"Are there neighbours around?" Alana wondered, looking out beyond the gates.

On the ride here Alaan couldn’t recall there being any more estates for a few minutes of the ride. Collins and Callahan had taken a private reunion to another level.

"We are never disturbed by neighbours since we don’t have any. All family friends are welcomed through the gates. This is an uninvited guest who knew we would be here. Excuse me for a moment," Scarlet told Alana, wanting to deal with the person before her family heard about it. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Alana didn’t like Scarlet going alone. The only person she could think of coming this far to see Scarlet was Jack. Would he be so crazy to travel here? "He is," she concluded.

Alana looked around for Ian. He should at least know where Scarlet was going.

Scarlet, on the other hand, wasn’t concerned about the visitor after speaking to the maid. She was both annoyed and angered by the visit as it was a long way for someone to come to her.

The walk to the gate took some time but Scarlet was determined to get there to send the fool away. The closer she got to him, Scarlet wanted to yell at him but she would not ruin her good mood over a fool.

"This is far beneath you to be doing such things. Nolan," Scarlet said, disappointed that he stood on the other side of the gates. "I had hoped that you would focus on your work and then somewhere down the line years later, we could work together again. I thought this even after you crossed the line at your office."

"I have come because I found out plenty about the man you have picked and then I heard news about the previous lord and his wife dying. I stayed quiet long enough when it came to Jack. I will not make the same mistake again. This time, I came with proof like you wanted," Nolan said, opening the papers he had folded.

Scarlet watched unamused as Nolan prepared his proof. Nolan had been missing for some time now because he was gathering proof of why she shouldn’t be with Ian. Where was the good lawyer who handled her divorce and other matters? This wasn’t the Nolan that she knew.

"I managed to find a trail of where he travelled. It wasn’t easy since he liked to cover his tracks," said Nolan.

"I wonder why he would do something like that? There couldn’t possibly be any reason for it. Can you think of one?" Scarlet sarcastically asked. She had covered her tracks for many things. Some would have the town guards at her doors and others that would not.

Knowing that Layla was out to kill Ian, it was smart for him to cover his tracks.

"I know this bothers you because it is not my place but you should hear what I have to say. I spoke with a man who revealed Ian killed his mother-"

"And took her home from her son. How unfortunate for you as this makes me enjoy my relationship more. Let me see. The son went to inherit her home after not seeing her for years only to find that she had replaced him and given the home to Ian. I have heard this story already," said Scarlet.

Why would Ian casually tell her this story out of all he could tell her just for it to be a lie? He told her of his plans to kill Layla and Hank. He did not hide that he had killed the man who once bothered her at a party.

Scarlet knew plenty of what Ian had done and he had not bothered to question what she had done. She could trust him as he gave her no reason to doubt him.

"But the son!" Nolan argued. "You only need to look at what was written."

"While I find the town guards to be useless sometimes, I know that if there was foul play with who she handed her home to Ian would not have it right now. I am still curious what kind of son she had for her to give a stranger her home. What was he like?" Scarlet asked, wanting her curiosity to be finally fed.

"I am not here to speak about him. I am here to speak about Ian. There is much for you to learn about him. I know that he has to be the one who killed Lord Kinglsey. Many know it but there isn’t any proof. I don’t want you to make the same mistake again. I cannot stand back again and luckily, I am not your lawyer this time," Nolan said, feeling free to do as he liked.

"I am just curious. What do you think will happen if I give in and no longer fancy Ian? Do you think that puts room in my heart for you? If you thought that you know now that it will never happen. I have known of your feelings for years and never felt something for you. Return to your worried father and get back to work," Scarlet advised Nolan.

"I don’t need you to love me. I just don’t think that man suited for you is someone that the town doesn’t know about," Nolan replied. How many of Ian’s secrets did she know?

"That’s the kind of man that I prefer these days. This is the last time that I am telling you to go home to your worried father. You have also annoyed my father and if he sees you here, it will not end well for you. I will never love you as a man. I only cared for you as a friend and you have ruined that so miserably," said Scarlet.

There was no coming back for Nolan.

"I have not finally gotten rid of Jack just for your antics to increase. Leave me alone. My next response will be to make you disappear for good. I at least respect your father to not want to hurt him with your death. Go on before someone spots you," Scarlet said, turning around to leave.

Again she could not understand the men in her life as their behaviour was odd. Who would be next for her to send away?

Nolan touched the gates, watching as Scarlet walked away from him once more. His long trip out of town to get proof was all for nothing since Scarlet had made up her mind about Ian.

Nolan let go of the gates. As someone who worked for her, he knew that with the point Scarlet was at now, there was nothing he could do. He could only return home and explain his absence to his angry father.

Maybe one day she would wake up and realise that he was only looking out for her best interests. Rather than chase Scarlet, Nolan now thought he had to wait for her to come to him.