Chapter 4

Samantha spoke coldly, "From now on, you'll never see her again. Take your things and get out."

Calvin froze for a moment. He then smirked.

"Samantha, leaving with nothing but taking Celine with you? Are you trying to use her to force me to give you money? Don't you find that ridiculous?"

Celine's ashes were just upstairs. Samantha didn't want Celine to hear the person she had once loved most say something so heartless.

She grabbed the gift box on the table and hurled it straight out. "I told you to get out. Do you not understand?"

Calvin's expression darkened instantly.

The lightweight tulle dress fell onto the rain-damp ground outside. It was quickly stained with mud and ruined beyond saving.

The crown he had personally designed shattered as well. The diamonds scattered across the cracked, worn tiles.

The emotions he had been suppressing were on the verge of erupting.

At that moment, his phone suddenly rang.

He glanced at the screen, answered it, and deliberately put it on loudspeaker.

"Mr. Hamley, the piano you ordered has arrived. We can deliver it immediately. The address is Riverview Manor, correct?"

Calvin stared at Samantha coldly and enunciated every word, "Change the delivery to Hillside Villa 8. The recipient is Rebecca Surrey."

With that, he hung up.

Calvin wanted Samantha to understand that he could offer her dignity, and he could just as easily take it from her.

He could indulge her and pretend he knew nothing, allowing Celine's existence, but he could also decide entirely what place Celine held in his life.

Didn't she want to make a scene?

Didn't she want to leave with nothing and threaten him with Celine?

He would wait and see how she planned to deal with this.

Samantha showed no expression at all. Her face was pale, and her forehead was smeared with dried blood. It made her look even more frightening and downtrodden.

She calmly pointed toward the door. "Can you get out now?"

It felt as though something slammed hard into Calvin's chest.

A flurry of emotions filled him, and he couldn't be bothered to find out why.

Clenching his jaw, he suppressed his anger and spoke in a cold tone.

"Samantha, make sure Celine doesn't call me. I never want to see her ever again."

Those words landed like a blow to Samantha.

Celine was already dead, yet her soul still had to hear her beloved father say something like that.

Samantha frantically looked around. She then grabbed a dust-covered broom from the corner and swung it at Calvin.

"Get out! You bastard! If you dare step into my house again, I'll kill you!"

Samantha hadn't been able to eat or sleep for days. When she couldn't hold on, she drank a little water with honey. So she had no strength left at all. After a few weak swings, she collapsed to the floor.

Seeing this, Calvin recalled the scene when Samantha had been brought back to the Hamley family home by his grandmother.

It wasn't the first time he had met Samantha then.

When he was younger and accompanied his father to business banquets, he had seen her before. She was a spoiled, willful young girl.

But when he saw her again, she was clutching a broom just as she did today. She looked fragile yet unyielding.

She no longer looked the way she once had, and guilt and protectiveness rose in him.

Yet it was this very person he had pitied who had drugged him. On the very night he brought Yvonne back to the Hamley family to prepare for their engagement, Samantha had gotten into bed with him, and was caught in the act by the entire family.

If that hadn't happened, Rebecca might not have been born premature and fallen ill. Yvonne and Rebecca might not have suffered so much.

Furious, he kicked away the broom that was still hitting his ankle.

"Samantha, the same tricks don't work on me. You gave birth to Celine, yet you keep letting her see how despicable you are. Don't you feel disgusted?"

With that, he turned around and left.

The car had been started for a long time, but he never pressed the gas.

Through the window, Calvin stared at the motionless figure in the living room.

He slammed his fist in fury against the steering wheel.

A moment later, he got out and went back inside.

"Samantha, Grandma did you a great favor. She's been recuperating abroad for over a year and is about to return. Do you really have to cause trouble now?"

The person on the floor still didn't move.

"Samantha!"

He nudged her waist lightly with the tip of his shoe. Only then did he realize something was wrong. He immediately bent down, scooped her up, and rushed out.

-

In a VIP ward of an exclusive private hospital.

After finishing the examination, Barry Camelot, who was also Calvin's friend and the hospital director, looking surprised, stared at Calvin. “Did you hit her?”

No wonder Calvin brought her here.

Calvin gave him a look. "What's wrong with her?"

Barry shrugged.

"Nothing serious. She's starving. She's had no food, no water, and no sleep. Even God wouldn't hold out. On top of that, she experienced severe emotional swings and a mild concussion. It'd be strange if she weren't dizzy."

Calvin's brows furrowed deeply.

Ever since Yvonne returned with Rebecca, this woman had been finding new ways to torment him.

Using Celine didn't work anymore, so now she was starving herself and hurting herself?

"Put her on an IV drip."

Barry sighed softly.

He knew there was no point trying to persuade him.

When Calvin was young, he had lived freely and recklessly. But during a wilderness expedition, he suddenly disappeared.

Other members of the Hamley family who went with him all claimed they hadn't seen him.

Six months later, they finally found him in a hospital with one leg crippled and severe damage to his eyesight and hearing.

He never said a word about what had happened.

Two people had rescued Calvin. One of them was the other's grandchild. Ultimately, nobody was able to find Calvin's rescuers.

From that day on, Calvin seemed like a different person.

He trusted no one and always kept people at arm's length.

Later, when Samantha came to the Hamley family, Calvin adored her and spoiled her endlessly.

He treated her better than anyone else.

Yet it was the very person who made him trust again who hurt him the hardest.

After hanging the IV drip, Barry asked, "Should I get a caregiver to stay with her?"

Calvin said nothing. He stood silently by the window. His tall figure looked lonely.

Barry shrugged and tactfully closed the door as he left.

-

Samantha had a very, very long dream.

In the dream, she returned to before she was fourteen.

Back then, the Granger family was thriving. She had on a beautiful gown and followed her parents to a banquet.

She was caught sneaking cake by a handsome older boy. She puffed out her cheeks, put her hands on her hips, and threatened him not to tell. She even smeared cream on the corner of his mouth, saying that if one got into trouble, they'd both be in trouble.

The beautiful scene was suddenly torn apart by blood and horror.

She saw her beautiful mother's crushed head and her dignified father's twisted legs.

Countless hands dragged her into darkness. That handsome older boy reached out and pulled her back. He held the cake she loved most and coaxed her.

"From now on, I'll protect you."

The scene changed abruptly. His burning body pressed against hers. He kissed her with his lips and tongue. She was helpless and confused. All she knew was that her body was pierced by something sharp, and it hurt so much.

She struggled endlessly and tried to patch up a destroyed home with mud.

She was terrified and in pain, yet powerless.

"Calvin!"

The man, who had just fallen asleep and was woken again, spoke hoarsely. His temper flared.

"I'm right here. What are you making a fuss about now?"

Irritated, he pulled her into his arms. As he moved, his hand brushed against her cold, damp cheek. It came away wet with tears.

His movements froze instantly. He loosened his hold and lowered his head to look at her.

The woman was still trapped in her nightmare and crying in despair.

Her hands clutched his collar tightly.

"Calvin, you can't treat Celine like this. You can't–

"Don't leave. Please don't leave!"

Her choked, broken words were indistinct yet filled with longing.

Complex emotions filled Calvin's eyes.

Comforting her was something he had done for many years.

"I'm not leaving. Don't cry."

He relaxed his grip and gently stroked her back. He bent his other arm slightly beneath her neck and slowly rubbed her head.

Samantha seemed to seek comfort even in her dream. She desperately burrowed into his arms.

Their bodies brushed against each other. The temperature between them rose rapidly.

Ever since Yvonne returned with Rebecca and he confirmed the truth back then, Calvin hadn't touched Samantha again.

The desire he had suppressed for so long was threatening to break loose.

Panting, he warned her, "Samantha, stop moving!"