로그인SCARLET“Hello?”My voice came out weaker than I wanted, and I tightened my fingers around the phone as Julian slowed the car. The hospital had never called me this late with anything I wanted to hear, so my mind had already gone to the worst place before the person on the other end spoke.“Miss Lawson? This is Doctor Meyers from St. Joseph's.”“Yes. Is it my father? Did something happen to him?” I asked so quickly that the words nearly ran into each other.“Your father is stable, Scarlet. I need you to know that first.”I closed my eyes and released the breath trapped in my chest. Julian had already pulled the car to the side of the road, but I barely noticed until the engine went quiet.“Then why are you calling this late? You scared me.”“My apologies. We've received his latest results, and I wanted to speak to you about his response to the new treatment. There has been some improvement.”I sat straighter. “What kind of improvement?”“The medication is working better than we initia
SCARLET“You really don't have anything to say?”Julian turned to me slowly, one hand resting on the car door as his dark eyes narrowed. We had been standing outside for almost a minute, yet neither of us had gotten into the car, and I was beginning to hate the silence more than I hated the man in front of me. My lips still tingled from the kiss, and every time I tried not to think about it, my mind returned to the exact moment his hand entered my hair.“What would you like me to say?” he asked. “Should I compliment your performance?”I stared at him. “My performance? You were the one who dragged me into your lap.”“And you were the one holding onto my jacket like someone was trying to pull you away.”Heat rushed into my face so quickly that I wanted to slap him. “I was shocked, Julian.”“Interesting reaction to shock.”“You are impossible.” I moved around the car and pulled the passenger door open. “Next time Eleanor questions our marriage, throw a glass of wine at her. Leave me out
JulianThe sound of silverware scraping against a fine china plate was like a dull blade being dragged across my nerves. Every time the fork hit the plate, I felt like jumping out of my seat and walking out. My father was staring at his plate as he tried to eat slowly, his breathing ragged. He looked like a goddamn ghost. Across from us, Marcus was busy sawing at his lamb roast, his eyes darting toward Scarlet every ten seconds like a starving dog waiting for a scrap of meat to drop.Eleanor took a sip of her red wine, her eyes never leaving us. It was like she was hunting us. I could feel the predatory glare on my skin. She wanted a crack in the armor and to break character."So, Vivian," Eleanor started, her voice sounding like a knife sliding out of a velvet sheath. She put her glass down with a soft clink. "My son, Julian, is a difficult man. We all know that. He’s impulsive, angry, and honestly? A bit of a nightmare to deal with. Tell me, do you actually love him? Or are you ju
JulianThe air inside my father’s estate didn’t smell like home… it smelled like old money, antiseptic, and the rotting stench of secrets. I gripped the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white, with my jaw locked so tight I thought my teeth might shatter."Fix your face," I muttered, not looking at Vivian beside me.She didn't even flinch. She just smoothed her dress, her movements cold and precise, like a machine being calibrated. "My face is fine, Julian. You’re the one shaking."I glanced at her. She looked stunning in the dark red gown that left nothing to the imagination. She was ready. I, however, felt like I was walking onto a minefield."Listen to me," I hissed, turning to look her in the eyes. "Marcus is going to be there. My little brother.’ Eleanor has groomed the arrogant little shit since birth to be the golden boy. He’s going to say things and try to provoke you. You don’t say a fucking word. You just have to smile like you’re the happiest wife on the planet."Vi
JulianMy phone buzzed against the desk like a trapped bee. I stared at the screen. The caller ID was "Father." My gut twisted into a tight, ugly knot. I didn't want to answer it, but that was a luxury I didn't have.I swiped and pressed the phone to my ear."Julian," my father’s voice rasped. It sounded like dry leaves scraping over concrete. "There will be a family dinner tonight at the main estate. Do not be late.""I have a schedule, Father," I countered, my jaw aching from how hard I was clenching it."Your schedule is to be here," he snapped. "Your mother will be there. She wants to see you and your wife. Be there, or don't bother coming back for the board meeting on Monday."The line went dead. I slammed the phone down, the sound echoing through the empty, suffocating quiet of my office. "Fucking bastard," I hissed, rubbing the bridge of my nose. My head was pounding, a rhythmic throb that pulsed in time with my racing heart. Eleanor….The woman was like a spider, constantly s
Scarlet"Are you fucking joking?" I spat, the words catching in my throat like shards of glass.My mum didn’t blink. Her face remained that smooth, unbothered mask of expensive Botox and cold ambition. "She’s coming back, Scarlet. And when she does, Julian will realize he doesn't need you anymore. He needs someone who actually belongs in his world. You’re a temporary fix."My vision blurred at the edges. My heart wasn’t beating; it was slamming against my ribs, trying to break out. I looked at her, really looked at her, and saw the hunger. She didn't want my dad’s legacy, and she didn't want my happiness. She wanted the power that came with Julian’s name, and she was going to use my own sister to pry it out of my grip."Fuck you," I hissed.I didn't wait for her to respond or for the inevitable lecture about manners or status. I spun on my heel, my boots slamming against the tiles with every step. I didn't look back when I heard her voice calling my name. I pushed through the hospi
SCARLET’S POVThe entire ride back to Manhattan was awkward but thankfully, rain started halfway through the drive, so I didn't need to say anything. I sat beside Julian with my hands folded tightly in my lap trying not to replay Eleanor’s final words over and over in my head.“Men like Julian Cro
SCARLET“Ding, ding, ding,” The ringtone was alarming but I paid no attention to it since the call wasn't coming from my phone. I was heading to the dining area to be served breakfast but the mobile's ringtone kept picking my attention. “Ding, ding,” it didn't stop and by impulse I went back up th
SCARLETI woke up the next morning feeling odd. Not bad or dejected as I had been last night. But odd in a way that I knew things were changing.With a sigh, I got out of the bed and quickly freshened up, getting ready for the day. As soon as I left the room, the first place my eyes wandered to was
JULIANThe look in her eyes should have seemed pitiful to anyone. And yet all I felt the longer I stared was disgust.Pure disgust that made me want to rub my skin raw. I pushed her away, ignoring the whimper that left her.Her head fell, eyes bouncing as she put together the pieces of the puzzle. S







