She Accepted Divorce, He Panicked

Scarlett's POV

In the end, I didn't talk to Lilith that night.

She doesn't want us to know. It might hurt her pride more than helping her with her financial problem. I need to talk to Aurora first about it. Besides, Lilith never mentioned Damian Vanderbilt to us, so I'm not sure how to talk to her about that either. I don't think Lilith would be with him if she knew he had other women, but I don't have evidence either.

But all these are just excuses.

I fled the scene because I might be a Vanderbilt, an unwanted one no less.

Lucas got a hotel for us, and I hid in my room for three days straight. My activities mainly involve searching about the Vanderbilts online and hiding under the cover every five minutes.

I believe the cover has the power to block off all ghosts, so it should be able to protect me from other horrible things, too.

There isn't much about them online.

Or, the ton of information about them online says little that I need. They appear on the news for museums under their name, for charities in which they participated, and occasionally, for some celebrities' interactions with them. And most of them are not even about Damian Vanderbilt. Apparently he has not yet touched the throne -- it still belongs to his father Johnny Vanderbilt, head of the Vanderbilt empire, husband of his late wife--

Emma Vanderbilt.

All I can find about her is the confirmation of her death, which was twenty-something years ago, so there aren't even any traces online. She died in a car accident, along with her two-year-old daughter.

There is less and less doubt about this, diminishing along the doubt are my hope and happiness about finding my real family --

Looks like my real family is much more similar to the Fullers than to me.

I want to hide longer, but I can't. The movie's shooting starts today, and I have to be there. The position is beyond me as it is. I don't want to cause trouble for me and Adrian. Luckily, I don't have to make a decision today.

I push everything behind the back of my mind and put on my armor: A bag, an iPad, lipstick and a few small things. That's all I need. A simple blouse, a pair of grey-green capri pants, and a pair of white canvas shoes. My style. I grab my bag and check up myself in front of the mirror before I leave the room.

To my surprise, when I get downstairs, Alfred is not the only one waiting for me. Adrian is there, too, leaning on the car with his arms folded when Alfred stands by the gate submissively.

"Glad to see you up and alive," Adrian curves his lips, opening his arms for me for a hug.

Couldn't resist the desire for the safe warmth in his hug, I took it.

"You didn't need to come," I shrug, putting on a calm mask, "I wouldn't have missed my first day, boss."

"I know you won't. I'm here because you sent Lucas home."

Lucas was originally just to be my cameraman for my "homecoming". He didn't need to accompany me for any of the shows after that, but he did just to make sure. I didn't want to take up any more of his time now that I'm back to the Fullers.

"I sent him home because the mission is over," I nod sideways at the door, "Give you a ride, boss?"

"Actually, I was hoping to offer you the same thing," Adrian puts his hand on the car, stopping me when I try to open the door for him, "I have something to talk to you about. Energy conservation and environment protection, right?"

I glance at Alfred, and he keeps his head low.

Adrian doesn't want Alfred to hear the conversation, meaning it's about my family and not the job. I'm just not sure if I'm up for it. I bite my lips, hesitating, and Adrian's eagle eyes seem to be penetrating me. I know I appear weak about this, then he will shield me from any bad news he would find in the future.

"Alfred," I make up my mind, "Sorry to get you here but I'm going with Mr. Dunn. Can you come and pick me up at five?"

"Of course, Miss Scarlett," Alfred bows with a straight face before he gets into the car and leaves.

"He will know that we are hiding things from him," I mutter not without worry, "and that means so will Jack Fuller."

"He is already alarmed," Adrian shakes his head with a sullen look, "But he is not your biggest concern right now. Johnny Vanderbilt is."