Chapter 52

Scarlett POV

My heart was racing as if it would burst from my chest, fear and anticipation intermingling.

After taking that sip of red wine, my cheeks had already grown warm, and from Alexander's increasingly intense gaze, I could sense that my current appearance was surely arousing desire in him.

This was my only weapon, and also my last line of defense.

His fingertip brushed lightly across my lips. "I don't lack women who swear loyalty to me, but for Richard's plaything, whether you have loyalty or not doesn't matter."

Richard's plaything. Those words hit me like a punch, shattering all my pretenses and hopes. They also gave me a new, insulting identity.

In that moment, I understood how Alexander had always seen me—nothing more than his uncle Richard's toy, and now, he considered me his toy as well.

Just a transfer of ownership, without any respect whatsoever! A sense of humiliation I had never experienced before spread like venom through my veins, burning every inch of my nerves.

My dignity completely trampled, this pain was so sharp that I could barely breathe. Tilting my head slightly back, I tried hard not to let tears flow in front of him.

No, I won't give him that satisfaction.

Although Richard had been torturing my body all along, Alexander was the one truly destroying my soul.

I immediately abandoned any attempt to please him, stepping back as if awakening from a nightmare.

Even when I was an unacknowledged illegitimate daughter before, those people never treated me as cheaply as this.

I raised my head, my eyes instantly turning cold.

"I thought intimacy between a man and woman would lead to feelings..." I forced a self-mocking smile. "I overstepped."

The whole situation was absolutely ridiculous. I'd thought too highly of myself, actually fantasizing I could get something beneficial from him.

"Good that you understand," Alexander responded coldly.

I stepped back, shrugging indifferently. "Then from today on, that's how it is! Alexander, your technique isn't bad, except for being quick, your power is decent. If I ever feel the need to have sex again, I'll come find you."

With that, I walked out of the room without looking back, though my heart felt like it was being pierced by a thousand needles simultaneously, too painful to breathe.

I hated him, but I hated my own weakness more.

Just as I was leaving, Luke walked in, his gaze lingering on my chest, which had been stained earlier by red wine during my struggle with Alexander.

Suddenly, a wine glass flew past me from behind, grazing Luke's right cheek before smashing against the wall into several pieces.

"Damn it!" Luke jumped in fright, but I wasn't faring much better.

Looking at the shattered pieces scattered by my feet, I didn't turn back, just headed straight for the main door.

As soon as I stepped outside the villa, the cold wind clung to my skin. Majestic Oak Villa was located in the suburbs of Silverlight City, surrounded by beautiful but quite secluded environment.

It was already past eight in the evening, and the roads were almost devoid of vehicles or pedestrians, filling me with unease.

How am I going to get back?

I took out my phone and opened the ride-hailing app, but the screen displayed "No vehicles available."

Biting my lip, I began walking along the road, hoping to reach a main street where I could figure something out.

The night wind grew increasingly cold, and I instinctively pulled my coat tighter. Only now did I have time to reflect on everything that had just happened.

Did I really think I could establish some kind of relationship with Alexander? The answer was obvious.

He only saw me as Richard's plaything. No, worse—he treated me like a prostitute he could use at will, and I had stupidly played along, thinking I might gain something.

This forbidden relationship was a gamble, and I had lost miserably.

My chest tightened with this cruel realization. For him, this was perhaps just a diversion—a form of entertainment to pass boring time. And me? I had staked my dignity on it.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips as tears threatened to spill over. I blinked desperately, refusing to shed another tear for a man who viewed me as disposable.

But this isn't just about dignity. I reminded myself, my nails painfully digging into my palms.

The stakes were much higher than I realized, and this game was far more dangerous than he imagined.

I needed the bidding information. Only then could I see my sister, Yvette , again.

If I couldn't get this information from Alexander, I would have to risk stealing it from Richard, which was even more dangerous.

Richard's eyes were like a snake's—cold and all-seeing. No one could escape his notice when in his presence.

I had walked for about twenty minutes, my fingers stiff from the cold, and my phone signal remained unstable.

The sky began to darken, with clouds pressing down on me like a vast net. It looked like rain was coming.

I stopped, my trembling fingers dialing a number.

"Hello, can you come pick me up? I'm at..." My voice sounded particularly fragile in the cold wind.

There was a muffled response from the other end, followed by a series of harsh busy tones, as if mocking my predicament.

I looked at my phone screen—no signal. Damn it!

Raindrops began to fall sporadically, hitting my face like tiny needles.

I stood still, taking a deep breath. Looking back, the lights of Alexander's villa flickered in the distance.

The golden glow blurred in the rain, as if mocking my decision.

My pride urged me to keep walking, even if it meant getting drenched rather than returning to the place that had hurt me.

But reason doused me like cold water, making me realize that continuing forward in these conditions was foolish.

Moreover, if I couldn't obtain the bidding information, it meant losing the chance to see Yvette.

Pride or survival, which is more important? This question echoed in my mind, my heart aching from the dilemma.

The rain fell harder, turning into a downpour. I stood there, allowing the cold rainwater to wash over my body.

The rain mixed with my tears—I couldn't even tell which was saltier.

I hoped this would wash away my shame and pain, but how could external water cleanse internal wounds?

Finally, I bit my lip hard enough to hurt and made my decision. For Yvette.