Scarlett's POVThe building’s structure is like a hotel. The elevator is designed in the center, with two lines of small rooms going around it. We were in one of the rooms on the inner lines, and the light we saw came through the room on the outer circle.I didn’t know this until Liam Ryan dragged both Ava and me out of the room, through a pitch-dark hallway, to a huge hole in the center of the building.The half-built elevator shaft is like the enormous mouth of a monster lurking in the dark, waiting for us to drop in.The back of our chairs are inches away from the edge. I dare not to move, turn, or even peek at the abyss behind me, and I’m already getting dizzy from acrophobia.I’m going to puke...“Scared?” Liam Ryan smirks at me, “You weren’t looking so pale when I pulled you up from right that hole behind you, with that pulley.”I turn my head slightly, only to see what I can only call a middle school student craft homework. It’s just a few wheels with a rope! I can’t believe th
Scarlett’s POVI don’t want to get into an argument now. I’m too scared to be so close to an abyss that my limbs are all freezing. Besides, I don’t want to lower myself to the level of sabotaging another just to survive, though she might deserve it.“Did you know all these?” Liam Ryan turns to me with a cruel smile.He is standing between Ava and me, his back facing the abyss. Just one stumble could lead to his definite death. And Sebastian is obviously thinking the same because Liam Ryan laughs coldly at Sebastian: “Any funny movement from you, or any bullets from anywhere, I will take these two chairs down with me, along with their passengers.”Dead silence.And the next second Sebastian taps on his ear as he tells Liam Ryan: “They won’t come close. Don’t do anything reckless.”“Ohh, I’m not reckless, I know what I’m doing,” Liam Ryan smirks evilly, “Sebastian Knight, do you? Do you know where your heart lies?”If he dared to say my name, I'm going to fucking haunt him when I turned
Scarlett’s POVI close my eyes in desperation.I really should have told him that I have his baby in me. He might still choose to sacrifice me, but he wouldn’t do it this decisively without even a pause.For a moment I really want to lash out like Liam Ryan did. I want to struggle and shout and curse and say to hell with everyone and drag everything to hell with me. In that moment I feel Liam Ryan. He didn’t even care about a 90 billion worth company. All he wanted was a solace of justice. He wanted only fair treatment.What did I do wrong in all this? Should I have not loved the kind boy who saved me all these years? Should I have left the city when Mom “needed” me? Should I have told him the truth five years ago?What did I do wrong?!I sort of put together Sparrow’s story in Liam Ryan’s rumble here and there. Basically, Justin mistook Annie for Sparrow, and just like how I found out about the truth when Justin proposed to his Ava, Sparrow stood up and told the truth.Except no one
Sebastian’s POVHe’s got me.How am I supposed to make such a choice?!It doesn’t matter who I name because he just wants to drag me into the hell he is living in -- whose sky and soil are made of guilt and regret of a loved one gone forever. Whichever of them I choose, I leave here today with the blood of one of them on my hands.And I can’t let either of them die, not on my watch.Jim is preparing the air cushion downstairs as we speak. His men surround us in the dark corners, and they can take Liam Ryan down any second. But not when he has his hands on their chairs. It’s too dangerous. One wrong move and it’s three lives over the edge.I came here, ready to give everything, but I didn’t think he was so far beyond reach that only human lives seemed to be able to feed the wrath in his chest.What do I do?“Name your choice, Sebastian Knight,” Liam Ryan curves his lips into a devil smirk, pressing the back of the chairs, leaving them sitting on only the two hind legs.Scar lets out a
Scarlett’s POVEverything happened too fast.I only closed my eyes for a second at Sebastian’s choice, and the next second he was on the floor, holding on to Ava’s chair with her dangling in the air. I didn’t see what knocked Liam Ryan over. I just know the moment he turns to Sebastian, he suddenly stumbles to the side, and the next thing I feel is a hard kick on my chair.This is it.The horrifying fear of the loss of gravity kicks in, and I can’t help bursting into shouting to let the burning fear out of my chest.In that split second, I don’t even feel hatred. He loves her, and he chose her. I couldn’t expect more than that. At that moment all I feel is an overwhealming of sorrow, the sorrow of knowing that he would find out about his baby dying with me when I hit the ground.Would he be sad over that innocent little one? Or would he not be moved at all?Either way, it’s sad, and that sadness overtook any emotion I could have, and I cried, under the claw of fear.But I only fell fo
Scarlett’s POVWarmth calms.I never understood why in movies the victims are all given an orange blanket even if they aren’t wet. Now I know. At the moment of shock, a blanket can work magic, and calm your jittery nerves.But after calmness, embarrassment hits.I hug myself, sitting in the back of the ambulance, feeling my ears burn.What did I just do?!I cried and snuggled in the arms of a basically stranger! Who is going to be my boss that I would meet on a daily basis?Can I quit now...?“Here,”A warm cup touches my cheek lightly, and I look up startled, only to see Adrian’s chuckle. In his hand a small cup of hot milk.How did he even get milk here?Mumbling thanks, I take the milk from him and lower my eyes, having no courage to look at him. But I didn’t miss the slight tremble of his arms.“Sorry about that,” I land my eyes on his shivering hand, “I should have walked down on my own.”Adrian raises his own hand, staring at it for a second before he sighs with a self-mocking l
Scarlett’s POVI can’t.Even if I had to give the ambulance to Ava, I wouldn’t go with her.I can’t let them know about the baby, not after this. Not when he would choose Ava’s life over mine. Not when I’m still under the paw of Jack Fuller. God knows what horrible plan he would have for my baby -- who would be highly likely to share my rare blood type.They can never know the baby’s existence.“I have called the ambulance already, Jack,” Sebastian turns to Jack Fuller, “And Ava’s wound has stopped bleeding. She is not in danger.”“So?! Ava’s injured! She has to go to the hospital anyway!” Jack Fuller grunts in frustration, “Am I asking too much from her now, just to fucking share an ambulance?! It’s the least to do for anyone who has any decency!”Somehow I come off as the bad guys. Always. In their eyes.“I think the basic decency is to at least say ‘please’ when you are asking for a favor,” I stand up coldly, looking Jack Fuller right in the eyes, “instead of acting as if the whole
Scarlett’s POVI wouldn’t even know that he didn’t sign the papers if the policeman hadn’t found the folder in Liam Ryan’s belongings and checked the content.Sebastian raises his hand, and I hand it over, only to notice that both our hands are shaking visibly.“Are you alright?” Sebastian takes my arm instead of the folder, his other hand holding my shoulder, “You are freezing! Did you take the hot cocoa--?”His eyes land on the milk beside me. I only had a few sips.“I haven’t had anything for more than a day, what did you expect?” I push him away, sitting down at the back of the ambulance, seeing black spots in front of my eyes as I try to adjust to my dizzy head. I was too shocked by the near-death experience and the medical staff suggested a short rest first.Talking to Sebastian is not a rest. It boils my blood at the price of my little remained energy.“I know you are not feeling well right now, and I know you are mad at me,” After a hesitation, Sebastian says in a low voice, “
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