Chapter 96 Whore for hire.
CHAPTER 96
Whore for hire.
SCARLETT – POINT OF VIEW
I keep waiting for a while, but no one comes in. My body braces for the attack that doesn’t come.
Did I misread the situation? What the hell?
I quietly walk out of the restroom and bump into Adeline.
“He’s not gone. He was waiting for someone, a woman, I think she’s his wife.” She whispers, and I nod.
I created a scenario in my head and would have attacked an innocent man if he had walked into the restroom. An innocent man for nothing. I would have killed him, vindictive in what I believed to be true. There’s something truly wrong with me.
“It’s alright, let’s go home.” She urges, smiling as if what just happened is normal. It’s not. I hate the person this war has moulded me into. I hate the burden placed on me every month. I want peace. I want to rest. I want to feel the sun shine on me at the beach without thinking everyone is a threat, and I want Roman.
Oddly enough, he’s the only one I want right now. I don’t want to be here. I want to be with him. He has a way of making me forget my problems. A certain comfort wrapped around him. Even if everything falls apart, I’ll have the time we spent together.
I let Adeline drag me to the car, where Alessandro and Stefano are waiting for us.
She tries to talk about what just happened, but I don’t want to have any conversation. I just want to go home. Roman is a semblance of home for me, one I cling to a bit harder.
“I’m sure it was nothing. Your flight or fight was just going off. Your body recognises danger and wants to protect you. Just because he wasn’t dangerous doesn’t mean others aren’t. It’s not such a big deal when you think about it.” She gushes, reaching for my hand, but I slip from her hold and step out of the car.
“I’m sorry, Adeline, but I cannot be here. This place makes me worse. I have thrown away my life and become the person I tried to avoid. I was going to kill that man there. An innocent man. I would have slit his throat for nothing, all because I am so paranoid? It doesn’t make sense. This is not who I am supposed to be. I didn’t go to Budapest, then Oxford, for this. My parents didn’t die for me to be nothing but a bloodthirsty cunt. I want to be different, so I’m going home.” I tell her sternly.
“You want to be different, or you want to hide? Go home, then. Hide. Be Scarlett Sterling. Throw away the person you truly are. Forget your heritage and everything that has been sacrificed for you to be here. You don’t have the guts either way, the guts and bravery to do what needs to be done. You’re weak, so go hide. I’m sure your parents died so you can drink champagne and pretend to be a billionaire’s handbag.” She snarls at me, cheeks flushed.
I scoff and roll my eyes, “Are you serious right now? Are you calling me an accessory? Fuck you, Adeline. You have no idea what it is like. You never left your home. You have remained here. You have your mother, and now, you’re married to Luca, who might be an asshole, but he is a good man. You have no right to talk to me as if I know nothing, as if it has been easy for me. This is the reality I find myself in, and I must make the best out of it. Simple. So mock me for it, hate me for it, but you’re just hating yourself.”
I walk away, but she calls me back with her words.
“You do not have the guts to do what needs to be done.”
I yell back, “Says the princess who has been sheltered her whole life! I left home. I went to Oxford. I moved around the world. I had a life, and then, it burned down, with my parents in it. Do not compare us because we’re not the same. You have a life. You have your mother. You don’t get to hide while I wear many faces and reach for the knife every time. You have no idea what it means to be me, and that’s a privilege. Maybe I don’t have the guts to do what needs to be done, but I’ll try.”
“Try? Is that what you call parading with Sterling, letting him use you for what he wants? That’s what you call trying. Your father would be turning in the grave right now. His daughter is a whore for hire.” She spits, and my heart breaks.
My cheeks flush, and rage burns through me.
“You don’t get to talk to me that way, not when I trusted you, Adeline, but maybe this is good. This is who we are. Our lives are nothing but means to an end. Our relationship, our friendships, even. This has been good, but everything has to come to an end. I’d say ditch the dumb blonde persona and embody the bloodthirsty monster you really are, but you already do that anyway. I hope Luca knows who his Queen is.” I shake my head in disappointment and walk away.
“As long as you’re in Italy, I am your Queen, too. I am the Queen of La Cosa Nostra. You will show me respect.” She roars, but I am long gone and do not look back.
I rush to my room and pack the clothes I can in a small suitcase. I call Roman as I pack. He picks on the second ring.
“Hey, baby.” He says.
“I’m coming home., I respond, heart still pounding.
“What’s going on? Are you okay? Are you hurt?” He asks urgently.
“I’m fine. Adeline and I are done. I miss you, Roman, and I’m coming home.” I say, and it’s only half a lie.