Sebastian’s POV“Gab,” I pull his phone away, demanding, “I thought you want Scar to leave? Ava wants her gone.”“I want her to leave YOU, not the city!” Gabriel fights me for his phone, “What if Ava needs her again?!”My blood runs cold.Is this really the Gab that I know? The popular homecoming king? The nice big brother that Ava always shows off? The friend who I thought could have my back?When he sees a girl, his own baby sister, nothing but an emergency help for Ava?A... blood vessel?“Calm down,” I can’t help my tone dropping cold, handing him his phone, “it was three days ago. By the way, that actually was what the whole fuss was about.”“Huh?” Gabriel calms down and blinks, seemingly surprised, “Ava told me it was something about mom...?”Yeah. About how Anna lured Scar back.“She hasn’t been talking about leaving for a long time now, ever since...” Gabriel glances at me, and immediately I realize the words he didn’t say--Ever since I married her. I feel sick again.“She has
Sebastian’s POVAdrian Dunn is bad news.He inherited from his father not only the biggest newspaper in town, but also his cold dark view of the world from the last century. He believes not in law, but in power; not in just, but in narratives. He hurts people without a blink even if they are innocent, and he protects those whom he cares to no boundaries.I stand against everything he is, and that puts his target on my back.“What do you say, Seb-babe?” Adrian smirks. As if the bruises on his cheekbone doesn’t hurt at all.Right. I also hate his lousy low-taste nicknames.“Fuck off, Adrian,” Gabriel stands up, using his “intimidating walk” on Adrian -- pressing his bulky features into his face.Adrian is my height, but Gabriel is almost 6.5 feet, bulky no less. I think that’s why he got his bully name even though he doesn’t really do the bully shit. Also why Adrian calls him “bear”.Adrian is not flinching.“You don’t want to fight me, teddy bear,” Adrian doesn’t even put his icon fake
Scarlett’s POV“Ewww! That’s the truth???” Aurora exclaims, “You SLEPT with him?! Seriously?!”After running into Gabriel at Nightingale, we couldn’t stay there. Instead, we found a small, random bar down the street. A quiet, cozy small place, perfect for girls' talk.Lilith closes her eyes with a desperate look, dying under Aurora’s judgy looks, “Accidently, okay? The key word is accident!”Now that makes sense. Lilith used to be the one handling most of my “code reds”. I can’t imagine two enemies just suddenly fall in love. But then again, Gabriel looked deeply in love though...“But Gabriel?!” Aurora takes a deep breath to calm herself, only to burst out again, “It’s...Gabriel!”Lilith looks just as devastated as Aurora.“When was that?” I ask. If it’s recent, then we might need to buy another set of pregnant tests. A baby not born out of love is the last thing we want...again.Lilith glances at me before darting her eyes off to her glass.“What?” Aurora and I exchange a confused lo
Scarlett’s POVHer words are too shocking that I even forget to cry: “...what?”“You know how Damon was the constable of the Villa area at that time, right?” Lilith asks.Vaguely.“On that day, he was called to the Knight’s house. The neighbors called it in, or something like that. The point is, the Iron Lady made a huge fuss that day, and Ava was the fuss!”“...what?” I blink, not catching up at all.The Iron Lady is Sebastian’s grandma. She basically raised Sebastian after his parents died in a car accident, while protecting the family business against the sharks. Hence her nickname.“Let me,” Aurora pats me on my back, her tone patient and calm, unlike the anxious Lilith, “that day Sebastian took Ava back to meet with his grandma, because...he wanted to marry her, and he needed his grandma’s blessing.”Sebastian can hurt anyone for Ava, but not Granny. He loves her and respects her to the most.“That’s what you couldn’t tell me?” I frown in confusion. So he proposed to Ava. Not like
Scarlett’s POVThey only knew I had “something” Sebastian wanted, and I forced his hand with it. I only told Aurora three days ago when there was no way to hide anything about my family issue anymore.“Hmmm...” I cut in before Aurora could tell her, hesitating. Aurora purses her lips.I don’t want to let too many know about the blood transfusion thing, because I don’t want to be seen as a victim. That’s Ava’s specialty. Besides, with Lilith’s temper, there is little telling what she would do if she knew about Jack Fuller’s deal.“What?” Lilith darts her eyes between me and Aurora, “What can’t I know?”I suddenly understand why Lilith would struggle to tell me that secret. Sometimes there are things that you keep from your loved ones, only to protect them.“You should have told us, Scar, a long time ago,” Aurora says gently. She is the most sensitive among us, and she is the most mature, “I understand your concern, but we are not ‘people’, we are your friends, and we would understand yo
Scarlett’s POVI choke on my drink. It gets in my nose and tears spout out.“I mean...” After a string of heavy coughs, I finally came back to life with the help of several tissues. Lilith and Aurora glare at me like I’m some criminal, “I told you, unprecedented treatment. The doctor had only a theory in his mind when we started, so...”“Exactly how many times did you donate?!” Aurora demands. She is like a mom again.“Five...” I flinch, feeling guilty though I had no reason to be.Every time it was a failure, all but this last time. And even before it cured her, he kissed her as if he was sure he no longer needed me. I can’t look back at myself to see how pathetic I was.“Every time was within safe range, though.” I add, but they are not hearing it.Aurora loses her cool, ranting to Lilith about any and every bit of “crime” she knows about the Fullers. Lilith ignores my effort to explain as she curses with Aurora, demanding to know more. I enjoy how they defend me, but also worry abou
Sebastian’s POV“Why? Did something happen to Ava?” Scar frowns with a shrug, folding her arms.She is not even trying to be sarcastic, and that’s the most sarcastic part.I thought my words would make her happy, like before. I know she is really hurt this time, but I thought her eyes would light up with sparkles even though she would try to maintain a cold face to fish for more comforting words from me, like before.But there is none.I never knew her watery purple eyes could be so cold like dry ice. It stings to look at her eyes like that.You really want a divorce? I dare not ask. She would only say yes, even just to hurt me.My mind has been in turmoil since Adrian messed it up. I can’t imagine Scar asking for a divorce for real, but she hasn’t been home for almost a week now, and she is not planning to any time soon. I’m not used to this. The whole house feels different now.It’s no longer a home. Just a house.I used to think it was silly for her to stay up for me when I got home
Scarlett’s POVDid I hear him right?!The man who never treated me like his wife, who kept a relationship with my sister on the side when married to me, who tormented me like I was his enemy for five years, is now accusing ME of treating marriage too light?!What is our marriage to him anyway? Nothing but trash!“Fake marriages, yes!” I suppress the urge to shout at him, but I can’t help my tone turning cold, “Still heavier than you have been treating it though.”“Is that how you justify you and Adrian?!” He lets out a disbelieving laugh as if I’m being ridiculous.Adrian??? I sent that guy ONE message and now I’m the one cheating?!“No! How about I justify it with my fucking husband kissing my sister behind my back?!” I finally did it. I didn’t want to bring it up to add to my humiliation, but he just had to force it out of me.I thought I could put it down, but it fucking hurts!He doesn’t hate me saving his Ava over and over, he doesn’t hate me when I stay up with some snack for hi
What?!All happened too fast and Scar is not even coming around. Her body is moving before her mind catches up. Her legs could barely keep up with his pace. All she knows is, that Sebastian is holding her hands tight in his palm, his palm warm and firm.“Careful!” Sebastian kicks open the back door of the warehouse, blocking the rebound of the door as he shouts at Scar, “This way!”They turn left right after they dash out of the door even though the door is open to a huge yard.Why? They might have guns? Scar finds it funny that her brain is full of a bunch of useless nonsense, but it can’t process what’s going on or what to do next when she tries.“Do you think you can climb over the wall if I get you on my shoulder? Scar?!”It’s only when Sebastian’s shout pulls her flowing mind back that she realizes he already led her down to the wall of the yard. She can’t. The wall is over four meters. Even a ninja couldn’t climb over a smooth concete wall like this.“I can’t! I’m sorry!” Scar b
“What are you doing here?!” Scar blurts.She was expecting Silco to come to save her. Maybe even Damian. They are the only two who know her whereabouts. Never did she expect her cold Ex who had all his heart on Ava would come to her rescue when she literally just slapped him and announced her death sentence on that girl he cared about enough to challenge the law.Maybe he was telling the truth?“Who the fuck are you?!” The driver demands at Sebastian, visibly more panicking than before.Looks like he is new to this business.“Hey, calm down,” Scar has to remind him when his hand is shaking, “You don’t want to carry a life on your head, do you?”“Ohh, sorry!” The driver blurts.Scar: “...”Is he really an outlaw Jack Fuller hired to rob her?! Did he just apologize to her for putting a knife on her neck?The driver doesn’t answer. Scar turns to his side slightly, just enough to glance at the earbuds he is wearing. He is getting orders from his boss!“Don’t move!” The driver snaps at Sca
It’s the car that followed Scar out of the auction house.She should have known. But too distracted, she didn’t notice that they tailed us earlier. It wasn’t a misunderstanding. They WERE following her and they ARE after something.The files!“Off, the car!” The driver came off our side and is now outside Scar’s door. His barrel pointed right at her head.“Author? Author, are you okay?” Scar opens her door slowly, taking the chance to ask for her loyal driver.Authur blacked out on his seat.“Off, now!” The guy demands again, knocking on her window in haste.“Jack Fuller sent you, didn’t he?” Scar comes out of the car, putting on a calm mask, “However much he is giving you, I can double the price.”“I don’t know what you are talking about,” The guy replies impatiently, “All I know is, you have to come with me.”“I--” Scar wants to give it another shot, and the gun almost sticks into her mouth. She purses her lips, and the guy indicates a direction with his gun, pushing her forward.An
Long after Scar stormed out of Sebastian’s company, her hands are still shaking. It takes three of Authur for her to snap out of it to hear his question.“Where are we heading now, Miss?” Authur is patient just as the first time he asked her.“Sorry!” Scar takes a deep breath, combing her hair with her fingers to calm herself, “Let me…give me a minute.”She’s two hours early for her dinner plan with Damian. Either going back to Silco, or sitting by herself for another two hours. But Scar wants to do neither.She can’t help letting Sebastian’s words get to her.If it was before, she would never doubt his word even when he treated her as his enemy. That man doesn’t lie. But now? She’s not sure. He let Ava get to her not once, but twice. Honesty is not the only thing that matters in this game.She’s not even sure if his feelings have changed about lying. After all, it was Ava. Scar won’t be surprised no matter what that man does for her.Could it be true though?She didn’t see that woman
The fateful night five years ago, Sebastian almost lost the two people he cared about the most. His wife, and his unborn baby that he didn’t even know existed. He spent all the time he could spare after taking care of the baby and Scar on tracking the person who broke in, and he knew as much as the police if not more. That’s why the policeman didn’t arrest Ava --It wasn’t her.Ava didn’t cut her wrist when she was taken to the hospital. She did sneak out of her room and back in through her window. All of that was true. Scar accused Ava of being in the house, and provided detailed evidence about when she heard noises in the house and what happened after that, and the police did look in that direction. It was actually easy to find out how that person broke into the house without triggering the security system--Ava’s fingerprint was used as the last guest, exactly at the time when the break-in happened.But it was exactly Scar’s testimony that proved Ava’s innocence--Ava was captured
“I told you, I’m not after your money nor your company,” Scar says calmly, dropping the card on the table.“Then what are you after? Why are you here with a card to help me from going bankrupt?” Letting the card bouncing off the table, Sebastian grabs her wrist instead before she could pull back. He leans in so close that she could smell his cologne, his head bent lower to nail her eyes as his whisper stiffens her body: “...why do you care at all…Mrs…Knight?”“I’m not--!” Scar tries to swing his hand off, only to stop in the middle of her outburst, glaring at him like a puffed balloonfish.Sebastian curves his lips.“You are not Mrs. Knight? I know.”Scar won’t answer.“You hate me, don’t you?” Sebastian announces. The pain in his voice hidden well. “You hate me so much that you don’t want anything to do with me, even if I’m handing you my everything. Why won’t you say it out loud?”Scar lowers her eyelids to prevent the man from seeing through her, but he continues--“The Scar I knew
Prepared for this question, Scar answers unnecessarily fast: “I couldn’t risk anyone helping Ava to get MY Mom’s necklace. That’s why.”Her answer dims the pleasant light in Sebastian’s eyes.“I know…” Sebastian nods slowly, hiding the disappointment in his eyes, “But you didn’t have to come help because of that, did you?”Scar snorts coldly: “I’m doing this for Granny, not you.”“Granny kicked me out of the company for what happened five years ago,” Sebastian lets out a light laugh, “I’m pretty sure she would be the last one who would want you to help me right now.”Scar raises her eyebrows. She didn’t think Granny would be so cruel to Sebastian, but then again, there weren’t too many who could rip Sebastian’s title easily.“What did you tell her?” Scar frowns.Scar blamed Sebastian only because he trusted the wrong person. Legally, or any other aspect speaking, he wasn’t the killer five years ago. He just protected the killer was all. But Ava was never convicted, and Scar didn’t thi
“You want to meet early?” Scar glances at her phone to make sure the caller is indeed Damian, “Sure thing, but how early can dinner be?”She’s a bit surprised that Damian would move their dinner plan forward, but considering how he has been making effort to build a connection, she persuaded herself.“Authur, could you--?”“Yes, Miss Green,” Authur answers swiftly, “After you deliver the card, I will drive you right over.”Scar: “…”This time she’s really not trying to dodge that bullet! Didn’t he hear that it was Damian Vanderbilt who--… Whatever.Standing in front of Sebastian’s new building, Scar is still grumbling Silco’s name, along with his evil loyal driver, Author. Sebastian’s new building is not the same as before – the modern design of Z-house as its own symbol. This time it’s just a normal building, low-key to the extreme, considering its owner’s usual luxurious style.A sour wave washes Scar’s heart.Kind and gentle, Sebastian was never low-key. He was the shining prince of
“Why do I have to do it myself?!” Scar huffs, glaring at Silco.Sitting on the sofa casually with his legs crossed, Silco glances at Scar from above the papers he’s reading, amused. A moment ago the girl was crying in his arms, and now she’s like a kitten with her tail stomped on.“I can send Arthur over!” Scar pouts.“If you can command him,” Silco answers almost gently, but the laughter in his voice is not hidden at all.Scar rolls her eyes.“I’ll just--I--” Scar blurts, fidgeting around, “You already gave up on Sebastian’s company, so why are you making the one last step so hard for me?!”“Sorry, I didn’t think delivering a card to a fancy office building with a driver at your service all the time would be a horrifying chore,” Silco answers, still with that annoying smile.“You KNOW that’s not what I’m talking about!” Scar snaps angrily. If she had been grateful to this man with her full heart a moment ago, she is now annoyed 120%, “You can send anyone but me!”“I’m spending two bi