I sprayed myself with my favorite perfume, feeling nervous about the evening ahead.
My hair was put away from my face, sitting in a neat up-do Beth had helped me achieve. I decided to wear a white cocktail dress, stopping just above my knees and exposing just the right amount of cleavage. Not so much my brother would throw a blanket over me, and not so little I'd feel like a priest. For shoes, I had stolen Beth's pair of silver, strappy heels. Overall, I looked good. The sad thing was that my ''boyfriend'' wouldn't be able to appreciate it.
Y'know, because he's gay...
But, oh, well.
''You're taking forever!'' My brother belted from downstairs, being his usual impatient self. ''They'll be here in a few mins!''
Hold up.
They?
Who the hell are they?
''Who's they?!'' I belted right back at him, standing in front of my mirror.
''Tyler, Hunter, and Brittany!'' Bethany replied, walking past my door.
What the actual fuck?!
The doorbell rang and I could hear Grayson rushing to open it. My heart was thudding out of my chest and I couldn't handle the sudden anxiety I was feeling. What was I supposed to do now?!
''Scar, go get Benji from the nursery and get your asses down here!'' Grayson called. I smoothed my dress one last time before gulping and heading to Benji's room.
***
Carrying Benji down the stairs, I couldn't help but dread the outcome of tonight. How was I supposed to act around Brittany? Hunter and I had finally sorted our differences and I knew it wasn't casual between us...
I mean,
We watched 'Friends' together!
Benji gurgled in my grip and I shook myself out of my thoughts, patting the little child lightly as we walked down the hallway. ''Oh, Benji...I wish I were you right now'' I sighed, just before entering the spacious dining room. The table was set beautifully, which wasn't a surprise. Bethany was up bright and early, cooking up a storm.
Speaking of Bethany, she looked absolutely gorgeous. Her dark brown hair was in a similar up-do to mine. She was wearing a cute, red sundress that stopped at her knees and black, platform sandals. I admired her cute, youthful look as I neared her with Benji in my arms.
I refused to look at the guests, trying to calm my nerves.
''Benji, baby!'' Bethany gushed as she took Benji from my arms. ''And look at you, Scar! So beautiful!'' She scanned me with a glint in her eyes. She turned her head, finding Tyler with her gaze, ''Isn't Scarlett absolutely gorgeous tonight, Tyler?!''.
Well, there goes my unnoticed entrance.
''She's always gorgeous, not just tonight!'' Tyler answered in his usual bubbly tone. My eyes landed on the couple sitting next to him, making me grit my teeth slightly.
''Aw, Ty! You're too cute!'' I gushed, ignoring Hunter's burning glare.
Brittany found my eyes with hers, making it clear that she felt superior in this situation. I couldn't help but wonder what Hunter had told her about us. ''Brittany, Hunter!'' I greeted them as I took a seat next to Tyler.
''Lovely to see you again!'' Brittany smiled brightly, her tone extra sweet. Hunter stayed silent as he downed a glass of wine. ''Whoa, slow down...'' Brittany whispered to him, making sure I could hear her. ''We still have...things to do'' She hinted with a sultry voice.
So he sleeps with her?
I gritted my teeth as I took a glass of wine for myself. This night...is going to be interesting, that's for sure. ''How you feeling?'' Tyler asked quietly, tucking a loose strand of my hair away.
Sighing, I placed my wine glass back down on the table. ''Great!'' I answered, catching Hunter's eye. ''I missed you'' I whispered to Tyler, hinting to him that it was showtime.
''Oh, babe, I missed you too'' Tyler leaned in for a kiss, just as Hunter coughed loudly. I groaned quietly but smiled anyway as Grayson and Beth came to the table. ''Don't worry, we'll get some privacy later on'' Tyler whispered loud enough for Brittany and Hunter to hear him. Smiling, I placed a gentle kiss on his nose.
Hunter was fuming and I was smiling, the usual scenario.
''So, this is a little strange, huh?'' Grayson chuckled before serving some wine. ''It's fine, though. We need to get along if we're going to go on that trip in a few weeks, right?''
My head shot up at the speed of light, ''Trip?!''.
Everyone looked at me, surprised I was oblivious to this. ''Yes, haven't I told you?'' Grayson raised an eyebrow at me.
''Um, clearly you haven't'' I raised an eyebrow too, confused beyond belief.
''Oh, well, I must've forgotten'' Grayson sighed, gaining a disapproving glance from Beth. ''It's for the wedding'' He added carelessly.
I looked around the table, even more confused, ''What wedding? Who's getting married?''.
''We are'' Brittany spoke up, flashing me a confident smirk.
I looked at her, speechless. Hunter hung his head low, pretending to be on his phone. Rage burned deep within me but I forced a smile onto my face. ''Oh, wow, that's wonderful! I'm so happy for the two of you'' I lied.
''It's so exciting! Isn't it, Hunnie?'' She gushed, holding onto Hunter's arm. ''We're going to have the wedding in Italy!'' She cooed.
''That's great!'' I nodded along, still waiting for Hunter's eyes to meet mine. How could he? How could he just go ahead and plan a whole ass wedding in Italy after what he said to me? Wasn't Brittany just business? Was that a lie? How could he be such a filthy liar?
''Okay, let's get started on this dinner, shall we?'' Grayson spoke up as he stood to plate everyone's meals. I stared at nothing in particular, my mind going into overdrive. How could I have been so foolish? Why did I think that he changed?
Tyler squeezed my knee in a sweet gesture of support. I smiled at him, even though my eyes were brimmed with tears. ''I'll be right back!'' I chirped fakely before exiting the room. I hurried up the stairs, eager to let my emotions out.
This time, I wasn't just angry. I was hurt. Yet again, I was hurt by Hunter fucking Hawthrone.
Just as I burst into my bedroom and shut the door, it flew open again. Hunter stormed in, eyes wild as I stared at him in shock. ''What the hell are doing?'' I spat venom, tears threatening to spill from my eyes.
''You have to understand-''
''FUCK YOU!''
''Scarlett, please-''
''I can't believe you! I can't...I can't-'' I shook my head in a fit of uncontrollable emotional pain, tears spilling from my eyes. My chest felt like it was closing up and my brain refused to let me calm down. ''You fucking...liar!'' I punched his chest repeatedly. ''I don't even want to hear your sorry excuses!'' I cried out, tears spilling as his eyes bored into mine painfully.
''She's pregnant''
I froze, mouth ajar and tears streaming down my face. ''What did you just say?'' I whispered.
He gulped, ''She's pregnant, Scar. I have no choice but to marry her''.
I shook my head, trying to take the information in. ''Since when? When did you get her pregnant? When did you find out? Did you know about this last night?'' I asked, wiping my tears away as I tried to gather myself.
''I don't know when'' He struggled, groaning. ''Last time we...'' He trailed off.
''When'' I gritted my teeth.
''A few days after you and I did it at the diner was our last time with her'' He admitted, avoiding my glare.
''So you fucked her and then you begged me to stay the night at your place last night, telling me lies about being yours and what not?'' I chuckled humorlessly. ''Knowing damn well you were getting married in a few weeks?''
''You don't understand-''
''Oh, no, do I not?'' I laughed, shaking my head. ''Hunter, as much as I hate to say this to your face...I fucking trusted you to not fuck this up between us. Hell, I was okay with the business we had going on...as long as things were okay between the two of us'' I shook my head, not believing my own words. I felt weak and pathetic. ''But...I was a fool, yet again. Just like back then, when I fell head over heels for your stupid lies. I fell for them again. I fell for you again. And I'll regret that forever'' I admitted.
He grabbed my arm roughly as I turned to walk away from him, ''Scarlett, please, listen to me. I need to tell you the truth-''
''What's going on in here?'' Brittany's voice hit me like a truck, bile rising in my throat. Hunter's hand was still wrapped around my arm and I felt the sudden urge to rip it off me. I felt filthy under Brittany's stare.
''She's feeling sick'' He lied, again, making me roll my eyes at his words.
If I was sick, it would only be because of all his damn lies.
''Oh, you poor thing!'' Brittany played along, even though she knew he was lying. It was written all over her face. You'd have to be a complete idiot to believe that lie.
''I'll be fine'' I muttered, pulling my arm out of Hunter's grip harshly. ''I just need a minute''
''Hunter, could you leave us for a second?'' Brittany smiled at him sweetly, making me want to gag in their faces. ''Girl talk and all that, you know?'' She giggled.
I silently begged him to drag her away from me, but he just left. My eyes fell to the floor and I wanted nothing more but for the floor to swallow me whole. ''What is it, Brittany?'' I asked her.
''I'm sorry'' She shrugged, pursing her lips.
''You're what?'' I looked up at her. Shouldn't I be the one apologizing? I literally slept with her soon-to-be-husband last night.
''I tried to warn you'' She sighed quietly, plopping down on my bed. ''But you didn't listen to what I said...and here we are!''
''Why would you...'' I struggled to find the right words.
''Keep it?'' She laughed, glancing at her nails. ''Well, for one, it'll make my father satisfied. And the fact that I'll be settled for life with Hunter is a nice bonus too''
''So you're just going to use him to please your father?'' I gritted my teeth, eyes brimming with tears again. ''You're going to force him to be with you and fuck your butler behind his back?''
''Yep!'' She nodded, unphased by my harsh words. ''Maybe, Hunter will be doing the same with you? Who knows?!''
I shook my head at her, ''You're disgusting...both of you''.
''So I've been told...'' She sighed again, getting up from my bed. ''I don't mind it, though'' She added, searching my eyes with her own. ''You can't really be mad at the truth, right?''
My hands curled into fists and the rage inside me begged to be released. ''Brittany,'' I began with an obvious struggle. ''Is it his?'' I asked, wanting to know the answer.
''No,'' She laughed melodically. ''You think that I'd get pregnant from Hunter? We fucked like 5 times, total. And Hunter is a total control freak when it comes to protection...''
''So it's not his?'' I asked her, my head spinning.
''No, but he doesn't need to know that...'' She sang carelessly.
''Yes, he does!'' I argued, not believing the way she was acting. Who gave her the right to play with people's lives like this? Who the hell did she think she was?
''Oh, little Scarlett! Try telling him...'' She smirked wickedly. ''And you'll see what happens'' She threatened me, an evil glint in her eyes.
''What would you do?'' I scoffed.
''Let's just say, you're not the only one who knows my brother's little secret...'' She winked at me, right before spinning on her heel and leaving the room.
What the fuck is going on?