Scarlet’s POVAmy sat with her perfectly curled hair bouncing gently as she played, her spa session finished, and her cheeks still rosy from the pampering. Scarlet, meanwhile, was still enjoying the last phase of her treatment, with Ace nearby keeping an eye on her.With the guards casually watching over the children’s play area, Amy’s sharp little eyes caught something or someone. A flash of a familiar figure. That boy again. The same one she had seen before, the one her little heart insisted was Ace.Without a sound, Amy slipped away with the ease of someone who had done it before. The guards didn’t even notice. Her tiny feet padded across the marble floor of the luxury mall and led her into a high-end restaurant, which was less frequented by the elite but more by the rich and reckless youth of the capital.She entered confidently, her small hand reaching up to tug at the sleeve of a boy wearing a varsity jacket. He looked down, surprised. His eyes were deep golden, his hair dark wi
Scarlet’s POVAmy and I strolled through the mall, her tiny hand clutched tightly in mine. We had gone from store to store but hadn’t found the one. Then we stumbled upon a quaint boutique tucked in a quiet corner of the mall. It wasn’t high-end or flashy, but something about it called to me.“Shall we try here, baby?” I asked Amy, who nodded eagerly, her eyes catching on the grand piano in the corner. Her excitement lit up the room.We stepped in and were immediately greeted with wide eyes.“L… Luna Scarlet?” the boutique owner gasped, then quickly composed herself. “Welcome! Please, come in, Luna, Miss Lockwood.”She seated us with practised grace. “What are you looking for, Luna?”“My best friend is hosting a gender reveal party. I need a dress for myself and for Amy, matching ones. Also, a similar of Amy’s dress for her sister, Nora. She is one size up.”The owner’s face lit up. “I know just the thing.”She returned with a long, glowing white dress that shimmered softly under the
Scarlet’s POV“Do you have to go?” Dante asked as he watched me grab my bag. “Can’t you rest today? You weren’t feeling too well earlier.”I gave him a reassuring smile. “Dante, I’m fine. It is just the baby being extra playful lately. Vespara worked so hard to organise this gender reveal party, I want to find the perfect dresses. Something special. For me and for Amy.”“I could have every designer boutique brought to the mansion,” he offered. “You just name it.”Sometimes, he was a little too possessive. Well not sometimes but all the time. Sometimes, its hot. But other times, like right now, it is so annoying! Can a hot pregant woman not go out shopping with her bestfriend who also happened to be her daughter? Again, I am not introvert. I have another bestfriend as well! It did not matter that Vespara and Amy and Ace were her bestfriends. Nora and Auggie were in my friend group as well! SO, I am not completely antisocial right? “How about I go together?” Mr caveman asked. I chuckl
Scarlet’s POV“Did the Sapphires cause trouble for you?” Vespara asked, settling beside me on the oversized couch. The ceremony had ended, the chaos finally behind us. Ace and Dante were still occupied in the council chambers, meeting with elders and state officials which was one of Ace’s new responsibilities as the Alpha’s heir.Meanwhile, the children were tucked in bed, fast asleep after the long day, and here we were, just two exhausted women, finally in our pajamas, nursing a well-earned glass of wine in the quiet warmth of the sitting room.“They didn’t say anything outright,” I replied, leaning my head back on the cushion. “But oh, those looks. I swear I could feel the daggers flying across the room. I get it though… I do. Their daughter was Dante’s mate. They’re probably still mourning her. And then there is me so much younger, taking the place they probably think should have belonged solely to Marielle. I must be a walking insult to them.”Vespara snorted, nearly spilling her
Amy looked around in panic, and her eyes landed on the one person she trusted above all others when her parents weren’t close by.“Brother!” she called out, her voice rising above the crowd.Ace was already moving before she finished the word.Ace reached his little sister in a matter of seconds, quickly assessing the situation. Amy was staring up at the furious woman, her lips pressed into a defiant pout, fists clenched at her sides but there was fear in her eyes too.He crouched down, gently wiping the smeared ice cream off her cheeks with his handkerchief. Then he leaned in and kissed her forehead.“Little tornado,” he said softly, “your mom’s looking for you. Let’s not worry her, okay? And hey, let’s say sorry to the old lady, alright?”Amy clung to him silently, her lower lip wobbling.Before he could guide her away, the woman’s sharp voice cut in.“Who are you calling old lady?”Ace stood to his full height, holding Amy protectively in one arm. His expression didn’t change as he
Ace walked over to Scarlet and took the seat next to her. She was gently smoothing out the creases in Amy’s dress, creases the little girl had earned from her wild antics earlier. Scarlet’s hands moved automatically, her eyes on Amy, but her attention shifted the moment she sensed Ace’s unease.“Yeah? What’s up?” she asked casually, not yet noticing the tension in his posture.Ace leaned in slightly, keeping his voice low. “Did you notice an old couple here?”Scarlet looked up, her brow furrowing. “What happened? Did they give you a dirty look or something?”He shook his head, but his voice carried something deeper. “No… It was strange. I went to the restroom earlier. This old man was there, just… staring at me. He didn’t say anything, just watched me for a while. I thought he might be a threat or something, but then he walked away.”Scarlet paused, now fully attentive. “That is weird.”“It gets stranger,” Ace continued. “When I came out, I saw him talking to an older woman, probably