Chapter 84

Scarlett's POV

After dinner, I drove Emily home.

Rain had started falling at some point, droplets drumming against the windshield as the wipers moved rhythmically back and forth, keeping time with my chaotic thoughts.

Silence filled the car; Emily was still slumped in her seat, not quite sober. My fingers gripped the steering wheel tightly, knuckles turning white from the pressure.

"Scarlett," Emily's voice suddenly broke through the quiet, "I was foolish tonight. I shouldn't have said those things to Richard."

Her words interrupted my thoughts, her tone heavy with worry and regret.

She'd finally realized the catastrophic impact her dinner table comments might have on my life.

"But you did say them," I replied calmly, keeping my eyes on the road ahead.

I didn't want her to see my concern. Words once spoken cannot be taken back, and Richard wasn't a man who easily forgot or forgave.

"What should we do now?" Her voice trembled, revealing deep-seated fear.

I sighed, suppressing my frustration. "Pray. Pray that I'll be alright." I didn't want to frighten her further, but I couldn't bring myself to offer reassurance either.

Sometimes mistakes made in a moment of impulse must be paid for in blood.

"I understand..." Emily fell silent. Through the rearview mirror, I could see the wrinkles on her face, more pronounced in the dim light of the car interior. She looked older in that moment, the sparkle in her eyes replaced by exhaustion and anxiety.

Raindrops slid down the windows, blurring the world outside. My thoughts drifted to a woman I barely remembered—my birth mother, Chloe.

What kind of person was she? Why had she chosen this path? Had she ever felt as lost and afraid as I did now?

As we neared home, I pulled over and stopped Emily before she could exit the car.

"What else do you know about my mother? Weren't you best friends?" I asked, unable to hide the urgency in my voice.

I needed to know more, needed some clues about my past and my identity.

"Yes, we were... but Chloe was the star of Silverlight Theater. Many young gentlemen admired her. I met her after one of her performances."

Emily's gaze softened, lost in memories. "She was so beautiful, so talented... Later, she met a man and gradually reduced her stage appearances. Then I heard she got married..."

"What else?" I leaned forward eagerly. This information was all new to me, each detail like a puzzle piece slowly filling the gaps in my life.

"That's all I know... The next time I saw her was when she came here with you, seeking my protection. Scarlett, I truly don't know much more about your mother."

Her voice carried sincerity and a hint of guilt that was barely perceptible.

Looking at Emily's dejected expression, I knew I wouldn't get much more from her.

But there was one revelation I hadn't expected—I didn't know Chloe had been married. I'd always assumed I was just an illegitimate child between her and some mission target.

This was significant new information that directly affected my identity and background.

I had a father, didn't I? The thought kept circling in my mind. Somehow, I found a strange comfort in it, as if I wasn't an orphan anymore but connected to someone out there, someone who gave me a sense of belonging.

"Do you know who my mother married?" I asked involuntarily, my voice carrying a longing I wasn't even aware of.

Emily shook her head and got out of the car. I remained seated, trying to collect my thoughts.

She continued speaking through the open door. "Scarlett, about that valuable gemstone... Adam and I were desperate back then. Hugh was young and frequently ill, so I had no choice..."

Her voice was laden with deep remorse, tears glistening in her eyes.

I knew what she was referring to—the only keepsake my birth mother Chloe had left me, a priceless gem that the Smith family had sold during their financial hardship.

"I don't blame you," I said calmly, looking at Emily.

Her face was etched with the marks of time, but I could still feel warmth in those eyes. Whatever else, she had given me a home, a space to grow.

"Mom, your family is in Suncrest City. Have you considered taking Dad and Hugh back there?"

"What? Why are you suddenly bringing this up?" She looked at me with surprise and confusion.

I sighed, feeling a wave of fatigue wash over me. I had a premonition that as the secrets behind me unraveled, the Smith family would ultimately be caught in the crossfire because of me. Richard wasn't someone who spared family members, especially when he discovered he'd been deceived.

Regardless, I still remembered the kindness the Smith family had shown me during the past decade. I couldn't let them be harmed because of me.

"Think about it, consider what you said to Richard today. For Olivia and Dad's safety. Once you decide, I'll help you settle in Suncrest City."

With that, I drove out of the underground garage. The rainwater glittered like silver in the headlights. My mood matched the night—both deep and dark.

Just after leaving the community, I pulled over to the curb and took a deep breath. I needed to think clearly, needed a plan.

The situation was far more complicated than I had anticipated. Alexander knew about Chloe, and Richard seemed to have his suspicions as well. My time was running out; I had to act quickly.

At nine that evening, I rang the doorbell at Majestic Oak Villa. The luxurious estate sat on the outskirts of Silverlight City, hidden among dense oak trees, far from the city's hustle and bustle.

The rain had stopped, leaving the air fresh with the scent of damp earth and green grass.

Standing at the entrance, I unconsciously fidgeted with the hem of my clothes, feeling somewhat apprehensive.

I knew this step would change everything, but sometimes making an effort was better than doing nothing at all.

I needed Alexander's help, even if it meant stepping into another dangerous territory.

After waiting outside for about ten minutes, the door slowly opened. Light spilled out from inside, illuminating the steps leading to the entrance.

Alexander wore only a white bathrobe, loosely tied at the waist, exposing his muscular chest and abs.

His hair was slightly damp, suggesting he'd just showered. In his hand, he held a half-empty glass of red wine that gleamed deep crimson in the light, like congealed blood.

I looked up at him. The corner of his mouth turned upward, his eyes flashing with surprise and pleasure.

"I didn't expect you to come. Are you here to say goodbye early?" His voice was deep and husky, tinged with mockery.

Before he could continue, I pushed against his chest. I hadn't meant to use such force, but something about seeing him stirred my emotions.

Alexander clearly hadn't been prepared for this; he stumbled backward and ended up sitting on the floor.

The sudden movement caused his bathrobe to open slightly, revealing more skin. Wine spilled onto the white fabric, leaving a dark red stain that bloomed like a flower.

It was the first time I'd seen Alexander so disheveled. He was always so elegant, so composed, as if he controlled everything around him.

Now, sitting on the floor with tousled hair, his eyes flickered with complex emotions—anger, but also something else I couldn't quite define.

I bent down closer to him, feeling the heat radiating from his body and catching the faint scent of wine.

"Mr. Gray," I whispered, my voice carrying a hint of seduction I hadn't expected from myself, "when did you become so weak..."