Scarlett's POV:
He left with a triumphant smile, which only tightened the knot of fear twisting inside me.
I should feel relieved—there was now a chance Mr. Grey might come for me—but I didn't want to be saved.
Not by him.
If Mr. Grey saved me, it would only be to punish me for disobeying him, and God knows what "punishment" he has planned.
What was I thinking going against him?
How did I even forget the inhuman consequences that always follow?
My body shook visibly. I felt fear in my bones.
I buried my face in my palms as tears pooled between my fingers.
Why can't I just be happy for one full day? Just one?
Why does disaster always find me?
I cried until my eyes throbbed and my head pounded.
Suddenly, someone yanked me upward. I gasped and looked up into the fierce eyes of two bodyguards. Panic surged through me. I struggled, uselessly, as they dragged me across the room.
Dark thoughts raced through my mind.
What were they going to do to me?
Christ, please… save me.
Just not Mr. Grey.
---
I forced my eyes open, trying to understand where I was.
The place looked like a garage—but empty, silent, wrong.
Dim light revealed chains anchored deep into the concrete.
This wasn't a normal garage.
This was a torture room.
And I was chained to one of those anchors, lying helpless on the cold, filthy floor. My wrists burned—thorned metal digging deep into my flesh. Every movement sent a stab of pain up my arms. I couldn't even struggle.
The door swung open.
I flinched backward, the thorns tearing deeper into my skin.
I screamed as fresh pain sliced through me, hot tears spilling down my face.
The man who entered… the quiet cat I had seen earlier… was no cat.
He was a viper.
"What do you want from me?" I choked out. Dried tears stuck to my face.
"No," he said softly, crouching to stroke my hair. "You should be asking… what I want for *us*."
I almost choked on my own spit.
What the hell was he saying?
He cupped my chin, his touch making my skin crawl.
I jerked my face away, disgusted.
"I'm doing you a favor," he said.
I scoffed internally.
A favor? By tying me up and tearing my skin apart?
Wow. Thank you so much. I was really grateful.
But then his next words froze my blood.
"Once Xavier is gone, so will all your worries. And then…" His smile widened. "You'll be mine."
It took me a moment to process the insanity spilling from his mouth.
He was planning on killing Mr. Grey.
My heart pounded painfully.
Mr. Grey was cruel, yes.
He deserved many things—but death?
Not like this.
Not because of me.
And worse… I haven't performed my true function of being in his life— bringing him true happiness.
He didn't know I was meant to bring him happiness.
I felt helpless. Powerless.
And then his final words sank in:
*You will be mine.*
A bitter ache spread in my chest.
Was this what I had become? A passing toy tossed from one powerful man to another?
From a betraying ex, to a ruthless Don, and now to this twisted lunatic.
Wow, Scarlett. Aren't you lucky.
I laughed at myself—broken, bitter, hurting.
"So," he said, gripping my jaw and forcing me to face him, "what do you say?"
I was terrified, but I was done being used.
Absolutely not.
I spat in his face.
"Fuck you."
I paid instantly for my courage.
His hand whipped across my cheek so hard my head slammed into the wall.
Pain exploded through me like fire in my veins.
He stood, wiping his face with a handkerchief, eyes burning with hatred.
He grabbed my hair and yanked my head up.
"You ungrateful bitch—"
"Don't you *dare* call me that!" I screamed, tears mixing with rage.
"How dare *you*," he growled, and then the blows came.
Slap after slap after slap.
My face burned, throbbed, screamed with pain.
I cried out until my voice cracked.
He only stopped when someone called from the doorway.
My body crumpled to the floor—weak, shaking, broken.
"He's here," the man at the door announced.
He flicked his hand, dismissing him, then looked down at me.
"I was offering you a better life, but you threw it away," he sneered.
"I'll finish that monster of a Don, and afterward… I'll use you as my bedroom rug."
He kicked me hard, then turned and walked out.
I lay there sobbing, my face swollen and burning.
Why does everyone find pleasure in my pain?
I had no one.
No one but Eva.
Eva.
Fresh tears spilled. Just thinking of her—thinking she might be gone—hurt more than my broken body.
Then gunshots erupted in the distance, echoing through the building.
My heart froze.
Mr. Grey.
Was this it?
The end of the most feared, most ruthless Don?
My heart ached as I thought about it.
Slowly I bent my head, allowing the tears roll down freely