“You alright, kitten?” Ryder asks. Scarlett breaks out of her reverie.They’re on their way to the Southern mines and are currently in Ryder’s private jet. Scarlett is staring out of the window, thinking about the picture she received. She’s debating whether to ask Ryder or not but her faith is severely shaken. After her experience with Elle, there’s no way she can trust anyone even remotely connected to her stepsister. But Ryder helped you in jail, she reasons with herself. He trained you and even provided you with a home.It can be a trap too, another voice inside her says. He might lie about the photo and tell you that he has nothing to do with Elle. What if he trained you to gain your trust and then harm you?The photo can be a fake. It can be real. What will she do?Her mind is swirling with many questions but no answers. “I’m fine,” she manages to say.Ryder frowns at her. Scarlett has been absent minded since morning and he’s worried now. She straightens herself and takes out
Sand and soot are flying everywhere as the workers drill into the ground to open a pathway. They’re shouting instructions to each other, working together to break into the mines. The whole place is buzzing with miners and locals alike, working to find gold in the desert town. Ryder and Scarlett are standing near a railing, watching the miners work. They’re both wearing safety gears like the others, observing the work. Joining them is Mr. Karwoski. “How long will it take for the gold to be found?” Karwoski asks. “Will the equipment be sufficient for the dig?”“It’ll take at least two weeks or more,” Scarlett states. “There are risky areas which need to be dug through and we can’t risk the workers’ lives for it by speeding up the expedition.”“A week is too much!” Karwoski protests. “We’re gonna be too late if my rivals get the gold first!”“Time isn’t as important as the lives of my workers,” Scarlett icily says. “Give us two weeks. If we don’t get any gold, we’ll plan again. But I wo
Scarlett comes out of the bathroom, wiping her hair. Ryder is sitting near the fireplace with a drink in his hand. He looks up and flashes her a smile but she turns away.“What’s bothering you, kitten?” He asks. “You’ve been cold lately. Well, you’re always cold but now you’re not even talking to me.”He winks and adds, “Did I not free you well enough that night?”Scarlett glares at him. “I’m not bothered by anything!” She murmurs loudly. Ryder sighs and stands up, prowling towards her. She boldly looks into his eyes, defiant but he keeps on coming closer. Scarlett keeps stepping backward until her back touches the wall. Instantly, his arms lock her in a cage. His gaze is poring into her soul as if she’s completely bare in front of him.“You can’t lie to me, kitten,” he whispers. “I know something is bothering you. Say it.”Scarlett glances at his arms. These hands held Elle once. The very thought of it is making her blood boil. “You…” She begins. “Are you truly loyal to me?”Ryder
Kat rushes through the corridors, panicking. Jim is chasing after her and no matter what he says, she’s not stopping.“Kat, calm down!” He yells at her but she’s dashing toward the VIP section. That evening, she received a call that her grandmother is in critical condition after suffering a heart attack.Miranda has been suffering from cancer for years and the chemotherapy is taking a toll on her health. The heart attack wasn’t fatal but it still weakened her. Kat’s heart is racing, every other thought pushed out of her mind.“Granny!” She gasps when she barges into Miranda’s room. Miranda is lying on the bed, weak and frail. Her dry lips crack into a small smile when she sees Kat.“Kat…” she
The moon is shrouded by the clouds. An eerie silence is creeping in the desolated forest sans the cries of cicadas which echo every now and then. The chilly mist is slowly thickening, swirling above a waterbody which flows down toward the river ahead. A long bridge connects the two lands, quiet and isolated from the rest of the city. A pair of lights break through the darkness as it approaches the bridge. Inside it are a man, a woman, and a boy of sixteen. The boy looks fearful and restless.“Mom, where are we going?” the boy asks. He’s wearing a school uniform and there’s a tag on his chest, ‘Ryder’. He had gone to stay over at a friend’s place when his parents arrived to take him. It didn’t take him long to figure out why they were so anxious. “Is it the Hawkins?” He whispers. “Did they find out?”His father, Carl Hoover, looks at him from the rearview mirror. “I’m afraid so, son,” he mutters. “Vincent Hawkins found out that I’m snooping in his office. We’ll have to leave town. I
Miranda rushes to the hospital, carrying Kat in her arms. The child is sleeping but Miranda’s face is marred with fear. She rushes through the corridor to find Scarlett standing outside a ward. Scarlett’s shirt is wet and stained with blood.“Miss Scarlett!” Miranda cries. “What-”“Your grandson has been injured,” Scarlett says. “They’re tending to him. And…”She trails off, turning toward the south. “Y-your son and his wife are dead,” she finally says.Miranda collapses to the floor, almost dropping Kat but Scarlett manages to hold her. She takes the sleeping child from Miranda’s embrace and hands her to a nurse to take care of. Scarlett then kneels down to hug Miranda who’s sobbing uncontrollably.“M-my f-f-family… I…” Miranda wails loudly. Scarlett is fighting off tears herself. She didn’t know the Hoovers but she heard about them from Miranda. Knowing how kind and generous Miranda is, she knows that her family must be equally kind.“Vincent Hawkins did this!” Scarlett reveals. “He
Elle’s sneer only grows by the second. Seeing her face makes Scarlett want to barf but she stays composed.“Are you still going to pretend to be strong?” Elle scoffs. “I thought you’d be begging for mercy, sister. But you’re as arrogant as ever.”The bald man behind her stirs in anticipation. Elle promised him that he’ll be able to have his way with Scarlett that night and he’s eager to have her for himself. The brunette undoubtedly has a better appeal than Elle, a feisty one he craves for.Scarlett only glares at Elle, not giving her the pleasure of scaring her.“You can’t scare me, Elle,” she says. “I see you for what you are. A pathetic woman who’s obsessed with herself. Or rather…with me. You’re obsessed with bringing me down to make yourself look better but you can’t. Because you’re a fake person-”Elle slaps Scarlett so hard that her cheek is slightly cut but the latter feels victorious. “You’re so insecure!” Scarlett laughs. “Hiding behind a veil of righteousness while selling
Hector is waiting impatiently on the road for Ben. Accompanying him is Jim, who arrived from the Capital a few hours ago and had just heard of the explosion in the mines. He shudders to think that Hector planned it all and he keeps on glancing secretly at his phone.“Where is he?” Hector growls. “He should’ve been here by now!”“Whom are we waiting for s-sir?” Jim dares to ask.“That f*cker Ben!” Hector yells. “He’s supposed to bring Scarlett to me-”Hector stops himself before saying anything else but the beans have been spilled. Scarlett? Jim is alarmed.“Not one word!” Hector warns him. “Ben is bringing Scarlett to me!”
*Three years later*Ryder is in the study, intently reading the books sprawling in front of him. He’s completely absorbed in them, memorizing every bit of detail.“Feed the baby every two to three hours,” he murmurs. “Change diapers after four to six hours. Where’s the part on how to help with digestion?”Ever since Scarlett announced her pregnancy, Ryder has been extremely cautious of her every need. Whether it’s at day or night, he’s ready to get her anything, do anything she wants. She has the strangest cravings especially at night so Ryder stocked the fridge with everything she might want. From pineapples dipped in tabasco sauce to even bananas on pizzas, there isn’t anything he left out.“Ryder!” Scarlett’s voice comes from their bedroom. Instantly, he drops the books and runs to help her.“What is it?” He asks. “Is it ice cream? Or do you want strawberries with mustard again?”Scarlett blinks at him in surprise before bursting into laughter. “I just wanted to ask which color do
A soft breeze is flowing by, making the colorful flowers sway like delicate ballerinas. The vast garden has been set up with several mahogany benches. Every bit of the garden has been neatly trimmed and roses of all colors have been planted along the entrances to add a natural sophistication.The entrance is made of an arch with green leaves and twigs elegantly entangled together. A scent of fresh flowers and soil is enchanting the guests who have arrived. The groomsmen are busy showing the guests to their seats. They didn’t invite a lot of people but a large chunk of the guests are Ryder and Scarlett’s old friend who are indebted to the couple for their inherent kindness.In the midst of the picturesque garden is a breathtaking altar crafted with scarlet and vermillion flowers of all kinds. Set against the vibrant sunset, the arch is softly glittering in the multicolor hues as it stands on sturdy pillars. The flowers are soft, yet fiery, blooming vibrantly like flames. The gentle bre
*One month later*Everyone is tense. Scarlett is standing still while Kat keeps on rubbing her back to reassure her that it will be fine. Troy is there as well along with Jim and Jeremy who are equally worried. Sitting on a wheelchair is Miranda, who’s weak but hopeful. They’re all standing outside a room, separated by a glass window. On the other side are Ronan and a pair of nurses with Ryder. Ryder is sitting still on a bed, his eyes still covered with bandages. His heart is racing and he’s taking several deep breaths. Ronan slowly undoes the bandages to reveal Ryder’s closed eyes.“When I count to three, slowly open your eyes,” he instructs. “Very slowly, alright? Don’t get too excited.”“Got it.”“1…2…3…”Ryder slowly starts to open his eyes. Scarlett holds her breath, her heart still. Every second feels long and torturous as she watches Ryder opening his eyes until finally, they’re fully open. For a moment, no one speaks. Ryder is simply staring into space, not saying anything.
Ryder is rushed to the hospital, his eyes still bleeding. Scarlett, Troy, and Jim are pale faced as Ronan takes a look at Ryder’s state.“His eyes won’t even last a month!” Ronan tells them. “He has been under too much stress. We must operate on him, but there’s no donor-”“There is!” Scarlett declares. Everyone stares at her in shock when she points at Elle’s corpse which is lying on another bed.“Her blood type was B negative and she died just today,” Scarlett goes on. “I’m sure she can donate.”Ronan, Troy, and Jim are astonished. Did Scarlett plan all this by herself?“We’ll need permission from her family-” Ronan begins but Scarlett is already prepared. She takes out a permission form for organ donation.“I’ve already signed it,” she states. “As her only family member, I give you the full authority to donate all her workable organs. Now, give her eyes to my husband. Now!”…He tries to move his eyelids but the agonizing pain is weakening him. There are muffled sounds around him,
Elle cries in agony as Vincent’s men beat her up. Scarlett is kept in a corner, bloody but untouched. Vincent knows that as long as Ryder has the evidence against him, he can’t hurt Scarlett, but Elle is a different issue.“Please!” Elle begs. “I-I swear I’m pregnant-”A guard kicks her so hard that her rib cracks. Vincent holds up his hand and the guards stop beating her. They’re in a soundproof room which doesn’t let any sound escape nor come in. This is a special room designed for his hostages and Vincent loves to torment them here.“That last baby,” he sneers at her. “Was it also a sham?”“I…” Elle has no words. Vincent takes out another document which has pictures of Elle and the bald man together in bed. She squirms at the sight of them.“It was his, wasn’t it?” Vincent shouts at her.Elle only whimpers in pain. “I loved Hector!” She lies. “I-”“You had that man kidnap me so that you could have Ryder to yourself,” Scarlett speaks up. Vincent turns to her.“What did you just say?
The vans stop at the bottom of the hill and everyone starts to climb on foot. They’re all wearing green and brown jackets to camouflage themselves. The men have split into two groups: one is being led by Ryder and Troy while Jim is infiltrating the hill from the other side. They slowly crawl to the top until they spot a heavily fortified gate which has electrified barbed wires on top. A pair of armed guards are standing at the front while there might be more at other entry points. Ryder motions Troy and his men to wait while he goes around the building.He quietly crawls in the bushes, keeping an eye on the gates from afar. The stream seems to be leading to another entry point where there are a few guards who are carrying food and supplies inside. Ryder waits and observes them to memorize their movements. There are around four guards out of which two are carrying the boxes while the other two are keeping an eye on the surroundings. There are CCTV cameras around the building too.Ryde
Scarlett slowly opens her eyes. Everything is blurry and her head is heavy. The left part of her neck is throbbing hard. She winces as she lifts her neck up to take in her surroundings.The place she’s in is windowless with only one door at a corner. The walls are of a pasty yellow color, the paint peeling off in many places. She can hear the faint sound of water running somewhere and she can sniff the scent of wet petrichor in the air.A hill, she deduces. She must be somewhere near a hill which has a waterbody. Scarlett looks down and is relieved. They took off her jacket but she still has her shirt on. The button Kat gave her is still stitched on it.The door opens and a thin figure walks in to gloat at her.“You!” Scarlett barks at Elle. Elle merely smirks.“Hello, sis,” she grins. “Long time, huh?”Scarlett only glares at her in fury. The sight of Elle’s happy face makes her want to throw up. Seeing this woman gloating is making her skin crawl.“You’re really now out in the open,
Elle pulls out a large garbage trolley and with great difficulty, shoves Scarlett into it. She’s already wearing the garbs of a cleaning lady and covers Scarlett’s unconscious form with several bags. She puts on a mask and slowly pushes the trolley out.A guard is indeed standing there. He spots the cleaner coming out of the toilet and is about to approach her but he’s blocked by a group of men who are coming out of the men’s toilet, chatting loudly. Taking her chance, Elle pushes the trolley, walking far away. The guard doesn’t follow her, distracted once again when his phone rings.Elle pushes the trolley outside the restaurant and keeps on pushing it until she reaches an alley. Sliding the trolley into the alley, she quickly pushes it till she reaches a black van. Several men come out of it and they take out Scarlett’s body and shove her into the back of the van.“Let’s take her to Vincent’s hideout,” Elle instructs. “Ryder and his men will swarm the place soon.”“Yes ma’am!”She g
*A Few hours ago*The car is slowly backing out of the mansion. Scarlett’s eyes are fixed on it, her feelings mixed between dread and a strange happiness. She’s dreading that she may never see her home again while she’s also happy because she can return Ryder his life back.How many years has he been suffering like this? It pains her heart to see him hide his pain. He smiles to mask the torment he’s suffering inside, his love for his family greater than any desire for vengeance. It’s ironic, she ruefully thinks. There was a time when she was fixated on vengeance. All she wanted was to destroy the Hawkins family and wipe them off the earth. Her longing for revenge would have blinded her if Ryder hadn’t entered her life. The freedom she seeked was in front of her all along.Yes, she feels free when she’s with him. He makes her heart beat like crazy and eases her mind. Every moment with him is filled with happiness and despite the dangers which loomed around them, for the first time in