The day they went home was very chaotic to say the least. Scarlette was bombarded with work as soon as she stepped into her home. Yet, despite her condition, she plowed slowly through her work as Marshall sat quietly at the end of her bed. He would occasionally stroked her foot in affection, which made her look up and giggle.

Despite all the worked given to her, she's been the happiest she's ever been with Marshall refusing to leave her side after the debaucle at the diner.They were both so happy, and crazily in love, until her parents knocked on her door one day.

>>>>>

Scarlette and Marshall were playing and having a tickle fight when there was a sharp knock on the door.

"Scarlette?" It was her mother. "Could you come to the kitchen please?"

Scarlette's head snapped up and looked up at Marshall, who mirrored her look of confusion and fear... Though, mostly fear.

The pair scurried down to the kitchen, and what they saw made Marshall's insides do a backflip.

"Hello, I'm Maverick Davenport."

Marshall grinded down his teeth.

'Maverick Davenport? That's... He's my older brother!' He thought to himself, clenching and unclenching his fists.

"Scarlette," her mother began. "Your father and I... Decided that it would be best to meet the man you are supposed to marry."

Her eyes went wide as she frantically looked at her mother, Maverick, and Marshall.

"M-mom... I'm fourteen." She began.

"Yes, yes, and we took the liberty of picking a fiancé for you because, well... You have a taste in men, dear." Her mother cut in.

"Well how do you know?! I don't even look at boys that way!" She shrieked.

"We all see those horrid band posters and shirts you have, sweetie. Completely horrid." Her mother said, waving her hand, dismissing what she said.

"B-but... Isn't he like..." She looks at Marshall. "Twenty or something?" He nods slightly.

"Well... Yes, yes, but he, Maverick, is a new player in the business world. And well..." She leaned in closer so that only Scarlette can hear.

"He's a good investment, don't ruin this for us, Scarlette!" She then leaned back and flashed a phony smile.

"So... I want you both to spend as much time together as possible, okay?" She squealed in delight, clasping her hands together. "You guys would look so cute together!"

Scarlette bent her head down. "No."

Everyone in the room froze.

"E-excuse me?" Her mother choked. "Say that again, dearie? At this point, her mother was glaring daggers at her, daring her to say no again.

She lowered her head even more. "Nothing mom." Tears, pooling in her hazel eyes.

Marshall's heart broke just then. She fought. Scarlette fought for what she wanted... But she still lost.

"So, excuse me, I will just... Speak to my daughter for a moment, yes?" Her mother said, excusing herself, with her speechless daughter in tow."

As soon as they left the room, Marshall slammed his hands on the counter.

"You asshole." He snarled. "You left me homeless! Now you're going to marry a teenage girl? You make me sick."

Maverick smirked. "I didn't leave you homeless, I leave checks for mom in the mail. You left. Now you're a bodyguard for some spoiled brat?" He laughed. "I didn't think you were that desperate."

Marshall growled darkly. "She's not a brat, she's a slave here. And I may have been desperate, but I'm here." There was a dangerous glint in Marshall's eyes, daring Maverick to speak ill of the girl he loved.

"W-wait." He scoffed. "You like her don't you?" He started laughing. "She's a child."

"Says the one who's getting married to her."

"Ah, but I'm marrying her when she turns eighteen. You legitimately like her." He pointed out.

"I don't like her. I love her." He growled out. "I love her with all my heart and soul... I'd die for her."

Maverick laughed even louder. "Right, sure you do."

"I do. I've loved her for a long time now." He stared straight into his brother's eyes, showing that he's completely serious about Scarlette.

Maverick snickered. "Wait, you're serious? Completely and utterly serious?"" He laughed, empty of humor. "You love that girl? Aside from money, I don't see what she's got going for her."

Marshall snapped and grabbed Maverick by his shirt collar.

"You are . She's beautiful, she's funny, she's smart, she's sweet... She's the most amazing woman in the world. I definitely don't want her to marry you, because you're a jackass. And I love her. I want to marry her. But that's besides the point! If you hurt her..." He leaned into his ear. "I'll have your head on the end of a stick."

He pushed Maverick away and sat by the counter.

"Y'know... Wether she loves me or not, she's going to marry me." Maverick says, malice lacing his voice. "And there's nothing you can do about it... You're just her bodyguard."

Marshall said nothing, in fear of upsetting Scarlette's parents, but clenched his teeth.

'Not in a million years, fucker.'

Thud.

Scarlette's body hit the floor and her mother started screaming at her.

"What the hell, Scarlette? What you said was very rude and disrespectful down there!"

"B-but... I don't love him... I don't see why I have to marry him."

"You will marry him because I said so. That's the only criteria there is. Understand?" Her mother squawked, shaking her by the shoulders. Scarlette nodded in defeat.

Her mother smiled. "Great. Why don't you go out with him later? That'd be fun." She suggested.

Scarlette limply nodded. "Okay."

Her mother smiled again and hugged her tight. "I knew you'd see it my way." Her mother then walked out the room.

Scarlette curled up into a ball and sobbed. She knew she couldn't get out of this. She was going to marry a man she didn't love. It didn't take much tp put two and two together and realize he was going to treat her like some housewife trophy who he married because of her family's name and prestige. She sobbed even harder. This is what her life is going to come to?

'No.' She thought to herself. 'I'm not letting it come to this.'

She scurried to her bathroom and found her old scissors. She stared hungrily at her scissors and started sharpening the point onto the knife sharpener she stole from the kitchen. With shaking hands, she pointed the scissors at her chest, where her heart should be. Just as she was about to plunge the scissors into her chest, her door slammed open.

"Scarlette? Sweetheart?" It was Marshall.

"M-marshall?" She turned to face him. As soon as he saw the scissors, he rushed to take them away from her.

"Scarlette, babygirl, why would you try to do that?" He asked as he threw the scissors away from her, and hugging her close to him. "That's not the answer."

"I-I know." She squeaked before breaking down to tears.

"I-I just.. I don't want to marry him. I'm scared, Marshall. I don't want to be taken away from you." She hiccuped.

"Hush now, baby. I understand. W-we'll think of something. I promise. They won't take you from me." He whispered as he rubbed circles on her back. "I love you." He kissed the top of her head.

"I love you too." She whispered, cuddling close to him.

Marshall had to think of something. Quickly. There was noway he would let his siddenly, yet questionably rich douchebag brother take her away from her and make her miserable."