"Unbreakable Bride: Season 1 - A Strong Woman for a CEO Daddy"

Fading

"Your silence is not a sign of weakness, but a testament to the strength it takes to endure the unendurable. Though your voice may have been muted by the shadows of abuse, it does not mean you are invisible. Your pain is valid, your story is real, and your truth will eventually be heard. Hold on to the hope that one day, the darkness will recede, and the light of justice, compassion, and love will shine upon you."
ΠΠΠ

Scarlett's voice was devoid of emotion as she uttered the words, "Caden Welsh Smith," her face a mask of indifference. The young man's eyes narrowed, confusion etched on his features, as he struggled to reconcile the lack of reaction from the woman he had longed to see for months. Her beauty still left him breathless, but her blank expression was a far cry from the warmth he had anticipated.

"Caden's eyes darted across her face, searching for a glimmer of surprise, of excitement, but found none. It was as if she had already solved the puzzle of their reunion, and his presence was merely a formality.

"How have you been?" Scarlett asked, her tone mild, but laced with a hint of mockery, a subtle jab at his past failures. "Any drama?" The words dripped with sarcasm, and Caden knew she was taunting him, testing his resolve.

He flashed a cocky grin, attempting to salvage his pride. "As you can see, I'm doing better than before," he replied, but Scarlett's expression remained unimpressed, her eyes glinting with a knowing light that made Caden's confidence waver.

"Good. Now, fetch me a meal, and try not to lace it with too much poison. I haven't the luxury of idle chatter," Scarlett said, sauntering into the bathroom with an air of nonchalance, as if she owned the space. Caden's face contorted in confusion and annoyance, perplexed by her audacity. For someone who had been kidnapped, she displayed a remarkable lack of deference.

Jaden, seated on the desk, chuckled at the exchange, his eyes glinting with amusement. "That's my sister-in-law for you. Only she could leave the heir of the Welsh Clan bewildered and irate." His laughter was laced with a hint of schadenfreude, clearly relishing Caden's discomfort.

Caden's gaze narrowed, his eyes flashing with irritation as he turned to face Jaden. The younger man's presence was a constant reminder of his father's biting words, a nagging thorn in his side. With a curt snarl, Caden stalked out of the room, leaving Jaden's laughter echoing behind him like a challenge. The air seemed to vibrate with tension, a silent promise that Jaden would not let Caden have the upper hand, that he would counter every move with one of his own, ensuring that the game of cat and mouse had only just begun.

As they sat down to eat, Jaden's curiosity got the better of him. "Sister-in-law, what's the story between you and Caden?" he asked, his eyes fixed on Scarlett, who had transformed from a disheveled captive to a radiant woman, her baby bump proudly on display beneath her fitted V-neck shirt.

Scarlett savored her meal before responding, her voice laced with a hint of scorn. "He's an ex, the last fool who left me at the altar. He got someone else pregnant, probably to impress his father." She shook her head, a look of disgust flashing across her face.

Jaden's eyes widened in incredulity. What kind of man would abandon a woman as captivating and powerful as Scarlett? He took a sip of water, his mind racing with possibilities. "Does he know who you truly are?" he asked, his tone laced with skepticism.

Scarlett's smile was enigmatic. "No, most men only see the power and wealth I possess. They want to control me, own me. But I desire a man who wants me for who I am, not just my possessions. A man like your brother, Tristian - he didn't care about my title or wealth. He wanted a mother for his children and a wife for himself." Her eyes sparkled at the memory of Tristian, the first man to ever truly desire her for herself. She had fallen deeply in love with him at first sight, and she had made it her mission to make him hers.