Chapter 69 Scarlett is mine and mine alone.
CHAPTER 69
Scarlett is mine and mine alone.
ROMAN – POINT OF VIEW
Panic spreads in me, and I rush after her.
I find her on the ground, gripping the toilet bowl as she retches, with tears falling from her eyes.
My heart slams hard and fast, rattling my ribs and flushing through my cheeks.
I don’t think.
I sink to the ground and cradle her head softly, while rubbing circles on her back. She doesn’t stop crying or retching.
Her knuckles are white as she holds on to the ceramic bowl. I don’t know what to do, but one thing is certain: I can’t leave.
Guilt wraps around me like a noose. Did I do this? Did I push her too far? Have I made a mess I can’t fix? I need her. I need her like air. She is intertwined with my life. She has seeped into my ribs, and now, I can’t breathe without her.
I thread my fingers through her thick locks and murmur, “It’s okay, baby. I’m right here.”
She shudders and shoves my touch away.
I clench my jaw and stand up.
I look at her, hands in my pockets. Something happened to her, and I need to know what happened. She saw something on her phone. What did she see?
“Let me help you, Scarlett,” I whisper, almost pleading.
“Go to hell, Roman,” she groans out, and goes back to retching.
She has a way of always making me feel useless. I have more money than I need, and yet, nothing seems to help. Her consistent panic attacks make me worry, and now, this? Something is going on, and I need to figure it out.
I clench my jaw hard and step out of the bathroom. I make sure to grab her phone before walking down the stairs. The smell of pastries becomes stronger with every step I take. Everyone is in the living room, laughing amongst themselves. Rick stands by the door like a soldier. As much as I don’t want to ruin the moment, I have to. Scarlett is upstairs, having a panic attack and puking. She needs her sister.
“What’s wrong?” Rick notices me immediately.
Everyone looks at me.
“Where’s Scarlett?” Eve drops the box of chocolate, brows furrowed.
“She’s having a panic attack, crying and retching. I don’t know what happened. She saw something on her phone and broke down. She doesn’t want me to comfort her. Can you please check on her? Something is wrong.” My voice feels pathetic, lonely, and needy.
Scarlett has wormed her way into me and found a seat in my heart. She betrayed my trust, and yet, I need her more.
“What?” Eve gasps in horror.
She pushes me aside and runs up the stairs. Elena follows her closely behind.
“What did you do to her?” Rick walks to me, eyes filled with fury.
I smile dryly, “I want to make her bleed. I want to make her pay for what she did to me, but not like this, not this way. I would never make her cry like this.”
“You already have.” He snaps and walks past me.
The tension thickens and curdles. My pulse pounds and I clench my hand.
Someone hurt her. Gods, I want to burn the world to the ground for her.
“We should take a walk,” Caleb tells me, and I nod.
I glance at her phone and say, “One second,” then I turn on my heels and climb up the stairs.
The bedroom door is open. Rick stands by it, not going on, standing on the threshold, jaw clenched. I walk closer to him and freeze as a heartwrenching scream fills the air.
Scarlett.
My stomach twists in a pit of guilt.
I clench my jaw hard and hand Rick the phone. We don’t speak. I don’t mean to, but I take a peek into the bedroom and see her sobbing uncontrollably, in the arms of her sister.
Sharp icy pangs of regret cut through me. I walk away, join my friends, and we step out of the house. It feels haunted. I feel haunted, haunted by the words I’ve said, the things I’ve done to her, my unnecessary cruelty. I might not be the cause of her pain, but I sure added to it.
The sun is rising on the horizon, splashing the sky with colours and the promise of a beautiful day.
My heart feels heavy, as though anchored by a weight.
“I think she lost someone, and something reminded her of them.” Damian breaks the silence.
I frown, mulling over the possibility.
“Cut her some slack, Roman. Keep your punishment till tomorrow or whenever, not now, not when she’s so hurt.” Caleb whispers, pleading on her behalf.
There’s something about Scarlett that makes people fall in love with her.
We walk across the grounds. Luca’s estate is wide, and yet, so empty. The armed soldiers are not smiling, and neither are the staff. They lost someone important to them less than a month ago. I only met Luca’s father once, but he was kind, despite the power he held. I know Luca won’t follow his father’s footsteps. His rage has seeped into every part of the estate, black and heavy.
We find him on the balcony, alone, with a cigar between his lips.
“Heard you finally broke your girl. Good. I thought you went soft.” He flashes me an empty grin.
I freeze, his implication seeping in. “You heard?”
“This is my home. I know every single thing that’s happening.” He shrugs, not even remorseful for spying on us.
“Come on, Luca. You’re not spying on us, are you?” Caleb groans, disappointed.
“Not on you, you’re my friends, but on her. She’s hiding something, and I intend to find out what it is. I’m keeping my eyes on her.” He informs us nonchalantly, as if he didn’t just confess to watching my fiancée.
“Stop,” I order, my tone cold.
He looks at me and puffs out smoke, “No.”
“Luca,” I grit out, enraged.
“No, Roman. This is my home. You’re going to be here for a week. You might have gone soft on the woman who stole from us and betrayed you, but I haven’t. She has to pay.” He accuses, cheeks flushing in rage.
“And, she will pay, but she’s not yours to punish.” I hold back my anger.
“And, she’s yours? Wake up, brother, and see the truth. There’s more to her, and you know it. Fall in love with her, bed her, marry her, that’s your funeral, not mine. Do not push me right now, Roman. Do not fucking try me.” He warns, looking away from me.
“Scarlett shouldn’t be collateral damage for your grief. She didn’t kill your father. So, you will stop whatever it is you’re doing. I’m not asking. Scarlett is mine, and mine alone. Mine to punish. Mine, not yours.” I fume, my nails digging into my palm.
“You drown in your self-righteousness, yet you’re still plotting. Your father died, and you burned the world. Does she know why you’re doing all this? Does she know? Fuck off. You have no right to judge me.”