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The moon hung cold and merciless overhead. Inside the abandoned factory, Scarlett Reed was tied up tight with coarse rope. She was pinned to the cold, hard wall, her wrists pulled high over her head. A man behind her grabbed her slender waist in a vice grip, his laugh dripping with depravity. "Ms. Reed, if no one's paying your ransom... then you're outta luck. I'll just take my payment another way." Click. A belt buckle. The sound shot panic straight through her chest. No. No, he's actually— "Let me call Adrian one more time," she blurted. "You could call him ten more times, but he's not coming, is he?" he sneered. "Cash or ass—I'm leaving happy either way." Something in Scarlett snapped. She jerked against the ropes, fury shredding her voice. "He WILL come for me, you hear me? You touch me and Adrian will END you!" Her eyes were bloodshot, but her trembling fingertips betrayed her fear. The kidnapper hesitated, thrown off by how hard she fought. After a few seconds, he irritably threw the phone at her. "Last chance." This time, it connected. The call was on speaker. Before she could say anything, Adrian Crawford's deep voice came through first. "Scarlett, something's up with Summer. I'll catch up for your birthday later." Her eyes darted to the phone screen. 10:30 PM. An hour and a half left before her birthday was over. She'd dressed up and waited at the restaurant all afternoon. But Adrian never showed. And the moment she stepped outside, kidnappers shoved her into a van. "Adrian. I've been kidnapped. Please—" Her voice cracked. "Save me." Silence. Several, crushing seconds. "Summer got into a car accident. Fractured wrist," he finally said, sounding helpless. "So?" she screamed. "I'm about to DIE, Adrian! Do you hear me? Your WIFE is about to get killed by kidnappers!" More silence. Then his voice softened, like calming a tantrum-throwing kid. "Summer's alone in New York. She's hurt and stranded on the street. How could I just leave her? Quit joking about being kidnapped." Scarlett froze. Joking? He thinks I'm joking? A bitter ache welled up in her chest. The suffocating dizziness made it hard to breathe. "She just broke her wrist, Adrian! She's not DYING!" She forced a smile, her voice taking on a tragic note. "Thirty miles north of the suburbs. Abandoned pharma factory. Come get my body in the morning, Adrian." With those final words, she hung up. The kidnapper was furious, glaring at Scarlett through gritted teeth. "You're pinned under me right now, and you still think you can play games?" "What's the point? He's not coming anyway," she laughed bitterly. Summer Hayes. God, what a joke. When Scarlett sponsored Summer, she had no idea she was feeding a snake. The girl had come from nothing—a brilliant student from a poor family. Scarlett bankrolled her entire education under Adrian's name. Six months ago, fresh out of college, Summer had shown up, all fired up to pay back the kindness she'd gotten. At first, she camped outside Adrian's office, swearing she'd do anything to repay him. Anything. For elite families like theirs, charity was all about looking good. Never expected anything back. Adrian? Naturally, he didn't care. But after that, Summer began showing up everywhere Adrian was. Maybe this type of innocent girl really did have her own charm. By the time Scarlett realized something was wrong, Adrian had already stood her up three times—for Summer. The third time? Their appointment at City Hall. Adrian didn't show up. So, they didn't get the marriage license. But three days later, Scarlett married him anyway. After all, everyone in their circle knew he loved Scarlett desperately. They'd been childhood sweethearts for over twenty years, while Summer had only appeared three months ago. Twenty years versus three months—by any measure, Scarlett should've won. But she'd overestimated what their love was worth. She didn't just lose him. Now she was about to lose her life too. Her lashes were wet with tears, hurt and disappointment written all over her delicate face. She stared blankly ahead, her gaze unfocused, as if a haze of brokenness had settled over her entire being. The kidnapper swallowed hard and grabbed her dress without hesitation. Just as he was about to tear it off— BANG. A gunshot shattered the cold, silent night. Birds burst from the treetops outside, wings beating frantically into the dark. The kidnapper who'd been so cocky two seconds ago? Now he was just meat on the damp ground. One shot. Clean through the skull. Blood splattered across her cheek, making her pale face look even more fragile. She was too shocked even to process fear. Her head snapped toward the source of the shot on pure instinct. A man in military uniform stood ramrod straight, almost blending into the darkness. Under the bright moonlight, the medals on his shoulder gleamed with cold light. He was backlit as he walked toward her step by step, the sound of his military boots crushing dried leaves growing closer. Suddenly, he stopped. The scent hit her first—clean, cold, woodsy. It cut through the copper stench of blood like a blade. She looked up in shock and met a pair of intense, aristocratic eyes. He stood just steps away. His presence was commanding, overwhelming her completely. Wisps of smoke still curled from his gun. He took in the fear etched on Sarah's face and smirked as he holstered it. Their eyes locked. Alexander Harrington tilted his head slightly, his voice dropping from above her. "It's been a while, Scarlett." ****** Scarlett stumbled back to their newlywed home at 1 AM. She changed out of her blood-stained dress. As the shower water poured over her head, her chilled body gradually warmed up. She wiped away the water from her face, or maybe they were tears. Christ. She'd almost died tonight. Before sixteen, Scarlett had been the little princess cherished by her family. Then sixteen hit like a freight train. Her dad and two brothers died, and her mother remarried. One tragedy after another, until her perfect family was nothing but shattered glass. Then, Adrian stepped in and pulled her out of that hell. She could still picture his face, filled with gentle concern as he looked at her. "Scarlett," he'd said softly, "would you like to come home with me?" It was like a beacon of hope piercing through her darkness. His family became hers. His parents, her parents. After that, she moved into the Crawford Manor. At her eighteenth birthday party, Adrian got down on one knee to confess his love—just to make her feel cherished and secure. "Scarlett, will you be my girlfriend? I promise to cherish you for the rest of my life..." Under the bright lights, his eyes shone with sincerity and determination. She loved flowers, so he bought thousands of acres of flower fields just for her. Everyone in their circle said they were a perfect match, but reality had slapped her hard in the face. She'd learned the hard way that men's promises were just pretty words they threw around when their hormones were running hot. Something to hear, not believe. Now Adrian's heart belonged to someone else—Summer. Maybe he was tired of her. Or maybe he was just looking for a new thrill. Either way, he'd fallen for someone else. And a cheating man? Dirtier than a toothbrush you used to scrub the toilet. Scarlett sat frozen at her vanity table for a day and a night. Still, Adrian hadn't come home. Withdrawal hurt like hell. Of course it did. He'd been woven into every important moment of her life. Just then, her phone rang, snapping her out of her thoughts. She glanced at the screen and answered. "I'm divorcing Adrian." Dead silence. Then— "When did you two get married?" Scarlett looked down. It was a secret marriage. The day they got their marriage license, Adrian had been called away by Summer, then gone on a business trip for a whole week. He hadn't come back until yesterday—her birthday. No ceremony. No announcement. Just a quiet dinner with his parents and an unspoken understanding—she was Mrs. Crawford now. "Doesn't matter. I'm leaving him." Her voice cracked. Her eyes burned red. "When?" Lillian Rowe's voice softened. "Sweetheart, I'm your mom. Don't worry. I'll have a car sent for you." Scarlett's thick hair covered her cheeks, showing only her pale chin. "Stay out of this. I don't need your help. Please—just stay away from me." Lillian's voice dropped, heavy with regret. "Scarlett, back then I was..." Chapter 2 The sound of a car pulling up came from outside. Scarlett didn't say anything more and hung up the phone. A few minutes later, Adrian pushed through the door. Light footsteps crept closer, stopping right behind her. Then a pair of strong arms wrapped around her from behind, suddenly tightening around her waist. "Scarlett..." he murmured, his voice low and husky. His lips gently touched her hair. "Honey, I missed you so much." The night was deep and cool. The chill he brought with him made her shiver. She froze, not moving. "Still mad? I've been running around all day for you. Drove out to the suburbs—you weren't there..." Despite being played, Adrian didn't seem angry. Instead, he affectionately tapped her nose. "Promise me you won't pull stunts like this again?" Scarlett's lips trembled. Yeah. What a stunt. Almost got myself killed. The suburbs were thirty miles out. Round trip? An hour, tops. Yet, Adrian had spent a whole day and night. By the time he came to rescue her, she would've been six feet under. Scarlett swallowed the bitterness rising in her throat. "Summer got in a car accident?" she asked, "Is she badly hurt?" Adrian froze, then quickly said, "We're together now. Why are you bringing up another woman?" He tightened his grip, his strong forearms lifting her entire body to sit on his lap. His palm cradled the back of her head as he leaned in, hungry, desperate—going for her lips. Scarlett paused, then turned her head away. "What's wrong?" he asked, confused, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly. "Nervous about your first time? Don't worry. I'll be gentle." God, those eyes. She'd drowned in them a thousand times before. Eyes that looked at everyone like they were the only person in the world. Right now, they burned with need. For her. If it weren't for that faint scent on him that didn't belong to her, Scarlett would have been happy to give herself to him. But now? All she felt was sick. He'd probably just gotten out of Summer's bed. Disgusting. The air around them felt suffocating. "Adrian." Her voice came out flat. "Did you ever actually love me?" Adrian froze, his eyes filled with deep affection. "Of course." Scarlett jabbed her slender finger against his chest. "Then explain why you smell like Summer." He froze, his expression stiffening. Then he lifted his sleeve to his nose. "Do I? I took her to the hospital. Must have rubbed off then." "Oh," Scarlett kept her voice casual. "Go wash up. It's gross." Adrian frowned. "Scarlett..." She smiled. Perfect. Flawless. But her eyes? They saw right through his bullshit. Seeing that look in her eyes made Adrian uneasy. He hesitated, then grabbed his pajamas and headed to the bathroom. When he came out, Scarlett had already turned away, eyes closed. He crouched by the bed, voice soft. "Scarlett?" She didn't respond. Adrian sighed in frustration. He lit a cigarette and walked to the balcony, taking slow drags as if to calm himself down. A few minutes later. "Book two tickets to the Maldives for tomorrow morning. I'm taking Scarlett on our honeymoon. "Missed our first week as newlyweds because of work—gotta make it up to her. "Oh, and her birthday gift's still at the hospital. Go get it and bring it home." Scarlett felt dazed. For a second, she actually wondered if she'd gotten it all wrong. Was she being paranoid? Maybe Adrian and Summer really were nothing? But twenty minutes later, Adrian's phone rang. "Are you insane? Who said you could come here?" His voice dropped to a harsh whisper as he shot a nervous look toward the bedroom, then slipped out the door. Downstairs at the front entrance, Summer stood there looking pathetic. "I heard you on the phone with your assistant... so I brought your gift." Adrian took the box and set it on the table. Summer's eyes reddened. "I can't sleep—my injury hurts so bad. Since she's already asleep upstairs, can't you come back to the hospital with me?" Upstairs, listening to this garbage, Scarlett couldn't help but laugh. "Summer, what exactly do you need him for? A massage? Want him to hold you while you sleep?" Her voice rang out cold and clear. "Why don't you just come upstairs? I'll give you the bed so you can put on a better show." The sudden sound of her voice made them both jump. Adrian turned around, and the moment he saw Scarlett, his face drained white. Scarlett turned and went back to her room. SLAM. After Summer was sent away, Adrian stood in the hallway, knocking on the door. "Scarlett, there's nothing between us. Summer just came to drop off your birthday gift." The words "birthday gift" hit like a slap. Scarlett's eyes stung. "My birthday was over a day ago. You think I need gifts from your side piece?" "Don't talk like that. She's not a side piece," Adrian defended. "Then who is? Me?" A bitter laugh escaped her lips, tears threatening to spill. Adrian stopped knocking. He left. Made sense, really. After all, he was a billionaire heir—why stuck around when he could be somewhere people actually worshiped him? The Maldives honeymoon? Scarlett never made it. But someone else did. The next afternoon, her best friend, Chloe Fields, sent her a photo. "WTF is this? Adrian's cheating? Why is Summer in the Maldives with him?" There was Summer in a bikini, flaunting a rock on her ring finger so massive it could blind someone. Scarlett's stomach dropped. She recognized it immediately. That ring was a one-of-a-kind piece—the only one in the world. Supposed to represent someone's one true love. Just days ago, some mysterious billionaire had dropped a fortune at auction for it. And now? It was on Summer's hand. Summer lounged in the crystal-blue water, her dress floating up around her thighs. Those long, toned legs curled just so—a picture of forbidden temptation. Just steps away, Adrian sat under a beach umbrella, coconut drink in hand, watching her with that soft, adoring look. To anyone passing by? Newlyweds on their honeymoon. "Don't be sad, Scarlett," Chloe comforted her. "Summer's a nobody—no family, no connections, nothing. Say the word and I'll destroy her for you." "Touch Adrian's new love and he'll come for your throat. Besides..." Scarlett's voice went flat. "I'm done with him anyway." "Wait—what? You're done with him?" Chloe's jaw dropped. "You can't be serious. After everything?" Everyone in their circle knew the story. At sixteen, Scarlett had moved into the Crawford Manor. Years under the same roof. Adrian's parents had practically become her parents. Even if things went south between her and Adrian, they'd still end up at the same dinner table. Still tied together. Still "family." And then there was the engagement—arranged since they were kids, over twenty years of history. At this point, with their parents so close, their bond ran deep. Anyone could see this wasn't the kind of relationship you just... walked away from. But Scarlett? She didn't see it that way at all. That afternoon, she went straight to Crawford Manor. Time to cut all ties. The second she walked through the door, Adrian's mom, Linda Crawford, glanced behind her. "Where's Adrian? Didn't he come with you?" "Business trip." "Another one? He just got back!" Linda's face scrunched with concern. "You two just got married and he's already gone again? People are going to think something's wrong between you." She set down her flower-arranging scissors, already reaching for her phone. "That's it. I'm calling him. This is ridiculous—" "We do have a problem." Scarlett kept her eyes down. Linda froze, taking a long moment to process. "What did you say?" "He's seeing someone else." "Impossible!" Linda's voice shot up, sharp with disbelief. "I know my own son. He would never do such a thing!" Then her expression shifted—suspicion creeping into her eyes. "Adrian only has eyes for you. When your dad died in that car accident, he brought you home and protected you like a treasure. "All these years, he's never looked at another woman. Not one." Her tone turned cold. "Scarlett, don't be ungrateful. Don't you dare start rumors and drag his name through the mud." A flash of disappointment crossed Scarlett's eyes. Her fingers clenched slightly as a chill crept up her spine. Typical—blood was thicker than water. She hadn't even explained yet, and Linda was already circling the wagons. To be fair, the Crawfords had treated her well over the years. She'd truly thought of them as family. But when push came to shove? They were still family. And she was just... there. The hurt lasted only a few seconds. Then Scarlett lifted her chin. After all, she didn't owe the Crawfords a damn thing. She sent Linda the photo from Chloe. "Summer—you've met her before, right?" Linda frowned at the screen. "It's just a photo. They're not even touching. Aren't you reading too much into this?" "The Maldives, Linda. You know what kind of trip that is. Adrian only took her there. Tell me—how is that 'reading too much into it'?" Scarlett's voice went hollow. "Or do I need to hire a private investigator to get you pictures of them in bed before you'll believe me?" Chapter 3 Linda's face went white. "A private investigator? You hired someone to dig into him? Scarlett, you can't do that! It'll ruin your marriage!" All the noise downstairs pulled Richard Crawford out of his study. He opened the door, and the second he saw Scarlett, his whole face softened. "You're back." Scarlett looked at him, her eyelashes fluttering without her even realizing it. If her dad were still alive, he'd probably look just like Richard now—gray hair and all. Back then, their companies were working on this huge project together. Richard was supposed to meet with the suppliers, but something came up last minute. Her dad and two brothers went instead. On the way back, tragedy struck. The supplier's car crashed, and all three Reed men died instantly. Overnight, Scarlett lost her beloved father and two brothers who'd always spoiled her rotten. A few days later, her mom abandoned her too. Lost in memories, Scarlett looked down. But she soon lifted her head, her face as flawless as a porcelain doll. "I'm divorcing Adrian, and I'm taking back my dad's company." Her voice was soft, but her eyes were dead serious. Silence fell over the living room. "Why the sudden divorce talk? Is Adrian treating you badly?" Richard asked, clearly shocked. They'd only been married a few days. No big wedding, sure, but they'd done everything properly, all the traditional stuff. Scarlett had no family left, so Richard took care of everything. He gave her the wedding gifts—a mansion worth over a billion dollars. Clearly, they valued her. Scarlett's brow furrowed slightly. "Ask Linda for the details." She didn't want to get into it. When her dad died, Scarlett had still been a minor—too young to run a company. So Richard had taken over Altitude Group, managing it all these years. Later, as the Crawford empire expanded, Richard got stretched too thin. He handed Altitude Group to Adrian instead. In their minds, the kids had been engaged since childhood. They'd get married eventually anyway. Now Adrian was Altitude Group's CEO. Linda's face hardened, her voice tinged with displeasure. "Scarlett, don't make rash decisions over some petty fight. Divorce isn't something you just throw around. Every couple has problems. "And think about this—Adrian's doing great as CEO. You say you want the company back, but have you considered if you can handle it? If Altitude Group crashes under you, it'd waste your dad's life's work." Scarlett looked at Linda with genuine confusion. "But... if it crashes, that's my problem, isn't it?" Linda's face darkened. "How can you say that?" Scarlett blinked innocently. "Am I wrong?" "You—" Richard shot Linda a look, and she reluctantly shut up. His voice came out cold. "What did Adrian do this time? Tell me. Now." Linda's tone turned wounded. "He's always been good! What could he have possibly done wrong? It's all a misunderstanding. Scarlett's just dramatic—" Scarlett didn't stick around to hear the rest. She turned and left the Crawford Manor. This wasn't her home. Never had been. They'd treated her well, sure, but actually? She was the daughter-in-law. An outsider. Once she got in her car, she called Thomas Hale, her dad's old right-hand man. "Ms. Reed." "I need a favor, Thomas. I want to sell Altitude Group. Can you help me find some buyers?" Thomas went quiet for a few seconds. "You sure about this?" "Yeah." Scarlett had never been good at running companies. Didn't want to be, either. She had her own career, her own work. If she was cutting ties with Adrian, she needed to do it clean. No more depending on him for anything. Once she got the company back, she wasn't stupid enough to run it into the ground herself. The smart play? Find someone who could buy it—someone who might actually turn it into what her father had always dreamed it could be. "Keep the sale quiet. Don't let Adrian know yet," she added. After all, Adrian had been at Altitude Group for six years. The company was crawling with his people now. If he caught wind of this too early, it would just make everything messy. "Understood," Thomas said. "I'll handle it." ****** An auction went down in New York this week. Scarlett got an invitation. She figured she'd go, just to clear her head. The venue was at some upscale hotel. The moment Scarlett walked in, she spotted Summer across the room. She was wearing this pale yellow mermaid dress with a train. The fitted waist showed off her perfect figure. Standing right next to her was Adrian in a sharp suit. Summer had her hand looped through his arm, leaning in close like she was whispering something in his ear. Even though they were in public, they were acting like nobody else existed, all intimate and whispery. Scarlett heard someone ask, "Mr. Crawford, is this your girlfriend? She's stunning." Summer's cheeks flushed pink. She glanced up at Adrian with that shy, adoring look. "I heard Mr. Crawford treats his girlfriend like a queen. Bringing Ms. Reed to an auction—is there good news coming? Shopping for wedding jewelry?" They'd mistaken Summer for Scarlett, but Adrian didn't correct them. Scarlett walked right past, her face blank. Maybe her presence was too striking to ignore—Adrian's head turned. The moment he saw her, he froze. Then he dropped Summer's arm and strode toward her. "Scarlett. What are you doing here?" They'd fought before—little spats that fizzled out in hours. But this? This had dragged on way longer than Adrian expected. Missing her birthday was bad, he'd admit that. He'd had time to cool off, think things through. She was young, after all. He was willing to give in and sweet-talk her. Their eyes met. Scarlett looked straight at him. "What, honeymoon's over?" Adrian's face changed. "What are you talking about? What honeymoon?" Scarlett frowned. "Why are you still pretending? What's the point?" Adrian looked confused. "You think I was on a honeymoon with Summer? Scarlett, you've got it all wrong. I went to the Maldives to get you—" Before he could finish, Scarlett walked past him, heading for her seat. She clearly didn't want to hear whatever he had to say. "You're already here at the auction with Summer. What's left to explain?" Adrian grabbed her wrist, his voice low and urgent. "Summer had friends here. I just gave her a ride. We're not what you think. "Scarlett, stop being mad at me. Evan's throwing a party tonight. Come with me." Scarlett wasn't planning to cause a scene here, especially since she hadn't found buyers for the company yet. Her tone was flat. "Oh, but I don't want to go." Adrian pulled out this little box from his pocket. "We didn't have a wedding, but you still deserve a ring. I specially went abroad just to get this for you." Scarlett glanced down. A diamond the size of a pigeon egg. One-of-a-kind. Global exclusive. What a coincidence—it was the same one Summer had been flashing a few days ago. Scarlett closed her eyes. Took a breath. Wrestled her emotions back under control. She took the ring. Adrian let out a sigh of relief. Taking his gift meant the fight was over. That was their rule since they started dating. But before he could fully relax, his expression froze. Because Scarlett— She tossed that priceless diamond in a perfect arc. Straight into the trash.

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