"You disgust me, Scarlett. I never thought you’d be this desperate.” In an ice-cold tone, Luca said while dragging Scarlett by the arm outside the office building of the James and Powel Law Firm.
Betrayal at its worst. Luca James used to be her sun, the one who lit up her world with his smile and the special look he always had for her whenever their eyes met.
'Was this the same Luca that I love?’ Even she could not recognize him, not with the way he seemed revolted by her presence.
"Did you really think I would choose you over Courtney? No, not when I now know the kind of person you truly are,” He hinted.
The words he said pierced through her heart in ways she thought were impossible. 'What? What was he saying? And why would he choose her over me? I have known him the longest. I was there when he needed a shoulder to cry on when he was at his worst!’
"Are - are you really breaking up with me?” She weakly asked before sucking in a deep breath, holding back the tears that threatened to fall down her cheeks.
"How could you humiliate Courtney? How could you threaten her?” Luca sought. “Whatever respect I had left for you, you threw it away the moment you humiliated the woman that I love!”
His eyes landed on the diamond ring that gleamed on her finger and he demanded, "Give me back that ring. You don’t deserve it.”
Scarlett clenched her hands, thinking how this was just a dream. 'Luca could not do this to me. He loved me and not her. How was it possible for a man’s affection to change so suddenly? This is all Courtney’s fault! She brainwashed him like she did my parents!’
While contemplating on his hurtful words, her eyes wandered to her adopted sister. Courtney Barnes, the same woman that stole her parent’s affection, was standing behind Luca with a self-satisfied look on her face. She purposely flaunted her hand that Scarlett saw the bigger rock on her finger.
'What?’ Realization hit her. She asked Luca, "Did - did you propose to her already? We - we just got engaged three months ago.”
His silence was the answer, and that was all she needed to lose all her reason. Anger surged in her heart and tears stung her eyes.
She freed herself from Luca’s hold and took off the ring around her finger. How badly she wanted to scratch Courtney’s face with it, but instead, Scarlett threw the ring in Courtney’s direction.
Much to her surprise, her adopted sister screamed, as if pained by a mere diamond ring!
"Ouch! Scarlett. I know I hurt you, but you did not have to go to this extreme!” Courtney said while weeping. Her hand crawled down her jaw, revealing a scratch on her face.
'What? Did she scratch herself with her own ring?’ Before Scarlett could further assess the situation, a firm hand pulled her aside, and a powerful slap went across her face! The blow came unexpectedly, making her body swing to the other side, her frame landing on the sidewalk.
For a fleeting moment, she stopped breathing, shocked at how the love of her life had sent her sprawling on the ground, her heart breaking into a million pieces.
"And now you are hurting Courtney with your hands? I shall have you locked up for assault!” Luca threatened, his eyes piercing through Scarlett’s slender body.
"Me? Assault? You were the one who slapped me in the open -”
Out of nowhere, her long-time office friend, Mina, appeared beside Courtney and announced, "I have proof of what you did, Scarlett. Now everyone will know what a vengeful person you really are!”
Mina raised her mobile and played the video. The angle at which Mina took the recording made it seem like she hit Courtney with her hand.
It was another awakening for Scarlett. Mina betrayed her too. How woeful her life was turning out to be.
More people crowded around them and Luca put the blame on her. "This woman harmed my future wife! It was only fitting that I retort! Not only that, she disrupted our workplace with her personal grudge, a conduct, unbecoming of a future lawyer.”
It was true, though. Scarlett went after Courtney. How could she not? She had many years together with Luca. Their relationship blossomed from being friends to lovers, and she cherished their bond. How could she freely hand Luca away? Worse, to her mortal enemy?
Back in the office, she called Courtney a mistress, an ungrateful fake daughter of the Barnes who lived a life that was meant for Scarlett.
"Luca, have you forgotten how Courtney has taken my family away? I am the legitimate child of the Barnes, yet Courtney -”
"Shut up! That was not her fault, either. This is the last time that you will disturb us. You are officially fired from the law firm and as punishment for harming Courtney, I will see that every firm will not employ you, and every other corporate office!” Luca barked, his voice strengthened, appearing to thunder across the open space. All the more, eyes landed on her wretched state.
Meanwhile, Courtney had a smug look on her face, yet when Luca turned around, her expression transformed into regret. Courtney said, "Luca, she’s not worth your anger. Let’s forgive her. She is my sister, after all.”
Scarlett watched as Luca put an arm around Cortney and she heard him say to her, “You are really kind, my love… Unlike someone who I thought I knew well.”
'What a fake! She is the devil reborn!’ Scarlett wanted to say it out loud, but she keep her remarks to herself. She had… just about enough.
Enough was enough.
As if the skies were also against her that day, it poured heavily outside the law office building, drenching her clothes.
"Leave and don’t show your face to us ever again!” Those were the last words Luca said to her before he ordered the security personnel to shoo her away.
Scarlett did not know how long she remained under the rain, but as soon as she was up on her feet, she swore to the heavens above, "I swear to you, Luca and Courtney, I will get my revenge. You will regret what you did to me. Just wait and see.”
A year passed. "Marry me. I would rather spend one lifetime with you – than face all the ages of this world without you,” said a green-eyed beauty before her. "Marry you?” While completely entertained, Scarlett was fairly taken aback. She absolutely did not know how to react to such a sweet and genuine proposal, no matter how young her new suitor may be. Raising both her brows, she sought, “Where -where did you learn that?” "It’s called, G - O - O - G - L - E. Lines from Lord Of The Rings by J.R.R Tolkien,” the young man answered with a wink. Scarlett snorted and laughed at her handsome and utterly adorable admirer. After Luca broke her heart, she claimed to get revenge one day. Sadly for her, Luca crushed her dreams of becoming a lawyer, thanks to his connections. She never got to take the bar examination. Luca blocked her from taking it, including getting hired from big to small enterprises. Since she never left Braeton City, she could not get a stable work either. Whene
Earlier that day at the Herbal Twist Restaurant. Wearing a hat over his head and dark sunglasses to cover his eyes, Kaleb Wright smirked at the sight of the woman who, for him, had the most beautiful espresso-colored eyes. Her straight and long dark brown hair cascaded down her back, and her smile easily brightened up his day. "Hello, Mister Pooh, I see you wearing my favorite character again. What would you like to have?” Said Miss Beauty. "I’ll have the usual hibiscus tea, please. Tha nk you,” Kaleb replied, and behind his dark-shaded glasses, he winked at her. Too bad she could not see it. That was all he knew about her… that she was beautiful. It was weeks ago that he discovered this restaurant and bar, a hidden gem in the heart of Braeton City. They served the best kinds of floral teas, which he had hoped to bring into the Diamond Hotels, the hotel chain belonging to their company. Back then, When Kaleb first spotted the establishment, he was only wearing a polo shirt,
“Liam! You got us all worried, son!” setting aside the presence of one, Miss Beauty, Kaleb leveled with Liam. He pulled him abruptly into his embrace and took pleasure in his arrival. He was feeling him, smelling him until he cupped his face, saying, “Why did you do that, Liam? You could have gotten hurt, or -” Kaleb stopped himself at the thought of Liam being taken. Considering his family’s wealth, that was not too far from possible. He gulped and pleaded, “Please, don’t do that, ever again. Do you understand me? I don’t know what I would do if anything bad happened to you.” Liam’s arms returned his father’s hold. He took a deep breath and said, “I’m sorry, daddy.” His green eyes wandered to Boris and asked for an apology, “I’m sorry, uncle Boris. I - I did not want to have my injection. I wanted to hide. Don’t worry. I wasn’t hurt. I was with her.” It was as if it took all of him to resume, “I promise not to do it again.” Kaleb was stunned. Liam had the tendency to push whatever
The next day, Kaleb was busy at work, listening to a new investment proposal from inside a conference room at the Wright Diamond Corporation. He noticed his phone vibrating inside the pocket of his trousers, but considering how important the meeting was, he ignored the calls. After some time, however, the trunk line to the conference rang, disturbing the presentation. Kaleb’s eyes narrowed, wondering how important it was for his assistant to forward the call. No one else knew about the meeting, except for his assistant, and of course, the CEO, his brother. One of the managers took the call, and then he turned to Kaleb. "Mister Wright, it’s an emergency from the Third Diamond Hotel.” 'Emergency?’ Kaleb took a second to grab the handset and another moment to scan the team of employees who were equally curious about the emergency. “Hello." "Mister Wright. I’m very sorry to disturb you, but we have a situation.” Kaleb was familiar with the voice of the hotel’s General Manager, Miste
Heading back to the parking lot, Scarlett bit her lip at the sight of the splendid car. She pursed her lips and thought, ‘This may very be… my only chance to get a picture of this baby.’ Turning to Kaleb and Liam, she asked, “Can I possibly get a picture with the car?” She pouted and reasoned, “I really love this car. You have no idea how many times I’ve fantasized about this in the past.” Kaleb smirked. He replied, “You love the car? How about...” He coughed, covering his mouth, and faintly resumed, “the owner?” “What?” Out of excitement, Scarlett missed his last word. Liam, however, heard it perfectly. He said to Scarlett, “My beauty, who do you love more, the car or me?” Scarlett just could not help but be amused by the young man. She snorted as she laughed at his cute bluntness. She lowered her gaze and pinched his adorable cheek, saying, “Of course, you are the cute one. I’d choose you over the car on any day!” Liam reflected a triumphant grin as if having won the battle, h
Scarlett’s heart was galloping profoundly. Her breaths were heavy against Kaleb’s frame, and the fluttering feeling in her stomach was going wild. She might have escaped from Luca that evening, but she may very well get a heart attack from this strange excitement she was riding out. As the tip of her nose brushed against Kaleb’s inviting neck, she took a good whiff of his spicy cologne, and that further added to the static that ran through her body. ‘God, I feel so hot,’ she thought silently. ‘How long have I been in his hold? How long did it take for them to leave this hallway? Seriously!’ She sucked in a breath and use everything in her willpower to free herself from what it felt like a spell, binding her toward Kaleb. Faintly, she managed to find the words to say, “They should be gone by now. It’s already been what? Five minutes?” It was as if she heard the man groan, but Kaleb quickly coughed, pulling away. He responded, “Yes, they are gone now. Damn, who walks that slow? That
“So, Mister Wright? Will you allow Liam to be friends with Scarlett, despite what you have learned about her?” Boris asked, his brow raised with curiosity. “With the time I have spent observing her at the restaurant, Boris, I sensed she has a noble character. Maybe she made a mistake. Maybe her mistake was that she tried to fight for her past relationship. We don’t know for sure. Until I get her side of the story, I won’t judge her," Kaleb sighed and suggested. “Still, a single or a few mistakes do not define us. For those who learn from mistakes, it molds them into a better person.” Kaleb’s eyes narrowed, thinking about the words that Scarlett said in the car. She mentioned how Luca and Courtney were part of her past that she wished she had never had. He concluded how she regretted whatever happened or regretted getting involved with them. “I made many mistakes, Boris, but my mother and father never stopped being my parents. If there is some truth, even for a little to the accus
Earlier that evening. “What’s your name, darling? You are beautiful,” said the man who was introduced to Scarlett as Mister Sanders. He was the president of a small enterprise, a group of hardware stores, to be exact. Scarlett had never served the VIP rooms at the Herbal Twists Restaurant. Management only gave the opportunity to the tenured attendants. She had heard that VIP guests gave a lot of tips. On one occasion, her co-worker was rewarded with two thousand dollars. She never understood how one could give such a generous tip. However, Scarlett also heard stories about how customers were a little too demanding. Thus, she never looked forward to getting those extra tips. This time, however, she was forced into the situation. A few days ago, she brought Liam home without the approval of her boss. Now, she had to choose between getting fired and serving VIP guests. “I said! What’s your name?” Mister Sanders repeated, alerting Scarlett completely. “My name is Scarlett,” she cur