The Billionaire's Twisted Crown

Scarlett lay fast asleep when her phone buzzed again. For the third time.

She groaned and snatched it up without checking the caller ID.

"Hello? Who is this? Speak up...I can barely hear you!"

A sharp voice pierced through the speaker, jolting her fully awake.

"What the hell, Scarlett! Why can't you fucking pick up your damn phone? I've called you like...what? A million times already!"

Scarlett rolled her eyes, her voice thick with annoyance.

"What do you want this time, it's almost midnight, can't I get some sleep?"

The voice snapped back, furious.

"Bitch, you don't talk to me like that. I've sent you an address. Fucking wake up and get the hell out of the shit you're sleeping on and bring my necklace to me now!. It's at the top of my dresser!"

Of course. Isabella.

Her cousin. The queen of entitlement and...

Scarlett blinked, finally registering the demand.

"Wait, what? Now? You can't be serious...it's 10:58 p.m."

But the line had already gone dead.

She sighed, what was she expecting, dragging herself out of bed. She knew better than to defy Isabella. The consequences were never worth it. So she got dressed and stepped into the cold night. By the time she found a taxi, it was already 11:10. Exhausted, she kept dozing off in the back seat, her body begging for sleep. She wanted to turn back. To crawl under her blanket and forget the world.

But they never let her be.

She didn't know why Isabella needed the necklace so urgently, especially at this hour. Isabella was wicked and manipulative, and always two steps ahead for this reason Scarlett had long learned to stay quiet.

Her cousin had always acted like the world owed her everything. And Scarlett? She was just the unfortunate one who had to serve her. It had been that way ever since her parents died in a car accident 10 years ago and her aunt had to move in with her perfect...daughter.

Reluctantly, Scarlett arrived at the address Isabella had sent.

Stepping out of the cab, she gasped.

The mansion was breathtaking. Towering columns, glittering chandeliers visible through tall windows, and a fleet of luxury cars parked like trophies. She wondered how Isabella got to be invited to such a luxurious place. She barely had time to take it in before a maid appeared.

"Are you Scarlett Brooks?"

Scarlett turned. "Yes... I am. How can I help you?"

"Miss Isabella Martin asked that I bring you in," the maid replied.

She followed her through a back entrance and into a lavish room. There sat Isabella, draped in a silk evening gown, sipping champagne like she'd invented it.

"Hello, cousin..." Scarlett began.

"Did you bring the necklace?" Isabella snapped.

Scarlett nodded, reaching into her bag. "Yes, I-"

"Then why are you standing there like a fish? Hand it over before you ruin it."

Yeah, that's if fish could stand. Scarlett thought but said nothing.

She walked into the room, towards Isabella but before she could walk further Isabella snatched the necklace from her hand without a glance.

No thank you. No apology. Just pure entitlement.

Scarlett watched her cousin admire herself in the mirror after putting it on, adjusting the necklace like it was a crown.

"How do I look?" Isabella asked.

Scarlett opened her mouth, but Isabella waved her off.

"Never mind. You wouldn't know fashion even if it slapped you in the face."

Scarlett's jaw tightened. Her voice was low. "I'm done here. Can I go now?"

"No. Stay. I might need something else later."

Isabella turned to leave, then paused at the door.

"Aren't you coming out? Or do you plan to steal something?"

Scarlett's heart thudded. That was low...even more so, for Isabella.

"You know what?" she said, her voice trembling. "I'm done with you. I'm leaving."

She turned to go.

"Did I say you could leave?" Isabella shrieked. "Go to the party. Wait for me there. And don't show yourself until I tell you to. Just find a corner and hide your pathetic self."

Scarlett muttered under her breath. "do you always have to insult me in every given opportunity."

"Did you say something ?" Isabella asked.

Scarlett startled, replied. "No...Nothing...I didn't say anything".

"Good, now get lost!

Scarlett left anyway, she would rather be anywhere, but close to Isabella. She was too tired to argue...too drained to fight.

Checking the time with her phone it was already midnight, and the mansion was far from home. It would take almost an hour to get back home, that's if it's possible to get a taxi at this hour.

She stepped into the party...and her stomach dropped.

Harry Kosh.

Her boyfriend.

The man she'd loved for two years.

He was laughing, surrounded by guests. And then she saw the banner:

Happy Birthday, Harry.

Her heart skipped. His birthday? He told her it was next month...

She was about to confront him when Isabella walked up to him...and he kissed her.

On the lips.

Wait! He kissed her.

ON THE LIPS.

Scarlett froze. Her world tilted, and her vision blurred.

No. No. No, this isn't happening...

Then Harry dropped to one knee.

"Isabella Martin," he said, his voice trembling with rehearsed emotion, "From the first day I saw you two years ago, I knew you were the one. Will you marry me and make me the happiest man alive?"

Scarlett's breath caught. Her chest burned.

Two years? That's how long they'd been together. How could he?

How could they?

How did this happen?

A lot of questions were running through Scarlett's head at the moment, questions she didn't have answers to.

But then Isabella glanced at her with a smug flicker of victory, showing it was deliberate and clearly a setup.

Then turned back to Harry with fake tears and a practiced smile.

"Yes," she whispered.

The crowd erupted in applause.

Scarlett's world shattered.

She wanted to scream. To run. To disappear.

But her body betrayed her. She marched forward, her eyes locked on them. They were kissing...passionately. Like Scarlett wasn't even there.

This was Isabella's plans, she wanted to humiliate Scarlett and watch her break, to relish in Scarlett's pain, she had intentionally left the necklace at home knowing Scarlett couldn't say no to her errands of bringing the necklace over to the party,

And ohh! Isabella was such a witch as Scarlett now finally understands why Isabella had called her here with the stupid excuse of some damn necklace.

With the anger and range boiling through Scarlett, she furiously yanked them apart.

She was very sure they had felt her presence but just choose to ignore her and intensifying their kiss

What the fuck bitch, Isabella snapped.

Scarlett ignored her. Her eyes burned into Harry's.

"How dare you," she hissed. "How dare you cheat on me with her? What the hell is this?"

Harry looked embarrassed about Scarlett's intruding behavior in front of his guests.

He glanced at the stunned crowd.

Before he could speak, Scarlett slapped him. Hard. His face snapped to the side.

"You lied to me!" she screamed. "You used me!..."

Before she could finish, cold liquid splashed over her head. Champagne. Her white shirt clung to her skin, nearly transparent.

She gasped.

Then...

SLAP.

Her ears rang. She turned just in time to see Isabella dropping her hand, her eyes blazing as she spat. "You bitch! How dare you humiliate my fiancé on his birthday...in his house...and in front of me!, did you forget your place?"

The crowd was silent. A pin drop would've echoed.

Scarlett held her cheek, trembling. Her eyes darted between them. She was beyond hurt. Her breath hitched furiously like she was about to explode.

Scarlett and Isabella had not always been best of cousins. But she remembered two years ago when she had first introduced Harry to her family Isabella had suddenly become warm and friendly for weeks, and later Harry had become unavailable for reasons he didn't bother to explain she had always been patient, God! She had been so patient thinking he was having a hard time.

Later Isabella started coming home late, something she wouldn't come back for days and when she did Mrs Martin, Isabella's mother who happens to be my aunt would be so pleased that she would even scoff at me.

Now Scarlett could understand how it came to this unfortunate heartbreak.

Scarlett tried reassuring herself that Harry wasn't doing this on his own free will, he had always been the one person she'd cry to anytime Isabella or her aunt hurts her.

Maybe Harry is being manipulated by Isabella.

But when he looked at her...his eyes were cold and cruel.

"Bitch," he said. "Do I fucking know you...are you crazy! What the hell is wrong with you?"