Scarlett was content. For the first time in her life she could honestly say that she wouldn't change things if she could. Sure, she had regrets, but she had no time to look back upon them. Something over the past few months had changed her mindset from victim to survivor. She'd managed to save her family home from the brink of ruins. She'd survived the worst pain a mother could know, the loss of a child. She'd lost every man she ever knew or loved, but somehow she was coming to terms with that. For once, Scarlett could look back and say that she was truly blessed.
Money was no object, thanks to Rhett's generous divorce settlement. She kept the Atlanta house, even though she hadn't been by to visit it since that awful night that Rhett left. Scarlett was a shrewd business woman- she knew that she could easily sell it for quite a profit should she so desire. But something held her back every time she met with a buyer. For now, it was hers, and that would have to be good enough.
Her relationship with her family was still strained, but she didn't mind that. Her sisters were busybodies or worse, dull, with whom she never had much use for anyways. A fixture on the social scene, Scarlett no longer cared about the rumormongers or whisperers talking behind her back. They were no longer her concern. As far as Scarlett could tell she was a free woman, free to travel or to talk to whomever she pleased or to do business as she liked. Life was good, and it was too short to be miserable. She knew that better than anyone.
Of course, it would be nice if Rhett were to come back. Oh, how things would be different this time! Ashley was of no use to her, as she now pitied him, and she could never love anyone she pitied. No, she would never be a traditional wife, but who cared about traditions? Life was short, and it was better to live and experience life than to sit at home and mourn over something she couldn't change. Or at least that's what she told herself.
No one was more shocked than her to receive an invitation to a masked ball. Her curiosity got the better of her, and she decided to attend and, just for the evening, be someone other than herself. It was quite exciting, come to think of it.
She went as a queen, of course, with a white wig and a skintight corset hiding her still slim figure. Her gown was garnished with gems, but nothing too flashy, for if she wore what she really wanted to wear then everyone would have her pegged from the start. Her mask covered her delicate features nicely, and she looked every bit as royalty, just as she had planned.
What she didn't have planned was the event that would occur later that night that would forever alter her life as she knew it. Fate was about to rear its course again, and she suspected something would happen. She was, after all, a shrewd woman first and foremost, but little did she know exactly what fate held in store for her on that magical evening.
tbc