Sweet Bitter Reunion

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I'm Freya Leonard, standing in front of the mirror right now, carefully picking out my outfit.

Looking at myself in the mirror, a mix of emotions churned inside me.

I never imagined I'd agree to pretend to be Sylvia Scott's brother's temporary girlfriend just for fifty thousand.

It sounds like a ridiculous farce, but to me, that fifty thousand is a lifeline I desperately need right now.

"Freya, just do me this huge favor. My brother really needs a girlfriend to handle the family's push for marriage. Your acting is so good, it'll be a breeze!" Sylvia's urgent voice still echoes in my mind.

I let out a helpless sigh. Yeah, I desperately need this money right now. Life's pressure has left me with no room to care about much else.

At last, I settled on a simple yet elegant dress, took a deep breath, and stepped out the door.

When I followed Sylvia to the Scott Family estate, the sight before me made me gasp.

The estate looked like a magnificent castle, surrounded by lush green trees and clusters of flowers, with a winding cobblestone path leading up to the grand, impressive gate.

My palms were sweating nervously, and my heart involuntarily sped up.

"Freya, don't be so nervous. Just think of it as a regular party." Sylvia seemed to see right through my nerves and tried to comfort me.

I forced a faint smile and nodded.

As the gate slowly opened, we stepped inside the estate.

The living room's luxurious decor was almost dazzlingcrystal chandeliers cast a soft glow, and the expensive carpets felt plush and inviting.

My eyes drifted around the room, then suddenly froze on a familiar figure.

My heart clenched like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand.

The man sitting in the main seat was none other than Kenneth Scott!

My ex-boyfriend who I had casually dumped two years ago.

He was still so handsome, his vibe cool and noble as ever, but there was an unfamiliar look in his eyes.

In that moment, time seemed to freeze.

I stood there, mind blank, not knowing where to put my hands or feet.

I never expected fate to toy with me like this. The past I'd been desperate to avoid suddenly appeared out of nowhere, right in front of me.

Kenneth Scott saw me too. Surprise flickered in his eyes for a moment before it was quickly replaced by cold mockery.

He raised an eyebrow slightly, a mocking smile curling at the corner of his mouth. That smile was like a sharp knife, piercing straight through my heart.

"Oh? Isn't that Freya Leonard? Long time no see." Kenneth's voice was cold and emotionless, but it sent a shiver down my spine.

I opened my mouth, wanting to say something, but my throat felt locked upI couldn't get a single sound out.

Sylvia looked at us with a puzzled expression. "Kenneth, do you know each other?"

Kenneth's eyes never left me as he said calmly, "Of course, we go way back."

I cursed quietly to myselfthis was going to be a major problem.

Dinner time came quickly. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, and followed Kenneth into the restaurant.

The restaurant was softly lit, and the table was loaded with a feast of dishes that smelled absolutely irresistible.

But right now, I had zero appetite for the food; my heart was thumping like a little rabbit, all nervous and restless.

Everyone from the Scott Family had already taken their seats. I sat next to Kenneth, plastering on a polite smile, doing my best to play the role of his girlfriend.

I kept offering Kenneth food and chatted with him, laughing, trying to pull off the image of a doting couple.

But inside, I was a bundle of nerves, feeling like this whole thing was just a ticking time bomb waiting to blow.

Then, Kenneth's second aunt suddenly piped up, "Freya, I heard you used to work at a media company and were pretty well-known there."

My heart skipped a beata bad feeling rising upbut I forced myself to stay calm and answered, "You're flattering me, it's just a regular job."

Kenneth's second aunt wouldn't let it go, a sly smile tugging at her lips as she said, "I've even heard you're a troublemaker at work, always butting heads with the bosses, and ended up blacklisted in the whole industry. Is that true?"

Hearing that, my face instantly turned bright red, like everyone's eyes were piercing right through me.

I sat there awkwardly, not knowing where to put my hands or feet, feeling both embarrassed and annoyed.

I instinctively looked at Kenneth, only to see his face darken instantly, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes.

He put down his chopsticks and said coldly, "That's all in the past. Please don't bring it up again."

Kenneth's second aunt wasn't convinced and was about to say more, but Kenneth cut her off sharply: "Freya is my girlfriend. Please don't ask about her anymore."

Kenneth's words made my heart skip a beat. I stared at him in surpriseI never expected him to stand up for me at a moment like this.

His voice was calm and strong, instantly steadying my flustered heart.

I looked at his profile and felt a warm rush insidebeing protected like this left me both moved and a little overwhelmed.

Kenneth Scott finished speaking, then turned to me with softened eyes. He gently took my hand and said, "Baby, don't mind them, just eat more."

His hand was big and warm, enclosing mine firmly, making me feel his strength and care.

I nodded slightly, emotions swirling inside me. This was the man I'd hurt deeply before, yet now he was protecting me without a second thought.

After dinner, Kenneth stood up and said to me coldly, "Come with me."

His tone brooked no argument, and my heart sankI knew what was coming was inevitable.

I nervously followed him, heading toward his room.

My heart kept pounding faster and faster, like it was about to burst out of my throat.

The moment we stepped into the room, Kenneth spun around sharply and grabbed my shoulders tightly, his grip strong enough to hurt.

His eyes burned with anger as he stared straight at me, demanding, "Freya, what exactly do you want? You left so abruptly back then, and now you suddenly show up in front of me again. What do you take me for?"

I was so intimidated by his presence that I started trembling. I opened my mouth to explain, but my throat went dry and not a single word came out.

Kenneth Scott got even angrier when I stayed quiet. Suddenly, he yanked me into his arms and kissed me fiercely.

His kiss was like a punishmentdominant and intensealmost stealing my breath away.

I stared at him in horror, struggling desperately, trying to push him away. But his arms gripped me like iron bands, holding me tight so I couldn't move.

"Um... Kenneth, let go of me..." I finally caught a breath and muttered.

But Kenneth ignored me, his kiss deepening like he wanted to melt me into his skin.

I felt both embarrassed and angry, tears slipping down before I even noticed.

After a long time, Kenneth finally let me go.

He looked at me with eyes full of anger, pain, and a touch of affection I couldn't quite understand.

He gasped and said, "Freya, this is what you owe me."

I leaned against the wall, gasping for breath, my cheeks flushed and my eyes darting nervously.

I looked at Kenneth, wanting to explain why we broke up back then, but the words felt stuck in my throat and just wouldn't come out.

Kenneth stared at me, the anger in his eyes slowly fading, replaced by deep pain and longing.

He slowly stepped closer, his voice trembling as he said, "Freya, do you have any idea how I've lived these past two years? After you left, I thought about you every single day, countless times wanting to find you, but I just couldn't let go of my pride. I work hard, trying to numb myself with busyness, but whenever the night falls silent, your face keeps popping up in my mind."

His voice got lower and lower, almost breaking as he said, "Tell me, why are you doing this to me? Do you think I'm such an easy target that you can come and go whenever you want?"

Hearing Kenneth Scott's words, my heart felt like it was being twisted by a knife.

I looked at his pained expression, overwhelmed with guilt and self-blame.

I know, over these past two years, he must have gone through a lot of pain, and it's all because of me.

I opened my mouth, ready to tell him the truth about why we broke up back then, but the words caught in my throat, and I swallowed them back.

I was scaredscared that if he found out the truth, he'd only hurt more, and scared that the little good memory we had left would be completely destroyed.

After Kenneth Scott let go of me, he stepped back, crossed his arms over his chest, and stared at me coldly, like he was examining some object.

He paused for a moment, then suddenly said, "Freya, since you love acting so much, let's make a deal. You keep pretending to be my girlfriend until I get tired of it."

I widened my eyes, staring at him in disbelief, feeling a mix of anger and annoyance.

I was about to refuse, but Kenneth seemed to guess what I was thinking and interrupted, "You better think this through. This might actually be a good opportunity for you."

He narrowed his eyes slightly, a calculating gleam flashing in them, "I know you're short on money right now. If you agree, the pay will definitely be good."

The moment I heard the word "money," my heart skipped a beat.

Yeah, money is exactly what I'm short on right now. I'd even agreed to play this role for Sylvia Scott just for those fifty thousand bucks, so Kenneth Scott's offer has got to be even more tempting.

I bit my lip, my pride battling hard against my desperate need for cash.

I looked down, not daring to meet Kenneth's eyes. After hesitating for a long time, I finally forced the words out, "How much can you pay me?"

The moment the words left my mouth, I wished I could bite my tongue off. I felt like someone selling their soul for money.

Kenneth Scott's lips curled into a mocking smile, like he'd totally expected my reaction.

He said slowly, "One million a year. How does that sound? As long as you play along, not a single cent will be left unpaid."

"I... I need to think it over." I stammered, trying to buy myself some time to figure this out.

Kenneth Scott cut me off, clearly annoyed: "There's nothing to think about. You have only two options say yes, or say no. But trust me, you'd better say yes, or else..." He trailed off, but the threat in his voice made my skin crawl.

I bit my lip, overwhelmed with helplessness and frustration.

I knew I had no way out, and under Kenneth Scott's pressure, I was forced to agree to his deal.

"Fine, I agree." I said softly, bitterness seeping through my voice.

Kenneth Scott nodded, a satisfied, triumphant smile playing on his lips.

"That's the way. A smart person knows when to bend." He said, "But since this is a deal between us, there are some things we need to clear up first."

He paused, then went on, "From now on, you have to act as my girlfriend flawlessly, without a single slip. Whether it's in front of my family or out in public, you have to act like you're totally head over heels for me. Also, you're not allowed to interfere with my private life, and I won't interfere with yours, as long as you don't cause me any trouble."

Listening to Kenneth Scott's words, my frustration kept growing stronger.

I looked up at him, took a deep breath, and said, "Since this is a deal, I've got my own terms too. Besides what you mentioned, you're not allowed to touch me without permission or force me into anything I don't want to do. And the payment has to be on time not a cent less."

I blurted out my demands in one breath, feeling both nervous and hopeful, not sure if Kenneth Scott would agree.

Kenneth looked at me, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, like he hadn't expected me to ask for all that.

He was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, I'm in. Just behave, and I won't make things difficult for you."

With that, he pulled a check out of his pocket, casually scribbled a number on it, and tossed it my way. "Here's a year's depositone million. Keep it safe."

Without thinking, I caught the check and stared at the long string of zeros, my emotions twisting into a mess.

That one million felt like a heavy shackle, tightly binding me to Kenneth Scott.

Before I could think it through, Kenneth suddenly stepped forward and pulled me into his arms again.

I widened my eyes in panic, struggling to push him away. "What are you doing? You promised you wouldn't touch me!" I shouted angrily.

Kenneth ignored me completely, holding me close as he whispered softly in my ear, "Baby, don't forget, we're a couple now. A little intimacy in the room is pretty normal. This is just the startyou'll have to get used to it."

After saying that, he kissed me like he owned me. This time, his kiss wasn't angry or punishing like beforeit was loaded with a deep possessiveness.

I fought desperately in his arms, but he was way too strong; I couldn't break free no matter how hard I tried.

Tears blurred my vision again, my heart heavy with humiliation and helplessness, completely at his mercy.

Early the next morning, I showed up at the company with a jittery stomach.

As Kenneth Scott had arranged, I was moved to the Marketing Department. But when I walked into the Marketing office, there wasn't even a desk waiting for me.

I was confused when a colleague walked over, pointed toward the CEO's office, and said, "Mr. Scott said your workstation is inside his office."

My eyes instantly went wide, filled with surprise and helplessness.

What exactly is Kenneth Scott trying to do? Putting my workstation inside his officeit's clear he wants me under his watchful eye all the time, isn't it?

I let out a helpless sigh and headed toward the CEO's office.

I pushed the door open and saw Kenneth sitting at his desk, intently going through a document.

He glanced up at me and said coolly, "You're here? Your desk is over there. Get settled and start working."

Then he nodded toward a desk in the corner, piled high with documents.

I walked over and stared at that "mountain of papers", feeling a rush of frustration swell inside me.

How much work is this supposed to be?

I couldn't help but blurt out, "Kenneth, are you seriously trying to make things impossible? How am I supposed to finish all this?"

Kenneth looked up, a faint smile tugging at his lips, and said, "What, can't handle it? I thought you were supposed to be capable. If you don't finish it, don't blame me for docking your pay."

Hearing him say that, a fire of stubbornness and determination suddenly sparked inside me.

I gritted my teeth and said, "Don't underestimate meI will definitely get this done!"

Kenneth Scott looked at me, a faint, almost hidden flicker of admiration in his eyes. He nodded and said, "Alright, I'll be watching closely."

From that moment on, I threw myself into my work.

Most of these documents were marketing department proposals that I had to review one by one and suggest changes for.

"What is this even supposed to be? These proposals have zero originalityit's just a total waste of time!" I grumbled, flipping through the papers in my hands.

Just then, Kenneth Scott walked over, grabbed the proposal I'd been looking at, flipped through it casually, and said, "What's wrong? Don't like it? Then tell me, what's the problem?"

I rolled my eyes at him and said, "Can't you see for yourself? Here, and herethe target audience is completely off, and the marketing plan isn't focused at all. If you try to run with a proposal like this, it won't work."

Kenneth raised an eyebrow and said, "Looks like you've got some solid insight. Since you're so sure of yourself, then go ahead and redo the proposal your way."

I blinked in disbelief, staring at him and said, "What? You want me to redo it? Do you have any idea how much time that'll take? I still have so much work left!"

Kenneth Scott just shrugged it off and said, "You make time for yourself. I believe you can do it. If you can't even handle this much, then the pay I gave you would've been a waste."

I was furious inside but couldn't argue with him.

I knew Kenneth was purposely making things hard for me, but I wasn't about to let him win just like that.

I took a deep breath and said, "Alright, fineI'll do it. But you've got to give me all the necessary info and data."

Kenneth Scott nodded and said, "No problem. I'll make sure the Marketing Department supports you. Remember, I want a flawless proposal. If you mess it up, you know what's at stake."

After that, he turned and went back to his desk.

I watched his retreating figure and silently promised myself I'd deliver a proposal that'd make him see me differently.

So, I threw myself back into workno more complaints this time, just pure determination.

I knew I wasn't doing this just for the paycheck; I wanted to prove I was capable.

I was focused on the mountain of documents in Kenneth Scott's office when suddenly, the door slammed open.

I looked up and saw a familiar figure walk init was Henry Wyatt, the same director who once forced me to quit my job and smeared my name all over the industry, getting me blacklisted.

The moment I saw him, my body froze instantly, a rush of anger and humiliation flooding through me.

The memories of being crushed and humiliated by him flashed in my mind over and over again, and my hands clenched tight, my nails digging deep into my palms.

Henry Wyatt looked at me, stunned for a moment, then a mocking smile slowly spread across his face.

"Oh, isn't this Freya? What, playing Mr. Scott's secretary now?" His voice was sharp and grating, full of disdain and mockery.

I took a deep breath, trying hard to steady myself.

I told myself I couldn't show any weakness in front of himI wasn't that bullied little employee anymore.

I lifted my head, stared him straight in the eyes, and said coldly, "Henry Wyatt, didn't expect to run into you here. Small world, huh?"

Henry seemed caught off guard by my blunt comeback; he hesitated briefly but quickly snapped back into that arrogant smirk.

"Hmph, you really think being with Mr. Scott will change your fate? Dream on. People like you are the same everywherealways losers." He spoke as he took a few steps forward, his face twisting into an even crueler smirk.