MARGO SANCHEZ POVEverything was finally mine and as I stared at the documents in my hand, I couldn't help but grin. Mr. Oregon had tried to drag it out as long as he could, but as weeks turned into months, he'd had no choice but to transfer all the assets under my name and pronounce me as the new heiress and owner of the company. The whole process had been so wonderfully epic, I couldn't help but squeal every two seconds in excitement, and just like I'd predicted, Eve's body was forever gone and never to be found. She was dead and that was the end of that page in her tragic little story.I smirked, tracing the edges of the files. It felt good to win, it also felt awesome to be an heir with lots of money that I probably would never be able to spend. And on that thought, maybe I should get a new ride or something... That would only be befitting for my new status right? I turned to face my Mom excitedly but paused when I saw the displeased look on her face. I inhaled in exasperation a
ATLAS CITYTRINIDAD HOSPITAL"Is she going to make it?" Elde asked the doctor who had a grim look on his face."It's a miracle she's still alive Mrs Antonio, and you are well aware that she died twice already, I wouldn't hope much."Elde inhaled sharply then held the doctor's gaze steadily. "She has to make it, Doctor Simon. If she dies... I won't hesitate to bring all the things you've worked so hard to build crumbling down. I'll destroy everything you've ever known and I'm not even playing" she threatened and the doctor gulped."You better have some good news for me the next time I visit this hospital," she said, stood up, and walked out of the office. She stood for some second, trying to get her bearing but swayed slightly as the ordeal she'd been through threatened to overwhelm her. Her guard- Antonov- rushed toward her, and reached to steady her until she could stand on her own. "Are you alright?" he asked and she nodded, stepping past him. "Will you be heading to the company no
(SCARLET) EVE SANCHEZ POVA beautiful lady was smiling down at me, and she looked almost like my mom... Her eyes were so blue, they drew me in, giving me peace and making me numb for some seconds. I blinked, and the illusion shattered, my whole body aching, my chest squeezing and my head throbbing.Was I truly alive or was this... Was this heaven? The heart monitor registered and the woman gazing down at me mouth's was moving.Was she saying something... Was she talking to me... Everything still felt foggy and the words that registered all felt like a rumble of sounds.Darkness assaulted my vision and I gave into it without a fight.When I opened my eyes once more, the room was empty. I tried to move my hand and it proved so tasking that I felt like I was going to die by the time I managed to get all of my fingers to move, and then I switched my efforts to my leg. I gave up halfway and drifted off again, exhaustion winning over my resolve. I wanted my Mom, and as I slowly closed my ey
SCARLET (EVE SANCHEZ) POVLife wasn't so hard with Elde. She treated me as if I was a princess, I lacked nothing and she made sure I was happy... except I wasn't. Elde tried her very best to make sure I accepted the lies she believed... That I was Scarlet her daughter. And she was so persistent with her stories that I was almost convinced that it was the truth at a point. Looking back at all the horrible things I'd had to endure, it would have been great if they had all just been a nightmare as she told me it was because that would mean all the bad things I had gone through never happened, but it did, and I had proof that I had truly been Eve Sanchez and the face I wore now wasn't mine. It only took some keywords on the internet to get all the information I needed to know about my life and what happened after I allegedly committed suicide.And everything I read made my heart bleed... They'd written my death off as suicide and not the murder it truly was, heck they didn't even both
SCARLET (EVE SANCHEZ POV)The words on the pages I was reading swarm together and I slammed it shut, then got up angrily tossing the book aside and cursing into the empty room.A year had gone by and I was still struggling with some of the courses I had to take, turns out Margo hitting me on the head had caused some damage to my brain after all and if I exerted myself more than was necessary, then it was an onslaught of horrible migraine. Sometimes, it got so bad I had to be hospitalized. It was a weakness I could not afford, but the more I pushed myself, the harder it got.The door to my room opened and I didn't bother to turn to see who it was because I knew it could only be Antonov, he was always hovering around as if he was waiting for me to snap, and I was going to one of this days if he didn't stop. "I really don't want to talk right now Antonov, I am already fucking pissed as it is..." I sighed, turning to face him in exasperation and my words froze on my tongue because instea
SCARLET (EVE SANCHEZ POV)"I said I do not want to go, or do you not understand simple English" I yelled out in frustration and Rain jerked back in surprise at my outburst. I'd always been agreeable but I was done with allowing her to rope me into things that I didn't want to do."But you promised you were going to attend just this once... Why are you acting like I just sprung this up on you out of nowhere"I held her gaze pointedly. "There is such a thing as changing one's mind you know, so can you quit following me around and repeating the same thing over and over? I will not be going and that is the end of that"Rain sighed, her shoulder dropping dramatically, and I glared back down at my laptop, furiously punching at the keyboard. "Pierce will be so disappointed. Look, Scarlet, even if you don't like him anymore, you still need to try to be friends with him and attend whatever company functions he throws, that way you both can still do business together in the future... you never
SCARLET (EVE SANCHEZ) POVI ended up attending the event and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be... but I guess I felt more at ease because Elde and I were on better terms and she'd listened to me as I recounted everything I'd been through to her. She'd even let me cry on her shoulders. She'd comforted me, patting my hair and whispering words that soothed away the ache in my chest. We were closer now, and even though she still insisted that I bear the name Scarlet, I didn't hate her for it. As she said, Eve was already dead... I was Scarlet now and I was going to live as if I were her until the day I got my revenge.The heavy feeling that always seemed to weigh on my chest like a huge block of ice lessened a bit and I took in a deep breath and let my stiff shoulders relax. I slowly took in the people around me as they socialized, and then my eyes met those of Elde. She waved, then walked up to me with a smile, her face radiant as she grabbed my hand. "Are you enjoying the part
SCARLET (EVE SANCHEZ)POV"I can assure you Mr Black that you won't regret working with us... As you already know, we are the best in this field, and despite having so many other franchises, we are still at the top of the charts, once you give your approval for this project, we will not only own the chart but the returns will be used for the betterment of the country" I explained with a smile on my face. Mr Black smiled. "A lot of people want that land that you are after Scarlet Antonio Rivera... And you are so young... ""Yes, I am young" I cut him off. "But I have already been introduced to the board as the sole heir of the company and I have acquired knowledge that would help me manage everything efficiently...""You only have three years experience... Elde should have come to me herself if this was really important to her"."It is important to her and that is why I am here... You have gone through each record of every project I have undertaken and they have all been a huge success
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