Chapter 87

Scarlett's POV

I couldn't withstand the shame burning inside me, so I turned over and buried myself under the covers.

The world instantly fell silent, leaving only the deafening sound of my heartbeat.

I felt pressure above my body, seemingly Alexander embracing me briefly, followed by the sound of footsteps growing increasingly distant.

When the sound had completely disappeared, I lifted the covers to find the Siamese cat wandering at the foot of the bed, its blue eyes filled with curious observation of me, as if I were its new toy.

I suddenly realized how much it resembled Alexander—equally precious, equally arrogant.

My abdomen suddenly felt a weight as the cat jumped onto me and settled down. "Get off," I gently pushed it, but it merely adjusted its position, turned around, and continued to stare at me with wide eyes.

Under the cat's oppressive presence, going back to sleep was impossible. I sighed, carefully getting out of bed to search for something wearable.

Yet I discovered that Alexander, despite being Silverlight City's most notorious bachelor, had not a single piece of women's clothing in his immaculately organized closet.

What did that mean? That he never brought women home, or simply never allowed them to stay overnight?

"What kind of man is he really?" I muttered to myself, recalling his flippant manner from earlier.

The cat, seeing I had moved away, paid me no attention, merely licking its paws on the bed with an air of superiority.

I selected one of Alexander's white shirts, the fabric barely reaching mid-thigh.

It smelled like him—sandalwood mixed with Alexander's unique scent, as if I were still held in his embrace.

Downstairs, Majestic Oak Villa was remarkably quiet, with only Luke and Tom occasionally appearing.

This tranquility contrasted sharply with the constant surveillance I endured at the Gray residence.

I walked into the kitchen and gathered some food. The cat followed me continuously, occasionally rubbing against my leg before quickly darting away, as if suddenly remembering it should maintain its dignity.

I almost laughed at its inner conflict, then realized I was much the same—struggling between my mission and genuine emotions.

This brief peaceful moment felt strange—alluring yet dangerous. I couldn't allow myself to feel comfortable here.

I had a mission, a sister to save, and Alexander was merely a means to achieve my goals.

I had to remember this and not let any emotions cloud my judgment.

In the afternoon, I was curled up in a chair watching a movie, with the cat purring contentedly on my lap.

Suddenly, my phone vibrated, disrupting the peaceful moment.

It was an unknown number. My heart quickened, feeling both anxious and hopeful as I pressed the answer button.

"Miss Smith?" Noah's voice came through.

"Yes, that's me." I unconsciously straightened my posture, anxiously waiting for his next words.

"Alexander mentioned you needed his assistance with something?"

I excitedly gripped the phone. "That's right. Is he willing to help?"

"Miss Smith, I need detailed information to determine what can be done."

"Of course, I'll add your contact information and send you everything."

After hanging up, I immediately wrote a detailed description of Yvette, attached photos, and sent it all to Noah.

I looked at her in the photographs, her features similar to mine but harder, more vigilant.

There were also video clips with background conversations in a language I couldn't understand, but I was certain they came from some country's border region.

After sending everything, I absentmindedly stroked the cat, my thoughts churning.

If Alexander could find Yvette... then I could seriously reconsider my feelings.

After getting everything in order, I decided to leave. This place was like a beautiful utopia, but I couldn't indulge in it.

As I drove away from Majestic Oak Villa, I looked back once. It had briefly given me a sense of security, but that was just an illusion. In my situation, there was no true safety.

My phone rang again, and Camila's voice filled the car.

"Scarlett! Are you free tonight? It's Sandra's birthday, and we're having a small gathering. You must come!"

Normally, I wouldn't attend a gathering without a direct invitation from the host, especially since Sandra clearly held me in contempt.

Going would undoubtedly be like walking into a lion's den.

"Camila, is this your idea or Sandra's?" I cautiously inquired.

Her laughter became somewhat forced, "Oh, Scarlett, does that matter? If you don't want to come, I can explain to Sandra."

I suddenly understood—Sandra wanted to use this opportunity to publicly humiliate me.

After all, I wasn't officially married to Richard yet, so the Gray family wouldn't fully protect me. They were counting on this.

I quickly weighed my options: refusing would be seen as weakness, attending would be walking into a trap.

Neither was appealing, but the latter at least allowed me to take the initiative.

"I'll come. Where's the gathering?"

"I'll send you the location." Camila's voice betrayed her surprise.

"Oh, it's a pajama party—the dress code is sexy lingerie, you know? Just girls, so don't worry about being too formal."

"Of course," I replied calmly, hanging up while already planning how to handle them.

Soon my phone vibrated again, and I stared at the message illuminating my screen. Tonight's gathering was at Velvet Mirage.

Of course, Sandra was Alexander's fiancée, naturally she would choose his property for the gathering. My finger hovered over the screen for a moment before finally replying with a simple "OK."

Opening my closet, my fingers gently moved across a row of exquisite evening gowns.

Choosing your weapon is as important as choosing your battlefield, and tonight, my attire would be my armor.

Inside the VIP suite on the top floor of Velvet Mirage, the air was thick with the scent of money and desire.

The moment I stepped into the hallway, I felt how different this gathering was from others.

About ten young women reclined lazily on sofas, dressed in revealing silk nightwear, surrounded by tall, attractive male models.

While I hesitated whether to enter, Lillian's uneasy voice came from inside the room.

"Sandra, do you think she'll come? If she doesn't, and tonight's events reach the Gray family's ears..."

Sandra's laughter cut through the background music, clearly reaching my ears. "Don't worry, no one here would dare reveal what happens tonight. See those girls? They're all marrying into political and business circles. Who would take that risk?"

Her voice carried that familiar sense of superiority, the arrogance unique to those born into privilege.

"Sandra, don't take things too far. I'm worried things might get out of control," Lillian's voice trembled slightly, filled with anxiety.

Sandra responded without restraint, "What are you afraid of? Don't forget, I have leverage over her. I'm not afraid of her."

I stood at the doorway, silently listening to their discussion. Sandra's confidence almost made me laugh. What leverage did she think she had over me?

Those rumors about Richard and me? Or her previous suspicions about Alexander and me having private contact?

Whatever it was, I was certain she had no evidence, otherwise she would have already reported me to Richard.

"Camila, you're such a spoilsport! Why so conservative?" Sandra's tone carried the contempt and impatience typical of young girls.

Camila's calm voice responded, "You young girls can play around, but don't drag married women like me into it. By the way, don't be too harsh on Scarlett when she arrives. Remember, she's Richard's fiancée, even if they're not officially married yet."

Something stirred in my mind. Camila's protective attitude toward me was unusual, especially for a woman with whom I had little interaction.

Did she know something? Or perhaps she had some connection to my past?

Recalling our several meetings and her complex attitude toward me, a sense of vigilance rose within me.

I wanted to hear more, but just then, a waiter carrying drinks walked past me, pushing the half-closed door completely open.

I was fully exposed before them.