Chapter 17
“Ten years ago. The yacht party in Northborough…”
“Have you really forgotten who you saved that night?”
Scarlett froze. Her memory snapped back like a slingshot.
During that soiré, she’d stood at the yacht’s edge, letting the ocean breeze cool her flushed cheeks. Then-splash.
Someone had fallen in. A boy-barely more than a child-struggling in the waves.
Before anyone else could react, she’d dived in.
The water was cold. Salt burned her eyes. She kicked hard, swallowing mouthfuls of seawater, but she managed to reach him-hauling him back to shore, drenched and breathless.
“You okay?” Soaking wet, she’d knelt beside him and started CPR, ignoring her own state.
He’d coughed and sputtered, blinking up at her, lashes still dripping.
She wrapped her soaked jacket around his shivering shoulders. “Hey, kid-don’t run around the deck like that. You trying to get yourself killed?”
He hadn’t said a word. Just clutched her sleeve with wide eyes that sparkled like stars.
Scarlett snapped out of it, staring in disbelief at the man in front of her. “That kid… was you?!”
Lancaster’s ears turned red. “Yeah.”
“I’ve been looking for you for ten years.”
Scarlett laughed, half stunned. “You were twelve! I was sixteen! I was still figuring out my own hormones, and you-what,
you fell in love with me on the spot?”
He looked at her with those impossibly clear eyes. “Do you want the truth?”
“Go on.”
“You looked like the sun.” His voice was soft. “Too bright to look away from.”
Scarlett’s breath caught.
People had complimented her beauty her whole life-but somehow, hearing it from him felt… different.
Maybe it was his eyes. Too honest. Too transparent. Like he was handing her his entire heart.
“Scarlett,” he stepped forward, voice shaking just a bit, “I meant everything I said.”
“I didn’t mean to lie to you. And if you want to leave, the five billion’s yours. I won’t stop you.”
“But if you’re willing to give me a chance…” He took a shaky breath. “Let me give you a home. I’ll treat you right. Always.”
The word home hit her like a bullet.
She thought of her father selling her off for profit.
Of Sebastian’s office filled with another woman’s photos.
Of those three hellish days in jail.
Of burning down a villa and walking away with nothing.
Where could she even go?
The Shaws weren’t her family anymore.
And Sebastian…
She looked up at Lancaster. He was four years younger, and yet-he stood there, honest, trembling, and full of love.
Maybe… just maybe… she could try.
At least here, someone truly wanted her.
Scarlett reached out her hand.
Lancaster’s expression darkened, deflating like an abandoned puppy. “I’ll call the driver. I’ll have you taken home right now
“Home?” she interrupted, raising a brow.
She took his hand and smiled. “This is home.”
“But remember,” she added with a mock-serious tone, “you said you’d treat me right. That means forever.”
His eyes lit up like someone had just handed him the moon.
“Scarlett, I swear! The Sinclairs are known for being obsessively devoted to our wives! If I ever screw up, you can—”
“Can what?”
“Throw me into the ocean. Like the first time we met.”
Scarlett burst out laughing.
Over the next few days, Lancaster spoiled her rotten.
She mentioned craving a pastry from a bakery across town-thirty minutes later, the head chef showed up at their door
with a full cart.
She frowned in her sleep-he had the entire villa re-carpeted with softer fabric.
She rubbed her eyes while reading-he flew in a world-renowned eye doctor for a full check-up.
But it wasn’t just him.
The entire Sinclair family adored her.
Grandma would hold her hand and share embarrassing stories from Lancaster’s childhood. Serena made soup for her herself. Even the stern Wesley smiled when she entered a room.
Chapter 17
18.28%%%
Scarlett hadn’t felt this loved in a long, long time.
It almost felt like a dream.
Until-
“Ma’am,” a housekeeper rushed in, flustered. “Mr. Reed is here. He says… he’d like to see you.”
Scarlett’s hand trembled. The magazine she was holding dropped to the floor with a thud.
Her heart rippled. For a moment. Then stilled.
She looked up-and met Lancaster’s nervous gaze.
He put down the pomegranate he was peeling. “Do you want to see him?”
Scarlett studied his tense jaw, the way his shoulders tightened. Then she smiled. “No.”
She reached over and poked his cheek. “Finish peeling that fruit.”
His eyes lit up instantly. He returned to his task like a happy, loyal retriever, placing each jewel-like seed onto a plate and
feeding them to her one by one.
Scarlett suddenly felt like she’d adopted a very large, very expensive golden retriever.
On her birthday, Lancaster threw a grand party.
The Sinclair estate transformed into a sea of starlight-crystal chandeliers dripped from the ceiling like constellations.
The gift table looked like a luxury showroom.
A limited-edition sports car.
The deed to a private island.
A rare, antique grand piano flown in from Vienna.
But the real bombshell dropped when Lancaster took her hand and walked her to the stage. With a calm, clear voice, he
announced that he was transferring 50% of his company shares to her. The crowd gasped.
“Is he insane?”
“That’s worth billions!”
“Talk about the luckiest bride in history… he’s head over heels.”
Scarlett tugged his sleeve, whispering through clenched teeth, “Are you seriously doing this? Do you even know how much fifty percent is worth?”
Lancaster looked down, eyes gleaming. “I might be younger than you, but I can do math.”
“If I wasn’t worried about scaring you off, I’d give you all of it.”
Scarlett rolled her eyes. “You’re hopeless.”
Someone shouted from the crowd, “Kiss! Kiss!”
Charter 17
Cheers erupted. Applause followed.
Lancaster’s ears turned bright red. He glanced at her for permission. He leaned in, just a breath away from her lips when-
BANG!
The ballroom doors slammed open.
Gasps filled the room.
At the entrance stood Sebastian Reed. Sharp black suit. Dark eyes. A fury that made the air drop ten degrees.
His gaze locked on their joined hands.
And the entire world fell silent.
