Scarlett glared at Jonathan. "You and I have nothing to do with each other anymore! I am not your assistant—and I never will be! I don't know what you told my cousin, but whatever it is, it won't work on me! I gave you that one night you requested! That's it! We're over! Please have some self-respect, Mr. Leonard!"Jonathan's indulgent expression darkened immediately. "What did you just say? Say it again if you have the guts to!" he bellowed. The young doctor, who had already been antsy around Jonathan in the beginning, jumped at his sudden bellow, the tray in her arm rattling precariously. Immediately, she excused herself from the room, having no courage to remain in the lion's den even a second longer.Scarlett, however, was unmoved by Jonathan's rage. She knew him long enough to understand that no amount of words on her part would convince him. She'd said all she wanted to, and the rest was on him. If he honored the promises he made, he should have the sense to abide by his own word
Midway through her musings, Scarlett inadvertently realized something bizarre. Why would Jonathan, a man who never stayed long with any woman, insist on her staying by his side forever? She suspected her blunt treatment of him played a part in piquing his curiosity, unlike other women who fawned over him relentlessly. Maybe she had been mistaken all along—perhaps she should've treated him like everyone else did. Perhaps, then, he would've gotten sick and tired of her company sooner or later.Who knew staying true to her nature would turn out to be detrimental to herself?Scarlett didn't expect Jonathan's jarring lack of anger despite her rudeness. His smile was maniacal, brimming with ill intent as if she had fallen straight into his trap. The man swept her into his embrace with a laugh. "Alright. Remember, this is your choice. Since you've made your decision, Monkey is yours to take care of now!"Scarlett remained silent. Taking care of his dog didn't seem that different from taking c
Contrary to Natalie's excitement, Scarlett's first response was frantic denial. She'd initially intended to keep everything that had happened with Jonathan a secret, even from Natalie, because of the amount of humiliation it brought up, but she simply couldn't stand the notion of hiding it from her best friend anymore. Scarlett didn't want to bear this burden alone, so, in the end, she confided in Natalie, entrusting every last detail to the person she deemed closest to her.Her first encounter with Jonathan, her pregnancy, the conflict between the two of them, along with Jonathan's threat for her to be his mistress for a month to protect Dylan's innocence when his return from abroad exposed Justin as Jonathan's younger brother … Scarlett did not spare Natalie any of the details as she recounted, quite literally, every bit of her long, painful history with Jonathan.As she spoke, her embarrassment grew—it was only natural for her to feel ashamed, though she felt a shuddering relief as
Scarlett wasn't about to let such a life-changing opportunity slide. If she could star in a TV show, the ludicrous pay could tide her over for a long while, not to mention the line of other opportunities that was bound to come along with it. This was a chance she had been waiting for all this while—a break in her career where she could be taken to greater heights in the industry and consequently live a better life.The suddenness of her grandfather's death seemed to have deeply affected her grandmother, so much so that she was currently hooked up to a respirator to help her breathe. Her grandma's unexpected illness still pained her to this day, and she decided to head over to the hospital to visit her after work.Unfortunately, the old woman showed no signs of regaining consciousness, her reliance on the ventilator growing by the day, a pallid sheen having taken residence permanently on her face.Scarlett's heart ached as she beheld her beloved grandmother lying lifelessly on the hospi
Despite having already made up her mind, Scarlett didn't find it appropriate to tell Ezra directly that she didn't want Jonathan to see her with another man. It wasn't that she was afraid of his rage—she was afraid of its consequences, which made her hesitant to trigger his temper if she could help it.Jonathan's threats were still ringing in her ears, an incessant reminder that plagued her. How could she forget when it was all still so vivid? She could curse him and yell at him, and she could call him a bunch of names and manage to get away with it, holding on by the skin of her teeth, but to appear in front of him with another man didn't seem to promise such optimistic outcomes.Left with no other choice, Scarlett could only alight from the car and head toward the entrance of the hotel along with Ezra. Even though her head was lowered, she could feel his piercing gaze threatening to strip her whole being right then and right there.Jonathan's gaze was cold as he stared at the man wal
"Miss Langston, you might be new here, but that's alright. You haven't seen how many newbies I've trained who eventually became famous. Just look at Daphne. She was once as clueless as you are now. Fortunately, our Daphne here picks up new things quickly and does as she's told. I'd say she understands the rules we play by too. Look at how famous she is now. I say, Miss Langston, if you grow to appreciate and abide by our rules, there's nothing you can't achieve."The man's sleazy words, barely hidden behind courtesy, gave her the urge to flip the soup bowl in front of her and pour the boiling liquid down his face in a fit of rage. While she wasn't familiar with whatever rules he was talking about, she understood what he was implying. Scarlett would never agree to any of that and would never stoop to the level of playing dirty just to get what she wanted. If she were truly that kind of person, her qualifications would've skyrocketed her fame so much that it would've long surpassed Daphn
No matter how unwilling she was to comply, Scarlett knew she had no other choice. She couldn't possibly remain at the entrance in a stalemate with the driver, so she forced herself to board Jonathan's car. She didn't need to look to deduce the surprise on Ezra's face, though his shock was understandable. The fact that she was acquainted with Jonathan was shocking enough for anyone, really.Scarlett thanked him once more, her countenance filled with awkwardness.Ezra simply nodded without a word. He didn't know what he was supposed to say anyway—when they first met at the entrance earlier, he had sensed something strange between Scarlett and Jonathan, something he couldn't quite put his finger on. He didn't know if he was more surprised by Scarlett's firm refusal of not knowing Jonathan or the fact that she actually did.The truth was, their relationship didn't seem simple at all. Why else would the other man send a personal chauffeur just to pick her up if they were mere acquaintances?
Jonathan did not give her the chance to hesitate or argue before scooping her up and carrying her, bridal style, to his own room. His expression was dark, foreboding—as if he couldn't wait to tear her apart and savor whatever was left of her.Along the way, her heart pounded with fear. How she wished she could faint—at least if she did, she wouldn't have to see with her own eyes the events that were about to unfold.Scarlett knew that Jonathan was not one to forgive and forget, at least, not so easily. Her appearance together with Ezra definitely had infuriated him. Not only that, the fact that she had confided in Natalie about their past would surely push him off the edge. She could imagine how angry he currently was, but even if she could, it didn't mean she was ready to be on the receiving end of his palpable rage.In her defense, she never thought she would encounter him at the entrance of the hotel earlier. It wasn't something within her control, and Jonathan had not given her the