Scarlett's POV I never thought Michael would actually find me.Not here. Not in this house—his house, technically. The one Liam bought for me like a gift I never asked for, like a cage made of glass.When I first heard the knock, I told myself it was nothing. Maybe a delivery. A mistake. But something about it made my chest tighten. There was something certain about the way the knock sounded, like the person behind the door knew exactly who was inside.Still, nothing could have prepared me for what I saw when I opened it.It was really Michael. Standing there like a memory I had spent the past week trying to forget.He looked breathless. Shocked. Then his eyes locked on mine, and they filled with something raw—not just shock, but something like relief. Like just seeing me had knocked the breath out of him.His gaze moved past me, scanning the hallway. His voice dropped to a whisper. “Is anyone else here?”I shook my head.The second I did, he stepped forward and pulled me into a hug
Michael's POV That night, the moment Liam’s car disappeared into the darkness with Scarlett in it, I knew something was very wrong.It wasn’t just the way he drove off like a madman, or the way Scarlett looked at me one last time before slamming the door shut behind her. It was something deeper than that. Something sickening in my gut that told me Liam and Scarlett were involved in something I didn’t understand.I ran to my car and tried to follow them, but I wasn’t fast enough. By the time I reached the edge of the road, his taillights were nothing but red smudges swallowed by the horizon.And just like that, she was gone.I parked the car and sat there in silence, my hands shaking on the steering wheel, struggling to breathe. The weight in my chest felt like someone had punched straight through my ribs and crushed my lungs with their bare hands.I should have stopped her. Damn it, I should have fought harder. But all I did was let her go.The guilt didn’t come slowly. It hit me all
Scarlett's POV The first thing I felt was the sharp pain in my hand. A dull ache, like something foreign pulled at my skin. As I blinked, my eyes slowly adjusted to soft lighting, and the world around me came into clearer view.I was in the bedroom, with the curtains drawn halfway, letting bits of sunlight to filter in. A quiet beeping sound echoed near my head—steady, calm.I then noticed an IV drip in my hand. And Liam… was asleep beside me, his head resting gently on my arm.My whole body went stiff. The weight of everything came rushing back in one painful wave—his rage, the beach, the shouting, the bruises, the sex, the way my body gave out on me… and then darkness.My breath caught in my throat, and without thinking, I recoiled.Liam stirred immediately. His head jerked up. His eyes, still heavy with sleep, met mine.For a split second, he just stared. Then something wild lit up in his face—relief, joy, something else I couldn’t name.“You’re awake,” he whispered, reaching up
Liam's POV I didn’t remember dialing the number. My fingers just moved on their own, like they knew what needed to be done before I did. My throat burned as I barked into the phone.“Get the doctor. Now. Private, discreet, and fast.”I didn’t wait for a response. I dropped the phone on the floor and fell to my knees beside the bed.Scarlett was too still. Her lips were slightly open, and her lashes rested like feathers against her cheeks. Her chest rose and fell so shallowly that it made me sick.I reached for her hand. It was warm, but limp.“Come on,” I whispered, moving her hair away from her face. “Don’t do this. Don’t pull this shit, Scarlett. Not with me.”The door suddenly burst open behind me, and when I looked up, James stood in the doorway.He stood frozen as he took in the scene before him.I didn’t need to explain because the room spoke for itself—clothes torn and scattered across the floor, pillows thrown, sheets twisted, and Scarlett… lying unconscious.His eyes went wi
Liam's POV I had never felt panic like that before. It started with a call from James. He said Scarlett had gone to her father’s house. At first, I thought she had gone there to visit her family, so I tried to be calm. Gave her the benefit of the doubt.But then hours went by, and she still hadn't come back. I even called her several times, but there was no answer. That was when something in me snapped. My chest started tightening with every minute as I anxiously paced back and forth in my study.Suddenly, James appeared near the front door like he sensed the tension cutting through the air.“Where is Scarlett?” I barked. “Why isn't she back yet? It's getting late!”James flinched. “Mr. Liam, I… I thought she would be back on time, so I didn't bother…”“So you just let her walk out?!” I slammed my hand against the wall. “Are you blind or just stupid, James?!”“I didn’t see her leave…”“I don’t pay you to see,” I growled. “I pay you to watch. Find out when exactly she left the house.
Scarlett's POV I didn’t know how to answer Liam's question. His words hung in the air like smoke, thick and choking. They pressed down on my chest until I couldn’t breathe.What could I possibly say? Admit that I still cared for Michael? That I didn’t know what I felt? That I was confused and overwhelmed and caught between a past that never let me go and a present that terrified me?My mouth opened, but nothing came out.In that moment, Liam stepped forward slowly, his eyes scanning mine. His jaw clenched, and then, out of nowhere, his hand clamped down on my shoulder and pushed me back.I collided with the wall with a hard thud, a sharp gasp escaping me as my hands shot up in reflex.“L-Liam… what are you…”His palm was on my throat before I could finish. It felt cold and tight, pressing down on me.“So it’s really true?” he growled. “You have feelings for your damn brother-in-law? That’s the man you’ve been writing about in your stupid novel?”My heart dropped.“No. Liam, please ca