Scarlett’s POVIt can’t be Lucas if we are going through the door instead of the window. It has to be me. Even if anyone sees me, it won’t be a crime.“What took you so long?!” I hiss at him when he drags me to a dark corner. In his hand is an old bronze key of a weird shape. The gate of the villa uses a fingerprint lock, but Jack Fuller’s study still uses one of those old-school locks with a complicated physical key.What's he hiding in there?“This kind of lock is very expensive, one lock with only one key, and the key can’t be duplicated,” Seeing my confusion, Lucas explains, “And to answer your question, it’s because you gave me the wrong password for the phone.”“What?! It’s not Ava’s birthday?!” I exclaim, “I swear I have seen him using that.”“Well, maybe it was, but now it isn’t,” Lucas has a weird look on his face, “do you want to know what it is?”“It’s okay,” I wave my hand, “I don’t plan on stealing his phone all the time!”I have never stolen anything in my life. I was so
Scarlett’s POVI cover my mouth in shock, throwing the case into the safe and locking it, only to realize I have got nowhere to escape. How could she be back so quickly?!“Scarlett!” Ava keeps shouting, wracking the doorknob like crazy, “You stole my key, didn’t you?! You dare to sneak into Daddy’s study?! You are dead! Daddy told me you would try something and you certainly did! Open up!”I struggle between the door and the balcony.It’s not safe if Lucas is not there to catch me, if I go with the air way. But if I go with the door...I wanted to play dumb and investigate first, but I guess the beans are spilling. I grip the key in one hand, and the doorknob in another. If this is how it’s blowing out--“Some guy climbed into her window,” I hear a guy’s voice across the door, his words are for Ava apparently. I hold my breath and wait.Some guy? What guy? Lucas? Into my room, not the study??? Wait, they have eyes on the windows???!“The cameraman? Into her room? They are not sleeping
Scarlett’s POV“What was that?!” Ava demands in haste, charging back to the study.Damn it! She heard me.Sebastian knocks on the glass door lightly, pointing at the lock. Luckily with Ava’s frantic shout and turning the doorknob as cover, I unlocked the glass door and opened it smoothly.“What--” I hiss at him but he covers my mouth and pulls me out to the balcony.“What did you text Ava?” He asks directly.“I--I don’t know...” I murmur. Lucas sent it. I didn’t leave until I returned his phone--Wait, he knew?!Sebastian drops that topic fast. “Under the table or cross the balcony’s gap, choose one,” He says swiftly with a strict tone, turning me to the direction of my room, “Under the table is safer, but walking out can be tricky--”“The balcony,” I choose fast. The gap between the two balconies is less than one meter. I think Jack Fuller prepared the bedroom for his little girl from the start, and he never thought danger could come from this direction.But it’s still scary.I look
Scarlett’s POV“You found it on the ground?!” Ava hisses in shock. From the sound of it, she slips into the study and shuts the door, “I-I really lost the key?”“I’m sorry,” Sebastian says.The bitterness in his voice aches me. He hates lying, and now I forced him to lie, to someone he cares about no less. I’m owning him more and more.I stick my head out of my door to peek, just to see Ava’s minion Ethan pasting his ear on the study’s door. We scare each other, and we both pull our heads back.“But why are you here?” Ava demands with full suspicion, “You told me to meet you in the woods where you saved me.”Shit!I stick an airpod in my ear as I charge out of the door. I didn’t know what Lucas texted her, but I knew it was by the lake! Why didn’t I at least tell him that?! I need to warn him!“The woods?” Sebastian asks with a genuinely confused tone, “Did you misread the text? Is that why you didn’t come to the lake?”What?! I freeze in the hallway, staring into each other with Etha
Scarlett’s POVI have never seen him sad like this. Before when I have a fight with him for Ava, he usually just snorts coldly, or brushes it off. Never did he care so much that his whole voice was spilling out pain.His pain stings me.“Yes, very!” I say in a vicious tone, glaring back at him, “I’m sorry if you said that in exchange for a dead marriage, but you shouldn’t have done it if you think it’s not worth it!”“I didn’t say that,” Sebastian sighs, his voice tired and low, “I know I need to keep a distance from her, I just didn’t want to do it in a cruel way...”“I told you I stayed for blood, and I told you I tore the divorce papers just to torture your precious,” I feel my blood boiling in a cold fire, “I don’t care if you stay her knight in shining armor, just don’t come and ask me to join you! If you are putting her above every and any of your things, that’s your choice!”Not mine, and certainly not my baby’s!For a moment I really thought I could trust him with our baby. I g
Damian’s POVThat’s my mom’s necklace.The one and only in the whole world.Mom died in a car crash twenty-some years ago, along with my baby sister. Or so they told us. But they never found my sister’s body. I mean, sure the car fell off a cliff and burned, and sure there might have been some wild animals. Even Mom’s body was not intact.But I never believed them. They all think I’m doing this because I blame myself. I do blame myself, and Mom’s death was on me. But that’s not the reason.A person doesn’t just disappear into thin air. Nor would a sapphire.And I’m looking at both of them right now, with my own eyes!“What are you doing?!” I grunt at Jack Fuller, only to realize it’s not my place to yell. Sure it’s his daughter -- well, adopted daughter -- but it doesn’t mean he has the right to do such a thing!“Who are you?” The old man frowns at me. Seriously, I barely meet people who doesn’t know their place in the world holding such wealth still. They usually perish fast.“Dad! T
Scarlett’s POVJack Fuller doesn’t like the mysterious man.Damian Vanderbilt. A name I have never heard of in my life. I mean, I know the name Vanderbilt. That family owns more wealth than a king, and they are low-key as they are rich. But this name has never had anything to do with the Fullers.I mean, why would they? The Fullers can barely make it to the top ten families in the city.But Jack Fuller, the man who sucks up to riches like Sebastian, doesn’t like Damian Vanderbilt. No, not dislike.Jack Fuller hates him, and... is a bit afraid of him. He looks at Damian Vanderbilt in the exact same way he used to look at me when I was little.It's a pure hatred for no good reason, and this hatred is deeply rooted in Jack Fuller.He called this man to his home, only to disrespect him to his face? And the oddest part is, Damian Vanderbilt doesn’t seem to be offended. A rare quality for people with his kind of social status.The tension between Jack Fuller and the mysterious stranger make
Scarlett’s POV“You are leaving?”I look away reluctantly from Jack Fuller’s closed door when Sebastian’s voice raises. I look over, only to see Lucas standing by near us. My little suitcase was beside him.I have been moving around so much recently, even since I found out about the baby that day. The only thing feeling homey is that suitcase.“No, I’m not,” I dodge Sebastian’s eyes.He would try to get me to move back with him if I answered yes. I don’t want to waste time on such a talk.I wanted to move out because I had got everything I wanted from Jack Fuller. But now with Mom’s stuff almost within my reach, I can’t help my mind turning fast about how to get it. I want Mom’s necklace. I hate the fact that it’s on Ava’s neck, especially when I know it would be harder to get it from Jack Fuller now.“You are not a good liar,” Sebastian sighs with a bitter smile, seeing through me, “I know better than to force you. I just...” He frowns, lowering his eyelashes to hide the pain in his
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
All the way home Scar feels like something stuffed in her chest. Over and over again she tells herself that she doesn’t care about Johnny Vanderbilt, but it doesn’t seem to work.A car seemed to have followed her for a while, but it was gone at the last turn.She lives in a house in the upper part of the town now, a community better and safer than the Fuller’s villa. Silco rented her this place, along with the guards. When she arrives, Silco is not yet home.Scar throws herself into the sofa, frustrated about Johnny Vanderbilt, and herself. Not only did she have to take all the garbage about him from Jack Fuller, but she also had to see with her own eyes that the man was not interested in making up with her. Not that she cares, but still, it doesn’t feel good.She is getting mixed information about that man.In Damian’s eyes he was a loving husband, a strict father who spoils his own daughter. But Emma left him for cheating, Anna was convinced that he was still into her, and from what
With Ava and Jack Fuller hovering at the front door, Scar doesn’t even step out of the elevator, but just remains inside for the underground parking lot. She is so drowned in Damian’s words that she barely makes it out before the door closes on her—“You are a lot like Mom,”That’s what he said. Even now Scar’s heart is pumping fast at that. Is she? She doesn’t even remember being held in that woman’s arms. She doesn’t remember the home she briefly stayed in. She doesn’t even remember the car accident which should have left some impression even in her childish mind.But she grew up into a woman a lot like her angel-like mother?What did she blurt? She was so daunted in the face that she murmured: “I have always imagined her to be like one of those…”Elegant ladies. Those who would sit in a café at 3pm, watching out the window with 20-dollar-coffee in hand.“Like a lady, huh?” Damian grins, seeing through her easily, “Nahhhh. Far from it. Mom is cool, almost hippy like. She would drive
I got Mom’s necklace. Even when completing the process in the office after the auction, it still feels surreal. Anna Fuller’s appearance was unexpected, but what was the real surprise was how easily Johhny Vanderbilt gave up on the necklace in the end when I called my price.I can’t take the necklace away, not till the bank processes the deal. But I got all the papers the Fuller’s provided for its authenticity. Finally, the first step of my revenge, is grasped in my palm. The plan is to get the papers and send them to prison –Silco would freeze the card after I win the necklace, giving me exactly three days to prove the Fuller’s guilty on faking the files. I want Mom’s necklace, but I don’t plan on making that bloodsucking family billionaires by buying something originally mine from them.It’s them who have to pay.“So…” I turn to Damian, feeling a bit awkward. I have been really mean to him ever since I met him, and yet he came to my help today without hesitation. I’d be lying if I
The love-and-hatred show is still on as Scar and Damian quarrel. Johnny Vanderbilt would raise his plate instantly after the host announces Anna’s call or even faster, and Anna would pout, bite her lips, and glare over before she raises again. Her face is like a painting plate, changing color in seconds as if every one of his calls is like a bomb blowing up on her face.The phone call comes in at that moment--Anna’s phone rings, breaking the silence in the room, loud and clear. She glances at it with an indifferent face, not picking it up. But her hand hesitates to raise her plate again.“Who could be calling her?” Scar murmurs to Damian. All of Anna’s family is down there by her side. Her parents died years ago. So who could be so important to her that a phone call from him could hesitate her decision?Seeing all these, Johnny Vanderbilt suddenly raises his plate again, this time announcing himself: “Two billion.”Anna’s tears break out as her hand drapes powerlessly -- it’s not the
Tears flow down Anna Fuller’s cheeks, the plate raised halfway in her hand is shaking hard because she was not expecting Johnny Vanderbilt to be so cruel to her—He knew she was going for the necklace, and he did not only bid for it, but actually gave her a price that told her to keep away from it.One billion. What a cold number.Jack Fuller didn’t want her to come. In fact, Jack Fuller didn’t tell her about the auction of the necklace. But she knew. She knows everything about Johnny Vanderbilt, the man who was supposed to be on the sacred altar with her. How could Jack Fuller expect her to not come?Ava is beyond excitement at Johnny Vanderbilt’s bid – to Ava, it’s just a number unnecessarily high for an item they stole with a reserve price low as 30 million. But whatever. Maybe the riches just like to brag about how much money they have. The more the better – for her.The item is listed under her name, and she takes the bigger part of the final price.Scar raises her plate in a has
Scar didn’t think it would go this smoothly.She prepared several other reasons and actually rehersed in her head on her speech to persuade Damian, who known to be an ironwrist in the courtroom, shouldn’t be persuaded easily. But maybe just eager to maintain the peace with his long lost sister, Damian jumped on board without so much as a nudge.All parties are set, and now between Scar and the necklace, remains only “the last minute”.Everyone knows “once, twice, sold,” but few know that after the host announces the upset price, bidders have 60 seconds before the item is announced unsold. This time is called “the last minute” because it’s the most crucial battle between bidders—to decide, fake, trick, or hide their strategies over an item.You don’t want to show your cards too early too clearly. Some would wait for the last few seconds to call, and others use this time to feel out the bottom price from other bidders. Once the first call is announced, it’s a bloody war.Ava wants an un