Page 55 of Only Ever Mine

I knew Scarlett. I knew how much she’d bled for this restaurant, how much she’d sacrificed.

Hearing her say she might walk away—that was Victoria’s true goal.

I couldn’t let her win.

I reached for Scarlett, my hands firm on her waist, grounding her. "Listen to me," I said, my voice low. Steady. "You are not giving up."

She swallowed hard. "Christian…"

"You’ve worked too damn hard to let someone like Victoria Snow take this from you."

Scarlett shuddered, leaning into me.

I held her tighter.

Whatever it took, I’d destroy Victoria before I let her break Scarlett.

Then Scarlett’s phone buzzed again.

She stiffened in my arms, then pulled it out.

Her expression darkened.

"What is it?" I asked.

She turned the screen toward me.

A message.

"Step back, or you’ll lose everything."

My blood went ice cold.

Scarlett looked up at me. "This isn’t just sabotage anymore."

She was right.

This was war.

13

SCARLETT/ CHRISTIAN

SCARLETT

I hated this.

Hated the doubt clawing at my chest. Hated the exhaustion weighing me down.

Hated that, no matter how hard I fought, it felt like I was always one step behind.

And most of all?

I hated that I was about to do the one thing I swore I wouldn’t.

Push Christian away.

But I had to.

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