His life was worth more.
Glancing at the unconscious guards scattered across the ground, Rhys suddenly realized something.
So that’s why his boss had been sending them to that freezing training ground…
Not for training.
But because Scarlett had gotten a tiny cut on her hand.
And honestly?
That cut probably had nothing to do with them at all.
They were just unlucky enough to be nearby.
Brutal.
Meanwhile, at the Monroe family courtyard –
Mossa arrived with Sadie, followed by four or five burly men.
“Mrs. Hayes, what is this – ?” Amy asked nervously, eyeing the men. Their presence made it clear this wasn’t a friendly visit.
“Where’s Scarlett? Tell her to come out!”
Mossa scanned the yard but didn’t see her.
Amy’s heart tightened.
Louie wheeled himself forward.
“She’s not here.”
“Like I’d believe that.”
Mossa pushed past him and stormed into the house, searching every room.
Nothing.
She returned outside, frowning deeply.
“Where did she go? When will she be back?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know – or you just don’t want to tell me?” Mossa snapped, her patience gone.
“I really don’t know,” Louie replied calmly. “If you tell me what you need, I can pass it on when she returns.”
He was testing her.
From the looks of it, she hadn’t come with good intentions.
What he couldn’t understand was –
Scarlett had just gotten out of prison.
And instead of showing concern, her own mother showed up like this?
“Call her. Now. I don’t have time to wait,” Mossa ordered coldly.
Louie frowned, caught in a dilemma.
“I said call her! Didn’t you hear me?!” she shouted.
Amy immediately stepped forward, worried he might get hurt.
Howard stood nearby with his arms crossed, watching silently.
He had been ordered to protect them – but the troublemakers were Scarlett’s own family.
That made things complicated.
“…Alright. I’ll call her.”
Louie pulled out his phone.
But just as he was about to dial, Amy reached out and stopped him.
“Don’t.”
He gave her a small reassuring smile.
“It’s okay.”
Then he gently moved her hand aside and made the call.
“Hey, Lettie. Where are you? On your way back?” He paused. “Actually… don’t come back. Mom and I are heading to Auntie’s place for dinner tonight.”
Mossa’s eyes widened in fury.
“You little brat – how dare you lie to me?!”
She raised her hand and swung toward his face –
But Howard stepped in and blocked it.
“Who the hell are you? Let go!” Mossa snapped.
Before anything else could happen –
Sadie suddenly stepped forward.
Smack –
Her hand struck Louie hard across the face, the sound cracking through the courtyard.
At that exact moment, footsteps approached from outside.
Scarlett had returned.
She walked straight into chaos.
Sadie’s slap had landed brutally.
Red marks instantly bloomed across Louie’s face.
“You crippled loser!” Sadie spat. “My mother asked you a question. Didn’t you hear her?”
But before she could finish –
Another presence appeared behind her.
She didn’t even have time to turn.
A sharp, brutal slap sent her spinning like a top.
She staggered in circles before collapsing to the ground.
Blood spilled from her mouth.
Her newly fixed porcelain veneers shattered and flew out.
Her left cheek swelled instantly, pain radiating so intensely it felt like the side of her face no longer belonged to her.
Sadie looked up.
The moment she saw Scarlett standing there, hatred twisted her face into something almost feral.
“Sadie! Oh my God – are you okay?”
Mossa rushed over in panic, horrified by the blood on Sadie’s lips.
She helped her up quickly.
“Mom… I’m okay…” Sadie said weakly, her words slurred through broken teeth. “Don’t blame my sister…”
Tears streamed down her face.
Perfect performance.
Fragile. Innocent. Wronged.
Mossa’s anger exploded.
She turned on Scarlett, grinding her teeth.
“Scarlett! She’s your sister! I haven’t even finished dealing with you for hitting her yesterday, and now you’ve done it again! Look at her! Do you have no heart?!”
Scarlett didn’t even flinch.
“She hit my brother first. I simply returned the favor.”
“Your brother?” Mossa sneered. “You say that so casually. I never approved of you calling some random woman your godmother or that man your brother. What are they to you, really?”
Scarlett let out a cold laugh.
A humorless one.
“That’s rich.”
She stepped forward, her voice sharp enough to cut through the air.
“When I was alone in the countryside, abandoned and left to survive on my own, no one cared whether I lived or died. If it weren’t for them, I would’ve starved.”
Her eyes locked onto Mossa.
“Where were you then?”
“Now you want to play mother?”
“They raised me. Fed me. Put me through school. And instead of gratitude, you stand here insulting them.”
She tilted her head slightly.
“Tell me – does your conscience ever bother you?”
Mossa crossed her arms.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.