Chapter 14 Kidnapping the Child
Scarlett returned to her workstation, grabbed her bag, and walked out of the company building while dialing Zane's number.
"Dad, where did you take Yara?" She asked.
"Yara's at home. Opal missed her and went to school to bring her back. Come over—we need to talk," Zane's voice came through.
So they were using Yara to lure her home? Typical family tactics.
"I can't get away right now," Scarlett replied diplomatically. "Since you both wanted to see Yara, let her stay with you today, and you can drop her off at my office before the end of the day."
"Whatever you're dealing with can wait," Zane commanded sternly.
A cold smile played on her lips as she dropped her bombshell. "I'm on my way to meet Ambrose. If I don't, the company might be blacklisted tomorrow."
Silence fell on the other end of the line. After a few seconds, Zane's voice returned.
"In that case, Yara will stay with us. You can come get her when you're done with your business."
He might as well have said she couldn't see Yara until she resolved the Ross Group situation.
Scarlett hung up and reached her parking spot. She got in her car and slumped helplessly over the steering wheel, with only one thought consuming her mind: she had to get Yara back.
Wesley wouldn't willingly return Yara to her, so she'd have to take matters into her own hands. After considering her options, she called Briar.
"I need two skilled bodyguards," she said, her eyes filled with determination.
Briar asked in surprise, "Is Wesley threatening you?"
Scarlett explained how Opal had taken Yara, and that she needed people to help her reclaim her daughter from the Ross family. After listening, Briar promised indignantly to find skilled bodyguards to help retrieve Yara.
Briar then inquired about the blacklisting situation, and Scarlett candidly shared details about her arrangement with Ambrose.
Currently at Culinary Haven for a business meeting, Briar commented teasingly, "This deal is basically a fair exchange, though your skills are impressive. But my intuition says he's interested in more than just your abilities."
Scarlett dismissed this. "Your intuition? Not very reliable."
"How can you say that!" Briar protested.
After chatting briefly, they hung up. Briar headed back toward her private dining room, looking down at her phone to contact potential bodyguards.
Suddenly, someone bumped into her shoulder, causing her to stagger against the hallway wall. Her temper flared, but when she looked up, ready to curse, she recognized a familiar face.
Wasn't this Ambrose's bodyguard?
"Ms. Reed, are you alright?" Chase asked with concern when he saw Briar.
Briar mechanically shook her head, then a thought struck her. She put away her phone.
"What a coincidence," Briar said, suddenly all smiles, almost flatteringly so.
Chase gave her a brief glance. Seeing she was fine, he prepared to leave, but Briar called after him.
"Wait."
Chase stopped, his expression questioning. Briar smiled and asked, "Could you recommend two skilled bodyguards?"
Chase looked thoughtful. "Ms. Reed needs bodyguards?"
Briar shook her head and explained, "They're for Scarlett. Her and her daughter's safety is being threatened."
Since Ambrose was helping Scarlett terminate her contract with the Ross Group, surely helping find bodyguards would be a small favor!
Chase naturally knew of Scarlett and automatically inquired, "What happened to Ms. Mellon?"
Scarlett had previously instructed Briar not to mention her marriage to Wesley in front of others, so Briar kept it brief.
"Scarlett and Yara's personal safety is at risk because of Mr. Boleyn's blacklisting issue."
Chase, well aware of Ambrose's intentions regarding Scarlett's blacklisting, immediately agreed to help when he heard about the threat to her safety.
They exchanged contact information, ensuring the bodyguards would arrive within twenty minutes. Having resolved the matter, Briar eagerly informed Scarlett that she'd found the bodyguards.
At noon, Scarlett and her bodyguards headed to the Ross Villa.
The Ross Villa was located in an upscale residential area in the city. Here, she had taken care of Zane and Opal's daily needs while Wesley was rarely present.
Four years had passed this way.
With unpleasant memories flooding back, Scarlett entered the Ross Villa's living room and immediately heard crying, accompanied by Opal's scolding.
"All you do is cry, you money-draining brat, heartless just like your mother."
Then came the sound of porcelain shattering.
"You little wretch, you broke my treasured vase! I'll kill you!" Opal's furious screams reached Scarlett's ears.
Scarlett rushed upstairs, hearing Zane's attempts to intervene.
"What are you doing? Are you really going to hit the child?" Zane's voice of dissuasion came.
"She broke the vase, and it was very expensive. She deserves it!" Opal shouted, lunging forward.
Hearing this, Scarlett flew into the room to see Opal wielding a wooden stick, chasing Yara, who was sobbing uncontrollably.
Scarlett froze for a moment, then blood rushed to her head as she watched the stick strike Yara while she ran. Her anger erupted.
"Stop!"
With a loud shout, Scarlett rushed in front of Yara, using her body to block the descending stick. A sharp pain shot through her back.
Scarlett turned, her eyes murderous as she glared at Opal. "You dare abuse Yara?"
Opal froze when she saw Scarlett, momentarily stunned. Before she could react, the two bodyguards rushed in and seized the stick from her hand. Regaining her senses and noticing the strangers, Opal pointed accusingly at Scarlett.
"How dare you! Bringing people to invade our home, planning to attack two elderly people!"
"I don't hit children or the elderly, but today I might make an exception since you laid hands on Yara," Scarlett retorted.
With that, Scarlett rushed to the bodyguards, grabbed the stick, and was about to charge at Opal when Zane shouted.
"Scarlett! Would you disrespect your elders by striking them?"
Scarlett halted, glaring hatefully at Opal. Still legally married, she couldn't resort to violence, but she wouldn't let Yara's suffering go unanswered. She strode to where Opal's other vases were displayed and swept the stick across them.
All the vases crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces.
"My precious vases!" Opal shrieked as she ran over.
Opal knelt on the floor, muttering about the vases and demanding Scarlett pay a substantial sum for them.
"Someone as vicious as you hits Yara and expects me to compensate you? Keep dreaming!" Scarlett fumed. She had never raised a hand to Yara. She tossed aside the stick and went to embrace her daughter.
Opal snapped back to reality and lunged at Scarlett. "I'll kill you, you bitch!"
Scarlett, holding Yara, was caught off guard by Opal's swift attack. Mother and daughter were knocked to the ground, and Opal seized the opportunity to strike Scarlett's face.
While protecting Yara, Scarlett's neck was hit, leaving a long, stinging mark. Seeing Opal about to pounce again, she swung back defensively.