Bound By Lies

Scarlett's Point of View

I smiled at the thought of my identical twin sister returning home after more than a year of living far away. Although I had been hesitant to visit her due to her fiancé's dangerous nature, I could hardly contain my excitement now that she was coming home.

I stood up from my chair and began packing my belongings into my bag, preparing to leave the office. I don't typically leave work this early, but with my sister returning home tonight, it felt like a special occasion.

The door to my office swung open, and Annabelle, my assistant, entered. She is an exceptionally intelligent individual, and I thoroughly enjoy collaborating with her. She diligently follows all my instructions and is unafraid to highlight when my ideas may be flawed.

"Good afternoon, Miss Scarlett. There is a significant meeting you should attend with an investor in an hour," Annabelle said, but her words fell on deaf ears.

I had no intention of attending any meetings today, particularly since my sister was coming home.

"Cancel all my meetings for today," I replied, grabbing my bag and preparing to leave.

"Miss, the meeting is crucial. If you miss it, we could lose the investors," Annabelle insisted, and I sighed.

"That's okay, Annabelle. We will find other investors. I need to go home as soon as possible," I told her. Suddenly, an idea struck me. "How about you attend the meeting on my behalf and present our best shoe collection? If they accept the deal, we can move forward. I trust you with this; I know you can do an excellent job." Annabelle's shocked expression was priceless, but I didn't wait for her to respond; I left her there.

As I approached my car, I carefully placed my bag on the seat and climbed inside before driving off.

I missed Scarlynn immensely. She fell in love with a guy we barely knew, got engaged, and left home all at once.

I hadn't seen her in a long time; she rarely called home, and none of our family members knew where she lived. All we knew was that her soon-to-be husband was a dangerous individual involved with the mafia, and he resolved his disputes with a gun.

I honestly never wanted my sister to be with such a monster, but what could I do? She loved him and would not tolerate anyone speaking ill of her fiancé, leaving us all with no choice.

I loved my sister, and her happiness was important to me. As long as she was content with that monster, that was all that truly mattered.

As for me, marriage was the last thing on my mind. I wasn't even ready to be in a relationship. All I wanted was to grow my business, increase my income, and enjoy life without any worries.

Honestly, I believe that relationships require more than just love, and I was too selfish. I was unwilling to compromise or make any sacrifices, which is why I preferred to be alone. It felt better that way. I had everything I wanted, along with my family by my side. I couldn't ask for more.

Warmth spread through my chest as I finally parked my car in front of our two-story estate, complete with a sweeping staircase and crystal chandeliers. It wasn't enormous, but it was just right for us. My father was involved in the mafia, but he wasn't the wealthiest man alive. He was simply a prosperous man who provided his family with a luxurious lifestyle. He even assisted me in starting my own business.

As I entered the sitting room, a maid greeted me at the entrance and took my handbag and coat.

I began to make my way to the couch but stopped midway.

The devil sat there, legs spread, his black eyes narrowed. He dominated the entire couch, exuding an aura of power, his rugged presence commanding the attention of my entire family.

They were all seated in silence, no one uttering a word. Scarlynn sat next to her fiancé, a smile gracing her lips. I couldn't comprehend why she was smiling while her entire family trembled in fear; naturally, they were terrified of this intimidating man.

"I'm leaving her in your care," he said, his voice deep and husky, compelling everyone to focus on him. "If anything were to happen to her or my child, I would destroy your entire clan," he added.

He slowly rose from the couch, adjusting his suit, and began walking toward me. He shot me a glance before exiting the house. I was certain my parents were too intimidated by him to even consider walking him out.

"Scarlett," Scarlynn called my name, her tone dripping with excitement, snapping me out of my daze.

She rose from the couch and rushed to me, wrapping her arms around me. That's when I finally realized how large her belly had become.

"Scarlynn, you're pregnant, and you didn't even tell us?" I asked as I gently pulled her out of the embrace and scanned her from head to toe. She had gained a significant amount of weight and was glowing. She looked even more beautiful than I did, but something seemed off; I decided to ask her about it later.

Scarlynn's face lit up with a radiant smile.  "I wanted to surprise you all, and it seems my plan worked, " she said sweetly, giggling.

I took her hand and led her to the couch, gently assisting her as she sat down while I settled in beside her.

Mom and Dad were unusually quiet, not uttering a word, and they didn't seem pleased to see Scarlynn.

Even as I spoke to her, I anticipated Dad would interrupt with one of his reprimands for her prolonged absence, but today he remained silent.

I furrowed my brows as I glanced at my parents. "Mom, Dad... Aren't you happy that your daughter is back home?" I asked, unable to suppress my curiosity.

My mom typically fell silent when she felt guilty about something, while my dad, who was known for being very talkative, was unusually quiet. It was rare to see him in this state.

My mom cleared her throat. "Umm, of course, I'm happy that my daughter is back home. Please excuse me; I have an important meeting." She spoke quickly and rose from the couch, making her way out.

"You should spend some time together. I have some things I need to take care of," my dad said as he quickly got off the chair and left the room.

My jaw dropped as I watched them leave just like that. This can't be real! Something was off, but I couldn't figure out what it was.

"Scarlett..Are you okay? You seem lost in thoughts " Scarlynn's voice pulled me back to reality, and I turned my attention to her, forcing a smile.

I was not pleased with how Mom and Dad behaved just now, but I redirected my attention to my sister, setting aside any distracting thoughts.

"You all look so glowing and happy," I said, a teasing smile playing on my lips. "You disappeared all of a sudden and didn't even call your sister. You've forgotten all about me because of a guy," I added, pouting and feigning my sadness while observing her expression as she rolled her eyes.

"I can forget the whole world, but I can never forget you, Scarlett. You can keep dreaming about it," Scarlynn said, and I let out a chuckle.

"Your fiancé looks intimidating. How do you manage to be with someone like him?" I asked, casting a glance in her direction.

"He loves me deeply, and he would never do anything to hurt me," she said. I nodded my head, raising my eyebrows skeptically.