Forced to be with the Billionaire

Chapter 3

Scarlett’s POV

I lowered the phone slowly, my hand shaking. Edward and Jasper were both watching me, clearly trying to gauge my reaction.

Jasper frowned, his voice low and firm. “What did he say?”

I couldn’t find the words. My mind was spinning. My father had never sounded like that before. He was always calm and composed, the kind of man who never lost his temper. But just now… he’d sounded desperate. Almost afraid.

“I… I don’t know,” I whispered, more to myself than to them. “He wants me to come home. Right now. And… he said not to trust anyone.”

Jasper’s gaze darkened, his jaw clenching ever so slightly. Edward looked just as perplexed.

Before I could make sense of anything, I heard footsteps approaching. I turned around just in time to see Jasmine, my sister, hurrying toward us, her face pale and eyes wide. “Scarlett! Thank God I found you,” she breathed.

Her voice wavered, and I noticed that her hands were trembling. Something wasn’t right. My heart pounded as she glanced warily at Jasper before pulling me aside. “Scarlett,” she whispered, her tone frantic. “We need to talk. Now.”

My stomach flipped. “About what?”

Jasmine hesitated, glancing back at the two men as if afraid they might overhear. Then she leaned closer, her voice barely audible. “It’s about Charles. I just found something. Something that changes everything.”

My mind reeled. “What do you mean?”

Before Jasmine could answer, a loud crash sounded from the direction of the house, followed by raised voices. Jasper instantly went on high alert, his eyes narrowing. Edward moved to stand beside him, clearly unsure whether to stay or investigate.

Jasmine’s grip on my arm tightened. “Scarlett, we have to go. Now. It’s not safe here.”

My breath hitched. “What’s going on, Jasmine?”

She shook her head, eyes wide with fear. “I don’t know who we can trust anymore.”

A sudden realization struck me—whatever Jasmine had discovered, it wasn’t just about Charles’s death. It was bigger. Much bigger.

And suddenly, I wasn’t just mourning the loss of someone I loved. I was caught in the middle of something far more dangerous—something that could destroy my family and everything I thought I knew.

And the worst part? I had no idea who was friend and who was foe.

Jasper’s presence grounded me as I tried to process my dad’s words. Don’t trust anyone. The weight of that warning lingered in the air, making my chest tighten. What did Dad mean by that?

Jasmine tugged on my arm, urgency in her voice. “Scarlett, please. We have to go.”

Before I could respond, Jasper spoke up. “I’ll drive you both back.” His tone was firm, leaving no room for argument.

Edward didn’t protest, merely nodding in acknowledgment. He seemed uneasy, but as Jasper’s subordinate, he didn’t dare question him. I could see the tension in his posture, though, like he wanted to say something but couldn’t.

Reluctantly, I pulled away from Jasper’s hold and allowed Jasmine to lead me to the car. Jasper followed, his gaze never leaving us, as if assessing any potential danger. Edward stood by, looking almost relieved that Jasper was handling the situation.

Once we were in the car, Jasmine kept glancing back, as if expecting someone to appear out of nowhere. I tried to focus on the road ahead, but my mind wouldn’t stop spinning.

“What did you mean earlier?” I whispered, staring at Jasmine. “About Charles… and it changing everything?”

Jasmine bit her lip, her eyes darting toward Jasper in the driver’s seat. She shook her head slightly. “Not now. Just… wait till we get home.”

That wasn’t comforting at all. I glanced at Jasper through the rearview mirror, but his expression remained unreadable.

As we approached the house, I noticed more cars parked outside. My pulse quickened. Was something else happening?

The moment we pulled up, Dad was already on the porch, pacing. His head snapped toward us, and when I got out of the car, his face twisted with barely contained anger. He rushed forward, but before I could brace myself, his hand shot out, and—

Slap!

The sting on my cheek was sharp and immediate, my head whipping to the side. I stumbled backward, completely caught off guard. Jasper’s hand was on my shoulder instantly, steadying me.

My father’s face was red with fury. “What were you thinking? Do you realize what you’ve done?” he shouted.

My heart pounded, and I struggled to find my voice. “Dad, I…”

“Do you know the scandal you almost caused?” he cut me off. “What if the press had seen you wandering around like that? Do you know the rumors that would be flying around by now? Didn’t you think for once about the consequences of your actions?”

My lip quivered, and I glanced at my mom, hoping for some support. Instead, her eyes were just as cold. “Your father’s right. How could you be so reckless?”

I couldn’t understand why they were so angry. Why wasn’t anyone talking about Charles? Why wasn’t anyone mourning him the way I was?

Jasmine crossed her arms, smirking. “Typical Scarlett. Always causing trouble. You’re such a spoiled brat. I’ve been saying it for years, but no one ever listens. You always get away with everything just because you’re their favorite.”

My head snapped toward her, shock freezing me in place. “Jasmine, that’s not true! You know how close I was to Charles! I …”

She scoffed. “Oh, please. You always get the attention. Even now, when you’re making everything about you! Charles is dead, and you’re out there sulking while everyone’s worried about you. Maybe if you didn’t act so entitled, you wouldn’t be causing problems all the time!”

I couldn’t believe it. I looked at my parents, hoping they’d defend me, but they just stared back, silent and unyielding.

My chest tightened, and tears burned in my eyes. “I just… I needed a moment. I didn’t mean to—”

“No,” Dad snapped. “No excuses. You’re lucky the press didn’t catch wind of this. Do you know the kind of backlash our family would face? Do you want to disgrace us?”

I couldn’t hold back the sob that escaped me. Jasper stepped forward, his voice firm but respectful. “Maybe we should give Scarlett a moment to collect herself.”

Dad glared at him. “This is a family matter, Jasper. I’ll handle my daughter.”

Jasper nodded but didn’t move from my side. His presence was the only thing keeping me from breaking down completely.

For the next few days, I felt like a ghost in my own home. Mom and Dad were busy investigating Charles’ death. Jasmine was busy, and even Edward seemed distant, constantly occupied with work.

I felt completely alone. The house that once felt like a sanctuary now seemed suffocating. I couldn’t stop thinking about Charles—how he would’ve comforted me, how he never made me feel like a burden.

Then, one morning, the phone rang. I picked it up, my heart racing when the lawyer introduced himself.

“Miss Scarlett White, I’m calling regarding Mr. Charles Donovan’s estate,” he said. “He left specific instructions that you’re the sole heir to his assets.”

“Yes, everything. The properties, investments, all of it. He specified that the inheritance would be exclusively yours, with no provisions for anyone else.”

As I processed his words, Dad entered the room, his eyes narrowing when he saw me on the phone. I quickly ended the call, but it was too late—he’d heard enough.

The news spread quickly, and suddenly, I became the center of a media frenzy. The public wasn’t surprised by the inheritance; they knew how close Charles and I had been. But my family… they couldn’t hide their disdain. Jasmine sneered, calling me manipulative, accusing me of using Charles.

One evening, Dad called me to his study. “There’s someone I want you to meet. A legal practitioner who will advise you on managing Charles’s estate,” he said. “Dress well. You should look your best for this meeting.”

Determined to regain his favor, I dressed meticulously, a sleek, emerald green dress that hugged my figure elegantly, paired with black stilettos and minimal jewelry. My makeup was flawless, emphasizing my sharp features without looking overdone. I wanted to look confident, like the heiress they now claimed I was.

The address Dad gave me led to a private, upscale restaurant. I walked in, my heels clicking on the marble floor, and scanned the room.

Then I saw him. Sitting at a table in the center of the room, looking equally surprised to see me. My breath hitched.

Our eyes met, and I froze. What was he doing here? And why did it feel like I’d just walked into a trap?