MIGUEL POVScarlet abandoned me. Margo tried to kill me, and now after everything I was going to be the one facing the law for Margo's criminal charges. My lower body was badly damaged but that didn't stop them from cuffing me to my bedside as if they thought I could escape from the hospital. They should not have bothered. After being in horrible pain for a whole week I was sure I would not be walking for a while without some sort of assistance and that was if I could walk at all. But I guess I should be grateful to still be alive. Margo had stabbed me multiple times but most of them had been on my thighs and others were on the bed I'd been on when she attacked... She'd really set out to kill me and then run away to escape the law after all her bitching about how she couldn't live without me, fucking liar! I wanted to scream but all I did was just sit quietly while Delia cleaned my wounds.At least she'd come back, even after the way she'd left the last time we'd met and her promis
MARGO POVI had to get out of here or I was going to lose my mind. It wasn't good for my mental health to be in such a confined space with someone that I wanted to kill every time I saw her.Scarlet Antonio Rivera had come into my life like a tsunami, and I was still being swept up in her death-hurtling pull. I was literally being kept as a prisoner pending when she got better to determine my fate, and with her intolerable suffering attitude, I knew she was going to destroy me once she regained her memory. If she didn't, then Pierce would, and then it would be all over for me and I still didn't know what I had done to her for her to hate me so much."But I did this all for him... Who do you think he's going to choose between the two of us... I have everything while you're a nobody... If I were to offer him all my wealth, do you really think he would choose to stay with you"She had said it was because of Miguel she'd ruined our lives, but I knew it was all a lie. There was something
SCARLET POVMargo hadn't taken the glass of juice just as I'd anticipated but still, I was sure with the way I'd tormented her and reminded her of how Miguel had abandoned her for another woman, the first thing she was going to do once she got to her room was take the pills the doctor had prescribed for her just some days back. And I was certain that would have worked and calmed her frayed nerve, but the thing was that I'd switched them out with some of my hallucinogenic drugs, so I wasn't surprised when after a while I heard her talking to herself in her room. I could feel the panic in her voice, and instead of abating the hatred I had for her in my heart, it just poisoned me further.Margo deserved what I was putting her through and more, but I couldn't help but feel shitty as she let out a bone-chilling scream.Two wrongs didn't make a right they said, but the pain in my heart was still so raw from what she had done to me in the past, and what she had tried to do before all these
SCARLET POV.Margo was coming at me with a knife, and the look in her eyes as they locked on mine was so manic that they had me freezing up even though I knew I should move and get out of the way. It was as if I was at that edge of the hill once again... I could see her clearly and this time as she shoved me to my death, she grinned wickedly, the mirth in her eyes glistening as she watched me plunge to my death."No" I gasped, reaching up to shield my face as the knife she held headed straight for my eyesSomeone suddenly shoved me and I crashed to the floor, my head almost smacking against the tiles but I raised my elbow to shield it instead and that took the burn off the fall. Pain radiated up my arms and I groaned, darkness creeping into my vision. I blinked hard and tried to breathe through my nose, and once the fog cleared, I became aware of what was going on around me.Margo and Pierce were both struggling with the knife she held and she was so hysteric, it was as if she wasn't
SCARLET POV.I hadn't meant to blurt it out, but I was so mad and tired of everything that I'd been yelling it out before I could take it back, and once it was out there was no way I could bring myself to call them back. Maybe this was what I should have done from the very beginning, maybe he would have given up on me if he knew that I wasn't the woman he loved so much. "What the hell are you... What do you mean you are not Scarlet" he asked after one tense minute of absolute silence."Exactly what it means" I got out on a tired breath, my head pounding In my ears. "I am sorry for everything Pierce. Maybe the real Scarlet would have loved you with her whole heart but I am not her and no matter what you do I can never bring myself to fall in love with you"Pierce got up from the bed and I moved back instinctively when he stepped toward me. He grabbed at his hair as if he was going crazy."What the hell are you talking about right now? Is this some sort of a joke? Are you trying to me
MARGO POV******I was at the edge of the cliff, staring at Eve but Instead of me holding onto her, it was in reverse, and when I looked down and saw just how daunting the way down looked, I turned to face her, my mouth opening to plead for my life, but it wasn't just Eve that was holding onto me, it was the faces of all the people I'd killed... And then I was plunging, falling fast, my scream fading in the air no matter how loud I yelled until I crashed to the floor beneath, my bone shattering into a million pieces.******I woke up with a start, my heart pounding against my ribcage as rivulets of sweat-drenched me from head to toe.I tried to sit up when something snapped against my wrist and before I could blink, I was being hoisted up from the bed."What the hell is going on" I yelled as the man who'd yanked me up started to pull me out of the room. "Where the hell are you taking me""A place for criminals like you," the man said and I stopped, my gaze whipping up to him.The man
RAPHAEL BATISTA POV"I already told you that I wasn't going to get married to Kristine so what the hell am I seeing In the news right now" I yelled and resisted to urge to smash my fist into something.Mother sighed in exasperation. "Why are you being so difficult huh? Your father warned you that he was going to take matters into his own hands if you didn't do anything about his orders, didn't he? You should have seen this coming before he even went through with it, and believe me when I tell you that I tried to talk him out of it"I groaned, gripping at my hair and tugging at it until my scalp tingled with pain. "You both fucking abandoned me and I accepted it, but now all of a sudden I am your major concern. Why the hell can't you both just learn to let me be? Is this because of Margo's case, is it because I am no longer a criminal in your eyes, is that why I am suddenly your son""Don't be ridiculous, we have always been solidly behind your back. You have always been our son. Do no
SCARLET POV "Are you still going to see Miguel before he is taken away?" Elde asked and I glanced up from the papers in front of me. "You do not need to talk to him or even tell him who you are, Scarlet...""I'll still see him regardless," I said, holding Mother's gaze. "when I do, I'll decide if I'll tell him who I really am or not"Elde moved closer. "Are you okay though? I have been watching you ever since you got back and despite getting your revenge, you haven't smiled in weeks... Are you sure you do not want to press charges against Pierce""No I do not," I said then closed my eyes to reduce the strain I felt. "The trial has just been a little hectic that's all," I told her, opening my eyes to meet her very worried ones.She nodded. "If you want the world to know that you are Eve, there's nothing stopping you my child, not even me... I don't care what name you choose to be bear or if the world finds out that you are not really my child, to me, you are my flesh and blood" she sa
SCARLET POV.Today was the happiest day of my life and as the light from the chandelier cast a lovely glow on me as I walked down the aisle, I couldn't help but smile, and smile some more.Raphael was waiting for me and the look in his eyes was enough to make me swoon.I couldn't tear my eyes off him and the closer I got, the more brighter he radiated his love for me. I was going to be happy this time. So much happier.My gaze caught my mom's and Antonov and they grinned back at me.I got to Raphael and he took my hand and guided me to my stand with a smile that lit up his eyes."You take my breath away little bird" he whispered and I blushed, holding his gaze even as my face burned."So do you, and I love you so much. Always" I said and the officiator cleared his throat and both of our gazes snapped to his.Gods, I'd almost been close to kissing him since it had been as if we were the only two people in the room.I chuckled as he did, then turned to face the officiator.The wedding c
RAPHAEL BATISTA POV"I want her found. I don't care how you do it but you need to do it before she hurts anyone" I said clenching the content that I had gotten out of the brown envelope just a few weeks ago. It had been meant for Scarlet. Thank God I had gone to meet Bianca myself that day. Scarlet was just starting to get better and not be dependent on her pills but I was sure if she found out about this, it would be down that rabbit hole once more. She would worry and live in a state of constant fear and I could not allow her to go through such suffering again, not after everything she'd been through. But the strain was starting to get to me. Margo was still at large despite all efforts to find her and with our wedding plans already underway I couldn't help but be worried. Where was Margo right now and what was she scheming?"We have eyes everywhere, but we haven't seen anyone remotely resembling Margo, we'll intensify our effort, so be rest assured. She won't be able to get past
SCARLET POV"You've been smiling a lot these days, but you still haven't introduced Raphael to me, why? Do you think he's so good-looking, I'll try to keep him for myself the first chance I get," Elde said and I gaped at her."Mom! Oh my goodness, I can't believe you just said that"She chuckled, stood up from where she was sitting, and came to stand in front of me. "I admit I was a bit skeptical about Raphael at first" she got out. "I still am, but since he's succeeded in making you so happy, I want you to bring him home... You just set a date and I'll fix the wedding... How about that"I grinned, then hugged her. "I must have given you a lot of tough times for you to be planning to marry me off so quickly, huh"She patted my back. "Oh you did, you almost turned me into a murderer at a point too, you little brat" she laughed, then let go of me and helped me tuck my hair behind my ears."I am just so glad that you are finally ok, Scarlet. I want you to be happy like this for a very lo
RAPHAEL BATISTA POVScarlet let out a harsh sob and then pressed her forehead against my chest, so I kissed her on the back of the neck in an effort to soothe her. “Talk to me, baby, tell me what you need me to do” I urged. Scarlet relaxed as if the endearment was a balm to her soul, then she went quiet for several beats before she met my gaze. “I ache,” she said softly. “I burn and I can’t… I can’t make it go away on my own. I've tried...” she trailed off, the color on her cheeks darkening. It took me a few painfully long seconds to understand what she was trying to tell me. She couldn’t make herself come. “Oh God, Scarlet, I’m so sorry,” I said as I lifted her head up and pressed kisses along her temple, then her cheeks, and finally her mouth. “I’ll take care of you,” I said as I began ramping the kisses back up.“Raphael” she called, her voice hitching. "I... I..." “What?” I urged gently when I saw a bit of fear still lurking in her eyes. “I don’t think I can… go all the way
RAPHAEL BATISTA POV"Is she going to be alright?" I asked the doctor as I stared down at Scarlet. She was asleep and her breathing was even but that didn't stop me from worrying."She will be fine. She has been under a lot of stress which was why she collapsed... But please try to monitor her drug prescription. I am afraid she is taking them more than is necessary and if she continues to do that, it would not bode well for her in the long run" the doctor warned, his voice severe and I nodded."I'll do that doctor, I'll make sure she takes only what is prescribed"He nodded and then picked up his bag. "Just let her rest and I'll be here to check on her progress tomorrow morning," he said, gave a curt nod, and walked out of the room.I sat beside Scarlet and just stared at her, pain and elation warring in my heart. I'd always felt that she was Eve but to have it confirmed that I was indeed right, shook me to my core.I took her hand in mine, then placed it on my cheek, my heart breaking
SCARLET POVI liked the weight that was pressing me down into the warm mattress. It was hot and just the right amount of heavy. I groaned, moving closer to it. Was my pillow always this warm, or did Mother get me a new pet? I asked myself as my hand reached to clutch at whatever it was but my hand didn’t come in contact with short fur or a pillow.No, what was beneath my fingers was short but it was also super soft, silky even. And just a few inches down there wasn’t any hair, just hot skin.Raphael has hot skin. I jumped off the bed, my eyes flying open as I struggled to make sense of what the hell was going on.Raphael maintained eye contact as he slowly got up from the bed too, his gaze trained on mine as if I were some wild animal and just a look away from me would send me running off.He looked as if he'd been awake for a while so why was he just lying by my side?I couldn't remember what had happened the night before. I just remembered having a drink and Pierce forcing a kiss on
MARGO POV.Everything hurt, especially my face. It burned so hot that I wished I hadn't woken up at all.I've been drifting in and out of consciousness after the van I'd been in exploded... I didn't even understand how I'd been able to survive, but I guess it was because the force of the explosion had pushed me out of the van as it crashed to the ground.Miguel hadn't made it... I knew it because his face had been the last thing I'd seen before I was flying through the hot air.We'd been in the van and he hadn't even spoken a word to me. He'd stared at me as if I was the vilest person he'd ever met as if I had ruined his life as if I was the one to blame for everything and not Eve.Her name made me groan and all of a sudden, someone was hovering over me, and then a wet cloth touched my head.I tried to open my eyes and only managed to get my left eye slightly open while the other felt as if it was permanently shut.The eye I was seeing with was still blurry though and I had to blink t
SCARLET POVI couldn't hear the words that Santos was saying not when Raphael was just a few feet away from me, talking to some men and smiling when they said something funny. When last had I seen a smile like that? It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair that just a touch of his hand had had my walls and resolve crumbling like ashes. It had been so hard to wrench my hand away from him when all I'd wanted to do was to lean in and press my lips against his. He'd stared at me with such fierce passion or was it my wishful thinking... Was I just projecting what I felt onto him?I flinched when I saw Kristine walk toward him, wrapped her arm around his waist, and animatedly joined in on their conversation. I couldn't help but clench the document in my hand harder while murderous thoughts ran through my head. Raphael was mine... He fucking said he was going to protect me. "Miss Scarlet" Santos called and I flinched, then forced myself to focus on him when it turned out that he'd been trying to ge
RAPHAEL BATISTAScarlet Antonio Rivera was standing in the elevator and her eyes were wide open in surprise as she saw me. She was clutching at her hair and sweat dripped down her hairline as if she'd been struggling with something in the enclosed space. I stared at her, totally speechless as I took in the most beautiful pair of green eyes I'd ever seen and when I looked closer, it felt as if I'd always stared into those eyes for as long as I could remember. Scarlet lowered her gaze and dropped her hand from her hair, but I noticed the strands that were clutched in her deathlike grip and it had me wondering why she'd been tugging so hard at her hair. I stepped into the elevator with her and once the door closed, sealing the both of us in, I had to resist the urge to grab and tilt her chin so that she could look at me just as she'd done before. I couldn't believe she was here since no matter how many appointments I had with her assistant, I had never met her in person.I turned to