Free In A Wild Moment (Billionaire In Love 1) by Ava May Page A

Not today of all days. She finished up the remnants of the sweets and then made her way to her parents’.
    When she arrived, she clutched the small jar of cranberry sauce in her hand and walked up to the door, knocking. It felt strange to knock, as she'd spent most of her life living here. Only recently had she moved out to the apartment, but in many ways this was still home. Her mother opened the door, and it was clear from her eyes that she had been crying. Scarlett knew that her own tears would come later. They always came at night. Her mother, Janice, hugged her tightly, and it was a hug that lingered longer than usual, but Scarlett didn't mind. She handed the cranberry sauce to her mother, who took it through to the kitchen.
    The house was alive with the succulent smell of a roast dinner, and Scarlett breathed in deeply. While she'd always had an interest in cooking, she didn't indulge that hobby often since cooking for one often seemed like a waste. Besides, she was kept busy enough at work that she survived on a basic diet, so coming around her parents' was always a treat.
    While her mother went into the kitchen, Scarlett went into the lounge where her father was sitting in his armchair, watching the television with glassy eyes.
    “Hey, Dad,” she said, and Steve jumped in his chair, startled.
    “Oh, Scarlett, I didn't hear you come in. Sorry, I must have been a million miles away,” he said. She smiled at him, although it was a weak one. There was a permanent sadness in his eyes that gave him a wistful melancholy and she hated that it was always there. She still had the memory of him being a cheerful, joyous man, but now he was somber. Well, they all were.
    “And how are you? I bet you're feeling pleased with yourself. Have you been thinking of things to spend all your extra money on?”
    “I really don't know. The new job means I'll be working more hours, so I probably won't have as much time to do stuff as I used to. The money will probably just sit in my account. I might save up for a holiday, or a mortgage,” she said as she wandered over to the mantelpiece and idly played with some of her mother's porcelain ladies.
    “You should make sure that you do something with the money. You can't take it with you after all, and you don't want to be stuck in that office all of the time. You should save up and go traveling like you always wanted. Like she always wanted...”
    She knew that it was only a matter of time before her sister came into the conversation. It had been a few years since the accident but it was always awkward whenever Lisa came up. She had been such a big part of their lives that they'd never been able to fill the hole she had left. Scarlett had tried to live her life as best she could, and wanted to live enough for the both of them. As such, she worked hard, with a fierce determination. She rose through the ranks of her company and had been rewarded with a promotion, but it meant that she missed out on some other aspects of life. Lisa had always talked about traveling and seeing the world, and her father wanted to make sure that Scarlett didn't miss out on anything, not like Lisa had to.
    “You know, we should be able to talk about her without it becoming awkward,” Scarlett said.
    “I know, it's just... I miss her every day. It was horrible the way she was taken from us.”
    “I don't think she'd want us to be sad forever though. Sadness wasn't really a part of her life.”
    “No, she was always smiling, always laughing. She never failed to cheer me up. She had a light inside of her that only a few people have.”
    “I know,” Scarlett said, walking over and squeezing her father's hand.
    “That's why I want to make sure that you're happy. I know your career is important to you, and I'm proud that you've gotten as far as you have, but it shouldn't be everything in life. There's more to it than that and you should embrace it.”
    “I will, Dad. I know one day I'll go on a trip. If I