He Gave Her Strawberries, Gave Me Hives (Ford and Sylvia) novel Chapter 64

Chapter 6

After fleeing that suffocating house, Scarlett holed up in a hotel, counting down the seconds of her miserable existence.

Three days left until she could leave the country. She tried to numb her mind to everything else.

But the sharp, relentless cramps in her lower belly were a constant reminder of the little life that had just slipped away from her.

The pain broke her. She finally collapsed, screaming her grief into the empty room.

But there was no Cormac to hold her, no indulgent sigh, no soft voice saying, “Come on, Cormac Wilder’s wife can’t be a crybaby. I’ll fix the problem, but you gotta fix your emotions.”

After drying her tears, Scarlett got a text from her lawyer friend.

Cormac had dropped serious cash on a shark of a divorce lawyer to help Ruby sue Mick.

It was a done deal. The divorce was practically in the bag.

Ruby, apparently ready to pop the champagne early, actually showed up at Scarlett’s hotel to gloat.

“Scarlett, I’m ditching Mick. Once you and Cormac are done, the Doctor and I can finally make it official.”

Scarlett sneered in disgust. “I already signed the papers. Don’t nag me–go nag Cormac.”

Ruby’s face twisted into a mask of pure malice.

“What are you so smug about? Cormac is a good man, he feels responsible for you! Why don’t you just die, you bitch!”

Scarlett frowned, about to curse her out.

But Ruby turned on her heel and walked away.

A cold knot of dread formed in Scarlett’s stomach. Something was wrong.

The next afternoon, just as she got back from the office.

Cormac sent her a rare text message.

[Come home. We need to talk. Don’t be impulsive.]

Scarlett hesitated, thumb hovering over the screen, when she heard footsteps behind her.

Before she could react, a cloth was clamped over her nose and mouth.

When she opened her eyes, she was trapped in a damp, freezing warehouse.

A video camera was set up in front of her. Ruby was tied up, face swollen and bruised, clothes torn to shreds, her body covered in scratch marks.

Standing around her were several men, eyes glazed with lust, clearly high on something.

Scarlett was confused as hell, but the next second, Cormac kicked the door open.

15:35

He Gave Her Strawberries, Gave Me Hives. I Gave Them Both A One–Way Ticket To BANKRUPTCY.

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Chapter 6

“Doctor! Save me!”

Before Scarlett could even blink, Cormac shoved her violently, his eyes burning with a hatred that threatened to consume her whole,

I must have been blind to marry a vicious monster like you!”

He scooped up Ruby, who was sobbing uncontrollably.

“Ruby, I’ve got you. You’re safe now.”

“Boo–hoo… Doctor…” Ruby clutched his sleeve, hyperventilating, “I just tried to convince Ms. Flynn not to divorce you! I didn’t think she’d kidnap me… and have men do… that to me…”

Scarlett’s voice was hoarse, panic setting in.

“That’s a lie! I didn’t do anything! I was kidnapped too, I just woke up here-”

SMACK!

Before she could finish, a heavy slap struck her face.

The sharp sound echoed in the warehouse. The force was brutal, leaving Scarlett’s ears ringing.

She held her face, stunned, as Cormac unleashed a torrent of abuse.

“Listen to yourself! This is YOUR voice!”

Cormac’s trembling hand played a recording on his phone. It was “Scarlett’s” voice.

“Ruby, doesn’t your weird illness require sex to cure? Are these men enough to satisfy you?”

Then came the sounds of Ruby begging, crying, and banging her head on the floor.

Scarlett shook. That wasn’t her! It was a deepfake, synthesized by Ruby!

“It’s not me! Cormac, believe me! Check the hotel cameras! I’m being framed!”

“Still lying?” Cormac looked at her with profound disappointment and disgust. “Ruby was raped because of you, and you think I’d believe your

bullshit?”

The men in the room all turned to look at Scarlett in unison.

“Hey lady, you called us here for a good time. Now you’re taking the girl away? We paid good money!”

As they spoke, they exchanged a knowing glance with Ruby.

Scarlett realized instantly: Ruby had orchestrated this entire nightmare just to frame her.

“She hired them herself! She’s framing me!” Scarlett screamed hysterically. “I’m calling the cops! They’ll find the truth!”

But Ruby cried even harder.

“No police! If anyone finds out, I’ll die of shame! Doctor, please… just pretend Ms. Flynn is telling the truth… don’t call the cops!”

Cormac squeezed Ruby’s hand with intense pity, then turned a cold, dead stare onto Scarlett.

Chapter 6

“If you had the skills to bring Ruby here, you obviously covered your tracks. I won’t call the police, because you are my wife, If you go down, my reputation goes down with you, and I won’t let you drag my name through the mud! You like hurting people this way? Fine, You stay here. Get a taste of your own medicine!”

He picked Ruby up in his arms and walked out. At the door, he turned to the men behind him.

“She hired you. Take it up with her.”

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