Chapter 30: Tangled Loyalties

Maybe the smell of lavender and something darker bitterness lingered in the east veranda air where Scarlet watched rains chase each other across the glass railing. The storm had turned into a drizzle, but the strain in her chest would not go away. Her fingers curled around the hem of her robe, ideas running ceaseless around Tucker, Wyatt, Michael's warnings, the journal entries, the folder of evidence now buried deep beneath layers of silk scarves in her closet.

The time with Tucker last night still lingered on her skin, a kiss like sadness and need, a confession damaged more than eased. I hate you for ruining me still. Had not left her since the words. Their curling in her blood, their stirring of her breath, disturbed her will. She did not hear the footsteps behind her until they were too near. "Scar." Her name burst across the silence. She whirled sharply. Bernard: His coat hung to his large frame as he stood under the archway, rain-soaked, breath clear in the cold air. His dark curls were moist, his eyes glistened with something unsettles. Her froze. "What are you working on here? "I really had to see you." You ought to have given a call. "I did," he answered, forward stepping. "You missed the reply." Scarlet breathed and massaged her arms. "This is not a decent moment." "It never is when you're with him," Bernard remarked, voice low, slanted with something she hadn't heard in him before hatred. She grumbled. "Never start." He moved still another step toward closeness. no. Not for this time. I have been quiet. I have provided encouragement.

I said nothing as I saw you enter this marriage like a lamb headed toward a butcher's table. I reminded myself you made that decision. That perhaps you had a motive. However, right now? I'm done assuming. She straightened out. "What are you referencing??" He pointed behind them to indicate the mansion. You've changed. You no longer even qualify as her partner.

You have evolved into among them. his spouse. Her puppet. Not fair is what I say here. " Isn't it?" His voice shattered. "You believe I fail to see what is happening? You believe I fail to see his public pulling of your strings? How do you shrink around him? I understand the changes this location causes in people. You don't know anything, Bernard. "I know you loved him once.” She faltered. "I also know he broke you, gently now," he said. "I went to pick up the fragments. You are now crawling back to the same fire that burnt you. "It's not that basic." Then go over it with me. Scarlet turned away with crossed arms. "I can't.." "Because you trust me less now?" His voice grew sharp. "Or because you trust him now? Silence flowed between them. Bernard pushed forward once more. "Scarlet... Join me.

Leave this site. Just leave him. Her heart slowed down. "What?," she inquired. "Let's leave. Tonight is You are not at this place. Never did. Her eyes screamed. I cannot. "Yes, you are able." He extended his hand toward her. "You simply won't." She gave her head a shake. You do not comprehend. Then aid me in understanding. "I am not the same girl you knew in the floral shop, Bernard. I have firsthand knowledge of stuff. I've lived through things. You're surviving him, he said sharply. She responded, "No," drawing her hand back. He is helping me to survive. The face of Bernard become twisted. So you are once more in love with him.

Scarlet's breath caught. She said, "I have no idea what I feel." But I have to find it. He will break you once more. "Maybe. I will not run this time, though. "You've changed," he said, voice hurting. "You always wanted me to be the version of Scarlet you knew. I cannot be her any more. He answered, "I wanted you to be protected." And you are not, in my opinion. She answered, quite sincerely, "I'm not." But I have to confront this. The color of Bernard's eyes darkened. Then I lost you. She blinks forcefully.

You hadn't, no. Still, you should let me handle things my way. He fixed her a long glance. Then he turned and disappeared onto the street beyond the front gate without saying another word. It was raining. Scarlet stayed still, the drizzle seeping into her robe now. She was chilled, not from the temperature. She saw no second shadow following the drapes in the upstairs window. Silent, Gabrielle Richards held a sleek phone in her fingers, her face as keen as a knife. She had every word captured on camera.

And she had already pushed "Send" by the time Bernard vanished. Tucker would have sight of everything. Nor would anything ever be the same once more. Tucker had been holding back all week; at last the storm broke. It started with a chime alerting him on his phone as he stood in his study going over legal changes with one hand and nursing a scotch in the other. Initially expecting it to be an alarm from the security team or another boardroom summary, he hardly looked at it. But something coiled in his gut, the instant he saw Gabrielle's name on the screen followed by the words: Thought you would want to see what your wife's up to. He started the conversation. And the world turned upside down. The film ran on. scarlet. On the verdant grounds. Grey light drenched in. Clearly audible in her speech. I'm not sure what I feel. but it's mine to work out. Moreover Bernard. Standing too near. Speaking too personally. " Come along. Leave here.

Release him. Tucker's jaw locked so hard it hurt. He ran over the footage again. The second time the words sounded more powerful. The quiet between them sounded terrible. "She's going to run again," he murmured to himself. His hold on the phone intensified. The amber liquid in his glass shinkled. His breathing came in quick, forceful bursts on the third playback. He pushed the glass against the tabletop. The roar sliced across the air. Outside, the windows started to gently tap from rain. a mock. A caution whispered. His footsteps sounded like the ticking of a time bomb as he hurried out the study. He stayed silent. With such power the doorknob slammed into the wall, he opened her bedroom. Startled, scarlet turned from where she stood next the mirror; her reflection caught his storm-filled eyes before she did. "Tucker" "What the hell is this?," said He barked and threw the phone on the bed where the video started to run once more. Scarlet's mouth opened, color washing from her face. "Where did you come upon that?" "Answer me," says It is not what you believe.

You will have to try harder than that. She stood forward. " Bernard showed up without invitation. None of it was scheduled by me. You also failed to stop him. " I did." You let him run across you. I shoved him aside. You let him speak things you couldn stop. The voice of Scar cracked. "Because I didn’s want to start a scene!" He laughed angrily. Well, right. God forbid you break the purity of this sham marriage we have created on silence and lies. Scarlet inhaled, willing herself to remain cool. "You are distorting this." "No," he responded, eyes ablaze. "I am at last seeing it clearly." "You would have me running right now? Afterwards all? You have never stopped running, in my opinion. Not fair is what I say here. "Nothing about this is fair, Scarlet!," he yelled. "I wed your friend." I returned into my life you.

You still kept bits of yourself locked up, and I gave you everything even though every impulse screaming at me not to trust you. "I didn't want this marriage," she said sharply. "You compelled it." AND you agreed. "I had nothing to choose from." You did indeed. You were always free to decide. You simply did not chose me. Something inside her broke with his speech. She shook hands at her sides. She whispered, "You wanted control," through tight teeth. "You never desired me. Not essentially. You only wanted to own what you felt you lost. His gaze contracted. Also you? You simply sought cover. A title. Over your pride is a roof. "I wanted to survive.."