Scarlett’s POV“Sorry!” I blurt, taking my eyes off his table, even more nervous, “It’s just...I mean...”I can feel my ears burning up. I’m lousy at this kind of stuff. I’d choose to deal with writing over people any time of the week, especially a businessman like him.“Relax, I was just joking,” He laughs, reaching out for a handshake, “I don’t imagine you’d be interested in it.”I don’t know how to answer this out-of-nowhere comment that seems to have some deeper meaning behind it, so I choose to ignore it and answer the one before that:“Thanks for the concern. The trip isn’t so bad,” I take his hand, adding when he cocked his eyebrows lightly, “I took the subway over, for that exact reason.”He laughs.I always knew him as the bad boy in school, one that nobody dares to mess with. So it’s actually an interesting feeling to see such a warm, friendly laugh from a guy like Adrian Dunn. And it helps me calm down.“I was starting to worry that you weren’t coming,” He pulls the chair ou
Scarlett's POVWhen I finished my pitch, I felt embarrassed and shocked -- I talked for 2 hours straight?!Standing in the elevator, I can’t help but to cover my face thinking about what just happened.He smiled at me with an encouraging look, nodded along, and even asked some simple questions, so I totally lost track of time.To think that I just took up the whole morning of a billionaire whose business was far more important than my movie...I didn’t know how to face Adrian Dunn at that moment, and when I looked up, he was smirking like a mischievous fox, seeing through my thoughts again.“Ughhh, I should probably...” I put away my iPad, pointing at the door, “Thank you very much for hearing me out!”The fox let out a laugh.“You don’t even have time for my decision?” Adrian Dunn curved his lips, his deep, shimmering eyes taunting behind his thin rimless glasses, “Not that I’d hate it if you just came here for a passionate chat...”“...” I totally forgot. Wasn’t my pitch the whole po
Scarlett’s POV“Mr. Dunn, I’m so sorry!” I turn to Adrian Dunn with my heart in my throat and my head dizzy at Sebastian’s provoking words.Did they always talk like this? Cause that’s easier to believe than thinking that Sebastian came on so aggressively because of me.“Why are you apologizing for him?” Adrian smirks at me, not playing by the rules, at all.“In case you forgot, she’s my wife!” Sebastian answers so fast as if he has been waiting a chance to declare that.“I’m NOT!” I snap at him, before taking a deep breath and turning back to Adrian Dunn, “Anyways, I’m sorry for the role I played in this, if any...”“No need to apologize.” The smile is back on Adrian’s face. His eyes land on Sebastian but he continues to speak to me saying, “I don’t consider you two a couple anymore, so. No reason to hold you responsible for anything HE does.”Sebastian looks like he wants to bury Adrian Dunn alive.With what seems like tremendous effort, he shifts his glare from Adrian Dunn to me: “C
Scarlett’s POVI don’t really want to go.I don’t know how to face Granny.I was the one who asked for this marriage, and I was the one ending it. Well, I was the one ending it because he never was in it. But I do owe Granny. She really tried to get to know me, and she changed from being mad at me to accepting me into her family. She has treated me with nothing but fairness. But now I’m disappointing her again.I don’t know how to tell her about the divorce.The only console is, Sebastian promised that he wouldn’t announce the news before Granny’s birthday party.I think that’s why he has been delaying his signature. Granny wants us to be happy, truly.“Why the long face?” Aurora nips my face tauntingly, “You look like you are not going to a party, but your death execution.”Yeah, a party where Sebastian would be, and surely Ava and probably Gabriel. If there is any difference between that and death execution, it’s that the latter is painless.“Thanks for coming with me, Aurora...” I p
Scarlett’s POVAva never acts mean to me in front of people. I mean, her team is not “people” to her. She doesn’t care to hide her true color in front of them, nor would they dare to say anything. This is why Aurora and Lilith knew little about my feud with her.“I’m fine, thanks,” I'm not at my best moment, but I would die faster spending time with Ava than walking a mile.I don’t like playing her acting game. I never understood the point of her faking a friendly face to me in front of people. Like if anyone else cares about whether she’s treating me nicely, while I would never fall for it myself. It’s a show for no audience.The car stops. Sebastian comes out of the driver’s side, glaring at me across the car with a cold tone: “Get in.”I roll my eyes, walking away.I’m no longer the stupid fucking dog following him around with smitten eyes and he can’t fucking order me around anymore!“Scarlett Fuller,” Sebastian calls my full name calmly from behind. That’s his way of showing real
Scarlett’s POV“Scar, what’s wrong?” Aurora frowns, then as if realized something, she slowly looks up at the fancy hotel, her voice now shivering, too, “...what’s today’s party again...?”Then she takes a gasp.“Yeah...” My brain freezes, and before I could do anything, I watched a police car pulling up, and Lilith comes off.“You sure it’s here? It doesn’t look like a place for people like us--” Damon’s voice follows Lilith out as she sprints to us, “Lil!”“Scar!” Lilith crushes into me for a big hug, turning to make a naught face at Damon, “Told you I got the right address!”Damon sticks his head out at me and Aurora: “Sorry I’m dumping my problem on you guys, but I’m on a case right now and I really can’t--”“It’s okay, we got her,” Aurora nods at him, and I dart my eyes down to the ground -- we can’t tell Lilith to leave now. It wouldn’t be any less humiliating than telling her it’s an upper-class party that we are going for.And Lilith came in a pair of jeans. Just great.Aurora
Scarlett’s POVI really want to throw my purse into his face before leaving with Lilith, but I can’t do that to Granny. Our war should not ruin her day.In the end, we watched Sebastian and Ava walk in with winning smiles, leaving us by the gate. While Ava attacked Lilith just to upset me, she has a point. I can’t let Lilith walk in there in her jeans. It would definitely upset Granny.So long as we get a dress, we can make it through the party. Granny might not even notice her.“It’s okay, I can wait for you guys at some bar nearby,” After me and Aurora’s awkward explanation, Lilith hugs us with a comforting smile, “I really don’t mind.”“It’s only because--” I want to explain more. If only I had told Aurora what the party was about.If only I thought I could handle Sebastian and Ava on my own...“You know I don’t like this kind of stuff, I understand,” Lilith grins at me, not looking offended. Or she just hides it well.“I--”“What seems to be the problem here?”An unfamiliar voice c
Sebastian’s POVGranny’s birthdays have been the happiest days of our marriage, that’s for sure.For a moment there, I seem to have seen the Scar I used to know. When I felt her tender body under my plam again, when I saw her lively eyes. When she talked to me.She used to report everything to me. Even a weird-shaped cloud outside her window she would take a picture and send it to me, adding a smiley face. But now, all she talks about with me is the fucking divorce.I don’t want a divorce.Too much is at stake. The stock, the company’s image, Granny’s wrath. I clearly remember how stern Granny was when she heard that the marriage was a deal Scar made by threatening a life. I don’t know how Scar turned Granny around, but Granny loves Scar now, sometimes more than she loves me.Scar keeps using Ava to probe me. About how I can marry Ava now. That’s how I know she still cares about me, she just hides her love away and wouldn’t let me see any. Her way of showing her love used to be nothing
Silco finally nods with a proud smile, seeing Scar had led her to where he was leading her to go: “I think that would raise our chances by a lot, princess.”Scar’s eyes beam, not at the coming win, but at the proud look from Silco.She doesn’t even realize it.Never in the first twenty years of life has she tasted what being proud of feels like, and that’s not because of a lack of trying. For a very long time, she believed so long as she worked hard, she would get the praise from Jack and Anna just like Ava. She never did.It feels amazing.While Scar is enjoying her newfound secret, forbidden satisfaction, Lilith is amazed at the closeness shared between Scar and Silco that her best friend doesn’t seem to even notice herself. Does Scar still remember that she doesn’t even know the identity of this man? Scar looks up at him like a little lamb at her shepherd.What’s with this sudden, almost-father-daughter vibe?!“So we just wait?” Scar asks Silco, “What if they don’t make a move?”“Y
“Silco!” Still in the euphoric state, Scar springs off the sofa, demanding the man like a little girl, “You knew him?! Elijah Green? Did you know what a weirdo he was?! Who tells people that they look like their dead friend on the first time they meet?! Why on earth did you make me go to that horrible party?! You owe me an explanation!”Silco lets out a smirk, “Dead...friend? Interesting...” He laughs at her pout, rubbing her hair as he leads her back to the sofa: “The party was horrible? Then why did I hear that the Fuller’s mother-daughter pair put on quite a show to entertain?”Well, it WAS quite enjoyable when they panicked as their lies spilled all over the floor before Scar picked it up for them.Scar sticks her tongue out.“Sure, she begged me for mercy,” Scar shrugs, throwing herself back into the sofa with a loud sigh, “but they only wanted to keep up their lies in front of the Green Lady. I have been calling her about our deal and she hasn’t picked up yet. Pretty sure I got
“I have heard a lot about you,” Elijah Green grins at Scar, giving a meaningful glance in the Green Lady’s direction.The Fullers are pasting around the Green Lady again, like two buzzing flies that would always come back. Looking over, Scar couldn’t help but let out a snort, “So have I.” She says with a cold voice, “Is that what this conversation is for?”If he is here to fight for Ava, too. Scar frowns. She swears to God! She would—“I think they are lying to mom,” Elijah Green answers tamely, as if he doesn’t even hear the sarcasm in Scar’s tone. In Scar’s surprised look, the man laughs like a marshmallow, with a childish, mischievous shade in there, “Anyone who looks so much alike my dear -- hmm -- friend, couldn’t be a bully.”Every time he says that, he adds a pause in there as if it originally wasn’t a “friend”, but something else there. Weird. Scar thinks.“...but I bet you are fierce, no? I bet you are kind to people, but take the stand if needed,” Elijah Green is still going
Sebastian is afraid.Never in his life has he been so. How could he not? He is in the face of his final judgement. He only got through the past five years lying to himself that Scar hated him because Alice died, when he managed to save Alice. That’s his one shred of hope. That some day, when he could tell Scar that, all will be forgiven and forgotten.But that’s precisely why he dared not touch it. Because deep down, he knows that the answer is likely to be no.He just doesn’t know how to survive that answer. If his actions would never get forgiveness from the one person he can’t live without. Then what?It takes him all his willpower to force his eyes up to meet Scar’s. His throat so dry that it starts hurting. He grips a fist, hides it in his pocket with his whole body stiff like a rock.There is storm in Scar’s eyes.There is anger, of course. Anger for all that has happened. Anger for all his stupid mistreatment and self-righteousness. Anger for all the hurt he used to meet her lo
In so many years to come, Sebastian would be grateful that Scar caved, again.He could see the struggle in her eyes, and the familiar fire that would have driven her to call off the deal. But for several long seconds, she doesn’t say anything.He takes that as an “in” and drags her away.He is not sure what he would have done if Scar chose Scott. It’s not like he could really keep her away from the lead of her mom’s case. He has investigated for so many years, just so he could give her what she wants when she wants it.Just not Scott.Or any other men.“I didn’t know you were interested in eye candy,” Sebastian squeezes Scar's hand punishingly when he notices that long after they arrived at the small table across the room from Scott, she is still gazing in that direction.Scar frowns at his sting. What’s his problem?? Ever since she enter Ava’s proud event, he has been a bother none stop. Just because he has got something that she’s interested, he thought he could walk over her??“I g
“Stop it! We weren’t talking about you!” Scar frowns, stepping up for Scott. She can’t have Scott being a target of Sebastian because of her.Scott might be next in line to inherit the Green empire, but he has never spent a day in his life fighting in the business world. How’s that fair?!Scott smirks at Sebastian from behind Scar.Sebastian is boiling. “Hiding behind a woman? Is that all you got?!”“Am I supposed to be ashamed? For hiding behind Scar?” Scott grins, not seeming to be offended at all as he drawls with that annoying smirk, “I don’t know. It sounds like you are upset that you don’t get to do the same.”Sebastian’s eyes are murderous now.Scar’s eyes open wide. She has never seen Sebastian like this. Losing his cool in front of anyone. Sarcasm and personal attack? Is this man really the white knight who always dominates in any room?He looks like an ordinary, jealous husband.The thing is, he is no longer her husband to have the right to be jealous of men she talks to!“W
Even at the top of her anger, all Scar wanted was to take back what she was owed and extend justice. Her eyes open slightly at his words, amazed at Scott’s careless tone.He lost his mom just like she did. He was unwanted by his original family, just like she was. But instead of tormenting himself, he chooses to torment everyone who owed him and maintains his life.“I wish I could be so free, just like you...” Scar murmurs, “How did you turn up well, losing your mom when you were a baby...?”When she became such a mess that she couldn’t hold on to anything good in her life?“I couldn’t do it, not without Mr. Vanderbilt.” Scott shakes his head.Mr. Vanderbilt...Scar lowers her eyelashes, hiding her secret within.Scott lands his gloomy look on Elijah Green, who is socializing with the guests not far from them, “If he didn’t take care of me all these years, the Greens would never have taken a low level orphan boy back, no matter the blood running through my veins.”Scar doesn’t recogni
Bored at the party, Scar leans against the window frame, her lips tainted with wine, her eyes nailed on Anna Fuller.All the guests who came for the Green lady are influencers in the city, if not flew in specially for this event. It’s a huge thing for the Green family, and their first chance to contact the prince of the Greens, meaning, the future of the Greens.“Someone looks happy,”Scar flinches when a voice snaps her out of her bored mind wandering, only to see Scott’s face.“Not as happy as you,” Scar snorts not without sarcasm, “…PRINCE Scott.”Scott’s smile is bright and sunny like any boy in the neighborhood.“Sorry I didn’t tell you earlier,” Scott makes a bitter face, “I guess I…I wanted you to see me for me, not any title that was coming my way.”“In case I said yes to you for the heritage you were going to get?” Scar folds her arms, sneering, “That was a lousy assumption--”“No!” Scott lets out a surprise laugh, “I thought I would have a bigger chance to woo you! If withou
Ava hasn’t joined any movie in the past five years.She is signed under the Knight Empire, and no other company dares to cross the Knight Empire when it is obviously benching Ava. Or rather, Ava didn’t even dare to reach out for any job just so people wouldn’t realize that she had lost the favor of the Knight Empire. She can blackmail Sebastian, privately, but she can’t force the fans to stick with her.If there is anything more important to her than Sebastian, it’s her career.She had to went to the Iron Lady behind Jack Fuller’s back and returned the ownership of Z-House for this movie. Sebastian can’t just take it! Not like this!“You can’t!” Ava growls at Sebastian, “You can’t just replace me when the shooting is over! I did the job! They have been promoting the movie for months now! You--”“Yes, I can.” Sebastian says simply, still with that polite smile which has not a shred of warmth.“No!” Ava mumbles, her huge eyes filled with tears as if there is a pump behind there, “Granny