Chapter 66: A Mother’s Desperation
Chapter 66: A Mother’s Desperation
(Scarlets POV)
Romanked me softly on the forehead before leaving for his study to handle business. The slight touch lingered as I rested on the bed. The
This presence wrapped around me like a fragile but protective shield. I shut my eyes for a brief moment, hoping to clear my head and avoid the
constant whirlwind of thoughts.
The day had been exhausting. Alexander’s unwelcome aggression, Emma’s keen observations, and Roman’s unwavering possessiveness danced in
nind like an unwanted storm. For the first time in days, I felt somewhat at peace.
But that peace shattered.
My phone buzzed, pulling me out of my temporary calm. I sat up with a frown, picking it up from the nightstand Claire’s name glared at me from the
“Dake? I answered, aheady sensing the trouble
“Scarlett, thank goodness” she began hurriedly, her voice tight with stress. “Listen, we have an issue at the center. Two different shipments arrived at
once, but half the items from the Eastern territories weren’t labeled property. And the newer staff–they’re… overwhelmed.”
I could practically hear the chaos in the background of the call. Shouting, people scrambling, and the faint, steady hum of frustration
“What?” I groaned. “Didn’t we already set protocols for this sort of thing?”
“We did! But they’re panicking” Claire admitted with a sigh. “This is a mess, Scarlett. We could really use your input right now.”
better than this snapped, my frustration pouring out
“know” Claire replied, guilt clear in her tone, “but
“Ti call back in an hour,” I said sharply, cutting her off. “Sit the team down, calm them, and remind them of the protocol. Il sort it out if it’s still
unresolved.
The call ended, but my phone buzzed again before I could take another breath. This time, the number was unknown,
I knew better than to pick up unwanted calls, but something told me I wasn’t going to get peace until I did.
“What now?” I demanded as I answered.
The voice on the other end was weak and trembling
“Scarlett.. it’s me,” came the soft, yet strained tone of none other than Sarah Winter
I froze, my anger flaring instantly. Of all the people I wanted to hear from, Sarah Winter sat at the bottom of the list–buried deep under layers of bitterness
I nearly ended the call right then, but cunosity, laced with a hint of irritation, made me pause.
“What do you want?” My tone was icy, cutting through like a blade.
Please just just hear me out!” she pleaded, her voice carrying desperation. “It’s about Grace, She’s not improving. Aiden said the silver poisoning is worsening. Scarlett, I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t…
“No”
My answer was immediate and uncompromising.
“Scarlett, l–please!” she begged. “She doesn’t have much time left.”
My chest tightened for a fraction of a second as her frantic tone squeezed through. Then it quickly dissolved, replaced by the familiar bitterness that surged whenever I thought of her.
1/1
“You think I care?” I replied coldly. “You think Grace’s suffering means anything to me after everything she’s done?”
Her voice cracked as she tried to formulate a response. “I know. I know I failed you,” she whispered, guilt heavy in her words. 1 didn’t…raise you how
Chapter 66 A Mother’s Desperation
I should have…but i still-
“You still what?” I snapped, cutting her off. “Loved me? Acted like I was your daughter? Oh wait, no. That was Grace. Your precious, perfect Grace” My words dripped with venom as years of pain and anger clawed their way out
Her weak protests only fueled my rage.
“Do you even remember the first time Grace orchestrated my near–death?“I demanded. “She set rogues on me, Sarah Rogues! I was barely a teenager, and I came back bleeding, half–conscious. And do you know what you did?” My voice grew louder, angrier as the memories flooded back. “You punished me. You didn’t even ask what happened. Grace told you her lies, and you ate them up like the blind fool you were.”
“That’s not true-
Isn’t it?” I spat. “Even when Grace admitted the truth, you did nothing. Nothing but blame me. Somehow, it was my fault. Always my fault.”
Sarah’s breathing grew uneven as my accusations crashed down on her like a relentless tide.
“-1 believed her because she stammered, struggling to defend herself, because I didn’t know any better!”
Then why didn’t you know better the second time? Or the “third“?” My emerald eyes burned with fury even though she couldn’t see them. “Do you
think I forgot. Sarah? Do you think those scars healed?”
“I admit it,” she said weakly through another sob. 1 didn’t know how to handle things back then. I wasn’t strong enough to manage both of you
Grace needed more care
It was like a fire exploded in my head.
“Grace needed more care?” I repeated, my voice laced with disbelief and anger. “She was a parasite, Sarah She used you, manipulated you, and dragged me through hell every chance she got. The only difference is, now the silver poisoning is catching up to her, and “you” want me to fix it.”
“It’s not for me,” Sarah choked out. “It’s for her. She’s dying, Scarlett. I know I failed you, but don’t punish her for my
“I’m done with this commersation growled, cutting her off yet again. “Grace made her choices. And you made yours. I owe you both nothing **
“Scarlett, please she cried, her voice breaking completely. 1-1 just want to make this right
“Make it right?” I repeated bitterly. “You’re a few decades too late for that, Sarah Without giving her another chance to reply, I pressed the end
button,
my hand nearly shaking with rage.
Every nerve in my body buzzed as I stared at the blank screen. The room felt suffocating as memonies I’d long buried screamed to the surface.
I barely not
noticed the soft knock against my door until it pushed open.
Roman stepped inside, his piercing ice–blue gaze immediately locking onto me. As always, his presence was commanding, but this time his expression held concern. He took one look at me, and I could tell he knew something was wrong
“Who was it?” he asked, his voice calm but firm.
I rubbed at my temples, not wanting to relive t
the conversation “Sarah…
His expression darkened instantly, his shoulders tensing. “What did she want?”
“To beg for Grace, of course” My smirk was humorless as I stared out the window. “What else?”
Roman crossed the space between us and placed a hand on my shoulder. His warmth was steady, grounding me in a way nothing else could.
“Do I need to deal with it?” he asked quietly, but there was no mistaking the lethal edge in his offer.
“No,” I said quickly, forcing a deep breath. “It’s nothing I can’t handle. It’s just… her voice. Her words. They get under my skin.”
He nodded slowly, his gaze softening despite the tension he carried. “I have to go into town for a bit he said, almost reluctantly. “But I’ll be back for dinner.” He paused, leaning down just slightly. “Relax, Scarlett. You’re stronger than her. Don’t let her drag you down.”
I nodded, swallowing back the knot in my throat, “I won’t
When he left, the room felt both calmer and emptier. His words lingered, settling the turmoil in my chest as I straightened my shoulders. Sarah wouldn’t win, not now
201
Later, as i was shuffling through paperwork, my phone buzzed again. Emma’s name flashed across the screen this time.
Chapter 66. A Mother’s Desperation
“Emma, “I answered, relieved
ved to hear a friendly voice.
“You’re going to love this one,” she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Guess who I ran into today?”
7 don’t have time for guessing games,” I muttered. “Just tell me.”
“Sarah Winter, Emma replied, and immediately my interest piqued. “She was outside Grace’s room at the Amber Pack’s medical facility. And–you’ll love this–she wasn’t alone.”
“Who else?” I asked, already guessing.
“Alexander,” Emma said with a laugh. “They looked defeated. Like the world finally decided to hand them a taste of what they’ve given
I leaned back in my chair, letting the satisfaction wash over me. “Really?”
“Yep.” Emma confirmed. “And if I had to guess, Grace’s condition is probably what’s breaking them. She didn’t look well,”
“Good,” I said simply, a cold smile tugging at my lips.
Emma hesitated for a moment, then added softly. “They’ve run out of strategies, Scarlett. Their desperation shows on their faces.”
“I figured as much” I replied coolly. “And still, I feel nothing”
Emma hummed approvingly. “Good. Because they don’t deserve your pity.”
