Chapter 5

Serena snatched the bag from my hand, and the sketchbook slid out.

I had drawn that three years ago when I was recovering from my injuries at the foot of the snow mountain.

It contained all my inspirations, and there was even a page with a sketch of Ethan sleeping.

"Give it back to me."

My face went cold, and I reached out my hand to her.

Serena hugged the sketchbook, hiding behind Ethan, her eyes red-rimmed.

"Ethan, those are my preliminary sketches for this jewelry competition. How could Scarlett steal my things?"

Her voice trembled with feigned grievance.

"I know she's jealous that I'm with you, but she can't steal my dream!"

Ethan stood in front of Serena, looking at me with disappointment.

"Scarlett Hayes, when did you become so malicious?"

He accused.

"First, you stole Serena's identity as my savior for three years, and now you're even trying to steal her design sketches?"

I stared at the man in front of me.

"Ethan Blackwood, do you even use your brain?"

I pointed at the notebook. "Open it and see whose handwriting it is!"

"What's drawn on the first page? Do you dare to look?"

The first page was a drawing of an old pocket watch.

It was a family heirloom left to him by Ethan's grandfather, which had been damaged by the cold three years ago on the snow mountain.

It had taken me half a month to draw its entire structure.

Ethan snatched the notebook and flipped it open.

He didn't look closely, just glanced at it and then threw the notebook on the floor.

"If Serena says it's hers, then it's hers."

The man said coldly.

"What kind of design sketch could a cripple like you, who can't even hold a paintbrush steady, possibly draw?"

Hearing that, my chest tightened.

Why couldn't I hold a paintbrush steady? Because of *him*.

I took a deep breath, squatting down to pick up the notebook.

Just as my fingers were about to touch the notebook, Serena stuck out her foot, her high-heeled shoe stepping on the sketchbook.

"Scarlett, stealing is wrong."

"If you really want it, I can make you a copy."

She said, smiling.

I didn't say anything, pulling hard at the notebook with my left hand.

Serena used the force of my pull, cried out, and fell backward.

With a crash.

She fell onto the living room coffee table, and the fragile glass instantly shattered.

"Ah! It hurts so much!"

Serena clutched her leg, crying loudly.

Ethan's eyes went red with fury.

"Scarlett Hayes, you're asking for trouble!"

He spun around, lifted his foot, and kicked me hard in the shoulder.

I was squatting on the floor, and unprepared, I tumbled backward.

My right hand, which the doctor had just declared its nerves necrotic, pressed hard onto the scattered glass shards to brace myself.

A piercing pain shot through my palm.

Several glass fragments pierced my palm, and blood gushed out, staining the carpet.

My whole arm trembled with pain, and cold sweat broke out.

Ethan froze when he saw the blood on the floor.

He instinctively took half a step forward, reaching out to me.

"Ethan... my leg hurts so much. Is it broken? I'm so scared..."

Serena behind him was still crying, clutching his pant leg.

Ethan's outstretched hand paused.

He pulled his gaze away, bent down, and picked up Serena.

As he walked past me, Ethan's leather shoe stepped on the scattered sketchbook.

The sole rolled over the sketch of him, leaving a muddy imprint.

"Scarlett Hayes, since your hands enjoy stealing, they deserve to be useless."

He looked down at me.

"If you dare to upset Serena again, I'll make sure you can't work in this entire industry!"

The front door slammed shut.

Silence fell over the apartment.

I sat in a pool of my own blood, looking at the ruined sketchbook and my bloody, mangled right hand.

Strangely, I didn't shed a single tear.

I used my uninjured left hand to pull out my phone and dialed that number I hadn't called in three years.

The call connected quickly, and a deep male voice answered.

"Scarlett?"

"Mr. Sullivan."

I looked at the bloodstains on the carpet, my voice eerily calm.

"You said before that the Sullivan family needed a marriage alliance. I agree."