LOGINSCARLETTThe VIP room felt smaller than it should have, even with its elegant chandeliers and soft lighting.I walked in beside Ethan, my hand resting lightly on my stomach out of habit, the elegant black dress and gold jewelry making me look every bit the perfect wife he wanted to show off. His parents were already seated at the round table, smiling warmly as we approached.“Scarlett, darling!” his mother said, standing up to greet me with a gentle hug. “You look beautiful. Come, sit here in front of me. How are you feeling? The pregnancy must be tiring you.”I forced a smile and sat down where she indicated.“I’m okay, Mom,” I said quietly.Ethan sat beside me, his hand immediately finding my knee under the table — a possessive touch disguised as affection.His father leaned back in his chair, studying us both with a serious expression.“What’s wrong, Dad, that you called me and Scarlett here?” Ethan asked, trying to sound casual.His father sighed, glancing at his wife before looki
SCARLETTI couldn’t breathe.Ryder’s words hung in the quiet hospital garden like smoke that refused to clear.“Do you know if your mother is actually awake?”The question echoed in my head, louder than the distant hum of the city beyond the walls. I stood frozen on the dimly lit path, surrounded by the soft glow of garden lamps and the sweet scent of night-blooming flowers. My hand instinctively went to my stomach, protecting the tiny life inside me that suddenly felt even more fragile.“Stop, Ryder!” I said, my voice cracking with exhaustion and fear. “I don’t want to hear any explanation from you. I don’t even know why you’re saying that, but I’m really tired. I want to go home now, and please, I beg you to stop seeing me again.”He didn’t move. His eyes stayed locked on mine, steady and intense, as if he could see every crack in my armor.“I can’t,” he said quietly. “And you know why I won’t stop, Scarlett. This isn’t my fault. From the start, you came to me, and now I’m here, and
SCARLETT I stepped into the hospital room and the familiar smell of antiseptic and quiet sorrow wrapped around me like an old blanket. My mother lay motionless in the bed, machines beeping softly beside her. The same sight I had seen for years. I closed the door gently and walked to her side, tears already filling my eyes before I even sat down. I took her hand — cool, still, but still warm enough to give me hope. “Mom,” I whispered, voice breaking. “You’re going to be a grandmother soon.” The words came out choked with emotion. I cried quietly beside her, shoulders shaking, tears dropping onto the white sheet. “I’m pregnant,” I told her, even though she couldn’t hear me. “It’s real. The baby is healthy. I saw the heartbeat today. I wish you could see it too. I wish you could wake up and hold your grandchild.” I stayed there for a long time, pouring out everything I couldn’t say to anyone else — the fear, the guilt, the confusion, the growing love for the tiny life inside me.
RYDERThe conference room felt too small the moment I walked in.I was supposed to send my grandfather’s assistant, but I changed my mind at the last minute. I needed to see Ethan Reed’s face when he realized I wasn’t going to stay in the shadows anymore.Ethan sat at the head of the long table, surrounded by his team. The moment his eyes landed on me, his expression shifted — surprise, then a flash of panic he tried to hide behind a professional smile.“Ryder,” he said, voice steady but tight. “I wasn’t expecting you. I thought your grandfather’s assistant would be handling this.”I didn’t smile back.I took the seat directly across from him, unbuttoned my suit jacket, and leaned back like I owned the room.The meeting started with the usual corporate talk — numbers, projections, partnership terms. I let it go on for a few minutes, watching Ethan relax slightly.Then I leaned forward and changed the subject completely.“Before we continue,” I said calmly, “let me ask you something pe
SCARLETTThe moment I stepped into the penthouse, I knew something was wrong.The air felt heavier, charged with anger. The lights were on, but the space felt colder than usual. Ethan was already there, standing in the middle of the living room, arms crossed, face twisted with fury. His eyes locked on me the second the door closed behind me.He didn’t waste a second.“You embarrassed me!” he snapped, voice sharp and loud. “At the hospital, in front of everyone! Nurses, doctors, patients — they all know me as a good husband. That’s the image I’ve been building for so long, and you let Ryder ruin it!”I stood frozen near the entrance, heart pounding.He took a step closer, face red with rage.“I warned you not to communicate with him anymore, but why was he there? Why did he show up like he owns you and that baby?”I tried to keep my voice steady, even though my hands were shaking.“I don’t know how he got there,” I said. “I haven’t communicated with him since you took my phone. I swear
SCARLETT The car sped through the city streets, and every passing building made my heart beat faster. I kept turning to Ryder, voice rising with panic. “Where are you taking me? Ryder, answer me!” He didn’t reply. His jaw was tight, hands gripping the steering wheel as he drove away from the hospital. My phone wouldn’t stop ringing. Ethan’s name flashed on the screen again and again, each ring cutting through the silence like a warning. I reached for it. Ryder was faster. He snatched the phone from my hand and turned it off in one smooth motion. I stared at him, anger and fear mixing in my chest. “What are you doing?” I demanded. “Drop me off here. I have to go back.” “Why?” he asked calmly. “You’re in an open marriage contract, so you can go out with anyone without restrictions or limitations.” “No, you don’t understand!” I said, my voice cracking. “I have to go back. Angering Ethan will only make things difficult for me. Stop the car, I’m serious, Ryder!” He glanced at
SCARLETT "Ohhh fuckk-Ryder... I want to come," "Not yet, Scarlett. You have to learn to beg harder." Ryder's voice was low, rough, and full of dark promise as his fingers curled deep inside me, pressing against that perfect spot that made my whole body light up. He held me pinned against the s
SCARLETT Two months had dragged on like a sentence I couldn’t appeal.Every morning I woke up feeling heavier than the day before. Every night I went to bed wondering if tomorrow would finally be the day I broke completely. Ethan’s rules had become the air I breathed—suffocating, invisible, inesc
RYDERThe ice in my glass had melted into a thin, useless puddle.I swirled the whiskey anyway—slow circles, watching the amber liquid catch the low bar lights. I hadn't taken a single sip. Didn't want it. Didn't need it. What I needed was answers, and the woman who'd left me with nothing but cash
SCARLETT My legs were still trembling when I finally pushed away from the table. Ryder’s breathing was as heavy as mine—ragged, uneven, like we’d both just run a marathon we hadn’t planned on finishing. My dress was twisted around my waist, straps half-down my arms, panties long gone somewhere







