CHAPTER 1

"Scarlett, help! Save me l've been molested at the club!"

The desperate and helpless sound of her best friend's voice was the only thing Scarlett Barnes's though of the moment she rushed over to the clubhouse.

"Room 304!"

Scarlett looked up at the number plate on the door of the private room. It was the same room number that her best friend, Courtney Seymour, had texted her. 

Without a second thought, she barged through the door to save her friend.

When the door swung open under her hand, she was greeted by the darkness within. Suddenly, a strong hand clasped around her wrist and dragged her into the dark room, followed by a loud thud as the door slammed shut.

"Hey—who are you, and what do you want?!" Scarlett shrieked, her eyes darting around wildly as she tried to make out her surroundings.

More confusion aroused in her, as the only thing she could make out of the room was thick darkness.

The windows were shut tight giving no room for a single ray of light.

"Settle down, and I'll treat you well." A man's deep and husky voice spoke close to her ear.

The next second, Scarlett was tenaciously tossed onto the couch, and before she could scurry to her feet, a strong and muscular body pinned her down.

She let out a stifled cry when a pair of lips that tasted like lemon forcefully captured hers.

The man on top of her felt burning hot to the touch. A sense of hopelessness brought tears to her eyes as she tried to struggle against the man, but in the end, she was too weak to struggle and could do nothing but endure his ferocity.

An hour later, Scarlett painfully staggered out of the room, looking weary. She had only just been through what seemed like a nightmare, but that didn't distract her from worrying about her best friend's safety.

She was just about to call Courtney's number when she saw a group of men and women afar off, walking out the side door. Under the lights, she instantly recognized the two of the women in the group.

One happened to be Courtney, her best friend who had cried for help on the phone earlier, and the other was the adoptive Barnes daughter, Tiana Barnes. 

The two girls walked side by side with their arms linked, as if they were the closest of friends.

Shock and rage colored Scarlett's features when she saw them. "Stop right there, Courtney!" she called out loudly over the distance as her fists clenched tightly at her sides.

Upon hearing this, Courtney and Tiana swiveled around to face her. Scarlett glowered at them, burning red as she demanded of Courtney, "Why would you lie to me?!"

Courtney smirked instead. "It's not my fault that you're always so susceptible, Scarlett."

"Did you have a good time with that gigolo back there?" Tiana asked in a sing-song voice, smiling wickedly.

It was only then that Scarlett realized that both of them had set her up. The chastity she had held dear for the past nineteen years was now sacrificed for their horrendous glee.

Presently, Scarlett's eyes were frosty as she seethed, "Did you actually think I was your friend, Scarlett? I've been living in your shadow ever since we met! I hate you, and I want nothing more than to ruin that face of yours!"

Tiana, on the other hand, swiftly interjected by mocking, "I have the proof I need to show Dad that you've been pimping yourself for money at the club. It won't be long until you're thrown out of the house!"

"You two—" Scarlett was so furious that she swayed. Her body was in tatters after the ordeal she had been through, and the collective weight of her friend's betrayal and her sister's cruelty nearly knocked her down.

"Let's go, Courtney! We don't want to be seen with trash, do we?" With her arm looped through Courtney's, Tiana led her toward the sports car she had parked by the curb.

A week later, at the Barnes Residence, the raging voice of Mr Barnes filled the entire air that the whole place seen to tremble.

"To satisfy your inordinate lust, you turned yourself into a Sl*t! Or was it just because I cancelled your travelling abroad? How can I, Draco Barnes, be capable of having such a shameless daughter like you?"

"Dad, I didn't—"

"You didn't? But you did, Scarlett! How could you go to such shameless lengths? I loved you as a father should, whstelse didn't I give to you. I cant believe you started sleeping around.

"I hope you haven't brought any disease back to this house. Who knows what my daughter and I could have caught from you," the woman who was dressed in jewels and fine clothes sneered from where she sat on the couch.

"Dad, I didn't do anything...I—" Scarlett tried to explain herself.

However, Draco did not want to hear another word from her. He glowered at her maliciously as he snapped, "Still lying to me, I see. Get out of this home right now! I will not stand to have you under my roof. No daughter of mine could be so shameless. From now on, you are not my child!"

Meanwhile, on the staircase landing, Tiana watched this scene play out as she leaned against the banister with her chin propped on her hand. 

Everything was going exactly the way she had planned. In a matter of minutes, Scarlett was going to be cast out of the house and wander around like some pathetic stray mutt.

Downstairs in the living room, Scarlett fell silent when she saw the thunderous and disappointed look on her father's face. She wordlessly rose from her seat and walked up the stairs to pack up her things.

She had only just rounded the landing when Tiana blocked her. With her arms crossed haughtily in front of her chest, the younger girl sneered, "Get out of here! Don't linger around like an eyesore. This house will never have a place for you ever again!"

Scarlett clenched her fists as she glowered at Tiana's pleased expression.

Seeing the hatred and anger in Scarlett's eyes, Tiana leaned forward. "What, do you want to slap me or something?" She turned her cheek toward the fuming girl and said smugly, "Go right ahead, then!"

Without holding back, Scarlett brought her hand down across Tiana's face, resulting in a hard slap.

"Ah!" Tiana let out a shrill cry. "Mom!" She howled as she bolted down the stairs.

Charlotte Barnes quickly pulled her daughter into her arms and cried up the stairwell, "How dare you strike my daughter, Scarlett! What the hell are you playing at?!"

Draco glanced at the red imprints on Tiana's cheek, and he had never been more disappointed in his life. When did my oldest daughter become so infuriatingly rebellious?

"Dad, Scarlett, hurt me..." Tiana sobbed as she burrowed into her father's arms, taking in exaggerated deep breaths like she was in great pain.

"Get out of here, Scarlett!" Draco roared up the stairs.

Having packed up her things, Scarlett grabbed her luggages and went down the stairs. Her heart grew stone-cold when she saw how her own father was holding Tiana in his arms like she was something precious.

"What a fake soul! She's the Devil's incarnate." Scarlett had wanted to say it loud, but withheld her self.. She had just about enough already.

Scarlett knew then that she indeed had no place in his heart. Draco had only heard Tiana's side of the story instead of asking Scarlett about the awful incident she had endured last night.

Ever since her mother had passed, she had spent her years in this home living like an outsider, for her father had brought home his mistress and his illegitimate daughter to form a new family.

I will never come back to this place ever again.

Inside the house, Tiana watched as Scarlett dragged her suitcase out the front door, and a wicked smile curled on her lips. I finally got rid of that useless eyesore! She added in triumph

As if the sky was against Scarlett, it drenched her cloth together with the luggage she pulled along.

"Pack your things, and leave. We do not want someone like you amongst us!" Those were the words Draco hurled at his daughter, before giving orders to shoo her away.