To Get Involved or Not?

Scarlett's POV

"They didn't abandon me?" I asked softly to no one in particular...

I honestly  didn't know that I would be so affected by this. I was already completely fine knowing that I had been left at the orphanage as that was all I was told my entire life. That and that no one liked me.

Surviving was the only thing that mattered, because it didn't matter if I was abandoned or not, I would keep living and get out of that damn place. The people who wronged me would pay for their actions. Oliver did that; he avenged me. When I told him about the houses I went through, about almost being raped a few times... I saw the report of what he did and was happy to know that I had been avenged.

"From what it seems, no... They were trying to escape, but were found before they could. I don't know why Rifle took you to the orphanage." Jonah replied.

I traced my finger over my mother's face, wondering what would have become of me if they had been alive and had managed to escape. Then a drop fell on the photograph, and only then did I notice that I was silently crying

I took a deep steadying breath, blinked a few times, and placed the photograph back on the table. Jonah handed me a white handkerchief, and I dried my tears with a sigh.

"What do you want?" Roman's voice echoed strongly.

"As I said before, I just want to have a good relationship with Miss Scarlett. I hope this is enough proof of my sincerity." Jonah replied, and I opened my eyes.

"As far as I know, all of this could be made up." Roman said as he stood close to me, placing his hand on my shoulder.

"Yes, it could... But I didn't do that." Jonah replied calmly, not seeming offended by Roman's words.

"I need time." I finally managed to say.

"I understand, I'll have the things delivered to your apartment." Jonah said.

"No, deliver it to Oliver." I spoke, feeling more confident. "He will know what to do with it, for now."

Jonah seemed surprised but agreed.

"Thank you for the information." I stood up, taking the napkin off my lap and placing it on the table. "I need to go."

Jonah also stood, took the photo, placed it back in the envelope, and handed it to me.

It took me a few seconds, but I did eventually accept the envelope.

"Thank you, Mr. Jonah." I said, gave a brief nod, and left the VIP room.

I handed the envelope to Roman, my head was racing, and I had completely lost my appetite. There was just too much to process. We were soon standing in front of the restaurant as our car approached.

As soon as I got in, I closed my eyes and leaned my head back.

"Scarlett? Do you believe what Jonah told you?" Roman asked. Gabriel and Jasmine were in the front seats; they didn't know what happened yet.

"Yes, I don't think he would go to the trouble of making up a story like that just to be my friend." I replied.

"Do you think he was sincere?" Roman asked.

"I think so, but I also know that he has a lot to gain from my friendship." Scarlett replied.

"What do you plan to do?" Roman asked.

"Me? I don't know... The only thing I know is that I want to go home, eat something, and go to bed and  sleep. My head is spinning, and I still don't know how to feel about all this." I answered truthfully.

"Are you going to tell them?" Roman asked.

"I will."

With that, the conversation ended. I believe Roman will inform Oliver about everything.

As soon as I arrived at the apartment, Klaus and Liam were at the door.  They were worried.

"Scarlett, you're pale!" Klaus was the first to speak, and I noticed the anger in his voice.

Liam wrapped me in a tight hug.

"I'm going to cut all ties with the Harvey family." Klaus continued.

"No..." I took a deep breath.

"I'll prepare something for you to eat." Roman said, and I saw him head toward the kitchen.

"You came back so quickly." Liam whispered, and I just closed my eyes.

I just wanted to stay in his arms. Feel his warmth and had the certainty of being where I was meant to be. Soon I felt Klaus' arms as well and I sighed. I knew that they probably had a hundred and one questions to ask about what happened, but I wasn’t ready to talk about it yet.

"Everything will be okay." Klaus said with affection.

I closed my eyes tightly, feeling my body go limp and the tears run down my face. My parents wanted me; my parents died because they wanted me... Life happened, why couldn’t anything be simple? Now I was no longer abandoned.

Klaus and Liam held me tighter, and the comfort they brought me, broke me just a little more, my heart was aching, and I didn't know what to do. The only thing I could think about was the fact that my parents wanted me, but that they were dead. Whether it was because Wesley ordered it or whether it was because Bullet was looking for the traitor, my parents wanted me. They fought for me.

I don't know how long I stood quietly crying in the arms of the two people I love, but it felt like an eternity before I finally calmed down enough to let them go.

"Let's have dinner." Liam said, wiping my face with a white handkerchief and then moved away.

I just nodded, and they accompanied me to the dining room where my plate was already served and waiting for me.

Roman had prepared a light meal, knowing that I wouldn't be able to eat much. I was grateful to have such good friends. As I ate, I felt more revitalized, and despite my heart still aching and feeling heavy, I knew that I had friends and people who loved me, who would gladly help me through this phase.

When I finished eating, I took a deep breath and then extended my hand toward Roman, who handed me the envelope. I opened it and showed Klaus and Liam the photo and the letter it contained, explaining what Jonah had told me.

As I spoke, my voice faltered a time or two, but I continued until there was nothing left to tell them anymore. Klaus and Liam looked at me in surprise, but also with worry; they knew how much this affected me.

"I... I was from the Black Forest Pack." Liam said, and my heart raced more. "I didn't have a very high position there, but... I remember, as a child there were rumors about the Luna betraying the Alpha. I never met her, but everyone knew about it, at the time, because there was a bounty on the heads of the traitors." He said.

So Jonah's account of what happened is real and true. I took another deep breath.

"I don't remember much. I was only about five years old at the time, but I know that the pack changed. From what the older people said, the Black Forest Pack changed for the worse. 'Heartless' began to rule with an iron fist, and those he considered traitors died extremely agonizing deaths."

Liam continued, and I bit my bottom lip... What happened to my parents affected many people; every action had a reaction.

"As far as I know, Wesley is still the Alpha of the pack." Roman said. 

“I don't know if I want to pursue this matter... My parents are already dead... Besides, what if this guy finds out that the daughter of the woman who betrayed him is alive and decides to come after me?" I said calmly. "I feel better knowing that I wasn't abandoned, but on the other hand, pursuing this won't change the fact that my parents are dead."

"I agree." Klaus said. "I think it's too risky to dig up the history behind this picture and report."

"I think if he had to come after you, he would have... You look a lot like your mother, and lately, you've been quite famous. You've been in newspapers and gossip magazines, as well as on social media." Liam said.

"It is possible that he hasn’t  seen all the publicity and news." I said. "I only started paying attention to it when I opened my company." I took a deep breath.

"Very few people know that you were involved in Bullet's downfall, so it's very difficult to judge and reach you, and if Wesley had indeed seen you, he would have tried something by now. So I think it's important to not pursue this story." Klaus spoke more rationally.

"I agree." I smiled and then put away the photo and the letter, handing the envelope to Roman. "You can talk to Oliver about this, but I think this is the best solution." I advised him.

"Jonah will deliver the rest of their findings to Oliver. Do you want to know anything?" Roman asked seriously.

"Only if it's very important." I smiled sadly.

"Alright then." Roman put away the envelope. "I'll go and meet with Oliver." He said as he turned and left.

I just gave him a brief nod.