Scarlett's POV When I opened my eyes, I felt like I was in a dream. The bed I was lying on was softer than anything I had ever touched, like lying on a cloud. The room was big, with tall ceilings and golden chandeliers that sparkled even though there was no sunlight. The walls were decorated with delicate patterns of roses and vines, painted in soft whites and golds, and the air… it smelled faintly of lavender.Everything looked like it came straight out of a movie about royal castles.I sat up slowly, my head spinning. My heart was racing as I took it all in. Where was I? And how did I get here? The last thing I remembered was walking home from the library, tired and thinking about the pizza I had waiting in the fridge. But this... this wasn’t my home.“Where is my child?”The deep, smooth voice startled me so much that I almost fell off the bed. I turned quickly and saw a man stepping out from the shadows near a massive, elaborate fireplace.He was tall, probably over six feet, a
Scarlett's POV The loud sound of my alarm clock jolted me awake. I quickly sat up, my heart racing, and for a moment, I couldn’t tell if I was still dreaming. My breath came in shallow gasps as I looked around. Slowly, the familiar sight of my dorm room came into focus. My posters, my books stacked haphazardly on the desk, the small plant by the window—everything was right where it should be.I let out a shaky breath. "Thank goodness," I whispered to myself. "It was just a dream. A stupid dream."The sudden knock on my door startled me again. "Scarlett!" It was my roommate, Hannah. Her voice was sharp but playful, as always. "Are you up? First class is with her. You know she locks the door if you're late!"I groaned, rubbing my temples. “I’m up, I’m up! Give me a second!”“Two minutes,” she called back, her voice teasing but firm. “Or I’m leaving without you.”I swung my legs over the side of the bed, ready to get up, but the moment I moved, a sharp pain shot through my lower body
Scarlett's POVThe man’s gaze pierced through me like sunlight breaking through a foggy morning. I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. It was like I had been pulled into a spell I didn’t know existed. His ocean-blue eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that felt almost unreal. Everything around me—students, chatter, the faint smell of chalk—faded away. It was just him and me in that moment, as if the universe had stopped spinning to let him look right into my soul.I didn’t know how long I stared. A second? A minute? It felt like forever. Then, suddenly, the sharp sound of the bell broke the silence in my head, and just like that, he was gone. He turned the corner and disappeared down the hallway as if he hadn’t just turned my world upside down.I gasped, sucking in air like I had been underwater. My chest felt tight, my heart racing as though it was trying to escape. “What was that?” I muttered under my breath, clutching the edge of my desk. My hands were trembling.Before I cou
Scarlett's POV Hannah was practically bouncing with excitement as we made our way back to our dorm. She had that mischievous look in her eye, the one that always meant trouble. I should have known that this “fun” idea wasn’t going to be as simple as grabbing a quiet drink.The moment we stepped inside, she flung open her closet like it held all the answers to the universe. “Scarlett,” she said, her voice filled with glee, “tonight is going to be epic. We’re going to make memories you’ll never forget.”“Right. Is that code for me regretting every second of this?” I muttered, sitting on the edge of my bed.She ignored me and kept on pulling out one outfit after another. Most of them were barely outfits at all—short, tight, and shiny. Finally, she held up a tiny black top and an even tinier skirt. “This is perfect.”I blinked at her. “That’s not an outfit. That’s…two napkins sewn together.”Hannah laughed, playfully tossing the pieces at me. “Oh, come on! You’ve got the perfect body f
Scarlett's POVIt was like he saw nothing else in the room, just me. His stare was magnetic, commanding, and terrifying. The possessiveness in his eyes made my skin crawl.I wanted to take my eyes off him, to look elsewhere, but I couldn't. It was as though I was trapped. I couldn’t move. Just then, my mind began to spin as images of that night flashed before me like a broken movie reel. The room, his voice, his accusations, the sex. I had convinced myself it was all a bad dream, something my overactive mind had cooked up. But now? Seeing him standing there, walking towards me step by step—I didn't think it wasn’t a dream.I wasn't sure, but… there was this nagging feeling.My legs felt weak as I stood, trying to back away, but before I could make it two steps, Liam DeLuca was standing right in front of me, towering over me. His presence was suffocating, the scent of something dark and musky filling the space between us.He looked me up and down, taking in my outfit—a fitted top a
Scarlett's POV No. Not again. That can’t happen again.I looked up at him—those cold, unforgiving eyes watching me like I was some kind of prize he had already won. “I’m calling the police.” “Really?” Liam chuckled.“You can’t just… you can’t just do this to me! I’ll tell them you raped me.”His expression suddenly darkened. “Go on, Scarlett,” he said sharply, “Call the police. Let's see if you make it out of here in one piece.”I wasn’t going to back down. Not this time. I pulled my arm away from his grip. “Screw you! My voice cracked, but I pushed through. “You can’t control me! You’re crazy, you sick rapist!”Just then, one of his men stepped forward, his hand twitching towards his belt, and I realized with a sick jolt that he was ready to shut me up.Fear gripped me, but before I could react, Liam raised his hand to stop him. “Don’t,” he ordered. “She's mine to deal with.”The man hesitated, then retreated back into the darkness, and I let out a shaky breath.Liam's lip curled
Scarlett's POV The car ride back to Liam’s mansion was suffocating. The air inside felt thick, like it was pressing down on me, making it harder to breathe. Two of his bodyguards sat on either side of me, their large frames boxing me in. My wrists hurt from where they had grabbed me earlier, but I barely noticed because my mind was racing, trying to think of a way out.“This is kidnapping!” I screamed suddenly, my voice shaky but loud. “You can’t just take me like this. Let me go!”Neither of them responded. They didn’t even glance at me, like I wasn’t worth their time. That only made the fear and anger boil inside me. I leaned forward and tried to grab the phone on the console. “I’ll call the police! I’ll…”One of the men caught my wrist mid-air and pushed me back into the seat. His voice was cold and detached. “Don’t try anything stupid.”My chest heaved as tears welled up in my eyes. “Please,” I begged, my voice low. “Please, just let me go. You don’t have to do this.”The man
Scarlett's POV Before the doctor could answer my question, Liam interrupted by clearing his throat. He adjusted the cuff of his suit and looked at the doctor. “I’ll be the next office,” he said casually.I glared at him, my chest tightening. “Coward,” I spat under my breath, but he didn’t react. His calmness, his control over everything—it was annoying. He didn’t even look at me, didn’t acknowledge my anger. It was like I didn’t matter.Without another word, he left.My hands clenched into fists. I wanted to demand he explain why exactly he was doing this—but what was the point? He wouldn’t care.The doctor adjusted his glasses, his expression calm and professional, like this was just another day at work for him. “Alright, Miss Scarlett,” he began, his voice steady. “We’re going to start with a few basic questions. Just answer honestly.”I blinked at him, trying to keep my breathing even. I listened to the hissing sound of the electricity and suddenly got scared. What kind of questi
Scarlett's POV I never thought Michael would actually find me.Not here. Not in this house—his house, technically. The one Liam bought for me like a gift I never asked for, like a cage made of glass.When I first heard the knock, I told myself it was nothing. Maybe a delivery. A mistake. But something about it made my chest tighten. There was something certain about the way the knock sounded, like the person behind the door knew exactly who was inside.Still, nothing could have prepared me for what I saw when I opened it.It was really Michael. Standing there like a memory I had spent the past week trying to forget.He looked breathless. Shocked. Then his eyes locked on mine, and they filled with something raw—not just shock, but something like relief. Like just seeing me had knocked the breath out of him.His gaze moved past me, scanning the hallway. His voice dropped to a whisper. “Is anyone else here?”I shook my head.The second I did, he stepped forward and pulled me into a hug
Michael's POV That night, the moment Liam’s car disappeared into the darkness with Scarlett in it, I knew something was very wrong.It wasn’t just the way he drove off like a madman, or the way Scarlett looked at me one last time before slamming the door shut behind her. It was something deeper than that. Something sickening in my gut that told me Liam and Scarlett were involved in something I didn’t understand.I ran to my car and tried to follow them, but I wasn’t fast enough. By the time I reached the edge of the road, his taillights were nothing but red smudges swallowed by the horizon.And just like that, she was gone.I parked the car and sat there in silence, my hands shaking on the steering wheel, struggling to breathe. The weight in my chest felt like someone had punched straight through my ribs and crushed my lungs with their bare hands.I should have stopped her. Damn it, I should have fought harder. But all I did was let her go.The guilt didn’t come slowly. It hit me all
Scarlett's POV The first thing I felt was the sharp pain in my hand. A dull ache, like something foreign pulled at my skin. As I blinked, my eyes slowly adjusted to soft lighting, and the world around me came into clearer view.I was in the bedroom, with the curtains drawn halfway, letting bits of sunlight to filter in. A quiet beeping sound echoed near my head—steady, calm.I then noticed an IV drip in my hand. And Liam… was asleep beside me, his head resting gently on my arm.My whole body went stiff. The weight of everything came rushing back in one painful wave—his rage, the beach, the shouting, the bruises, the sex, the way my body gave out on me… and then darkness.My breath caught in my throat, and without thinking, I recoiled.Liam stirred immediately. His head jerked up. His eyes, still heavy with sleep, met mine.For a split second, he just stared. Then something wild lit up in his face—relief, joy, something else I couldn’t name.“You’re awake,” he whispered, reaching up
Liam's POV I didn’t remember dialing the number. My fingers just moved on their own, like they knew what needed to be done before I did. My throat burned as I barked into the phone.“Get the doctor. Now. Private, discreet, and fast.”I didn’t wait for a response. I dropped the phone on the floor and fell to my knees beside the bed.Scarlett was too still. Her lips were slightly open, and her lashes rested like feathers against her cheeks. Her chest rose and fell so shallowly that it made me sick.I reached for her hand. It was warm, but limp.“Come on,” I whispered, moving her hair away from her face. “Don’t do this. Don’t pull this shit, Scarlett. Not with me.”The door suddenly burst open behind me, and when I looked up, James stood in the doorway.He stood frozen as he took in the scene before him.I didn’t need to explain because the room spoke for itself—clothes torn and scattered across the floor, pillows thrown, sheets twisted, and Scarlett… lying unconscious.His eyes went wi
Liam's POV I had never felt panic like that before. It started with a call from James. He said Scarlett had gone to her father’s house. At first, I thought she had gone there to visit her family, so I tried to be calm. Gave her the benefit of the doubt.But then hours went by, and she still hadn't come back. I even called her several times, but there was no answer. That was when something in me snapped. My chest started tightening with every minute as I anxiously paced back and forth in my study.Suddenly, James appeared near the front door like he sensed the tension cutting through the air.“Where is Scarlett?” I barked. “Why isn't she back yet? It's getting late!”James flinched. “Mr. Liam, I… I thought she would be back on time, so I didn't bother…”“So you just let her walk out?!” I slammed my hand against the wall. “Are you blind or just stupid, James?!”“I didn’t see her leave…”“I don’t pay you to see,” I growled. “I pay you to watch. Find out when exactly she left the house.
Scarlett's POV I didn’t know how to answer Liam's question. His words hung in the air like smoke, thick and choking. They pressed down on my chest until I couldn’t breathe.What could I possibly say? Admit that I still cared for Michael? That I didn’t know what I felt? That I was confused and overwhelmed and caught between a past that never let me go and a present that terrified me?My mouth opened, but nothing came out.In that moment, Liam stepped forward slowly, his eyes scanning mine. His jaw clenched, and then, out of nowhere, his hand clamped down on my shoulder and pushed me back.I collided with the wall with a hard thud, a sharp gasp escaping me as my hands shot up in reflex.“L-Liam… what are you…”His palm was on my throat before I could finish. It felt cold and tight, pressing down on me.“So it’s really true?” he growled. “You have feelings for your damn brother-in-law? That’s the man you’ve been writing about in your stupid novel?”My heart dropped.“No. Liam, please ca
Scarlett's POV The words were right there—balanced on the tip of my tongue, trembling with everything I didn’t know how to say.But just as I opened my mouth to answer Michael’s question, a violent roar tore through the night like thunder. Headlights exploded across the windshield, searing white light swallowing us whole. My hand flew up to shield my eyes, feeling my heart hammering against my ribs.Michael winced, leaning forward with a scowl. “What the hell…”Then I saw it.That plate. That damn license plate.My breath caught in my throat, and my blood ran cold. I didn’t need to read the numbers twice. It was Liam.Panic punched me so hard I couldn’t breathe.My phone started buzzing again, vibrating in my hand like it was trying to escape. I didn’t want to answer. God, I didn’t want to. But I knew better than to ignore him. Especially not now. Not after he had found us.I answered with a shaky breath. “Liam...”His voice was as cold as ice shattering against concrete. “You really
Scarlett's POV I couldn’t bring myself to look at him.The second those words left his mouth—“Will you please forgive me?”—my eyes immediately dropped to the floor of the car like they were too heavy to lift.I wasn’t ready for that question. I wasn’t ready for him.I had waited so long for him to remember me. I had hoped for it, and prayed for it in the dark corners of my room when no one could hear me cry. But now that he was here, fully awake, fully aware… I was the one who felt lost.Too many years had passed. Too many wounds had layered over the old ones.My chest ached in places I didn’t even know could hurt.“I…” I swallowed hard, still avoiding his gaze. “I don’t know, Michael.”His hand stayed wrapped around mine, strong and steady, but I felt the slight tremble in it. I could feel the tension radiating off him. He was scared. Scared I would pull away for good.A gust of wind slipped through the slightly open window, carrying in the smell of sea salt and night. I closed my e
Michael's POV I was trying so hard to keep my eyes on the road, but my mind was miles ahead.The soft hum of the car engine was the only thing between us. But it didn’t feel empty. It felt full, like there were a thousand things waiting to be said, and neither of us knew where to begin.Like I said before, I didn’t know what I was doing or where we were going to go. Not exactly. But I knew one thing for certain was that I wasn’t taking her back to that house.I wasn’t driving her back to those people who called themselves family. Not after what I had seen. Not after what they had done.She needed a new home. A safe place. Something clean. Something hers.And I had the means to give her all of it.Everything I owned—my company, my assets, my resources—they didn’t mean anything if I couldn’t use them to protect her. To rebuild what I helped break. If Scarlett was willing, I would give her everything.Just then, a soft voice broke through my thoughts. “Michael… you still haven't told me