The Return

Two years.

That’s how long Scarlet had been gone, vanishing from the world as though she had never existed. The public's curiosity had waned, replaced by cruel mockery, their interest flickering to newer scandals and fresher faces.

The time had been a crucible, burning away her old self and forging someone entirely new.

Sitting cross-legged in the plush leather seat of a private jet, she rested a manicured hand against her chin, gazing out at the vast stretch of clouds. 

Though the jet technically belonged to her fake husband, it was hers now, part of the life she had been building since disappearing from the public eye.

The marriage had been finalized three months ago, but the foundation of their arrangement had been laid two years earlier, when Grayson pulled her back from the brink of ruin.

The time away had not been idle. 

Grayson had ensured that.

She closed the tabloid on her lap, her jaw tightening as her hair glinted under the soft overhead light. 

The headline mocked her:

"Sydney Harper and Max Davis: Stardom Heights' Hottest Couple."

Below the caption was a photograph of Sydney draped in designer couture, her arm linked with Max’s as he leaned in to kiss her cheek. The article gushed about their perfect romance, the power couple of the entertainment industry, and the possibility of an engagement on the horizon.

Beneath the glossy article, comments poured in, fawning over them.

“Sydney and Max are the definition of love goals! So happy for them!”

“Max finally found someone who matches his caliber. Unlike Scarlet, who couldn’t handle the pressure.”

“If only Scarlet was around to see this!”

The replies under that comment twisted the knife further:

“Scarlet Sinclair? Washed up. Irrelevant. Good riddance.”

“She’s probably too ashamed to show her face.”

“She deserved it.”

“She’s been gone for two years. No one even remembers her anymore.”

“Hope she’s rotting in obscurity—or jail.”

Scarlet’s lips curled into a wry smile, her fingers tracing the edge of the magazine. 

It didn’t sting the way it would have two years ago. 

Back then, she might have cried herself into exhaustion, replaying the headlines, the betrayal, and the whispers behind her back.

But not anymore.

Sydney and Max. 

Two snakes slithering through the industry, so perfect for each other it almost made Scarlet laugh. 

The old Scarlet would have been hurt. This Scarlet? 

She simply saw them as the first names on her list.

The jet landed smoothly on the tarmac, and Scarlet stood, smoothing the lapels of her tailored black suit. 

Her silhouette was striking and fearless, the tailored blazer radiating authority. 

Oversized shades veiling her eyes and hair bouncing in soft waves, she came down the steps to find a glossy black vehicle ready for her. 

The metallic snap of her shoes hitting the cobbled road rang out like an announcement.

Bayhaven Heights spread before her like an old battlefield. 

The city looked the same—glittering towers, bustling streets, and the hum of ambition in the air. 

But Scarlet wasn’t the same.

The past two years had reshaped her entirely. 

Her light brown hair was now a striking auburn, and her demeanor was no longer fragile or unsure. 

She had grown stronger, sharper, and far more dangerous. 

Grayson had seen to that. 

His cold, calculated lessons on power, influence, and strategy had been grueling, but they had worked.

‘The world didn’t care about fairness or justice, he’d said. You had to take what you wanted.’

Scarlet had learned to play the game—and now she intended to win.

Her destination was Crown Entertainment Group, the apex of the entertainment world. It was a place Scarlet had dreamed of reaching long before her life unraveled. 

They controlled the biggest names, the largest productions, the very pulse of Stardom Heights. 

Careers were launched—or destroyed—at the whims of its leadership.

Being signed under Crown was a career-defining achievement.

And now, thanks to Grayson, it was hers.

The thought of her husband—her fake husband—brought a faint smirk to her lips. She didn’t know how he had pulled it off, placing her in a company that had always seemed untouchable. 

Grayson’s influence was clearly far greater than she had imagined. 

He wasn't merely powerful; he was an unstoppable entity, maneuvering pieces on a chessboard that only he could perceive. Scarlet's eyes roved over the enormous structure as the vehicle arrived. 

Crown's headquarters was a triumph of contemporary architecture, its imposing glass exterior reflecting the city back at itself. Her dream of being here had once appeared unattainable, buried beneath the debris of her status. 

The notion brought a faint smile to her lips as she walked through the grand revolving doors into the building's lavish lobby. 

Now, she was stepping through its entrance. The reception area was grand but simple, designed to impress without ostentation. Scarlet's heels clicked against the polished marble floors as she confidently strode towards the front desk. 

The receptionist barely glanced up before offering her a courteous grin. 

"Welcome to Crown Entertainment. How can I help you?" 

"I'm Scarlet Sinclair," she replied flatly, and the name rolled off her tongue with new self-assurance. 

The receptionist's eyes flickered with familiarity, but she didn't waver. "Of course, Ms. Sinclair. You're awaited. Kindly take the elevator to the executive level." 

Scarlet stepped inside the elevator, watching the indicators rise as she moved up to what would be the next phase of her life—and her vengeance. 

She was not only there to reclaim her position in the limelight. 

Her absence had brought infusion, but it had also cemented her fury. 

The anger she had concealed, the suffering she had weathered—it was all there, keener than ever. 

She was not going to forgive.

The first name on her list was Sydney Harper.

Once her closest confidante, Sydney had been the one to leak damaging information to the press. 

Scarlet had spent sleepless nights replaying their last conversation, the lies Sydney had spun, and the cold smirk that revealed her betrayal. 

Sydney had feigned loyalty, only to stab her in the back for a shot at fame.

Next was Max Davis.

The man who had promised her the world, only to abandon her the moment her reputation began to crumble. 

Max had been untouchable back then, his connections insulating him from any consequences. 

But Scarlet wasn’t the same naive girl he had discarded.

Then there was her former manager—the one who framed her for embezzlement, planting fake evidence that sent her career into a nosedive. 

The press had crucified her, and the industry had shunned her, all thanks to his greed.

And finally, her parents.

They hadn’t just turned their backs on her. They had publicly disowned her for everyone to see, joining forces with those who had destroyed her. 

It was the hardest to bear of all treacheries; a gaping gash that ached unceasingly, long after it had festered.

They should all be scared. 

Every last one of them.

Her return wasn’t just about rebuilding her name or career. 

It was about taking back everything they had stolen from her—and more.

All the rage, anger, and pain they had inflicted on her would be doubled, magnified, and delivered right back to them.

She would make sure of it.

The elevator doors gilded apart, and Scarlet exited, her heels tapping against the gleaming marble. 

This wasn't just a comeback.

It was retribution.