Chapter 16 The Life He Guards
The second red line crept onto the pregnancy test strip, slow and faint, like a secret trying to surface. It wasn't bold, but it was there—a weak positive.
She was pregnant.
Scarlett's knees gave way. She sank back onto the toilet lid, her eyes locked on that pale pink line as if it could rewrite her fate. Her mind was blank, yet heavy, like the air before a storm.
Sarah snatched the stick from her hand. Her fingers trembled with rage. "The bastard actually managed to get two women pregnant at the same time… damn him!"
She crouched down beside Scarlett, wrapping her arms around her. "Scarlett… what are you going to do? Are you keeping it?"
Scarlett didn't know.
After the wedding, she had promised Daniel they wouldn't have children. But deep down, she had always wanted one. She'd needed it—needed a child to anchor her place in his life, to prove their bond was real.
She'd even believed, foolishly, that if she gave him a child, he might finally accept her as his wife… maybe even love her. Now she knew how naïve, how humiliating that thought had been. She had sworn to let it go.
And yet, here the child was.
Her mind was a tangle of thoughts when her phone rang. She didn't even glance at the screen before answering, hoping for a distraction.
"Shadowlight? This is Alice. I'm calling about the commission. Mr. Ford from the Wilson Group should have made things clear—the price isn't an issue. If you're not satisfied, we can offer more."
Scarlett's phone was dual-SIM. Alice had called the number reserved for her Shadowlight identity.
Scarlett frowned, ready to hang up, when Alice's voice sharpened.
"I have the Wilson Group and the entire Star Group backing me. With their full promotion, your music will get the maximum exposure. Talent alone isn't enough to make it big. Plenty of gifted people have missed their chance by being arrogant, ending up discarded and blacklisted. Shadowlight, wouldn't you agree?"
She was one step away from threatening Scarlett outright—accept the deal or be shut out of the composing world forever.
Scarlett's expression turned cold.
Sarah was about to explode. She ripped the phone from Scarlett's hand and snapped, "Wow. First time I've heard someone dress up being a kept woman as something classy. Do you even know your own level? Shadowlight's music in your hands? With your bargain-bin violin skills? Please. Dropping the Wilson Group's name doesn't make you special. Who do you think you are—that the world should worship you? Your technique is trash, and you're just looking for shortcuts. If you ask me, you should go to bed early and stop calling to harass us."
She hung up hard, her breath sharp with fury.
Her eyes softened as she looked back at Scarlett. Scarlett had just found out she was pregnant, and now Alice was barging in, backed by Daniel, trying to steal her creative work. One blow after another—Sarah worried Scarlett wouldn't be able to take it.
But Scarlett only smiled. She stood, brushing her fingers over Sarah's cheek. "Come on. I don't feel like instant noodles anymore. Let's find a real restaurant. I owe that mouth of yours a proper feast."
Scarlett hooked her arm through Sarah's and headed for the door.
Seeing her so composed, Sarah exhaled in relief. "Exactly. You need good food now—something nourishing. And then we'll find a nice stepfather for Daniel's kid."
They swept out of the apartment like a storm.
Meanwhile, in a hospital room, Alice was shaking with anger. "Just some no-name composer… does she really think she's a world-class musician? I was doing her a favor by asking for her work. Did you hear what she just said?"
Laura tried to calm her, but Alice wasn't listening.
She could never forget the first time she had seen Scarlett—hair tied in a bun, wearing a pink-and-white princess dress, barefoot on the sofa, playing the violin. The melody had been pure magic, and Scarlett had looked like a princess from a castle.
But all of that should have been hers.
For years, Alice had clung to the violin, determined to outshine Scarlett. But her talent was average. Thora was a dancer, and though Alice was her biological daughter, it was Scarlett who had inherited the musical and artistic gifts.
No matter how hard Alice worked, she could never match her. Thora's fleeting looks of disappointment had burned into Alice's memory, feeding her hatred until it was bone-deep.
Now, back in the country, Alice was determined to make her debut recital unforgettable. Classic violin pieces would only expose her weaknesses.
So she had set her sights on Shadowlight. Last year, a young violinist had won a major international award with one of Shadowlight's pieces—a track with a hint of hip-hop that had dazzled audiences.
A piece like that could mask her technical flaws. It could make her a star.
"I'm getting that piece," Alice said, her eyes cold as she fixed them on Ronnie Ford from the Wilson Group. "Mr. Wilson put you in charge. I don't care how you do it. I only care about results. If you can't handle this small task, you won't have a job to complain about losing."
"Miss Brown, rest assured, I'll find Shadowlight and make sure we reach an agreement."
Scarlett spent the next two days job hunting without luck. It was clear Daniel was trying to force her back by cutting off her options. Realizing the usual channels wouldn't work, she asked Sarah to keep an eye out for side gigs.
Sarah had grown up bullied and had vowed early to become strong enough to protect herself and Scarlett. She'd taken free lessons at a taekwondo gym, discovered real talent, and used it to get into film school. Now she worked as a stunt double and was in countless crew chat groups.
She was social, well-connected, and within days had found Scarlett three part-time jobs.
Scarlett threw herself into the work and didn't visit the hospital for several days. One afternoon, she cooked two meals and headed over. One was for Elliot. The other was for Ramon—she'd promised him a homemade lunch.
She was heading for the elevator when the doors slid open. Daniel and Alice stepped out side by side.
Scarlett turned sharply into the stairwell, avoiding them.
Alice's steps faltered.
Daniel caught her arm instantly. "Careful."
"The soles feel slippery."
"I'll have another pair of shoes sent over."
"You don't have to fuss over me like I'm made of glass."
Daniel's voice, warm and familiar, mingled with Alice's honeyed tone as they walked away.
Scarlett leaned against the wall, her fingernails digging into the paint, leaving scratches. Daniel cared so much about the child in Alice's belly.
Daniel went into Elliot's room first. Alice followed, glancing toward the stairwell with a faint smirk. She had seen Scarlett.
It was a while before Scarlett emerged.
Upstairs, Ramon was still in surgery, so she went to James's room instead. She took over from Kaia, the nurse, and began massaging James's legs.
He had been in a coma for six months. His muscles had wasted away, leaving him painfully thin. Scarlett's hands worked gently, and she thought back to the last time she'd seen him before the accident.
He had been smiling, telling her he'd taken on a big financial case. Once it was done, he'd buy a two-bedroom apartment. "Then, Scarlett, if you're not happy at the Wilson Mansion, you can come home. I'll take care of you forever."
He had touched her head, his face warm with promise.
But the case had never ended. The accident had stolen everything.
Scarlett wiped his face with a towel. "What, are you staying asleep just to avoid buying me that apartment? My standards keep going up. If you don't wake up soon, forget the two-bedroom—I'll want a four-bedroom penthouse."
A teasing voice came from behind. "A penthouse? That's too modest. How about a lakeside villa?"
Scarlett turned to see Ramon. She smiled sheepishly. "You haven't eaten yet, have you? I brought food."
"Nice weather today. Let's eat in the garden," Ramon said, picking up the lunchbox.
The hospital garden was lush, the late-summer breeze carrying warmth and the scent of damp earth. Ramon ate politely but with clear enjoyment.
Scarlett sat beside him, about to ask about sending James abroad for treatment, when a voice cut through the air—sharp, annoyed.
"Scarlett?"
She turned. Alice stood there in a hospital gown, Daniel beside her, with Tom holding a cashmere shawl.
Daniel's presence chilled the corner, making autumn feel early.
Alice's gaze flicked between Scarlett and Ramon, her tone dripping with implication. "Scarlett, you're still as charming as ever. And your friends… so impressive. Who's this?"
Scarlett's face hardened. "And you're still as unlikeable as ever, dripping sarcasm with every word."