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
Scarlett's POVI think Granny heard me. In fact, I think half of the party heard me. But Granny is not the kind of person that would embarrass you in public, and I dare not to bring it up myself -- I just yelled at her beloved grandson, and now my ears are burning.I don’t even know what I could say IF she asked. We have never fought in front of Granny before.“How are you doing recently?” Granny chats with me casually, leading the way among the crowd, nodding and returning smiles from time to time, “Sebastian mentioned something about a new job?”I sneak a glance at Sebastian, and he rolls his eyes all the way to the ceiling.So he “complained” something about a new job. No doubt it’s because of Adrian.“It’s because my...hmmm, Mom, mentioned Richard Hanson the other day,” I try to find my words to skip the crazy mess that happened recently without lying...too much, “and I thought maybe I could give my script a try.”“Ohh, you wrote a script?! How wonderful!” Granny exclaims with a su
Scarlett’s POV“Granny, I’ll go check!” I pick up my dress a little, hurrying to leave.“I’ll come with,” Granny says, frowning as she looks over, too. She doesn’t like people raising a fuss at her party, and she would like it even less if she knows who Lilith is.I blurt: “No need, Granny, I’ll sort it out--”But before I can finish, a fair-sounding voice cuts in:“Granny, no need to stress yourself out. I’m sure Scar can take care of the situation...considering that girl is her friend.”Ava Snake Fuller. Of course she would jump out at such a moment. I bet whatever is going on with Lilith, Ava has her hand in it. She’s the only one with a motive to attract sour attention to Lilith.To my surprise, Granny didn’t get any of Ava’s keywords, but asks coldly: “Who are you calling Granny?”The smile freezes on Ava’s face. She quickly flinches to Sebastian’s side and murmurs: “I’m sorry, Mrs. Knight...”Granny shoots her a cold, knife-like glare before she strides in Lilith’s direction like
Scarlett’s POVI used to argue with Ava, when I cared.I don’t care about Sebastian anymore, and I no longer have any desire to “win” over her, especially in a meaningless argument. She has his heart, end of story. I just want to protect my friend right now.Ava always wins our battles by making me the bully. She doesn’t know how to handle my surrender. Utter speechless, she bites her lips in silence, and her dogs move away hesitantly.I grab Lilith’s wrist as I turn to Granny: “I’m really sorry...”“Where are you going?”I almost run into a guy, and I pull to a sudden halt at his words. He replaced the mean girls' group, blocking my way. To think I thought it was fascinating how we shared a rare eye color. Now I just want to hit him in the head when I see his taunting eyes.I KNEW he was part of the evil plan!!!“You--!” I grip his collar to blow out. He grabs my wrist gently, stopping me from doing more damage, but not hurting me as he cuts me off faster:“I thought the fuss was abou
Scarlett's POV“So, you are saying that I bought a knockoff, is that it?”The handsome stranger does not let Lilith go, but looks up at the group of mean girls with a nod. Suddenly all his moves are elegant in my eyes, a pleasure to watch for some reason.I think Lilith feels the same because she is looking up at him with a smitten slash stunned look from his chest.“I--” The mean girls all look at the one standing in the middle, Olivia Keen, Ava’s best friend. She hems and haws, “I mean...”Eyes darting to Ava, she’s too nervous and she needs instructions from her master.“I’m sorry, who are we talking to?” Ava clears her throat and steps up, her tone polite and her voice pleasent. It’s the voice she uses when she wants to impress. Guess it’s universal that the stranger is considered handsome. Or Ava just evaluated the tailed suits on him well.The stranger cocks his eyebrows with an amused look as if pleasantly surprised.I’m nervous again. If Ava wants to come off as charming, she c
Scarlett’s POVThe circle is surprised to utter silence. Aurora frowns -- Granny is resolving the situation on his behalf and he doesn’t seem to understand that. Ava smiles politely with restraint, delivering her disappointment at an “unreasonable liar” perfectly.Even Granny is surprised.Lilith shoots over a worried look at him and he gives her a reassuring smile.The mean girls throw mocks mixed with attacks, but none seem to even land on the stranger. He just stands there with a polite smile, looking directly at Ava.“I’m not sure if I want to answer your question,” Ava pouts lightly, “considering you didn’t answer mine.”About his name? I mean, sure he didn’t answer, but I would hardly consider that an offense--“Why did you--” The stranger takes a step in Ava’s direction and Ava backs a step as if scared.Instantly Sebastian walks up and stands between Ava and the stranger.“I mean no harm. Can I not even talk to the lady who made a pretty mean accusation at me?” The stranger loo
Scarlett’s POVEveryone can see that Ava lied at this point, and so could Olivia. And she chose to throw Ava under the bus, instead of herself--Olivia was the one throwing insults at Lilith, and if she apologized, she would come off as the bully. But she insisted that she did it only to extend justice for her “best friend”, and now that friend who lied, is taking all the heat.“I--I never showed you a dress! Olivia...” Ava shoots her head up at Olivia, her voice shivering with pain, “I’m sorry if you misunderstood anything, but I never said Lilith’s dress was a knockoff...”“But you said--” Olivia spats back, only to freeze with a horrified look.I shake my head slowly. Olivia is too naive. She doesn’t know. Ava is very good at lying, and she never leaves any loose strings when she lies. The most likely case is that Ava “indicated” to Olivia and others that she has the same dress as Lilith. Maybe a line or two about how Lilith is poor.And that gave Olivia the impression that Lilith c
Damian’s POVI'm looking for my sister.She was lost 20 years ago, and I have been looking for her.All I knew was that she was lost in North Dakota. I mean, that’s where we found Mom’s body. My baby sister wasn’t with her. The policeman announced her death years ago, telling us that maybe she was eaten by an animal. What a ridiculous reason to provide a family in grief.I have begged the police to not give up but they called it still. I even wanted to sue them, but Dad wouldn’t let me. They aren’t the one at fault.I was.And I couldn’t live with that.That’s why I became a lawyer myself.I have seen my share of darkness in humanity, and I wanted to be able to do something when unfairness like this happen. To me, to anyone.Also, a lawfirm is the best cover for conducting investigations. I graduated early, hurrying through school as fast as I can to start my plan. And I have screened through the whole state of North Dakota for my sister.And three states after that.This is my fourth