Chapter 16
Scarlett sat in the middle of the room, surrounded by an avalanche of luxury goods, feeling slightly dazed.
Ever since she arrived at the Sinclair estate, the staff had been delivering package after package to her room.
Custom couture. Limited-edition jewelry. Designer handbags. It was like someone had dumped an entire fashion house
into her suite.
“Miss Shaw,” one housekeeper said politely, holding up a necklace case, “This is a blue diamond pendant Mr. Sinclair won
at auction last night.”
“Here’s the latest dress collection, flown in from Paris,” added another. “Mr. Sinclair ordered the full red series. He said you
like red.”
“And these bags-”
“Okay, stop.” Scarlett finally raised a hand, eyebrows twitching. “Have you looked around? There’s no room left to breathe,
let alone unpack more bags.”
The staff looked at one another. One immediately pressed her earpiece and whispered, “Sir, Miss Shaw says the room is
too small. Shall we move her to the 20,000-square-foot villa?”
Scarlett: “…That’s not what I meant.”
The housekeeper replied solemnly, “Mr. Sinclair instructed us to spare no expense for you.”
Scarlett rubbed her temples. “Just because he has money doesn’t mean he should set it on fire.”
“He’s very rich,” the maid replied with complete seriousness. “This is nothing.”
Scarlett exhaled deeply. Enough was enough. “I’ve been here nearly a week,” she said, finally voicing the question that had
been bothering her. “Can I meet your elusive young master now?”
The staff hesitated.
“He said… he’s not mentally ready yet.”
Scarlett let out a short laugh of disbelief. “He brought me here, and he’s not ready? Great. Then I’ll just head out.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, the staff collectively straightened. A chorus followed, crisp and respectful-
“Good evening, sir.”
Scarlett blinked and turned toward the doorway.
Footsteps echoed down the hallway. A tall figure entered her field of vision.
He wore a plain white shirt and black trousers. Tall, lean, with striking features and a quiet elegance that seemed out of
place in this world of excess. He had the kind of clean-cut presence that made everything around him fade into the
background.
Scarlett froze.
This was Lancaster Sinclair?
Chan
17.20%
The dying heir of the Sinclair family?
He looked healthy enough to wrestle a bear and win.
On her first day here, she’d braced herself to become a young widow. But the estate wasn’t draped in mourning, there was
no scent of meds in the air-just flowers, lights, and enough celebration to rival a royal wedding.
She’d tried to check on Lancaster’s condition but was stopped at every turn by his family.
“Scarlett, dear, Lancaster isn’t seeing visitors right now…”
“Yes, yes, he’s resting, needs peace and quiet…”
“You just got here. You should rest too!”
And now-now-because she said she was leaving, the man finally showed his face.
Lancaster stood by the door, ears pink, eyes avoiding hers, looking every bit like the bashful guy the staff described.
Scarlett narrowed her eyes. “Care to explain yourself, Mr. Sinclair?”
Before he could speak, his parents and grandparents came rushing in, surrounding Scarlett like a guilt-ridden PR team.
“Scarlett, don’t be mad! Lancaster’s just… shy.”
“He’s never been good at chasing girls.”
“We were out of ideas, so we came up with this little plan…”
Scarlett frowned. “Wait, what plan?”
Wesley Sinclair, Lancaster’s father sighed, finally giving up the truth. “Lancaster was never sick.”
Scarlett: “…Excuse me?”
His mother, Serena added, “He’s had a crush on you for years but was too afraid to make a move. So we figured, if we played up the whole ‘terminal illness’ thing, and offered enough money, maybe you’d marry him out of sympathy…”
Scarlett: “?????”
His Grandma, Margaret squeezed her hand affectionately. “We turned down all the socialites lining up to marry into the family. We were saving this spot just for you, sweetheart!”
Scarlett was officially stunned.
She turned to Lancaster, who was now looking at the floor like a kid caught stealing cookies. He didn’t even dare make
eye contact.
“So…” she said slowly, “you faked being sick to trick me into marrying you?”
Lancaster pressed his lips together, then finally looked up. “It wasn’t a trick. I just… I was scared you wouldn’t come
otherwise.”
Scarlett laughed. “And then you disappear for a week? Haven’t shown your face once, but you keep sending me gifts like
you’re trying to bribe the United Nations?”
His ears turned a deeper red. “I haven’t found the perfect gift yet,” he mumbled.
Scarlett: “…”
She took a deep breath and asked the real question. “You said you’ve liked me for a long time. But have we even met before?”
Lancaster’s gaze softened. Finally, he met her eyes. “You really don’t remember, do you…?”
Chapter 16
