3

Scarlett sat on the edge of the hotel bed, staring at the untouched room service tray on the table. The luxurious suit felt hollow. Temporary. Like her life had been reduced to a series of waiting rooms, each one colder than the last.

Elena bustled around the room, folding Scarlett’s clothes despite the fact that there was no home left to return to.

“You should eat something,” Elena murmured.

Scarlett shook her head. “I can’t.”

Elena sighed, placing a glass of water on the nightstand. “You can’t live like this, Mrs. Carter.”

Scarlett flinched. Mrs. Carter. How much longer would she even be able to call herself that?

“Elena,” she said softly, turning to face her. “You don’t have to stay here. Go home.”

Elena stiffened. “No.”

Scarlett reached for her hand. “I mean it. I won’t let you become a…” Her voice wavered. “A destitute because of me.”

Elena’s eyes flashed. “And what will you do? Stay in this hotel forever? You can’t even go home.”

Scarlett swallowed hard. She knew. God, she knew. Going back to that house, where Valerie sat in her place comfortably, where Daniel had probably stripped every trace of her away was unbearable.

“I don’t know,” Scarlett admitted, voice barely above a whisper.

Elena squeezed her hand. “Then let me stay.”

Scarlett shook her head. “You’ve already lost too much because of me.”

Elena hesitated, then nodded slowly. “If you ever need me. I’m here.”

Scarlett managed a weak smile. “I know.”

Elena lingered a moment before leaving. The door clicked shut, and Scarlett was alone again.

She had lost Daniel. She had lost Amelia. But she wasn’t completely powerless.

Her mind raced back to a conversation from months ago, Liam, her stepbrother, sliding a contract across the table.

“It’s just in case,” he had said, his tone was casual but reassuring. “If you ever need financial independence, this will protect you. It’s just a safety net, Scarlett.”

At the time, she hadn’t thought much of it. Liam had always been the cautious one, the planner. She had trusted him. She had signed it mindlessly, not even reading through the document.

Scarlett grabbed her laptop, hands trembling as she pulled up her legal documents. She searched frantically, scrolling through contracts and agreements until she found the particular one she was looking for.

Scarlett’s hands flew across the keyboard, her pulse pounding in her ears. The hotel room felt smaller, suffocating, as she pulled up the legal documents she had signed months ago.

Her eyes scanned the text, searching for the reassurance that her assets were still hers. That Liam had protected her, like he promised.

Then she saw it.

Her breath caught.

Scarlett’s vision blurred as she read the fine print. Not protection. Not security. It was a complete transfer. All of her shares, every financial asset, every safety net gone.

Straight into Liam’s hands.

Her fingers trembled over the trackpad. No, this had to be a mistake. A loophole. Some way to reverse it.

She scrolled faster. More clauses. More legal jargon. No way out.

Scarlett clutched her head, nausea creeping up her throat. Liam had played her. Her own stepbrother.

Her company. His.

Her money. His.

Her life. Gone.

A strangled laugh bubbled in her throat. How stupid had she been? First Daniel. Then Amelia. And now Liam.

She had nothing left.

No money.

No home.

No business.

Scarlett’s hands slipped from the laptop, her body numb.

She made the decision there and then to go and confront Liam. Scarlett stormed into Liam’s penthouse, shoving the heavy doors open so hard they slammed against the walls. The elegant space, all sleek marble and floor-to-ceiling windows, felt suffocating.

Liam stood by the bar, like he had been expecting her.

Scarlett’s hands trembled as she slammed the legal document onto the counter between them. “You stole everything.”

Liam lifted a brow, completely unbothered.

“Scarlett.” He took a slow sip of his drink, his eyes raking over her disheveled form. “You look awful.”

Her chest burned. “You lied to me.”

He set his glass down with a casual clink. “No,” he corrected. “You assumed.”

“You told me that contract was for protection.”

Liam exhaled as if she were exhausting him. “And in a way, it was.” He smirked. “Just not for you.”

Scarlett’s vision blurred with fury. “Give it back.”

Liam let out a low chuckle, as if she had just said something adorable. “Oh, sweetheart.” He leaned in slightly, his voice smooth and taunting. “No.”

Before she could respond, a voice she knew too well cut through the room.

“Don’t be so dramatic, Scarlett.”

Scarlett stiffened. No. No, it couldn’t be, she turned.

And there, walking in like she owned the place, was Amelia.

Scarlett’s stomach twisted.

Amelia’s silk robe slipped lazily off one shoulder, her hair tumbling in perfect waves. She moved with casual confidence, as if she had been here all along.

Then, in one smooth motion, she wrapped her arms around Liam’s waist from behind and pressed a slow, lingering kiss to his jaw.

Scarlett’s body locked.

Her heart pounded so hard she could hear it.

Amelia smirked against Liam’s skin before finally looking at Scarlett. “Surprise.”

Scarlett felt like she’d been sucker-punched. Her voice barely worked. “You, what did you just do?”

Amelia lifted her left hand with a delicate flourish, showing off a massive diamond ring.

“We’re engaged,” Amelia announced, voice syrupy sweet. “Isn’t it wonderful?”

Scarlett’s knees almost buckled. “You planned this.”

Liam’s smirk widened. “Of course we did.”

Scarlett turned to Amelia, shaking her head. “Together?”

Amelia sighed, almost bored. “Oh, Scarlett. Don’t act so shocked.” She smiled, tilting her head. “It was so easy.”

Liam took another sip of his bourbon, watching Scarlett like she was entertainment. “No offense, sis, but you’re a little too trusting.”

Scarlett felt sick. “So it was never Daniel. It was always you two.”

Amelia smirked. “Daniel did his part. Got the divorce rolling. Got you distracted. We just took care of the rest.”

Scarlett’s pulse roared in her ears. “You destroyed my life.”

Liam leaned on the counter, resting his chin on one hand. “Destroyed?” He clicked his tongue. “Scarlett, we upgraded it.”

Amelia giggled. “Yes! You’re finally free of all those responsibilities. And look at you, so dramatic. Living in a hotel like some tragic heroine.”

Scarlett’s fists shook. “You two are monsters.”

Liam smirked. “We prefer the term successful.”

Scarlett’s breath was shaky now. “So what now?” she whispered. “You two walk off into the sunset, spending my money?”

Amelia beamed. “Exactly.” She pouted mockingly. “And we’ll be announcing the wedding soon. A grand affair, of course.”

Liam raised his glass. “Courtesy of you.”

Scarlett snapped.

Her hand swung, the slap echoed loudly through the penthouse.

Amelia gasped, her head snapping to the side, fingers flying to her burning cheek.

For the first time, Liam’s smirk faded.

Scarlett’s chest heaved. “Rot in hell.”

Then she turned and walked out, leaving them standing there, laughing.