Scarlett’s POV:
My phone buzzed with a new message. When I opened it, my blood ran cold.
There are a few photos on the screen that Lily sent.
The first photo is of Lucian and her in bed, two naked bodies entangled on the white sheets, like worms. He is lying on top of her, his fingers tangled in her long hair, his lips licking down her neck.
The other photo is of them at an upscale restaurant – Lucian is wearing the blue suit I ironed for him just last week. He is using a fork to feed Lily a piece of chocolate cake. Their gazes are locked intently on each other, both of them smiling intimately.
The third photo made my stomach churn – Lily straddling Lucian on the sofa in his office, her red dress bunched around her waist, his hands on her thighs, his face buried between her breasts. Once, right in this office, I had countless times brought him lunch, and we would sit together on the sofa and share the meal.
My hands trembled so badly I almost dropped the phone. Bobby whined, sensing my distress, and pressed his warm little body against my legs.
The curse seized the opportunity, black magic surging through my veins. I fumbled for my medicine bottle, barely managing to swallow the pills.
Bobby licked my hand as I slid to the floor, waiting for the medicine to take effect. His big brown eyes were full of concern.
Seeing his innocent eyes, my tears couldn’t stop falling.”I’m okay, little one,” I whispered, though we both knew it was a lie.
The front door opened, and I heard Lucian’s familiar footsteps. I quickly wiped my eyes and stood, tucking my phone away.
“Scarlett?” His voice was gentle as he entered the study. He stopped short when he saw my face. “Love, you’re so pale… What happened?”
I forced a smile. “Just tired.”
“No, something’s wrong.” He crossed the room in two strides, his hands cupping my face. “Tell me what’s bothering you, my heart.”
The tenderness in his touch nearly broke me. How could he be so gentle with me while betraying me at the same time?
He disappeared for a moment, then returned with something that made my chest tighten – the old stuffed teddy bear he’d given me during our darkest days.
“Remember Mr. Cuddles?” He placed the bear in my arms, his thumb wiping away a tear I hadn’t realized had fallen. “He always knew how to make you smile.”
“You kept him all this time?” My voice trembled.
“Of course.” Lucian pulled me close, his chin resting on my head. “I keep everything that reminds me of us. Of how far we’ve come together.”
I did remember. The memories flooded back unbidden.
We were prisoners then, trapped in the Shadow Pack’s dungeons. Lucian would humble himself before the Omega guards, begging them to give me better food.
“Do you remember what you used to do?” I asked softly. “When the food was too hard to eat?”
His laugh rumbled in his chest. “Mr. Cuddles’ food critic reviews? ‘This gruel is simply divine, darling, aged to perfection in a rustic dungeon ambiance.'”
