Scarlett’s POVSebastian is in the shower.My mind was a mess in the car. I couldn’t even begin to think about Jack Fuller’s confession, Damian Vanderbilt’s questions, or even just Sebastian’s offer. In the end, the easiest decision was:He needed to get out of the wet shirt.He took my offer, but he put the hot water in the bathtub with my favorite salt, and he insisted on me taking a hot bath first. It did help a lot. I took my time in there, feeling the warmth of the water softening my stiff muscles. I only came out to see that he didn’t take a shower himself, but waited for me in his wet shirt.In my gentle pajamas and soft slippers, I curl up on the cushions of our bay window, watching the quiet night view outside. I don’t miss this view. This is where I usually sit when I have to wait for my husband over midnight, or when he leaves me alone after yet another fight.But now, this view gives me peace.It comes from his changes, I know. I didn’t dare hope for such a safety from him,
Ava’s POVMom sent me to a hot shower when Dad went to deal with the parasite who pushed me into the lake.I can’t believe it worked so smoothly. I always knew how to get to her, from luring her to escape home to making her push me into the water. She writes all her thoughts on her face. I knew mentioning the necklace would rile her up, and she thought I would physically hurt her. I’m not as stupid as she is! She did exactly what I thought she would: she pushed me into a lake in front of Sebastion.He hates bullies, and this will definitely drive a wedge between them.Ever since she told Sebastian about the misunderstanding ten years ago, he has been putting a distance between us. He wouldn’t come to hang out even if I begged, he wouldn’t return my texts, and he even asked his secretary to answer my phone calls! I never even said I was the girl he saved, I simply confirmed that it was mine when he asked about the yellow skirt.I know he is mad at me, but he is not ghosting me and that
Ava’s POVIs he still the dad who spoils me when I pull little tricks on Scarlett the bitch? “For what?! She stole from ME! She wouldn’t even be able to talk to Sebastian if she didn’t squeeze her head into MY family! Taking her place with the Vanderbilt is just a start of getting back she owes me!”“You are not--!” Dad bursts into a shout, only to halt himself halfway before he changes into a more patient tone, “Do you seriously think that the DNA test could fool anyone? Other methods aside, Scarlett looks exactly the same as her Mom!”“So...what? You published the news with me wearing the necklace!” I look at him in horror, not sure if I heard him right, “Everyone knows that I’m the Vanderbilt’s princess now! And you want to announce that as a mistake, on my BIRTHDAY?! You will ruin me!”“It’s better than letting them find out about it later,” Dad says coldly.His words freeze my heart. Does he even know what “ruin me” means? All that I have worked for in the entertainment business,
Scarlett’s POVSebastian puts his phone between us, on speaker.Quietly, I hug my knees, and curl my toes so they wouldn’t touch his phone. He shoots me a meaningful glance as he answers Ava: “I’ll call Jack before sending a doctor over. Take some rest if you can, or you won’t be able to attend your own birthday party--”Ava burst into crying and I flinch away from the phone.Sebastian takes his phone and puts it on the side away from me. He sits a bit closer to me and puts his warm hand on my shin, kneading slowly with a gentle force. I wrinkle my nose at him, typing on my phone:[You are just doing this for the baby’s sake!]He almost laughs out loud when I show him my screen, and he has to clear his throat to cover the laugh.“Sebastian?” Ava’s wronged murmur comes through, urging when he doesn’t reply in time.“Sorry, what did you say?” Sebastian blinks at his phone, totally absent-minded. I didn’t notice either.“I--” Ava hesitates, her tone unsure with a shred of shock, “Am I on
Scarlett’s POV“I’m sorry...” Sebastian grabs the frame of our door, so hard his fingers turn white. “I-- I...”He stutters for long, but no words come out.What COULD he say? Hours. Only a few HOURS after he told her no, he is on his way to see her, in the middle of the night.Because Ava cut her own wrist.“I...I won’t do anything inappropriate with her. I just...” With utter struggle in his eyes, Sebastian explains, to me, or to himself, “I mean, you can come along if you--”I cock my eyebrows and he instantly adds: “I’m sorry! I don’t mean that, I’m not asking you to come and help her! I swear!”I sigh. Only a few hours ago, I thought we could start over. I thought if Sebastian would take my side against Ava, then maybe we do have a chance at holding together a family. I was wrong. So long as Ava exists in his heart, she could drill a hole in our family no matter how generous I be.“I want to believe you, but what would you do if she really is dying of blood loss?” I look at him,
Hey Guys!I finished a batch of modifications today, and sorted out some issues and the pace of the story.The chapters with "[Mod]" mean content in that chapter is changed; Two chapters have "[Add]" in front of them, I moved things around and paced up, cut out two chapters of redundant stuff, and added them. (So no extra charges are needed, and you can see the new content as of now).Hope the modification makes more sense, and hope new readers can enjoy the fixed ride!Nyx
Scarlett’s POVWell, okay if the “soon” is like five minutes!I barely even sat down in bed before he came back. I didn’t even hear the sound of his engine coming closer. I didn’t hear anything until he opened the door. I mean, I didn’t notice if he had driven out at all because I was upset. Maybe he never even left.“I’m still upset, even if you just left for five minutes!” I grumble to myself, counting the seconds after I heard him close the door downstairs.I totally failed to suppress my lips from curving up.I didn’t think he would come back. I mean, it’s Ava’s life at stake. I was surprised enough that he didn’t ask me to go and help her.I don’t know if he would come back if I wasn’t pregnant, but even if he did it mostly for the baby...Maybe we do have a chance at making the marriage work.I didn’t know he cared about the baby so much. After hanging up with Ava, the jerk dragged me for a million questions about the baby. I didn’t know one could be so curious about so plain th
Scarlett’s POVI force my brain to not think about how likely it would be that Sebastian was the one who dug up my old art box out of reminiscence, kept it close to where he sleeps, and cared for it.Saving my baby is the most important thing right now. A weapon is just a last resort. I really wish I didn’t have to use it. I have no intention of fighting anyone with a several-pounder in my belly.Calling for help would be ideal. But how? How, without my phone?My eyes land on the window -- the security system. Any window or door damaged in the house, would instantly trigger an alarm. The emergency phone number registered is mine, so if I don’t ignore it or shut down the alarm, the security company would come over and check.But breaking the window means exposing my existence.I need to trigger the alarm as soon as possible, but once it’s triggered, whoever is in the house will all come for me. How long could I survive against them? But I would have zero chances if they found me first.