Scarlett’s POVI don’t think she is going to like what Ava has to say.I was surprised that Jack Fuller seemed to know Ava’s true color, but not for long. He has always been a calculating fox and I doubt he’d let anyone fool him, not even his own daughter.But I don’t think Mom knows about it at all. If she thinks Ava is her angelic tame daughter, then she really believes that. She is a devout believer. And as horrible as Jack Fuller might be, there is one thing I can’t deny of him -- he loves his wife.I guess I shouldn’t feel bad for Mom. I should envy her. She might know all the truth, but she is happy, living in the little illusional bubble where everything is kind, good, and alright. She doesn’t have to feel bad for keeping a little girl at home just to be her daughter’s blood vessel because her husband told her the little girl is an orphan who needed help; she doesn’t have to know that her own daughter broke the ugly truth to the orphan that she was adopted, because Jack Fuller
Scarlett's POVOhh, now that makes sense. No wonder why Ava would reach out to me, at the price of painting a peaceful illusion in front of Mom between us no less. She panicked because she thought Sebastian had a glimpse of her true color.Wait, no, that doesn’t make sense at all.That wasn’t like him at all. Shouldn’t he be beating the shit out of Liam Ryan for smearing the name of his pure angel?Finally, after all these years, Ava stepped on a line that even his blind love couldn’t make him look the other way?Now this is my kind of fun, to see that Ava actually understands what fear is.“I seem to remember that you said it wouldn’t matter even if I told him the truth, and he will still love you no matter what,” I tilt my head at Ava, “That night when you showed off to me about how he proposed to you, remember? In fact, you dared me to tell him--”“You bitch!” Ava snaps at me, but she keeps her face straight. I glance at Mom, and she moves her vicious death stare away from me.“I’l
Scarlett’s POV“Are you sure you are okay? You can cry if you want to,” Adrian asked for the third time I got back into his car. I told him he didn’t have to wait for me, but he was still where he parked when I came out, just as surprised as I was when he saw me.I’m not that sad. Not like when I found out about the truth of my “family”, about how each one of them betraded me and wanted to cut things off me. They bought my life for their beloved daughter, what’s so wrong in that?I’m actually happy now that their daughter is finally cured. They don’t need me anymore.“Ava is perfectly okay now. Her status is stable,” I tell Adrian, feeling a long-lost lightness, “Maybe they won’t even chase after me if I were to tell them that I’m leaving.”“She’s cured only by exploiting you!” Adrian rolls his eyes, complaining resentfully.“I mean, to think about it, they paid for my life and my education, I would have dealt with them if they straight up told me that the condition would be providing
Scarlett’s POVI stare at him, my body freezes because my brain is processing too many questions to give any order.Did Jack Fuller send him? Why does he still want me to stay?? How did he even know I was here??? I didn’t tell anyone, and it was as abrupt and out of expectation as it can be! Ava? Gabriel? Sebastian? None of them knows! Not even Aurora and Lilith!“Scar, breathe!” Adrian shakes me, and I turn to him slowly, tears blurring my sight, “This is Mateo, my secretary. I’m sorry I scared you, but you need to breathe. Scar!”I gasp, supporting myself against his car, blinking as my stunned brain slowly gets around it. Water flows down my face.“I thought--” I say, only to bite my lips. My voice is twisted. One more word and I will burst into a loud cry.“I know, I know...” Adrian hugs me, petting me on the back gently, “You are okay, you are safe...I’m really sorry, but they are not here to catch you...”I can’t believe how stupid I was, and now I can’t look up from Adrian’s ar
Scarlett’s POVHis men haste up their steps and surround us, all in straight faces with their eyes hiding behind cold sunglasses. “...Adrian...?” My voice is shaking.“Take the tickets,” Adrian puts them in my hand, standing in front of me, “You will be okay. Nobody can touch you today, so long as I’m here.”“Mr. Dunn,” Jack Fuller nods at Adrian with a smile, “Fancy seeing you here.”“I guess I can say the same to you,” Adrian blocks me with his body, “Where are you traveling to, Mr. Fuller, if I may ask?”Jack Fuller curves his lips scornfully, but then he answers tamely: “North Dakota.”My stomach drops. He is here for me, and he knows what I’m up to. I knew he was crafty with a black heart, and I just watched how he tamed Ava. But still. Never have I been more frightened by this man I once called Dad than at this moment.I feel like I could never get out of his grasp.“Scarlett, come home with me,” Jack Fuller took a side step, looking at me right in my eyes, “This is for your own
Scarlett’s POVHe doesn’t want me to find my real family. Of course not. He wants me to be bound to his city, to Ava, for life! And whether I’m happy or suffering in the process, he does not care.Look at Jack Fuller’s cold face, I can’t begin to understand why he hates me so much. I’d understand it if Ava needs me. What he did wasn’t decent, but at least he did out of love for his daughter.Why stop me now?My blood type is rare, but it’s not like I’m the only one. Every state has its own RH- blood bank established, and ours is one of the best. So long as Ava’s demand is within the ordinary range, it won’t be a problem for a rich family like the Fullers.So why keep me here?“I don’t need a plan because I’m not in a hurry to find my real parents,” I break the awkward silence after Adrian’s question, “Sebastian is marrying Ava, so I don’t want to be in the same city and bless my sister with my ex-husband. Is that reasonable?”Jack Fuller narrows his eyes: “You would be willing to divo
Sebastian’s POVI got into a fight with Adrian.I saw Scar with Adrian in the parking lot talking, happily. I could have gone and given her the files. It has been in my car where I basically live these days. I didn’t. I wasn’t in a hurry to cut the only connection between me and Scar.I followed their car, not sure what I wanted out of it. Another talk after Adrian sends her home? What could another conversation do? Everything I do right now only pushes her further away. But I followed them like a lost kid.Adrian the jerk soon spotted me and lost me in the traffic. He was a racer, the one thing I could never win him with.When I caught up with him, Scar already went to see Ava. I admit, I was upset. Ava wasn’t in any urgent need, and he shouldn’t have let her go. Jack Fuller doesn’t care whether Ava needs it. He would drain Scar no matter what.His daughter’s illness planted a hunger for Scar’s blood deeply in him.I demanded why he let Scar do that and he punched me, shouting someth
Sebastian’s POV“...what do you mean...?” Scar’s voice shakes with fear when I get close. She shoots me an indifferent glance like she doesn’t see me at all. Her eyes are red in tears, and her fists shaking.What could Jack Fuller possibly say to her? She wasn’t this upset even when she gave me those files.“You have always thought I faked your adoption file,” Jack Fuller says with a heavy sigh, “You were right. I didn’t adopt you from the orphanage. I found you in North Dakota, in your mother’s cold arms.”“You are lying!” Scar hisses at Jack Fuller like a hurt little kitten. Her ears would fly backward if she had any. She shakes her head and tears fall down but she doesn’t even feel that. She turns to grab Adrian’s shirt with a wronged look, and I glare over at Adrian.“Take her out of here,” I tell Adrian before I turn to Jack Fuller, “You don’t have to do it here, not like this.”I don’t know about Scar’s past, but Jack’s opening doesn’t sound like a nice story.Adrian complies, h
Scar couldn’t answer Silco’s question.What kind of a question was that?! She doesn’t treat them differently! They are all her enemies, and they all played a part in that horrifying night five years ago! When Ava bullied her, Sebastian took Ava’s side; when Ava needed her blood, Sebastian was the one plugging the tube into Scar’s wrist; when Ava tried to murder her child, HIS child, he gave Ava the key to their house! So of course she treats them differently! If Ava was a murderer, then Sebastian was just a stupid tool Ava used; if Ava wanted her dead, Sebastian only failed to protect her.So why that question?!Why SHOULD she treat them as equally evil? She doesn’t only because she is a fair person!Having a bloody battle in her mind, Scar couldn’t help but feel angry when she couldn’t pin down where the anger comes from.It was a simple question, one that she does have an answer for.So why couldn’t she?Why did she feel guilty when Silco asked that, and why did she run from that qu
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