Page 101 of The Grand Ruin: Lance & Scarlet-Part One

I still can’t believe she got a fucking dog.

I’m wasting my breath even being here, thinking it could ever be any different. My mother’s silence when we walked in here was proof enough that if she didn’t get what she wanted from me, I’d get nothing back.

“So Scarlet, what is it you do?” Nessa Anne asks, not looking up from her plate of food. She arrived as we were sitting down to eat, and like my mum and Chloe, I’ve not even had a smile.

I wish it didn’t set the sinking ache sailing down my chest, but it does.

It fucking hurts.

It’s been years since we’ve sat around this table as a family, and it’s clear the only reason we are today is because my mum will do anything to put off getting a job.

She doesn’t want to sign the contract.

That’s the reason for this facade.

Not me.

“I don’t work, actually. I dropped out of university when I was twenty and haven’t been back.”

My sister’s head lifts in interest, a wicked, sarcastic look washing over her face as she says to me, “Well, that’s fucking interesting.”

My teeth clench so hard that my jaw aches.Unbelievable. “Nessa—”

“So, you do nothing?”

“I spend a lot of time with my dad,” Scarlet tells them, everyone’s eyes now on her. “I’ll go back to uni one day.”

“Sure.” Nessa Anne gives her a quick, tight smile, and I know Scarlet doesn’t know how to take her.

She politely smiles back.

“How is your dad, Scarlet?” my mum asks, sounding genuinely interested. It’s probably the most real she’s been all day.

“He’s okay, doing well. Thank you.”

“Good. It’s been years since I saw him last. He was great friends with Douglas.”

I close my eyes at the mention of my dad’s name, the word only inflicting more agony on already open wounds.

Sensing Scarlet’s gaze on me, I open my eyes and peer down at her, not hiding the awe from my face when she effortlessly chases away the bad shit in my head.

I nod, confirming her thoughts about who Douglas is.

“Are you and Lance a couple?” Chloe asks, likely watching us.

I reluctantly look at her, feeling the last of my patience fraying.

“Gosh,” Scarlet says, her cheeks flaming as she takes a sip of her water. Her eyes flick around the table. “Umm…”

I don’t want her here.

“We’re friends, Chloe,” I answer for her. “Scarlet is a really good friend.”

“He even has time for friends now,” Nessa Anne mutters, raising a dark brow as she shovels in more food. Ben nudges her in the arm, shaking his head at her to cut it out.

Ben works for Ellis and Frey. He’s the head of tech and one of the smartest men I’ve ever met. The fact he ever wound up with someone like my sister is a mystery to me. The last I heard, they were done, and he didn’t want anything to do with her.

I try to keep my voice level, removing any trace of the emotion bubbling up inside of me. “I have time for you too, Nessa Anne. Are you really going to sit there and pretend I haven’t tried?”

---