Chapter One: Masquerade Party

I'M currently dressed in my formal black V-neck evening gown, which suits well with my smooth but brown skin. I allowed my lightly-ironed hair to hang loosely around my shoulders to ensure that its natural color would show through and it would become straight.

While I was putting on my earrings, my cellphone rang. I glanced at it and when I saw that it was Lucas who was calling, I immediately picked it up and answered it.

"Hey baby!"

"Scarlet, where are you?" he said on the other line.

"Still at home. Why?"

"See you later."

"Huh? Why are you so weird? The party starts at seven, right?"

I never got an answer from Lucas. That's why I was annoyed that I just turned off his call. Then I received a chat from him.

"I will wait for you at the venue of the event. I have something important to say."

I stared at his message with a frown and quickly typed an answer.

"Okay. I'm on my way."

I picked up the mask that I would use at the party as well as my car key.

It's a masquerade party, so I actually bought what I thought was the best mask.

Tonight, Uncle Miguel is scheduled to announce that Lucas will be the new Chief Executive Officer of their company. That's why I really prepared for that night.

The reason why Lucas and I have been together since we were kids is because our parents are good friends. We also took the same course up to college. Together, we completed a Business Administration degree. We are currently the CEOs of the business that our parents built.

I arrived late at the venue because of the heavy traffic. I didn't even catch up with Uncle Miguel's speech. I went and looked for Lucas right away. It was dark outside, which made things harder for me.

Someone abruptly tugged my left arm after a while. I nearly gasped in amazement. Fortunately, even though I was wearing a mask, I was still able to smell Lucas's Clive Christian perfume, which made me feel instantly reassured. I quickly accompanied him because I was confident that it was him.

"I've been waiting for you." That baritone voice makes me feel more relieved.

"Sorry, I'm late, and I'm sure Uncle Miguel has finished his speech and I didn't even hear it."

"Nah, it's okay. Don't mind my dad. Just focus on me," he almost whispered.

"Tss, how about your message earlier? What's that important thing that you wanted to tell me?"

He immediately let out a deep breath before speaking again.

"Let's dance first before I tell you that."

"You're annoying, huh. Tell me now, so I don't overthink."

But instead of answering me, he just remained silent.

He put both of my hands on his shoulders, and then he gently held my waist. We started dancing to the melodious music sung by famous singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran that soared across the dance floor.

"Baby, kindly take off your mask. I want to see your beautiful face," he whispered at the back of my ears. I slowly removed it, and he did the same with his mask.

We looked at each other and were both in a state of shock. I believe that he is getting more attractive every day. Particularly if I look into his gray eyes, which seem to be speaking to me constantly.

"You're so beautiful, baby!" he said, that he was also the first to get back to his senses.

"Thank you. You're so-"

He didn't let me finish what I had to say because he immediately kissed me on the lips.

"Happy anniversary, baby," he whispered.

To be honest, I forgot that today is our third anniversary. "Oh my god! I'm sorry. I forgot baby." I said in a very sad tone.

"It's okay. I know that you've been so busy these past few days."

"Hmm...you're not sulking?" I scolded him.

"Of course not! I love you so much-"

"I love you too, baby." I also gave him a quick kiss on the lips, causing him not to finish the rest of what he was about to say.

"I miss you," I added as I firmly combed his hair with my fingers.

But I was a little surprised when he suddenly turned on me. He hugged me so tightly that I could barely breathe.

"Hey, what's going on with you? " I can't breathe!" I complained.

"Sorry. I just want to make the most of this opportunity to be with you, Scarlet." Suddenly his voice became sad.

"Huh?" I stared at him confused.

"Take care of yourself, huh." Suddenly his voice became serious.

"Don't skip your meals. You should always go to the café where we often eat our favorite food so that you can avail their discount. Don't forget to buy our favorite New York Cheese Cake for your snack," he added while forcing himself to give me a weak smile.

I blinked at what he said.

"What are you talking about, Lucas?" my voice was shaking at that moment.

He gave me again a weak smile and said, "And also reduce drinking coffee so you don't vomit and burp sour," which only added to the confusion in my head.

"Lucas, don't make fun of me like that!" My voice was full of menace, but he just ignored it.

"Farewell, to the most beautiful woman that I loved," he said while looking at me. "Till we meet again..." he added as he slowly loosened his arms that had been tightly hugging me earlier.

My tears fell on my cheeks as he bid goodbye to me."Lucas!" I shouted when I realized that he had slowly turned his back on me and started walking away from me.

He didn't look at me. So I shouted again, causing the people on the dance floor to remove their masks at the same time and everyone's attention focused on us.

I started to cry so hard that even my sight got blurry due to my tears. I also intended to run to where he was, but I couldn't do that because the police mobile car came one after the other and all the police officers got out. Even though my vision is blurry, I can still barely see the guns pointed at Lucas.

"Put your hands up in the air!" shouted the police officer.

"Mr. Lucas Peterson, you are under arrest!" said the other police officer.

Even though I was in tears, I still couldn't help but scream. "What the hell is going on?"

I wiped my unceasing tears. And then I tried again to run towards where they were. That was fast but it was too late.

Lucas was caught up and pushed against the car as they tried to handcuff him with his hands on his back.

"You have the right to remain silent," said the police officer who handcuffed him.

"Anything you say can be used against you in the court. You have the right to have a lawyer present during questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be provided to you if you wish. Do you understand?"

I was stunned from where I was. Until I saw that he had completely entered the car.

When the police started to start their car, I ran again and tried to chase the moving car. But I was immediately stopped by a policeman who was left and was just getting into the other police mobile car.

"Do you know that handsome guy, miss?" the police asked.

Instead of answering him a yes or no. I asked him another question.

"Why did you arrest him?"

My world collapsed with the police's answer.

"He killed his father."