Chapter 2
Scarlett
At nine o'clock the following evening, warm light spilled through the half-open door of the study in the Sterling mansion.
I clutched the coffee mug tightly, my palms so sweaty I nearly lost my grip.
Alexander was still working.
This was my chance.
Taking a deep breath, I knocked gently on the study door. "Alexander, you're working late. I brought you some coffee."
"Thanks, just leave it on the desk." Alexander looked up, his deep eyes flickering with a gentle smile. He was always like this—no matter how busy, he treated me with kindness.
Guilt immediately washed over me. I'm sorry, Alexander. I just want to stay in this family...
I carefully placed the coffee mug beside him, then casually glanced at the whiskey on his desk. The amber liquid swirled innocently in the crystal glass.
Alexander returned to his documents, his long fingers tracing key points on the paper. Now was my moment!
I quietly pulled the small vial from my pocket, my fingers trembling as I unscrewed the cap. The clear, odorless liquid swirled at the opening, much like my unsettled heart.
[Don't do it, honey!]
Golden text suddenly flashed before my eyes, startling me so badly I nearly knocked over the coffee mug.
[It's a trap!]
[Your brother already knows!]
What? I blinked, thinking I was hallucinating from stress. But the golden text only grew clearer, like an urgent warning.
My hand froze midair, the liquid in the vial trembling at my fingertips.
"Scarlett?" Alexander's voice snapped me back to reality, and I hurriedly tucked the vial back into my pocket.
"I'm... I'm fine," I struggled to maintain composure, but my voice still quivered.
He studied me, his gaze gentle yet probing. "Are you under a lot of stress lately? You don't look well."
"No, I'm fine." I forced a smile.
More golden comments began flooding my vision:
[He's doing this deliberately]
[He's testing your limits]
[He's just pretending not to know]
My heart began racing wildly. What did these comments mean? Was Alexander testing me? Did he know what I was planning?
Impossible... how could he know?
I tried to steady my breathing and, while he returned to his documents, quickly poured the powder into his whiskey. It dissolved instantly, leaving no trace.
Done, I thought with relief.
But in the next moment, Alexander slowly set down his papers and stood up, walking toward the liquor cabinet. My heart nearly stopped.
"Scarlett." His voice remained gentle, yet carried a chilling calmness. "The whiskey tastes off. What did you put in it?"
Blood rushed to my head, and the world began to spin.
"I... I didn't..." My voice was barely audible, a pathetic lie that even I couldn't believe.
Alexander turned to face me, his deep eyes looking directly into mine. There was no anger in those eyes, no accusation—only a heartbreaking disappointment.
"Was it a sedative?" He stepped closer, his tone still terrifyingly gentle. "What did you want Alexander to do?"
[He knew all along!]
[He's known from the beginning!]
[You've been played, sweetheart!]
The golden comments poured down like a torrential rain, each word hammering at my heart.
Tears immediately blurred my vision. "You... you knew?"
Alexander stopped in front of me, his tall figure casting a massive shadow in the lamplight. "I know you've been under pressure lately, but to resort to this..."
His voice held pain and disappointment, but no anger. That made me even more desperate.
"I just don't want to be thrown out of this family!" The words burst forth like a broken dam. "I'm afraid of losing you all! I'm afraid of losing everything!"
Alexander's gaze instantly sharpened. "Who said you're being thrown out?"
I cried harder, my voice thick with emotion. "Emily and Harrison. They said they found their biological daughter and at the family gathering they're going to..."
"Wait." Alexander's expression suddenly darkened, a fury I'd never seen before burning in his eyes. "What did they say?"
[He doesn't know about his parents' plan]
[Tell him the truth]
[He'll protect you]
So... Alexander really didn't know!
Trembling, I told him everything I'd overheard the night before. As I spoke, Alexander's expression grew increasingly grim, his fists clenched until his knuckles turned white.
"Fuck," he cursed under his breath—the first time I'd ever heard the always-polite Alexander swear.
He turned abruptly and came to me, his warm hand gently stroking my hair. "Scarlett, listen to me."
His voice became gentle again, yet carried an unprecedented firmness.
"No matter what happens, I won't let anyone hurt you."
Those words were like sweet nectar to my parched soul.
I looked up, gazing at his face through my tears. "Why... why are you so good to me?"
Alexander's hand softly caressed my cheek, wiping away the tears. His touch was as gentle as if he were handling a fragile treasure.
"Because to me, you are..." he paused for a long time, complex emotions flashing in his eyes, "important."
[He likes you, you fool]
[It's not brotherly love]
[Wake up already]
My heart began racing out of control. Alexander's gaze was too deep, too tender, with an emotion I dared not identify flowing within.
"Alex..." I whispered his name.
He seemed to realize his lapse, slowly withdrawing his hand and standing up, turning away from me. "Get some rest. We have the ball tomorrow night."
I stared at his straight back, countless questions rising in my mind.
Everything that happened tonight was too overwhelming—from my failed plan to Alexander's promise of protection, to that heart-stirring tenderness in his eyes...
I bit my lip, ultimately leaving my questions unasked. "I understand. Good night, Alex."
"Good night, Scarlett."
As I left the study, my legs felt weak.
Though my plan had failed, I'd gained more than I expected—Alexander's promise of protection, and that heart-racing possibility.
Perhaps I didn't need to resort to such despicable methods after all.
Back in my room, lying in bed, those golden comments continued flashing before my eyes.
This mysterious system seemed to predict many things, and it appeared to be... helping me?