The week went by really fast and soon, it was Friday. Scarlett had no other choice but to honor her mother's invitation, she had to attend the engagement party even though she really didn't want to.
Knowing that she was about to lose Adrian to her mother broke her heart, he should have been her but he chose her mother over her.
She was busy packing a few things that she would be needing for a weekend trip when the doorbell rang. She wiped the tears on her face and went to check who was at the door.
Ethan was standing in front of her as soon as she opened the door, smiling broadly with a little bag he hung over his shoulder. She wasn't surprised to see him because he had told her that he would be joining her back to her mansion that day.
Without saying a word, Scarlett moved out of the way for him to enter. He made himself comfortable on the couch while she went back upstairs to finish up her packing. She still hadn't recovered from the shock of losing Adrian and it was making her slack academically
She was slowly losing interest in her classes and this was all because of the intense heartbreak she was feeling.
She finished with her packing and took her two suitcases downstairs to meet Ethan who was already helping himself to some wine. As soon as he saw her, he dropped the glass of wine and rushed over to help her with the bags but she rejected his help.
“Don't worry, I can handle it.” She told him, dragging her bags to the car. They seemed really heavy and Ethan was curious, wanting to know why she packed so much for just a 2-day holiday. He decided not to ask because Scarlett did not look happy at all.
“Did you not come with your car?” Scarlett questioned.
“Nope, I was hoping we could go in your car together. It's unnecessary that I bring my car.” He shook his head and she sighed.
“Come on then, let's get going before it gets dark.” She told him and headed outside. Ethan gulped down the rest of his wine quickly and took his bag outside to meet her. She locked the place and they got into her car, with Ethan insisting on driving.
“What about Nelly? I thought she was coming.” Ethan inquired as they drove out of the compound and into the road.
“Oh, something came up, she can't make it.” Scarlett responded nonchalantly, staring out the window and trying to avoid any more conversations. She just wanted to be alone with her thoughts.
She had tried to talk to Nelly throughout the week but she kept ignoring her, claiming to still be upset about Scarlett's outburst the other day. Scarlett wasn't able to convince her to come to the engagement party.
Ethan understood the signal quite clearly and decided not to ask any further questions. He remained silent for the rest of the drive but Scarlett soon fell asleep in the car and did not wake up till the car came to a halt.
“We're here.” Ethan announced. She rubbed her eyes dizzily and looked around. She saw that they were already at the mansion and a strange feeling overwhelmed her. She felt sick, but maintained composure.
They both got out of the car, stretching their limbs tiredly. Then, they proceeded to take their things out of the car before the maids rushed out to help them. They took their bags instead and they followed them.
“Scarlett! You're here!” Vivian ran over to hug Scarlett but she moved away and started going upstairs, completely ignoring her mother.
Vivian was confused and a bit embarrassed. She wondered what must have gotten her daughter so upset to the point of just walking away like that without any form of acknowledgment.
She turned to Ethan who was still standing in the room with his hands in his pockets. Standing in front of Vivian again made him feel weird. He recalled how much he missed her and wanted to fuck her, even how much he had begged to spend another night with her and all of that made him feel very awkward.
“I didn't know you were coming.” Vivian said to him. He bit his lip, raising his eyes to meet her gaze. Vivian felt aroused having him in the room, but she didn't have time for all of that at the moment as she was planning her engagement.
“Scarlett said I could. Shouldn't I have come?”
“I didn't say that. It's fine, you can stay. But, what's wrong with her? She's very upset.”
“I have no idea, she's been like this for some days now and she has refused to say anything to me.” He answered and Vivian wondered what the problem could be.
“Excuse me.” Ethan went upstairs as well, asking one of the maids to take him to his room.
Scarlett was already settled in her room, on call with Lily. They have been talking for a while now and Scarlett had broken the news of her mother's engagement to Adrian to Lily already.
“If it's going to hurt you, why are you going to the engagement party?” Lily questioned.
“Don't you think it would be weird if my mother's only daughter refused to come for her engagement? We're public figures Lily, scandals must be avoided at all costs.” Scarlett sighed, her head aching badly from all the thinking she had been doing lately.
“That's a hard situation to be in, isn't it? But why would Adrian play with your emotions like this?” Lily hissed.
“I feel so played! He had sex with me and then dumped my ass to get engaged to my mother. Who does that?” Scarlett let out a groan but just then, her door opened and Ethan walked in, wearing a smile.
“Um.. Lily, I'll call you back later.” She hung up and glared at Ethan.
“Why the fuck did you come in here without knocking?” She fired, pissed off at what he had just done.
“Sorry, I just thought we could talk.”
“Talk? I don't wanna talk to anyone, don't you get it? Just fucking leave me alone and yes, forget about whatever you have in mind about me because it's not going to work. I don't want anything to do with you and I will never have such intentions.” She rudely told him and Ethan quickly walked out, frustrated.
Already pissed off, Scarlett decided to calm her nerves by taking a short nap. She ended up sleeping the whole night and didn't wake up until the morning of the next day.
“Get those vases!”
“No, put that down!”
“Bring that over here, not there you airhead!”
These and the sounds of tinkering going on downstairs woke Scarlett from her deep sleep and her eyes fluttered open. She stretched her arms and reached for her phone to check the time only to find out that it was morning.
She realized that all the noise she heard was just the preparations for the party. This made her release a sigh of agony and just then, her mother walked in, all hyper and excited
“Hi darling.” Vivian greeted cheerfully, presenting a beautiful sky blue mermaid dress to Scarlett.
“This is the dress you'll be wearing today. So make sure you get ready on time, okay? I would have loved to stay and see how it looks on you but I still have so much to do so please, get ready soon.” Vivian rushed her words, handed the dress to Scarlett and strode out of the room.
Rolling her eyes, she tossed the dress outside and started going downstream to find something to eat because she had gone to bed hungry the previous night. She ignored all the preparations happening around her and just headed to the kitchen.
She was busy making a sandwich when a familiar scent filled her nostrils, giving her a severe case of nostalgia as memories came flooding in. Tears gathered in her eyes, she knew exactly who it was.
Turning around, she locked eyes with her heart throb, her lips quivered as she remembered that he was going to be with her mother very soon.
“I just want some juice.” He said, taking a bottle of juice from the fridge. He kept a straight face, not wanting to give off any emotions.
“Why do you want to marry her so badly? What the fuck does she give you that I can't?” Scarlett questioned, unable to hold back anymore.
“Scarlett, can you not? Today is my engagement and I would like to start it on a good note.” He spoke to her like she was a stranger and it shattered her heart even more.
“Adrian..” she mumbled.
He turned to leave but she grasped his wrist firmly, forcing him to turn. She quickly placed her other hand on his cheeks and leaned in to kiss him.