Chapter 5: Homecoming and Haunting Shadows
1416 Words
The morning was colder than Scarlett had expected. The snowstorm from the previous night had left a crisp, glittering blanket of white over the landscape, and the world outside the cabin looked deceptively peaceful. Inside, the atmosphere was anything but.
Ethan stood near the door, zipping up his jacket. His duffle bag rested at his feet, a silent reminder that he was leaving. Scarlett’s chest tightened as she watched him.
“You don’t have to go,” she said, her voice softer than she intended.
Ethan paused, his green eyes meeting hers. “Scarlett, staying here is only going to make things more complicated. You’ve got enough on your plate without me hanging around.”
She wanted to argue, to tell him that his presence, as infuriating as it could be, made her feel safer. But the look on his face told her it would be futile.
“Will you be back?” she asked, hating how vulnerable the question sounded.
“Always,” he said simply, slinging the bag over his shoulder. “If you need me, you know where to find me.”
And with that, he was gone, leaving Scarlett alone with her thoughts and the growing knot of anxiety in her stomach.
The phone call from Daniel came just after noon, while Scarlett was trying to distract herself by tidying up the cabin.
“Scarlett,” her brother’s voice came through the line, warm but firm. “You need to come home.”
Scarlett stiffened. “Daniel, you know I don’t—”
“It’s not a request,” he interrupted gently. “The will is being read today. You’ve put this off long enough.”
Her heart sank. She had been dreading this moment ever since their father passed. The thought of returning to the family estate filled her with a mix of guilt, resentment, and a deep-seated pain she couldn’t quite name.
“I don’t belong there anymore,” she said quietly.
“It’s your home too, Scarlett,” Daniel replied. “Whatever happened between you and Mum, Dad wouldn’t want you to stay away. Please, for his sake. Just come.”
She closed her eyes, swallowing the lump in her throat. She couldn’t keep running forever.
“Fine,” she said at last. “I’ll come.”
The drive to the family estate was long and nerve-wracking. Scarlett had barely slept the night before, and the emotional weight of seeing her childhood home again pressed heavily on her chest. Her daughter, Lila, was thankfully asleep in the backseat, her small face peaceful in a way Scarlett wished she could feel.
The snow-covered roads gleamed under the pale winter sun, and Scarlett tried to focus on the monotonous rhythm of the journey. But halfway there, a sleek black car appeared in her rearview mirror, its headlights flashing.
Her heart skipped a beat. She didn’t need to look twice to know who it was.
James.
She tightened her grip on the steering wheel as the car overtook her and swerved to block the road ahead. Scarlett slammed on the brakes, the car skidding slightly before coming to a halt. Olivia stirred in her car seat but didn’t wake.
James stepped out of his car, his imposing figure cutting a menacing silhouette against the snowy backdrop. Scarlett’s pulse quickened as he approached her window.
“Roll it down,” he demanded, his voice muffled by the glass.
Scarlett hesitated, her hand hovering over the button. When he rapped on the window again, harder this time, she reluctantly obeyed.
“What do you want, James?” she asked, keeping her voice as steady as she could.
“We need to talk,” he said, his tone sharp and impatient. “You’ve been ignoring my calls.”
“I’ve been busy,” she replied coolly.
His eyes narrowed. “Don’t play games with me, Scarlett. You can’t keep running away from this. From us.”
“There is no ‘us,’ James,” she said firmly. “It’s over. It’s been over for years.”
James leaned closer, his face inches from hers. The anger simmering in his eyes sent a chill down her spine. “You don’t get to decide that. We have a history, Scarlett. A daughter. You think you can just walk away and pretend I don’t exist?”
“I’m not pretending,” she shot back, her fear giving way to frustration. “I’m protecting myself and Olivia from you. You’ve done enough damage.”
His expression darkened, and for a moment, Scarlett thought he might back off. But then his voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.
“You think you’re so clever, don’t you? But you’re running out of time, Scarlett. We both are.”
The cryptic statement made her stomach churn. “What does that mean?”
James didn’t answer. Instead, he glanced at the empty passenger seat, then back at her. “Who’s protecting you now? That old boyfriend of yours?”
Scarlett’s breath caught. “What are you talking about?”
“Ethan,” he spat the name like a curse. “I saw his car at your cabin. What’s he doing here?”
Scarlett’s mind raced. She hadn’t expected James to notice, let alone bring it up. But the look in his eyes told her he wasn’t going to let it go.
“He’s my boyfriend,” she blurted out, the lie slipping out before she could think it through.
James froze, his jaw tightening. “Your boyfriend,” he repeated, his voice low and dangerous.
Scarlett nodded, meeting his gaze defiantly. “That’s right. And he’s not afraid of you.”
The slap came out of nowhere, the sharp sting snapping her head to the side. She gasped, more out of shock than pain, her hand flying to her cheek.
“Don’t you dare lie to me,” James growled, his face twisted with rage. “You think you can just replace me? You think anyone else will put up with you?”
His words stung more than the slap, but Scarlett refused to let him see her cry.
“Get out of here, James,” she said through clenched teeth. “If you come near me or Lila again, I’ll make sure you regret it.”
He stared at her for a long moment, his chest heaving. Then, without another word, he turned and stormed back to his car. Scarlett watched as he sped off, the tyres kicking up a spray of slush and snow.
Her hands were trembling as she rolled up the window and pulled back onto the road. Lila remained blissfully unaware in the backseat, her soft snores a small comfort amidst the chaos.
By the time Scarlett reached the family estate, tears were streaming down her face. The familiar gates loomed ahead, their ornate ironwork dusted with snow. She hesitated for a moment before driving through, the weight of the past pressing down on her like a physical force.
The house stood at the end of the long driveway, its grand facade was as imposing as ever. Scarlett parked the car and took a deep breath, willing herself to keep it together. But as she caught her reflection in the rear-view mirror, the sight of her reddened cheek brought everything rushing back.
She climbed out of the car and opened the back door, gently unbuckling Lila from her seat. Her daughter stirred but didn’t wake, her small arms wrapping instinctively around Scarlett’s neck.
“Scarlett?”
She turned to see Daniel standing on the front steps, his expression a mix of relief and concern.
“What happened?” he asked, his eyes narrowing as he took in her tear-streaked face and swollen cheek.
“It’s nothing,” she said quickly, brushing past him.
“Don’t lie to me,” he said, following her inside. “Was it James?”
Scarlett hesitated, then nodded. “It doesn’t matter. I just want to get this over with.”
Daniel placed a hand on her shoulder, his grip firm but gentle. “You’re not alone, Scarlett. Whatever’s going on, we’ll deal with it. Together.”
His words brought a fresh wave of tears, but this time, they weren’t just tears of pain. For the first time in a long time, Scarlett felt a flicker of hope.
But as she stepped into the house and faced her mother’s cold, judgmental gaze, she knew that the hardest part of her journey was still ahead.
- Writer
