MasukRonnie's face turned red, then purple. He looked like he might collapse.
"Michael! You ungrateful brat! You think you can follow her and get away with it? Get back here right now, or I swear-!"He yanked off his belt and snapped it sharply against the ground.The sound alone was enough to make Michael flinch.He'd grown up under that belt. The fear was instinctive.Scarlett-no, Scarlett-turned back and looked at him."You don't need to be afraid," she said calmlyThe man frowned at her tone. "What do you mean 'it's you'? Is that how a daughter speaks to her father?""Father?"Darrel's eyes widened. "That's your future father-in-law?" he whispered to Theron."Father? You're not worthy," Scarlett sneered.Hendric exploded in anger. "You unfilial brat! Don't think I won't hit you just because you've grown up!"Scarlett looked at him indifferently. "Really? If you think I'm still that helpless child, go ahead and try.""You-""You what? Did I say anything wrong? When I was little, you beat me all the time. Then you disappeared, leaving me alone at home. If my adoptive mother hadn't taken me in, I'd probably have died."Her voice was ice-cold.Theron already knew her past-but hearing it from her own mouth made his heart ache even more. He wanted nothing more than to step out of the car and pull her into his arms."And so what?" Hendric said, utterly without guilt. "No matter what, I'm still your f
After both of them quietly calmed down, Marie took a sip of her drink and suddenly asked,"Oh right-Lettie, you spent four years in the Military Division... did you accomplish anything there?"The moment she said it, she regretted it.How could she ask something like that?Scarlett was a girl. Just surviving on the battlefield for four years was already incredible enough.Talking about achievements and promotions-it sounded almost cruel.While Marie was silently blaming herself, Scarlett nodded."Yes."Marie blinked."Yes? Really?""Mhm."Her eyes lit up instantly."Then what position do you hold in the Military Division now?" She grabbed Scarlett's hand excitedly.Scarlett frowned slightly. "I can't tell you yet. I'll tell you in the future."She didn't want to lie to Marie.Just like she didn't want to lie to Louie.But the border situation was still complicated and unstable.The fewer people who
Everyone present was stunned into place.It felt unreal-like something straight out of a movie.Scarlett lowered her leg and turned her cold gaze back to Julian.For the first time, fear crept into his expression. He instinctively took a step back, a chill running down his spine.After a few seconds, he forced out a laugh. "Impressive. Really impressive. Didn't expect you to have skills like that. But so what?"His tone turned vicious."I'm a Cross. My uncle runs the family. What-do you actually dare touch me?"He sneered."I'm warning you-if you so much as lay a finger on me, I'll wipe out your entire family.""Really?" Scarlett stepped forward, her voice calm. "I'd like to see you try."At first, Julian thought his words would make her hesitate.But looking at her now-cold, unstoppable, like nothing in the world could hold her back-his confidence wavered.Is she drunk? he thought. Has she completely lost it?As
Marie lowered her voice even further. "He's from the main branch-the CEO of Cross Corp's nephew."Scarlett gave a small, indifferent nod. "Oh."That was it.Marie stared at her, stunned. How was she this calm? Had she been so shocked by Mr. Julian's identity that she'd gone completely numb?Before she could figure it out, someone approached. The middle-aged man immediately straightened, his tone turning respectful. "Mr. Julian."Marie's heart dropped.Damn. He was here.She grabbed Scarlett's hand and whispered urgently, "Lettie, we need to go-now. If his people catch us, we won't just get hurt. We might not get out of here at all."Run?After knocking his men around?Not likely."Stop them!" the middle-aged man barked.At his command, a group of thugs closed in, surrounding Scarlett and Marie from all sides.The man hurried over to Julian and reported, "Mr. Julian, it was these two. They caused trouble and wrecked the
Marie was the only friend Scarlett had made after coming to the capital.Five years ago, when Scarlett's allowance was constantly squeezed, Marie had always been generous to her. Knowing Scarlett wouldn't accept money, she often bought her things.Every time, she would say she bought too much and couldn't use it all, and that it would be a waste to throw it away.Scarlett never exposed her, but she always remembered her kindness."I just got off the plane," Marie said, dragging her suitcase while holding the phone."You're back? Why didn't you tell me? I could've picked you up.""I don't have much stuff, no need. By the way, we haven't seen each other in ages-let's go out tomorrow, hit a bar?""A bar?""Yeah! What, afraid your scumbag husband will control you? Don't worry-he only has eyes for that mistress Sadie. He won't care what you do!"At the mention of James, Marie was furious."Husband? Does he deserve that title?" Scarlett sa
Ronnie's face turned red, then purple. He looked like he might collapse."Michael! You ungrateful brat! You think you can follow her and get away with it? Get back here right now, or I swear-!"He yanked off his belt and snapped it sharply against the ground.The sound alone was enough to make Michael flinch.He'd grown up under that belt. The fear was instinctive.Scarlett-no, Scarlett-turned back and looked at him."You don't need to be afraid," she said calmly. "You didn't do anything wrong. He has no reason to hit you. And as long as I'm here, he won't.""I won't?" Ronnie sneered. "I'll show you right now."He strode forward, raising the belt-and lashed it straight at Michael.Michael was so frightened that he instinctively hugged his head and crouched down on the ground.At that moment, Scarlett stepped forward, reached out, and caught the belt that was about to strike. With a sharp pull, she snatched it from Ronnie's hand







