Chapter 2
Scarlett never expected that Victoria’s daughter-the one who’d supposedly been “recovering overseas” for years-would turn out to be none other than Lily Whitmore, Sebastian Reed’s precious angel.
The universe clearly had a cruel sense of humor.
The next second, Lily walked up to her with that sugary-sweet smile. “Sorry, Scarlett, did we wake you?”
Scarlett slammed the bedroom door in her face with a loud bang.
“Scarlett! Where are your manners?!” Charles roared from the hallway. “Clear out your room. Lily likes it. It’s hers now!”
Scarlett let out a low chuckle, then flung open her closet and started throwing things into a suitcase.
Outside the door, muffled voices filtered through-
“Uncle Charles, is Scarlett mad at me?” Lily’s voice was soft enough to melt butter.
“Don’t mind her. She’s been spoiled rotten her whole life.”
“But still…
“She’ll be married off to Westbridge soon. Then this house will be yours and your mother’s.”
Scarlett paused mid-pack, then smirked.
Without another word, she booked a flight to Westbridge for the end of the month and kept packing.
Thirty minutes later, she rolled her suitcase through the living room.
Charles, Victoria, and Lily were lounging on the couch, sharing snacks and laughing like a picture-perfect family.
Scarlett didn’t spare them a glance as she headed for the door.
“Stop right there!” Charles barked. “What now? Don’t forget the deal you made!”
“I won’t. I’ll keep my word.” Scarlett said, not turning back. “But I won’t spend the next two weeks here and gag on the
stench.”
She went straight to the most expensive hotel in town and booked the penthouse suite.
And then the shopping spree began.
She bought the most luxurious wedding dress, dropped obscene amounts of cash at Sotheby’s Auction NY on antique
jewelry for her dowry.
If she was going to be sold off to bless a dying man, she was well going to do it in grand style.
Her phone buzzed nonstop the whole time. She ignored it until she’d secured a diamond necklace worth a small fortune.
Thirty-eight missed calls. All from Charles.
The moment she picked up, his furious voice roared through the speaker: “Have you lost your mind?! Thirty billion in one day?! Are you trying to bankrupt me?!”
“What’s the rush?” Scarlett sneered. “Once I marry, five hundred billion will roll in.”
Chapter 2
0150
“But that money’s not here yet! If you keep spending like this, the company’s going under!”
Scarlett laughed coldly.
That was exactly what she wanted.
She’d already made arrangements for the money to be transferred directly to her personal account once the marriage with
the Sinclairs was sealed.
Let’s see how Victoria and her darling daughter stick around once Charles is flat broke.
Did they really think everyone was as stupid as her mother? A woman who stood by him from nothing, through every
hardship, coughed up blood from stress, and was finally driven to her death.
Thinking of her mother sent a sharp pain through Scarlett’s chest.
Her phone buzzed again. This time, it was Sebastian.
[What’s the attitude now? Why didn’t you show up at the office today?]
Scarlett stared at the text for a long time.
For a year now, she’d been reporting to Reed Capital every day-because he said he needed to “discipline” her.
But she was getting married now. Why should she still let him control her?
She returned to the hotel with a dozen shopping bags-only to find her luggage dumped unceremoniously in the lobby.
“What’s going on?” she asked icily.
The front desk staff gave an apologetic smile. “Ms. Shaw, your card was declined. Per hotel policy…”
Right on cue, her phone lit up.
[Since we’re no longer father and daughter,, don’t use my money. All your accounts are frozen.] -Charles Shaw
Scarlett stared at the message until her eyes burned.
Finally, she replied with just two words: [Fine.]
Dragging her suitcase through the streets, she tried to figure out her next move.
The flight to Westbridge wasn’t until month’s end. Two weeks stranded-nowhere to sleep, nothing to eat, no way to
survive.
Her suitcase was filled with wedding dresses and jewelry-none of it she could pawn.
Borrowing from those vultures in her social circle? She’d rather sleep on the streets.
A bench at the park seemed like her only option. She had just set down her bags when a drunk man staggered over.
“Hey gorgeous… all alone?”
“Back off.”
“No need to be so cold, babe. Come hang out…”
Chanter 2
His greasy hand reached for her shoulder. Scarlett raised her arm, ready to slap him-
“Ahhh!”
A scream pierced the air.
Sebastian appeared out of nowhere, grabbed the man’s wrist, and twisted.
Before Scarlett could process it, he had bundled her and her bags into his car.
“Let go of me!” she snapped.
Sebastian tightened his grip on her wrist. “What now? Throwing another tantrum?”
His voice was low and calm. “You’re homeless and it never occurred to you to come find me?”
