Scarlett OHaras heart pounded like a drum in her chest as she huddled on the cold bathroom floor of Tara Manor, the echoes of Rhett Butlers cruel laughter still ringing in her ears. The water from the bath had long turned cold, but she remained, shivering not from the chill but from the violation that had just occurred.
“You look like youve been dragged through hell," Rhett had mocked, his eyes raking over her with a scorn that cut deeper than any physical pain. Scarlett had no response, no fight left in her. She had been backed into a corner, metaphorically and literally, by the two men who held her fate in their hands.
The bathroom door creaked as it opened, and Scarletts breath hitched in her throat. Edward Cullens voice drifted through the steamy air, laced with concern. "Scarlett, are you in there? The familys waiting for you downstairs."
She wanted to scream, to cry out for help, but her voice was trapped in her throat, silenced by the fear of what Rhett might do if she dared to defy him. The doorknob rattled, but the lock held fast. Edwards footsteps paused outside the door, his voice gentle but insistent. "Scarlett, Fathers waiting for us to cut the cake. Hurry up, Ill see you downstairs."
As his footsteps faded away, Scarlett sagged against the bathroom wall, her legs giving out beneath her. She had escaped Edwards notice for now, but Rhetts presence was a constant reminder of the precarious balance she walked.
Rhetts hands were on her then, his touch a brand that seared her skin. "Are you afraid of being found out, Aunt?" he whispered, his breath hot against her neck. Scarletts heart raced, her body tensing at his proximity.
She turned her head, her lips finding his in a desperate attempt to silence him, to prevent him from giving them away. The kiss was a lie, a charade to hide the truth of their twisted relationship. When the sounds outside the door finally ceased, Scarlett pulled away, her lips trembling and her eyes filled with unshed tears.
Rhetts eyes gleamed with dark amusement, his fingers biting into her skin as he pulled her close. "Do you really think a little kiss will save you, Scarlett?" he asked, his voice a low growl that sent a shiver down her spine.
Scarletts voice was barely a whisper, her strength waning. "Please, Rhett, just leave me be."
But Rhett was relentless, his grip tightening as he pulled her closer. "I think its a bit late for that, dont you?" he replied, his lips curling into a cruel smile.
Time seemed to stand still as Rhett continued his torment, each moment a testament to Scarletts helplessness. She endured in silence, her tears merging with the bathwater until she was barely distinguishable from the liquid that surrounded her.
Finally, Rhett released her, stepping back with a satisfied smirk. "Whos the more formidable now, I wonder?" he asked, his voice dripping with malice.
Scarlett could only look at him with dead eyes, her spirit broken. "Your cruelty is meaningless," she whispered, her voice raw with emotion.
Rhett laughed, the sound echoing off the bathroom tiles. "Meaningless or not, its all I have left," he said, before turning and leaving her alone in the room.
Scarlett forced herself to move, to wash away the evidence of Rhetts cruelty and dress in a simple gown before rejoining the festivities. As she descended the stairs, she could feel the eyes of the guests on her, their gazes scrutinizing and judgmental.
She pasted a smile on her face, her heart aching as she took her place beside Edward, her husband. The charade continued, her happiness a lie for the world to see, while her heart bled with the truth of her torment. The night wore on, each moment a testament to her resilience, but inside, Scarlett was dying a little more with each passing second.