SCARLETTE

  "Why can't I see her?" she asked John. "I just want to see her. Just once!"

  "I can't let her know that you are involved in this." John's calm reply was already something that Scarlette expected. She knew that John liked her and he would do everything to keep her safe. However, this is really annoying.

  "But I really want to — "

  "There's no need to see someone dying," John uttered.

  "I told you not to kill her yet!"

  "Exactly. I am not going to kill her. However, this didn't mean that I won't — she slapped me once. It is only right that I have my revenge, right?"

  "She actually slapped you?" she eyed John's bloodied face. She immediately knew that the man was lying. How could it be a simple slap? John's face was swollen, his lips burst. How could it be some slap? "She knew self-defense?"

  John's face darkened. "It wasn't expected. It was not included in the information that we had on her."

  Scarlette nodded. No wonder John beat Sienna. "Did you kill her?"

  "I already promised you. I wouldn't kill her. However… she wasn't in a very good situation right now."

  Just as John finished talking, the news about the sudden drop of the Rouse Tech's stocks was broadcasted on the TV. Of course, they already knew why. However, the news stated that it was because there will be a change of CEO in the coming days.

  "It seems that her brother would take over soon?"

  "No. I doubt it." Scarlette said. "Grant isn't like that. Perhaps their father would take over soon."

  "Why not him? He was smart and talented…"

  "He wanted to have a name of himself."

  "People and their pride." John snorted.

  To their surprise, the news stated that Grant would sit down as the new CEO.

  What they don't know is the fact that Grant never wanted to become the CEO. He didn't want to take that position away from his sister. However, this was all Sienna's plan. They wanted to bait Scarlette into thinking that she already won.

  Of course, involving the news is actually a good thing.

  "You were right…" Grant narrowed his eyes on the large family portrait that was in his living room. This was a gift from his mother. "Father didn't use all of his people to find you."

  Sienna nodded. That was already a part of her plan.

  That old man wanted to get rid of her. Now that she actually disappeared, it is only normal that the old man would not find her. In fact, their father might even instruct his people to kill her the moment they saw her. "You knew I was right. And yet you actually wanted me to stay at your house. If your father discovers this…"

  "That won't happen."

  "…" After hours and hours of argument, Sienna finally agreed to stay in this place in exchange for Grant's agreement to play along with her plan. It had been two days since that night and it was already obvious that living with this man isn't really ideal.

  This wasn't just because the man had been acting like an overprotective boyfriend. This was mainly because of their clashing personalities. Both of them had dominant personalities and none is willing to take a step back and let the other win.

  It has been a struggle.

  "Tomorrow, I will join the assembly. There will be people waiting for you. They will make sure that you are safe."

  "…"

  "You can't show yourself to the public. I am afraid that father would hurt you if you will."

  "Of course." Sienna already decided to use this opportunity to step back and find her real parents. Moreover, she is also planning to use the male lead to deal with Scarlette in the upcoming assembly.

  After their conversation, Grant let her promise that she wouldn't leave the house before he left to go to Rouse Tech. Right now, Grant is already busy because of the transition.

  After Grant left, Sienna used a disguise to leave his house too.

  …..

  Mr. Rouse stared at the steam coming from his tea.

  The smell of his favorite earl grey wasted through his office. However, the tea's usual allure was no longer there. It wasn't enough to erase the uneasiness in his heart today.

  Sienna disappeared.

  The woman just disappeared without a trace.

  Her sudden disappearance somehow reached the ears of the other board members and almost immediately, their stocks fell.

  However, this isn't the thing that made him uneasy.

  Mr. Rouse knew that the company would recover soon.

  However, he couldn't help but worry that Sienna disappeared because of something related to their past.

  Another sigh escaped his lips.

  He needed to know what happened to her.

  He needed to know if she was still alive or dead. And if she was dead, he needed to see her body.

  This is the only thing that could calm his nerves down.

  "Hm?" His gaze darted towards the window to his left. Did he leave this open earlier?

  "I'm glad to see you well, Mr. Rouse."

  Sienna's voice.

  Mr. Rouse's eyes sprang towards the direction where the voice came from. "S— Sienna?" The woman was leaning against the bookshelves behind him. He got up and took a step away towards the door.

  "No need to be scared, Mr. Rouse… I am not going to hurt you."

  "You— " Sienna was wearing simple black and white clothes. "Where did you come from? How did you get in?"

  "You were too busy thinking about my disappearance you didn't notice me jumping inside using the window."

  "How?" His home office was on the second floor! How could she jump inside? Did she use some sort of rope? But… it was still daytime! His security would have immediately spotted her.

  "Is this really the reaction of a father if they see their daughter who… 'disappeared'?

  "You— "

  "I'm kidding." Sienna sat on the edge of the table. "Sit down father." She gestured him to sit on his swivel chair next to her. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you…… I promise," she beamed.