Six Years of Wrath

I'd been locked in a bitter feud with Kyle Cole for six years.

He pushed my mother off a building, leaving her paralyzed.

I leaked his confidential documents that bankrupted him.

Everyone thought we'd spend our lives torturing each other.

When we met again, he'd rebuilt his empire, effortlessly fielding reporters' questions.

"Back in college, we all joked about finding love by 18, marrying by 25, and having a kid before 28. Kyle, how's that going for you?"

"Getting engaged soon."

"Wow, you're the first among us to hit all three!"

I twisted the ring on my finger.

Truth was, I'd already checked off all three boxes.

A girl walked inKyle's fiance.

Young, beautiful and polite...

She nodded at everyone before sitting beside Kyle.

He ignored her, his eyes fixed on me.

I felt the weight of everyone's probing stares.

My love history with Kyle was public knowledge.

I grabbed my purse and headed for the exit door.

Two guests mistook my exit for a prelude to clawing the girl's face.

They lunged to hold me back.

I arched my brow.

"Uh, Ms.Scarlett, where are you going?"

"Restroom."

"Oh! Right, of course."

They laughed nervously and sat down.

As I left, I caught their whispers:

"Two years apart, and Scarlett's matured now."

"Thank God. I nearly had a heart attack. Old Scarlett would've scratched that girl's face raw."

"Still hung up on Kyle after all this time. Couldn't bear seeing his fiance and had to leave the moment."

"Since it's fine now, tell them to call off the security."

Outside, I spotted two rows of bodyguards.

They tensed when they saw me.

The leader promptly dismissed them.

I sat on the lawn, calling my daughter.

She babbled about the story she'd learned that day.

Kyle's interview shifted outdoors.

Our eyes always found each other in a crowd.

"Mr. Cole, what would you say to the person who ruined you?"

He chuckled, staring into the camera.

"I saw her today. Her eyes are still just as beautiful. If I get the chance, I'll pluck them out and string them into a necklace for my fiance."

The crowd gasped.

But to us? Just another Tuesday in six years of hatred.

"Did you ever retaliate?"

"I crippled her mother. Does that count?"

I swirled my wine, soothing my daughter with a bedtime story over the phone.

My detached indifference pissed Kyle off.

Or maybe we just wanted each other dead, no reason needed.

Kyle sat beside me, pressing a finger against my phone.

He glanced at the screen and snorted.

"Heavy metal suits you better than fairy tales."

He introduced me to his entourage. "Scarlett Taylor, our college class president."

Chloe Young beamed, extending her hand. "Hi, Scarlett! I'm Chloe Young, Kyle's fiance."

As they braced for my meltdown, I simply said,

"Hello."

Kyle narrowed his eyes, trying to dissect me.

Then he smirked, convinced I was overacting.

While Kyle gave interviews, Chloe grabbed my hand.

"You're gorgeous! Kyle mentioned his six-year ex is here today. Do you know who she is?"

I didn't bite.

I pulled my hand back and wiped it with a handkerchief.

"Sorry. I'm a bit particular about cleanliness."

Chloe flushed, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"Who do you think you're fooling?" Lucas ColeKyle's brotherslouched opposite me. "You were trash in college, Scarlett. Two years later, and you're still just as fake."

"Lucas, stop!"Chloe protested. "Scarlett isn't like that."

"You've met her once!"Lucas spat his gum at me. "I've known her six years. Thanks to her, my brother went bankrupt!"

"What do you mean?"

"Open your eyes! She's the bitch ex who ruined him!"

I blocked the gum with my purse, then slammed it into Lucas's face.

"Scarlett! You bitch! You think you can touch me? I'm Lucas Cole! My brother will chop your fingers off!"

"The Cole empire Means nothing to me"I stood. "Pathetic. I bankrupted Kyle once. I'll do it again."

The outburst derailed the event.

Kyle hurried back.

I stared at the gum smeared on my white purse.

I am particular about cleanliness.

Holding it up, I demanded, "Ten thousand dollars. Now."

"You're shaking me down for chump change?"Lucas sneered. "Guess you're still broke. Still a man-eater, though."

I raised my purse to strike, but Kyle grabbed my wrist.

"What did you just say?"

"Ten thousand."

"Before that."

I knew which line he meant.

"I bankrupted you once. I'll do it again."

Kyle laughed. A genuine laugh, for the first time all night.

"The real you is so much more entertaining."

I yanked my hand back, halting my slap mid-air.

He leaned into it.

"Hit me, and I'll paralyze your mother from the waist up."

I hadn't planned to. Now I did.

SMACK.

Lucas charged. "You psycho! Are you fucking insane?!"

He choked my neck, and I clawed his hair.

A glass stool shattered over his head. Blood streamed down.

I grabbed a shard and slashed Kyle's arm.

He shoved me into the pool.

We brawled like animals.

"I heard you've been taking care of your mother these past two years. It must be tough, right? How about I arrange an 'accident' for her? Then you won't have to struggle anymore."

"Those eyes I'll propose to Chloe with them."

I didn't waste words.

I stabbed toward his chest

But Chloe jumped between us.

Blood bloomed on her white dress.

"Take your madness out on me! Why hurt her?! "Kyle roared. "Don't you know she has a bleeding disorder?! You monster!"

I twisted the shard deeper.

"Now I know."

"Scarlett! Leave her out of this!"

"Oh? Was my mother out of it' when you paralyzed her?"