Chapter 5
Scarlett lay in a pool of blood, her vision blurring at the edges.
The last thing she saw before slipping into unconsciousness was Sebastian-shielding Lily carefully in his arms.
That image pierced through her mind like lightning, dragging with it memory after memory-
The first time they met: his eyes behind those gold-rimmed glasses were colder than ice.
Their early battles: she once dumped salt into his coffee out of spite, and he drank it without blinking.
The first time he pinned her down on his office desk-she had bitten his shoulder so hard it bled.
And then, somehow, she fell for him.
Fell hard.
Hard enough to decorate an entire estate with roses and candlelight for his birthday-only to be rewarded with tabloid
headlines of him and Lily together.
There was that day, too-when she’d walked five miles in heels, eyes red from crying, just to visit her mother’s grave. The blisters on her heels had burst through the leather.
Sebastian had found her there.
He didn’t say a word. Just knelt down, removed her ruined heels, and carried her home barefoot. One hand holding her shoes, the other steady on her back.
Her tears had slipped down his neck, and she’d thought-
If I could spend the rest of my life like this, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.
After her mother died, someone finally carried her home again.
But now, all of those memories were swallowed by one brutal truth: He chose Lily.
Beep… beep… beep…
The sound of medical monitors dragged her back to reality.
Scarlett’s eyes fluttered open. She heard Lily’s voice, choked with sobs.
“I shouldn’t have argued with her in the street… It’s all my fault… I just wanted to give her a ride home. Why did you save me, Sebastian? She’s going to be so upset when she finds out…”
“It wasn’t your fault.” Sebastian brushed Lily’s tears away.
His voice was soft. Softer than Scarlett had ever heard from him.
“If I had to do it again, I’d still choose you.”
“Your health isn’t good. You can’t afford more injuries.”
There was a pause. “And besides… she has no reason to be upset.”
5.38%
Scarlett’s chest tightened sharply-like someone had reached inside and twisted her heart without mercy.
Of course. Who was she to Sebastian Reed, anyway? She had no right to be upset.
Who he saved… was never her decision to make.
“Don’t cry,” he coaxed. “Get some rest.”
His voice grew even gentler. He stayed with Lily a long while, whispering comfort until she calmed down and left.
When the door closed, Sebastian turned-only to see Scarlett already awake, lying silently in bed, her gaze fixed on him.
He didn’t flinch. Not even a flicker of guilt. “You’re lucky,” he said casually. “It was just surface wounds. I know you hate
scars and pain, so I brought in the best team. There won’t be any marks.”
2
In the past, Scarlett would’ve screamed, cried, demanded to know why he hadn’t saved her.
But not now.
Now, she simply nodded. “Got it. Thanks. I’ll pay you back for the medical bills… in two weeks.”
Sebastian’s brows lifted slightly, surprised to hear her thank him.
And two weeks? Why always two weeks?
He didn’t ask. Figured it was just another spoiled-princess tantrum-some cryptic mood swing.
Over the next few days, Sebastian actually cleared his schedule and stayed at the hospital to “take care” of her.
But it wasn’t like before. Scarlett didn’t cling to him. Didn’t joke or flirt or make a scene.
She was quiet. Quiet during treatment. Quiet at meals. Quiet even in sleep.
Too quiet.
The silence unsettled him.
“You’re still angry?” He asked one afternoon, sitting beside her during an IV drip.
“About what?”
“About that night. That I didn’t save you.” He added after a pause, “I had to help Lily first. You know that…”
Just as he spoke, a flurry of activity broke out in the hallway.
“What’s happening?” a nurse rushed by.
“I heard it’s Charles Shaw’s stepdaughter.” Another whispered. “She fell down the stairs. Just came into the ER. Mr. Shaw carried her in himself-face white as a sheet. Honestly? A man treating his stepdaughter that well… rare these days.”
Scarlett slowly turned to look at Sebastian. Sure enough-his expression had changed.
“I have something to handle,” he said, already standing. His movements were quicker than usual. “I’ll check in later.”
Scarlett watched as he left without hesitation. She didn’t need to guess. She knew exactly where he was going.
She leaned back against the pillows and closed her eyes. Her chest felt hollow.
Like something had been carved out of her-and nothing was left.
