Chapter 4 Her Fiancé's Uncle
892 Words
Scarlett was incredibly nervous, her whole body tense, expecting Jason to make another move. But he just calmly switched off the bedside lamp, AND then gently and courteously tucked her in, even lighting some calming incense before leaving the room.
She finally breathed a sigh of relief.
After such a chaotic night, Scarlett thought she would have trouble sleeping, but surprisingly, she drifted off not long after he left.
The next morning, Jason took her back to the hotel.
She didn't dare stay in Nas State any longer and bought a ticket back to New Creek State that very day.
Just as she entered the house, she ran into her father, Iversen Hamp.
He wore a crisp white shirt and black dress pants, his eyes always carrying a harshness that seemed dissatisfied with anything she did.
"Dad, good evening," Scarlett greeted him with a smile.
Iversen handed her an invitation. "There's a party at Harmony Hotel tomorrow at 8 PM. Don't be late."
He then turned and walked towards the stairs.
Scarlett wasn't in the mood for a party. She knew her family wanted to scout for more advantageous connections before her arranged marriage.
She refused, "Dad, I just got back. I need some rest."
Iversen paused on his way downstairs when he heard her. "This is an instruction, not a discussion."
"But I don't want to go..." Scarlett started.
Before she could finish, Iversen sternly interrupted, "In the Hamp family, you don't have the right to say 'no'."
"Dad, I'm a person, not a tool," Scarlett said irritably, unable to hold back.
Iversen turned back, about to speak, but was stopped by her mother, Annie Hamp, who hurried over. "Scarlett just got back. She must be tired. Don't get mad at her," Annie said gently, looking at Scarlett.
Iversen gave her a cold look. "I'm talking to my daughter. Go finish washing the carpet!"
Scarlett took a deep breath and quickly checked her mother's hands.
Finishing washing the carpet? It was already midnight!
Annie smiled dismissively.
But Scarlett couldn't smile. Annie had married into the family through an arranged marriage. They barely had any real affection for each other. Calling it a polite relationship was an overstatement. Annie's family business depended on Iversen, so she had to cater to his whims. He always looked down on Annie and, despite having housemaids, made her do all the dirty work herself.
She never got a break.
Scarlett knew any further objections would only cause more trouble for Annie.
Looking at Annie's rough hands, Scarlett lowered her head. "Dad, I'm sorry. I'll get ready and be there on time."
*****
At 9 PM at the Harmony Hotel...
Scarlett arrived in a sleek black designer gown that brushed the tops of her shoes. The dress was adorned with black silk ribbons along the arms, discreetly covering her forearms whenever she moved. She chose to wear minimal jewelry, showcasing her elegant collarbones.
As Scarlett arrived at the hotel, she saw a lot of people standing at the entrance, seemingly waiting for someone.
To avoid drawing attention, she slipped into the hotel and found an inconspicuous corner to sit quietly, planning to endure until the party ended.
A group of girls nearby, laughing over glasses of red wine, glanced over at her with barely concealed scorn.
"Look at her, acting like a decent lady. Who's she trying to impress?" a girl in a Valentino dress sneered.
Another chimed in, "If she wasn't pretending to be a decent lady, she wouldn't be marrying into the Bilbo family. Look at her, dressed like that, so tacky and outdated. I heard her fiancé, Jack Bilbo, is a notorious playboy. He's wilder than anyone, and she still wants him. She's such a slut."
They gossiped behind her back without restraint. Scarlett had to endure her father's harshness to protect Annie from suffering, but outside, she wouldn't swallow any humiliation.
She turned to face them directly. "If you're so interested in the Bilbo family, why don't you marry a Bilbo yourselves? Is it because you don't want to? Or no Bilbo wants you?"
"Scarlett Hamp!"
Scarlett stood up, sizing them up, and continued, "Oh, and cutting a Valentino dress into a short skirt? That's bold... and pathetic. You look like a stripper here to give someone a lap dance. Guess I'll never know how it feels to be in that dress since I never wear last season's styles. Poor you."
The girls were furious, unable to come up with a retort.
Suddenly, the mood outside the hotel shifted as excitement filled the air.
A tall, young man stepped out of a luxury car. He had deep-set eyes and a sexy, dark beard. Dressed in a classic black suit with a lapel pin and pocket watch, and wearing the Bilbo family crest ring, he exuded nobility even without doing anything.
"It's Jason Bilbo," some other girls from prominent families squealed in excitement. "I can't believe he's attending this party. He's the real head of the Bilbo family now and Jack's uncle!"
Upon hearing that familiar name, Scarlett tensed immediately.
Damn, that Jason was her fiancé's uncle!
What rotten luck.
What should she do? Scarlett decided to hide first.
But she knew she couldn't hide. If Jason told her family about their s*x, she'd be in big trouble!
She had to talk to him!
- Writer
