*Three years later*Ryder is in the study, intently reading the books sprawling in front of him. He’s completely absorbed in them, memorizing every bit of detail.“Feed the baby every two to three hours,” he murmurs. “Change diapers after four to six hours. Where’s the part on how to help with digestion?”Ever since Scarlett announced her pregnancy, Ryder has been extremely cautious of her every need. Whether it’s at day or night, he’s 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 isn’t anything he left out.“Ryder!” Scarlett’s voice comes from their bedroom. Instantly, he drops the books and runs to help her.“What is it?” He asks. “Is it ice cream? Or do you want strawberries with mustard again?”Scarlett blinks at him in surprise before bursting into laughter. “I just wanted to ask which color do
SMACK!The sound of the slap echoes around the lavish mansion. A beautiful brunette is standing in the middle of the living room, her pearly cheek marred by the red palm print. Her ocean blue eyes are now red with fury and anger, stinging with tears. She’s only twenty one years old, already the wife of the most powerful man in the country. But she’s only his wife in name; this slap is the proof of it.The slap hurts her pride and while her heart is bleeding with sadness, she stands tall to defy the ones who are bringing her down.“You evil woman!” The handsome man whispers at her, barely containing his fury. The blonde man is in his mid twenties. His dark eyes are sharp and his handsome face is contorted into fury. The sight of this woman disgusts him.This is Hector Hawkins. Son of Vincent Hawkins and his heir. So this is the reality, right dear husband? Scarlett D’arcy thinks in spite. Oh the irony!“How dare you hurt Ella?” He screams at her. “She’s your sister!”“She’s a homewrec
The car stops in front of a large, Italian styled mansion. Scarlett stares at the place, quite impressed by its asymmetric massing of the towers which are standing high, looking elegant. The garden is luscious with exotic flowers and a marbled pavement is snaking towards the front door which is made of posh mahogany wood. “This way,” the driver respectfully tells her. Scarlett hesitates but follows him into the mansion. She’s led to a beautiful hallway which is illuminated with golden lights. A staircase spirals its way from the upper floors to the lower one while a magnificent fountain is placed in the middle of it. The walls are painted in light silver color and there are matching furniture sets around her. Scarlett has been to many mansions but this one has a warm touch to it as if the owner has intricately detailed them on his own. Before she can marvel at the beauty, she hears a pair of footsteps approaching. To her surprise, a girl of around eighteen is ascending the stairs.
She hails a cab and heads straight for her mother’s house in Manhattan. Her mother, Isabella, visited her quite a few times after the trial but Scarlett forbade her from visiting. She doesn’t want Isabella to worry about her and jeopardize her health. After all, one of Isabella’s feet is upside down and her mother has to walk in a limp. Seeing her worry makes Scarlett feel guilty.The cab stops in front of an upscale apartment where Scarlett used to live with her family before her marriage. She gets out of the cab and stares at the building.It hasn’t changed a bit. The unique architecture has been created by her stepfather, James Swanson, who was a renowned architect. Isabella had fallen in love with the lonely widower and they bonded over their partners.Scarlett never knew her dad because he left her and her mother before Scarlett was born. For the first fifteen years of her life, she was raised by Isabella. They weren’t rich but they had each other. When Isabella fell in love with
Two men are hurriedly walking along the long corridor of the Hawkins’ mansion, looking very worried. They pass by the busy servants who are working to set up the decorations for the engagement party that night. There’s a line of part timers outside who are waiting to get their shifts but the men are not concerned with the party. They’re well dressed in suits and look extremely professional. One of them is a stoic man in his fifties with gray hair and a dignified look. The other man is in his late twenties with thick black hair and a freckled face which is very nervous. “Mr. Palmer,” the younger man addresses his boss. “The CEO won’t be happy with this news. Shouldn’t we wait until tomorrow? He’s gonna be furious!” “There’s no other option, Jim,” Palmer states in a curt manner. The older man is Jeremy Palmer, the senior secretary to Hector Hawkins while the young man is Jim Porter, Jeremy’s underling. Jeremy is a no-nonsense man with strict work ethics. He has been working for Ha
Elle is admiring herself in the mirror. Her floral pink dress compliments her sweet looking face and her long dark hair is tied in an elegant bun. The jewelry she’s wearing has been gifted to her by Hector, amongst it a beautiful blue diamond placed on her neck’s choker. “You look beautiful, madam!” Mrs. Lee, Elle’s personal maid, praises her. “Sir Hector is going to be very pleased.”“He will be,” Elle smiles. The makeup is light but she looks gorgeous. It’s her day and this is the moment she has been waiting for. Marrying Hector, the man who will make her very happy. He will make me happy, she tells herself but there’s a stinging pain in her heart. As much as she tries to avoid it, the pain won’t go away. “You’ll make a fine wife to him,” Mrs. Lee goes on. “Far better than that…that one!”Mrs. Lee shudders at the thought of Scarlett. Ever since they were young, Scarlett has always tried to harm Elle. It’s Elle’s benevolent heart which always ignored Scarlett’s mistakes.“Please d
A sleek Maybach stops in front of the Hawkins’ mansion. Everyone in the vicinity instantly breaks into whispers when they see Ryder Rochester coming out of it, looking sleek and handsome than ever. His red hair is brushed back and his sharp eyes are twinkling as if he’s expecting something exciting to happen.“Isn’t that Ryder Rochester?” One guest whispers.“A Rochester at Hawkins’ party? He won’t be pleased!” Another guest gossips. Ryder ignores them and simply walks towards the hall where the guests are enjoying themselves. His eyes fall on the dark haired woman in the middle who’s wearing a pink dress and is entertaining the guests at her own engagement party.Elle is sweetly smiling at the business associates, but not engaging in conversations with them. Their business talks are boring to her.“Congratulations.”Her smile freezes when she hears the voice. She slowly turns around to find herself face to face with Ryder. Her heart skips several beats when he steps closer.“What ar
*A Few Hours Ago*Ryder is studying the woman in front of him. She’s not broken and is completely calm but he can see the redness in her eyes. There’s no doubt that she must have been crying for hours. Scarlett is staring at the paper in front of her. This is the only way for her. She has little money and nothing else other than a desire for revenge. The gap between her and the Hawkins family is now starkly clear to her. Without power, she can’t take them down.They’ve taken her soul, her happiness, and her peace. She can live without them.But what they did to her mother is inexcusable. There’s no way Isabella would kill herself. Her mother was not like that.She picks up the pen to sign the marriage contract but Ryder speaks up.“Think about it,” he warns her. “If you sign that, you’ll have to live with me. There’s no love, nor any duty in this marriage. You’ll get revenge but it might not be what you want. You’ll be trapped with me in a very dangerous world.”“I don’t care about l