London, UK
"What's wrong with your sister?" Nicholas whispered to Chris who was silently watching Scarlet train. Chris replied with a shrug. They were supposed to go to Russia after they were done in China but Scarlet came home to train because of that encounter with that man who is intervening in her missions.Currently she was training with her guns, never missing the target's head, "He might have worn a bulletproof vest. Next time I'd see him, I'll go for the head." She said to herself. Nicholas walked up to her and placed his hand on her shoulder."Why don't you get some rest? You've been training since 6AM." He said with a warm smile. Scarlet stopped her movements and turned to her father, "I'll stop when I'm perfect." "But you're already perfect." Chris said behind her, "Why are you just stressing yourself?" "Someone is doing my job for me." She explained. "Huh? What do you mean?" Chris asked. Scarlet let out a huff and turned to Chris in annoyance, "I wasn't the one who killed Roberto, and Chen." "What do you mean?" Nicholas asked. "It was some guy who did that." She didn't tell them that there is a chance that Roberto is still alive, although Chris would be delighted to hear that."Is that why you were acting strange in China?" Chris questioned. Scarlet nodded , "And I almost would have had him if you didn't distract me." She said sounding pissed off. "How was I supposed to know?!" Chris yelled. Scarlet rolled her eyes in annoyance, "Scarlet, you got injured. Rest. Now." Nicholas said, not leaving any room for any arguments. Scarlet grabbed her stuffs, then left the shooting range. Chris turned to his dad, "I should have been by her side more, now she's hurt and she's distancing herself from me." "Well it's your fault for her distancing herself from you. Remember what you did on her 18th birthday?" Nicholas sighed. FLASHBACK "Happy birthday Annah!" Chris yelled into his sleeping sister's ear. Scarlet woke up in fright and glared at Chris. "What's wrong with you?!" She yelled back. "It's your 18th birthday, aren't you excited?" Chris said giving her a big smile. Scarlet rolled her eyes, "So what? It's just a few years to my death. And you know that I don't celebrate my birthdays because it's just a day." "A special day for a special girl like you." He grinned. Scarlet suppressed a smile and glared at him. Chris brought out the cupcake with a candle that he was hiding behind his back. Scarlet let out a gasp, "I know you don't celebrate your birthday but since it's your 18th birthday, I planned a surprise party for you." Scarlet smacked her forehead, "Wow, and you decided to just tell the celebrant about her surprise birthday party. Really smart." "Sorry, I had to tell you because if I didn't, you wouldn't come to your own birthday party." He shrugged. He brought out a lighter and lit the candle on Scarlet's cupcake, "Now make a wish and blow on your candle." "But I have nothing to wish for." Scarlet said, shaking her head. "Just think of something you want." Chris said handing the cupcake to her. She stared at it for a while before she took it and blew the flame without wishing for anything."Okay, so get ready and come downstairs for your party." He said getting up from her bed. "Wait! Who did you invite for my birthday party?" She said in confusion. "Your friends." He replied. "Uhm... But I don't have any friends." "Yeah, but you have the maids, George and dad, ooh and also Danielle." He listed. Scarlet rolled her eyes, "I don't like her." "Well too bad, I already invited her and I don't understand why you don't like her, she really likes you." Scarlet saying nothing, got out of bed and walked to her bathroom, "Get out, I want to get ready." Chris nodded and left her room. A few hour later, Scarlet came downstairs, looking like a princess with a bright smile. Ever since she came into this house, she has always denied Nicholas offer of celebrating her birthday. She hugged Nicholas who was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs, still wearing her smile."Happy birthday Scarlet." He said then kissed her forehead. "Thank you father. Christopher really outdid himself with the decorations." She said looking around. Nicholas chuckled next to her before replying, "Yes, he did. He wanted everything to be perfect." Scarlet scanned the area, looking for Christopher until her eyes landed on him and hi girlfriend; Danielle. "Ugh, why did he even invite her?" She said, her voice laced with venom. "I don't like her either." George said, walking to Scarlet. "George!" She said with a smile before hugging him, "Happy birthday Miss Whitlock." He replied. "Pay her no attention today because today is all about you." Nicholas reassured. Scarlet let out a deep sigh before smiling brightly again.Few hours into the party everyone was having a good time and then Chris went on stage and tapped the mic, getting everyone's attention, "Good evening everyone. Today's a very special day for Annah and also me, her event planner." Everyone including Scarlet chuckled at his words. "I remember when she came into this house, I was a little 10 year old boy and when I laid my eyes on her, I made a promise to myself that what ever happens, I would always make her happy, even though I'm down. That's why today, I threw this big party which was meant to be a surprise but I blabbered it out."Everyone laughed again, then he continued, "Just know that I'll always be the big brother you need." He said with a heart warming smile. His words brought tears to Scarlet's eyes and she blinked them away. "Since I am already here, I'll like to make a special announcement." He suddenly said. Scarlet turned to Nicholas, "Hope he doesn't want to show everyone embarrassing pictures of me when I was younger?" Nicholas chuckled, "We'll see." Chris came down from the stage and walked up to Danielle, and knelt down on one knee, and brought out a light blue box from his pocket. Danielle gasped and covered her mouth with her hands.Scarlet, Nicholas and George, in fact, all the guests that came to the party stared at the scene in shock. "Danielle, when I first met you, I thought you were the one for me, but now, I know that you're the one for me, I know that this might be too fast but you but..." "Yes." Danielle said, cutting him off. "What?" Chris asked in shock, "Yes, I'll marry you." She said with tears in her eyes. Chris stared at her in shock before he removed the ring out of the box and slid it onto Danielle's finger. "You made me so happy right now by saying yes..." "Chris?" Danielle said cutting him off again. "Yeah?" "You talk too much. Just shut up and kiss me." And with that, Chris got up and kissed her. Everyone clapped and cheered but deep down, they all hated the fact that Chris is engaged to Danielle. Scarlet stared at Chris, hurt showing in her eyes. George shook his head with disappointment, not bothering to clap.A tear ran down Scarlet's cheek which she wiped off immediately, "I'm going to bed." She announced. Nicholas looked at his daughter in concern. Hearing that Chris turned to her, " The night is still young. Enjoy your party.""Oh, it's my party? For a second there I thought it was your engagement party." She said waking up to him, tears falling down her eyes, "Congratulations on your engagement with my brother Danielle, you guy should enjoy your party." She said to Danielle before going upstairs. Chris turned to his dad but was met with a look of disappointment, "For someone that has an IQ level of 145, you are really stupid." He said to his son before turning to Danielle, "Congratulations Danielle." He finished before walking to his study.END OF FLASHBACK"And after all that, I found out that Danielle was cheating on me and was just a gold digger." Chris said, looking down at his feet. "Scarlet let her die a slow and painful death." Nicholas chuckled. "I remember," Chris chuckled before continuing, "I can still remember her screams." "Scarlet was so happy. She hated Danielle with so much passion. Everyone did, you were just colorblind to see her red flags. No one even saved her when she cried for help." Nicholas reminisced. "She was a whole red carpet." Chris chuckled.