Scarlett’s POV
“Scarlett!!” Helena's voice echoed through the house for the hundredth time in one minute. Even though there were at least twenty maids in the house, they chose me to serve them on this day, and I knew why.
Today was my step sister, Alison’s engagement. She was going to be engaged to Caleb. Alison knew I had had the biggest crush on Caleb for the longest time, and she always made sure to rub their relationship in my face. Caleb and I had once been inseparable and looking back, I have no idea where it went wrong.
I left my room hurriedly to avoid Helena, my step mother from screaming my name again. When I got downstairs, the first thing my eyes saw was Caleb. He was still as handsome as ever. His deep brown eyes, his jet black hair, his perfectly toned skin? Everything was just perfect. I gawked at him like it was my first time meeting him.
“Scarlett!” Helena shrieked like the shrew she was, jolting me back to reality. When I looked at her and saw her menacing eyes, I realized I had been caught staring and would get an earful of words in a bit.
“Sister, are you okay?” Alison asked with an obvious smirk on her face, I just knew she was gloating on the inside.
“The table isn’t going to set itself, Scarlett” Helena said. I felt the urge to scream in her face and tell her to call on one of her maids, but I knew that would just earn me a tight slap in the face and dad would support her as usual, telling me how I should always listen to my stepmother.
I scurried off to the kitchen to get the food. I looked back for a second and saw Alison and Caleb. They were leaning close together, their lips almost touching. I felt a pang in my heart but there was nothing I could do but hurry off to set the table.
I picked the plates from the rack, as I turned to set them aside, I felt a slap on my face which nearly sent me to the ground. As my cheeks burned, Helena grabbed me and pulled me up.
After shutting the door, Helena turned around to glare at me. She pointed accusingly at me and said, “You shameless whore. Don’t think I didn’t see what you were up to. That is going to be your brother in law. How shameless can you be to dare attempt to seduce him?”
I stood rooted to the ground. Holding my burning cheek, I smirked at Helena and said, “Step mother, if I really wanted to seduce him, I wouldn’t just be standing there, watching.”
“You…” Helena’s lungs were about to explode with anger. She was surprised because I had never dared to talk back to her. As I was about to leave, Helena yanked me by my shoulder and sent me directly to the ground. “Have you not looked at yourself ? I’ve been looking after you as a mother for so long with a kind heart. How dare you talk back to me when I could have left you on the streets to die like your crazy mother? So what if I hit you?
As if she had made some grand discovery, Helena said as if she was crazy, “ Well, well, Scarlett. I knew you had bad intentions towards our Taylor family. You’re just like your mother, only knowing how to go around seducing people. Go somewhere else if you want to seduce someone. Don’t embarrass yourself in our house. Caleb is the successor of the Hart family. Do you think a street whore like you is good enough for him? He would not even spare you a glance.”
Helena’s also did not make me sad at all. However, this simple sentence was enough to cut through my heart.
Despite that, I started laughing. I snorted as I pulled my clothes to cover my shoulders and patted my clothes nonchalantly as I said, “If you think I’m not good enough so that he won’t even look at me why’re you so anxious?”
Helena heard some noise coming from outside, Caleb was chatting with Taylor. Their conversation and laughter made her nervous. Afraid of being discovered, Helena lowered her voice and moved closer to me. She said threateningly, “Don’t play any tricks.” After thinking for a bit, she spoke again. “People from your father’s business partner’s family are coming later with their second son. Don’t say I don’t care about you. I’ll let you meet him later. Their family has a good reputation and background in our country. If you marry into their family, you will enjoy endless fortunes”.
My gaze wavered.
Of course I knew who dad’s business partner’s son was.
“Step mother, you want me to marry a retard? And even claimed it was out of concern for me?” I let out a shout of protest and tried to walk away.
Seeing this, Helen held me back with all her strength.
I tossed all concerns aside at that moment. I turned around and pushed Helena aside.
Sprawled on the ground, Helena said angrily, “Scarlett, if you dare to leave, I will make sure your father throws out your mother’s ashes.”
I ran to my room in desperation.
I had an audition by 02:30pm and it was already 01:45pm. I quickly changed my outfit and left the house.
I rushed to the company, regardless of what had happened, I did not forget about the audition I had today.
Upon seeing me arrive, Lola’s face darkened as she glared at me and said, “So you still came. I thought you didn’t care about this audition!”
“Sorry Lola, I came late.”
With one look, Lola saw the hand print on my face, she said “ We’re meeting the director soon. I don’t care about your personal life. However, if you still want this role, you better apply some make up on your face.”
I had faced so many rejections before and I was determined to give this one my best. I quickly applied some makeup and rushed in with Lola, hoping this one will be different.
I took a deep breath and raised my hand to knock, if I failed this audition I would have nowhere left to go.
