Chapter 15: Chapter 15

SCARLETT’s POV

“Let's go, Scarlett.”

Even though my heart was racing, I just nodded to mom, and we left my room, even though I wanted to retreat and hide in my room.

Is it still okay for me to listen to whatever the chairman says?

“Maybe you’re going to replace the chairman,” said Claire, as if mom had heard, and I noticed she averted her gaze.

I smirked at Claire, knowing that I’ll never be replacing our chairman. If that happens, I don’t deserve it because I broke the law, and it should punish.

When we arrived at Grandpa’s office, it surprised me that my family was complete, and even more surprised that Dominic was here with his parents.

Claire and I bowed to each of them, as well as to the chairperson. I averted my gaze as Sophia smirked. I’m nervous about what is going to happen today.

Furthermore, I sighed and went up to kiss my aunts and uncles. They only smiled at me, so I went over to Erin’s side, and Claire sat beside me.

“Isn’t my princess going to greet me?” I came to a halt and turned to face the person who had spoken.

When I recognized him, my eyes widened, and I stood up to hug him. “Brother Carter!” I said, crying as he hugged me.

“You miss me that much, huh?” he smirked, and I nodded and hugged him even tighter. “I heard what happened,” he whispered. I averted my gaze. “Let me handle that dickhead; are you okay?” asked Carter. I just smiled and nodded at him.

I didn’t think he went home because, as far as I know, he was too busy with his business abroad, so it surprised me he did.

He is also the eldest of our cousins. Carter Knight. He is the monster of our family, and because he is intelligent, he should take the place of grandfather because he inherited from him.

“I’m sulking because you didn’t even call me to ask for help, and it’s even worse because I have a niece and nephew,” said Carter. I winced, but just laughed because he was sulking.

“Sorry, it’s a long story,” I said, but he gave me a dead stare I knew wouldn’t work because I know he can’t resist me.

He just patted my head and smirked at me, but when grandpa coughed to get our attention, we came to a halt; I returned to Erin’s side, his arm around my chair. I just took a deep breath and looked at Grandpa, waiting for him to say something.

“Shall we?” asked the chairman. He sighed as everyone nodded. “I heard what happened.” I swallowed, clenching my fist.

“Our world is shrinking, we have too many enemies, and we have been silent for too long, so it is better to strengthen our family,” said Grandpa, tapping his seat. “I’m getting a lot of death threats,”

We were all surprised by what he said.

“Grandpa?” my cousins said, and my uncle and aunt were not happy.

“What the hell, dad? When is it?!” asked Uncle Alessandro in surprise.

“Be careful with your words, Alessandro,” Grandpa warned, glaring at Uncle Alessandro, who remained silent.

“Dad, why didn’t you tell us?” asked uncle Cronus. Grandpa also glared at him, but his stare had no effect on uncle. “Your glare no longer scares me, dad,”

The chairman sighed and shook his head.

“Do you know this brother Vernon?” asked aunt Ermina, and we all looked at Dad. He’s calm, but irritated.

“Yes, and dad doesn’t want to tell you because he knows how you’ll react,” dad explained, and I noticed mom just shook her head at him.

“What the f-ck, brother? This is how we will react! Dad’s life is in danger!” said Tito Eros, and there was a commotion in the chairman’s office because of their silence regarding the danger.

I bowed and bit my lower lip as my family’s problems increased.

Grandpa yelled, “Silence!” and everyone fell silent. “Are you going to argue here in front of me? That’s not why I called you here!” Grandpa shouted, clutching his chest, and we panicked even more.

“I’m fine.” he said, and everyone fell silent.

I bowed, and fists clenched. A bad person is me. This is going on in my family, but it is my feelings that I am worried about. This is not why I returned.

I returned for them because I want them to be proud of me for being able to stand on my own, but this is not what I want. My family’s issues are only getting worse.

“Why did you call us here?” asked Carter. He is calm.

When I turned to face him, he turned and winked at me. I winced and averted my gaze. He seems of being bored because he has been quiet since earlier.

The chairman shook his head and took a deep breath before leaning back in his swivel chair. “Before that… I’d like to thank you for accepting my invitation,” said Grandpa to Dominic’s family, who smiled, but I wondered why Dominic’s mother was looking at me.

“I just want to prepare you for Dominic and my granddaughter Sophia’s upcoming wedding so that our family can grow,” said Grandpa. It surprised me and only bowed, but I noticed Grandpa clenched his fist.

“You’re not getting any younger, so think about what you can do to expand our family; Knight and Stone will become one,” he said. I just grinned and took a deep breath before turning to face Sophia, who was smirking at me, and she was the only one who looked happy.

Except for my cousins and mom, I blinked when everyone applauded.

“Lux and Arabelle, follow Sophia, who chooses the right man instead of the others out there who have no direction in life,” said Grandpa, and they looked at me, so I smirked and leaned back in my chair.

“Thank you, Grandpa! I won’t let you down!” said Sophia, but I just smirked, and she avoided it.

Claire’s sudden laughter stunned everyone, so I just shook my head because it felt she was doing something silly.

“What’s funny?” the chairman asked Claire, who just smirked and shook her head.

“Sorry, chairman! I was just laughing. Right guy, huh?” said Claire while laughing. Sophia glared at her, and I drew my attention to Dominic. It seems unconcerned about his surroundings.

“Claire,” I said, shaking my head at her. She smirked as she looked at me.

“What? This is funny, my friend,” she said, returning her gaze to the chairman. “So, chairman, they’ll follow Sophia’s lead in choosing the right man? That was a tremendous joke!” said Claire while laughed. My cousins avoided her, but you can tell they’re laughing because of Claire.

“Don’t get involved. It’s a family matter. You shouldn’t be here!” Sophia told Claire, who raised her eyebrows at Sophia.

“Oh? I’m Perkins, and I’m also Scarlett's best friend, and I was with her when she was down. At least I helped your family, and you? What did you help? The one who made up a lie?” Claire smirked. Sophia did not respond, and she looks being in a state of panic.

“Claire, just shut up,” Erin said to Claire, but she didn’t pay attention to him, so I shook my head.

Claire’s mouth is like a gun; you can’t stop her from talking.

“I’m uncertain whether to laugh or feel sorry for you,” said Claire, shaking her head. “Why don’t we try each other, Sophia? Which of us is better at trickery?” asked Claire, and Sophia’s eyes widening.

“Indeed,” Rios, who is proud of Claire, said with a smirk.

“Don’t tolerate her!” said Erin to his brother, who shrugged.

“W-what are you talking about, huh?” asked Sophia, looking away.

Claire couldn’t stop laughing at Sophia’s reaction. “Oh, you’re acting like an innocent, aren’t you?”

“Shut up!” yelled Sophia. Claire smiled and stood up.

“Poor you. By the way, best wishes,” Claire said as she bowed to the chairperson and laughed as she walked away.

It troubled me because Claire was teasing them and didn’t seem to change. It's her job to irritate others. TSK.

“Disrespectful. You and your friend are the same.” said Sophia. I came to a halt and looked at her.

“Oh, do you have something to say?” I asked, raising my brows. I don’t have time to answer because I’m tired of explaining everything to her over again.

When Grandpa coughed, I looked at him, but when he glared at me, I just turned away. Damn it.

“Like I said, the wedding is preparing, and I want everyone to prepare, and I want to show the world my grandchild’s first wedding.”

My fists clenched, and I clutched my chest tight. I can’t deny that hearing about the wedding makes me sad because it reminds me of the times Dominic and I married with no one knowing, and it seemed as if it happened in private.

I can’t help but to be a jealous because it’s great for them to announce to the world how happy their marriage will be, while I can’t even claim for being Dominic’s first wife.

Not only that, but I can’t even say I was Dominic’s first girlfriend, that we had a relationship, and that we had children.

Furthermore, I came to a halt and wiped my tears because I have no right to be in pain because my relationship with Dominic has been over for a long time, and we divorced, so I don’t need to be hurt any longer.

Furthermore, I took a deep breath and turned to face grandpa to hear what he had to say.

“I want someone to take over my throne because I’m getting old, and I also want to rest in another country,”

I don’t even hope to inherit a throne, and I’ll content if one of my cousins takes over from a chairman.

“I know the person I replaced will perform well and do what she handles the family, and I know she will not let me down,” He sighed as he looked at us.

“My granddaughter is Sophia Vivian Knight, and I know her future husband will support her,” he said, looking at Dominic. “Dominic, you look after my granddaughter,”

Will she take over as chairman?

“Thank you, Grandpa! I promise I won't let you down,” said Sophia, smirking at me as if she were teasing me.

We were all taken aback when Dominic stood up, so we all looked at him. He stared at me, so I bowed out of fear that someone would notice what he was doing.

“I will not continue this marriage,” Dominic declared. I turned to face him, and frowning.

What is he saying? He will not continue the marriage?

Sophia widened her eyes and stood up to approach Dominic. “Babe…” she laughed, but I could tell she’s scared. “Dominic is just tired—” Sophia was about to finish her sentence when Dominic pushed her.

“If I get punished, then go ahead, but I will not continue the marriage,” said Dominic, his fists clenched. “Sophia is not the woman I love, but I will not abandon my responsibility as a father to her kid, and that’s it. I’m done with this.” as he left the chairman’s office.

My fists clenched, and I looked away because, as much as I wanted to follow him and talk to him, I knew I couldn't because it would be too obvious.

“Don’t worry, grandfather. I’ll talk to him,” said Sophia as she sat down again, knowing the meeting wasn't over.

I closed my eyes because of Dominic. Damn it. What’s the matter with him?

The chairman exhaled. “No matter what happens, the marriage will continue,” he said. “As I mention earlier, Sophia will take over my throne, as well as take care of our other businesses, and she also has the largest shares in each company.”

Everything is becoming chaotic once again, and my cousins, who aren't happy with what grandpa says.

Uncle Carlito suggested, “Why not Scarlett, dad? She’s the one mom mentioned before.” I smiled at uncle Carlito. He said I was one of his favorite nieces, along with my brother Carter.

“All of mom’s property it named after Scarlett, and now that Scarlett is old enough, she can take care of all the businesses that mom left for her!” I frowned because I had only just heard it. “You know that, dad! What happened to you?” asked uncle Carlito to the chairman, who was stunned and looked away.

“Carlito,” said Grandpa, but Uncle Carlito shook his head. He is the youngest of the siblings, as far as I know, but he was the first to have a child.

“You can’t give mom's other property to Sophia because you know who she is in our family,” said uncle Carlito. The chairperson came to a halt.

All of us, except brother Carter, our parents, frowned as things had become more and more messy. What is going on?

“Carlito!”

Uncle Carlito smirked at dad. “Why, brother? Don’t you want Scarlett to know the truth?”

What is the truth? Is there anything more I should know?

“Don’t you want your daughter to know your sin?” he asked, and I looked at dad, who shook his head as if I shouldn't believe what uncle was saying.

“Carlito…” Mom warned uncle Carlito, so he raised his hand as if giving up to mom.

“I'm disappointed,” as he walked out of his office, and Aunt Carina got up and kissed me on the cheek before following uncle.

Okay, what’s going on? Is my family hiding something from me? What's the deal with Sophia?