Scarlett’s Point of View
“Mom, how are you feeling?”A warm, grateful smile spread across my mother’s face as she squeezed my hand. “I’m doing well because of you—I was able to take my medicine on time with no worries.” She paused, her loving eyes searching mine. “How about you? Are you overworking yourself? Please, don’t exhaust yourself too much. You need a break sometimes.”My stare was unwavering, but I could not cover up the shame that lit my gaze. How was I going to explain that the funds for her treatment were coming from someone she loathed and despised?“It’s all good, mom. I’m not trying to take on too much. My boss is actually really kind,” I lied.“That’s wonderful! Now, you can go home and get some rejuvenating rest. Don’t worry about me; the doctor and nurse are being very attentive.”“Are you sure?” I asked, not wanting to leave, but I had to.Two years had passed since I was wed to the firstborn of the Scoville family, and because of that, my father was always generous with sending money for my mother’s upkeep.Storm, meanwhile, although not treating me poorly, neither he was anything close to a good husband. In fact, he was hardly present in the house! He rarely came back home.As soon as I exited the hospital, I made my way to “OUR” villa.The lavish estate was a gift from Storm’s grandfather. His wishes were for it to be placed in both our names, and although I wasn’t thrilled with the idea, I had no choice but to agree. After all, I didn’t want to risk being left without anything if a divorce ever transpired.I unearthed the truth: Storm had been coerced into marriage, out of fear that his grandfather wouldn’t be able to attend his wedding if he passed away. His grandpa’s unyielding plea had forced him to settle on a bride far too soon. Consequently, my father seized that opportunity and presented Senior Hernan Scoville with a proposal.As the car pulled up to the villa, I spied another vehicle in the driveway. I knew who it belonged to without having to guess; my father was standing before the imposing entranceway, as if he’d been waiting for me all along.As soon as I got out of the car and went inside, he followed me.“Scarlett, I heard from Senior Scoville that Storm isn’t going home. What’s going on?”I stiffly marched into the kitchen and grabbed a glass from the cupboard. With trembling hands, I poured myself some water and turned to find my father watching me intently... and my glass. Furtive glances were exchanged between us before I took a small sip, and I could sense his tenseness strengthen with every drop that fell from the tip of my glass.As soon as the water went through my throat, I detected a distinct flavor that differed from what I expected.When my father caught sight of my expression, he broke eye contact. But I disregarded it and continued to listen to his incessant entreaties. “I heard he went overseas for a big meeting, but why didn’t he take you with him?"“....”“Oh, and a different acquaintance said they spotted him with someone--”When I couldn’t take it anymore, I bellowed, growing more and more exasperated. “Dad, please! What do you expect from an arranged marriage?! We may be bound by paper, but he will always have the freedom to do whatever he pleases!”“But you can’t stand just like that!” he roared back. “Senior Scoville wants you and Storm to have a child of your own. He promised me that once you conceive, he will invest more money in our company.”Our company? When did I become part of their greediness?I couldn’t help but smirk cynically and retort, “You visited me just to tell me that? I thought you came here to see how I am doing. If I’m eating well, if I’m sleeping well. Guess I was wrong again. You only come around when there’s something you need from me!”“Stop being dramatic and do what you were told! Conceive that bastard’s baby!” He was adamant.As I heard his words, I felt my hands instinctively clench.Nonetheless, I ignored him and exited the kitchen and went to the bar stool to sit.And as soon as I sat down, suddenly, a wave of heat rushed through my body, my face grew flushed, and my breath shortened. The room felt too small.‘Is the aircon off? It’s hot.’The fluttering of my stomach raced through me as a warmth spread to every inch of my body. Beads of sweat invaded my forehead and the hotness inside me surged to an inferno-like intensity.Frantic, I fumbled with the top button of my dress, desperate for a breath of relief. Alas, it was futile, as the searing ignite continued to engulf me like wildfire. Each passing second intensified the swelling discomfort in my body.‘What’s happening to me?’I closed my eyes and inhaled. As I opened my eyes again, my jaw dropped as I gawked at my father, for a victorious grin was plastered across his face.“W-what did you do to me...?” I asked, gasping for air.“Make sure you do your part, Scarlett,” he said, his voice gruff.“Your mother and you are alive because of me. Do whatever it takes to bring a child into this world. If you can manage that, then perhaps I’ll see fit to accept you as my daughter.”With that, he spun on his heel and marched out the door. He left my sight, but only anger left in my heart.‘I don’t want your acceptance! All I want is for you to stop controlling my life!’I leaned forward in the stool bar and tried to stand up straight. However, I became dizzy as if I was drunk.I was struggling to remain upright, when an explosive sound shook me out of my stupor. I slowly spun around and saw a man with a sullen expression marching in my direction.Swept away by his presence, I could not help but admire his dark, enigmatic beauty. His wintry gray eyes seemed to pierce through my soul while his nose gave off a sharp, masculine edge. And those lips—like a divine being—held a captivating allure that made me feel like I was caught in an everlasting trance. From the mysterious glimmer in his gaze to his perfect chiseled features, it was no surprise why he commanded attention wherever he went.Nevertheless, I was suddenly brought back to the present moment by an intense rage that filled his face and voice. “Scarlett! You already have it all! My last name, a life of luxury and even this villa is in your name! What more could you possibly want?!”I looked confusedly at him, trying to suppress the burning sensation in my body as I wondered, “W-what are you talking about?”“Don’t fool me! I know your schemes and what you are playing behind my back!” Rage boiled in his veins. “You may have my surname, but you’re still nothing, Scarlett Scott. Don’t forget that!”I clenched my fist with shame, but I remained silent. ‘This arrogant bastard! I don’t know what he is talking about!’“Don’t try to poison grandpa’s mind,” he seethed through clenched teeth. “Don’t get in my way if you know what’s good for you! You’d be wise to stay in this house and don’t let me see you! I’m telling you now, you won’t want the consequences!”“Storm, I don’t know what—”Without allowing me to complete my sentence, he swiftly turned around and began marching away.‘This stinky, arrogant bastard! How can he be so disrespectful?!’As he was ready to step out of the door, I blurted out impulsively, “Stop, Mister Scoville!”He stood motionless as I stepped closer to him. But before I could reach him, a searing sensation shot through my veins and stomach, making me feel lightheaded and weak. Burning thoughts filled my mind, consuming every thought until the only thing left was the dizzying heat.And before I knew it, my knees gave out, and I collapsed onto the floor, inadvertently revealing my bare legs.Storm’s Point of View [Two hours ago] “Do you want a beer, babe? I see you here all the time, don’t you ever get lonely?” The blonde girl purred seductively and moved closer. Her chest pressing into me as she ran her fingertips tantalizingly over my chest. My lip curled in disgust as I reached for the glass atop the table. She observed my actions with curious anticipation, only to gasp when I calmly poured the liqueur over her head and face. “What gives you the right to lay your filthy hands on me?” I seethed with indignation, rising from my seat, and hastily brushing off the ‘dirt’ she had maliciously splattered onto my clothes. “I came here to relax with a drink, not to be pestered by some slut like you.” “What the hell?!” she yelled. But I refused to even glance at her, and instead fled the scene. I had no idea why I’d come back here in the first place. My grandpa’s villa was calling me home, but I couldn’t face it. Playing house with a wife was the last thing on my list of
Scarlett’s Point of View“Argh…!” I groaned when I felt my head as if it would split in two. “Water…” I murmured..My throat felt dry and scratchy, as if it had been drained of all moisture. Not only was my head throbbing with pain, but my entire body ached. It was as if I had been relentlessly battered by a crowd of thousands.‘What happened to me?’I opened my eyes slightly and let my eyesight come back to life. A magnificent picture sprang up in front of me: a beautiful ceiling with elaborate decorations. The tiny embellishments of miniature paintings, each a monument to the artist’s skill, complemented the walls’ soft white tint.The room was filled with a hushed stillness, broken only by the sudden sound of a gentle rustle that reached my ears from beside me.As I cautiously rotated my head, a sharp pang of discomfort shot through my skull, intensifying as my eyes fixated on the sight before me. And as soon as I realized who was beside me, my eyes widened in astonishment and my j
Scarlett's Point of ViewDespite the excruciating pain between my legs, I forced myself to move and leave his room. Guilt weighed heavy on my heart as I stood outside his door for what felt like half an hour. In the end, I went back to my room to wash off the remnants of his touch.After cleaning myself up, I eventually made my way to the kitchen and prepared breakfast in a daze. Staring at the sizzling egg in the pan, memories flooded my mind in a rush. 'Why did I do that? In two years we've been "together" I have never pushed myself to him neither did he.''So, you wanted to drug me just so we could sleep together?''Is that your pathetic attempt at getting me in bed?''Are you that horny or you just really want to get pregnant?'As soon as I remembered his mention of the aphrodisiac and his harsh words, my body constricted and I hurried to the refrigerator, dumping the waters down the sink. Next, I rushed to the bar station and began pouring out each bottle of wine and liquor into
Scarlett’s Point of ViewFrom that day onward, I couldn't comprehend the sudden change in Storm's behavior. It was a perplexing enigma to me. However, after two years of absence, he finally began to spend his nights under our roof once again.Perhaps it was his grandfather's influence, but I could finally view our union as a true marriage. From now on, I would be able to live life on my own terms without any interference. In fact, I had already planned to have a discussion with him about our future together, free from the watchful eye of his grandfather and other people around us, including the media.But first and foremost, I must express my sincerest apologies for my previous behavior. I busied myself with preparing dinner while anxiously awaiting his arrival. He usually came home by 9 pm, but it was now past 10 pm and he still had not returned.“Won’t he come home today?” I asked myself. 10:30 pm11:00 pm12:00 am12:31 amMy shoulders drooped as I came to the realization that he
Scarlett’s Point of ViewI grasped my mother's hand, intertwining my fingers with hers and gently brought it to my lips for a kiss. I gazed at her delicate features, her face drained of color and her lips dry from medication as she lay peacefully sleeping. I fought back the tears, determined to show strength in her presence, but eventually succumbed to the torrent of emotions, unable to contain my weeping any longer.As tears streamed down my face, I trembled in fear at the thought of losing my mother. Suddenly, the door burst open and Daniel and Noemi, my two best friends, rushed into the room."You're a mess," Noemi teased, as I noticed tears forming in the corners of her eyes. "Come on, wipe those tears away. Aunt doesn't want to see you sniffling like that."I was aware that she was attempting to lift my spirits, but like she told me back then, her own strength faltered whenever she saw me in such a state. It was as if I were a helpless child, uncertain of what path to take in lif
Scarlett’s Point of View "Oh my god! Did you really sleep, Scarlett?! Look at those eyebags!" Noemi's voice echoed through the hospital room, exclaiming in shock. She then turned to me, accusatively asking, "Did you go to work instead of resting?" I shook my head and chuckled. "I slept." The truth was, I couldn't sleep at all. My mind was consumed with thoughts of Storm and his strange behavior last night. Before I knew it, morning had arrived and I had no choice but to get up. "Don't lie," Daniel said as he offered me a chair. Ignoring their persistent prodding, I seated and focused on my mother who was now awake. She seemed concerned as she stared at me, but I flashed her a gentle smile and reassured her with a soft voice. "I truly did sleep, mom. You don't have to listen to them." "I can't trust your words when you look like you're about to collapse." Her voice was strained as she spoke, her body looking ready to crumble at any moment. Then, she continued, "Scarlett, sweetie,
Scarlett's Point of ViewAs soon as I walked in and caught sight of him, I quickly turned towards the stairs, purposefully ignoring his presence to get under his skin. But before I could take a step, I noticed him getting up and striding towards me. I was about to brush him off when he suddenly grabbed my arm and forced me to face him.“What?” I asked, acting as if annoyed. “I’m exhausted and I need to get ready to go to your parent’s villa. Let me know what you need right now, because I don’t have time for an argument.”“What game are you playing now?” he asked with his teeth clenched. His grip on my arm grew tighter. “Scarlett, I despise those who interfere with my business. Stay out of it and focus on your own life!”Before I answered him, I glanced down at his hand that was in my arm. Then, I tore my arm from his grip, my eyes narrowing in anger and disgust. "You interrupted me for this?""Because you are fucking stubborn!" he hissed."I think you are forgetting something, Storm,"
Scarlett’s Point of ViewHe stared into my face, his expression filled with confusion, as if struggling to comprehend my words. However, instead of engaging in a conversation, he simply turned his back to me, offering me nothing but a cold shoulder. “I want mango,” I repeated."And so?" he questioned, a hint of frustration dancing in his voice."And so, get them yourself. Look at those mangoes, it's not exactly a difficult task, is it?" I replied, a smile gracing my lips."If it's not difficult, then why don't you do it yourself instead of asking me?" he retorted, his tone laced with annoyance.Observing his icy demeanor, I decided to respond directly, without further ado. "Alright then."Without wasting another moment, I retrieved my phone from my pocket and dialed a number. As the phone began to ring, his attention swiftly shifted towards me, his eyes widening in surprise. "Who are you calling?" I responded with a sweet smile, lifting my phone to show him the screen. "Grandpa."Hi