"It''s nothing. I just wanted to give you apliment."
She finished her sentence, scratching her cheek in embarrassment, and only then did she notice that the car was heading in the direction of her ce.
Once they stopped, she got out and bent down to tap on the car window with a touch of seriousness.
"Alright, I''m heading in now. Thanks for giving me a ride back."
"Mm."
She turned around and walked into her apartmentplex, but couldn''t resist a quick nce back. Dn''s car was still parked there.
As she reached her floor, she bumped into her neighbor, Scarlette.
Scarlette was one of those captivating women with a powerful presence; she must have just arrived home too.
Though ra lived on the same floor, they weren''t particrly close.
Scarlette took the initiative, "When I came back, I noticed a suspicious car circling outside. It seemed like it was parked below your window."
ra immediately thought of Colton; it seemed like he couldn''t sit still any longer. "Thanks for letting me know."
Scarlette''s hair was styled inrge waves and was recently dyed a deep wine-red, which made her skin look even fairer.
Leaning against the doorframe, she assessed ra and asked, "Did you really put together that online audio clip?"
"Hmm?"
ra hadn''t yet caught wind of the Bradford family''s response, and a frown creased her brow.
Scarlette stepped closer, clearly intrigued by the gossip.
"Quinn''s audio clip caused quite a stir earlier today. This afternoon, the Bradford family said that you''ll soon step forward to admit it was something you fabricated."
ra''s lips curled slightly; aside from Ryan, she had blocked everyone else in the Bradford family.
Scarlette swung her car keys in front of her.
"The car outside is here for you. I''m in a good mood tonight. Any ideas? I can drive you—I''m a kickboxing champ."
Scarlette exuded aid-back and wild vibe, the kind that younger guys couldn''t resist in older women. Her presence was sopelling it drew people in.
ra had exchanged a few more words with Dn earlier, and the usually aloof man had even joked with her, leaving her in a good mood.
"Sure, let''s go."
It was odd; despite barely knowing each other, their energies surprisingly clicked.
The two of them headed downstairs, and ra checked out the car parked at a distance, then asked the person next to her, "Do you recognize Colton''s car? I bet it''s his."
Scarlette wore a light fragrance and yawned, "Yeah, it''s him and two thugs. But I''ve hired those thugs before-they''re mercenaries with no loyalty."
ra shot her a peculiar look. What did she need thugs for, and why was she talking about it so casually?
Scarlette chuckled, "When dealing with particrly troublesome clients, a little roughing up makes them more agreeable. Then I soothe them, and they''re so touched they sign the contract right away."
She said it with shameless pride as if it were a badge of honor.
ra instantly felt a real connection with her.
"So, Scarlette, you''re saying we could bribe those thugs to turn against Colton?"
"Technically, yes."
They immediately hit it off, and Scarlette made a quick phone call.
At that moment, Colton was in the car with the two thugs. He was nning to ambush ra tonight, kidnap her, and force her to admit to the fabricated audio.
As long as Quinn was happy, he''d do anything.
But ra hadn''t shown up, and Colton was getting impatient.
Just as he leaned back, a chloroform-soaked handkerchief was pressed over his face. He didn''t even know what hit him, let alone have time to struggle, before passing out.
The car door opened, and ra and Scarlette stood outside.
The two thugs saw Scarlette and respectfully greeted her, "Scarlette!"
She was a valued client, after all.
Scarlette waved them off and got into the car with ra.
She was curious to see how ra would handle things.
ra took Colton''s phone, unlocked it with his fingerprint, and quickly found his conversation with Quinn.