The Package And The Past
593 Words
Charlotte Reid was used to silver platters.
Breakfast was laid out across polished marble — fresh fruit, still-warm croissants, imported coffee. Alexander sat across from her, scrolling through market reports while she rehearsed how many times to post today’s “married life bliss” on i********:.
The world still whispered about the scandal how Mallory Adams had been left at the altar. But Charlotte had made sure to appear extra radiant every day since. If she smiled enough, flaunted enough, the world would forget Mallory even existed.
She was halfway through bragging about her husband’s upcoming charity gala when the doorbell rang.
Alexander glanced up. “You expecting something?”
“No,” she said, frowning.
The butler appeared moments later with a black velvet box, unmarked. Large. Heavy.
It didn’t look like a gift.
Charlotte dismissed the unease. Probably from Father. An apology for not calling lately.
She smiled sweetly. “Bring it here.”
Alexander watched her fingertips glide over the lid porcelain-perfect nails trembling just slightly. She clicked it open.
Inside was a phone.
Scarlet’s phone.
Unlocked.
The screen already lit.
Displaying a photo.
A face.
Pale.
Eyes wide open.
Not blinking.
Not alive.
Scarlet.
Charlotte didn’t breathe.
Alexander leaned forward and recoiled.
“What the heck Charlotte, is that...?”
She didn’t answer.
Couldn’t.
Her mind churned but not slowly. No. Everything hit her at once.
Because she knew that look on Scarlet’s face.
She had seen it before.
FLASHBACK — EDUARTO TRACKING SCARLET
In Italy midnight.Eduardo sat before a wall of screens, files spread before him like war spoils. Scarlet Vale Charlotte's best friend ,someone important to her —exactly what he needed .Flight logs, property rentals, club guest lists everything he needed to know about her. His men moved silently, receiving orders with single nods.
“Do not touch her in public,” he said flatly. “I want her delivered breathing.”
He didn’t smile.
FLASHBACK — SCARLET'S a*******n
She emerged from a Paris lounge drunk on champagne and ego. A hand covered her mouth. A syringe kissed her neck. She was dragged into a black car as if the night itself swallowed her.
No screams.
No witnesses.
Just silence.
PRESENT — CHARLOTTE'S POV
“This isn’t real,” she whispered.
But her hands hovered over the box again as though some part of her needed to see more to believe.
Beneath the phone was a folded note.
She unfolded it with mechanical fingers.
"GUESS WHO’S NEXT?
NO SIN GOES UNPUNISHED."
Alexander stood so fast his chair scraped back. “Charlotte who sent that?”
Her lips parted.
No sound.
Because in that moment, her pulse slowed… as though someone else’s voice was echoing in her skull.
A voice she had buried.
A voice that used to beg her not to laugh when Scarlet mocked her.
A voice she smothered beneath cruelty.
FLASHBACK — SCARLET'S WORDS
Scarlet leaned back on Charlotte’s bed years ago, lip gloss gleaming like poison.
“Mallory’s so easy to break. It’s almost pathetic,” she giggled.
Charlotte giggled too.
Another memory ;Scarlet to Mallory at a party smiling so sweetly it stung.
“You’re only pretty when no one else is around.”
Mallory had laughed it off. Scarlet and Charlotte had laughed harder.
Charlotte’s fingers clenched the note as she recalls the memory.
Alexander stepped closer. “Charlotte. Tell me who...”
She finally whispered.
Barely audible.
But the name tasted like judgment
“Mallory.”
Alexander froze.
Charlotte didn’t blink.
Her heartbeat wasn’t racing anymore.
It was counting down.
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