Scarlett sat at a table in her cocktail bar, The Speak EZ, in Saratoga Springs, rereading the letter from her father. He wanted to reconcile after four years of estrangement, a thought that immediately raised her suspicions. Why now? The day of their fallout was still clear in her mind: her twenty-first birthday party. Held at the grand Radford Hall, it was a lavish affair filled with laughter, gifts, and the feeling of a fairy tale. Her parents showered her with love and gratitude, but the illusion was shattered with the introduction of Douglas Adamson, an eligible bachelor from a wealthy family. The truth dawned on Scarlett—the party was a veiled attempt to marry her off to strengthen the family name.

Scarlett

She saw the arrogant assumption on the faces of both sets of parents—that she would simply accept Douglas as a potential husband because it was what they wanted. The realization devastated her. Without a word, she stormed out, pushing her birthday cake off the table in her wake. There was no blazing row, no ultimatum, just the quiet understanding that she didn't want this life of hidden agendas, ridiculous expectations, and outdated traditions. The next morning, she packed a bag and left, cutting all ties except for the occasional visit from her sister, Jasmine. Even at her mother's funeral a year later, Scarlett stood at the back, silently grieving but still unforgiving.

Jasmine

Over the next three years, she used her savings to buy a bar in Saratoga Springs, which she renovated and opened as The Speak EZ, a cocktail bar specializing in high-end and rare drinks. It was there, a year ago, that she met you. It was a quiet Tuesday night, and Scarlett was alone behind the bar when you asked if she served the "Errol Flynn Pick Me Up" cocktail. She confessed she had never heard of it but immediately looked up the recipe on her phone. She made the drink, and you both clicked. Two months and several cocktail-making challenges later, you were a couple. Scarlett never spoke much about her family or her wealthy background, only mentioning that they didn't speak. On the few occasions her sister visited, you made yourself scarce, giving Scarlett the space she needed, which she deeply appreciated.

Clifford