"I am fine mother so please don’t cry. You’ll worry your friends and then father will be upset. It doesn’t hurt. See," Victor smiled to show that he was fine.
"Still," Layla looked at her hand. "I have never laid a hand on you before. That was wrong of and it can’t happen again. That boy is bringing out another side of ," she sighed, blaming her actions on Ian.
No one in this world should ever lay a hand on Victor. Not even Layla but hearing about Ian had caused her to hit her beloved son.
Layla went back to fixing Victor’s hair as it was now out of place. "We must get him out of town soon rather than invite him for dinner. It won’t be long before he is rembered for being a bastard so don’t get too close to him. You have plenty of friends to spend ti with. Understood?"
Victor nodded his head though he didn’t agree with his mother. While being with his friends was fun it didn’t compare to being around a sibling.
"I need to get him away from Scarlet so you can get close to her. She upsets with how she takes his side and it seems like the divorce is greatly affecting her head but she is still useful. I’m sure that the bastard is getting close to her to use her wealth. You must seduce her before then. Forget about the other won you were introduced to," said Layla.
If Victor married Scarlet then there was no way he would lose to Ian. Not that there was ever a chance he would lose.
"I will find a way to set up a sit down with the Collins so you must do your best to get close to her. Despite everything, you will succeed," Layla said, her heart sure of it.
Layla saw a future where Victor would be healthy inheriting everything that once belonged to Hank. Victor would be married with a family of his own and one day he would thank her for everything that she did for him.
"We must join your father now. If you start to feel like you can’t stand by yourself, hold my hand and I shall co up with an excuse for us to leave. However, you can’t run away too many tis so you must stomach the pain. Walk with ," Layla said, holding onto Victor’s arm.
As he walked with his mother beside him, Victor looked around to see where Ian had wandered off to. He hoped that Ian would stay by Scarlet’s side throughout the party so Scarlet wouldn’t be approached by his mother to be told lies.
Away from where most of the guests gathered, Scarlet sat with Ian on a bench.
"Did you get the reaction you were looking for?" Scarlet questioned, referring to Ian seeing his family.
"I did but there is still more I want to see from them. Are you hot?" Ian asked, looking up to the sky. It was starting to beco cloudy as if the rain wanted to join the party.
"No. It’s a surprisingly windy day. Coming here I rember why I had not accepted the invitation. This is the kind of party where everyone you want to avoid may gather. Still, it is good to be away from ho," said Scarlet, seeing the bright side.
"Because you should have fun more often?"
"No," Scarlet shook her head. "It makes realise how much better it is to be at ho. No one bothers there. It is my safe space in this town. That and the ho my parents own."
"You surprised once more, Scarlet. Though you may wish to go back ho right away, I am taking you elsewhere you will enjoy. There are plenty of places in town to be your safe space outside of your estate. Tell honestly, do you not feel lonely to be there with just your servants?" Ian asked.
"There are monts," Scarlet admitted. She lived in a large estate by herself so there were many tis she felt lonely. The exciting days were when her relatives ca to visit. "But then I focus on work and it goes away. There are tis I enjoy being alone. It is confusing."
"Well, now you have a handso man you can call upon to be around when you feel lonely. I enjoy the bed that I have at ho, but I am willing to make an exception for the one you have in your estate," Ian said, enjoying how Scarlet rolled her eyes.
"I am not giving that room to you," Scarlet replied, thinking of the room he pointed out as his.
"Oh, Scarlet. You have your monts of not understanding what I an. Princess, I ant your bed. Scarlet, your shoe," Ian winced from the pain of her shoe pressing down on his. He didn’t know whether ntioning her bed or calling her princess had angered her. Maybe both.
"I’m sorry," Scarlet apologised.
"You say that but you aren’t moving your shoe. Is this your way of showing you love ? I’ve travelled all over the kingdom and so think hurting soone ans you like them but you have trouble saying it. I’m touched."
Scarlet moved her shoe from hurting Ian. "That’s ridiculous. It is as foolish as saying a boy bullying you ans that he likes you. I won’t take you away from your precious bed so don’t make any plans. Why are you so touchy?" She asked, watching as Ian played with her hair.
Scarlet didn’t try to stop him as it wasn’t bothering her.
"Only with you," Ian answered.
"Lucky ," Scarlet muttered. "I hope with this all the gifts to my ho will stop. Gossip should soon spread out of this party that I am with you. My parents," Scarlet sighed as she knew a visit from her mother would be coming. "If my father ever visits you, you must take his threats seriously. He’s a bit more protective when it cos to my relationships now."
"And for that I like him. I’m not concerned about your father’s visit. I look forward to your mother’s visit as I am certain that I can charm her. Friends of yours?" Ian asked, looking in the distance at a couple staring their way.
He was enjoying the quiet mont with Scarlet but of course, there would be soone looking to ruin it.
Scarlet looked around for whom Ian spoke of and felt the party beco draining once more when she realised who was watching her. "Relatives."
"Ones that you would want to bury or ones that I should charm to get on your good side?" Ian asked.
"Bury. I told you this is a party where people you wish to avoid may gather. They are Naomi and Preston Collins. Two of the relatives after my estate and businesses," Scarlet introduced the pair.
"Well, the good news is that they are not coming your way, but they are staring as though they want your attention. Hmm." Ian smiled as the pair walked over to where Jack and Beth were surrounded by other guests.
It was obvious the pair were trying to make a mockery of Scarlet by going to her ex-husband and his lover. If they were good relatives they would not be so friendly with the man who cheated on Scarlet.
"I will get you another drink and sothing to eat. Excuse for a mont," Ian said, standing up from the bench to find a servant.
While his main focus had always been on his family, Ian suddenly felt the need to humble a few Collins.
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