Chapter 65

**SCARLET**

Thomas asked me to talk to him upstairs after we ate. Mom volunteered to wash the plates, so I came upstairs and followed Thomas to Luke’s office. Thomas was sitting in Luke’s chair when I found him. He put down the book he was holding.
“Scarlet.” He said, “Come here.”
I nodded. I sat on the chair in front of him.
“I heard you’re leaving on the day of your graduation?”
“How did you know?”
“I know a lot of things, Scarlet,” he said, but he kept his voice low and calm.
“Yes. I am going with my friend Katherine.”
“I can help you and your friend. I’ll purchase a house for you, so you don’t need to rent, and I’ll provide everything you might need.”
“That’s very generous, Thomas.” But I couldn’t stop asking myself, how did he know? I bit my lower lip. “But I’m sure Katherine already has a place for us.”
“Just do what I say, Scarlet,” he pressed.
“Why are you doing this? I don’t understand at all.”
“I don’t want you to think that I want you to leave. You are my daughter now, and I will do everything for my family. Including keeping you and Luke away from each other.”
My eyes grew wide. My jaw dropped. He knew. He knew what was going on with me and Luke.
“H-how…”
“I know everything about you, Scarlet. I know because I have to know. I already knew who you were when I married your mother. I know everything, and it’s because I love you and Gene so much that I’m going to do this. Break up with Luke, Scarlet. You two can’t be together. You’re supposed to be siblings.”
My hands were sweaty, and I couldn’t stop shaking. My heart was pounding fast in my chest. I could almost hear my heartbeat.
“How did you know? If you knew, why didn’t you do anything?”
“I didn’t know until I saw it with my own eyes.” Thomas pulled something out of his coat and tossed it onto the table. It was pictures of me and Luke together. We were kissing in public, and there were pictures of me in front of the school. He’d had us followed? Why didn’t I notice this?
I looked away. I began to cry.
“For Gene’s sake, Scarlet. I am going to ask you to stay away from my son. Forget everything about him and come back to us when you think you are ready.”
I wiped away the tears. “I don’t think I can just break up with him.”
“You will because I can’t let Luke go crazy on his own in London, chasing the man who’s after you.”
I looked back at him. “What?”
“Luke is looking for a man named Raoul Velazquez. I think you know what I’m talking about.”
I grabbed my mouth. “No! That can’t be true.”
The reason why Luke’s in London was because of me? It wasn’t about the woman, but for me? But I hadn’t believed him. I’d pushed him away and accused him of cheating.
I’m so sorry, Luke.
“I want him to stop his madness,” Thomas said. “Luke can’t do anything about it anymore. I will help you get rid of the man if you leave without telling him. Break up with my son. Please, Scarlet… for the sake of this family.”
“What if I don’t?”
“Then I’ll have to tell your mother. “It’s my job to know what was going on with my son. Everything he does with his life, it’s my job to find out. I’m asking you this for the sake of this family. You are dear to my heart, Scarlet. Your mother is my life. Please don’t break my trust and do as I say. Leave and forget about Luke.”
“Thomas, I love him,” I sobbed. “I’m so sorry.”
Thomas shut his eyes. “I know.”
I wiped my tears away, “I understand. Just let me be with him for a day. I won’t even say goodbye. Please, Thomas?”
Thomas agreed, “One day. I don’t want you to go, but you know how wrong this is. I need my son by my side. I’m sorry if I have to separate you from your mother. Come back to us if you think you are ready…”

***
Those were what Thomas said that had me unsettled. He wanted me to come back, but I didn’t know if I would still have the courage to face him. I was too ashamed of myself. I knew from the very start that a relationship with Luke was impossible.
I asked Thomas and Mom to allow me to go back to the apartment. Mom didn’t want me to go, but I told her I needed to pack my things for my trip. It’s not, in fact, the real reason. It was hard for me to stay at Luke’s apartment, where I could smell him everywhere.
Katherine opened the door for me. I’d been texting her along the way and told her everything. Katherine gave me a tight embrace. I began to cry hard.
She stroked my hair gently. “It’s all right. You are leaving anyway. You already made this decision even without your stepfather’s opinion.”
“I know.” I cried, “But it’s too painful!”
“You are lucky your stepfather didn’t cast you out.”
“He wants me to leave!”
“But he said you can come back. That’s your original plan.”
I pulled away and stared at her face. “I don’t want to come back.”
“Well... that’s up to you now, Scar. Don’t cry. He even gave you a day to be with Luke.” Katherine wiped away my tears with her thumb. “You’ll be fine. I will be here for you.”
I nodded. “I’m sorry. I’m always like this.”
“Why don’t we pack our things together and go shopping for a few things tomorrow too?” She smiled excitedly.
I chuckled softly. “Sounds good.”
“For now, you need a beauty rest.”