The year Scarlett and I were purest, the year I poured my entire soul into her. Three scars became etched onto her body for me: one above her brow, one on her ankle, and one across her back. Everyone whispered that Scarlett loved me more than life itself. Until, another man brazenly showed up at my door. “You must be Adrian, right?” He flung a stack of photos, hitting me square in the face. “Scarlett hasn’t loved you for ages. I suggest you get lost, while you still have a shred of dignity.” In the photos, Scarlett’s gaze was soft, tender. I watched the rain intensify, then subtly raised a hand. The man’s shriek, muffled by the downpour, left a final, desperate plea: “Scarlett won’t let you get away with this!” But I just looked coldly at Scarlett, who sat across from me, ready to lay down the law. “Sign the papers.” “You disgust me.” “Adrian!” Scarlett sat opposite me. Behind her stood her two most loyal lieutenants, surrounded by dozens of bodyguards. They filled my spacious living room. It wasn’t a negotiation; it was a siege. I watched Scarlett, her fury barely contained, tap the table. “He’s still in the ICU.” She raised a brow, the strategically placed lighting highlighting the prominent scar there. “He was innocent,” Scarlett’s voice was low, laced with an oppressive edge. “He’s only twenty. Twenty years old, and you almost ended his life! Do you know what the doctors told me?” “They said he might never walk like a normal person again.” Scarlett’s voice blended with the rhythmic drumming of rain against the window. I remembered that day, the man’s dying breath a desperate shout. “Scarlett won’t let you get away with this!” “So,” I met Scarlett’s furious gaze, handing my untouched tea to the maid, “you’ve come here, making such a scene, to defend him?” “What,” I let out a soft, amused laugh, “do you want half my life, or are you planning to break one of my legs to compensate for his?” I smiled, pulling my cashmere throw higher around me. James, my butler, immediately adjusted the indoor temperature. I looked at Scarlett. “Who does he think he is, that you’d storm in here on his behalf? Scarlett, have you forgotten? *I* was the one who stood by you and helped you get where you are today, not him. Are you truly prepared to turn against me for him, or are you here to end my life?” My voice was calm, unhurried. James, who had been keenly observing the tense atmosphere, instantly drew his pistol and aimed it at Scarlett’s head. Her lieutenants immediately tensed, ready for a fight, but Scarlett merely mirrored my smile. “Adrian, the days of brute force and open conflict are over. I don’t want to fight you,” Scarlett pushed away the divorce papers I’d prepared. “Divorce is a messy, brutal business; I won’t put us through it. But you *will* personally apologize to him. Otherwise, don’t blame me for getting ugly.” Scarlett rose from the sofa, walked up to James, grabbed his wrist, and pressed the gun to her own forehead. “Shoot me?” “You actually believe you’re on that level?” Scarlett yanked James’s wrist outward. A sharp, sickening crack echoed through the room. It was her right-hand man who let out a choked cry, as a fruit knife, that had been on my table, now lodged itself precisely in the center of his thigh. I met Scarlett’s incredulous stare, and smiled. “Scarlett, my people don’t fight back out of respect for me. But that doesn’t mean,” I walked up to Scarlett, gently taking her hand and prying it from James’s wrist, “you get to touch my people.” I understood then. Our relationship had reached its end. When the doctor was setting James’s bones, he was still fuming. “Young Master, you went through so much with that Scarlett girl. And now, you’re just going to stand by and watch others walk all over you?”
I didn’t answer. My phone buzzed with a new friend request. The profile picture was unmistakable. It was a photo of Leo and Scarlett kissing. I accepted the request. Immediately, a voice message came through. “Adrian, I told you Scarlett wouldn’t let you get away with it. Breaking your butler’s hand is just a little warning.” “Scarlett said she wants you to apologize to me in person.” “I’ll be waiting.” “Everyone says Scarlett loves you more than life itself, but I’m curious to see just how much,” Leo sent a few more photos. “Which bed do you think is best?” “Scarlett said the most dangerous place is always the safest. So, as soon as I’m out of the hospital tomorrow, I’m moving into your place, the one you share with Scarlett.” “That room no one is ever allowed into? I’m coming for it.” Listening to Leo’s voice, I looked up at the giant wedding photo displayed in the hall. It felt like a cruel joke. The dagger I was idly twirling in my hand found its mark, piercing the smiling Scarlett’s eyes in the photo. “Utterly disgusting.” I stepped out of the great hall to see Scarlett overseeing the delivery of a bed from a truck, instructing her men to carry it inside. We collided, and for once, Scarlett’s expression stiffened. I leaned against the doorway, listening to Leo’s joyful voice. “Scarlett, why aren’t you coming in?” Then, he turned, his eyes meeting mine. “Oh, if it isn’t Adrian,” Leo slung his arm around Scarlett’s, a defiant smirk on his face. “Are you here to welcome me?” “Have you decided to apologize yet?” I watched Leo’s brazenness, and the subtle indulgence in Scarlett’s eyes. A dense, prickly pain bloomed in my chest. Before I could respond, Scarlett spoke for him. “The doctor said Leo needs rest,” her voice, when she spoke his name, was incredibly soft. “You have a nutritionist anyway, it’s just one more mouth to feed. Adrian, don’t miss this opportunity I’m giving you.” I couldn’t quite fathom it. Scarlett. What made her so certain? That I would meekly accept her terms, that I would repeatedly compromise my principles and boundaries for her. I listened to Scarlett’s self-assured tone and laughed. My laughter was joined by James, who was having the damaged wedding photo carried away, asking me: “Young Master, where should this go?” I saw Scarlett’s face tighten. I pointed to a nearby trash bin. “Have it shredded. And then dispose of it.” James nodded, sending someone to fetch the scissors. But Scarlett called out to James, then walked up to me. “What kind of childish tantrum are you throwing now, Adrian?” “Adrian,” Scarlett’s voice turned cold. “I told you, this whole situation is your fault to begin with. Me helping Leo recover is a way for you to gain some good karma. Don’t be ungrateful!” “That’s right, Adrian.” Leo followed, stepping closer. “Scarlett told me everything. You were responsible for Scarlett’s and your child’s death. The spiritual advisor said if you want to have a child, you need to make amends. You’re not appreciating Scarlett’s kindness, and you keep creating more trouble. You’re practically driving Scarlett away.” Leo’s words were like a needle piercing my heart, tearing open a wound that had just begun to scab over, making it fester anew. I looked at Leo’s triumphant face, then at Scarlett, who was about to try and silence him. I grabbed Leo by his hair, laughing. “Who gave you the nerve to speak to me like that?” Before Leo could beg for mercy, I dragged him, slamming his head hard against the solid wooden door. A muffled *thud* echoed, followed by Leo’s scream. Scarlett grabbed my hand, stopping me from hitting him again. “Enough.” Scarlett looked at me. “Leo is young, and he speaks without thinking! But he’s not entirely wrong. How much more trouble are you going to cause, Adrian?”
I stared at Scarlett, utterly disbelieving. It was *her* who had muscled in on someone else’s territory, leading to our child and her being ambushed. I had stormed into enemy territory, disregarding all danger, to take down their leader, saving her but losing our child in the process. It was *her* who, afterwards, knelt before me, slapping herself 99 times, crying and kowtowing. “Adrian!” Her face was swollen from the blows, blood mixed with nosebleed smeared all over, her voice thick with sobs. “If I, Scarlett, ever betray you in this life! May I be struck down by lightning!” “I, Scarlett!” “Will be Adrian’s loyal dog!” Scarlett’s vows still echoed in my ears. She had ordered all news to be suppressed, forbidding anyone from discussing our child, understanding it was my forbidden topic. We had a silent agreement, yet we both still prayed for the child. And now. I looked at Scarlett’s face, released Leo, and watched as she visibly relaxed, her tone softening slightly. “Adrian, your temper is—” I plunged a dagger into Scarlett’s brow bone, and smiled. “Scarlett, those who betray a true heart must swallow a thousand needles. This is the first!” The dagger pierced her flesh, then pulled free. Blood splattered across my face. I watched the medal on Scarlett’s brow vanish, replaced by raw, gruesome flesh. I curved a mocking smile, but Leo violently shoved me. I staggered backward. When I looked up, I met Leo’s hateful eyes. “How dare you hurt her?” The next second. I walked toward Leo, raised my hand, and punched him squarely in the face. “If you actually had any guts, you wouldn’t just be a kept man.” “Either impress me,” I grabbed Leo’s hair, kicking him in the knee until he dropped to his knees, looking up at me, “and make Scarlett divorce me, then become her next husband.” “Or,” I bent down, leaning close to Leo, a smile spreading across my face, “just wait for the day I destroy you.” Leo’s eyes were red from crying, his body trembling like a cornered rabbit, but his gaze remained defiant. “If you’ve got the guts, just kill me!” “If you don’t kill me, I’ll never leave Scarlett!” Leo’s tears caught the light of the setting sun. “I’ll be with Scarlett forever.” I froze. I remembered that year, when I was sixteen, my father was ambushed and fell into the sea. My mother gave her life to protect me, pushing me to shore. The sunset was stained crimson with blood. It was Scarlett who waited on the shore, with the fearless courage of a young girl, forging a path through hell for me to survive. It was Scarlett, with the scar above her brow a badge of courage, and the gruesome wound on her back, who had crashed directly into my heart, shouting: “Young Master!” “Run!” I was terrified, but I still rushed headfirst into that sea of blood, fighting alongside Scarlett until today. Scarlett shoved me away with force. Blood still streamed from her brow, running down her eyelashes like tears of blood, dripping onto my heart. “Adrian,” Scarlett winced, closing one eye. “You truly disappoint me.” “I’m not divorcing you because of love.” Scarlett pulled Leo into her arms. “It’s only because,” Scarlett said, “your parents were kind to me, and we’ve shared life-or-death moments. Don’t push my patience any further, or you *will* regret it!” Leo sobbed in her arms, crying out, “Scarlett! I don’t want to live here! I don’t!” “I’m scared!” Leo cried, clutching her shirt, his voice hysterical. “I don’t want to live with this lunatic! He’s going to kill me, he’s going to kill me!”
The air thickened, suffocating. I almost saw my sixteen-year-old self, just as frantic, pushing Scarlett away, only to be held close as she whispered, “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.” Scarlett held Leo, gently stroking his back, murmuring. “Don’t be afraid.” “I’m here.” “I’m here,” Scarlett’s eyes met mine, wary and defiant. “I won’t let you hurt Leo. If you won’t agree, then don’t blame me.” The day Scarlett had all her belongings moved out, she took Leo to the West Indies. Leo mentioned wanting an island of his own, so Scarlett, without a second thought, bought him one. She took Leo to Iceland to chase the Northern Lights. Leo posted photos on Ins of the sapphire Scarlett bought him, even snapping a picture of a star with the caption: [From now on, whenever I look up, there will be a star just for me. Scarlett and Leo, a romance for life.] Scarlett’s love was passionate and overt, her affections never hidden; she wanted the whole world to know. I watched Scarlett’s blatant favoritism towards Leo. I looked at the villa, now largely empty, and the plain silver ring on my ring finger, the one Scarlett had ordered that year for 520 dollars. I smiled. “James.” My butler poured me another cup of tea. I spoke softly: “If I’m not mistaken, the largest supplier for Scarlett Inc. should be one who owes a debt of gratitude to my parents.” James immediately placed a contract in front of me. “Young Master.” He pointed to the clauses within. “Your father and mother dedicated their lives to you. These were all paths they paved for your future.” I gazed at the document, recalling the sunsets in the West Indies, the Northern Lights in Iceland, and that star. I dialed Scarlett’s number, but it was busy. I tried her SnapChat video call. Finally, Leo’s bare, red-marked torso appeared on screen. “What do you want?” “Scarlett’s in the shower.” Leo’s camera panned towards the bathroom, the steamy glass hinting at something intimate. “I thought you’d understand Scarlett’s attitude by now. Why are you still clinging on?” Leo sat on the bed, deliberately biting his lip. “Actually, there’s something I shouldn’t tell you, but I don’t think keeping it a secret is a good idea either.” “Adrian.” “Guess why Scarlett loves me and not you?” The video call ended. I sat in the living room, feeling the air tighten around my throat, then noticed my heart beating erratically. I dialed a second number. Scarlett and Leo hosted a gala that made local headlines. Everyone said Leo had finally achieved his wish, becoming Scarlett’s partner. No one dared to call him a sugar baby anymore. Instead, they respectfully addressed him as: “Mr. Leo.” The more sycophantic guests would even smile and say, “Ms. Scarlett, you two are a perfect match.” In the ballroom. Leo, arm-in-arm with Scarlett, ascended the stage. Under the glare of the spotlights, they truly looked like a prince and princess from a fairytale. Their mere presence brought a thunderous applause. “Tonight, I want to use this occasion,” Scarlett looked at Leo tenderly, “to introduce him to everyone.” “He, Leo—” The main doors were violently flung open. Countless men in black suits streamed into the ballroom. The leader, holding a stack of debt papers, threw them directly at Scarlett’s face. “You’re Scarlett, right?” Scarlett looked utterly bewildered, her fury reaching its peak. Just as she was about to call security, she realized there wasn’t a single one of her own people in the entire ballroom. “The debt you owe,” the man pressed a gun to the still-unhealed scar on Scarlett’s brow, and smiled, “it’s time to pay.” The bandage on her brow began to seep blood. The scene erupted into chaos. Screams pierced the air. Someone shouted, “What the hell is going on?! Isn’t today Ms. Scarlett’s big announcement for her boyfriend?”
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