Scarlett’s POV
My periods were never accurate, but still, I should have known.
Nausea, tiredness, change of taste...You’d think it would be obvious, but you never know until afterward how many signs you missed.
Just like how I have been missing the signs shouting at me that the man I was married to would never love me back no matter how hard I try.
I came to the health screening thinking, what’s the worst that could happen? If it were cancer, I could handle it. But this I couldn’t handle.
A baby.
The best thing coming at the worst time.
I don’t know when I’ll feel that powerful motherly love that I’ve heard about, but I’m sure of HIS reaction. He will hate the baby.
It might as well just turn out to be cancer. At least that would make one of us happy.
Sitting in the busy lobby of the maternity floor alone, I try to absorb the news. My efforts are in vain. My eyes suddenly water with envy of the happy, loving couples sitting around me. I have a luxury house to live in, a billionaire to call my husband, and his baby in my womb.
Yet they are the happy ones.
I would trade all of it for what they have: a man by my side who cares.
You really came at the worst time, little one. I touch my flat belly, bitterly. Why come when mama loved the wrong man? What do I do with you?
My phone rings, warning me that I can’t hide from my life forever. I stare at his name glowing on my screen, finding it hard to find my voice.
In the end I just put it to my ear, in silence. It took him a minute to realize that it went through but only a second before his shouts burst out--
“Scar, where the hell are you?!” Sebastian’s voice is grumpier than usual, “You said 9!”
I glance at my phone. 9: 07 am. That’s all the patience my dear husband can spare me. 7 minutes.
“Can we do it some other time?” I close my eyes, finding no strength to even think about our schedule, “I...I don’t feel too well today--”
I grip my purse tight. In it lie two files.
The pregnancy result and...our divorce papers. One an accident from the day, the other...long awaited. I don’t feel too good, but then again, I haven’t been for a while now. I just haven’t figured out what does the baby mean in all this.
He lets out a cold laugh. I bite my tongue, swallowing the rest of my words.
“YOU asked for the divorce, Scarlett Fuller. YOU said you would deliver that ‘damn divorce papers’ first thing today.” Sebastian mocks with an icy voice. I could see his look of disgust in my mind. I have seen it on his face for five years straight. “What did I tell you?”
I close my eyes, but somehow my tears keep leaking out.
[Don’t waste my time with this bullshit. You want a bigger allowance? That’s fine. But I don’t like being threatened.]
That’s what he said.
He thought I was throwing a tantrum with a divorce. As if that could threaten him in any way. Ever since we were married, his dearest wish has been for me to be gone.
Five years now. A wish THAT persistent deserves to be granted.
“You are right,” Frowning hard, I cut my nails deep in my palm to keep my voice steady, “Sorry I’m late. I’ll be there in 30 minutes.”
“Don’t bother,” Sebastian huffs coldly. I could hear the sound of his car starting. “Ava’s final check is today and I have to go. I can’t wait for you.”
So that was why he was in such a hurry. I got in the way of him and his beloved. Again.
That’s her what? One millionth checkup after the surgery? MY husband has been bustling between our house and the hospital over the past three months like a busy bee. But I understand why he is anxious about it.
If she were better, then they could finally be together.
“I’ll deliver it to the hospital then,” I close my eyes and hang up. He might have said no in the last second, but I don’t care anymore.
I can’t control my heart for falling for him, but I can force my legs to leave him. In time, my heart will heal. Everything will.
What did I say? I have got luxury houses and a billionaire? What a joke. I STOLE them, and even though I lowered myself to such a cheap move, they were never really mine. For five years, they have deemed me as the evil dragon that bullies, takes, and holds on to her pelf. So for five years they judge, punish, and slay.
But I’m not.
I’m just a squirrel, failing to hold onto the only nut she ever wanted.
Sophia Green is seeing black dots in front of her eyes, all the memories with Ava flashing through her mind.Only the other day, the Fullers were talking about how they appreciated that donor girl, saying that girl’s name was “also Sophia” even! They painted themselves as the grateful, innocent who kept on helping that girl even though that girl blackmailed her way into a marriage with Sebastian.That’s not what they said about Scarlet Fuller, and she certainly didn’t know Sebastian was married to the other Fuller girl this whole time.Wasn’t he in a relationship with Ava all these years?After all, that’s how Ava has been painting herself in front of her.“But…but you…” The Green Lady grabs Ava’s arm, desperately praying that Ava could provide a good explanation to any of these. Ava appears scared and confused, staring at her with a harmless, innocent look.Sophia Green can’t form a question. She stares at Ava’s innocent look, suddenly realizing that she can’t really pin down any mom
“What’s going on with you two? Twenty years of love, it’s not something you just throw away.” Sophia Green frowns at Ava, an omen feeling in her heart. She doesn’t want Mary to be right about the Fullers, but now she is afraid that Mary just might be.Ava opens her mouth, really lost this time.What’s going on? Didn’t Sophia Green wanted her for Scott? She is the closest woman at age for this marriage, and her family, while not as rich as the Green, but who is? So why is Sophia Green looking so upset at her?“Ava, you are married...” In the end, Sophia Green doesn’t want to be too harsh. What she couldn’t ask out loud is--How could you even assume that I would marry you to Scott? You don’t even know him. Are you all about the money, just like everyone else?If there is one thing Sophia Green never doubted, it was Ava’s love for Sebastian.She watched these two kids growing up under her nose.After her husband died, Mary stopped having time for Christmas with her, but she sent Sebasti
Sophia Green shoots Scar a strict glare. Didn’t Mary say that her dear “granddaughter” would go along with this plan? Why is she so surprised?!Ava glances at Scar, letting out a polite, understanding chuckle, “Granny, that was the worst time to say the wrong name. I understand why Scar would be surprised.”Rarely, Scar doesn’t retort. She barely heard Ava’s gibberish when all her mind was on the name Sophia Green just said--Emma. Her daughter’s name was Emma Green.Panicking and shocked, Scar freezes where she is. It’s just a weird coincidence, right? That the daughter of Sophia Green, the one who ran away and fell apart with her, also happens to be another Emma Green?Sebastian walks toward her, but Scott beats him to it.“Sorry,” Scott takes Scar’s hand for a kiss on its back, gentleman like, “I kept the announcement today a secret for her, and that’s why my fiancee is a little surprised. Right, Scar?”Scar nods numbly, letting Scott lead her to the side as she hides her eyes from
She can have it.She just needs to deal with the announcement delicately today. She needs to look flattered at Lady Green’s decision, sad about her cold marriage, yet hopeful to make things work with Sebastian, if she could.So if things don’t work out with Sebastian as she planned, she could always complain to Sophia Green about how she tried her best with her marriage, paint Sebastian as the one who wronged her, and get Scott and the title of queen of the Green that comes with.Easy plan. She has been doing that her whole life -- she has been “Sebastian’s girl” her whole life, while she collected the rich boys like fire gulping moths.She is practiced with that skill by now.The key is not to give them what they want. That’s Scar’s problem. Ava restrains her muscles so she won’t laugh out loud. She witnessed how Scar pursued Sebastian from day one.Scar wanted to give him everything she had, all at once. Scar would try to find out what Sebastian liked and what he would be interested
Lady Green is not in the lobby. She chose a more private room, having doubts about Mary Knight’s suggestion.Scarlett Fuller for Scott Green? She doesn’t like that adopted girl, even at Mary’s voucher. That girl in her memory is selfish, ungrateful and a bully, unlike Ava. She has to admit though, after meeting her properly at Mary’s place, the detest softened a little.Still, that doesn’t make her worthy to be the queen of the Green Empire. Sophia agreed to do this, only to prove Mary wrong, not the other way.Mary suggested that the death of Elijah’s firstborn has more behind it. This, is Sophia’s real purpose. Elijah’s current wife, Emily, comes from another rich family. She is well educated, loyal to family and smart, way better than Scott’s nobody mother. Sophia made sure that Elijah obeyed her. She knew Elijah wouldn’t be able to take the crown, and she had been nurturing Elijah and Emily’s first and only son, Jason, into the heir she wanted.Then all of a sudden, the kid died i
“You slept with her?!” Scar shouts, and instantly Damian covers her mouth, glancing around in panic.Lilith is not around. Thanks to Ava, no one is near this room.“But why does she hate you so much? You--you didn’t!” Scar pushes Damian away, “Don’t tell me you forced her!”“Of course not!” Damian protests with a wronged look, “What a horrible monster do you think I am???”“A monster who talks about murdering his own sister with his friends like it was about the weather,” Sarcasm attacking, Scar rolls her eyes with her arms folded in front of her, “Considering you just let Lilith take care of Alice alone for five years? My judgment on you might be too kind!”“I didn’t let her! Actually, I didn’t know she was pregnant when she left,” Damian appeals after Scar as