steps steady, and gave the old woman a respectful smile. "Between Liam and me, it was always just my unrequited affection. Eve

r a pin drop. My own parents stared

ilence. His voice was dangerously

rned to my parents.

ocking my path. His eyes were like chips of ice. "Sc

ont of the families. It was his way of reminding everyone of the age gap, of our supposedly platonic

need to doubt my intentions. I swear, I genuinely w

almly, seemed to hit h

ents. He grabbed my arm, his fingers digging into my

we were kids, anything you wanted, you'd fight for it. You'

nger hurt. They were just the rambli

my wife. If you dare to bully her or frame her again like you used to, I won't

remembered their tragic fate in my past life. I remembered my father's empt

issive smile. "Uncle Liam, please rest assured. From now on, I, Scarlett O'Connell, will

He looked like he was about to say something else, but I didn't give him the chance. I turned on my

Hayes had publicly dumped his devoted childhood friend, Scarlett O'Connell, a

poor, pathetic girl who'd wasted a decad

the city's most exclusive horse racing club. Not to watch the races, b

dent investors. I knew exactly which plots of land the city was planning to rezone for a massive commercia

ade several offers. I acquired several undervalued land

d that being dumped by Liam had finally made me lose my mind,

eyes, the certainty in my actions. They trusted me. And their u