*Three years later*Ryder is in the study, intently reading the books sprawling in front of him. Heâs completely absorbed in them, memorizing every bit of detail.âFeed the baby every two to three hours,â he murmurs. âChange diapers after four to six hours. Whereâs the part on how to help with digestion?âEver since Scarlett announced her pregnancy, Ryder has been extremely cautious of her every need. Whether itâs at day or night, heâs ready to get her anything, do anything she wants. She has the strangest cravings especially at night so Ryder stocked the fridge with everything she might want. From pineapples dipped in tabasco sauce to even bananas on pizzas, there isnât anything he left out.âRyder!â Scarlettâs voice comes from their bedroom. Instantly, he drops the books and runs to help her.âWhat is it?â He asks. âIs it ice cream? Or do you want strawberries with mustard again?âScarlett blinks at him in surprise before bursting into laughter. âI just wanted to ask which color do
A soft breeze is flowing by, making the colorful flowers sway like delicate ballerinas. The vast garden has been set up with several mahogany benches. Every bit of the garden has been neatly trimmed and roses of all colors have been planted along the entrances to add a natural sophistication.The entrance is made of an arch with green leaves and twigs elegantly entangled together. A scent of fresh flowers and soil is enchanting the guests who have arrived. The groomsmen are busy showing the guests to their seats. They didnât invite a lot of people but a large chunk of the guests are Ryder and Scarlettâs old friend who are indebted to the couple for their inherent kindness.In the midst of the picturesque garden is a breathtaking altar crafted with scarlet and vermillion flowers of all kinds. Set against the vibrant sunset, the arch is softly glittering in the multicolor hues as it stands on sturdy pillars. The flowers are soft, yet fiery, blooming vibrantly like flames. The gentle bre
*One month later*Everyone is tense. Scarlett is standing still while Kat keeps on rubbing her back to reassure her that it will be fine. Troy is there as well along with Jim and Jeremy who are equally worried. Sitting on a wheelchair is Miranda, whoâs weak but hopeful. Theyâre all standing outside a room, separated by a glass window. On the other side are Ronan and a pair of nurses with Ryder. Ryder is sitting still on a bed, his eyes still covered with bandages. His heart is racing and heâs taking several deep breaths. Ronan slowly undoes the bandages to reveal Ryderâs closed eyes.âWhen I count to three, slowly open your eyes,â he instructs. âVery slowly, alright? Donât get too excited.ââGot it.ââ1âŠ2âŠ3âŠâRyder slowly starts to open his eyes. Scarlett holds her breath, her heart still. Every second feels long and torturous as she watches Ryder opening his eyes until finally, theyâre fully open. For a moment, no one speaks. Ryder is simply staring into space, not saying anything.
Ryder is rushed to the hospital, his eyes still bleeding. Scarlett, Troy, and Jim are pale faced as Ronan takes a look at Ryderâs state.âHis eyes wonât even last a month!â Ronan tells them. âHe has been under too much stress. We must operate on him, but thereâs no donor-ââThere is!â Scarlett declares. Everyone stares at her in shock when she points at Elleâs corpse which is lying on another bed.âHer blood type was B negative and she died just today,â Scarlett goes on. âIâm sure she can donate.âRonan, Troy, and Jim are astonished. Did Scarlett plan all this by herself?âWeâll need permission from her family-â Ronan begins but Scarlett is already prepared. She takes out a permission form for organ donation.âIâve already signed it,â she states. âAs her only family member, I give you the full authority to donate all her workable organs. Now, give her eyes to my husband. Now!ââŠHe tries to move his eyelids but the agonizing pain is weakening him. There are muffled sounds around him,
Elle cries in agony as Vincentâs men beat her up. Scarlett is kept in a corner, bloody but untouched. Vincent knows that as long as Ryder has the evidence against him, he canât hurt Scarlett, but Elle is a different issue.âPlease!â Elle begs. âI-I swear Iâm pregnant-âA guard kicks her so hard that her rib cracks. Vincent holds up his hand and the guards stop beating her. Theyâre in a soundproof room which doesnât let any sound escape nor come in. This is a special room designed for his hostages and Vincent loves to torment them here.âThat last baby,â he sneers at her. âWas it also a sham?ââIâŠâ Elle has no words. Vincent takes out another document which has pictures of Elle and the bald man together in bed. She squirms at the sight of them.âIt was his, wasnât it?â Vincent shouts at her.Elle only whimpers in pain. âI loved Hector!â She lies. âI-ââYou had that man kidnap me so that you could have Ryder to yourself,â Scarlett speaks up. Vincent turns to her.âWhat did you just say?
The vans stop at the bottom of the hill and everyone starts to climb on foot. Theyâre all wearing green and brown jackets to camouflage themselves. The men have split into two groups: one is being led by Ryder and Troy while Jim is infiltrating the hill from the other side. They slowly crawl to the top until they spot a heavily fortified gate which has electrified barbed wires on top. A pair of armed guards are standing at the front while there might be more at other entry points. Ryder motions Troy and his men to wait while he goes around the building.He quietly crawls in the bushes, keeping an eye on the gates from afar. The stream seems to be leading to another entry point where there are a few guards who are carrying food and supplies inside. Ryder waits and observes them to memorize their movements. There are around four guards out of which two are carrying the boxes while the other two are keeping an eye on the surroundings. There are CCTV cameras around the building too.Ryde
Scarlett slowly opens her eyes. Everything is blurry and her head is heavy. The left part of her neck is throbbing hard. She winces as she lifts her neck up to take in her surroundings.The place sheâs in is windowless with only one door at a corner. The walls are of a pasty yellow color, the paint peeling off in many places. She can hear the faint sound of water running somewhere and she can sniff the scent of wet petrichor in the air.A hill, she deduces. She must be somewhere near a hill which has a waterbody. Scarlett looks down and is relieved. They took off her jacket but she still has her shirt on. The button Kat gave her is still stitched on it.The door opens and a thin figure walks in to gloat at her.âYou!â Scarlett barks at Elle. Elle merely smirks.âHello, sis,â she grins. âLong time, huh?âScarlett only glares at her in fury. The sight of Elleâs happy face makes her want to throw up. Seeing this woman gloating is making her skin crawl.âYouâre really now out in the open,
Elle pulls out a large garbage trolley and with great difficulty, shoves Scarlett into it. Sheâs already wearing the garbs of a cleaning lady and covers Scarlettâs unconscious form with several bags. She puts on a mask and slowly pushes the trolley out.A guard is indeed standing there. He spots the cleaner coming out of the toilet and is about to approach her but heâs blocked by a group of men who are coming out of the menâs toilet, chatting loudly. Taking her chance, Elle pushes the trolley, walking far away. The guard doesnât follow her, distracted once again when his phone rings.Elle pushes the trolley outside the restaurant and keeps on pushing it until she reaches an alley. Sliding the trolley into the alley, she quickly pushes it till she reaches a black van. Several men come out of it and they take out Scarlettâs body and shove her into the back of the van.âLetâs take her to Vincentâs hideout,â Elle instructs. âRyder and his men will swarm the place soon.ââYes maâam!âShe g
*A Few hours ago*The car is slowly backing out of the mansion. Scarlettâs eyes are fixed on it, her feelings mixed between dread and a strange happiness. Sheâs dreading that she may never see her home again while sheâs also happy because she can return Ryder his life back.How many years has he been suffering like this? It pains her heart to see him hide his pain. He smiles to mask the torment heâs suffering inside, his love for his family greater than any desire for vengeance. Itâs ironic, she ruefully thinks. There was a time when she was fixated on vengeance. All she wanted was to destroy the Hawkins family and wipe them off the earth. Her longing for revenge would have blinded her if Ryder hadnât entered her life. The freedom she seeked was in front of her all along.Yes, she feels free when sheâs with him. He makes her heart beat like crazy and eases her mind. Every moment with him is filled with happiness and despite the dangers which loomed around them, for the first time in