CHAPTER 23

Chapter 23

“Mom, back off! Scarlett’s the one I love, and she’s carrying my child, Push me again, and I swear, Scarlett and I will leave this city together. You know I’ll do it!” Zachary warned Lorelal with unwavering resolve.

Lorelai’s face twisted in rage. Yet, this was her son she was up against, and that seductress was pregnant with her grandchild. Reluctantly, she had to bite her tongue and proceed with caution. “Finel You two seem dead set on this, so what can I say? Let’s put the pregnancy first. We can hash this out later once she’s feeling better. You can’t expect us to agree on it immediately, can you? Just give us a bit of time.”

Zachary thought it over, ‘Well, she’s got a point. Plus, I’ve got to wrap up some work over on Dad’s side. With Scarlett expecting a baby, Mom

wouldn’t dare touch her.

“Okay. Scarlett, just take good care of yourself, all right? I’ll be here for you every day. With me around, you and the baby are going to be just

fine.” Zachary promised.

Scarlett looked at him with love in her eyes, squeezing his hand firmly, though she kept sneaking wary glances at Megan and Lorelai,

Megan just snorted and looked away in disgust.

“We’re leaving you in Mina’s care. Take it easy and forget about all this nonsense,” Lorelai said coldly. Then, she yanked Megan out of the

ward.

Once they were out, Megan grabbed Lorelai’s arm, complaining, “Mom! Are we really letting that witch get away with this? She’s bluffing! She could have gone for an abortion without needing your signature if she wanted. She’s clearly blackmailing us. How can we let her into the Winslow family?”

Lorelai responded darkly, “Now that she’s pregnant with a Winslow, we can’t just ignore her. I’ll handle her once the baby’s born. The nerve of her, trying to seduce Zachary right under my nose! She thinks she can waltz into the Winslow family that casily? She’d better be as

valuable as Isabella then.”

Megan pouted. “Mom, I don’t get what you and Dad see in Isabella. She’s as poor as they come.”

Indeed, Megan was aware of isabella’s financial struggles. Isabella was known at school for her penny–pinching ways. She never wore fancy clothes or attended any high–profile parties, yet Megan’s parents believed she was a hidden treasure.

“What do you know? Isabella’s grandfather and mother left her a fortune, which she’ll get when she’s 25. That’s why we need to get her married into our family before then, or it’ll all be hers alone,” Lorelai snapped, swatting Megan’s hand away.

“And what about Mr. and Mrs. Ingram? How will they agree to this?” Megan asked, not really knowing Nathan and Winona, but she knew Yvonne well enough. Beyond her polished appearance, Yvonne was purely money–hungry. If Isabella was rich, it seemed odd Yvonne hadn’t already taken advantage of her.

“Your father and Mr. Ingram have plans for that money. Anyone hoarding it would look bad. Plus, they have to deal with those old fools, the Sorenson shareholders. Kids like you shouldn’t worry about these things. You and Yvonne will get some of her mother’s jewelry in the end. Just keep this under wraps!” Lorelai blurted out, then warned Megan.

Megan’s eyes sparkled. “Really? Any good pieces?”

Lorelai gave her a stern look. “Irina was George’s only child. He spoiled her rotten. Sorenson Multimedia might be neck and neck with Avid Ventures Real Estate now, but they were among the elite once.”

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She sighed, thinking about the lengths the Winslow family had gone to secure Zachary’s engagement with isabella, who was way out of his

andvaj.

Megan was shocked to learn about Sorenson Multimedia’s former status. “So, w

what’s our next move?” Megan leaned on Lorelai.

The latter rolled her eyes. “We’ll just have to make a few more trips to see Isabella at the Ingrams. She’s always been easygoing and quick to forgive. She’ll come around once I have Zachary smooth things over. It’s his mess, after all.”

Megan nodded, quietly devising how she was going to convince her brother to go along with the plan. When Zachary came back, his reluctance was palpable.

Exhausted from her emotional ordeal, Scarlett requested Mina to gently rock her bed, yearning for some rest. Shedding tears had drained her

more than expected.

With the struggle ahead, she knew she needed all her strength to face any sudden challenges.

Ultimately, winning Zachary over and securing her place as the lady of the Winslow family was her unwavering goal.

The recent confrontation had given Scarlett a clear insight into the dynamics and strengths within the Winslow family, bolstering her confidence in achieving her objectives.

She lay there, hands resting on her belly, thinking, ‘Your arrival is perfectly timed, my baby. Together, we’re embarking on a journey. You’re my passport into the Winslow family and in return, I’ll ensure our rightful place there. We’re in this together, bound by blood. If the Winslows can’t see our value, they’ll have to pay up, but that’s their loss.”

Just as she was drifting off, the jarring ring of her phone snapped her awake. Recognizing the ringtone, she knew it was either Fiona or Felix calling. With Mina out of the room, Scarlett hurriedly answered..

“Scarlett, you’ve got to save Felix!” Fiona’s voice came through, laden with panic.

“What’s the issue now?” Scarlett asked, her brow furrowing-

“Felix owes someone 15,000 dollars. They’re threatening to cut his arm off if he doesn’t pay up.” Fiona’s voice was shrill, spiked with dread.

“Then let them,” Scarlett responded flatly.

“How could you say

d you say such a thing, you brat! He’s your biological brother! You’re supposed to look out for him, not abandon him. Remember who worked their fingers to the bone just to send you to school!” Fiona ranted.

Scarlett pulled the phone away, counting silently until Fiona’s tirade petered out at 505,–

Fiona demanded, “You need to figure out how to scrape together 15,000 dollars.”

“Mom, I don’t have that kind of cash!” Scarlett protested, clearly distressed.

“Well, find a way! Don’t you have plenty of wealthy classmates? Oh, you’re a private tutor, aren’t you? Ask for an advance from your tutoring gigs. Those families can afford it,” Fiona pressed on relentlessly.

“Mom.” Scarlett began, feeling cornered.

“Scarlett, it wasn’t easy for me to raise you two. Don’t you understand the sacrifices I’ve made? You and Felix should be supporting each other. He’s your brother, for heaven’s sake, Fiona laid on the guilt thick.

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“Mom, I’m just a student. Where am I supposed to get 15,000 dollars?” Scarlett’s voice was tinged with desperation.

“What about that 15.000 dollars you made at the auto exhibition by being an auto show model? And the 10,000 dollars before that? You’re capable, Scarlett. I know you’ve had it rough but please, do it for Felix,” Fiona implored.

Scarlett closed her eyes. Only she knew how she got the money.

“Why not convince Felix to quit gambling? Do you have any idea how much of his debt I’ve cleared? I’m at my limit. You two might as well sell

me off.” Scarlett snapped.

“Don’t talk nonsense! Felix was just having a rough patch. Show some empathy. He swears he’s done gambling. Just help him out this one time, Scarlett. You can’t just watch him get hurt,” Fiona begged.

Frustrated, Scarlett ran her fingers through her hair, taking a deep breath, “How long do we have?”

“A week,” Fiona replied, her voice lighting up.

“I’ll see what I can do. But if I don’t get back to you in five days, consider me gone and make a run for it,” Scarlett said icily, ending the call. Exhausted, she collapsed back onto the bed and tossed the phone aside.

Mina returned then, carrying a bucket of water. Alarmed by Scarlett’s distraught appearance, she exclaimed, “What happened, Ms. Pearson? Are you okay? Do you need a doctor?”

Scarlett offered Mina a weak smile, feigning fragility, “I’m all right, thanks for asking.”

Mina, after setting the bucket aside, approached with a gentle concern. “Would you like me to gently sway the bed for you?”

With a grateful nod from Scarlett, Mina began to rock the bed softly, suggesting, “Perhaps you should try to eat something, Ms. Pearson.”

Agreeing silently, Scarlett accepted the food Mina prepared for her. Meanwhile, her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts about how to collect the necessary funds.

Once she finished her meal, Scarlett seized the moment of solitude as Mina retreated to handle the dishes, to make a crucial call to Yvonne.

Yvonne’s voice crackled through the phone with her usual impatience. “Where have you been? Are you still holed up in that hospital?”

Scarlett cut

straight to the chase. “I need 15,000 dollars. Transfer it to my a

account right away.”

Yvonne’s response dripped with sarcasm, “What do you take me for, Scarlett? Your personal bank? Why on earth should I hand over money to

you?”

Scarlett, unfazed by the tone, responded firmly, “I do certain tasks for you, and in return, you compensate me. That’s our deal,”

Yvonne’s temper flared. “I’ve already paid you! Or are you trying to play dumb now?”

“That payment was solely for the video upload, which, might I add, achieved your objectives ahead of schedule. My involvement in their separation is a separate service altogether, warranting an additional fee of 15,000 dollars. No negotiations.” Scarlett’s usual demure expression was replaced by one of steely determination.

Yvonne burst into a fit of laughter. “Oh, please! I’ve lost interest in that little scheme. Why did you go ahead without checking in with me first? I’ve had a change of heart; I want them together now. In fact, getting them hitched would be the icing on the cake!”

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Scarlett, incredulous, shot back, “Have you lost your mind?”

“Here’s the deal, Scarlett. Your little stunt backfired. I’ve shifted my goals. If you can somehow arrange for Isabella to end up marrying Zachary, I’ll sweeten the pot–50,000 dollars, not a penny less. How’s that for an offer?” Yvonne proposed.

“You can’t be serious,” Scarlett replied.

Yvonne’s tone was sharp. “Dead serious. The turn of events at that gathering was unforeseen, Isabella, of all people, snagging Clayton, the acting CEO of Rayson International? It’s unfathomable. Zachary was a stretch for her, but Clayton? He’s in a league far beyond. No way can I allow her to marry him.”

Taking a breath, Yvonne pressed on, “So here’s the thing, Scarlett. I don’t care how you do it, but if you can ensure she marries Zachary instead, the 60,000 dollars is yours, along with a job offer to become my dad’s secretary at Sorenson Multimedia. What do you say?”

As Yvonne’s voice echoed in her ear, Scarlett’s grip on her phone loosened, the device nearly slipping through her fingers. “Isabella… How can she be that lucky?” Scarlett thought.

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