Chapter 5

Scarlett's hand, poised to knock on the car door, froze midair. If even she could tell what was going on, there was no way Harrison couldn't. She heard the urgency in his voice. "Hazel, you've been drugged. I'm taking you to the hospital right now!" But Hazel clung to him, her voice breaking into desperate sobs. "It's too late… Uncle Harry, I can't take it… Please help me… I just want you…" Her sweet, tearful voice hit every raw nerve in Harrison's body. Harrison had been holding himself back with every ounce of restraint he had. But now, hearing her breathless plea, the dam finally broke. Like a beast unleashed, he shoved her down. Scarlett stood there, staring as the car rocked violently. She listened as Hazel's cries turned to breathless moans, then to pleading, and finally to soft whimpers. And Harrison hadn't even stopped. Scarlett's lips curled into a faint, weary smile. In her past life, she had been married to Harrison for 20 years, yet she could count on one hand the number of times they'd been intimate. Even then, by the time they settled into a routine—once a month—it was only because she had begged for it as a birthday gift when she turned 35 years old. Back then, she had convinced herself that Harrison simply had no interest in such things. But now, listening to what was happening inside that car, she understood. It wasn't that he had no interest. He just had no interest in her. Scarlett turned away. Maybe this was for the best. This time around, everyone was finally getting what they truly wanted. … She returned to the party. Two hours later, as the event wound down, it was time for her to give a speech. She went upstairs to the dressing room, poured herself a glass of juice, and was about to freshen up her makeup when a sudden heat surged through her lower abdomen. Something was wrong. She opened her mouth to call for help. But before she could, a cold voice came from the doorway, "How does it feel, Scarlett? Not so fun being the one who's been drugged, is it?"