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!”
*Twelve years ago*Miranda puts on a coat and picks up her umbrella. It’s nearly 12 AM and her duty ended at the Hawkins mansion. The weather outside seems cloudy and cold, so she pulls her coat closer and heads outside. She’s walking along the lonely pavement when a car pulls up behind her.“Miranda!” a familiar voice calls out. Miranda turns toward the car and finds a familiar face. It’s Elle.“Miss Elle!” She gasps. “What are you-”“Let me drop you off,” Elle offers. “I just got my license!”Miranda is skeptical. “Are you here to visit Master Hector?” She asks. “I think you should head back home. It’s late.”But Elle shakes her head. “I was just in the neighborhood,” she claims.At 12 AM? Miranda wonders. Aloud she says, “Alright. If you insist, Miss Elle.”She gets into the car and they drive off. Elle doesn’t talk much throughout the journey and Miranda is glad. There’s something off about the girl but she can’t exactly pinpoint it.“How’s Miss Scarlett?” Miranda asks, attempting
“Elle wait!” Ryder huffs when she runs far ahead. Elle giggles in joy as she flashes his book in her hands.“You gotta chase me, Hoover!” She taunts him. They’re at the park, on a date. Yes, they’ve been dating throughout the summer in secret. Elle reckons that her parents are very strict and won’t approve of her dating. Moreover, her stepsister is also out to ruin her life which makes Elle reluctant to disclose their relationship.“Elle, I’m reading that!” Ryder claims. Elle sticks out her tongue and flips through the pages until she reaches one. She turns it around to show him. The page has only her pictures, smiling and laughing with him.“You’re just ogling at me!” She laughs. Ryder pouts but smiles and walks over to her. “They’re all mine,” he smiles and kisses her.Elle is ecstatic. She finally found her soulmate. This man is hers and she’s his.Ryder’s phone rings. He takes it out to find that it’s his mother who’s calling him.“Hello, mom?” He greets her. Elle’s blood goes co
*Twelve years ago*Elle is standing in front of the Hawkins mansion. She’s not afraid nor does she have any scruples in what she’s going to do. As long as she has Ryder by her side, she doesn’t care about anything else. “His parents must die for daring to take him away from her!She rings the doorbell. A new maid opens the door.“Yes?” the maid frowns. “I’m here to meet Mr. Hawkins,” Elle says. The maid is suspicious of the girl.“It’s late at night. You can meet him tomorrow-”“I must meet him now! His life is in danger.”Elle sounds desperate now which alarms the maid. She thinks hard. What if the girl is telling the truth? “Alright, come in.”She steps aside to let Elle inside. Elle waits in the living room while the maid goes to fetch Vincent. He arrives a few minutes later, fully dressed. Vincent rarely sleeps, preferring to stay up all night to work. He eyes the young girl with interest. “You’re Elle Swanson,” he states. “Hector’s friend. James Swanson’s daughter.”“You know
Ryder ends his story with a sigh and turns to Scarlett. She has a complicated look on her face, wondering what to say.“You must think of me as a fool!” He muses. “Falling for Elle like that.”“You were a teenager,” she reasons. “You didn’t know any better.”Ryder stares at her in amusement. “You’re telling me that you’re not jealous that I kissed her?” He teases her.Scarlett gives him a look which makes him shut up. “Don’t push my buttons!” She warns. “I’m mad about it but I can’t help it. You were a dumb teen.”That’s the Scarlett I know, he muses. “What’s your story?” He asks. “Your sob story with Elle.”“I have no sob story,” she mutters. “I do have a hate story.”“Tell me,” he purrs. “I’ll listen this time.”Scarlett stares at him for a while before sighing. Since he was honest with her, she has to be honest with him as well.“I guess, I was never really taken by her,” she admits. “It was my reluctance to accept the Swansons which led to all this…”….*Flashback*Isabella is dri
The whole class is abuzz with children’s chatter. Scarlett nervously looks around, feeling lost. The other kids are ignoring her, talking and playing amongst themselves. They’re not even looking at her way which only increases her sense of isolation.It has been over a week since she started the new school and she’s already miserable. No one wants to be her friend because she looks too angry and unapproachable. They whisper behind her back, pointing at her. Everyone knows that her mother married James Swanson, the richest tech moghul in the country. Many of the parents look down on Isabella because of her lower status and this attitude also extends to Scarlett. The parents told their children not to talk to her because she’s beneath them.Scarlett doesn’t tell this to her mother. Isabella is already stressed with office work and the added complications will make things messier. Scarlett is also stubborn, refusing to share her troubles with others. She’s used to doing things on her own
James is in his study, yawning. Isabella is still at the office because she’s handling a big project so he’s taking care of the kids for the night. His session at Elle and Scarlett’s school went well. As Scarlett’s guardian he explained how he’s proud of her work. She didn’t look directly at him, keeping her eyes on her toes all this time.Did I go too far? James wonders. The girl barely talks to him and maintains a distance. She’s still taking time to adjust to her new environment but it seems that she doesn’t want to accept him. It’s not surprising to James because Isabella’s ex had flat out rejected Scarlett. Isabella told him about how Scarlett’s father abandoned her and is now living with another family elsewhere.It’s unfathomable to James that a father would reject his child so cruelly. Seeing Scarlett’s sad eyes only makes him want to create a better environment for her even if she doesn’t want to accept him.Tap! Tap!He’s startled when he hears a soft knock on the door. It m
*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