Chapter 1
Scarlett Shaw was famous in their social circle as a little siren-lips curved in a subtle upturn, eyes that hooked hearts effortlessly.
Sebastian Reed, was the perfect heir, and maddeningly unattainable..
No one could’ve guessed these two extremes would end up tangled together-gripping each other desperately in the backseat of a Rolls-Royce Phantom at midnight, locked in a frenzy in the restroom of a black-tie charity gala, or pressed up against the floor-to-ceiling windows of a private vineyard, his fingers digging into her waist as her knees gave out.
After yet another night of indulgence, the sound of a shower trickled from the bathroom.
3
Scarlett leaned against the headboard and dialed her father, Charles Shaw.
“I’ll marry that dying heir down in Westbridge for the ‘lucky marriage’ arrangement,” she said, “but on one condition…”
The joy on the other end was barely concealed. “Say it-whatever you want, sweetheart. As long as you agree to marry him, I’ll make anything happen!”
“I’ll explain when I’m home.” Her tone was silk over steel, but her eyes held winter’s chill.
She hung up and was about to get dressed when her gaze fell on Sebastian’s laptop, left open on the table.
WhatsApp was open. The latest message was from someone saved as “Lily”.
Sebastian, there’s thunder outside. I’m so scared…
Scarlett’s fingertips trembled.
The bathroom door opened suddenly.
Sebastian stepped out, water droplets trailing down his collarbones, his shirt casually unbuttoned. Reserved yet effortlessly sensual.
“Something came up at work. I’m heading out.” He reached for his jacket, voice unchanged-cool and detached.
Scarlett’s red lips curled. “Work, huh? Or visiting your darling Lily?”
“What?” He didn’t quite catch that.
“Nothing.” She slid out of bed barefoot, her pale feet sinking into the plush carpet.
Sebastian’s gaze darkened slightly as he brushed his thumb over her swollen lips. “Behave. Don’t cause trouble.”
The moment the door closed behind him, Scarlett’s smile vanished.
She called a car and followed him.
Half an hour later, her vehicle pulled up outside the Fairmont Hotel. Through the rain-speckled window, she saw Lily Whitmore rushing out in a white dress.
Sebastian ran toward her, pulled off his jacket, draped it over her shoulders, and swept her into his arms.
“It’s freezing out. Why the did you come out like this, huh?”
His tenderness was practiced, as if he’d rehearsed a thousand times.
Chapter 1
DOB
Scarlett’s knuckles turned white as she gripped the car door handle, nails digging deep enough to draw blood.
She watched him carry Lily inside, careful, doting. And for some inexplicable reason, the image sparked a memory-
The first time they met.
Scarlett had been fighting with her father-again. After splitting his forehead open with a crystal ashtray, Charles Shaw
had finally snapped. He’d sent her to his best friend’s son for “discipline”-claiming she needed to learn some manners.
Sebastian had been sitting in the top-floor office of Reed Capital Group that day, looking like a carved sculpture behind
gold-rimmed glasses-icy and unreadable.
She didn’t want to stay, of course. So, she made it her mission to cause chaos.
On day one, she “accidentally” spilled coffee all over his tailored Italian cashmere suit. He didn’t even blink. “That was
airlifted from Milan. Send the bill to the Shaws.”
Day two, she shredded all the meeting documents before the board presentation. Sebastian didn’t even raise his voice. He
recited everything from memory, leaving the executives slack-jawed in awe.
Day three, she laced his coffee with something a little stronger. Set up a hidden camera to catch him slipping-planning to
use the footage as blackmail.
It backfired spectacularly. Her “trap” turned out to be just what he needed.
The next morning, she woke up sore and furious, only to be pinned up against the floor-to-ceiling window again.
“Lettie,” he’d murmured, teeth grazing her ear,, “be good.”
That low, hoarse whisper shattered every defense.
No one had called her that-Lettie-so gently since her mother died.
From that moment on, everything changed.
Whenever she stirred up trouble, Sebastian would simply toss her over his shoulder and carry her into the office. People
thought he was about to lecture her.
They didn’t know she’d be bent over his desk within seconds, her legs shaking by the time he was through.
Eventually, she’d found herself craving more.
Was it his skill? Or just the loneliness?
She didn’t know.
All she knew was, she’d fallen for him completely.
So on his birthday, she went all out.
Roses. Candles. Music. She even prepared an engagement ring.
She waited all night. Until the candles burned out. Until the roses wilted.
He never showed.
At 3 am, her phone buzzed with a breaking news alert:
#Elite CEO Spotted Picking Up Mystery Haunting-Crush From Airport.
The photo showed Sebastian shielding a girl in white-Lily-his gaze soft enough to pierce her soul.
Comments exploded:
“OMG, the powerful CEO and the pure angel-I’m obsessed!”
“Holy crap! Isn’t that Sebastian Reed and Lily Whitmore?! They were the golden couple back in school!”
“I was there too! Sebastian was ice-cold to everyone-except Lily. If she hadn’t gone abroad for health reasons, they’d be married by now.”
Scarlett’s phone slipped from her fingers and hit the floor with a crack.
She couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
If he had someone else in his heart all along… Then what the hell was she? A warm body for whenever he felt like it?
Her hands shook as she dialed his number-again and again. It never connected.
Finally, she set the phone down and walked into the one place Sebastian had never let her enter-his study.
She pushed the door open-and felt like the world collapse around her.
It was filled with photos of Lily Whitmore.
Graduation shots. Vacation selfies. Even ones where she was sleeping.
Sebastian Reed-so cold and controlled-had been this obsessed?
Did she even need to ask for answers anymore?
Scarlett laughed. The sound was sharp and hollow in the silent room.
Laughed until tears spilled down her cheeks, hot and relentless.
She smashed everything in the villa.
When Sebastian returned the next morning, he looked at the destruction without emotion, then flatly ordered the ⚫ housekeeper to clean it up.
He didn’t even glance at her. As if it was just another tantrum from her.
She watched a maid sweep up the engagement ring she’d spent hours choosing.
He had no idea what had been in that little velvet box.
No idea she’d once dreamed of spending the rest of her life with him.
No idea that when the ring landed in the trash… so did her love for him.
“Where to, Miss?” the driver, James’ voice snapped her back.
“Home,” she said tonelessly. “Take me to Shaw Manor.”
Back at Shaw Manor, Charles greeted her with a wide smile. “You really agreed to marry the Westbridge heir?”
Chapter 1
At the top of the stairs, Victoria Whitmore-her stepmother-watched with anticipation.
“I did.” Scarlett’s voice was calm. “But I said I had one condition.”
“What is it? Name it!”
“I want you to-” Scarlett’s words came slowly, deliberately, “legally disown me.”
The room fell silent.
Charles’s face darkened. “You’ve lost your damn mind! Do you hear yourself?!”
“Crystal clear.” Her voice could have frozen hell. “You cheated on my mother, then drove her to suicide to make room for your mistress. I stopped wanting you as a father the day she jumped.”
She stared him down as his face turned purple.
“Now the dying Westbridge heir’s family is offering five billion for someone to ‘bless’ his final days. You spent three
months pressuring me. If I didn’t agree, were you planning to kidnap me?”
She laughed bitterly. “So what’s the difference whether we’re legally related or not? You’ll just replace me with your
mistress’s daughter. Let her be your perfect little heiress.”
Charles trembled with fury. “Fine! Disowned it is! But that heir reportedly won’t live past month’s end-you’re marrying him
before then!”
And Victoria’s daughter-she just flew in from overseas and has been staying at a hotel. Since you’re stepping aside, she
moves in tomorrow!”
Scarlett let out a soft, mocking laugh. Her chest ached. “You’re unbelievable. Chasing after another woman’s daughter while treating your own like trash. Must be some kind of talent.”
She turned to leave, but Victoria reached out, all faux concern. “Scarlett, you can’t talk to your father that way.”
Scarlett stopped cold.
She turned back slowly, hatred simmering beneath her calm surface.
“What? Already practicing for when I’m married off and out of this house? Then you can finally get to play queen of the
manor?”
She stepped forward, every word sharper than the last.
“Victoria, listen carefully. Even in death, my mother will always be more than you’ll ever be-you’ll always be nothing but a homewrecking mistress. And your precious daughter can play dress-up as a Shaw all she wants, but she’ll never wash
away the stain of being born from your filth.”
Victoria turned ghostly pale, stumbling back.
༄༅ཆེ ༤ ྃ་ ཅཝ་ཡ
Scarlett walked away, every step like a blade.
Only when she was locked inside her room did she slide down the door and bury her face in her knees, every ounce of strength finally drained.
Early the next morning, the sound of noisy shuffling and laughter echoed from downstairs.
“What’s going on?” Scarlett flung the door open. “Can’t anyone get some peace around here?”
The butler stammered, “Miss… the second young lady… she’s moving in…”
Before he could finish, a familiar figure appeared at the top of the stairs-
Lily Whitmore stood there in a white dress, the picture of delicate and fragility.
Scarlett’s blood turned to ice.
