Chapter 93

Scarlett's POV

My fingers unconsciously traced over the kiss mark on my neck that hadn't yet faded, silently calculating how many times I'd been with Alexander over the past two weeks.

Too frequent. Dangerously so. Our relationship had far exceeded our original arrangement.

I thought I could remain calm and rational, that I could draw a clear line between emotion and desire. But somehow, at some point, I found myself thinking about his preferences, noticing his habits, even wondering about the other women in his life.

How ridiculous.

The moment I realized this, I felt a surge of irritation.

These tangled emotions would only make my mission more complicated and my situation more dangerous.

Alexander was never someone I could aspire to have. He never was.

"Miss Smith," Luke's voice suddenly came from the front seat, interrupting my thoughts, "I'm afraid I need to let you off at the next intersection. Mr. Gray has an urgent situation that requires my immediate attention."

I opened my eyes and caught his serious expression through the rearview mirror.

"Of course, no problem."

The car slowly pulled over, and I picked up my handbag, quickly adjusted my clothes, and opened the door.

Watching Luke's car quickly disappear into the traffic, I began to consider how to return.

As I contemplated whether to take a taxi or the subway, a striking red Bentley slowly stopped beside me.

This wasn't uncommon in Silverlight City, but my instincts told me something wasn't right.

The window slowly lowered, and a familiar yet spine-chilling voice came out: "Look who we have here, our little Scarlett. It's been a long time."

My body instantly stiffened, my blood seeming to freeze in an instant.

I slowly turned around, forcing myself to look into the window.

Despite being mentally prepared, when I clearly saw the face inside the car, I still felt a suffocating fear.

"What's wrong... you don't recognize me after not seeing me for so long?" The man in the car asked with a cold smile.

"Mar...Marvin..." My voice was barely audible, as if my throat was being strangled.

Marvin Thomas, the number two figure in Obsidian Palace, the source of my childhood nightmares.

The grotesque scar on his face and the hollow right eye socket seemed to remind me of my past crime—that afternoon when I stabbed his eye with a pencil.

"Don't dare to look at me?" His tone carried mockery.

"No..." I lowered my head, not daring to meet his gaze.

"Haha, haha..." He suddenly burst into laughter, a piercing sound that made one tremble, "You're still the same as when you were little, so easily frightened. Get in, let's talk."

Not an invitation, but a command.

I mechanically opened the door and sat inside.

The moment the door closed, I felt a suffocating oppression. The luxurious interior of the Bentley formed a stark contrast with the coldness emanating from Marvin.

"You look like you're doing well." He scrutinized me, his gaze sharp as a knife. "Richard Gray's woman, your value has soared."

"If you weren't still useful, I would have killed you when I found you back then!" His tone suddenly turned cold, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.

My memory was suddenly pulled back to that horrific afternoon—clubs, screams, blood, and his eye that I had blinded.

At that moment, fear surged like a tide, and I completely broke down.

"Marvin! I was wrong! I was wrong! I'll never disobey your wishes again!" I trembled, kneeling in the small space of the car, pleading for forgiveness like I did as a child.

Just like that blood-soaked afternoon, I knelt on the ground, watching him cover his eye and roll on the floor. Everyone was stunned, no one dared to approach. That was the first time I truly understood the meaning of fear.

Marvin grabbed my chin, forcing me to look up at him. "Don't worry... you look very much like your mother, equally a rare beauty. As long as you're here, Obsidian Palace will have a better future. How could I bear to hurt you?"

His words sounded like comfort, but made me feel an even deeper fear.

No wonder he called me; he had come to Silverlight City.

And coincidentally, Alexander had answered the phone and even let him listen for so long...

The atmosphere in the car was frozen and tense. Marvin released my chin, his gaze falling on the kiss mark on my neck, a strange light flashing in his eyes.

"Looks like you just came from Alexander's bed?" he asked with a cold smile. "I didn't expect you to be so... versatile. Richard's fiancée, Alexander's lover."

I remained silent, knowing whatever I said would only make the situation worse.

At the same time, I was quite curious about why he had come to Silverlight City.

The people of Obsidian Palace had always been cautious, especially those businessmen who liked to stand behind the scenes making deals. They always only guarded their own territory and never ventured into others' domains.

Their specialty was nurturing various pawns, using them for their own purposes, while they simply collected the results.

Obsidian Palace had been established for a hundred years, and it was solely by this means that they had firmly established themselves in Emberfall City.

"Do you know why I personally came to Silverlight City?" he asked, his voice deep and dangerous. "I didn't want to, but some things only I can handle personally."

I felt an ominous premonition. The number two figure of Obsidian Palace leaving headquarters to come here in person was definitely not a small matter.

"Do you know Acacia Vaughn?"

I frowned, finally recalling that I had seen her at a charity banquet six months ago. She was the fiancée of shipping tycoon Edwin Ortiz.

"I saw her once, at the Blair family charity banquet," I cautiously replied.

"Mission failed, now she's in a mental hospital," Marvin said coldly, as if discussing something trivial.

My heart sank.

"So... what are your plans...?" I asked tentatively, though I had already guessed the answer.

Marvin's gaze slowly swept over me. "You're so beautiful, I imagine you'd have better odds than Acacia."

A wave of nausea rose in my heart. They wanted me to take over Acacia's mission, to get close to Edwin.

"But I'm Richard Gray's woman now. If I approach Edwin and get discovered, wouldn't that be..." I tried to explain the dangers of my situation.

"If you can't handle such a small matter, do you think I'd still let you see Yvette..." His words pierced my heart like a sharp blade.

Yvette, my sister.

My fingers began to tremble uncontrollably.

Obsidian Palace had seized my greatest weakness—my concern for Yvette.

No wonder my mother Chloe tried with all her might to take us away from there. It was a place that "eats people without spitting out bones."

"Is she doing well? I want to see her before the mission starts," I struggled to control the trembling in my voice.

"No." Marvin's lips curled into a cruel smile. "Don't think I don't know what you're trying to do. Complete the mission properly, and I'll naturally let you see her."

I closed my eyes, feeling helplessness gradually consuming my entire body.

Marvin's warning voice reached my ears, "Also, I said, stay away from Alexander. He's not your target. I'll naturally arrange for others to approach him."

Flinging away my hand, Marvin caught the wet wipe handed by his assistant from the passenger seat and wiped his hands clean with force.

My mind was in chaos. Even though I was trying hard to calm myself, the thought of Marvin asking me to approach Edwin again...

What if I'm exposed? What would happen if Richard finds out?

And then there's Acacia who failed her mission and ended up in a mental hospital. What about me...

Thinking this way, my concerns multiplied.

The red Bentley continued moving until it stopped in front of an estate. Only then did Marvin kick me lightly.

"By the way, I'll arrange for Allison to come over in a while. If I discover you have any involvement with Alexander again... what you'll see might not be Yvette alive."