Book I - 18

SCARLET

No, no. If I said yes, he would do anything he wanted with me. I was dependent on his father. He paid for my college tuition, gave me allowances, clothed me, and provided everything I needed. He took care of Mom. I couldn’t betray Thomas. I finally had the chance to taste the life of having a father. I would never ruin it over meaningless sexual tension… intense sexual tension.

I stood up; I couldn’t stay near Luke anymore. I should’ve avoided him. I had to accept that Jax was gone and would never come back. He was gone when he became Luke. I would not risk a simple and quiet life in exchange for two months of pleasure. It may sound good—no, perfect, but if I accepted his offer, it also meant betraying Mom.

“No.” I shook my head. “I may already have made some bad choices, but I’ll never add this one to all of it.” I had been in a scandalous, abusive relationship. I didn’t want all of it to happen again just because I wanted the man so much.

“I’m not done. Sit down,” he ordered