Out of Control: Into Your Everything-Chapter 13: What More Do You Want

Scarlett Shaw and Ryan Ford locked eyes, then Scarlett’s gaze swept coldly over Chloe Grant.

Ryan’s dark eyes surged as he stared at her. Chloe’s face was calm and distant, not a hint of guilt.

Scarlett’s expression was blank, utterly unmoved, as she turned to the stunned Skyler Miller, "Let’s go."

The two of them left the restaurant.

Skyler’s expression was incredibly complicated. "Your ex-boyfriend is The Fords’ Second Son?"

"Yeah."

"Chloe Grant stole The Fords’ Second Son from you???"

"Yeah." Scarlett paused, the corners of her lips curving up in a teasing smirk. "Weren’t you going to stand up for me?"

"I’m not getting into this. Not unless I want to be blacklisted in Capitoline," Skyler muttered, sounding displeased. "So Chloe Grant is now dating The Fords’ Second Son? Doesn’t that mean... she’s President Ford’s sister-in-law? She’s connected to the Ford family now?"

This was just the worst case of a petty person rising to power.

Are we really going to have to watch this kind of person’s face in the office from now on?

Scarlett never believed being connected to the Ford family was a good thing.

Ryan, Mrs. Ford, Julian Ford—everyone she’d dealt with from the Fords was crazier than the last. Without a powerful background, once you get dragged in, whether you come out whole is anyone’s guess.

Skyler said, "Scarlett, you dated The Fords’ Second Son, but how come you still ended up struggling so much? Look how smart Chloe Grant is."

Scarlett laughed. "If I told you I was with Ryan just for love, not for money, would you think I’m dumb?"

"Just a teeny bit." Skyler said, "Why are you so honest? Why can’t you want both?"

Scarlett hadn’t answered yet when a powerful grip suddenly seized her forearm from behind.

Ryan had somehow walked up to them, expression complicated as he looked at her.

Chloe stood off to the side, her face cool and indifferent.

Ryan: "We need to talk."

Scarlett: "There’s nothing to talk about."

Ryan tightened his grip on her arm and refused to let go.

The two of them were at a standoff. Gossip-hungry Skyler shot a glance at Chloe, who flashed an icy look, making Skyler frown.

Scarlett broke the silence first, calm as ever. "Ryan, I’m not your girlfriend anymore—don’t touch me. And—"

She flicked her eyes at Chloe. "If your girlfriend sees you like this, she’ll be really hurt."

"She’s not my girlfriend."

Ryan denied it coldly and firmly, not the slightest hint of embarrassment or panic on his face, still pinning Scarlett with his gaze.

Chloe’s eyes flickered.

Ryan started to drag Scarlett away. She resisted, but his strength overcame hers; she was practically being hauled along. Ryan just leaned over and scooped her up in his arms.

Scarlett, furious, slapped Ryan hard across the face without holding back.

Ryan stood there with a flaming red palm print on his cheek, yet his seductive eyes were calm, not a trace of anger.

Skyler rushed after them, wanting to help. "Second Son Ford, taking someone off the street like this is illegal. You really shouldn’t—" 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Ryan shot her a glance. "Manager Miller, you fought your way for years to become head of Veridian’s Investment Division. Sure you want to throw it all away?"

Ryan was a minor shareholder at Veridian—even though he only held 5%, he was still an executive director. If he wanted to shake up HR, all it took was a word.

Skyler’s face was ugly with anger and fear.

"Skyler, head back. I’ll be fine. Don’t worry."

Scarlett didn’t want Skyler to get dragged in because of her and gently advised her to leave.

Skyler looked ashamed, watching as Ryan carried Scarlett into the elevator. Uneasy, she glanced back where they’d been—Chloe had already vanished.

Ryan took Scarlett to Cloud Mansion.

"Your grandmother’s medical bills, your debts—I can pay them all off," Ryan set her down, his foxy eyes locking on Scarlett. "Scarlett, as long as you get back together with me, I can give you even more."

Scarlett was silent for a long time, then said softly, "So you always knew my situation. You just pretended not to, didn’t you."

Ryan’s lips pressed into a tight line.

That was as good as an admission.

Scarlett felt both miserable and bitterly amused. "Ryan, what exactly was on your mind when you were dating me?"

It suddenly struck her that for those three years, in Ryan’s eyes, she must’ve been nothing but a clown.

Ryan dropped his gaze, but his wild eyes were gentle as ever. "Of course I liked you."

He reached up, his large hand brushing her face. But Scarlett shrank back as if he’d morphed into a plague, full of alarm and vigilance.

Ryan felt a pang in his heart, but didn’t show it. "The terms I’m offering aren’t for you to consider—they’re just for your information. If you won’t accept them, they’re void. But you can’t escape."

Scarlett felt despair.

Whatever Ryan said, he would do.

This man, once he wanted something—even if he had to destroy it to keep it from anyone else—he would do it without hesitation.

"I won’t accept your terms. Ryan, even a cornered dog will leap the wall if you push it. If you really force me, I’ll take you down with me."

Scarlett’s threat was like an itch to Ryan—he didn’t care in the least.

He approached her unhurriedly, suddenly grabbing her collar and yanking down hard.

Her pale skin was exposed to the air. Scarlett shuddered violently, trying to escape, but Ryan’s calloused palm clamped down on her shoulder.

"Originally, I wanted to win you back slowly," Ryan’s thumb traced her smooth skin, kneading slowly and deliberately. "But you never listen. You slept with that man once—I let it go. But a second time? Scarlett, you brought this on yourself—you never know what’s good for you."

Scarlett’s whole body shook.

Her second time with Julian Ford had been over half a month ago. She hadn’t even seen Ryan since—how could he have known?

Chloe’s face flashed through her mind.

Scarlett’s heart went cold.

"I’m single now. Whoever and however many men I sleep with has nothing to do with you."

Ryan’s grip tightened, a manic glint flaring in his eyes as he pressed down on her. "Scarlett, aren’t you worthless?"

Behind Scarlett was the dining table—her hips jammed against the edge, she was forced to prop herself with her hands.

"Ryan, you call me worthless? Ask yourself: during our three years together, how many women did you tangle with?"

Ryan: "I never touched them."

Scarlett: "But you touched Chloe Grant."

Ryan fell silent.

Ryan was a player, brash and wild, but too arrogant to lie. He never denied his affairs or cheating. But that didn’t mean he’d let go of Scarlett.

"I’ve always been like this. You knew that before we started, didn’t you?" Ryan’s tone was open, not an ounce of guilt. "Scarlett, I gave you the title of official girlfriend—hell, I can even make you Mrs. Ford. What more do you want?"

Scarlett didn’t reply.

She’d already stopped believing a word he said, tuned it all out as him talking nonsense.

Her hand, braced on the table, fumbled further away. Her fingers grazed cold metal. Without hesitation, Scarlett grabbed the paring knife and stabbed it into the back of Ryan’s hand.

Ryan grunted, brows furrowing, but he didn’t let go of her.

Blood streamed from the back of his hand, dripping onto Scarlett’s shoulder.

Ryan’s other hand reached for the knife, but Scarlett twisted the blade, pressing the tip against her own neck.

"I can’t fight you."

The tip bit into her slender neck, blood welling out.

Scarlett lowered her eyes, her voice barely above a whisper. "Ryan—if I drive this in, remember: it was you who forced me to death."