Scarlett (Second Edition) by Karima Saad Usman novel Chapter 26

Chapter 26

I pleaded with Scarlett to sleep in Clay’s room, but her hesitation was clear. She was worried Lucian would be angry if he returned to find her there. I assured her he had no authority here, not over her, not anymore. “When Clay returns, we’ll figure out a better plan, something that includes you,” I promised. Finally, she went into Clay’s room, though reluctantly, and I stayed in the living room, determined to ensure Lucian wouldn’t cause her any more grief if he came back tonight.

Lucian didn’t return until much later, his face a mask of pain, eyes swollen, the anger lurking just beneath his sorrow. He went straight to the cabinet, pouring himself a drink.

“I hope you’re happy, Maxwell. Stasia broke up with me.” His voice was hollow, wounded, but I couldn’t bring myself to feel sympathy.

“All you had to do was reject Scarlett and move into the next room with Stasia,” I replied, my tone blunt. “You chose not to. Have that on your conscience.”

His jaw tightened. “And the bond? And the magic?” he demanded, a touch of anger creeping in.

I shook my head, meeting his gaze with steady resolve. “I care about the bond, Lucian. The magic is irrelevant to me now. I like her, Lucian. I’ve liked her for a while. We brought her here without a second thought to who she was or what she’d been through.

Instead of understanding, we shunned her, letting you take your anger out on her.” I paused, letting the weight of my words settle.

“You tore her clothes, Lucian. You mistreated her in ways she didn’t deserve.”

“It was an accident, Maxwell,” he said, a hint of desperation in his voice as he took another long drink. “Don’t make it sound like it

was intentional…”

“Enough, Lucian.” My tone softened but stayed firm. “No more excuses. You’re not allowed to disrespect her anymore. If you don’t

want the bond, fine, but you don’t get to stop us from moving forward with her. She deserves peace. Reject her if you can’t accept

her; that’s what’s best.”

“We’re supposed to be like brothers, Maxwell. Why choose her after everything Thomas reported?” Lucian’s voice carried frustration and confusion. I could see that he was trapped in his anger, fueled by the reports that had twisted his perception of Scarlett from the beginning. Part of me wanted to tell him the truth, that Thomas’s reports were false, but I knew Scarlett wouldn’t want that

shared without proof.

“Then call Thomas back,” I said firmly. His brows knitted in irritation.

“He’s handling work in the East. We need him there; Garlan can’t be trusted.” He looked at me as if I’d lost

Lolita

my

mind.

“Regardless,” I insisted, “you need to call him back. I have questions about Nikolay, Scarlett, and

narrowed as he studied me.

who he was

iling.” Lucian’s eyes

“You’ve figured something out, haven’t you?” he asked, suspicion creeping into his voice.

“I want to be sure before I say anything,” I replied evenly, keeping my expression neutral. The last thing I needed was for him to

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Chapter 26

lash out again.

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“Whatever it is, if it’s about that whore, don’t get your hopes up,” he muttered, his choice of words making my stomach turn.

“Don’t call her that,” I shot back, unable to contain my disgust. “She deserves respect.”

He went silent, a bitter look crossing his face, and I decided to push further. “Reject Scarlett, Lucian. If your pride is that important, then let her go and focus on Stasia. She likes money and power; she’ll take you back in a heartbeat. But she can’t have the three of

us.”

“You can’t speak for Clay,” he snapped, defiance flashing in his eyes..

Just then, as if fate had orchestrated it, Clay walked in, his gaze sweeping over us, sensing the tension immediately. He looked at each of us in turn, no doubt feeling the weight of the conversation he’d walked into. This was it–time to lay everything out in the

open.

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Michele Gremillion

maybe a bond will start

7 days ago

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