At home, the three girls were enjoying a relaxed evening, their laughter echoing softly in the cozy living room.
After spending time at the banquet, strolling around and subtly observing the guests, both Scarlet and Mirabel had grown tired—not just from socializing but because both of them were never a fan of hanging out.
Mirabel attended the banquet because her mother had always been on her neck to go out and connect with other socialites or she should go for a blind date they have arranged for her.
Weighing the two options she made a choice of coming to the blind date and fortunately she met and made a new friend Scarlet.
Knowing they needed something to settle their stomachs, Scarlet had placed a call to Mario.
"Can you please make something simple?" she requested.
"What? You didn't eat the dinner party? Mario asked, amusement laced in her voice.
"Sort of, also I am bringing a guest home, Is that okay?" Scarlet snickered.
Mario agreed and both chatted for a while before hanging up.
Without giving anyone at the banquet a chance to notice, the two of them had quietly slipped out through a side door, hopped into Mirabel's car, and driven off.
Now, sitting comfortably at home, Scarlet stretched lazily on the couch.
"Mirabel, thank you so much for coming to my aid, that dinner might have been my undoing at least with you I had a good time" she mused while taking a sip of the warm tea Mario had prepared for them.
Mirabel smirked. "Well, I think am also happy to have come to that dinner I was able to met you so the evening was worth it?"
Scarlet chuckled. "That and more. Though I must admit, I was skeptical at first but that was just it."
She had really worried about how to cope when Lucian left her and stormed after his friend but was grateful for her intervention in her strife with the waiter.
Mario, who had been listening quietly, rolled her eyes. "Can you both share a tidbit of what happened at the dinner that made both of you get clicked to each other.
Mirabel grinned. "If we are to start explaining, it might take us the whole of the night. "
Mario huffed but didn't deny it.
Just as they were about to continue their conversation, the sound of a car pulling up outside caught Scarlet's attention.
Her relaxed expression faltered slightly as she glanced toward the window. A familiar, imposing figure stepped out of the car.
Lucian.
Scarlet sighed. "Trouble will always come knocking at the least expected time".
Both Mario and Mirabel looked at her incredulously, their faces curious.
Within a short time, her phone dinged with a new notification "Come down"
Scarlet stared at the message that felt more like a command and snickered lightly. Mirabel laughed heartily at her little act.
"Scarlet, better go down and sort this out. Don't wait for him to come up or you might not like what he will do?"
Mirabel smirked.
Lucian sterling was never counted as a good man among the elite. His ways of doing things are ruthless without anyone defying his orders.
Scarlet wasn't bothered "Who cares what he does, he lives his life and I live mine. A fair world." Scarlet answered unbothered.
Mirabel raised an amused brow. "Oh? That's a bold statement, Mrs. Sterling," She teased.
Just like every other person in the country, she wouldn't dare cross Lucian Sterling's path.
"Mrs. Sterling?" Mario asked. She was already surprised of Lucian returning to look for Scarlet but was more shocked by Mirabel's word.
As Scarlet stood up to go down stairs, she pulled her back. "Scarlet, what is going on? "Who is your husband? And when the hell did you get married?" She queried with eye wide with disbelief.
She didn't want to believe she is in a dream when she can feel pain as she pinched herself.
Mario's grip on Scarlet's wrist tightened slightly as she stared at her in disbelief. "Scarlet, I need answers," she demanded.
Scarlet sighed, already feeling a headache forming. It had completely slipped her mind that she hadn't properly explained her sudden marriage to Mario.
And now, judging by the seriousness in her friend's eyes, there was no way she was escaping this conversation.
"Mario, I promise I'll explain everything," she said, rubbing her temple. "Just let me go downstairs, tell him to leave, and then I'll come back up."
Mirabel, who had been watching with amusement, leaned back against the couch, crossing her arms.
"Oh..., I'm definitely staying for this explanation," she mused. "I wasn't too curious before, but now? I can't wait to hear how you got yourself the national number 1 bachelor." She smirked.
Scarlet shot her a glare, but Mirabel only smirked raising a brow in challenge.
Mario finally released Scarlet's wrist, but her eyes remained filled with questions. "Fine. But don't think for a second you're off the hook."
Scarlet exhaled in relief and quickly made her way downstairs.
As soon as she stepped outside, she found Lucian standing by his car, his expression blank and indifferent under the dim glow of the streetlights. His composure poised and intimidating.
Scarlet walked up to him with arms crossed. "You are here?" she asked, her tone light.
Lucian's jaw tightened. "We need to talk."
Scarlet nodded with understanding "You are right we really need to talk."
Lucian took a step closer, his presence looming. "Scarlet, Can we go home?"
"Home?" Scarlet asked. She felt her breathe hitch at the mention of home.
She dreaded that word. Her adoptive parents had called her home and at the end of the day she ended up being married but luckily it was no longer the loan shark. Yet, it doesn't make any sense when she ended up marrying her boss in the office.
"Yes, home?" he answered, his gaze boring into her taking every flicker of emotion crossing her face.
"Am sorry but not tonight, I already said it before that I want to crash at my friend's place to gather myself. Then, naturally, I will return.
Lucian's eyes darkened, but before he could respond, a voice called out from behind them.
"She's not going anywhere yet."
"She has questions to answer" Came the girls' voices at the same time.
Both turned to see Mario and Mirabel standing at the entrance, arms crossed in unison, watching with keen interest.