Chapter 20: Chapter 20

SCARLETT’s POV.

When I left my room, I saw him and noticed he was sleeping, so I sighed and went downstairs to get a first aid kit to treat Dominic's bruises.

What happened to him?

My eyes widened as I realized what he had received was no ordinary bruise. It looks like my cousins punished him. Damn it.

They are moving without my consent, so I need to speak with them. I just messed up my hair and went downstairs, but when I saw Sophia again, I was stunned.

Will this day end without them bothering me? I cannot concentrate on my work because of our issues.

“Where is Dominic? Give him to me! I will treat his wounds!” said Sophia as she approached the door to my room, but I stopped her.

“I wish you had done that sooner, so I wouldn’t have gotten into trouble; why are you asking now?” I asked.

Sophia’s eyes widened, and she was still struggling to enter my room; I pushed her hard because It’s annoying.

“Don’t make a scene here.” I said, as if I were insane because she didn’t want to stop bothering me.

“Give him to me! I'll look after him!”

I raised my eyebrows. “Sorry, he’s in my room, so… He’s mine now,” I smirked, looking at her from head to toe.

I never imagined Dominic would cheat on me for my desperate sister.

“Are you desperate?” I asked. Her eyes widened again, and she attacked me angrily, but I dodged, so she wouldn’t hit me.

“He's mine! Not yours! I’ll take what’s mine!” Sophia yelled, causing me to stop, and I laughed at her.

“Will you take yours, Sophia? When has Dominic been with you?” I asked, raising my eyebrows. TSK, she needs a scene in every chapter.

“Shut up!”

She was ready to slap me when I grabbed her wrist and stopped her.

“You don’t know how to listen, do you? That will also harm you, Sophia,” I said as I let go of her wrist and walked down the stairs.

I spotted my cousins waiting for me.

“Scarlett…”

I exhaled and approached them. “Why did you punish him without my consent, huh?” I asked.

Rios scratched his head and grinned at me, saying, “Brother Carter just ordered me.”

I came to a halt and clenched my fists. When brother Carter gives an order, they must follow it.

“You’ve got to tell me! Look at him now! What if you killed him?.?”

They remained silent and unable to speak because they knew I would be mad because they had not told me what they intended to do.

“He won’t die like that, Scarlett; we know our limits,” said Rios, and I turned to face him.

“Oh, really?”

I grinned before punching Rios in the stomach. He groaned as he grabbed his stomach. “Now, I know my limits, too.”

Because of what I did to Rios, they were even quieter. They are aware of the law, but they continue to act like children. I stroked my hand while staring at Rios, who already bowed, so I glanced at them all.

“Dominic deserves our clan’s punishment because he broke our law, but… I deserve the punishment as well since I broke the law,” I said, taking a deep breath.

“You seem to forget that I was the one who broke the law first, so you have no right to punish him without informing me.”

They avoided their gaze because I was right. They can’t punish me since they’re against it, but if the chairperson gives the order, I’ll accept because I deserve to be punished for what I did.

I returned my gaze to Rios and helped him in standing. “I’ll forgive you, but… you have to be careful,” I smirked and turning away from them.

“If you don’t want to be punished, don’t do stupid things that are against the law.” I looked at them again. “I can’t protect you if you do that,” I said, widening their eyes, but I just grinned and turned to leave when Rios spoke.

“You’re their target, Scarlett.”

I smirked and waved at them before heading to the kitchen to get the first aid kit I needed.

“What happened, Scarlett?”

I gave Lydia a polite smile. “Warm water, a towel, and a first-aid kit,”

She frowned but nodded and took what I required, for which I thanked her.

I went up to my room, but winced when Sophia still didn’t leave in front of my door. Will she not stop?

“You’re still not leaving? What else do you need?” I shook my head in response to what she was doing.

“Give that to me, I’ll take care of my fiancé,” she said, reaching for what I was carrying when I pulled it away from her.

“No, I’ll look after my husband, SISTER,” I smirked as I entered the room and let her bark.

When I faced Dominic, he woke up but was also tending to his bruises.

“I’m sorry.” said Dominic. I ignored him and placed the basin on the table and began wiping him.

“Scarlett,”

I ignored him again and gave first aid to him. My ears are still closed to what he has to say until now.

“Please talk to me.” he grabbed my hand, but I pushed it away because treating his bruises was more important to me. “Scarlett—” I interrupted him as I stood up to put the items away.

“Just rest for a while, then you can leave,” I said as I turned around, but he grabbed my hand and pulled me back onto the bed.

“I know it’s all my fault that you changed, but I’ll do everything in my power to make us whole again, including our children,” said Dominic, and took my hand away from him and looked at him.

“No, I’m still Scarlett, and I haven’t changed to Dominic, and I never will. Instead of focusing on me, focus on your relationship with Sophia.”

I stood up to put the items on the table before returning my gaze to him. “Please don’t bother me anymore, esp my children,”

I went to open the door. “You can leave if you say nothing.”

He shook his head and leaned against the bed's headboard. I clenched my fists and closed my eyes.

“Dominic.”

He smiled. “Scarlett, I regret for everything; believe me, I regret for what I did to you,”

I looked up at the ceiling, knowing that he won’t stop until I hurt him. I noticed him bowing down when I looked at him, so I just smiled because what he was saying was tough.

Dominic, atonement isn’t enough either. You didn’t just hurt me; you also hurt my children.

I sighed and bit my lip. “Please, I’m not ready to listen, but I appreciate what you did the other night at the bar, but that doesn’t mean we can go back to the way things were,” I said, shaking my head. “If you want to visit my children, I won’t stop you; if you would like to be with them, I’ll let you, but…” I gulped. “That’s all because what it has broken for a long time it can’t rebuild,”

We cannot regain trust, which has already been lost. Never, ever again.

“We can turn everything back to how it was, Scarlett; I’ll prove it to you—-” he paused when I slammed the door.

“Did you think everything was easy, Dominic? Did you think it was so easy to go back to the way it was before, as if nothing had happened?” My teeth gritted as I suppressed my rage at him.

“All my life, Dominic, I trusted you, and I believed you when you said I was the only one you loved, and I was with you rather than know my family’s and grandfather’s anger.” I gulped and cried. “I put up with everything because I love you, but what did you do, huh? What did you do for us to be like this?” I asked. He paused and bowed. He still could not speak.

“You broke the trust I gave you, you broke our good relationship, you broke the dreams we built, you broke everything Dominic!” I rubbed my frustrated face.

“I stood on my own and raised my children well alone, and I preferred to live, to stay away from trouble, but that didn't happen because my family is more destroyed because of what I did.”

While crying in front of him, I looked at him. It took aback him and stood up to approach me.

“Scarlett…”

I shook my head and pushed him.

“I’m tired of hearing my parents fight every day, and I’m tired of seeing Sophia because I just remember what you did to betray me,” I laughed, as if everything was driving me insane. “I feel sorry for my children because they want to be with their father, but they know it’s not possible,” I said as I wiped away my tears and opened the door to let him leave. When I see him, it only makes me feel worse.

“I came back for my family, but not for our past; please stop because no matter what you do, we will never be the same.” I said as I avoided looking at him. “Leave.” I clenched my hands, tears welling up in my eyes.

Damn! When will the tears stop? There is no end in sight. It’s as if I just want to be a robot and not feel anything.

Dominic approached me and knelt in front of me, saying, “Sophia blackmailed me, believe me, and I didn’t like all of this.”

I laughed as I looked up at the ceiling at his bullshit excuse.

“You didn’t like everything that happened, Dominic? What’s that? You only tasted her because you didn’t like it?” I asked, spat at him. “I’m not stupid enough to believe what you say; if you don’t want to do that, I hope you avoid it because I know you’ve changed.” My fists tightened, and I felt the tip of my fingernail on my palm.

“Let me tell you everything and explain everything.”

In my annoyance, I messed up my hair and punched the door again to keep myself from hurting him. “Ha… Do you still not get what I’m saying? Nothing will return to the way it was before Dominic. Nothing.”

He tried to stand up to reach me, but I grabbed him by the collar and choked him because my vision was becoming dark.

“It still hurts me, Dominic, every time I remember how you and my sister, sex in our bed and how you moan.” I tightened my grip on his collar.

“You’ve changed, haven't you?” I pushed him. “You’ve changed, but why did you still do that? Why is it still my sister? You know how important Sophia is to me!”

“I’m sorry, Scarlett; please allow me to make amends!”

I just stared at him blankly. “Get out. Get out of my life.” I dragged him out of my room.

“We no longer have a relationship, but the bond between your family and mine remains, and I will not destroy it; You will just be a father to my children,” I said as I slammed the door shut.

I was holding on to the wall while panting because my chest felt tighter. I sat on the floor while covering my mouth to pour out all my tears and just cry all night long so that I could be numb.

***

I had just awoken when I heard what sounded like a fight, so I stretched and noticed that I was still wearing what I had been wearing last night; I yawned and stood up but stopped when I heard shouting again.

“Did you believe in your daughter?”

“Here we go again, Sharlene!”

“Our daughter is in pain, Vernon! Scarlett is in pain, but you don't seem to care!”

“That’s not true! I’m concerned about Venice as well!”

“You’re concerned? That’s why you put your trust in Sophia rather than your daughter!”

“You know that’s not true, Sharlene! Can’t you forgive me yet?”

“Yes, because what you did is still fresh in my mind!”

“Sharlene…”

“No, Vernon. Our relationship has changed as well because you’ve changed since Scarlett went missing. You didn’t persevere to find my daughter; you gave up, so I must also give up to you. Vernon, I’m tired.”

I covered my mouth to avoid making any noise.

What is going on? Why isn't their relationship better? Why is there still a schism in their marriage?

I’m confused by what’s happening to them; I’m not sure what they’re fighting about. Damn it.

‘Why don’t they want to tell me the truth? Why don’t they want me to know everything?’ Will anything happen if I find out something?

I walked around my room, biting my nails, trying to figure out what I could do to save my family. This is not what I had wished for. I can't bear seeing my parents suffer.

Damn you, Scarlett. Do what is right for the clan’s peace. F-ck.

I had just come to a halt when my phone rang, so I took a deep breath before answering it.

(“Ms. Knight, we have a meeting in an hour.”)

“What? Why didn’t you tell me?!?”

(“I apologize, Ms. Knight, but I told you yesterday…”)

I slapped my face and bit my lip. I totally forgot! F-ck! Not only that, but I yelled at our secretary as well.

“I’m sorry, I’m just frustrated, and I’m on my way,” I said.

(“We will wait.”)

“Call Claire as well,”

(“Ah, Ms. Knight, Ms. Perkins is in another country; her father has just ordered something from her.”)

Oh, please.

“OK! OK! I’m on my way!”

I hung up the phone and went about my morning routine. Furthermore, I was so tired from crying that I couldn't even clean last night.

Not only that, but I forgot I had a meeting with our employee because one of Claire and I are attending the meeting, but she is not here today. Furthermore, I will be the bar’s representative today.

“Mommy, good morning!”

I smiled as their nanny fed them. Yes, Mom hired her to look after them because she knew I had a job.

“Good morning, little ones!”

Before leaving the mansion, I kissed them on the forehead and cheek. I looked at my watch. But damn! I'm already thirty minutes late.

“Get in.”

Dominic leaning against his car surprised me. He’s still not giving up, despite what happened last night. What else could I expect from him? I rolled my eyes. Even back then, he acted in this manner. TSK.

I shook my head. “No need, I have a car,”

I was about to leave when he blocked my path.

“I know you’re late, but I’ll drop you off,” he said. It annoyed me because my morning was ruined. “All right, let's go!”

I just grimaced and shut my eyes because I was so annoyed. “What did I say that you didn't understand?”

While his hands were in his pants pockets, he smiled at me.

“I understand nothing about what you’re saying; all I know is that you’re late for your meeting; let’s go; I’ll take you to your office.” He grinned before turning away from me.

In annoyance, I snorted and stomped. He thought he could play tricks on me with what he was doing.

“Scarlett.”

Oh, the cousin came to my rescue.

“Rios!”

When I got into his car, Rios frowned. I opened the window and noticed Dominic frowning as he approached his car.

“Come on, cousin!” I said as Rios, who is looking at Dominic and me.

“Scarlett.” yelled Dominic, but I just smiled and waved.

“Bye, Mr. Stone.” I winked at him as I closed the window. I even laughed when I saw him punched in the car door.

You deserved it, asshole.