Watching Lucian walk toward the dusty, aging sedan Brandon had just delivered, Scarlet couldn't help shaking her head in resignation.
This was far from the sleek, purring cars the CEO of Sterling Group was used to and she couldn't help but wonder if he will have the guts to try it.
Quietly, she gathered her items, carefully tucking them into her handbag before stepping out of the luxury car. Brandon stood to the side, watching his boss get into the car, a subtle smirk playing on his lips.
It had taken a strong will for him to endure driving that car, and knowing his boss, he would have bet everything that he wouldn't even try. But seeing him swiftly open the door and sit inside, Brandon let out a sigh.
Scarlet offered Brandon a polite nod in greeting before making her way to the other side of the cheap vehicle.
Lucian, now in the driver's seat, was visibly struggling and sweating profusely even though he had just stepped down from an air conditioned car.
The moment he sat down, his knees hit the dashboard, and he winced. The ceiling was so low that his head brushed it uncomfortably. The seat creaked under his weight, the steering wheel groaned as he tested it, and the gearshift felt like it might break off with any strong grip. His face twisted in obvious disgust.
"This car..." he muttered under his breath, "...is a mechanical joke."
He never imagined, not even in his worst dreams, that the proud heir of the Sterling legacy would one day drive a car that felt like it belonged in a scrapyard. But tonight had already taught him that life had a cruel sense of humor.
Scarlet reached the passenger side and opened the door, catching the way he struggled to wind down the manual window. She burst out laughing, unable to stop herself this time.
Scarlet walked to the passenger side and opened the door just as Lucian struggled with the manual window. The sight made her burst into laughter.
No matter how rough her day had been, watching Lucian deal with a taste of the common life put a refreshing smile on her face.
"Do you really find this funny?"
he fumed, exasperation bleeding into his voice. He hadn't expected Scarlet to find humour in his discomfort."
He would have turned the car around and forgotten about the visit altogether, but his promise to Pauline to come by this evening and the importance of resolving the misunderstanding about their marriage kept him rooted in place.
Scarlet tried to suppress her laughter, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye, struggling to regain composure. "It's not your struggle I'm laughing at," she said, stifling a giggle. "It's your face. The expression is one in a million. it's priceless!"
Her comment hit him like a slap. He had always been admired, respected, and worshipped in every room he entered. But here she was, laughing at him.
He scowled, clearly not amused. "Glad I can entertain you."
"Alright, no more laughing," she said quickly. "You have to start the car if we're going to make it before nightfall, or we might as well reschedule for tomorrow."
Lucian let out a deep breath, gripping the steering wheel like it had personally wronged him. "Fine. Let's go."
Scarlet could still hear the edge in his voice, proof that he was barely holding it together. She sighed and leaned back into her seat, her mood quickly shifting.
"It seems I've always been a burden to everyone around me. Mario... and now Lucian," she whispered under her breath.
Her despair was overwhelming as her thoughts swirled with memories. Casting a brief glance at Lucian, she felt sorry for him. Even though he had agreed to this strange marriage out of practicality, he still had to endure her chaotic world.
The warmth that had briefly danced in her smile disappeared. Her shoulders sagged, her eyes rimmed with red, and her lips curled into a mocking arch of self-pity.
Scarlet, now quiet, watched the city blur past the window. Her earlier amusement faded as thoughts swirled in her head.
Lucian glanced at her, noticing the sudden change in her demeanor. His brows furrowed slightly. Had he said something wrong? Hurt her somehow? But try as he might, he couldn't pinpoint anything.
"Scarlet, are you okay?" he asked, his tone tentative and softer than usual.
She shook her head. "I'm fine," she said quickly.
The rest of the ride was quiet, except for the occasional screech from the cheap car and Lucian's subtle grumbling as he wrestled with the gear and brakes.
Scarlet sat quietly, lost in thought, her mind swirling with worry over the visit ahead.
By the time they pulled into the Winters' neighborhood, dusk had settled. It was a world Lucian had never stepped foot in—rows of broken houses patched with zinc sheets, shanties leaning on one another like they'd collapse with a strong wind, and children running barefoot on uneven ground.
Lucian scanned the environment, blinked in disbelief and his expression unreadable. For someone who had grown up in opulence, it was like stepping into a forgotten world.
He had never imagined he'd step foot into such a place—rows of run-down buildings, shanties pressed together like fallen dominoes, roofs patched with rusted zinc sheets, and children playing barefoot in the dirt.
Scarlet gave directions until they stopped in front of a small, weather-worn house. Though, the best in the area.
Lucian killed the engine and sighed. "Talk about a hectic trip. I think this counts as a first."
Scarlet let out a soft laugh. "Well, maybe the rich need this kind of reality check every once in a while. You know, to stay human."
Lucian turned to her, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I think I've been thoroughly baptized today."
Before they could speak further, the front door creaked open. Standing there was Pauline Winters. Her eyes raked over Lucian in a single, swift assessment from his worn-out shirt to his uncomfortable posture in the car. She didn't even try to hide her judgment.
Lucian met her gaze, lips curling into a knowing smirk. So this was the infamous Pauline. The one Scarlet always avoided, the one who chased her through emotional landmines with precision.
"Thank God I listened to her advice about dressing down," he muttered under his breath. He could practically see Pauline trying to calculate his worth, failing miserably.
He wanted to laugh at her ignorance, her pettiness, and her obsession with appearances.
From the top of the crumbling concrete steps, Pauline's voice rang out like a war horn. "Scarlet! What do you think you've done?!"
Scarlet stiffened. She glanced at Lucian, who raised an eyebrow as if daring her to back out now.
"Mom," Scarlet said calmly, "why don't you let the guest in first? We can talk properly inside."
Pauline's eyes narrowed into slits. "Guest? This…this wretched-looking man? This is who you married instead of Boss?" She laughed, a cruel sound.
Scarlet stared at her mother… her adoptive mother. Though she had no real hopes for this marriage, at this moment, she had to use it as a shield.
"What's wrong with him? Isn't he human? Or is it just that he can't meet your endless monetary demands?" she asked in a cold tone.
Pauline hadn't expected Scarlet to talk back.
"In just two days, and you already have the nerve to talk back?" she smirked. "Scarlet, you're divorcing him. Fast. You'll marry Boss like the family agreed and settle the debt. It's happening soon."
Scarlet's heart sank. Here we go again.
Lucian, however, calmly stepped out of the car. The gravel crunched under his shoes as he looked up at Pauline with all the quiet arrogance of a king in peasant's clothes.
"I am sorry madam but I think there is some misunderstandings here." Lucian smirked and Pauline stared at him, momentarily speechless.
"Can we go inside?" Lucian added, walking forward slowly. "We have things to discuss. And I've come all this way... in that just to.ho!our ," he pointed to the car, "so I'm not leaving until I say what I came to say."