Chapter 7

Scarlett

Five years later…

"Mommy, Liam took my ribbon again!"

"I did not!" Liam’s voice followed immediately, loud and defensive. "It fell on the floor—I rescued it!"

I leaned back against my chair, closing my laptop slowly as I watched the two little humans in front of me argue like their lives depended on it.

Twins.

Five years later, and they were still the center of my entire world.

"Liam,",I said calmly, raising a brow.

He froze mid-argument, his big eyes snapping to me. "...Yes, Mommy?"

"Give your sister her ribbon."

He hesitated.

Lily crossed her arms, glaring at him in a way that was far too familiar. "See? I told you!"

With a dramatic sigh that didn’t match his tiny body, Liam walked over and handed it back. "Fine. But you owe me a chocolate."

Lily snatched it. "I owe you nothing."

I bit back a smile.

God they were everything I ever hoped for.

"Alright, both of you," I said, standing up. "Go get ready. We’re leaving in ten minutes."

"Where are we going?" Liam asked immediately.

"To work," Lily answered before I could, flipping her hair like she owned the place.

I raised a brow. "And since when do you know my schedule?"

"I just do," she said confidently.

I shook my head, amused. "Go on. Both of you."

They ran off, still arguing, this time about who would sit by the window in the car.

Silence filled the room the moment they left and just like that my smile faded.

I turned back to my desk slowly, my gaze settling on the file that had been sitting there before the chaos of motherhood interrupted it.

MATTSON GROUP.

The name alone was enough to harden something inside me.

Five years.

Five years since I walked away from that mansion. Five years since I heard the words that broke something in me.

You should divorce her.

My fingers tightened slightly against the edge of the desk, back then I was weak— I used to be weak and broken.

I was running away with nothing but pain and fear.

But it isn't happening, not anymore. Now, I am Scarlett Roberts, a CEO and investor. A woman who built her empire from nothing.

A woman who survived. A woman who no longer begged to be chosen.

Today, I was going back, not as the woman Adrian abandoned. But as the woman he would regret losing.

A soft knock pulled me from my thoughts.

"Come in," I said.

The door opened, and Ethan stepped inside, his presence as steady as it had been these past five years.

Some things changed.

Some things didn’t.

"You ready?" he asked, his eyes briefly scanning my face like he was reading something I hadn’t said out loud.

"I’ve been ready for a long time," I replied.

His gaze shifted to the file on my desk. He didn’t need to ask. He already knew.

"You’re really doing this," he said.

It wasn’t a question.

"Yes."

There was a brief pause.

"Scarlett..." he started carefully. "Revenge isn’t always what it looks like in your head."

I let out a quiet breath, walking past him toward the window.

"It’s not just revenge," I said. "It’s closure."

"By going back to him?"

I turned to face him fully.

"By making sure he never has the power to hurt me again."

Ethan held my gaze for a long moment. Then his jaw tightened slightly.

"And if he still wants you?" he asked.

The question lingered. Dangerous and uncomfortable.

I didn’t hesitate.

"He doesn’t get that choice anymore."

My voice was calm. Certain. Final.

Because this time I was the one in control.

A small voice suddenly echoed from down the hallway.

"Mommy! Liam is wearing my shoes again!"

"I am not! They just fit me better!"

I sighed, closing my eyes briefly.

Ethan chuckled softly. "Your empire awaits."

I shook my head, but a small smile slipped through despite everything.

"They’re the real bosses," I said.

"They always have been." he smiled back.

I walked out of the room, my heels clicking against the floor with quiet confidence.

Lily stood there, hands on her hips. Liam stood beside her, wearing her shoes. Liam was quite the troublesome type, he alone is allowed to trouble his sister, no one else should do that, even me.

"Liam," I said slowly.

"They’re comfortable," he defended.

"Take them off."

He groaned. "You always take her side."

"Because she’s right."

Lily smirked.

"Traitor," Liam muttered.

I crouched slightly, fixing his collar gently.

"Listen to me," I said softly, my tone shifting.

They both looked at me, their faces serious now.

"Today is important," I continued. "You stay close to me, okay?"

"Why?" Lily asked.

I held her gaze.

Because today...We step back into the past.

But I didn’t say that.

"Just trust me," I replied.

She nodded and Liam nodded too.

I stood up, straightening. My heart was steady.

My mind was clear. My past was waiting.

And this time I wasn’t running from it.

****

The car pulled to a slow stop. My eyes lifted to the building in front of me. It was tall, familiar and still felt unchanged.

The Mattson Group.

Five years ago, I walked away from this world with tears in my eyes and nothing to my name. Today, I'm returning with power, with purpose.

With everything they once said I could never have back then, today I would make them feel sorry.

Ethan stepped out first, he held out the door for me like the gentleman he was. He has been by my side all these while, caring for me, caring for my kids.

He has done a lot for me.

I stepped out slowly, my heels meeting the ground with quiet authority.

Lily held my hand. Liam stood close by my side. I looked up at the building one last time. Then I smiled. Adrian Mattson would regret ever letting me go.

"Let’s begin," I said softly.

Without another glance back, I walked straight into the place that once destroyed me, prepared to destroy it right back.