- 05.
The warehouse had concrete walls on all four sides. There wasn’t even a single working light on the
ceiling.
Old chairs and torn fabric were piled everywhere. The windows were sealed shut, and the vents were taped over.
I gasped for air in the darkness, panting like a dog.
ご
<
My fingers clawed at the doorframe, nails tearing, gravel digging into my flesh, but it wouldn’t open.
“Let me out…” My voice grew hoarse. “Open the door-!”
No one responded.
The footsteps outside faded away.
How much time had passed?
I didn’t know.
My eardrums felt like they were being pricked by a thousand needles, sweat dripping down my spine.
I desperately fumbled my way to a corner, finding an old storage box. I lifted the lid and squeezed myself inside.
It was the same position I’d taken when I hid as a child.
Close to the box, close to the wall, curled up, head facing inward – that way, I wouldn’t go insane, I
could survive.
I shivered, whispering my own name: “Scarlett, Scarlett, Scarlett.”
Outside the door, the sound of chains rattling.
I jolted to my feet, knocking over the box, stumbling to the ground.
“Who’s there!?”
The door burst open with a crash.
Blinding light poured in. A figure rushed inside. My eyes were blurred with cold sweat, and I couldn’t
make out who it was.
“Scarlett!”
It was Victoria’s voice. My taut nerves snapped, and I completely lost consciousness, collapsing into
her arms.
1
4:07 am D
<
My awareness returned in Victoria’s car, surrounded by the reassuring scent of warmth.
I was covered in sweat and dust, my throat so raw it felt like I was spitting blood:
“Victoria, we need to go to the venue now.”
Victoria glanced at me, sighed, and changed the GPS navigation from the hospital to the wedding
venue.
She handed me clothes and wet wipes from the passenger seat, then tossed me a bottle of warm
water.
“How could they treat you like this?! If I hadn’t seen your messages and sensed something was wrong, if I hadn’t rushed over…”
Victoria’s voice choked with concern. She couldn’t continue, only silently putting up the divider so l could clean myself up.
I watched the scenery rush by outside the window, carefully wiping the dried blood from my fingers with a wet wipe.
Afraid I’ll sabotage your plan?
That’s not enough.
It’s not just Alexander and Chloe; now I’m going to ruin the entire company.
When I arrived at the venue, the moment I pushed the door open, a heavy, greasy smell hit me, and
the place was a chaotic mess.
The hall lights flickered on and off, the warm golden crystal chandeliers looked like something from a cheap karaoke bar. Buckets of chips and fried chicken boxes were piled on the reception desk, and guests clutched plastic bags filled with “dessert gift packs.”
Guests stood around, frowning, glancing sideways. No one could sit still, and some had even started secretly filming.
A distinguished older woman, dressed in an expensive suit, stood in a corner clutching a room–temperature soda, angrily muttering to someone beside her:
“Is this fit for human consumption?!”
4:07 am D
<
Some guests simply left. Even the groom and bride stood stiffly on the stage, their faces ashen.
“Is this what you call a ‘creative banquet‘? We paid over forty million dollars to see this garbage
dump?!”
The groom slammed the microphone he held, his voice echoing through the hall.
“I swear to God, you’re just messing with us!”
Chloe stood by the backdrop, barking orders at the servers while simultaneously trying to placate
the bride with fawning, saccharine smiles:
“It’s okay, it’s okay, we’ll fix it right away, right away.”
Her high heels squished in grease as she knelt on the floor to adjust the bride’s wedding gown, oblivious to the fried chicken sauce staining her own dress.
My gaze swept across the entire scene.
Everywhere were cheap paper standees, crumpled wedding dress display boards, and paper cups filled with jelly dessert platters. There was no trace of a high–end wedding.
The MC on stage stammered, trying to smooth things over: “This is… uh, an experimental, street–style wedding with a youthful vibe… uh…”
The hall fell into a deathly silence.
The next second, the furious groom ripped off his jacket and stormed off the stage, roaring:
“Get that MC out of here!”
The hotel manager also panicked, grabbing Chloe’s arm and yelling:
“Alex! Ms. Chloe! If you don’t fix this, I’ll sue you for fraud and breach of contract tomorrow!”
Chloe’s face turned paper–white from the scolding. She swayed like a wilting, fragile little flower, barely able to stand.
At that moment, someone in the crowd seemed to spot a lifeline and shouted:
“It’s Scarlett! She’s here!”
<
All eyes swiveled to the entrance – I stood there, no makeup, dressed in a simple black suit.
Chloe’s eyes widened, her red–rimmed, as she stumbled towards me, trying to grab my hand:
“Scarlett… you’re here, thank God, quickly save-”
“Shut up.” I only said two words.
She flinched as if she’d been slapped hard, her expression instantly freezing.
“I am no longer a part of this company,” I said calmly. “I’m only here today to observe the effectiveness of your so–called innovative plan.“‘
“Ms. Scarlett!” The groom, Arthur Caldwell, stepped forward, his tone completely different from his earlier fury:
“I originally partnered with your company because of your planning expertise. If it weren’t for you, who would even know about this small, failing company?
“If you are willing to take over now, if you can salvage this event before seven o’clock, I will immediately replace the entire execution team and follow only your command.”
“I’m also willing to pay double for your team’s services. And from now on, you will be Caldwell Enterprises‘ designated planning team.”
Chloe panicked at this, her voice trembling as she tried to salvage the situation:
“No… no, Mr. Caldwell… we agreed that I would be in charge…”
“Alex and I already signed the executor agreement, how can you be so untrustworthy and breach
contract-”
“Shut up!” Mr. Caldwell, the groom, slapped her hard across the face.
“I partnered with your company because of Ms. Scarlett. Do you really think I’d ever look twice at an intern like you?
“If you hadn’t ruined this event, I’d be married by now! What right do you have to speak? Afterwards, I’ll be suing you for damages, Ms. Chloe. You can look forward to meeting my lawyer.”
Chloe was violently thrown to the ground, a bright red handprint swelling on her face. She stiffened,
4:08 am D
<
lowering her head, utterly unable to utter another word.
Alexander, however, remained hidden backstage, not daring to show his face.
He knew that the moment he appeared, I could drag him straight to hell.
Good. His turn would come soon enough.
