Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 855

Once they stepped outside, Scarlette finally let out a breath she'd been holding.

Nicholas still had that bouquet of diamond-studded roses tucked under his arm, a smug grin on his face. "You said you needed to talk to me alone, but wasn't the mood back there perfect? You've been working nonstop these past few years-l bet you barely notice the world passing by. Back at the Greenard estate, you were always so tense. Whether it was during school or after, I used to wish you'd loosen up a little. I never knew how to say it, though. All I could do was bug you, just to pull your focus away."

Scarlette kept quiet, head down as they walked through the dim hallway. Back then, Nicholas's constant interruptions had driven her crazy.

This little brother she'd watched grow up-he'd been born with everything. He'd never known what it was to worry, not like her-never had to wonder if he'd be left behind or thrown back into a life where every penny mattered.

Nicholas's clinginess made her irritable, but she'd always put on a patient, gentle act, pretending to dote on him like the perfect big sister.

She'd look at his proud little face and think, "Kids like him have it made. He'll never understand how hard things can get."

But she never realized, even back then, Nicholas saw right through her he knew how tightly she held herself together.

He'd grown up in a powerful family. He wasn't naive. He just chose not to make a big deal out of most things.

Scarlette still said nothing, and Nicholas slowly slipped his hand around her waist. "So?" he coaxed. "Didn't you have something important to tell me? Did you finally come around-want to be with me for real? Sis, if you mean it, I'll call Colin right now. He'll get you whatever you want: cash, gifts, anything. Just say the word." Scarlette had only made up an excuse to get away for a minute. Now, with him pressing her, she didn't know what to say.

step back, but bumped into the

looking down at her. "What did you

into a small smile. "I was just thinking... maybe we should go see a movie

"Forever" was right—it had been eight, maybe nine years. Back then, Scarlette was in college, always hanging around some

seeing her laugh with some guy. The jealousy nearly

walked up, and Scarlette had looked surprised. "Nick? Shouldn't you be at school?

felt miserable, glaring at the

up on the tension and quickly asked,

had this bold, untouchable energy. She knew how

little brother.

a frosty look. He was only sixteen but obsessed with Scarlette -he thought about her every

grown up meant he couldn't cling to her

so closely. If she didn't come home, he'd make a scene-so much so that the Greenard family didn't know what to do with him and would end up blaming Scarlette She became the model daughter in everyone's eyes-the girl who always came home on time.

but really, it was Nicholas who kept her on such a tight

grabbed Scarlette's

I just wanted to see you. Are you busy this

belongs to s