Chapter 125 *
Scarlett's POV
I climbed into the back of the SUV. My face was still burning from what just happened in Damon's office.
The driver pulled away from Wolfe Global headquarters. I pressed my fingers against my cheeks. They were hot to the touch.
"Stop thinking about it." I muttered to myself. "Just stop."
But my brain wouldn't cooperate. I could still feel Damon's hands on my waist. Could still taste him on my lips.
I grabbed my phone. Opened X. Needed a distraction. The trending page loaded.
Number one was about some celebrity divorce. Number two was a political scandal. Number three was weather warnings about an incoming storm.
Madison Park's name was completely gone from the top twenty.
I scrolled down further. Nothing. The hashtags had vanished. The angry mob had moved on to the next target.
I closed the app. Set my phone down in my lap.
It was over. Finally over.
The constant notifications. The angry comments. The death threats in my DMs. All of it would die down now.
I could breathe again.
The SUV pulled up to the estate gates. They swung open automatically. The driver took the long curved driveway up to the main entrance.
"We're here, Mrs. Wolfe."
I grabbed my bag. "Thanks."
The front door opened before I even reached it. One of the staff members nodded as I walked past.
The house was quiet. Peaceful. Exactly what I needed after today's chaos.
I headed straight for the stairs. All I wanted was a hot shower and my bed.
Maybe I'd order some takeout. Watch something mindless on Netflix. Forget this entire day ever happened.
I reached my bedroom door. Turned the handle.
Pushed it open.
Then froze.
My blood pressure spiked so fast I actually felt dizzy.
"What the hell?"
Four or five household staff members were moving through my room like a coordinated military operation. They had boxes. Lots of boxes.
My books were being pulled off the shelves and packed into cardboard containers. My clothes were coming out of the closet in organized piles.
Someone was wrapping my lamp in bubble wrap.
Another person was carefully removing things from my dresser drawers.
And Maria stood in the middle of it all like a general directing troops.
"Careful with that vase!" She pointed at one of the staff. "It's expensive!"
I stood in the doorway. My brain was trying to process what I was seeing.
My left eye started twitching. I could feel it. That little involuntary spasm that only happened when I was about to lose my shit.
I took a slow breath through my nose. Forced my jaw to unclench.
"What the hell is going on here?"
My voice came out cold. Flat.
Everyone stopped. Turned to look at me.
Maria's face lit up with that grandmotherly smile. "Oh! Mrs. Wolfe! You're back!"
She didn't stop directing the staff. Just kept pointing and gesturing like nothing was wrong.
"We're packing up your things."
I walked further into the room. My hands were clenched into fists at my sides.
"I can see that." I kept my voice level. "Why are you packing my things?"
"We're moving you to the master bedroom upstairs, of course!" Maria said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Like I should have known.
I stared at her.
My brain completely flatlined for a second.
"I never said I wanted to move upstairs."
"Well, no." Maria tilted her head. "But it's only proper, isn't it? You and Mr. Wolfe are married now."
One of the staff members carried a box past me. It had my textbooks inside. My medical reference books that I'd specifically organized by subject.
My eye twitched again. Harder this time.
I walked to the nearest chair. Sat down heavily.
Crossed my arms. Refused to look at Maria.
"We've been doing it this way the whole time." My voice came out sullen. Stubborn. "What's inappropriate about separate bedrooms?"
I could feel her looking at me. Could sense her trying to figure out how to handle this.
The door opened wider. Arthur hurried in.
His face was all pleasant smiles. That same expression he used when he was about to convince someone to do something they didn't want to do.
"Mrs. Wolfe!" He clasped his hands together. "Welcome home!"
I didn't respond. Just kept my arms crossed and stared at the wall.
Arthur moved closer. His voice got softer. "Mrs. Wolfe, you and Mr. Wolfe have been married for weeks now." He paused for effect. "It's not really appropriate for you to keep separate bedrooms."
"Why not?" I shot back. "It's been fine so far."
"Well..." Arthur's face fell into what looked like genuine concern. His eyes darted around. "The thing is, Mr. Santino is coming to visit in a couple days."
I turned my head. Looked directly at him.
"Santino? Again?"
"Yes." Arthur nodded seriously. "He specifically mentioned he wanted to see how you and Mr. Wolfe were settling into married life."
He moved even closer. Lowered his voice like he was sharing a secret.
"If he finds out you're still in separate rooms..." Arthur shook his head. "It'll upset him terribly. You know his heart condition."
I knew exactly what Arthur was doing. The guilt card. The "think of the old man's health" card.
"So you're going to milk that excuse forever?" I asked. My voice was sharp. "Every time you want me to do something, you're just going to mention Santino's heart?"
Arthur looked genuinely wounded. "Mrs. Wolfe, I'm just trying to look out for everyone. I really don't have a choice here."
I could see him thinking. Then his expression brightened slightly. Like he'd just had a brilliant idea.
"How about this?" He put on his most reasonable voice. "Just move upstairs temporarily. Just to keep Mr. Santino happy during his visit."
He held up his hands. Palms out. A gesture of compromise.
"Once he leaves, if you want to move back down here, I won't stop you. I promise."
I stared at him.
He was making it sound so reasonable. So temporary. Like it was barely an inconvenience.
But I knew how these things worked. "Temporary" would become permanent the second I agreed.
My eye was still twitching. My hands were clenched so tight my nails were digging into my palms.
This wasn't just about being told what to do. This wasn't just about my privacy being invaded.
There was a much bigger problem.
Under my mattress. Between the bed frame and the box spring. Hidden in a black waterproof bag.
I had a gun. With two spare magazines.