Samuel's POV
Changing out of my scrubs, I walk out of the changing room. Glancing at my watch, my eyebrows slightly shoot up in surprise as this will be in a long time that I am going home early.
"Sam."
Hearing my name, I stop near the reception area and wait for Mason as he quickly approaches me.
"What's up?" He asks, slapping my shoulder.
"Going home."
"I am also done with my shift." Removing the stethoscope from around his neck, he rubs his neck, trying to release some tension. "Let's go for some drinks."
"Nah, I have to go home, maybe some other time." Shaking my head, I decline his offer.
"Woah, some booty call waiting for you at home?" He lowers his voice and wiggles his eyebrows jokingly. "Because I have never seen you declining drinks to go home, well, in a long time."
His question takes me by surprise. I had nearly forgotten when was the last I was eager to go home, not because I was tired and wanted to sleep. But because I just wanted to be at home.
"It's okay, go home and take rest, man." He smiles and pats my arm as he notices my change in expression, "We can grab drinks some other time."
"See you later."
I watch him walk off, then turning around, I walk outside the hospital towards my car.
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Stirring the pot of tomato sauce, I replied to the messages which I have received today but didn't get a chance to respond to them. Adding boiled spaghetti to the sauce, I plate some as I walk into the living room.
When I have just finished having dinner, I hear some muffled voices like there is some sort of heated argument going on. Unmistakably, one voice belonged to Ariana and another to some woman.
Suddenly the voices become clear, probably because the front door of her apartment is opened.
"Please, leave. I don't want to hear anything." Ariana's hoarse but angry voice makes me frown because it sounds like she is crying.
"You are being stupid, and you are ruining your life after that boy who is not even your brother." The woman scoffs.
I know it is wrong to listen to their private conversation, but it is impossible not to hear them when this is happening just before my front door.
"I don't care what you think, but Justin is my brother, and nothing can change that," Ariana says in a sharp voice.
"Baby, you have your whole life ahead of you," The woman softly says, but honestly, I can't find any hint of affection in her words, "He is just a burden-"
"Enough!" Ariana yells, interrupting her, "You should leave before I forget that we have any relation."
"Watch your tone. I am still your mother," The woman who calls herself Ariana's mother says in a harsh tone.
"I think you had lost the right of being my mother when you chose your career over your family and walked away, leaving dad and me alone." Ariana takes a shuddering breath.
"You are my daughter, but you are nothing like me." Ariana's mother says, "You are just an emotional fool."
"When anyone says that I am nothing like my mother," Ariana slowly says, "I take that as a fucking compliment. Because God knows we don't need any other Amelia Sanders." Her voice is filled with hatred.
"I am leaving now. However, we will have this talk later. You may have forgotten that you are my daughter, but I haven't."
I feel sad for her, at the same time, somewhere I am proud of her for standing against her mother.
Samuel's POV The sound of heels fades, and suddenly there is an eerie silence. However, I never heard Ariana's apartment door closing. This forces me to go check on her. Earlier I had planned to check on her later, as I wanted to give her some space, but now it seems a bit unnecessary. Opening my door, I find her sitting on the floor with her arms wrapped around her knees. She is resting her head on her knees. She raises her head when she notices me standing in my doorway. Quickly, standing up, she wipes her tears. "I am sorry, all that noise must have disturbed you." She apologized while not meeting my eyes, as she figured that I might have heard everything. Suddenly, the thought of Justin comes
Samuel's POV "Samuel!" I crouch down just in time to catch Justin as he comes barreling towards me. "Hey, buddy, what are you doing here at the hospital?" Picking him up, I ruffle his hair. "Momsis brought me here." He makes a face. Glancing away from him, I find Ariana filling some paperwork which the nurse has given her. Panic flashes through her face when she doesn't find Justin beside her. Frantically, she looks around and then visibly relaxes when her eyes land on us. Walking to her, I sit beside her with Justin in my lap as she narrows her eyes at Justin. "What I had told you about running away?" She sternly asks him, causing him to shrink and
Ariana's POV I still can't believe I agreed to this stupid plan. "Samuel, I think this a bad idea." Shaking my head, I look at him, "Mom will instantly figure our lie." God! She was furious to find that I have a boyfriend, who is not Greyson. The only response I get from him is a slight twitch of his lips, resembling a faint smile. My anxiousness increases the moment I watch mom sitting in the car, waiting for us, as we walk outside the airport. Samuel turns to me, halting me in my steps. He suddenly kisses my cheek, my breath hitches in my throat. Leaning away, he smiles down at me while tucking my hair behind my ear. "Relax, Kitty," he says softly,
Ariana's POV I braid my hair, ignoring Samuel's gaze on me, which is really difficult as he is just sitting and staring at me while I get ready. However, it doesn't feel weird. It feels like this is our routine when in reality, this is the first time we have even spent so much time together. I am trying damn hard to look decent and presentable in my mother's eyes, so she spares us with her remarks. I am used to her behavior, but it is different with Samuel. I don't want to give her any chance to insult him. He is already doing so much for me, and he definitely doesn't deserve her rudeness. Suddenly, his hand grips mine, stopping me, then without any warning, he unbraids my hair. "No!" I shake my head, trying to stop him, but he has managed to release
Samuel's POV I watch Ariana, and this is the first time she looks happy while talking to someone since we have come here. She wasn't joking when she mentioned to me that she dislikes her family. I haven't met every one of them, and even I can say that they all are prudes. "Samuel, meet Misha; she is my cousin." Ariana comes to me and places her hand on my arm, "And Misha, he is Samuel." "Hey." Misha smiles, "I am glad you came with her; at least my husband will not be the only one at the receiving end." She laughs, making Ariana roll her eyes. "Ariana and I, we nearly are the outcasts of the family." She points to herself and Ariana, "I am married against their will, and well, now I feel she is also going to walk on the same pa
Samuel's POV Running my hand through my hair, I take a large sip of the beer. The chilled beer bottle, hanging by the neck between my fingers, completely contrasts the heat on my skin as the afternoon sun is at its peak. It has been a long time nice I have been on vacation, and it feels nice just to relax without worrying about anything. When I made my mind to accompany Ariana, I would not have thought how much I needed this vacation for myself away from my routine life. Ariana brings out the Samuel in me, which was lost with the time. There is something about her that makes me want to be myself again. Even Dad noticed this change in me, which also made me realize whatever happened with me three years back has also deeply affected him though he never showed. "Hey, man!" Kei
Samuel's POV We got back into our room, but since then, she hasn't spoken a word. The silence of Ariana is something that is bothering me, and I have never seen her so quiet. However, the fear in her eyes is hard not to miss. Is she afraid of me? Before I can ask her what is bothering her, my eyes travel to the bruising appearing on her arm as if someone has grabbed her harshly. Placing my hands on her knees, I sit in front of her. "Ariana." I swallow as my eyes flicker to the bruise, "Did I do that to you?" I point towards her arm as I recall grabbing her arm. "No." She blinks an
Ariana’s POV It seems like Justin’s heart felt that I needed him, so a few moments later, I got a message from Rose informing me that Justin was missing me and wanted to talk to me. Instantly, I video call him because it feels like ages since I have last seen him. His face comes before my screen, and instantly my mood gets better. “I love you, baby.” I smile quickly, blinking away my tears because seeing his face wants me to cry more. “I love you too.” He replies, then frowns, “Are you crying, momsis?” “Just missing you, bunny.” I don’t lie to him about crying because he always manages to catch my lie. “I hate it when you cry.” He sadly pouts. “See,