CHAPTER 2

SCARLET

He’s going to kill me.

Those were the words that kept echoing through my mind as the car zoomed forward. 

After all the celebration and splendor, we left the cathedral in Julian’s limousine. The metaphorical start to our new lives as newlyweds.

Julian’s gaze was focused on the window. The fact that he wasn’t even looking my way only made my stomach twist harder.

“Julian.” I didn’t realize when his name left my lips.

Steel eyes turned to me, and for a moment, my breath caught in my throat. I summoned back all the courage I could muster.

“It’s not what you think. I—”

“Farlow.”

My stomach dropped. His eyes were on the driver now. 

“Yes, boss.”

“Privacy.” His order was crisp.

The man nodded, and a black partition slowly slid down behind him. It was just us now. No one was watching.

Slowly, Julian moved an inch towards me. I backed away on instinct, trying to put as much space between us as I could. 

But I was no match for him. He grabbed my chin roughly, his nails sharp enough to dig into flesh.

Was he going to hurt me for lying? I wouldn’t fault him if he wanted to. We had lied to him, and now I’d be paying the price for it.

“Not here.” He leaned forward, his lips only inches away from mine. 

And then, he let go of me.

It stung how easy it was for him to turn back to something else, like I wasn’t even worth his time. Then again, it wasn’t like he had wanted me from the onset.

He wanted my stepsister. I had forced my way in at my stepmother’s insistence. 

Would he understand if I explained it to him like that?

*****

After thirty minutes of long, grueling silence, we finally reached a building. 

It towered over every other thing that surrounded it, high enough that I swore it could touch the clouds.

It was all glass, steel…and unending money.

“Out.”

 Julian’s cold voice brought me back to reality. I tried to shuffle towards the door, but my ribs were hurting so badly from how tightly the dress had been fitted.

The doorman ended up coming to my rescue, opening the door with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. 

Julian got out by himself and immediately walked to the entrance without a single glance.

I pushed down the bile threatening to rise in my throat and hurried after him. He didn’t slow down for even one second, and by the time I caught up with him, I was almost out of breath. 

Julian gestured to the open elevator, and I stepped in. He walked in after me, then hit the option for the top floor. Ninety-ninth.

The ride there felt like it would take an eternity. Julian was silent by my side, not even giving me so much as a single glance. 

By the time the doors of the elevator opened, I stood face-to-face with his luxurious penthouse. A small gasp left me as I stepped in.

The place was more magnificent than anything I had ever seen. Expensive furniture and plush seats that probably cost more than I made in three years.

“Done with your sightseeing?”

My stomach dropped, and I was brought back to reality. I turned to Julian and slowly nodded.

He walked to the bar cart in the corner, poured out two glasses of whiskey, and then came back.

“Sit.” He handed me one.

I took it with trembling fingers, then slowly lowered myself onto one of the sofas. Julian was still standing, eyes sharp enough to pierce through me where I stood.

“Drink.”

My heart was slamming loudly in my chest with every passing second. 

“I—I don’t dr—”

“That wasn’t a suggestion.” His eyes darkened instantly. “Drink.”

I took in a shaky breath, then pressed the glass to my lips and took a sip. The instant burn made me spit it out without thinking. I coughed and hacked a bit, my eyes turning to Julian with dread.

He didn’t say anything, simply circling me intently.

“Scarlet Lawson.” He finally said

My breath hitched.

“Sister to Vivian Lawson.” He swirled the drink in his glass, one hand in his pocket. “The woman whom I was meant to marry.”

“Stepsister.” The words came out before I could hold back.

My situation was precarious enough. I didn’t need people misidentifying the relationship between her and me.

Julian didn’t react to this. Instead, he stopped before me, leaning close enough that I was sure he could hear how hard my heart was pounding.

“Why lie to me?”

Tears instantly blurred my vision at his question. “I didn’t mean to. I swear I didn’t.”

“Save the tears for when I’m ready to punish you.” He glared. “Answer my question.”

I took a shaky breath to calm myself. Then, I told him everything. How my stepmother had cornered me, my father being on the brink of death. And how marrying him had been an ultimatum from her.

“I’ve been told we looked identical for the longest time,” I said, my voice surprisingly hollow. 

“She said it would be for one month only. Once we were paid for the marriage contract, my father would live. And this…I’d be done with this marriage.”

He held my gaze for a brief moment. It felt like he could read through me with his eyes alone. 

Slowly, he swirled the drink in his glass, watching it like it was more interesting than me.

“Do you know why I went ahead with this shotgun marriage?”

I slowly shook my head. “No.”

“My father has stage four lung cancer. His goal has always been to make sure I’m settled before he dies. And my mother…she wants to get my shares by manipulating someone close to me that she can control.” He finally met my gaze. “A daughter-in-law.”

Carefully, he set the drink aside and turned to me. 

“She wanted me to marry someone they could control. Someone prim, proper, and compliant enough. Someone like Vivian.”

My brows furrowed. “I’m not Vivian. But then again, if you’re still being forced to do this, why does it matter?”

His eyes narrowed sharply. “Because Vivian is the kind of woman my mother can easily use. She’s pliable, eager enough to spend my money, and can play the role of a trophy wife.”

I flinched when his two hands pressed against the headrest. His body was caging me now, making it almost impossible to move.

“But you.” The glint in his eyes made me shiver. “I can use you.”

I didn’t understand what he meant. My stomach twisted as he leaned forward and grabbed my chin.

“You’ve committed a capital offense by playing pretence and lying to me, so how about we strike a little deal?”

Dread crept up my spine. “What deal?”

“You’ll continue to be Vivian in public. You’ll be the perfect wife, and wear your pretty little smiles whenever I ask you to. In secret, you’re mine wholly. Your obedience and every little secret you carry in your heart. All mine.”

I tried to back away, but he only tightened his grip on my chin.

“Do this well, and I’ll pay your father’s medical bills to the last penny.”

“And what if I refuse?”

His eyes glinted dangerously. “Well, then you’ll say goodbye to your father. And then you and the rest of your family will spend a long time in prison for this deception.

He released his grip, trailing one long finger down my neck. When he reached my chest, he paused.

“How long do you think you can last in prison? Five? Ten years?”

I tried to breathe, but it was hard to focus. My heart was hammering so hard that I feared it would leap out of my chest.

He reached for my face again, breath dancing dangerously against my lips.

The look in his eyes wasn’t love. It was unbridled darkness. I swallowed, realizing I was completely trapped.

“You have no other choice, Scarlet. It’s decided.”