Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Scarlette almost laughed, more out of exasperation than anything else. She lifted her hand, ready to slap him again, but he was too fast-his fingers caught her wrist before she could land the hit.

Then his hand slid from her neck to the back of her head, pulling her in for a hard, punishing kiss.

Scarlette knew she didn't stand a chance against his strength, so she bit his lip, sharp and fierce.

He let go immediately, wiping the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. "You're really mad, huh?"

Scarlette didn't bother to answer. She turned away and unlocked her front door.

She'd barely kicked off her shoes before Nicholas wrapped his arms around her from behind, his chin brushing her shoulder.

"Come on, what's the big deal?" he murmured. "Just don't meet up with him again and I promise I won't lose my temper. Let's compromise, alright? Seriously, what is it he can do for you that I can't?”

Scarlette just felt tired. She didn't have it in her to argue anymore.

With Nicholas, talking was pointless.

He'd been coddled his whole life, handed everything, never having to figure out how the world really worked. In his eyes, there was nothing he couldn't fix with a word, a gesture, or a little force.noveldrama

Trying to explain anything to him was exhausting.

Scarlette was about to tell him to let go when her phone started ringing in her pocket.

She glanced at the screen, and her expression changed in an instant. She shoved Nicholas away, harder than she meant to.

He didn't see it coming-he stumbled into the cabinet behind him, half laughing in disbelief.

Scarlette answered the call, forcing herself to sound calm. "Hi, Mom."

Rose's voice was steady. "Are you over by the university tonight? Someone told me they saw you with Nick. He's so impulsive-did he give you trouble again?"

Everyone always seemed to think Nicholas lived to antagonize Scarlette, for reasons no one could really explain.

Scarlette's heart skipped. She had no idea what the person who saw them might have told her mom. She quickly used Morgan as a shield.

"I was having dinner with Morgan near campus. Ran into Nick by chance, and we argued a little, but it was nothing. Sorry to make you worry."

Rose's tone softened at once. “I heard the two of you didn't look too happy, so I just wanted to check in. You know your brother-if he makes you mad, don't hold back. Tell him off if you have to." '

Scarlette stayed silent. Rose had always told her that, but Scarlette knew better. Any time she fought back, she could feel the whole family pulling away from her.

She'd learned the truth a long time ago.

Nicholas was the family's golden boy. She'd never be the one with the right to scold him.

Her chest ached as she thought about everything between them lately. The anxiety felt suffocating, like she was constantly waiting for the worst to happen.

She was always afraid their ugly secret would come out and those videos Nicholas kept were like a knife hanging over her head, ready to drop at any moment.

"Scarlette?" Rose prompted gently.

She came back to herself and forced a smile. "I know, Mom."

"Your dad and were actually thinking... maybe it's time to set Nicholas up with someone. He's

getting out of hand, and maybean et

girlfriend would help. I don't know what's wrong with him-he's never dated, and every time I mention another girl, he just gets all moody."

When other boys were discovering first crushes, Nicholas was always turning up at Scarlette's school, or dragging her to his games. Rose's worry wasn't unfounded-the rumors people whispered had a little too much truth to them.

Scarlette heard the warning in her mother's words. "Whatever you and Dad

decide, Mom. I'm busy with work, so I should go."

Rose sounded relieved. "Okay. Take care of yourself, sweetheart."

As soon as she hung up, Nicholas's arms were around her again.

Now he got it—why she'd slapped him, why she was so tense. News must have reached the Greenard family.

He pressed into her back, his mouth moving from the corner of her lips down her jaw. "So, Mom found out?"

"Yeah."

Nicholas knew—Scarlette wasn't afraid of anything, except the Greenard family learning the truth about them.