SCARLETI stared at myself in the mirror before I went out on stage. I had never experienced standing in front of a crowd. I didn’t exactly understand why I wanted to sing live in an acoustic bar. I also had no experience. All I knew was I had to move on. I had to divert my attention and do something new.“Hey, newbie! We’re about to start.” An Asian man in a baseball cap appeared behind me.“Yes, of course. Thank you.” I smiled at him.“I’m Scott. I play percussion. You are Scarlet, right?” he asked.“Oh, yes. Hi, Scott.” I reached out my hand to him.“Pleasure.” He shook my hand.Scott smiled. He was pretty charming, and he looked younger than me. He had black hair under his cap, covering his forehead.“If you don’t mind me asking, are you… Japanese?” I guessed, trying to be friendly and making small talk.“I’m actually Korean,” he corrected, then grinned.“Oh, sorry!” I covered my mouth, embarrassed.He chuckled. “You ready? I heard you have a good voice.”“I’m not a professional,

SCARLETI pressed my lips into a thin line. “Do you think those words would turn me on?”“Yes…” His fingers trailed the hem of my shirt, brushing his thumb against my skin. “Just stop avoiding me.”“Get your hands off me!” I tried to jerk away, but I couldn’t. “Go back to your date. You already said what you had to say. I’m never sleeping with you again. I hate you.”“Do you mean that?” His eyes narrowed as his fingers traveled on top of my breast. He pulled down one cup of my bra and pinched my nipple softly.“Yes, every word.” my voice was a whisper.“Okay, so answer these few questions, and if you give me an honest answer, I will let you go.”“What if I don’t want to?”“You don’t have a choice.” He pinched my nipple once more. I sucked my breath. I nodded, unable to breathe properly.“So, you don’t want me anymore? You don’t enjoy this?” He pulled down another cup of my bra.“That’s not the issue.”“And that’s not the correct answer. Come on, tell me.”“I do…”“You remember that ev

SCARLETYou’re coming home to us soon… to me…That was Luke’s last message to me last night. I pressed my phone on my chest. He still thought that I’d come home after I graduated. The time was getting close. The tension in my chest continues to grow.“Hey.” A pat on my back interrupted my thoughts. It was Sean.“Hi.”Sean put a glass of red wine in front of me. “Here. Have a drink.”“Thanks.” I smiled a little.“We’re about to start. You okay?”I nodded. “I’m just thinking about my graduation.”“I heard from my brother. He’s graduating too. Congratulations.” He flashed a grin.I grinned back. “Are you coming to graduation?”“Yes. I’m Joseph’s guardian.”“How about your parents?”“They’re not around here anymore. It’s just me and Joseph.”“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”“It’s okay. Is there something wrong? You seemed in too deep. Boyfriend problems?” he grinned.I chuckled. “It’s not like that.”“So, you do have a boyfriend?”I shrugged. “I wouldn’t call it like that either.”“Ah, so

SCARLET“What are we making today?” I asked as I walked towards the meat shop at the supermarket. Luke was pushing the cart while we chose ingredients. The supermarket wasn’t that far from his apartment.It’s amazing to see this side of him. I imagined him going to the groceries alone. A billionaire himself was supposed to have someone who shops for him.“Do you come here often? Don’t you have an assistant or butler to do this for you?”“Simple matters like this don’t always require an assistant, Scar. I used to live alone in an apartment during college.”“Oh,” I nodded. “Then, what are you making?”“Chicken marsala.”Luke stopped in front of the fresh meat section. He picked up a whole chicken and asked the salesperson for assistance. I was really amazed at how he lived his normal life.Luke Alejandro could shop alone at a meat shop. That was new to me. I couldn’t imagine his father would do these things for Mom.When the butcher gave the chicken packed in a wrapper, he put it on th

SCARLETLuke and I stayed at his apartment all weekend. But the time had gone by so fast; it was already Monday. I still wanted to stay in bed for another day with the sweetest man I knew. He’d treated me like a queen for the past two days. I still didn’t want it to end. But the reality struck when I didn’t find him in bed the next morning.When I woke up, I realized Luke’s side of the bed was empty. I went downstairs, welcomed by the smell of coffee and the sound of the frying pan. The breakfast was ready, and when we finished breakfast, I went back upstairs for a fresh bath. To my surprise, he had already prepared clean clothes for me.I came downstairs, ready to go. Luke was waiting for me by the door. He was already dressed in a three-piece gray suit. His hair was brushed up, and he smelled of aftershave. I remembered he was going back to the office today as well. I’d already seen Luke in different outfits, and they all suited him well. Even if he was only on a shirt or in an apro