Chapter 8
A blood-curdling scream pierced through the auction hall. Blood gushed out, crimson splattered across Scarlett’s white dress, blooming like red camellias on snow.
Chaos erupted instantly. People screamed, chairs scraped, someone knocked over a champagne tower.
But Scarlett? She was eerily calm. Her eyes swept the horrified crowd. Then her red lips parted, voice cool and poised.
“My apologies for the mess,” she said softly. “My mother died young, so no one taught me proper manners. When
someone crosses me-”
She yanked the knife free. Blood sprayed across her face. “I settle the score on the spot.”
.
Lily’s wails of pain echoed through the venue, but Scarlett didn’t look back. She tossed the knife aside and walked toward
the exit.
She nearly made it-until someone grabbed her wrist, hard.
Sebastian.
He’d come rushing over, still holding a blanket, a heating pad, and chocolate.
Scarlett’s heart twisted.
So that’s where he’d gone-for Lily. “To get her things,” she thought.
“Have you lost your damn mind?” he growled, his expression colder than she’d ever seen. “Over a necklace, you stab
someone? What if she’d done something worse-would you kill her?”
His grip tightened, crushing her wrist like he meant to snap it. Scarlett winced but didn’t pull away. Her eyes were red. “Why don’t you ask what she did? She-she took my mom’s necklace and-”
“I don’t care if she put it on a stray dog,” Sebastian snapped. “You don’t get to hurt people.”
The words sliced clean through her.
Scarlett laughed.
Tears rolled down her cheeks as her voice cracked. “Well, I already did. So what now, Mr. Reed? Going to ‘discipline’ me
. like old times?”
“I’m done with you,” he said flatly. Then turned to the guards. “Take her to the station. File charges-assault with intent.
Three days in custody.”
Scarlett’s head snapped up. She stared at him, stunned.
He was handing her over to the police-for her? For Lily?
She bit down on her lip so hard she tasted blood. But she didn’t say a word. Didn’t fight. She let the officers handcuff her
and lead her away.
The last thing she saw was Sebastian walking toward Lily and lifting her into his arms. His voice soft. “Don’t cry. I’m here.”
Those three days in jail were hell.
Chapter 8
8.60%
They put her in the filthiest cell they had. It reeked of mildew and rust and something worse.
The other women-criminals, yes, but it was clear they’d been told something. Paid. Threatened. Bribed.
Day one, they stripped her for “inspection” and drenched her in cold water from head to toe.
Day two, someone crushed glass into her food. Her stomach cramped with hunger, but she couldn’t risk another bite.
Day three, they dragged her into the restroom and beat her senseless. Fists fell like hailstones.
One woman grabbed her chin and sneered, “You pissed off the wrong people, princess. Mr. Reed said to ‘teach you a
lesson’.”
Scarlett curled up on the floor, bloody and shaking.
She didn’t want to believe it. Refused to believe he’d go this far. But every bruise on her body told the truth-
Sebastian Reed had truly hardened his heart and turned his back for good.
When the police finally released her, she could barely stand.
She limped out the station doors, bruised and broken. She took one step outside. And collapsed.
She woke up in a hospital room.
Beside the bed, Sebastian stood with arms crossed, suit pristine, expression blank.
“So,” he said coldly. “Did the lesson stick this time?”
