The Billionaire's Twisted Crown

Scarlett turned her head toward the voice. A tall, elegant woman stood by their table, her smile dripping with seduction. Scarlett instinctively slid off Alejandro's lap and returned to her seat. He didn't stop her this time.

The woman's eyes followed Scarlett with a sharp, laser-like glare full of disgust. Scarlett met it with a blank stare, refusing to flinch. But deep inside, she felt small, expecially with the lady's radiating confidence, and how she carried herself, she was elegant, tall, and with a great body.

Scarlett wondered who this woman is to Alejandro, she couldn't help but compare herself to her.

"I've missed you, baby," the woman cooed, her voice flirtatious and loud enough to draw attention. "I tried calling, but it wouldn't go through. I've been looking for you since I got back to the state."

Alejandro took a slow sip of his wine, his expression unreadable as he showed no reaction to her claims. The silence stretched just long enough to make the woman shift awkwardly.

Then he spoke, voice cold and clipped.

"What are you doing here, Mrs Johnson?"

Scarlett's eyes flicked between them, her curiosity piqued. She leaned back slightly, watching the exchange like a live drama unfolding.

Mrs Johnson faltered, then recovered with a sultry smile. She laughed as if Alejandro had just said a joke, cleaning fake tears,

Mrs Johnson!, come on Alejandro you know it's Lucy. She posed suggestively, subtly tugging her dress higher to reveal more legs.

Seeing this, all the admiration Scarlett had for this Mrs Johnson, went down the drain. Like what the hell.

"You know," Lucy purred, "lets hang out. Talk about the things we've missed, spend time together..."

Alejandro sighed, clearly unimpressed.

"Lucy, you're married."

"I'm widowed," she snapped, her tone defensive. "And I want us to talk. About us. Maybe fix things."

Scarlett couldn't hold back anymore.

"Excuse me?" she said, voice sharp. "I'm right here. And you're making advances on my man? I can't believe there's a shameless bitch in here bold enough to do that."

Lucy scoffed, eyes narrowing.

"Mind your business, you little slut."

Scarlett's blood boiled.

"I'm no slut. You are. Now get your fucking fake ass out of here and leave my husband the hell alone."

Lucy's mouth dropped open, stunned.

"Excuse me..."

Alejandro smirked, his voice low but commanding.

"You heard my wife. Leave. Unless you want to be thrown out."

Lucy's face twisted in fury, but she knew better than to challenge him.

She made a silent promise to herself to get him back no matter what. With a huff, she turned on her heel and stormed out.

Scarlett muttered a curse under her breath, glaring at Alejandro.

He sat back down, smirking.

"I like that," he said. "You claiming me as your man, you're learning fast."

Scarlett couldn't help but kick him under the table. Annoyed.

He didn't flinch, her kick did little to nothing, but the amusement in his eyes deepened. He wanted to laugh, but didn't. She was clearly pissed, and God, she was beautiful. Her cheeks puffed with anger, her eyes blazing. He felt the urge to kiss her right then and there.

Scarlett couldn't believe he was smirking after what had just happened he didn't even do anything to stop the lady even when she insulted her.

His indifference really annoyed her, but one thing was clear he had secrets he wasn't letting out.

"Who was she?" she asked, her voice low and sharp.

Alejandro's expression changed instantly. The warmth vanished. His eyes turned cold and dangerous.

"You shouldn't care," he said.

His meaning was clear. Don't ask.

She looked into his eyes., dark, unreadable, and cold. There was no warmth there.

Scarlett clenched her jaw, furious. She turned her attention to her food, stabbing at it with her fork, refusing to look at him again.

Alejandro watched her in silence, the tension between them thick.

Alejandro's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, his jaw tightening when he saw the caller ID, Estella Moritz. His mother. An image flashed in his eyes of her perfectly styled hair, her cold and calculating smile.

He answered with a clipped, "Yes?"

Her voice came sharp and scornful.

"Morning to you too, Alejandro. Why aren't you home? I clearly told you yesterday that Beatrice has her wedding dress fitting today. As her groom, weren't you supposed to be there? But no....you just had to disobey. Now my princess is in tears."

Alejandro rolled his eyes, the word princess making his skin crawl.

"For fuck's sake, princess," he muttered under his breath, then spoke louder, his voice flat. "Cancel the wedding. I'm not marrying her."

There was a beat of silence. Then Estella's voice exploded through the speaker.

"How dare you! God, where did I get this boy from? For heaven's sake, Alejandro, grow up and stop being childish!"

She gave a brief pause, then spoke again. "I need you to come home and apologize to Beatrice. Apologize about that stupid scandal going on about you and that gold digger, I've made myself clear you must marry Beatrice".

Her words were harsh, but he'd long since stopped being affected. Years of being raised in a house where love was conditional and comparison was currency had hardened him. Beatrice had always been the golden girl, polished and adored. Even when she wasn't a Moritz, and he had to leave with it for years, he couldn't give them the helping hands to control him all his life, in the name of a marriage alliance. He had lived as a disappointment and rebel. The one who refused to play along, he was fine fitting in that role.

He stared out of the restaurant window, it was either now or never he had to stop this nonsense they call a marriage union.

He replied, his voice low and final.

"I'll be home soon."

He ended the call without waiting for her reply.

Turning his head, he looked at Scarlett. She was hunched over her plate, stabbing at her food like it had personally offended her. Her brown curls framed her face in wild defiance, her green eyes hidden but burning beneath her lowered lashes.

Alejandro smirked. She was angry. If only she knew how beautiful she is while being angry, her green eyes would widen and her cheeks red. But at least she was his wife.

He cleared his throat, loud enough to be heard. Scarlett didn't look up. She was ignoring him deliberately. But he knew she'd heard every word of that call. Her silence was a statement.

Still, he spoke, his voice calm but commanding.

"There's an urgent issue I need to handle. My driver will pick you up. You'll go get your things and move in today."

Scarlett's fork froze mid-air. Her head lifted slowly, eyes locking with his. The disbelief in her gaze was sharp enough to see through her .

"what?...I'm not moving in with you," her voice was low and repulsive.

Alejandro leaned forward, his tone darkening.

"Oh, baby...you will get your things and move in with. End of discussion. Or I'll come to wherever you are and carry you home myself."