Betrayal never comes alone. The pain and sorrow that accompanies the painful crack in trust does not just disperse. That's  what Scarlett experiences at the moment and it's so devastating. All this while, she had been trusting the wrong person. The fact that she'd believed Aaron would never do anything that would break her deeply broke her.

The presentation in front of Scarlett failed to draw her attention as she just stared at it blankly. She had no idea what was going on as her mind was totally running in circles. The reality of Aaron's betrayal had deeply hit her and she had no control over her imagination, which repeatedly thought about him cheating with another woman the other night.

"We will have another meeting about this later. Get back to work." Dismissing the meeting in the middle, Scarlett strode towards her room. Aaron had not shown up yet. He surely has not been able to sleep last night, after all that playing. Instantly, the rage she was trying to avoid started approaching her nerves.

The folders and documents on her table only added to her furiousness. She was not in a position to check the damn papers. Yet, she could not even avoid it. Scarlett thought being engrossed with work would help her and stop her from thinking about the ghastly reality. However, that was only for a moment of time as there was the memorable voice bringing back the bad memories about the night before.

"You're early today?" Aaron's sudden questioning voice came from the door leaving her alarmed. She was outrageous. Her palms balled into tight fists under the table in anger. Before uplifting her head to look at his nauseating face, Scarlett closed her eyes, bringing back the composure and calmness, which seemed like a complicated task to her at that instant. However, she tilted her head up to look at him.

The faithless bastard was looking at her, wearing a casual smile. Now, Scarlett had this one task to do. She was introduced with this difficult task of showing herself remarkably normal. Smiling forcefully, she responded, "Yeah, I couldn't sleep well last night," she said and internally wished to throttle him, "And woke up earlier than usual." She added quietly. Just as she'd said that, he had a frown on his forehead as he instantaneously stepped forward, standing in front of her carrying fake concern in his deceitful eyes.

"What happened?" He asked, taking her hand with him and Scarlett despised the moment more than anything else in the world.

Evidently, now that she was introduced with his pretense, Scarlett could hardly find it genuine. There was this sudden urge inside her heart, to demand the truth behind his false declaration of love for her. She felt this sudden urge to let out everything, demanding him reasons, that why did he ever choose to cheat behind her back.

Nevertheless, Scarlett controlled herself, highlighting the fact that this should be done carefully and not expressively. Although it is unproven yet about his loyalty towards this company, like the way Dylan supposed, the fact that he cheated on her with many women was not inescapable and the thought reflexively made her clench her jaw.

Certainly, Scarlett was nothing but an emotionless fiancée for him but at least, she did not show him that she loved him and he knew that. He knew what he had been asking for. The promise of trying her best was genuine. Whatever she felt could be seen through her eyes and actions. She did not show that she was head over heels for him. In short, Scarlett reflected the same thing she'd felt for him.

Consequently, she did not hide the fact that she didn't develop any feelings towards him. Wherein, all this while, he pretended to be hopelessly in love with her. Aaron had always shown her that he'd immense care for her and her mother. In addition, thinking it all over again only made her discouraged and disappointed.

Aaron waved in front of her eyes, bringing her out of her inner trouble.

"I'm fine." Scarlett stated in a normal tone. Before he could show his disingenuous self, she continued, "I wanted to discuss this with you since yesterday. You weren't answering my calls." She flatly stated, placing the documents in front of him, "You even forgot about the board meeting, I thought you knew how important it was." She remarked, her eyes peering his way.

"Oh this," he started to say, "I already worked on it, you don't need to worry." The moment the words left his mouth, her temper flared. He further added, "I regret that I could not make it. I was stuck up with..." Scarlett cut him off as she was not choosing to hear his lies all over again. She very well knew where he had been and she certainly did not want to hear anything false.

"You always say that," Scarlett despairingly tried not to sound impassive. However, it somehow came out snappy a bit, as he gave her a frown of disbelief. She added, "This is my company too, in case you forgot."

Aaron was at a loss for words. He definitely would not have expected such reaction from her. He'd never thought that she would object something like that. He was staggered. Shock was clearly evident in his eyes. For a moment, she did not pay any heed, thinking what if he grasps her displeasure.

Hasten to add, he was showing his pretentious form, since these past couple months made her disturbed and she found it too difficult to put it all aside. She have suddenly realised his disinterest in involving her much in the foreign deals and implemented all the decisions by himself, not bothering even asking her opinion, like the VT firm project. All he did was just to inform when it was all figured out. Even Dylan realized it, as Scarlett now remembers him asking about the same thing on the day of the stalking horse-bid, and she couldn't agree more.

"What are you saying?" Aaron's voice dragged her out again from her inner rage.

Yeah, that is the truth, an angry Scarlett wanted to retort but decided to take this thing gradually. She had not figured it out yet and obviously, she would never like to take things in a rush, worsening situations.

"I didn't realize it would come out as flat," she casually uttered and the frowns only got deeper on Aaron's face. Nevertheless, she continued, "I've been after you to discuss this thing and incidentally you already took care of it, which made me a bit discouraged." She truthfully admitted and avoided looking at him.

"Oh," was all he said but his eyes still held perplexity and suspicion. However, he reacted, "I always make sure you experience fewer burdens and therefore, I do it before you. I'll keep that in my mind from next time." He responded smiling faintly.

"Anyway, will you pass on those documents?" Scarlett demanded leaving him in daze. She added further leaving him frowning more, "I mean I would also be there in the meeting with you and I want to have a complete knowledge of it." She explained in a practiced voice as he still looked baffled. In any case, she had never asked him for the reports or any kind of papers and hence, the reason was quite enough for him to startle himself.

"Um..," he starts to say as he coughed, masking his confounded state, "Sure." saying so he dubiously ordered his assistant to bring them for him.

"Here," he forwarded it towards Scarlett who continuously maintained a straight face, avoiding to look at his new found traitor.

Flipping over the file, she stated, aiming to sound nonchalant and somehow she succeeded too, "I stopped by your office last night after my dinner with Leah." She steadily glances up looking at his expression. His demeanor changed straight away. "You were already gone," the frozen look he had was soon replaced into a relievable one.

"Why weren't you answering my calls by the way?" Scarlett questioned again, shifting her full attention on him placing the papers aside. Undoubtedly, he had been with one of his mistresses and sleeping with her.

Scarlett was not jealous. She was cheerless that he had been betraying her stealthily. Playing with her emotions as well as her mother's, who trusts him like more than anything in this world? Thinking about her again leaves her troubled all over again. Undoubtedly, enlightening about Aaron's character to her would be a tough thing to do.

"Actually, I was out of the city," he lied and paused for a second, probably to come up with a good, healthy excuse. He added, "To meet my old friend." He tried to smile.

"Oh okay." Scarlett replied unconvinced, however, ignored it as it would be too much for today. Undeniably, she would not want him to turn suspicious regarding the change in her behavior today. Scarlett felt she could certainly drag this otherwise.

For a moment, last night Scarlett had given a thought to confront him but something inside her, told her to hold back. However, she wanted to make sure of everything first. Somewhere deep down, she had already convinced herself, saying that he was at fault but there was this hope too where he is unfaithful only in our relationship. She wished him to be devoted to her firm, at least. This is so disturbing.

Scarlett needs to do something decisive to get herself out of this mental trauma and suffering. She just couldn't sit there and brood all the time.

Flashback:

"I'll miss you." Scarlett expressed wretchedly, as she looked down in dejection.

"I won't miss you." Dylan replied nonchalantly and right away, her eyes jerked up, as she playfully glared at him.

Chuckling, he explained, "If I miss you, I can't concentrate on my training l, baby." Dylan kissed her cheek, making her smile.

"I'll definitely miss your kisses." He teased right after pecking her lips as he zipped his big case. Scarlett blushed, glancing down.

Instantly sitting on the bed, Dylan dragged her as he made her sit on him. This was something he frequently did and Scarlett had always loved it.

Sneaking his arms around her, he started kissing all over her face. She raked his hair and captured his lips. The movement was quite impatient as she kissed him with urgency, bringing his face closer and closer than they could ever get, as a low grunt escaped from Dylan's mouth. He smirked when he took over the kisses.

His arms ran all over at her back as she locked hers around his neck drawing him more closely all over again. The desperation only made him smirk and they backed away catching air.

Cupping her angel's face, Dylan whispered, "I can't wait to start my life with you." He pecked her nose.

Scarlett hugged him tightly. Their moment was so perfect. She rested her head inside her lover's embrace as a smile formed at her lips, listening to the sound of his heartbeat. They were so engaged in their own little world, that they hardly noticed someone's presence at the door.

Meanwhile, there was the sound of someone clearing their throat and that made her jolting away from Dylan, as she stood up on her feet.

The intruder was nobody but Scarlett's mother, who glared at Dylan ferociously. She never hid the fact that he detested him. Julia still has not accepted the fact that her daughter is in love and is in relationship with Dylan. Scarlett noticed him shifting uncomfortably under her scrutinizing and piercing gaze.

"Mom," She called out giving her a pointed look for behaving that way with him. Her stares only intensified as she averted her eyes on her daughter.

"Scarlett, I am waiting in my room. I need to discuss something with you." She stated in a flat voice, not hiding her displeasure and soon left them alone but not before directing an angry stare at her daughter's lover.

"I want you to make it crystal clear to her that you're marrying only me. I don't know how you do it." Dylan dictated as he stepped closer resting his hands on her waist.

"What are you saying?" She questioned, as his tone was quite temperamental at the end.

"Knowing her, I get that she would definitely try to set you up with some rich maniac," he paused as he brushed off the hair away from her face, "You are mine. If you're marrying someone, then it's definitely and only me." He completed kissing briefly on her lips. She glared at him.

He raised his brows questioningly.

"You are talking about my mom here, be careful before you chose your words against her." She stated sternly only to receive a malicious grin in return, "And don't you dare order me things like that." She hissed making him give her an amazed stare as he pecked her lips again.

Scarlett wiggled, trying to remove his hold on her and the grip only tightened as he passed another smug smile.

"If you continue smirking then I'm..." her words were long gone when he decorated his lips on hers making her growl. However, his sweet torture made her forget everything as his persuasive and possessive kisses made her feel tingles all over her body.

~~~~~~

"I don't understand what you ever saw in him," Julia busted once she stepped inside her room. "He has no background and no class. There are so many people waiting for your attention and you are willing to spend your life with him. Out of all the people, HIM." She yelled making her daughter flinch. Julia's eyes twisted in anger and disapproval.

This was the first time for Scarlett to experience her outrage. Nevertheless, she did express her dislike for him openly but today, she was excessively incensed.

Scarlett thought she would understand her love and accept the fact that her happiness truly lies with Dylan. Her mother's dissatisfaction only made her provoked as well.

"Mom, I love him." Scarlett stated, raising her voice in an authoritative tone. Her temper was finally approaching and it was justified either. Until now, Scarlett had not reacted such way, thinking she would eventually understand, but, the latter would only protest each time and show her disappointment regarding their relationship.

Scarlett had lost it. She was not a teen anymore. She knew what to do and what she really wanted in her life and even if she tried, she could not imagine her existence without Dylan in it. They have gone so deep. It was unforgettable.

"Love?" Julia cringed giving her daughter an intent glare, "How can you not see that he's after your wealth," she bellowed angrily, "He's making his future secure by marrying you. He does not love you. Open your eyes, Scarlett, stop blinding yourself by the name of love." She was enraged and that only made her daughter fume in anger.

"You're wrong, mom," she retaliated, heaving a big sigh. Noticing her mother's adamant behavior, she only felt ominous.

Julia heaved a deep sigh, as she ended up sitting on her bed, carrying numerous frowns on her face.

Scarlett approached her as she spoke and this time in a gentle manner. "Mom, I love him and he loves me too," she started in a soft tone, "He's not the way you think he is. He's an amazing person and I want to marry him." She explained.

However, her eyes still held persistency and rage.

"You won't be able to live your social life if you marry him. I have a strong feeling as your mother, that he's not right for you. He is using you, why can't you and your father see that." She contemptuously uttered, shrugging her hand away, which rested against hers while she tried to explain her mother.

"If he was, then why do you think he was leaving for training and finding another job for himself while he could just stay here and join our firm?" Scarlett at once questioned, officially irritated by her behavior.

However, she had expected this from the start. She had made up her mind thinking, her mother would definitely object while the question arises. Palpably, for her, being social and carrying a rich status was compulsory. Even so, Scarlett had promised herself, that no matter what, she was not giving up on Dylan.

"That's because, he wants to show himself as good. Once he's here, he is going to show his real intentions." Julia reported illogically making her give her an unbelievable stare.

"No. You are misjudging him, Mom. My happiness lies with him. Don't make it difficult." This time, she pleaded as she got up standing away from her. The tension was still there making Scarlett sigh in exasperation. Although, she continued, "I love him and I love you too, Mom. I cannot just choose between you both. Let me settle with him for the rest of my life." She said kindly, hugging her from behind.

Glancing her way, she shrugged, forcing a smile on her face. Julia nodded lightly, looking defeated as she hugged her daughter.

"Fine, if that's what you want," she shrugged, leaving her alone with her own thoughts.

However, a wide grin replaced her lips, thinking about their upcoming life, which would be nothing but full of love and admiration. She was contented.

**********