Scarlett’s POV
I was already getting fed up. Sweat beaded at my temples, the sun blazing mercilessly over my head. I pulled out my phone, ready to call Davis and throw a fit, when the hum of a luxury engine drew my attention. A sleek Bentley Mulsanne cruised to a stop in front of me.
I paused, squinting at the car.
A Bentley Mulsanne. Rare. Discontinued. Half a million, easy. Only a handful existed in the city.
Could it…?
Sure enough, the back door opened.
Everett stepped out like a scene from a movie—tall, composed, a trace of cool air trailing behind him. His tailored suit clung to his frame with obscene perfection, the faint scent of expensive cologne wafting in the breeze.
He looked like a man untouched by the heat, the dust, or this world.
My eyes locked onto his. His expression—calm, detached—never changed. Those deep-set eyes skimmed over me like I was nothing more than part of the scenery.
I scoffed. “Tch.” Disgust rose in my throat like bile. I turned sharply and stormed toward the civil affairs building, heels clicking like gunshots on the pavement.
My cheeks, already flushed from sunburn, were now burning with rage.
To be honest, I had seen that damn Bentley earlier, but I hadn’t imagined Everett would just be lounging inside. Not even once did he think to call me. I’d been baking in the sun like an idiot for nearly an hour and a half, while he sipped chilled water in luxury.
Jerk.
If this marriage didn’t end here, I swear—not even in the afterlife would I find peace.
Everett’s POV
Inside, Scarlett didn’t hesitate for even a second.
With elegant precision, she signed her name in graceful strokes—strokes that once charmed me, now infuriated me.
“I’m done. Your turn.”
Her tone was flat, dismissive. She slid the papers toward me without a glance.
I stared at her long and hard. She refused to meet my gaze, but her silence screamed louder than any fight.
“Scarlett Taylor,” I growled, “your little push-pull act doesn’t work on me anymore, so cut the crap.”
She turned slightly, glancing at the couple waiting in line behind us, then back at me with a smile so cold it could’ve frozen hell.
“Mr. Robinson, don’t tell me you’re actually having second thoughts?” Her voice was like crushed velvet—smooth, but slicing straight through.
That casual arch of her brow… the glint in her eye...
God, it hit harder than a slap.
My jaw clenched. “Scarlett, this is your last chance—”
“No need,” she cut in sharply, raising one perfectly manicured finger behind her. “Hurry up and sign. People are waiting.”
“Are you done or not?” the woman behind us snapped. “Some of us actually have jobs to get back to!”
“You heard her,” Scarlett said smoothly, “Let’s not waste everyone’s style, Mr. Robinson.”
My teeth ground so hard I thought they’d shatter.
“You’ll regret this,” I seethed. “I’ll be there the day you come crawling back.”
She gave a short, humorless laugh. “Then you better find a comfortable chair. It’ll be a long wait.”
Scarlett’s POV
Hearing his threats only made me colder. I laughed—dry and cutting.
“I won’t look back. Not in this life. Not in the next.”
“You’ve got guts, Scarlett,” Everett snarled, snatching the pen and scribbling his name with a sharp, furious motion.
I stared at the two names side by side.
His.
Mine.
Once united. Now… just ink.
A flicker of emotion crossed my heart.
But just a flicker. And then it was gone.
Letting go—it wasn’t that hard, after all.
A marriage certificate turned into a divorce slip.
From this moment on, he goes his way. I go mine.
Everett’s POV
We stepped outside. Scarlett walked ahead without so much as a glance back.
I followed slowly, my fingers tightening around the divorce certificate.
She stopped.
Seeing this, I scoffed. I know she would stop.
I was just thinking if she asked me to be back, maybe, maybe it will considered it.
But then—she walked over to the trash can, tore the certificate clean in half, and dropped it inside like garbage. Turned to me with a smirk.
“Well then, Mr. Robinson. Guess this is goodbye.”
My chest tightened.
I stared, frozen, disbelief churning like a storm inside me.
She… she really did it.
With a flare of fury, I hurled my copy of the certificate into the trash.
“Scarlett Taylor!” I roared, my voice shaking with rage. “Let’s see how long you can play it tough. You will regret this. I swear it.”
Without even turning her head, she replied: “The only thing I regret in my life… was marrying you.”
She flagged down a cab, got in, and disappeared without a single glance back.
Cold. Sharp. Final.
Davis’s POV
Late at night, I knocked on the frosted glass door of the CEO’s office.
“Mr. Robinson, Miss Martin is here.”
Everett didn’t even lift his head. He was buried in documents, spinning a sleek pen between his fingers.
“Not seeing anyone.”
“But sir… she says it’s about New York.”
That got his attention. He looked up, removed his glasses, and rubbed his temple slowly.
“Let her in.”
A few minutes later, I ushered Amelia Martin in. “This way, Miss Martin.”
She nodded politely, “Thanks.”
I glanced at the time—11 PM.
Business? At this hour?
Please. This was just another excuse. I thought.
Everett’s POV
Inside, Amelia stood across from me.
“Everett, Aunt Maria called me earlier. She… she suspects something.”
I froze mid-signature. My pen hovered. My stare fixed on her.
“And what did you say?”
“I told her exactly what you told me. She didn’t say much, but… I could hear it in her voice. She’s not okay. And her surgery next week—the doctor said she needs to stay calm.”
“I’ll handle it.” I tossed the pen aside. “Pack your things. We’re flying to New York tonight.”
Amelia nodded. “Okay. I’ll meet you at the airport.”
****
The Next Day
The photo hit the internet like a spark in gasoline—me and Amelia at the airport in the middle of the night.
The headlines ran wild: CEO’s Secret Getaway With Mysterious Beauty.
Wedding Bells Next?
Gossip fiends had a field day.
I ignored it all.
But then—my phone rang. Unknown number. I almost didn’t answer.
“Hello?”
“Is this Mr. Robinson? Scarlett Taylor’s husband?”
I frowned. My pulse skipped. “Who is this?”
“This is City Hospital. Your wife… she missed her medication pickup two days ago. Her condition is critical. If she doesn’t get treatment soon…”
My breath stopped cold.
“…What condition?” I asked, voice breaking ever so slightly. “Say it clearly.”
“She’s in the final stage of her illness. If immediate treatment isn’t administered… she won’t make it.”
Davis’s POV:Outside the operating room, Alicia and I stood waiting for the operation to finish.The situation inside remained unclear.Footsteps approached.I turned and froze when I recognized the figure.Alicia followed my gaze, her elegant, distant-mountain brows arching slightly.Scarlett and the others walked straight toward us.Alicia looked at me and remarked meaningfully, “They’re here sooner than I expected.”I gave an awkward smile. “I didn’t snitch, you know.”Before entering the operating room, President had repeatedly emphasized that no one was to inform Scarlett about his surgery. Logically, the Taylor family should have been eager for her to remain unaware. Yet here they were… who had let the cat out of the bag?I looked at the tightly closed operating room door and sighed.Actually, it might be for the best that Scarlett knew. Who knows? Maybe this misfortune would turn out to be a blessing in disguise for President.Scarlett approached the entrance, looked at the doo
Scarlett’s POV:Hearing this, I fell silent. Eleanor studied my expression, then looked at Mom and Dad before saying,“It’s not that I don’t believe Miley. I just think it’s hard for someone’s ideology to change that easily. Mainly, her actions this time are too different from everything she’s done over the past decade.”“Ellie is right. It feels too strange to me too,” James added, scratching his forehead. “Even villains in dramas need a process to redeem themselves. This… it’s just too sudden.”Hearing this, Harvey, who had remained silent earlier, still said nothing.Mom looked at Dad. Dad nodded.“I understand your concerns, but Louis and Everett were both present. They examined the scene… under those circumstances, it was impossible for anyone to survive and escape.”“Discussing this now won’t get us anywhere. Let’s wait for the autopsy report.”“Scarlett is right,” Mom said with a smile. “But regardless, this operation was a success. From now on, our Scarlett will be free.” She
Scarlett’s POVEleanor’s sudden question caught me off guard.I shook my head. “Not yet.”“Alicia mentioned you wanted to call him earlier. He should be reachable now. Aren’t you going to call?”“I…” I felt awkward for a moment.My state of mind last night was vastly different from today’s, and now I actually felt embarrassed about it.She noticed my hesitation and raised an eyebrow with a smile. “Actually, there’s no need to rush. You’ll meet Mr. Robinson when he returns to L.A. Whether it’s to express gratitude or apologize, saying it in person carries more sincerity than over the phone.”“Yes.”Everett had done so much for me; I truly needed to thank him properly in person.Seeing that I’d come to terms with it, Eleanor suggested, “After dinner, shall we head downtown to meet up with Uncle and the others?”I nodded. “Yes, it’s been a while since I’ve seen Louis. I miss him a bit.”“Yeah, ever since Louis and Harvey started the security company, they’ve been swamped! They hardly com
Eleanor’s POVI watched Scarlett’s retreating figure, sighed softly, then turned and walked out of the villa.Outside, Alicia stood under the eaves smoking a cigarette, her other hand holding a phone as she talked.I glanced at her before turning to find John first.After giving instructions to James, I turned back and walked toward Alicia.As I drew closer, I heard Alicia’s voice: “Contact Mr. Browne. He has always been in charge of his surgeries.”I frowned and halted.Alicia heard the movement behind her and turned, meeting my gaze.She paused slightly, then said to the person on the other end of the call, “I’ll hang up now.”I studied her, sensing she was hiding something. “Who was that?”“A friend,” she replied without flinching.I narrowed my eyes. “A woman’s intuition tells me that call was connected to tonight’s operation.”Alicia raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on her lips. “Is your intuition usually that accurate?”“Very accurate,” I said firmly.“It sure is.” Alici
Miley’s POVEvery time I gained an advantage over the Taylor family, a surge of satisfaction washed over me.That twisted pleasure offered only a fleeting respite from the torment of my memories.Watching Scarlett endure my schemes in silent resignation, I felt the world was finally fair.Late at night, when all was quiet, I would sit before the mirror and laugh hysterically at my reflection.See? I’d whisper to the glass. The Taylor family isn’t all-powerful after all. They have moments of fear—times when their words betray their true feelings, times when they’re powerless to act against their will.Yet the incident from ten years ago—the kidnapping—remained an indelible pain I could never erase.When Everett burst in, I had expected him to rescue me first. After all, my injuries were far worse than Scarlett’s; I needed his timely help more desperately. But Everett didn’t save me&
Miley’s POVNight fell.Fluorescent lights flickered on inside the concrete building. Outside, the aged streetlamps glowed intermittently as moths circled in the darkness.Across the river, scattered lights began to spark to life.Black eagles lurked deep within the forest, their occasional soft coos breaking the stillness.I wore black athletic gear, a baseball cap shadowing my petite face, and sneakers for easy movement.Everett emerged from the house, clad in a black bulletproof vest and work pants, a pistol tucked at his waist. His military boots struck the concrete floor with steady, deliberate steps.“Put this on,” he said, handing me another bulletproof vest.I looked at the vest, hesitating for a moment before meeting his eyes.Everett’s handsome face remained expressionless. “Just in case.”I took the vest. “Thanks.”“We’re in this togethe