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147


SCARLET'S POINT OF VIEW

I stepped into the house, my shopping bags in hand, still lost in my thoughts. The encounter at the mall lingered in my mind, the man’s piercing gaze, the way he looked at me like he knew me—like he knew everything about me.

Alex’s father.

Or at least, that’s what he claimed to be.

I had questions, so many of them, but he hadn’t answered any. Just stood there, watching me, saying cryptic things before vanishing into the crowd. My gut told me this wasn’t the last time I’d see him.

I shook off the unease, placing the bags down and slipping off my heels. My feet ached, but that was the least of my worries.

"Where have you been?"

I turned to see Alex standing in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest. His jaw was clenched, eyes locked on me like he was trying to read my mind.

"Out," I said, moving past him.

His scent hit me—strong, dominant, intoxicating—but I ignored it, just like I ignored him.

"You didn’t answer my calls."

"I didn’t feel like talking."

He exhaled sharply. "Scarlet, I don’t like this silence between us. If you have something to say, just say it."

I kept walking, heading toward the stairs. His footsteps followed close behind.

"Did something happen?" His voice was lower now, less frustration, more curiosity.

I stopped, gripping the railing. Did I tell him? Would it change anything?

No. Not yet.

"Nothing happened," I muttered.

"That’s a lie," he said. "I can see it all over your face. You look—" He stopped, and I felt his hand wrap around my wrist, pulling me to face him.

"Let me go, Alex."

"Not until you talk to me."

I met his gaze, my heart thudding in my chest. The intensity in his eyes made my breath hitch. It always did.

"Talking to you doesn’t change anything," I snapped, yanking my hand free.

His jaw tightened. "So we’re back to this?"

"Back to what? Back to you lying? Back to you thinking you can just decide everything for me?" My chest rose and fell rapidly. "Maybe I’m just tired, Alex. Did you think of that?"

His expression softened for a second, like he wanted to say something else, but he didn’t.

"Scarlet…" He reached for me again, but I stepped back.

"Don’t," I whispered.

Frustration flickered in his eyes. "Why are you shutting me out?"

"Why are you pretending to care?" The words spilled out before I could stop them.

A muscle ticked in his jaw. "You know I care."

I laughed, shaking my head. "Do I?"

His hands curled into fists at his sides. "Is this because of what happened at the engagement party?"

I rolled my eyes. "You think that’s the only reason?"

"Then tell me what it is!"

I was silent. Because I couldn’t.

I should have told him about his father, about the way he looked at me, the way his presence made my stomach churn. But something stopped me.

I didn’t trust Alex. Not completely. Not yet.

And that realization hit harder than I expected.

His eyes searched mine. "Is there someone else?"

I scoffed. "You’re unbelievable."

His hands shot out, caging me against the wall before I could move. "Then tell me what the hell is going on, Scarlet. Because I’m losing my mind here."

I swallowed, my pulse erratic. "Move."

He didn’t.

My fingers curled into fists at my sides, my nails biting into my palms. "Alex," I warned.

I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at nothing. My mind replayed the scene over and over—my parents, their defeated expressions, their silent pleas. They lost everything, and I knew why. I knew Alex’s reasons, his twisted version of justice, but it didn’t make it easier to accept.

They weren’t innocent, but they weren’t monsters either.

I ran my fingers over my stomach. A slow exhale left my lips. I had to stay strong. I had to think ahead.

The door swung open.

I didn’t have to look to know it was him.

Alex’s presence filled the room, heavy, commanding. He walked in, shutting the door behind him.

"Who did you meet today?"

I kept my face blank. "No one."

A pause. Then, "Liar."

My heart thumped. I glanced at him, meeting his intense gaze.

His head tilted slightly. "Try again, Scarlet."

I shifted my legs, trying to appear relaxed. "I went shopping. Alone."

His lips pressed into a thin line. "And somehow, you managed to run into my father?"

I froze.

How did he know?

Alex stepped closer, eyes dark with something unreadable. "I told you not to lie to me."

I clenched my fists. "I didn’t tell you because it didn’t matter."

"Everything about him matters."

"He didn’t say anything important."

"You still should have told me."

I scoffed. "Why? So you can lock me up even more than you already have?"

Alex’s expression darkened. "You think this is a joke?"

"I think you don’t trust me."

He let out a slow breath, running a hand through his hair. "I don’t trust him. And I sure as hell don’t trust you making stupid decisions."

I glared. "You don’t own me, Alex."

His eyes flashed. "You live under my roof. You carry my child. You belong to me, Scarlet."

My stomach twisted at his possessiveness.

"I belong to no one," I shot back.

Alex took another step forward, so close I could feel the heat radiating from him. "Then stop acting like a reckless child."

Anger bubbled inside me. "I met him for five minutes. He barely said a thing."

"That’s five minutes too long."

"You can’t control everything!"

His hand shot out, gripping my chin, tilting my face up to his. His touch wasn’t rough, but it held enough force to stop me from pulling away.

"Watch me," he murmured.

I jerked back, shaking with frustration. "You’re impossible!"

"You’re careless," he countered.

"You’re paranoid!"

"You’re mine."

I let out a harsh laugh. "That’s your favorite excuse, isn’t it?"

Alex’s nostrils flared. "I’m warning you, Scarlet. You don’t leave this house again unless I take you."

I folded my arms. "Or what?"

A slow smirk tugged at his lips. "You already know."

My body heated in frustration. "You’re insane."

He stepped closer, pressing me back against the dresser. His hand landed on the wood beside my hip, caging me in.

"Say it again."

I swallowed hard. "You’re—"

The room spun.

My breath hitched. A wave of dizziness crashed over me, sudden and overwhelming. My knees buckled.

"Scarlet?"

Alex caught me before I hit the floor.

"Scarlet!"

The world blurred. My limbs felt weak, my head light.

"Shit," Alex muttered, scooping me up effortlessly.

I fought to stay conscious, but my eyelids felt like bricks. His scent surrounded me—woodsy, familiar, intoxicating.

"Damn it, Scarlet, wake up."

I wanted to snap at him, to push him away, to fight him. But I couldn’t.

I was too tired.

Too weak.