"Are you all right?" Rex's gentle voice came through from the other end.
"I'm not okay! My heart feels torn..." Her voice was soft, yet the sadness resonated clearly in her tone. "They took everything from me, brother. My father, Auntie Lana, Uncle Adam... Everyone!"
Rex held his breath, his anger simmering since the morning. He was livid to learn about the Withers' attack on Scarlett. It fueled his desire to rush to X and eliminate them. However, upon hearing from Seven—who had already arrived at B Island—that Scarlett was in such a miserable state, he changed his plan. He decided to fly to Island B to be with her.
He wanted to give her the comfort he had always offered, but he held back, knowing she now had Xander by her side. He bided his time, waiting for the right moment to meet her.
"Sister, I'm at my villa. Can we meet?" He asked.
Scarlett sat straight, delighted at the news of Rex's arrival on the island. The thought of seeing him filled her with joy. "Yes, we should meet, brother! But not now... I feel weak and need to rest. How about tonight? You can visit us here, and I'll have Logan contact you."
"Hmm, I'll wait!" Rex replied, ending the call.
Scarlett throws her phone on the bedside table and tries to close her eyes again.
...
The room was bathed in a soft, yellow light emanating from a lamp in the corner as Scarlett stirred from her slumber. She felt much better than before, her body feeling lighter and her mind more serene.
As she made an attempt to rise from the bed, at the same time, the bedroom door swung open. Xander entered, his handsome face illuminated by a charming smile as he walked towards her, extending a helping hand.
"Babe, you're finally awake," he greeted warmly.
Scarlett returned his smile, her fingers deftly gathering her hair into a messy bun. "I must have slept longer than intended," she softly said.
Xander chuckled lightly. "Not really. Just a couple of hours," he reassured her. "Alright, go freshen up. Our dinner is ready, and Rex has just arrived. He'll be joining us for the meal."
"Huh, Brother Rex is here?" Scarlett said. There was a glint of guilt in her eyes for keeping him waiting. "You should have woken me up earlier, Xander..." she scolded playfully, rushing off towards the bathroom.
Xander could only smile as he watched her disappear into the bathroom. He stepped out of the bedroom, joining Rex in the living room to chat while they waited for Scarlett.
Before long, Scarlett emerged from the bathroom, her face refreshed, and she had changed into neater clothes.
She entered the living room, finding Xander and Rex engrossed in a deep conversation, unaware of her presence as they continued their serious discussion.
Rex first noticed Scarlett as she approached to sit beside Xander. "Ah, my sleeping beauty sister, you've finally awakened!" Rex teased, trying to bring a smile to her face.
Before Scarlett woke up, Xander had shared with Rex that she had cried in her sleep the previous night and continued to feel down in the morning, lacking an appetite for food. Thus, Rex insisted that Xander let her sleep, even though it was already past dinner time.
"It was you who came earlier, brother!" Scarlett said, her smile returning. "What were you guys discussing?" she asked curiously.
"Oh, just some boring business talk," Rex replied with a smirk, glancing at Xander. "This Mr. Riley here was just bragging about his increasingly successful company," he playfully added.
"Well, that's not bragging, but that was a fact!" Scarlett defended her beloved, looking at Xander with adoration. "Right, hubby!?"
Xander's smile widened as he placed his hand on her waist and pulled her closer. Their display of affection left Rex speechless as he witnessed their PDA.
"Tsk, tsk, enough with the public display of affection, love bird!" Rex exclaimed, shaking his head. "Okay, let's start our dinner now..." He stood up from his seat and made his way to the dining table.
Xander chuckled, raising an eyebrow as he looked at Rex. "Why does this man think he's the host here?" he commented before following Rex to the dining table.
Scarlett smiled. Refrain from adding any remarks as she joined them. Her hunger was now at the forefront of her mind, eager to indulge in the meal before them.
...
Before long, Scarlett finished her dinner in peace. She feels grateful that Xander and Rex had avoided discussing her father's death. It seemed as though they were intentionally trying to spare her from additional stress.
Once they returned to the living room, it didn't take long for Xander to excuse himself, allowing Rex to have a private conversation with Scarlett.
"So, what are your plans after the funeral?" Rex's demeanor shifted as he inquired about Scarlett's next steps in facing the Withers.
"I need to take care of things here first—my father's house and company. After that, I'll start making plans..." Scarlett paused, her gaze fixed on Rex. "Brother, I want to seek revenge. Can you advise me on what to do?" Her tone was intense, reflecting her determination.
Scarlett didn't want her personal matters to jeopardize their organization, so she needed to discuss her intentions with Rex, knowing he was the best person to help her confront Jude Withers.
"Of course, I'll support you, whatever path you take to get your revenge!" Rex replied without hesitation. "But before you exact your revenge, you should speak with Noah Withers. Xander mentioned that he's here on the island and staying in this hotel too?"
"Yes, Uncle is downstairs. But tomorrow, after the funeral, he'll return to X. I haven't discussed my plans with him yet. But one thing is certain—I will go after Jude Withers and make him pay for what he did to my father, Aunt Lana, and the others..." Scarlett's eyes flickered with intense determination and emotion.
Seeing her filled with rage made Rex feel a tightness in his chest as he imagined what she had gone through. He couldn't help but feel sorry for her, knowing she had endured such a miserable life.
Rex felt as if his head were about to burst, picturing the girl he loved consumed by sadness like this. He longed to embrace her and provide her with the solace she needed, hoping to banish any trace of tears and sorrow from her being. Yet, he restrained himself to do so.
