His Betrayal, Her Burning Revenge

ing in a notebook, designing clothes fueled by a cold, sharp anger. She avoided him, and he,

in the kitchen, staring

id, not a request, but a command. He was al

or a party," she said

for argument. "It' s a welcome-home party for Willow. My business pa

She was his secret mistress, and he wanted her to play a part in w

lipped. If he wanted a perfor

a hundred pairs of eyes on her. She was Scarlett Hayes, the disgraced designer, on the a

was dressed in a pale pink dress, looking fragile and ethereal. She saw Scarlett and a

She reached out and squeezed Ethan's arm possessively. "I

nything behind," Scarlett

e looked up at Ethan, her eyes welling w

low and threatening. He then turned his full attention to Willow, his expression

timate it made Scarlett's stomach clench. He had never, not once, touched her with such

a glass of champagne, watching Ethan dote on Willow. He got her a shawl when she looked cold, brought her a pla

ed to start a party game. "Let's play 'Most Likely To'

but Ethan caught her arm. "Do

ve a zombie apocalypse?" Someone shouted Ethan's name. "Most

rected at Ethan. "Ethan, who's most li

ry designer, Scarlett, or

or a fraction of a second before a small smile touched his

ush of victory on her pale cheeks. Scarl

uestion was aimed at Scarlett' s profession, her identity. Ethan's gaze flickered to her, then to

nted at Ethan. "Alright, Vance, the big one. You're on a sinking shi

a verdict. Scarlett held her breath, her heart pounding. Ethan looked at Willow, who was gazi

y word he could have spoken. It stretched for an

id with a light, tinkling laugh, though her eyes were

ming nod. The crowd, relie

pain that burned through her chest. She felt the eyes of everyone in t

ading to the back of the mansion. She leaned against the wall, trying to get her breathing under control, f

hall. As she passed a darkened alcove, a hand shot out and grabbed her arm.

rred, his breath hot and smelling of whiskey. He pulled

tt snarled, trying t

allway. Relief, sharp and immediate, flooded

other direction. It was Willow. "I th

, but his gaze immediately shifted to the direction of Willow's voice. Without a momen

t stole the air from her lungs. In that moment

on the man's instep. He howled in pain, his grip loosening. She didn't stop there. She swung her purse, h

room where Ethan was now kneeling, tenderly examining Willow's perfec

n she heard footsteps behind her. It was Willow, ho

dn't mean it," Willow called out, he

," Scarlett spat,

aining a cruel edge. "I'm his past. You're just... a distraction. A

tracks and turned to face her

reech of tires cut through the night. A car, one of the guest's sports cars, came careening

n. The car was heading straight fo

ing lights. He was running towards them. His eyes met Scarlet

looked a

hrew his body into her, tackling her out of the c

hose

his choice. The last thing she felt was a searing, unimaginable pain as the bumper of