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
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 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.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
ASHVILLE CITYEVE SANCHEZ POV"Eve! Eve! You better come out from wherever you are hiding right now!" Margo screamed, the veins on her neck standing out as her eyes darted around the room. "If I find you myself, I'll make you regret it" she yelled, her footsteps stomping around the room. I burrowed deeper into the closet that I'd hid in, sweat dripping down my neck as my pulse raced. I closed my eyes, trying to breathe right as the terror bubbling up my chest threatened to suffocate me. At least this time she wasn't holding any object. If there was one thing I have learned from Margo's countless attacks, it was that; it was better to hide from her and hope she didn't find me whenever she got into her fit of rage, because if I got caught, it always ended in a disaster, for me.The closet door flung open and my eyes widened, almost bursting out of its socket from the shock.Margo's eyes zeroed in on mine and her hands reached for me like a flash, her hand gripping me by the hair and t
EVE SANCHEZ POV "What happened to her head and why does she look so groggy" The lawyer's voice reached my ears, his words sounding a bit fuzzy. He also looked really weird and I felt a giggle bubbling up my throat. My memory was a bit hazy, but the spot where Amore had jammed the syringe into my neck still throbbed. I wondered what she had injected me with but I couldn't keep up with the line of thought, because my brain kept firing off in different directions. Was I dying? Why was the room flashing so many colors? Did Amore change the light bulbs?"Eve came down with the flu and is reacting to the medication that was prescribed by her doctor..." Amore told Oregon, snapping me out of my haze for a bit. "As for the cut on her head, Eve is quite playful and doesn't always watch where she is going even though I have warned her countless times, but you know teenagers, they don't really listen to anyone, and you already know that Eve doesn't like me all that much since she thinks I stole
EVE SANCHEZ POV"Turn around" I whispered, my hand gripping the edge of the door harder. "Look at me, even if it is just once." But it was pointless, and I knew that no matter how hard I wished for just his gaze to land on me, it would never happen. Miguel was a work of art, and just staring at him had the effect of calming me and making me forget about everything that wasn't working quite well in my life. Right now, he was focused on painting and every stroke of the brush he held against the canvas stilled the anxiety that prickled within my chest. But our dynamic was all one-sided. I wasn't brave enough to confess... The fear of being rejected or hurt made me hold back, choosing rather to watch and pine over him from afar. Three months had gone by since the will was read and I became a heiress overnight. And despite Amore's threat to make my life miserable, for some reason, I was still in one piece.Of course, Amore took any chance she got to hurt me, but like a divine interventio
EVE SANCHEZ POV I'd never been surrounded by so many crowds of people and the tight black dress I wore made me feel uncomfortable. Margo had chosen it, saying that it would definitely catch Miguel's attention; it had because he'd stared at me for all of one second when I arrived before he moved on to welcome his friends. It was progress but the whole outfit wasn't me and I felt chills spread all over my skin even though the atmosphere was humid.Margo was also nowhere to be seen, and the longer I stood, watching everyone like a creep the more angsty I got. Time was ticking by and I was sure Amore was bound to get suspicious if I didn't show up in time. Miguel was still laughing animatedly with a group of girls... For someone who took so much to get his attention in school, he looked to be right in his element. He was whispering into one of the girl's ears, and I watched as she blushed bright red, my heart clenching tight beneath my chest. Bodies bumped against me as if I didn't exis