Chapter 5

• The first light of dawn filtered through the window, coaxing Scarlet's cerulean eyes to flutter open. She released a heavy sigh, her breath fogging up in the chill morning air as she squinted at the antique wall clock across from her bed. It was seven o'clock - an early start to another bustling day.
• Her fingers rubbed at the sleep in her eyes before she pushed back the plush duvet and rose from her bed with a languid stretch. The promise of a warm bath beckoned, a soothing remedy for her still-drowsy mind.
• After luxuriating under the steamy cascade of water, she slipped into her crisp work attire and stepped out of her private suite. Her room was nestled next to that of her older brother, their doors standing like silent sentinels across from each other in the long hallway.
• She stopped outside his door, her curiosity piquing—was he home? She rapped lightly on the polished wood surface.
• "Come in!" came his muffled reply.
• A soft smile graced Scarlet's lips as she nudged the door open and stepped inside. Her brother sat ensconced behind his desk, his gaze locked onto the computer screen before him.
• "Do you have work today too?" she asked, tilting her head curiously.
• He nodded serenely without breaking eye contact with his screen. "Yes indeed, little sis," Michael replied smoothly as he rose from his chair and moved towards her with an air of purposeful grace. "I was just about to leave when you dropped by."
• Scarlet hummed thoughtfully before venturing further. "Can I ask something?"
• Michael gently ruffled her blonde curls with a fond smile playing on his lips. "Absolutely, darling."
• "Could we go to the hospital together today? I miss our time together."
• His smile widened at this request. "Of course we can, sis. In fact, I was planning to pick you up from work today for lunch."
• Her face lit up at his words, a rare show of childlike joy that only her brother could elicit. He took her hand and guided her towards the door, their conversation flowing easily as they made their way towards the living room. The sound of their mother's voice reached them, her foreign accent curling around the words as she called them to breakfast.
• After sharing a hearty meal with their mother, they left the sprawling mansion together. Michael slid into his sleek car while Scarlet climbed in next to him.
• "I haven't seen Lincoln around recently," she began hesitantly. "Are you two still hanging out?"
• Michael let out a sigh that seemed laden with unspoken thoughts. "Yes, we were together yesterday actually," he replied softly. "But between my demanding job and your busy schedule, our paths don't cross very often."
• Scarlet pouted slightly at this admission. "You're hardly ever home these days."
• He nodded solemnly in agreement. "I know... and I miss you too."
• A heavy sigh escaped Michael's lips as he gave her a resigned nod. "I suppose I'll have to make more frequent trips back home, just to catch sight of my two lovely ladies."
• "Keep your distance, girl," he warned with a playful sternness in his voice. "I'm the one driving here. If we crash because you're distracting me, it'll be all over the news tomorrow." His eyes flickered with amusement as he added, "Imagine the headlines: 'Foreign blonde seen kissing a half-African boy before a fatal accident.'"
• Scarlet's eyebrows furrowed in irritation at his words. "It's not my fault you inherited more African features and I took after our mother," she retorted, her tone defensive yet laced with envy. "Honestly, big bro, I wish I had your flawless walnut skin. And I still can't fathom why you changed your name."
• "Don't even go down that path," Michael replied curtly, an edge of bitterness creeping into his voice. "I loathe our father for burdening me with such a name."
• "'Harold the 3rd,' as was tradition in our family line," Scarlet chimed in teasingly, unable to suppress her laughter. "But is 'Michael' really an improvement?"
• "Absolutely! It's a name I chose for myself," Michael shot back defiantly.
• Minutes later, their vehicle rolled to a stop outside the hospital garage.
• "Don't forget about our meeting today," Michael reminded her as she prepared to step out of the car. "I'll be there on time to pick you up."
• "I won't keep you waiting, bro," she assured him before stepping onto the pavement and watching him drive away.
• Once inside the hospital, Scarlet slipped into her medical coat and hung her name tag around her neck with practiced ease. She began working immediately—examining one patient while treating another.
• As she worked, a vibration from her pocket interrupted her focus. She reached in and pulled out her phone.
• "Hello—"
• "Scarlet, why didn't you tell me you were going to work with your brother?" The voice on the other end was sharp with irritation.
• "What's wrong with having lunch with my brother? He's the person I'm closest to," Scarlet responded evenly, striving to keep her calm in the face of his anger.
• "How many times do I have to say that I'll drive you back and forth from home to work? Why don't you ever listen to me?" Lincoln's voice echoed through the phone, filled with frustration.
• "Could you drop me off at work? I need to see my brother. I've been missing him a lot lately," Scarlet's voice carried a touch of irritation, her words punctuated by an underlying tension.
• A suffocating silence hung in the air before his voice cut through, cold and sharp as ice. "Watch your tone, Scarlet. If you continue to address me with such disrespect, you might not appreciate my retort."
• His veiled threat hung heavily between them, effectively silencing her protestations. She bit back her words that threatened to spill over.
• "I have to leave now," she managed to say, striving to keep her voice steady despite the rising tempest within her. Her heart pounded against her rib cage like a wild animal caged against its will; anger was a bitter taste on her tongue that she swallowed down, especially while at work.
• "Do you need anything else?" She asked mechanically.
• "Yes," he replied curtly. "I'll be there for lunch."
• "No!" The word slipped out before she could stop it. She quickly recovered, "I mean...my brother is taking me out for lunch." Her refusal was calm but firm.
• "Then dinner it is," he stated matter-of-factly, his tone brooking no argument. "I'll text you the restaurant's name and location so we can meet there at seven."
• "Alright then...see you later." With those final words, their conversation ended abruptly as the line went dead in her hand and Scarlet exhaled deeply.
• The mounting hostility between them was slowly poisoning both her relationship with Michael and the bond with her fiancé. Despite their best attempts to conceal it from her, she wasn't ignorant of the growing tension - she could feel its icy tendrils coiling around them all too clearly.