Chapter 14

Scarlett POV

Making love with Alexander was physically exhausting, just like last time, and I lost consciousness halfway through.

When I awoke, I felt pain throughout my body. Looking around the car, only the driver remained.

Alexander had already disappeared, once again treating me like an object to be discarded after use, I thought with a heavy heart.

I asked the driver to drop me off a block away from my apartment; this Rolls-Royce was too conspicuous, like a public announcement of my sins and shame to everyone who saw it.

Painfully climbing the three flights of stairs, I arrived at the small apartment I shared with Emily.

My overly exerted body ached and felt sticky, with Alexander's scent seemingly still lingering on my skin. All I wanted now was a hot shower, then to fall into a dreamless sleep.

Just as I was opening the door, a voice from the living room made me stop.

Emily was on the phone, her voice high-pitched and thin, with a tone revealing anxiety and a hint of calculation I had never noticed before.

"Hugh, the family business has failed, and we still owe a lot of money. Don't come back to the country yet; Scarlett is already working on repaying the debt."

Suddenly, her voice became even sharper, "You're still gambling!"

My heart sank abruptly, and the keys trembled slightly in my hand.

A sense of betrayal spread from deep within, accompanied by irony—I was selling my body and soul for these people, while they were still carelessly creating more problems.

The man on the phone was my brother, Hugh Smith. A few months ago when the family first fell into debt, we couldn't reach him no matter how hard we tried.

Now he called on his own initiative, clearly having gotten into trouble again.

"What? You lost that much money, and they're threatening to cut off your hand!" Emily's voice was filled with fear. "Don't panic, I'll think of something."

My stomach contracted, and an ominous feeling enveloped me.

Sure enough, moments later, I heard Emily's excited voice: "Hugh, Scarlett is already engaged to Richard Gray, the CEO of Gray Group.You're her brother; she will definitely help you."

After a brief pause, her voice lowered, but each word was like a sharp blade piercing straight into my heart.

"Who else would she help if not you? You're her brother. When we adopted her, who else would have wanted the daughter of a prostitute..."

Hearing this, my body trembled uncontrollably, with a tearing pain sweeping through me.

The keys slipped from my cold, numb fingers and hit the door with a crisp sound.

Inside, Emily's voice stopped abruptly. Inside and outside, there was complete silence.

With trembling hands, I picked up the keys, opened the door, and pretended to have just arrived home.

Upon entering, I saw Emily standing by the window, the phone pressed tightly to her chest, apparently having just ended the call.

Seeing my appearance, her expression changed from panic to relief, and finally to concern.

"Scarlett, what's wrong? Why do you look so disheveled?"

Her gaze scanned me from head to toe, lingering on my messy hair and the bruises barely visible at my neckline.

Then her expression turned angry. "Shameless girl! Who did you sleep with? Don't you know your father and Hugh's lives hang in the balance..."

Before I could react, her hand struck my face, the crisp sound of the slap echoing in the small living room.

I touched my face, looking at her in disbelief with wide eyes.

In all the years since the Smith family adopted me, Emily had never hit me, at least not physically.

But this reaction in a moment of crisis revealed her true attitude toward me!

My mind was buzzing; everything that happened tonight was a tremendous shock to me.

"I'm tired," I said lifelessly, "let's talk tomorrow." My voice sounded so hollow that even I found it unfamiliar.

Seeing my unusual attitude, Emily became a bit flustered.

"Oh, Scarlett, I'm sorry! I was just worried about you. Let me make you some hot soup! I bought the lobster you like."

"No need," I answered, my voice frighteningly calm.

"We can't afford such expensive food right now, can we? Especially with the family's financial situation being so bad."

"But you need to look radiant! Especially if you're going to become Richard's wife soon."

Her voice took on a fawning tone that gave me goosebumps.

"Are you getting along well with him? Has he mentioned when you'll get married?"

I stopped at my bedroom door. "As well as you imagine." This sentence concealed my unspeakable pain and sarcasm.

"Good night, Mom."

Entering my room, I turned and locked the door. I slid helplessly to the floor, hugged my knees tightly, and shed painful tears.

I truly had not expected that Emily only saw me as the child of a prostitute. I always knew I was adopted, and the Smith family never truly treated me as their own child.

But hearing it spoken with such contempt still tore my heart; that pain was more profound and lasting than any physical injury.

Wiping away my tears, I looked up at myself in the mirror.

The woman reflected there looked exhausted, appearing much older than her actual age.

I hardly recognized myself anymore. When did I start becoming like this?

Becoming a cheap woman who could sleep with one man while being engaged to another, all to save a family that never truly wanted me?