淑女的欲望

"Xander," Scarlett's tone was serious, "have you heard anything about the Withers family?"

Xander couldn't resist running his fingers through her soft red-ginger hair. "Hmm, I know. Why?" he asked.

"I've been investigating them, but the information I got seems too far-fetched, too clean. I'm sure you know more about them, right?"

Xander smiled, looking at her concerned expression. He said, "You already know Salvatore Withers has 3 children, right?" 

"Yeah, I know. First son, Jude Withers, second son... Noah Withers, and finally, Rosalie Withers. I suspect that woman is my mother." Scarlett said softly.

"That's correct," Xander said, confirming Scarlett. "Salvatore Withers, the patriarch of the family, has three children. The eldest, Jude Withers, is actively involved in the family business and is known to be quite savvy in his dealings. He handles most of the day-to-day operations for the family."

Scarlett intently listened as Xander continued, "Noah Withers, the second child, is quite different from his brother. He's known for his charisma and charm and has a knack for attracting people. He's involved in politics and has made a name for himself. And he has an interesting relationship with his father..."

Scarlett looked at Xander in confusion. She asked, "An interesting relationship? What do you mean by that?"

"Noah, although he took the Withers name behind his name, he is known to keep a distance from the Withers family's business. He even cut ties with the family a few years ago. Some people say the reason has something to do with Rosalie Withers..."

"Do you know what the exact reason is?"

Xander hesitated before speaking. "I'm not entirely sure, but insiders have been spreading rumors that Noah ended things after Rosalie's death. He got into a heated argument with his grandfather and father and left the family. If I analyze what happened in the past, it looks like Noah Withers fought for your mother on behalf."

Scarlett was amazed by Noah Withers. She made a note and will make sure to meet this man later.

"They thought Rosalie was dead, but in reality, she's still alive in Astington, and it seems like they have no idea," Scarlett said, shaking her head with a tinge of sorrow for Rosalie's family.

Xander continued, "What's even more intriguing is that it wasn't Salvatore who led the Withers at the time of Rosalie's supposed death. It was actually Old Withers and that old man who caused Rosalie's death... Salvatore fought with his father." 

Scarlett's hands clenched into a fist. She didn't show any particular reaction upon hearing about Old Withers. She remained silent and listened intently to Xander's explanation.

"Several years after Rosalie's death, missing... Old Withers died just as Salvatore took control, some twenty years ago..."

Scarlett takes to digest everything she just heard from Xander. However, something was troubling her mind, the cause of her mother's death.

"You mentioned earlier that Old Withers may have been responsible for Rosalie's death, correct?" Scarlett asked, hoping for clarification.

Xander nodded. "Yes, that's what I heard, but I don't know the details. 

"If only we had known..." She muttered. 

"Babe, from what I learn, Old Withers was a formidable figure in the underworld, someone who even this country's military wouldn't dare to cross." Xander continued, "Salvatore, on the other hand, doesn't quite hold that same level of power as his father. That's why Old Withers, have an eye on Rosalie..." 

Scarlett frowned. 

Xander paused, tilting his body towards Scarlett and pulling her into his arms. "Rosalie Withers, she's the only daughter and doesn't play an active role in the family business. In fact..." He hesitated, unsure if he should continue.

Scarlett looked up at him, her eyes imploring him to tell her more. She had a feeling that there was something he wasn't telling her about Rosalie.

Taking a deep breath, Xander finally spoke. "This is classified information that I received from a friend who serves in the special forces in this country. Rosalie is involved in the underground world. According to records, she has the talent and ability to take over the leadership of the Withers' underworld business."

Scarlett was stunned. Is her mother involved in the mafia world? It was difficult for her to comprehend. 

But later...

Instantly Scarlett could feel her heart almost stop. Imagining her living a similar life to her mother.

"You mean she was groomed to replace Old Withers?" Scarlett's voice sounded shaky, still shocked by the fact about Rosalie Withers.

Xander's words hit Scarlett like a ton of bricks. 

"Yes! But, unfortunately, she died..." he said. 

Scarlett's mind was in a whirl. She didn't know what to say, still trying to digest the information she had just heard. It seemed increasingly likely that Rosalie Withers was her mother.

But then a question nagged at her. "If my mother was being groomed to be the Underground Queen for the Withers, why did she run away?" Scarlett asked, her voice trembling. "Why would she leave everything behind?"

"I wish I had the answer," Xander said, his voice filled with sympathy for his wife.

Scarlett was still lost in thought. She felt her mother had run away from the family because she was pregnant and nothing else — Perhaps Rosalie had wanted to save her baby from her grandfather's cruelty.

"Baby, are you okay?" Xander asked, tilting his head to look at Scarlett's face when she said nothing for a while.

Scarlett forced a smile, trying to reassure him. "Yeah….I'm fine," she said calmly, even though her heart and mind were in turmoil as she tried to make sense of her mother's actions — run from the Withers family.

Xander chuckled and gently rubbed Scarlett's delicate nose. "Babe, you don't have any plans today, do you?"

Scarlett put aside her thoughts about her mother and tried to focus on her husband's question. "I thought today's plan was that we were going to meet with your best friend?" she asked.

Then, Scarlett got up from the bed and tied her hair back. She washed her face in the bathroom.

When Scarlett looked at herself in the mirror, she could see her pale face. Surprisingly, she noticed parts of her body were covered in love bites from Xander. 'Gosh!' she thought to herself while checking her body.