Chapter 52: Chapter 52

THIRD POV

After listening to everything Ferdinand had to say, his hatred for the old man grew even stronger. Ferdinand paid no attention to his grandmother’s screams.

His fists clenched, and he punched the chair, but he screamed in pain, “Damn! F-ck! F-ck!” He touched his lips as they bled again.

“My handsome face it ruined! Damn you, old man!” he shouted, wiping the blood from his lips as he leaned against the wall and remembered what Ferdinand had told him.

“Did grandma really know that would happen? She also knows what will happen to her?” he pondered as things became even more complicated.

He also discovered that his grandmother and Ferdinand were siblings.

“Is there anything we don’t know? Why did the chairperson keep everything hidden from us? How did he do these things? Do our parents know anything about this?” He asked, looking up and staring at the ceiling.

He needs an explanation from their grandfather why he betrayed them, but he can’t get one while imprisoned. Furthermore, he still cannot leave because he thinks he will learn more from Ferdinand.

“Erin…”

When he saw Anderson in front of him with a first aid kit, he blinked and frowned.

He cocked his brow at Anderson. “Oh, are you treating my wound?” he asked. It took aback Andre, and he ignored Erin’s questions. “Why don’t you just let them because in the end… I’ll just die?”

Andre sat down next to Erin, tilting his head to examine his wounds.

“Let me see…” he said, about to touch Erin’s face when he stopped himself. “Erin.”

Erin grinned and shook his head at Andre before moving slightly away from him. “Come on, Andre! I’m going to die. Don’t worry about me because we’re no longer friends,” he said.

Andre sighed and took out his first aid kit. “I’ll treat your wound,” he said, taking a cotton swab and soaking it in alcohol. “Come here; I can’t treat you if you run away.”

Erin shook his head and stood up because he didn’t need his old friend’s concern.

“No need. Please leave me alone,” he said, pointing to the door to let Andre know he would rather not see him.

Because of Erin’s pride, Andre clenched his fists and shook his head. He took a deep breath and leaned against the wall, dropping the first aid kit he was carrying.

“How is Claire Perkins? Why didn’t she help you? Isn’t she your girlfriend?”

Erin stopped at Andre’s question and looked at him. “What do you care? If she’s my girlfriend or not, it’s none of your business.”

He looked at me and raised an eyebrow. “I just want to know if you stayed with her… after I left because I think she loves you.”

Erin clenched his fists and avoided looking at Andre because he felt that he already knew how his brother Rios was feeling.

“No, I don’t know. I’m still confused.” Erin said while shaking his head, but he stopped when he remembered something. “You left me; where have you been? I went looking for you.”

Andre’s smile disappeared when he heard what Erin said. “Maybe you don’t need to know. This is not the right time.” he said.

“Andre, please? What happened to your family? I went to your apartment, but your landlady said a thief broke into your house; I searched for information, but the case is closed…” Erin frowned and turned to face Andre. “What happened, and how did you get into this situation?”

Erin didn’t need to know everything, so Andre turned away. He took a deep breath. “Now is not the time to find out; after this, I’ll tell you everything before I die.”

Erin frowned because he couldn’t understand what Andre was saying to him.

“What are you saying? Did they scare you? Tell me, I will protect you.” Erin said and approached him. Andre clenched his fists and averted his gaze.

“I’m leaving, but I’ll leave the first aid kit here,” said Andre as he left the prison.

Erin stopped pursuing him because he believed Andre had a reason for remaining here under Ferdinand’s command.

“F-ck! What am I going to do to you? You’re confusing me! Damn!”

***

“Why are you following me?!” Dominic asked Sophia, who followed him to San Martín.

“To stop you!”

Dominic stared at Sophia. “For what?” he grumbled. He did not know how Sophia knew he was leaving.

“I knew you’d follow Scarlett!” exclaimed Sophia. Dominic frowned.

“Then why would you care? She’s my wife!”

“No, she isn’t."

Dominic was just cursing because of Sophia’s stubbornness. “She is,” he stated as he turned to face Sophia. “Please stop. It’s not funny, and you look desperate.”

Sophia was stunned and couldn’t answer him, so Dominic just pulled his luggage to leave the airport. He got in a taxi, but Sophia also got in, even though he had pushed her away several times.

“Sophia!” he yelled, pushing Sophia out, but she wouldn’t let go, and the woman was still forcing to accompany him. “I’m not playing your games, Sophia; stop, or I’ll take my daughter from you,” he stated.

Sophia giggled and paid no attention to what Dominic was saying to her.

“I’ll still be with you wherever you go!” Sophia exclaimed as she turned to face the taxi driver. “On the island of San Martín!”

The driver nodded and drove towards Island San Martín. Dominic shook his head, realizing he couldn’t go down any further.

“Damn it! Scarlett will only distance herself from me even more if she finds out Sophia and I are together!” he grumbled, moving away from Sophia, but she moved to be next to him.

His eyes widened as Sophia clung to his arm and laid on his shoulder. “Damn! You did it on purpose!” he shouted, pushing Sophia. “Stay away from me!”

Sophia’s grin irritated Dominic as she pressed her body even closer to him.

“Damn you! I’ll kill you later!” he muttered, crossing his arms, so Sophia couldn’t hold his arm. “F-ck! I miss my wife.”

***

While Scarlett continues to come up with a strategy to rescue Erin, who Solen Madrid has imprisoned in her hideout for several days.

“It will be difficult for us to re-enter their hideout. After what happened to Erin, they will tighten the surveillance so that we can’t enter.” said Rios, annoyed.

Scarlett just hit the table and looked at the whiteboard. “So, there’s no hope for Erin to be saved? F-ck. This is all my fault.” she screamed.

Rios and Claire just sighed, not knowing how to re-enter Solen Madrid’s territory, especially with so many people watching them.

“How do you intend to conceal your identity, Scarlett?”

Out of frustration, Scarlett sat on the sofa and poured wine while thinking about how to take back Erin from the enemies.

“My plan for that won’t go awry. I’m ready, whatever happens.” She answered.

Dane came up to her.

“There will be a battle in an arena, and according to the people here on the island, there will be a battle every time there is a festival.”

Scarlett raised an eyebrow. “A festival?”

Dane nodded and showed her pictures of the battle every time there was a festival on the island.

“Many business executives come to bet with the participants. Rich people also make it illegal here in San Martín. I’m sure Solen Madrid will come that night.”

Claire and Scarlett exchanged glances because they were thinking the same thing.

“This is your chance to join their group, Scarlett Knights, and to meet someone new,” said Claire with a smirk.

Scarlett nodded, gripping her arm tightly. She took out her phone and dialed Carter’s number.

“Have you heard of Arena?”

The person on the other end of the line sighed.

(“Yes, I didn’t tell you… I apologize,”)

Scarlett looked out her bedroom window at the land of San Martín.

“It’s okay. As long as I can enter Solen Madrid’s group myself, there shouldn’t be any problems,” she said to Carter, who sighed again.

(“May I ask, Scarlett, are you still dreaming about Grandma?”)

Scarlett came to a halt and took a deep breath.

“I’m fine; perhaps it was just a dream.”

(“It’s not a dream, Scarlett; it’s real.”)

She was about to say something when the other line went silent, so she frowned at her phone.

“What is he saying?” she whispered. She looked out her window once again, but something took aback her when she saw a familiar face.

She even opened the curtain in her room to see the familiar person. Her eyes narrowed as she confirmed her suspicion, then widened as she recognized them.

“What the f-ck are they doing here?!?”

She closed the curtain and exited the room, causing the surprise of his companions.

“Scarlett?”

She looked around and couldn’t be wrong. Dominic and Sophia entered the building.

She looked at Claire. “To whom did you give the kids with, Claire?”

Claire raised an eyebrow in response to Scarlett’s question.

“To Dominic, I just did what we both discussed. Why?”

Scarlett shook her head and held her brow. “Dominic has arrived… with Sophia!”

Scarlett’s sayings surprised Rios and Claire.

“What? Impossible! I told him not to follow you before I gave him the children! F-ck! He's so stubborn!”

Scarlett just shook her head, and she looked at her phone and saw Carter’s last message, surprising her. “Oh my god, brother Carter!”

Claire frowned and thought because it appeared to be… “Did Carter tell Dominic where you were?”

She nodded and showed Claire Carter’s message to her, she was just talking to earlier.

“Wow, nice!”

Scarlett glared at Rios as he adjusted his seat, but he just grinned.

“The more… the merrier, right?”

Scarlett threw a slipper at Rios, who laughed and moved away.

“He can help us. Dominic has a habit of going up to the house like he used to go up to your room,” Rios said, whistled to irritate Scarlett even more.

Scarlett’s eyes widened, but she only stared at her cousin, who was making fun of her.

“You asshole! Just do the job before I get annoyed and send you back to Manila!” Scarlett yelled, throwing a slipper at Rios, who just smirked before returning to the monitor.

“Rios is right; you are aware of his abilities, right?”

She didn’t respond anymore because if she became irritated, she would send her two companions back to Manila. When someone knocked on their door, they came to a halt. They all looked at her, but only Claire and Rios nodded.

“I’m quite busy.”

“Yeah, me too; I need to speak with Carter, TSK.”

Scarlett looked at Dane, whom Rios had forced to sit next to him.

“I need him,” said Rios as he kissed Dane’s hand.

“What the hell… Rios!”

She ran to the door as the three laughed at her. Dominic greeted her with a smile as she opened the door.

“He-he, Scarlett…”

She rolled her eyes and looked at her companions, who were staring at her, but quickly returned to their work. Scarlett sighed and drew Dominic out to have a serious conversation with him.

“What are you doing here, Dominic?” she asked, glaring at him.

Dominic swallowed and scratched his forehead. “I came here to see you.”

Scarlett closed her eyes to calm herself down. “You don’t have—” Dominic didn’t finish what she was going to say.

“But… I have to,” Dominic explained. Scarlett came to a halt but sighed, knowing she couldn't stop Dominic.

“We had a talk, Dominic. Take care of our kids and protect them. It’s not like this,” Scarlett said, her fists clenched. “You’re not listening to me,” she added.

Dominic came to a halt because he knew Scarlett would be annoyed to see him, but… “I want to help you; you don’t have to go through this alone; I’m already here.”

Scarlett shook her head in reaction to Dominic’s stubbornness. He didn’t listen to anything she said.

“I don’t need your help,” she stated.

Scarlett’s sayings made Dominic speechless and they both went silent.

“Go back to Manila. Protect my children, end of discussion,” she said to Dominic before returning inside.

Dominic didn’t follow her because he knew Scarlett was only mad because he had come here.

“I told you, Dominic, she doesn’t need your help.” Sophia smiled and said to Dominic that he pushed her away and went into his suite.

Sophia shook her head and grins. “This is interesting,” she whispered as she entered the room where she was supposed to go.

“What brings you here?”

“Are you serious, brother?”

Jaguar gave her a blank stare. “Go back to Manila.”

Sophia smiled and sat on Jaguar’s bed.

“This is fascinating; I can’t wait to see her suffer,” Sophia said as she lay on the bed, staring at Jaguar. “Are you going to start the plan?”

“What plan? The plan to annoy Scarlett?”

Sophia snorted.

“Of course! Don’t tell me you’re madly in love with her!”

Jaguar grinned and turned to look out the window at the beautiful scenery outside.

“Why not? I want to make her mine.”

Sophia came to a halt when Jaguar told her.

“No, brother. Can it be with someone else? But not her! Not Scarlett! We have to make her and her entire family suffer!”

Jaguar shook his head and laughed at what Sophia said.

“Leave. My father is looking for you.”

It took aback and only swallowed Sophia before diving into Jaguar's bed.

“I’d like to sleep here!”

“No, you must leave or else…”

Sophia snorted and protested her way out of bed. “Fine! Don’t forget about our plan!”

She kissed Jaguar on the cheek before sneaking out of his room, fearful that someone she knew would notice her. Perhaps their plans will be destroyed.

Jaguar smirked. “She’s not my type; I like someone else.”

***

“I told you to go back to Manila, Dominic!” Scarlett exclaimed when she noticed Dominic inside their suite.

And who is the instigator? Rios, his cousin.

It’s been a few days since Dominic arrived, and she can’t concentrate on what she’s going to do, especially with the festival approaching, but they haven’t been able to save Erin. Erin’s life became more dangerous as the day progressed.

“No, I’ll stay! Tell me your plan, and I’ll help you.”

Scarlett looked at them before entering her room and banging the door shut.

They shook their heads at each other.

“Solen Madrid imprisoned Erin in her hideout here in San Martín. We need to save him first, but we don’t know how to re-enter their territory because there are too many guards now.” Claire explained. Dominic gave a nod.

“We need your skills to find out where they’ve imprisoned Erin, and then… we'll take care of it,”

Dominic frowned and nodded. “So… What is her plan?”

Claire and Rios exchanged glances before shaking their heads. Scarlett will be even angrier when they reveal her plan.

“Sometimes we don’t know what’s going through her mind; you know her, she doesn’t like to talk; she prefers to fight alone,” Rios shrugged as he patted Dominic on the shoulder.

Dominic sighed as he looked at Scarlett’s room before getting up to go to Scarlett, but she came out of the room with a blank expression.

“Scarlett, where are you going?”

Scarlett ignored them and walked out of their suite. They nodded at Dominic to follow Scarlett, so he sighed and went out to do so.

While Scarlett, with a blank expression, walking to a restaurant where she would meet the person she was speaking with.

*** FLASHBACK

Scarlett sat on the bed, staring at her whiteboard, planning how they would re-enter the territory. She came to a halt when she got a call.

“Yes?”

(“Oh, do you need my help?”)

Scarlett came to a halt and looked at the phone number that had called her.

“Who is this?”

On the other end of the line, she could hear irritating laughter.

“It’s me, little tiger.”

It took a back, Scarlett and stared at the name, which annoyed her.

“Oh, I don’t need your help!”

She was about to put down when he said something that took her breath away.

(“I’m glad to help you with your plans.”)

Scarlett inhaled deeply and gripped her phone tightly.

(“This is your opportunity to see them, the mastermind.”)

She was stunned even more and took a deep breath.

“We have to talk.”

(“We’ll meet at the Restaurant near your building; see you there.”)

Scarlett hung up the phone and dressed.

Erin is on her mind right now; she can save her cousin and use Jaguar to track down the mastermind.

*** END OF FLASHBACK

“Hello there, little tiger?”

She blinked and took a seat in front of the Jaguar.

“I don’t want to waste my time; tell me about the festival and about fighting in the arena,” she said. Jaguar raised his lips to tease Scarlett, who it irritated with him.

While Dominic had been looking for Scarlett for quite a while ago, but couldn’t find her.

“Dominic!”

Dominic’s mood changed when he saw Sophia smiling and waving at him.

“Are you looking for Scarlett? I know where she is.”

Sophia pulled him away, which irritated him and caused him to pull back his hand.

“Oh, there she is,”

It surprised him and frowned when he spotted Scarlett talking to someone he didn’t know.

“Who is he?”