Chapter 6
“You shouldn’t finalize the divorce so quickly. What if he actually fights for the inheritance? You have to milk him for all the alimony!” Lucy exclaimed.
Scarlet could practically sense her greed, and she shut Lucy down instantly. “It’s ten at night, Lucy. Stop daydreaming! I already signed a prenup with him!”
“Damn it!” Lucy’s dream of becoming a billionaire instantly went up in smoke. She complained, “Well, then I hope he doesn’t get any of the inheritance. It sucks that you don’t get a cut!”
Scarlet had no clue what William was planning.
Arthur had been dropping hints about stepping down recently. From what Scarlet understood, the plan was for the eldest son, Julian Cooper, to take the reins of the family empire. William’s quiet return to the country right at this sensitive turning point had naturally triggered a wave of speculation.
However, William had always been close with Julian. Besides, his own private equity firm, Bova Capital, had been quite successful over the years.
Scarlet found it hard to believe that the two brothers would go against each other. She couldn’t help but wonder why he was back. It was probably to finalize the divorce. He must be eager to end their marriage.
A few minutes later, Lucy headed off to the restroom. Scarlet was hunched over her plate, focused on her food, when she heard someone say, “Small world, isn’t it?”
She looked up and saw Silas Brooke entering the bar while holding a woman in his arms. Silas was William’s childhood best
friend.
Silas instinctively glanced toward the second-floor lounge, a strange look flickering across his face for a split second. “Are you here on your own?”
“I’m here with Lucy. It’s such a coincidence to see you here,” Scarlet said.
“Just a few friends getting together,” Silas replied briefly. He made no move to invite her up.
Scarlet wasn’t particularly close to him, so after a brief, awkward small talk, the conversation died. Silas gave a polite nod and led his date upstairs.
It wasn’t long before Lucy came charging back, her expression grim. “You’ll never guess who I just saw!”
Scarlet joked, “The fairy godmother?”
Lucy was in no mood for jokes. “Your husband!”
Scarlet’s hand froze. No wonder Silas had looked so shifty.
“He’s up there with a whole group of women dressed so scantily! That scumbag. No wonder he’s never home. He’s out fooling around with other women. The man has zero morals!”
“You must have him confused with someone else. He never had any morals to begin with,” Scarlet said, acting like it didn’t bother her as she ate her fries.
Scarlet had spent her afternoon getting lectured by his mother while he was out having fun. The realization made Lucy’s blood boil. “He’s been back for what, five minutes? And he’s already hitting the town? Is Amriva a desert or something? Is he just that desperate for attention?”
“Forget about him. Just drink up!” Scarlet said.
Lucy wasn’t as calm as Scarlet. She kept glancing up at the second floor, getting more worked up by the second. Finally, she slammed her glass down and stood up.
X CLOSE
Chapter 6
2/3
“I have to go to the bathroom again.”
She was going to the bathroom so frequently, Scarlet thought she might need a trip to the doctor.
“You might want to see a doctor about your bladder.”
“I’m fine! My bladders are in peak condition!”
“Then you definitely need a doctor, because humans only have one.”
Lucy left before Scarlet could finish her sentence.
Less than two minutes later, a commotion broke out on the second floor. A security guard was trying to block the way.” Ma’am, this is a private lounge. You can’t go in there!”
“I can’t go in? Why don’t you ask the people inside if they have the balls to stop me!” Lucy shoved the guard aside and stormed through the doors.
Scarlet froze for a second, then ran after her.
Before she even reached the door, she heard Lucy’s voice dripping with sarcasm. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I must have stumbled into the wrong room. But wait-you guys look so familiar! Why do you look exactly like my best friend’s deadbeat husband and his idiot friends?”
Scarlet was speechless.
Lucy was a loose cannon, and the men in that room weren’t people to be messed with. They all came from powerful families. They could easily ruin her life if they wanted to.
For a split second, Scarlet wanted to turn around and leave Lucy to fend for herself. That was what best friends were for, right? They’d buy you breakfast, but they wouldn’t take a bullet for you. In a crisis, everyone would take care of themselves
first.
A deep, irritated voice rang out. “Lucy, what the hell is wrong with you? Why are you acting like a lunatic?”
It was Shaun, the black sheep of the Thompson family. He was spoiled, reckless, and had a nasty temper. He was easily the most dangerous of William’s inner circle. He was currently lounging on a couch, glaring at Lucy.
“I’ll show you what a lunatic is like!” Lucy hadn’t had much to drink, but she was fueled by pure rage. She had spotted William from the floor below and snapped, “Show some respect when you’re talking to me!”
“You must be insane!” Shaun smashed his glass on the ground and stood up.
Lucy crossed her arms and laughed. “What? Are you going to hit me now? You’d better think twice about that!”
“Why you little…” Shaun walked up to her, his face dark. Scarlet stepped out from behind Lucy and pulled her back.
Shaun stopped dead in his tracks, the anger vanishing from his face. “Scarlet?”
At the mention of her name, the music and chatter in the room died down. Everyone turned toward the door.
William was holding a cigarette loosely between his fingers. His gaze drifted past Shaun and landed on Scarlet.
Scarlet was undeniably stunning. Even without makeup, her features were striking and elegant, perfectly balanced without a single flaw. Under the glow of the crystal chandeliers, her pale skin seemed to radiate a soft, ethereal light.
“I’m sorry. She’s had too much to drink. Don’t take it personally,” Scarlet said calmly.
If it had been anyone else, Shaun would have had them thrown out by now. He glanced back at William and forced himself to swallow his pride. “Whatever. I don’t waste my time on idiots.”
Lucy opened her mouth to snap back, but Scarlet pinched her arm, turning the insult into a sharp yelp of pain.
Chapter 6
3/3
Shaun looked away, still annoyed. “Since you’re both here, you might as well grab a drink and join us.”
Scarlet looked over at William.
The scent of expensive liquor drifted through the air of the massive VIP suite. The room was decorated with champagne- colored chandeliers. The air itself felt more expensive than the lobby downstairs.
The table was covered in bottles of premium drinks that Scarlet couldn’t even name. A circle of people sat on the oversized leather couch-half of them were wealthy heirs, and the other half were beautiful young women.
William was sitting on a black couch at the far end of the room with his legs crossed. His dark suit trousers emphasized his lean, powerful build.
A pretty woman sat beside him. Scarlet recognized her. She looked like the woman in the short skirt from the photos she had seen recently.
The moment Scarlet walked in, the relaxed atmosphere turned incredibly awkward.
“So, this is what you meant when you said you were busy?” Scarlet asked.
He was busy drinking and fooling around with women.
William rubbed his temple with the hand holding the cigarette. Through the hazy blue smoke, the faint smile on his lips held a touch of playful mockery.
“I’ve barely started having fun, and you’ve already caught me. Are you following me?” He sounded completely indifferent, as if ignoring her calls and staying away from home for days was no big deal.
“Then please, don’t let me stop you. I’ll just sit here until you’re free,” Scarlet said.
The room turned dead silent.
Shaun sat nearby, staring in disbelief. Silas kicked him under the table and hissed, “You moron! Why would you invite her to stay?”
Shaun whispered back defensively, “I was just being polite! How was I supposed to know she’d actually do it?”
Scarlet remained quiet. She didn’t say another word or bother William. She sat a good distance away from him and started picking at a bowl of nuts.
Lucy hadn’t expected Scarlet to stay either, and she felt a bit out of place at first. But that didn’t last. Within minutes, she was whispering furiously to Scarlet while clutching a wine bottle.
“This is insane! Our entire table downstairs didn’t cost as much as a single glass of whatever they’re drinking up here.”
“Then drink up,” Scarlet said, handing her another bottle.
William had more money than he knew what to do with. Since they were here, they might as well enjoy the top-shelf liquor. “William, why are you ignoring me?” the woman in the short skirt, Blair Porter, chirped in a sweet voice.
William leaned back, looking bored. His unfocused gaze didn’t seem to land on anything in particular. “I’m tired.”
“Why don’t I take you upstairs to a room so you can rest?”
The women in the room didn’t know exactly who Scarlet was, but they could read the room. They guessed she was either his wife or girlfriend. But if William himself wasn’t worried, they saw no reason to be.
End of the Contract,Start of His Obsession
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