Chapter 2
Scarlett could never have imagined that her stepmother’s daughter, who had been “recovering abroad” for years,
would turn out to be Jackson’s precious Lily.
Life had just handed her the cruelest joke imaginable.
A moment later, Lily approached her with a sweet smile. “Sister, I’m so sorry I disturbed your sleep…”
Before she could finish, Scarlett slammed the door shut–with a thunderous bang.
“Scarlett! Where are your manners?!” Her father roared from outside. “Clear out your room! If Lily likes it, this will
be her bedroom from now on!”
Scarlett laughed bitterly, immediately starting to pack her suitcases.
Outside, she could hear fragments of conversation-
“Uncle Richard, is Scarlett angry?” Lily’s voice was soft as honey.
“Don’t worry about her. She’s been spoiled rotten since childhood.”
“But…”
“Don’t worry, she’ll be married off to Miami soon. After that, this house will belong to you and your mother.”
Scarlett’s hand paused momentarily before she smirked even more darkly.
She quickly booked an end–of–month flight to Miami and continued packing.
Half an hour later, she wheeled her luggage out of the room.
In the living room, her father, Victoria, and Lily sat on the sofa watching TV, fruit and pastries arranged on the coffee table, looking every bit the picture–perfect family.
Scarlett walked straight toward the door without a glance in their direction.
“Stop right there!” her father commanded. “What are you doing now? Don’t forget what you promised!”
“Don’t worry, I always keep my word,” Scarlett replied without turning around. “But for these next two weeks, I’d rather not stay somewhere that makes me sick to my stomach.”
She checked into the Presidential Suite at The Langham, Boston’s most expensive hotel and embarked on a shopping spree of epic proportions.
She bought the most exquisite wedding dress, bid millions at auctions for antique jewelry to serve as her dowry.
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Chapter 2
Even if she was just a “lucky charm” bride, she would arrive in Miami like a queen.
Her phone buzzed relentlessly in her bag. Scarlett only checked it after purchasing her final diamond necklace.
Thirty–eight missed calls, all from her father.
She had barely swiped to answer when his furious voice exploded through the speaker: “Have you lost your fucking mind?! You’ve blown through thirty million in ONE DAY! Are you trying to bankrupt me?!”
“What’s the rush?” Scarlett laughed coldly. “Once I’m married, you’ll have five hundred million coming your way.”
“But that money hasn’t arrived yet! If you keep spending like this, the company will declare bankruptcy tomorrow!”
Scarlett’s smile turned vicious.
That was exactly what she wanted.
The five hundred million? She’d already planned to have it transferred directly to her personal account after the wedding.
She wanted to see if Lily and her gold–digging mother would still cling so desperately to a broke old man once the money disappeared.
Did they really think everyone was as foolish as her mother? The woman who had stood by her father while he built his empire from nothing, who worked herself into the hospital with stress, only to be driven to suicide in the end?
Thinking of her mother, Scarlett’s heart contracted painfully.
Her phone vibrated again with a text from Jackson: [What’s got you in a mood this time? Why didn’t you come to the office today?]
Scarlett stared at the message for a long time.
For the past year, under the guise of Jackson “disciplining” her, she’d reported to his office almost daily.
But now that she was about to marry someone else, what was there left for him to discipline?
When she returned to the hotel carrying over a dozen shopping bags, she found her luggage piled unceremoniously in the lobby.
“What the hell is going on?” she demanded coldly.
The receptionist looked uncomfortable. “Miss Devereaux, your card… was declined. According to hotel policy…”
Just then, her phone buzzed with a message from her father: [If you want to sever ties, stop using my money. I’ve frozen all your accounts.]
Scarlett stared at the screen for a long time, until her eyes burned.
ake Dufng Billionaire Revence is Sweet!
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Chapter 2
Finally, she replied with just two words: [Fine then.]
Scarlett then dragged her suitcase down the street.
C
Her flight wasn’t until the end of the month, and now she had nowhere to go. Where would she sleep? What would
she eat? How would she survive?
Her suitcase was full of wedding dresses and dowry items she couldn’t sell. As for borrowing money…
She’d rather sleep on the street than beg from those vultures in her social circle who were waiting to see her fall.
She had just settled on a park bench when a drunk man staggered over.
‘Hey beautiful, all alone?” he slurred.
‘Get lost!” she snapped.
2
‘Don’t be like that, sweetie. Keep me company for a while…”
The moment his greasy hand touched her shoulder, Scarlett raised her hand to slap him.
‘ARGH!”
ackson had appeared out of nowhere, viciously twisting the man’s wrist.
Before Scarlett could react, she found herself and her luggage bundled into his car.
‘Let me go!” she protested.
‘ackson gripped her flailing wrist. “What drama are you causing now?”
His voice deepened. “Homeless, and you still wouldn’t come to me?”
Chapter 3
