Chapter 30: Chapter 30

“Mommy!”

I smiled as I saw my children, who had just arrived from the province where my mother’s family lived, enter the chapel.

“Scarlett…”

“Mom,” I whispered, and she touched my shoulder before taking care of the guests.

I’ve also planned a funeral for Ken and his wife, but their son is still missing.

“M-Mom, is uncle Ken gone?” asked Carrie. I nodded and stroked her hair.

“Uncle Ken is just leaving; they’re going to a better place,” I said. I hugged her after she started crying.

Even when we were still in the province, they adored their uncle Ken because he was the one who monitored and cared for my children while I was at work. As a result, they grew closer to their uncle Ken, whom they regarded as their father.

“Why did they have to die? They’re good people!”

I turned away from her because what had happened to them had also hurt me. However, Ken protected us over their lives.

“I-I can’t believe they’re gone! They weren’t bad!”

I hugged her to make her feel better. She has weaker feelings than Agustin among the twins because I, too, am weak in situations like this.

“Some people are evil; even if they are good, they will do more evil.”

I turned to face Agustin, who was gazing at their coffin.

I drew Augustin closer to me and hugged him as well. It surprised me that my dress was getting wet, so I peered over at Agustin, who was also crying, and hugged them even tighter.

“Scarlett,”

I turned around to see Claire, who didn’t appear to have slept and appeared to have spent the entire day crying. I smiled at her as I looked at my kids and asked mom to let them rest first.

Claire sat next to me after I signaled her to, and she hugged me.

I just stared at Claire, fists clenched.

“Why didn’t he tell us? Why didn’t he tell us what was going on with him?!? I hope we could have helped him!” she sobbed. I closed my eyes and exhaled.

“Claire…”

She wiped her tears as she shook her head. “I can’t accept it, Scarlett! What does he think of us as weak?” Claire yelled as she pointed to Ken's coffin. “F-ck! I want to beat him up for what he did, but he's gone! He’ll never return! He’s one of our staff who put up with my behavior for a long time!”

She punched the chair she was sitting on. I didn’t respond because we had just argued.

Claire is the most affected by what happened to Ken in this situation because Ken has been their employee for a long time, even in the province.

Ken’s family has also served the Perkins for a long time, so I understand Claire’s rage.

“Claire—” I came to a halt when Claire spoke again, so I just let her.

“Everything I order from him, he obeys! He is also a cheerful person, and all he thinks about is his family, so I don’t understand why they used Ken, huh?!? Why Ken, who has nothing to do with your family!”

My fists clenched, but there was nothing I could do but calm her down because if we both blame ourselves, there’s nothing else we can do. They have used Ken against me in everything that has happened.

One of my questions is why they used Ken. They can face me without causing harm to others. They are free to harm me as long as no one else it harmed.

I turned to face Ken’s coffin, recalling everything he had told us and everything Carter had told me. They appear to be linked, and I don’t need to confirm anything because there is no other explanation.

Nobody else is their target but me.

“Dad is furious about what happened to Ken, so he will help in the investigation to bring justice to their deaths,” said Claire. I blinked. “Ken died fighting, so we should do the same. We will fight, we will fight them,” she said, fists clenched as she gazed at Ken's coffin.

I sighed as I leaned back and looked at the front. “We don’t know the enemy, Claire. They have many people, and I’m their target,” Ken said.

Claire frowned as she looked at me.

“So, you’re correct in your suspicion that you’re their intended target?” I nodded, and she chuckled. “That’s why they humiliated you in public because you were the target? They make us look like fools! Did they also think it would be easy to fight a knight?!” I shook my head at her. “Before they touch you… Their feet will sink to the ground!” she yelled, so I scolded her because someone might hear her.

“What are we going to do now?” asked Claire. I grinned and stood to approach Ken’s coffin.

“I will not waste Ken’s death, and I will give him and his family the justice they deserve; I will not lose someone important to me.” I caressed Ken’s coffin and saw Ken's suffering face, so I took a deep breath. “If I’m the target, I’ll deal with them the way I want,” I said with a smile. Claire, whom it surprised by what I said, looked at me.

“What are your plans?”

I shook my head. “Plan? I don’t have one right now, and when I do, it’s only for myself,” I said. Her eyes widened, and she shook her head.

“Wait a minute, that's unfair!”

I chuckled. “I’ll seek more evidence that will bring me closer to the enemies, and then I’ll enter their world without them knowing I’m a knight.”

“Scarlett, I don’t like that smirk of yours. It’s like my hair is standing upright now, BRR!” Claire frowned and approached me. I couldn't stop laughing.

I will not move until I figure out who the enemy is they’re referring to.

Not only that, but I came to a halt when I remembered Solen Madrid.

W-wait… I recall the last thing she said to me the last time we met… My eyes widened as I realized what was going on.

Couldn’t she be involved in what happened at my bar? I could sense her confidence that I would lose my business one day, and that is precisely what happened. F-ck!

I need to look into her because if my suspicions are correct, I’ll destroy her as soon as possible, so no one else gets hurt. Damn it.

Why did I only remember her now?

***

The day has come for Ken and his wife to be buried, but their son still missing. I used all of my connections, but there is still no process to locate the child.

“This is our brother Ken and Audrey’s last moment to take them to their final destination; let us say a prayer for them both.”

Everyone else closed their eyes, but I kept staring at their coffins as they were being lowered into the pit, clenching my fists as my tears fell.

I will bring justice for them. The perpetrators of this crime will pay right into my hands. I will not let Ken die in vain.

The others left after the funeral, but I stayed at their graves.

“Ken, let me fight for the justice you deserve; I will do everything in my power to find your son; I will not give up the search for him or justice; you may now rest in peace.”

I patted their tombstone and stood up to return to my car because my children were already waiting, but before I could get in, I felt as if someone was watching our every move.

Although the prayer has not yet begun, I have the sense that many people are watching us.

I looked around and felt my surroundings before getting into my car.

“M-mommy…”

I took a deep breath and smiled at them before driving calmly out of the cemetery, but we hadn’t gone far when I noticed a car following me.

I turned to face my children, who were staring out the window.

Furthermore, I took a deep breath and let the car follow me.

I drove calmly until I turned onto a street and noticed the car was going straight, and no longer followed us.

I returned to the mansion and noticed that my entire family had arrived.

“Scarlett…”

They called me, but I ignored them and went upstairs, but I came to a halt when Sophia spoke.

“Are you that rude and disrespectful?”

I looked at my kids and whispered to them, they had gone upstairs to their room, and they nodded before running up to their room.

I took a deep breath and turned to face them.

“Oh, chairman and Sophia, welcome back,” I said, turning back, but I hadn’t gotten all the way up when Sophia spoke again.

“You have absolutely no respect!”

I closed my eyes and bit my lip because she hadn’t stopped bothering me, but then I realized I'd just seen her at the mansion.

“I don’t have the time to fight you.”

Sophia smirked and raised her eyebrows. “We heard about the article and what happened to your business; you are a disgrace to the Knight.”

I gave her a blank stare. “Then what?”

“W-what?”

I sighed loudly and rolled my eyes. “You called me a disgrace, didn't you? But what about you? When have you been concerned about the problem I'm having?” I asked. She didn’t answer and backed away.

I looked at them coldly. “Is there anything else to talk about besides being worthless?”

I laughed because they didn’t respond. Isn’t that what they want to hear from me? Why haven’t they told me how rebellious I am in this family so that the issue can it resolve? I don't have time to talk to them right now.

“We need to talk to you, Scarlett.”

I raised my eyebrow. “Oh, so I'll hear from you, I'm embarrassing this family? Will I hear about my disobedience?” They remained silent, so I looked at the chairman. “If you say nothing, maybe I can go back to my room to rest,” I said as I bowed and was about to walk upstairs.

“Please, Scarlett?”

I took a breath because I was already mad. What else do they expect from me? I want to avoid telling them anything.

“Let her go, dad; losers don’t respect anyone, and one of her employees died because of her.”

Sophia's words stopped me and went down again, but… I pulled the gun from my thigh and pointed it at her head. Her eyes widened as she froze in place.

“Say it again, Sophia,” I said. “Say it again.”

“Scarlett!”

I ignored them, and I know they couldn’t get any closer. I pointed my gun at her head.

“Oh, why didn’t you repeat what you said?” I asked, moving behind Sophia to whisper. “Stop this nonsense, Sophia; I won’t hesitate to fire my gun at your head.”

She came to a halt, so I just smirked and put back the gun into my thigh before walking away from Sophia.

I observed them all.

“There is no traitor in the family, right?” I asked, while looking at Sophia, who was already quiet on the side.

“Enough, Scarlett,” I halted. “I came back because I heard what was going on with you.” said the chairman.

I averted my gaze because I knew he’d return because of what was going on right now.

“What are you doing?” he asked, shaking his head. “How did the writer of the article get through?”

They exchanged glances and shook their heads at the chairman.

“TSK, chairman, we don’t want that,” said Carter. The chairman gave him an irritated look.

“Carter, you’re the eldest here, which is why I’m hoping the information about her doesn’t make it public; why is it still written about her?”

Carter exhaled a sigh. “I’m working on it, and I will not be silent just because I'm not doing anything,” he said. “They used an important person for Scarlett.”

Rios patted him on the back because we knew they’d fight again.

I just clenched my fist as I remembered Ken and why he and his wife were now involved in this mess.

“What do you mean?”

Brother Carter looked at him but said nothing.

Rios spoke up after a brief silence. “Chairman, I know you know this is going to happen, and I also know you know they're on their move,” said Rios, but the chairman remained silent.

“Scarlett is hiding in a distant place, so the enemy is on the move, and I sent brother Carter home because he, too, knew this would happen,” he's placing something on the table.

“One of Scarlett’s employees, Ken Aguilar, did it,” said Rios, pointing to Ken’s picture. He displayed a photograph to our parents.

I averted my gaze and bit my lower lip.

“W-what? Who is he—” the chairman came to a halt when Rios laughed at him.

“Oh, I thought you were smart, chairman?” Rios laughed. Rios' tone made the chairman frown. “Why don’t you appear to be the chairman who knows everything?”

Because of him, our eyes widened. Rios, you're an asshole!

“Rios!”

Rios smirked. “That person is now dead, and the enemy used him to destroy Scarlett.” He flipped to the second page of the paper. “When he died, I noticed a tattoo on the back of his neck,”

I looked at the paper and closed my eyes because my head suddenly hurt.

“You know who has that tattoo, chairman, right?” said Rios, crossing his arms and smirking at our chairman.

“N-no way!”

I held my head because the tattoo was familiar to me. How many times have I wondered where I saw that mark?

“Chairman, it seems you pretend you know nothing.”

I closed my eyes because of my headache. Maybe it’s just being tired.

“Are you all right, Scarlett?”

I raised my hand to say I’m fine, but I held my head because it felt like it was being squeezed. Many images flashed through my mind, and the only one that remained was the tattoo Rios showed the chairman.

“Scarlett!”

I opened my eyes and gasped, clutching my chest. What exactly is that tattoo? Why did I remember that?

“The tattoo…” I said, but then I started screaming because my headache was getting worse.

“Oh my gosh, Scarlett.”

Brother Carter is now holding me. “What do you know about tattoos?”

Mom grabbed me and hugged me before I could say anything.

“My daughter needs to rest because she is tired today,” said Mom, assisting me to my room and forcing me to sit on the bed.

“Scarlett, get some rest. I know you’re stressed.” She stroked my hair and kissed me on the forehead before leaving my room.

I shook my head, thinking that maybe Mom was right. Perhaps my headache is caused by tiredness and stress.

I closed my eyes and lay down on the bed, but I couldn’t get the tattoo out of my head. What does that mean?

***

THIRD POV

When they saw what was happening to Scarlett, they remained silent, but something caught Rios’ attention: Scarlett’s actions after seeing the tattoo.

‘Is Scarlett aware of anything? Is this the same scene she witnessed 23 years ago?’ the only thought that enters Rios’ mind before he looks at his family.

“Then what?!? She’s acting like an innocent! It’s all her fault! If she doesn’t come back, this won’t happen!” Sophia yelled, rolling her eyes.

Vernon looked at Sophia. “Watch what you say, Sophia.”

Sophia glared angrily at her father. “What?!? I’m right! I hope she doesn’t come back because she’s ruining our wedding!” She approached the chairperson.

“Get rid of her, Grandpa! She’s the one who destroyed the clan.”

They were stunned and frowned as they looked at Sophia, who had come to a halt because of what she had said.

“I knew it, and the truth also came out of your mouth that you don’t want Scarlett to stay here because you know you can’t have it all,” Carter said to Sophia.

“That's not true! You all know why this is happening because of her!”

Rios raised his brows and approached Sophia, putting his arms around her shoulders. “Oh, my cousin…” Rios murmured. Sophia froze in her place because of Rios’ tone.

“You’re not helping, and you don’t deserve the throne,” said Carter.

Rios smirked and walked away from Sophia, who was already mad.

“Of course, for you, my older cousin! She’s your favorite of the two of us!” said Sophia before looking pitiful. “You can’t do anything because I’m taking over for Grandpa.”

They all winced because talking to Sophia makes no sense given what she says.

It drew their attention only when they noticed Sharlene had come down.

“Sharlene…” Vernon approached his wife, who hugged him immediately.

“Vernon, I believe what I was afraid of has come,” Sharlene said, clutching Vernon’s shirt.

“Sharlene…”

Sharlene shook her head, her gaze fixed on the folder Rios had placed on the table. “Among all of us, Scarlett is the only one who does not know what happened 23 years ago,” she said. “She knows about this tattoo, and she's the only one who knows who killed Lady Josephine.”

They came to a halt as their eyes widened, and the image made the chairperson helpless.

“What do you mean, Aunt?” Rios asked. “Scarlett was as young as we are back then, so how did she know about this?”

Sharlene, who remained silent.

“If you keep quiet, we’ll never know what the enemy’s intentions are. I don’t want Scarlett to suffer in the end.”

Sharlene bowed and clenched her fists because everyone, along with Scarlett’s cousins, knew what had happened back then.

“Wait, what does Grandma’s death have to do with what’s going on now?” Erin wondered.

Rios gave him a look. “Brother, you remember what happened 23 years ago, right? That’s why we’re looking into it.”

Erin crossed his arms and nodded.

“Those were the times when the mansion it ambushed, and only Scarlett survived—” Erin's eyes widened as he realized something. “Scarlett saw the people who entered the mansion back then? F-ck! Why did I realize it now?” He shook his head as he realized why Scarlett had amnesia after many years.

“That’s why Scarlett had amnesia,” said Rios, as everyone looked at Sharlene.

Sharlene bit her lower lip and wiped her tears away. “Y-you do not know what my daughter went through.”

She bowed, closing her eyes, not wanting Scarlett's trauma to return.

“You do not know what trauma she carried that night because Scarlett was a witness to Lady Josephine's death and saw that tattoo!” she said as she covered her face and cried in front of them.

“Sharlene…” Vernon hugged his wife, knowing what she was going through.

He turned to face them. “We don’t know what she can do once she remembers everything,” said Vernon.

Rios clenched his fist in reaction to what he had heard, as he was now more concerned about Scarlett’s condition.

“Let her rest first, and don’t tell her about this,” said Carter as he walked out of the mansion.

Rios looked at Scarlett’s room as they were quiet. ‘I will help you.’

What they don't realize is that someone is listening to them, sitting in a dark corridor, her mouth covered to avoid making any noise.

“Do I know something about Grandma’s death?”

***