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“This is it. Are you ready?” “Is anyone ever ready for this?” Scarlet asked as she took a deep breath.Dante chuckled but nodded as he stepped out. “You’re right.” He walked around to the side of her door and hed it open. Scarlet stepped out and stood before what looked ike a castle rather than a house.“This is my parents' house?” She gasped.“Yep. Now come, I’m sure they’re anxious to meet their long-lost princess.” Scarlet nodded as she followed him inside. Her heart was pounding wildly in her chest as she walked forward. Near the fountain, about seven women were dressed in the same green dresses with a stripe of white. “Welcome back home, Miss Hartwell.” They all said in unison with a bow which took Scarlet aback for a moment until it dawned on her that Hartwell could be her real surname.“I ..uhm.. Thank you.” She held on tighter to her bag as Dante held her by the waist taking her inside. “Come on, they are some people dying to meet you.” He whispered, but the closeness mad
“Grab all the medications he once received. I want them tested in the lab.” Kai instructed the workers.“What do you think you’re doing?” Danielle asked, looking around the way they had turned Easton’s bedroom upside down in search of what she didn’t know about.“The best person to ask is the one behind you.” Kai responded and continued what he was doing.Danielle turned, but before she could speak a word, a slap landed on her cheek, followed by the puling of her hair.“Sky!” She cried, “Why are you-”“We know what you did. How you faked the diagnosis and every little shitty thing you did. Pray that no permanent damage has been done to my brother because I will cut you from limb to limb.”“Let her go, Sky.” Micheal demanded. “For now I will!.” She pushed her hard, sending her body against the wall, breaking her shoulder in the process. Danielle held onto it as she cried in pain.“Why are you doing this?” Tears rolled down her face.Micheal threw a number of documents in her face. His
Three weeks later…Kai adjusted his glasses, deep in thought, as Michael paced the room. Sky sat with her arms crossed, visibly agitated."Michael, we can’t just sit back while Scarlet gets tangled up with Dante. It's been three weeks, and i've been dying to tell her about Easton. Maybe that will change her mind.” Sky argued, her voice laced with frustration. "If you’re not going to stop the wedding, I will.""Sky," Michael said firmly, halting his pacing to face her. "Interfering without solid evidence will only make things worse. We need to be smart about this. Do you want to help Easton? Then, stay focused. Using his state as a weapon is manipulation, and I won't stand for that.”Before Sky could retort, Alex returned with a grim expression and a thick folder in hand."Sir," Alex began, handing the file to Michael. "You were right to suspect Dante. His background is as dirty as they come. Illegal arms deals, money laundering, and a string of disappearances linked to his name. But on
A week earlier...Easton groaned as he opened his eyes, the sterile white of the hospital room coming into focus. His head throbbed, and his body felt like it had been hit by a freight train. He struggled to sit up, but a firm hand on his shoulder stopped him.“Take it easy,” Michael’s voice was leveled, but you could hear how relieved he was that his brother was now awake. Micheal, Sky, and Henry all stayed in the hospital without leaving, waiting for Easton to wake up. “You’re lucky to be alive, Easton. You need to rest.”Easton ignored the advice, his mind racing. “Scarlet...” he rasped, his voice hoarse. “Where is she? Is she okay?”Michael’s expression tightened, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face. “She’s fine, Easton. Physically, at least. But... a lot has happened.”The tension in Michael’s voice made Easton’s stomach churn. “What do you mean? What happened? Fuck! My head is spinning. How long have I been out?” He reached upwards and touched the band aid that had bee
Scarlet’s feet felt rooted to the spot, her pulse hammering against her ribcage as Easton took a measured step toward her. The air seemed to shift, crackling with unspoken emotion and unresolved tension.“What… what are you doing here?” she managed, her voice trembling despite her attempt to sound composed. Even though she couldn’t admit it, she had missed him and it hurt to look at him without being able to touch him. Easton stopped a few feet away, his piercing gaze locked onto hers. “I could ask you the same thing, Scarlet. But I think we both know the answer.”Her chest tightened at his words, the memories of their shared past crashing over her like waves.I hate you Scarlet, Youre nothing more than a mistake…Did you realy think this thing between us would last?Think of it as payment for the sexThe cold words hit her like a cold stab in the heart as the words played over and over again. Tears welled, her old wounds re opening like someone had ripped her bandaids open and in a
“You really don’t have to do this, I feel so terrible for doing this to you, my dear.” Matilda said, holding out the crown to hold her veil in place. She sat next to Scarlet on the bed, both facing the mirror standing in front of them. “We didn’t search high and low just for you to end up in a loveless marriage, Scarlet.” “It’s okay.” Scarlet forced a smile. “There was no one before Dante anyway, so loving him will be easier, right?” She lied, but she didn’t know if she was saying that outloud for herself or for her mother.The line of who she was trying to convince had blurred. She felt like her parents were good people, and although they abandoned her, she understood why they had no other choice but to do it. They had made some bad financial decisions and had to make up for them. The crime family they ended up entagled with was Dante’s enemy, so if they could unite through marriage alliance, their powers and influence would be ten times more effective. It’s why Dante started sear
Scarlet has always dreamed of marriage and a home. She lived a lonely life and hoped she wouldn't have to grow old alone. But standing here about to become a stranger's wife wasn't in her wildest dreams; Sadly, it was inevitable. They had come so far and she had to go through with it. Back in the dressing room, it seemed far away, like it was just a gloomy day with a bad dream. But now that the officiator had begun the ceremony, it felt more real than anything. Scarlet’s heart thudded painfully in her chest as the officiator continued, his words blurring together as the weight of the moment pressed down on her. She felt the guests’ eyes boring into her, a sea of expectant faces waiting for her to fulfill a role she didn’t want to play.The officiator turned to Dante. “Do you, Dante Modane, take Scarlet Hartwell to be your lawfully wedded wife? To love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, forsaking al
The church fell silent, and everyone remained glued to their seats. No one dared to move, and everyone held their breaths. Scarlet’s heart raced, her palms sweaty as she stared at him, standing there like he owned the world even in a hospital gown.Her mind went wild, and she couldn't for the life of her understand what came over him. Her father was now standing, looking at Scarlet waiting to hear from her. “Security !” Dante growled. But no one dared to move. No one would dare lay a finger on Easton black. They remained stationed, and this angered Dante even more. Easton smirked as he walked forward. “Scarlet, Darling. ” Easton began, his voice soft and pleading, “I know I’ve messed up before. I know I’ve hurt you in ways I’ll never forgive myself for. But I can’t let you go through with this. Not when I love you.”Gasps rippled through the crowd, followed by a hushed buzz of murmurs. Dante’s lips twisted into a sardonic smile, his composure beginning to crack.“Love?” Dante’s
Vivian groaned, blinking her eyes open as the smell of antiseptic filled her nostrils. White walls, a heart monitor beeping steadily beside her, and the sight of a very annoyed-looking handsome man sitting in the chair next to her bed."You," she muttered, pointing a weak finger at Michael. Her head was pounding."Me," he replied dryly, arms crossed.He didn't know what to say to her. So he waited to see if she could remember him from that night. She groaned again. "I should sue you. You hit me with your fancy car."Michael arched a brow. "I brought you to the hospital."Vivian snorted. "Yeah, out of guilt. Doesn't erase the fact that you hit me."He sighed, rubbing his temple. "I’ll compensate you. How much do you want?"She tilted her head, pretending to think. Then, with a completely serious expression, she said, "Well, considering you knocked me off my bike and made me pregnant, I’d say marriage is the only fair compensation."Michael’s expression went blank. "Excuse me?"Vivi
Michael leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming rhythmically against his huge office desk. His patience had run out.It had been a month since that night—a night that should never have happened.When he woke up the next morning, the bed beside him was empty. The only thing left behind was the unmistakable stain of blood on the sheets, a sight that had sent a sharp pang of guilt through him.He had been drugged, his control stolen from him. Yet, what consoled him—what silenced the darkest of his fears—was the way she had moaned his name in pleasure. It told him everything he needed to know.It was consensual.A sharp knock at the door broke him from his thoughts. His secretary, Ryan, stepped inside, holding a tablet."Sir, we found the woman who drugged you that night."Michael’s grey eyes darkened instantly as he leaned forward, his presence chilling the air. He had spent the last month searching for the culprit, turning over every stone, replacing the entire management at th
“Oh, shit!” Vivian’s heart nearly jumped out of her chest as she jolted awake, clutching the blanket to her body. Her breath came in short, panicked gasps as she took in her surroundings—a dimly lit hotel room, the faint scent of expensive cologne lingering in the air. Swallowing hard, she slowly peeked under the blanket, her stomach twisting into knots."Oh my God!"She was completely naked. Turning her head to the side, her pulse skyrocketed at the sight of the man lying next to her. He was huge—broad shoulders, toned muscles, and a face so annoyingly perfect it made her want to scream.But that wasn’t the worst part. Her legs ached. A dull soreness throbbed between them, and when she shifted slightly, her eyes widened in horror. Blood stained the crisp white sheets beneath her. Her hand flew to her mouth. “Did I just go through with this?” she whispered, her voice barely audible. Memories of last night flooded in—the way her hands had trembled when she agreed, the weigh
Scarlet stared at him for a long moment. She couldn’t believe her ears, and even Easton was taken aback. Because if Henry was one thing, it was unapologetic. “Well,” she said finally, her voice still laced with sarcasm, though softer now, “I suppose miracles really do happen.” She let out a sigh, shaking her head. “Look, Mr. Black, I’m not sure what kind of response you’re hoping for here. But I’ll say this, actions speak louder than words. So, if you’re serious about this apology, start showing it. Not just to me, but to Easton. To Jasmine. To all the people you’ve hurt.”Henry nodded slowly, his shoulders sagging with relief. “I will,” he promised.Scarlet studied him for a moment longer before glancing at Easton, who gave her an encouraging nod.“Fine,” she said, her tone softening just a little. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a family to celebrate with. You can stick around and watch if you want, but don’t expect me to roll out the red carpet just yet.”Henry laughed. “A s
As the applause faded, many cheered and shouted excitedly, urging Scarlet to say yes. Her heart was about to burst with joy as she nodded her head. “Yes!”“So beautiful!” People clapped. “Awww what a real-life fairytale!” Scarlet smiled at that as she pulled Easton up, “Haven't we ruined Jasmine’s dance?”Guilt was etched on her face. As much as she was happy she was about to marry the love of her life, ruining her daughter's dance wasn’t what she wanted. Easton saw her mood change and placed a kiss on top of her head. “No baby, I organized this dance for the proposal and everyone was happy to help me.” “Really? That's so sweet thank you. I loved it!” “And I love you!”“Oh my God! You’re getting married!” Aria squealed, practically vibrating with excitement. She pulled back just enough to shake Scarlet’s shoulders. “I knew it! I knew he was going to propose soon!”Scarlet laughed, still dazed. “Did you know about this?”Aria smirked. “Of course! Do you think Easton would propos
Scarlet hurried alongside Easton, gripping his hand as they made their way from the parking lot to the auditorium. Her breath came in shallow gasps from their quick pace, and she tugged lightly at his arm. “Easton, slow down,” she said, laughing between breaths. “We’re not late yet.” He glanced at her, his lips curving into a faint smirk. “You’re the one who said you didn’t want to miss anything.” Scarlet rolled her eyes, though her smile lingered as they slowed their steps. She smoothed down her sundress, the soft fabric swishing lightly against her legs as they neared the building. She felt her nerves increase because it had been so long since she was here and it made her heart ache.“I’m such a terrible mother.” She whispered making Easton turn to face her, “Darling, you’re the best mother in the world, and believe me when I say that because I had a wonderful mother. You’ve been through so much shit, so don’t dwell on those feelings. Focus on how much Jas and I love you.” “
Six months later….Scarlet stood before the mirror, adjusting the delicate silver earrings that complimented her beautiful sundress. The soft red fabric hugged her waist perfectly like a corset and slid down her waist until slightly below the knees. For the first time in months, she felt alive—hopeful even. For five months, Scarlet underwent physiotherapy to help her regain her normal self and walk again. The doctors were amazed by her quick recovery, and by the sixth month, she was back to her old self—healthy and able to do everything she used to do. “I’m so excited. It has been so long since I saw my precious angel dancing,” she exclaimed to Easton, who stood behind her watching her retouch her lipstick with his arms crossed on his chest. “You look beautiful,” he said, stepping closer to press a kiss to her temple. “Jasmine’s going to be so happy to see you there.”“I feel like she loves her father more and forgets about me sometimes.” Scarlet teased as Easton slowly trailed
Hello, my huns.Thank you for rocking with me till the end. I'm so grateful for the gems and for the comments each of you left. I read each one and knowing you were waiting to read the next chapter became my pillar to push through the story until the end.Firstly, I want to give a shout-out to Myzz Joey, Jody Kobielusz, and Tristanne. You guys Rock! Secondly, we have come to the end of Scarlet and Easton Kade Black. Please leave me a review on the main page and drop me a comment on how you found the story. Because I love you guys, I want to give you the option of telling me which side character you want to see in the next short story. You can choose between Kai and Micheal. Maybe even Dante lol.I'll give you until the end of today to decide.I know some will want to see Scarlet and Easton's wedding, I might write it although I'm still debating about it. Lastly, I want to thank you all once again. Your support means everything to me!That's it for now. ByeWith love EVW
"You look like shit," Scarlet teased weakly, her voice still hoarse but carrying a playful glint. The doctors had checked her and ran through tests. They called her recovery a complete miracle because despite the pain. She could feel it when they touched her feet and She could move her finger although she couldn't sit or walk yet. Easton chuckled, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "Bullshit. I always look hot." Scarlet's lips twitched upward in the faintest of smiles. "If by hot you mean utterly exhausted and in desperate need of a shower, then sure." "Watch it, Darling," Easton quipped, leaning in closer, his grin softening into something more vulnerable. "I’ve been through hell these past few days. You scared the crap out of me, you know that?" Her smile faltered, replaced by a look of quiet guilt. She opened her mouth to speak, but Easton cut her off gently. "Hey, don’t. None of this is your fault." His thumb brushed over her knuckles, grounding both of them.