Chapter 5

Calvin no longer wanted to hold back. He rolled over and pinned her beneath him. He gripped her chin as he leaned down and kissed her fiercely.

His large hand slid up along her waistline, and his breathing grew increasingly ragged.

The strange sensation dragged Samantha out of her nightmare.

She opened her eyes and stared blankly at the swaying ceiling above her. It wasn't until her legs were forced apart that she jolted fully awake.

The moment she realized the position they were in, she angrily opened her mouth and chomped down hard on Calvin's neck.

Calvin hissed in pain and let out a muffled grunt, but instead of releasing her, he tightened his grip around her waist.

His hoarse voice brushed against her ear.

"I haven't even started yet, and you're already done?" he taunted.

In the past, when he went too far in bed, Samantha would bite him too.

But hearing those words now felt unbearably humiliating. She struggled desperately, kicking and flailing.

"Get away from me. Don't touch me."

There was barely any clothing left on either of them.

Their bodies were pressed tightly against each other. Stimulated beyond restraint, the veins at Calvin's temple bulged as he grabbed her thigh. His eyes reddened as he glared at her.

"If you don't want me to ruin you, behave yourself."

Their eyes met. Looking at the burning desire in his gaze, Samantha felt only bitter irony.

Six years ago, that night, Calvin had turned her from a girl into a woman.

In the years that followed, except during her period and the months before and after childbirth, this man had almost never let her rest, night after night.

He despised her, yet he craved her body.

She had once believed he was only angry with her and not that he truly didn't like her.

It wasn't until Yvonne reappeared. From then on, Calvin never touched her again. Once, Samantha went to him after a shower, only to be chased out.

"Samantha, you make me feel dirty."

Calvin wasn't promiscuous, yet his physical needs were intense.

Calling her dirty meant only one thing. He had Yvonne again.

Celine was already dead, so what right did this unfaithful man have to continue humiliating her?

"Calvin, touch me again and I'll call the cops and report you for marital rape."

She stared coldly upward and stopped struggling. She let his hand on her thigh tighten its grip harder and harder.

The pain made her even clearer-headed.

She mimicked the way he used to smile. It was mocking and cold.

"I think you're filthy. You touching me makes me sick. Are you still not getting out?"

Her unfamiliar demeanor stunned Calvin.

The heat in the room abruptly dissipated.

His interest vanished instantly.

He rolled off the bed, flung the blanket over her in disgust, and went into the bathroom attached to the hospital ward to shower.

The phone Calvin had left on the bedside table kept lighting up.

The words 'Darling Rebecca' made Samantha's heart ache when she saw them.

Unwilling to look any longer, she put on her clothes, got out of bed, and left without turning back.

Celine was still waiting for her.

When Calvin came out of the shower and saw the empty bed, he got furious.

He strode over and picked up his phone. He was ready to have someone drag both her and Celine back, only to see dozens of missed calls and unread messages.

Only then did he remember that he had promised to stay in the hospital with Rebecca before her surgery.

He got changed and drove straight to the hillside villa.

The moment he got out of the car, Rebecca ran toward him. She clung to his leg and looked up at him with tears streaming down her face.

"Daddy, I thought you didn't want me anymore."

Calvin's heart ached. He bent down, picked her up, and kissed her cheek.

"You're my little princess. How could I ever not want you?"

"But Celine is your daughter too. Mommy said Celine is sick as well. So if you choose to stay with Celine, I'm not allowed to cling to you. But I really miss you."

She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.

Yvonne hurried after Rebecca. Her face was full of guilt and unease.

"Calvin, I didn't discipline her properly. I'm sorry."

Compared to Samantha's instability, Yvonne had raised Rebecca well. She was obedient and sensible.

Calvin felt even more tender toward them.

"It's my fault you suffered alone abroad for so many years. You don't need to apologize. Are you done packing? Let's go to the hospital now."

Yvonne nodded gently, but her eyes suddenly caught sight of the bite mark at the collar of Calvin's black shirt.

It flashed by in an instant, but she saw it clearly.

Just how intense had things been between him and Samantha for him to miss Rebecca's calls?

She quickly lowered her gaze to hide the jealousy in her eyes. When she looked up again, she was as gentle as ever.

"Calvin, put Rebecca down. Don't spoil her so much."

As she reached out, she stumbled slightly and fell straight into Calvin's arms.

Rebecca giggled.

"Mommy is shy. Mommy wants Daddy to hold her too. Daddy, you just kissed me, so you should kiss Mommy as well, or she will get jealous."

Yvonne looked at Calvin shyly. Her bright eyes shimmered with unspoken affection.

She had on a revealing dress which showed off her cleavage. Her fair, alluring neckline showed a little. She carried the mature charm of a grown woman.

But Calvin withdrew the hand that had been supporting her. He wrapped his arms around Rebecca instead and bounced her lightly.

"You little rascal. You're always being naughty. Let me see what luggage you brought."

Rebecca's attention was instantly diverted. She chattered away excitedly.

Yvonne watched the two of them from behind. She slowly clenched her fists.

-

After returning to the Granger family home, Samantha scrubbed herself harshly, yet she still couldn't wash away the trace of Calvin's presence.

Overwhelmed by the pain inside, she curled up in the bathroom and hugged her knees.

Only after a long while did she weakly step out. She removed the soaked gauze from her head, stared at the pale face and the hideous wound on her forehead in the mirror. She then disinfected and rebandaged it.

She had to find out the real reason behind the Granger family's bankruptcy.

She had to repay everything she owed the Hamley family.

She had to make Calvin pay for Celine's death.

She couldn't just die so pointlessly.

After charging her phone, she forced herself to recall that painful memory, but the faces of the debt collectors were still blurry.

Messages flooded in as soon as she turned her phone on.

Before she could open them, Rachel Webber's call came through.

"What are you doing? The deadline for submitting the score passed three days ago. Do you know this counts as a breach of contract?"

Only then did Samantha remember.

Before Celine's last relapse, she had accepted a commission. If she defaulted, she would have to pay at least 500 grand.

Although Calvin had never been stingy with money, she didn't want to rely on him completely.

After getting married, she had continued composing music online as a side job and had gained some recognition in the field.

As for Rachel, she was the manager who handled commissions. They had never met in person. Samantha only knew she was a capable woman who never mixed business with personal feelings.

"Rachel, I–"

Samantha didn't know how to explain herself.

Having worked together for a long time, Rachel didn't ask further questions. "I got you another opportunity. I've sent you the address. Go talk to the client yourself."

The call ended. Samantha opened the address Rachel had sent and frowned.

Hillside Villa?

How could it be such a coincidence?

She didn't delay. After tidying herself up briefly, she took a cab straight to the location.

After registering at the entrance and walking in for a short distance, she ran into Yvonne.

"Samantha? Are you here to see Calvin? He took Rebecca to the hospital. Come in and sit for a bit. I'm packing some clothes for him. He was so worried about Rebecca that he even forgot to bring his own underwear."

Yvonne was warm and welcoming, as if she hadn't nearly been strangled at the hospital the other day.

She appeared composed and courteous, but in the presence of another man's wife, every word dripped with intimate overtones.

Samantha felt her stomach churn at Yvonne's seemingly courteous words. She simply felt disgusted.

She forced out a sarcastic smile. "Yvonne, I didn't come here to see him. You treat him like a treasure, but he's worthless to me."