she had, but it was like shoving a brick wall. Her arms trembled, powerless against his iron grip.“What a delightful surprise to have you here, princess,” Dane’s voice dripped with a twisted sort of charm.“Let me go, you sicko!” Scarlet tried to yell, but her voice came out as little more than a gasp. His hand held her so firmly that even breathing was a struggle, yet somehow he seemed to have calculated it perfectly, allowing her just enough air to keep the fight alive within her.She glanced around wildly, searching for any escape—prompting his fingers to dig deeper, stilling
Dane emerged from his suite the next morning, looking every bit the picture of refined elegance in his trademark dark suit. Not a single hair was out of place in his meticulously styled coif as he made his way to the dining room where his mother awaited.Mrs. Creighton looked up from her plate as her son entered, taking in his pristine appearance with a small, sad smile. No matter how grown and hardened he became, she could still see the sweet little boy he once was.Her heart ached for those long-lost days of innocence and joy.They ate their breakfast in tense silence after sharing their usual morning pleasantries.Dane refused to meet his mother's searching gaze, focusing intently on his meal instead.He could feel her eyes boring into him, pleading for him to open up and let her in like he used to as a child. But those days were gone. His life's purpose had become an all-consuming obsession that left no room for the gentle affections of family. Not anymore.As Dane finished the la
Scarlet finally left the hospital after completing her mandatory training hours. Though relief washed over her at being done, her mind dwelled on the multitude of worries weighing her down.Firstly, there was the ongoing rift between Lincoln and his father over the failed business deal at their firm. The two stubborn men remained at an impasse, unable to see eye-to-eye.Then Michael's company had fallen on hard times. A sharp decline in stock value had caused investors to pull out in droves, leaving Michael's finances teetering on the edge of ruin."I don't know how much more stress poor Michael can take," Scarlet muttered under her breath as she merged on a gridlocked highway.As if her loved ones' troubles weren't enough, pesky rumors had started circulating about her at the hospital.Though she didn't know what sparked the gossip, it caused most of her colleagues to give her a wide berth lately, averting their eyes whenever she passed by.Scarlet felt a lump form in her throat as s
Dane strode into the room with his footsteps heavy on the floor.The bedroom was oddly out of place in the middle of what should have been a dingy warehouse. It was meticulously prepared just for Scarlet's arrival the previous day.A detail that would definitely raise some eyebrows if anyone was aware.He paused as he approached the well-laid bed where she still slept soundly, peaceful and oblivious to her surroundings.Dane simply observed her for a long moment, taking in the gentle rise and fall of her chest with each breath. But then a soft sigh escaped her lips shortly before her eyelids fluttered. She was waking up.Scarlet's eyes cracked open slowly, struggling to adjust to the unfamiliar light.She blinked groggily as she took in the strange bedroom.Her gaze eventually landed on the figure standing by the window."Where am I?" she croaked out in a voice heavy and strained. "What happened?"Dane heard the words but didn't react. He simply sneered inwardly as he glanced sideways
Terror propelled Flora to her feet. Her body swayed like a reed in the wind as she attempted to flee. Unfortunately, her escape lasted mere seconds before Dane's fingers tangled in her hair, yanking her back with savage force.His features transformed into a mask of unbridled fury."Please, I'm begging you." Chris's voice cracked with desperation. "She's just a child, innocent of all this. Take my life instead. She doesn’t know anything of the person you want."Tears streamed down Chris's face as he collapsed to his knees.Dane's penetrating gaze shifted between the trembling girl and his former right-hand man with his expression unreadable.The girl's presence stirred something deep within Dane - a recognition of the pure innocence he'd once known in another.His dead love interest had taught him to recognize the difference between genuine innocence and calculated deception. Yet this knowledge did nothing to stay his hand as he tightened his grip on Flora’s hair, drawing a sharp cry
Chris’s stomach twisted at Dane’s words. He knew what his boss was capable of, and he knew that Scarlet or Hanna as he had tried to convince Dane was in grave danger.“Sir, please—”Dane silenced Chris with a glare. “I don’t need your permission, and I certainly don’t need your protection!” He snarled.With that, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, his men trailing behind him.Chris watched him go and his heart pounded in his chest.Dane refused any company in his car, having his security detail follow at a respectful distance in another vehicle.His grip on the leather-wrapped steering wheel tightened until his knuckles blanched white.The interior of the car felt suffocating, charged with the electricity of his rage. Every breath he drew felt like inhaling fire… his chest constricting with an emotion he refused to name."How dare she?" The words escaped through clenched teeth, venom dripping from each syllable. "How dare she crawl under my skin like this?"Memories of
Flora’s hands were trembling so badly she could barely turn on the faucet when she returned to the restroom.She splashed cold water on her face, her reflection in the mirror pale and wide-eyed.Her heart was still racing, and she pressed a hand to her chest, trying to steady her breathing.The man who had dragged her into that room was terrifying. Yet, there was something strange about him—something almost… noble.He had let her go, after all. Why? She couldn’t understand it.“Flora! Where have you been?” Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her brother’s voice filled with worry.She turned to see him standing just outside the restroom with their mother close behind. Both of them looked anxious, their faces tight with concern.“I was about to come in there after you!” Jean continued in a tone sharp yet laced with relief.“I’m sorry,” Flora said quickly, forcing a weak smile. “My stomach was upset, and I felt dizzy. That’s why I took so long.”Jean frowned, scanning her pale
Dane stood before the mirror the next morning, meticulously adjusting his tie. His reflection stared back at him, cold and unyielding, the sharp lines of his face a perfect match for the sharpness of his emotions.He had chosen his finest suit and the scent of his signature cologne clung to his skin like a second layer.Behind him, the woman in his bed stirred but didn’t wake. He glanced at her briefly with his expression unreadable.He had no intention of waking her… she would follow soon enough, and if she didn’t, there would be consequences. She knew that. He had made it clear.By the time he stepped outside, Chris and the security team were already waiting.The usual salutes from his men were conspicuously absent. Dane noticed but didn’t comment. His demeanor had grown colder, harsher, and he suspected the shift hadn’t gone unnoticed. Everyone was scared to even utter a word around him.The convoy moved swiftly through the city until they reached the company.Chris busied himself
~Meanwhile~Dane leaned back elegantly in his chair.The air in the warehouse office was thick with tension.Across from him, Chris stood with the kind of poised stillness that made him almost blend into the background. His hands were clasped neatly in front of him, his posture respectful but rigid, like he was bracing for whatever Dane might say next.“Why do I care, Chris?” Dane’s voice broke the silence, low and strained. The faint tremor in his voice betrayed the turmoil he worked so hard to conceal.Chris’s lips parted slightly before closing again. “I do not know, sir.” He replied finally.Dane let out a sharp and frustrated sigh. He lowered his head into his hand, his thumb and index finger pressing into the sides of his forehead.The weight of Chris’s response settled uncomfortably in his chest.Was Chris being deliberately evasive? Or was he genuinely clueless? Dane couldn’t decide, and the uncertainty only deepened the gnawing tension inside him.The room felt stifling, suffo
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.Tears
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?"