Chapter 15

In Lucas's Perspective:

"How could you lose such an important shipment?" I couldn't see the person speaking, only hearing his harsh accusation.

I knew clearly that I was dreaming.

This scene happened many years ago. Back then, Scarlett was still a young girl.

After Gabriel found Scarlett, he abandoned her.

I knew Gabriel well. He gave up on Scarlett simply because he thought she was useless to him.

Upon seeing Scarlett for the first time, I couldn't take my eyes off her. Consequently, I kept Scarlett hidden in my villa without Gabriel's knowledge.

Every day spent with Scarlett made my life feel incredibly beautiful. She was like my moonlight, pure and flawless.

However, this situation was short-lived. While on the job, I made a mistake that led to a crucial shipment going missing. Despite my immediate efforts to rectify the error, it resulted in substantial losses.

My colleagues brought me to Gabriel's presence to apologize, fully aware that he would likely punish me harshly. I anticipated the possibility of kneeling for a long time or being sent to retrieve the shipment, uncertain of Gabriel's exact intentions.

But I knew that everyone else was probably preparing to laugh at me.

"It's okay, Lucas." Gabriel didn't react as I expected, demanding I pay a price in anger. He just patted my shoulder and then had me stand up and sit on the sofa.

"Lucas, everyone makes mistakes. Perhaps this one occurred due to your recent overwork," Gabriel said, gesturing lightly as everyone exited the room. "Take a few days off and rest at home."

His smile looked unusually kind, but I didn't notice anything wrong.

I believed Gabriel's words, thinking he was concerned about me.

Now, in retrospect, with Gabriel's nature, he wouldn't tolerate any mistakes from his subordinates or his "son."

At that time, I didn't notice that and was still secretly pleased when I returned home.

When I got back to the villa, the maid immediately brought me a cup of hot cocoa. "Mr. Bennett, you've worked hard," she said respectfully as she handed the drink to me.

Looking back, I realize how naive I was. I drank the cocoa without a second thought, oblivious to the fact that it tasted different from the usual.

I felt flushed and weak as if I had consumed a large amount of strong alcohol. I longed for a shower, but I was unexpectedly embraced by a woman.

"Mr. Bennett." A seductive voice from an unfamiliar woman came from behind me.

The woman was completely naked, her ample breasts pressed tightly against my back.

At that moment, I realized that this was all part of Gabriel's plan.

He had hidden a naked woman in my room and had the maid spike the cocoa with an aphrodisiac.

The naked woman held on to me, attempting to provoke my desire. Despite my efforts to resist, I could only weakly slump onto the sofa. None of this was my intention; no matter how forcefully I tried to push her away, she seemed deaf to my pleas and refused to let go.

At this moment, I suddenly heard a scream.

Scarlett was standing at the door, looking at me in shock.

A look of disgust crossed her face, and then she covered her mouth and hurried out. By the time I attempted to follow Scarlett, she had already vanished.

It was the first time I realized that Scarlett had grown up. I never thought she could run so fast.

Standing at the deserted intersection, I had a sudden realization that something between Scarlett and me had quietly shattered. She would likely leave me and fall in love with someone else.

My heart ached, but there was nothing I could do to change it.

I lost her when Scarlett turned eighteen.

The scene before me slowly blurred into a halo, transforming into the chandelier hanging from the hospital ceiling.

"Boss! You're finally awake! Are you okay?" It was Mark's voice.

He seemed very nervous, immediately rushing to my bedside.

"Where's Scarlett?" I looked around but didn't see Scarlett.

I could still remember what happened before I passed out; we were in the private room at Velvet Nocturne.

"What? What happened to her?" Mark asked in confusion.

He seemed unaware of what had happened yesterday and hadn't seen Scarlett.

How did I end up in the hospital?

I coughed lightly, and he immediately understood.

"Here's what happened." Mark began to explain what happened after I passed out, "Last night, Julian called, saying you had fainted at Velvet Nocturne."

I didn't expect Scarlett to be so smart.

She probably knew that contacting the Bennett family directly would cause trouble, so she asked Julian for help.

Hearing this, I finally relaxed.

"Boss, you shouldn't keep in touch with Scarlett," Mark said hesitantly, "Last time, Mr. Bennett punished you severely because of her. If he discovers that you have feelings for her..."

He didn't need to finish his sentence; we both understood the potential consequences if Gabriel were to discover the truth. However, nothing mattered more than Scarlett in my heart.

I gave Mark a warning look, and he immediately shut up and looked down, avoiding my gaze.

"So, you must keep this secret," I sat up in bed and demanded, "If anything happens to Scarlett, you'll have to atone in the hell."

I pulled out the IV needle and got out of bed. Mark immediately stood up nervously, nodding repeatedly.

In Scarlett's Perspective:

"What are you thinking about?" I was lost in thought when Sienna suddenly patted my shoulder and asked, "Did something happen? I waited for you all night at Violet Nocturne."

I understood her implication; we had planned to work at the bar together, but I had deserted her. It was all due to the cursed Velvet Nocturne. I needed time to process the events of that night.

"Sorry, I haven't been feeling well these days." I apologized to Sienna and continued staring at my phone.

I didn't mention that I had mistakenly gone to the wrong workplace that night and encountered Lucas. I skipped work out of concern for Lucas's injury. The image of Lucas collapsing at Velvet Nocturne had lingered in my thoughts since I left.

I knew I couldn't help, but I still subconsciously looked up treatment methods for external injuries online.

"Are you hurt?" Sienna suddenly exclaimed and leaned closer to me.

She must have seen my phone screen and misunderstood.

"Don't worry. I'm not hurt." I shook my head immediately. "I'm preparing this for someone else."

I still couldn't help but worry about Lucas's injury.

"But no one around us seems to be hurt." Sienna looked at me, puzzled. "Who are you so worried about?"

Sienna's question left me at a loss for words.

"Gunshot wounds or knife wounds? The victim can't be a girl." I remained silent as Sienna focused on my screen. "Are you concerned about your boyfriend?"

In an instant, Lucas's handsome face popped into my mind.

The term, boyfriend, was really subtle.

My face was probably already red.

While Sienna and I were chatting and laughing, we heard clear footsteps at the door, and then Alexander and Isabella appeared.