It seemed like an eternity before the security guards arrived and took charge, eventually escorting Scarlett away.

She was bruised and battered, her clothes drenched in blood. Her eyes were hollow, lacking any trace of life, and her face was locked in an expression of utter despair.

Huddled in the corner, she clutched her head, her body shaking like a leaf. The guards, having learned she was a killer, were on edge. They shot each other uneasy glances before quickly dispersing.

Soon after, the gatekeeper came by, locked the door, turned off the heat, and left for the night. The lounge was empty now, with only Scarlett left behind.

Back in prison, whenever she was beaten and cried at night, the cruel inmates only made things worse for her. So now, even though the pain sliced through her like a knife, she refused to let a single tear escape.

The night seemed to go on forever. The harsh winter wind found its way through every gap, biting into the bruises on her skin until they cracked open.

All Scarlett could do was curl in on herself, biting down on her hand to stifle the pain, the metallic taste of blood sharp against her tongue.

When morning finally broke, the sound of her phone ringing pulled her from the darkness. Seeing Eamon's name light up the screen was like catching hold of a lifeline, and she hurried to answer.

"Renee, did you get the paperwork finished?"

His voice, calm but tinged with concern, was the final nudge Scarlett needed. The tears she'd fought to keep in all night broke free.

Before she could reply, the door swung open.

A wave of panic rushed through her, the fear of her tormentors returning overtaking her thoughts. Not wanting to drag Eamon into the mess, she ended the call abruptly.

Eugene burst in, the morning light spilling over him, his eyes filled with urgency. "Scarlett, I'm here to get you out of here."

Calvin lifted her into his arms, his voice heavy with an unmistakable sense of pain. "Don't be afraid. We're getting you out of here."

At the sound of those familiar voices, Scarlett's senses slowly returned. But this time, she didn't burst into tears, didn't spill her heart out, or reach out for their reassurance as she would. Instead, she hid her face, shielding herself from the glaring sunlight.

By the time they arrived at the hospital, the doctor had given her a sedative before beginning to treat her injuries.

Scarlett quickly drifted into a deep sleep. Even in her dreams, her face remained tight with fear and anxiety, her fingers clutching the phone so tightly it seemed like she'd never let go.

Seeing how worn out she looked, Eugene and Calvin were hit with a strong wave of guilt. They fell back into the familiar rhythm from their childhood, taking turns sharing stories until she slowly began to relax.

Eugene picked up her phone, which had been buzzing nonstop, and was about to check the caller when Scarlett, suddenly alert, snatched it back.

Noticing the tension in her face and seeing the caller's name flash on the screen, Eugene frowned.

He couldn't stop himself from asking, "Scarlett, who's this Eamon who's been calling you nonstop for the last hour? Why's it coming from an international number? And why do you have him listed as your brother?"

Scarlett's gaze met his.

She was about to answer when Olivia Perkins, Eugene and Calvin's assistant, entered the room. "Mr. Letcher, Mr. Eugene, Ms. Sharon is awake."

At the announcement, Eugene and Calvin rose in unison, quickly heading out while reminding Scarlett to rest and take it easy. As they turned to leave, she felt a surprising wave of relief wash over her.

She answered Eamon's 60th call, telling him she'd just woken up from a nightmare and reassuring him there was no reason to worry. Only then did Eamon, on the other end, exhale in relief.

"I've transferred some money into your account," he said. "Check it out. It's yours to spend however you like. After that, book a private flight and get here. I won't be able to settle until you do."

When Scarlett opened the notification, she saw the deposit of one hundred million. She fell silent for a long moment, struggling to find the right words, before finally whispering a tearful "thank you."

"Don't be silly. Why are you thanking me? You're my only little sister. I'll take care of you for the rest of my life and give you everything I have."

Eamon's laughter came through the line, his tone easing the ache in Scarlett's heart like a breeze. She suddenly realized she was no longer just an orphan taken in by a family. She had a brother now.

Scarlett spent three days in the hospital.

Calvin and Eugene stopped by frequently, though their visits never lasted more than a few minutes before they'd head out again.

They never said it, but Scarlett could tell they were busy looking after Sharon. Every time they came, Sharon would send her snide texts.

"Calvin made fish chowder for me. I told him I couldn't eat it all, so I had him bring the rest to you. You've probably already had a taste of the leftovers, right?

"I dozed off for ten minutes, and Calvin and Eugene went to see you, didn't they? I mean, it makes sense. They're always busy trying to keep me entertained when I'm awake. How would they have time to think about you otherwise?"

Her eyelashes fluttered as memories of the time she'd been hospitalized for appendicitis at 16 came rushing back. Back then, Eugene and Calvin had stayed by her side without leaving for a second.

They took turns blowing on her soup to cool it down before she could drink it. Every time she went for a check-up, they were more nervous than she was, worried something might go wrong.

But everything had changed for good. She no longer needed a boyfriend or a brother like either of them.

On the day she was discharged, Scarlett took care of the paperwork on her own. She saw Calvin, Eugene, and Sharon when she reached the entrance.

Sharon took her hand and offered her a warm smile. "Calvin and Eugene have been so busy trying to find time for me that they've fallen behind on work, Scarlett. How about we all head back together?"

A chill ran through Scarlett at the look on Sharon's face, and she turned her down without hesitation. "I'll take a cab."

Calvin's and Eugene's expressions darkened. "You're not fully recovered yet. Why take a cab? I'll have the driver take you both home."

With that, they shoved Scarlett into the passenger seat and closed the door. After Sharon slipped gracefully into the back, the car pulled away.

The persistent feeling that something bad was about to happen kept gnawing at Scarlett.

When they reached the outskirts of the city, Sharon, who hadn't said a word the entire ride, suddenly ordered the driver to pull over. She sent the driver on his way, slid behind the wheel, and turned to face Scarlett.

"Relax, it's been five years. I've gotten a lot better. I'm not going to get us killed this time," she said.

Cold sweat prickled Scarlett's skin, her hand reaching instinctively for the door handle. But Sharon snapped the locks shut, slammed her foot on the gas, and shot the car forward at full speed.

Scarlett's heart pounded as she clung to the seat, holding on with all her might.

Noticing the fear in her eyes, Sharon chuckled, her voice calm and measured. "You weren't the one who bolted after the crash. What's got you so rattled? Are bad memories coming back? I can see why. Those years behind bars really left their mark on you, didn't they?"

She turned on the car's screen, and a surveillance video appeared on the screen.

When Scarlett saw herself cornered and assaulted in a restroom by a group of people, her eyes went wide with shock. Her own screams—sharp and agonizing—echoed in the car.

It was as if unseen hands had grabbed her, yanking her back to the dark days she'd endured in prison. Against her will, her mind replayed the relentless assault of hard fists and wooden clubs that had battered her without mercy.

The cold wind outside the window brushed against her, and more than once, she had the feeling of being trapped in that walk-in freezer once again.

Scarlett watched the footage on the screen and felt the scars she thought had healed begin to throb faintly. Overcome by a raw, visceral reaction, she started pounding on the car door like someone possessed, desperate to break free.

Sharon seized the chance to turn off the video, unbuckled her seatbelt, and switched on the car's dash cam. The camera immediately captured Scarlett's frantic screams as she begged to be let out.

She gripped Sharon's hand, her nails pressing in hard enough to leave marks. Sharon pretended to be in pain, striking the steering wheel several times.

With a deafening crash, the car slammed into the guardrail on the right side.

Scarlett was thrown violently against the window. A streak of crimson blood trickled down the shattered glass, and her vision blurred as she began to fade in and out of consciousness.

After the blare of sirens, Scarlett barely caught a surge of loud voices. With all the strength she had, she forced her eyelids open and saw Calvin and Eugene.

The two men stood by Sharon's hospital bed, their voices shaking with desperation as they demanded answers from the doctor. "Why hasn't the surgery begun? What if something happens to Sharon?"

"Mr. Letcher, Mr. Eugene, please try to stay calm. The hospital's blood bank is running low, and we only could handle one surgery at the moment. Ms. Sharon's injuries aren't as severe. I strongly recommend we prioritize Ms. Scarlett's surgery. If we don't, her life could be at risk."

Eugene and Calvin exchanged a look, uncertainty flashing in both their eyes.

In the tense silence that followed, a nurse hurried in and announced that the operating room was ready, asking which patient should be taken in first.

Without hesitation, Calvin and Eugene shouted the same name in unison, "Sharon!"

At that moment, Scarlett felt the last of her strength fade away. Her eyelids grew too heavy to keep open, and she allowed herself to sink into the darkness.

As the anesthesia wore off, Scarlett slowly began to regain consciousness. The moment her eyes fluttered open, she saw Calvin and Eugene exhale in relief.

"Scarlett, we had blood banks brought in from across the city for your surgery. Thank goodness you're alright."

"Are you in pain? We'll get the doctors in here right away to check on you."

Their faces were etched with unmistakable concern and care, but all Scarlett could feel was exhaustion. Her thoughts slipped back to the scene she'd seen before losing consciousness. It sent a chill through her.

She remained silent, her eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. Her quietness only deepened Calvin and Eugene's concern, prompting them to summon a team of doctors to check on her.

Still, Scarlett said nothing.

In the end, the psychiatrist concluded that she was probably suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and developed a comprehensive treatment plan.

After reviewing the plan, Calvin and Eugene both wore deep frowns. "How could a car accident cause something this severe?"

The doctor weighed his words before answering, "It might not just be the car accident. There's a possibility that a series of events leading up to this have had a lasting impact.

"I suggest you both take some time to reflect on what she's been through in the past few years. That way, we can get to the root of what's affecting her."

But hadn't Scarlett been in prison all that time? What could have happened to her there?

Lost in thought, Eugene and Calvin remembered the scars they'd seen on her body before the concert.

While they didn't suspect Sharon, they were certain Scarlett must have endured something difficult during her time in prison.

They immediately called for Olivia. "Head to the prison and retrieve the surveillance footage from the past few years."

A flicker of emotion finally crossed Scarlett's face as she lay in the hospital bed. Just as she lifted her gaze, she spotted Sharon, who had stopped Olivia and was now wheeling herself into the room.

Her eyes locked onto Scarlett, her voice filled with pity. "Scarlett, why did you suddenly hit me in the car? Did I do something to upset you?"

The moment the words left her lips, the room seemed to freeze.

Eugene and Calvin turned to Scarlett in disbelief. Their voices grew harsh as they demanded answers.

"Sharon went home with you out of kindness, and yet you hurt her behind our backs again?"

"I thought the car accident was just bad luck, but now it's clear it was all driven by your jealousy."

Under their icy, accusatory glares, Scarlett clenched the edge of her hospital gown, struggling to keep the surge of anger within her from breaking free.

"She was the one who sent the driver away first, locked the car doors to keep me from leaving, and then played that footage of me in prison on the car's screen—"

Sharon cut her off at the perfect moment, tears streaming down her face in a heartbreaking display. "I'll admit, I've made my share of mistakes, but I've spent years trying to atone for them.

"I've been involved in so many charity projects. Eugene and Calvin can vouch for that. All I ever wanted was to confront my fears, to see if I could get back behind the wheel…"

Without missing a beat, Calvin and Eugene pulled Sharon into their arms, offering comfort as they wiped away her tears.

Scarlett's fists clenched, her patience breaking as her voice grew cold. "You're still spinning this story? You're the one who tried to kill me in the accident! It's all on the dashcam!"

Sharon's sobs grew more desperate as she turned her tear-filled eyes toward Eugene and Calvin. "I'm not lying, Eugene and Calvin. You can check the dashcam footage."

Soon enough, the dashcam video from before the accident was brought over.

Watching Scarlett lose her composure in the car on the footage, Eugene couldn't hold back anymore. His eyes turned cold as they fixed on her.

"The truth is, you set this whole thing up out of spite. You distracted Sharon while she was driving and caused the crash! What's left for you to say in your defense?"

Scarlett hadn't expected the dashcam to have only recorded the final moments.

Her thoughts were a tangled mess, but then she suddenly remembered the surveillance camera she was wearing. In a panic, she grabbed the necklace around her neck, the one hiding the pinhole camera.

"I still have proof—"

"That's enough!" Calvin cut her off, his eyes brimming with disappointment and a quiet rage. "How far are you willing to take this? Back when you hurt Sharon, I brushed it off as petty rivalry and let it go.

"But you almost got her killed yesterday. Do you really hate her that much for taking your place? Let me remind you—she's the Swain family's true daughter!"