Samantha’s POVI had been very careful since Flavian informed me that Romulus was free. I went straight from home to work and from work to home, not even leaving the office for lunch. Manu had become my constant companion, having lunch with me every day, along with Rick, who had been sighing around the corners since Tess went away.On Wednesday, Henry’s mother invited me to lunch. I met her and Alvaro at a restaurant near the office. They made a beautiful couple. Alvaro showered her with attention and care."You two know you're perfect together, right?!" I said as I approached."You think so, Sam?" Heidi asked anxiously."It's not just what I think, you are perfect together." I smiled and greeted her with a small kiss on the cheek."I agree with you, Samantha!" Alvaro said while greeting me."And how's my little grandchild?" Heidi asked after we sat down."Making me hungrier than ever. Heidi, nothing satisfies me, I'm hungry all the time!" I expressed my surprise about it."I felt the
Samantha’s POVI ended up asking Erica and Emilia, Edward's sisters, if one of them could be Rick's partner as my wedding bridesmaid since Tess couldn't make it.Those two were quite a pair - they started arguing and decided to settle it with a game of odds or evens, which was hilarious. In the end, Emilia came out victorious, but Erica quickly warned her not to get too excited because she wouldn't let her hog the hottie alone at the party. Rick would have his hands full, but it would be good for him to have some distraction.Since we had the dress fitting at the boutique on Friday, both sisters came along and kept everyone entertained."Girl, I love this boutique!" Emilia exclaimed as soon as they arrived. "Listen, since I'm one of your bridesmaids, we're going to throw you the most amazing bachelorette party ever."I got chills just thinking about what this crazy girl would get me into, but it would surely be fun."Oh no, Emilia, you're organizing her bachelorette party?" Mel complai
Henry’s POVI took Samantha's phone and looked at her, seeing how frightened she was. I answered without saying anything but put it on speaker. Soon, a voice echoed through the room."Samanthaaa! Woohoo! Guess who?" A bizarre loud laugh followed. "Little Samantha, won't you talk to me? Are you that emotional?""How did you get my number, Romulus?" Samantha tried to control her nervousness."Oh! Don't you know?" He laughed again. "That annoying Manuela gave me your number.""Was it you? You stupid jerk!" Samantha snapped."Yeah, I borrowed her phone today." He spoke cynically. "Too bad my employee couldn't stick the knife in her like I ordered.""You're a monster, Romulus." Samantha struggled not to cry."Little Samantha, this is just to remind you that there's no point in trying to run from me. You're mine, Samantha! And I'll get you back." Romulus's voice was loaded with anger."You're crazy!" Samantha was starting to lose control."Crazy about you, little Samantha! Today was just a w
Henry’s POVI was very frustrated that I hadn't yet solved the problem that Reynold represented, nor the issue with Romulus, who wouldn't leave Sam alone. I sat there in the police station looking defeated. Detective Bonfim sat next to me with an expression of sympathy for my misfortune. He had news, which gave me a glimmer of hope."What's the news, Bonfim?" Flavian asked, starting to perk up."Well, let's start with the officers who are watching Romulus. He hasn't left the building since he got out of jail. As you already know, we discovered he's staying in the apartment of the woman who visited him while he was in prison, definitely a mistress," While Bonfim was speaking, I remembered the store box from where Sam worked - it could be her."What's this woman's name, Bonfim? He had a mistress at the store where Sam worked," I explained."Yes, we interrogated that girl, Cybele, if I'm not mistaken," Bonfim closed his eyes, remembering. "She visited him a few times in jail, but he broke
Henry’s POVFrom the police station, I went straight to Samantha's workplace. I planned to take her to lunch and tell her everything that was happening. When I arrived, Patrick was at Samantha's desk, cracking jokes as usual."Is your company going bankrupt, Henry?" Patrick looked at me playfully."Where did you get that from, Patrick? My company is doing very well, thank you!" I replied humorlessly, still stressed from my time at the police station."But you're always here now, almost like you're looking for a job." Patrick laughed, and I rolled my eyes - he was having fun at my expense."You're such a pain, Patrick!" I complained."And you're in too bad a mood to be around my new nephew." Patrick kept that mocking smile on his face while Samantha laughed along with him."After the morning I had at the police station, my friend, even you would be stressed." I commented, pulling up a chair to sit down."What's going on, Henry?" Patrick turned serious."A lot. I came to get Sam for lunc
Nicole’s POVWhat an idiot Reynold was! We had a plan, why couldn't he just stick to it? And who's this crazy woman beating him up like he's a rag doll? Damn, the security guards! I better go save the man in distress. I started the car, stopped in front of him, and honked. The idiot managed to break free from that crazy woman and got in the car."Step on it, Nicole! Step on it, this lunatic's rabid!" Reynold was panting, disheveled, with a broken nose. I couldn't help but laugh."Man, who is this crazy woman?" I couldn't stop laughing."That's Melissa Larson, some rich guy's daughter and your dear Henry's assistant.""A rich girl fighting like she's done time? Just when you think you've seen it all... She gave you quite a beating." I laughed at his disgusted face as he looked at himself in the car's sun visor mirror."That bitch broke my nose! Come on, take me to a hospital. A far-away one, so we can stay under the radar.""Damn it, Reynold! Why didn't you follow the plan? You were sup
Samantha’s POVAnother week flew by. The girls and I had everything ready for the wedding, and my bachelorette party was scheduled for the following weekend. Erica and Emilia were very excited about it.Henry had warned me earlier that he'd be home late because Patrick had organized a last-minute poker game. I thought about having dinner with my mom and Joaquin since I hadn't seen them in days. With that in mind, I was about to pick up the phone to call them as I was getting ready to leave the office, but before I could press the button, the company messenger stopped by my desk and handed me a card with a red rose.This had to be Henry's doing, I smiled at the thought. I opened the card and found a typed message:"My goddess, I miss you. Meet me at the Savoy Hotel, room 1575, at seven o'clock. I have a surprise for you."Ah, my handsome man knew how much I loved surprises. What extravagant thing had he planned this time? Henry's surprises were always elaborate, and I loved it. He was s
Henry’s POVPatrick set up poker night at Rick's place, wanting to cheer him up since Rick had been really down since Tess left town. I only agreed to come because of Rick; I couldn't let down a friend who'd always helped me. But I didn't plan to stay long - I was restless and desperate to get home to Samantha.We were in the middle of a game, and I couldn't concentrate. Something was bothering me, but I didn't know what. Enzo kept calling, which was getting on my nerves. I let the first two calls go to voicemail, but by the third, I was worried the kid might be in trouble."What is it, Enzo?" I answered sharply."Hi, uncle. I'm fine, thanks for asking. How are you?" Enzo was always sarcastic when I answered in a bad mood."What do you want, kid? You sound fine.""Yeah, I am. But I'm curious about something.""Enzo, learn to get to the point, don't beat around the bush." I ran my hand across my forehead, feeling my patience wearing thin."I just talked to Aunt Sam, and I'm curious. Sin
Samantha’s POVI was relieved to see my mother was okay. It was incredibly lucky that Enzo ran into her - one of those things that nobody can explain, where some call it luck and others divine providence. But I can definitely say this kid saved me again. After they told everything that happened at the mall and Henry confirmed that the Nicole who was with my mother was the same Nicole who was his ex-girlfriend, everything made sense.And we were heading to the police station - my mother, Enzo, Henry, and me. Honestly, I just wanted to go home, but Flavian asked us to come there, so there was no way around it."Henry, why did Flavian ask us to go to the police station?" I asked, still not accepting that I couldn't go home."Sam, you were the victim of Romulus's setup. It was a fake kidnapping, true, but clearly intended to force you to go to him. Plus, your mother's phone was stolen and used for this." Henry repeated the same thing, but I felt he was hiding something from me."I want to
Flavian’s POVI had to say, this raid on Pipote Hill was only supposed to serve three arrest warrants for homicide, but it turned into a complete mess. Three drug dealers dead and two cops wounded, all because they wouldn't let us in. It was all because of that punk Sandro who decided to set up a drug spot here. I only decided to serve these warrants personally snice one of them was Sandro's drug spot manager, and I wanted information about this Romulus guy.At least no civilians were hit. People keep talking about stray bullets, but there was no such thing - there are only bullets that find their targets, and innocent people became those targets, which really upsets me. But fortunately, this time no innocent civilians were shot. Though one of the subjects named in the warrants died - he was one of Sandro's soldiers. We arrested the other two. That was six fewer criminals on the streets."Let's move out, team!" called the military police sergeant who came to support us. "Detective, I t
Samantha’s POVI was getting increasingly nervous. As the car moved toward my destination, I felt more helpless, scared, and distressed. The taxi driver, a very kind gentleman, watched me through the rearview mirror while keeping his eyes on traffic. He drove slowly and carefully, perhaps due to his age, making sure not to cause any accident.My phone rang and I grabbed it from my purse - it was Enzo. I couldn't answer him, I just couldn't. But he persisted. He always did, and I always answered. I thought it through - if I didn't answer, it would raise suspicions. Sure, Michael must have returned to the company, but he probably thought I was in another department and wouldn't be alarmed yet. Maybe he was still looking for me inside the building. So, it was better to answer Enzo.When he told me he was with my mother, I couldn't believe it. Then he put her on the line, and I heard her voice. I couldn't hold back anymore, started crying, and explained that Romulus had called me from her
Enzo’s POVBeing a student was getting harder and harder. The English teacher decided to make us read a book that was almost impossible to find. I had to trek all the way across town because out of all the bookstores in the malls, only this one had it. Everyone was complaining that they couldn't buy the book because they couldn't find it. I spent two days on the phone and finally tracked it down. So I rushed to secure my copy to avoid getting a zero on the test that the teacher had already warned us about.But since I was at the mall, I might as well take a little walk around. I bought the book first - I had reserved it, but you never know if someone might accidentally sell my copy, so I went to the bookstore first. When I left, I was walking through the food court when I spotted Aunt Pearl at a café nearby. I had to say hello."What a coincidence! Aunt Pearl, how are you?" I approached and noticed she was with a younger woman who was pretty but strange-looking."Enzo, darling, what a
Samantha’s POVMy bachelorette party was the most fun event I'd ever been to, despite the snake incident. Erica and Emilia had really outdone themselves. However, it wasn't as enjoyable for Henry, who was tense and worried when he came to pick me up.At home, he told me about his suspicion that Isabella had sent the snake, and I was surprised - I hadn't thought that insufferable woman would be so brazen.We spent Sunday at home, resting and just enjoying each other's company. It was nice to have that peaceful moment with him, knowing the upcoming week would be hectic with wedding preparations, even though everything was already set.This week, I needed to get ahead with all my work since I'd be on my honeymoon with Henry the following week. Starting Thursday, I wouldn't be working as I'd be at the beach house overseeing all the wedding setup. I was so busy that during lunch, I just had a quick snack while working and turned Manu away when she came for afternoon coffee.Then my phone st
Romulus’s POVLittle Samantha must have been crazy if she thought she could ghost me like that. I've called several times and she won't answer, where could she be hiding? I needed to teach her a lesson, but this week I couldn't put my plan into action since Sandro needed me to check the accounts at his drug spot.Sandro wanted me to move to the hill, but to be honest, I preferred little Nicole's apartment, it was better located. But there's no way around it, I made a deal with him and he was the boss. He only gave me one more week to sort things out with little Samantha.I would use this week to resolve my situation with little Samantha and deal with little Nicole too. I was running out of patience with her, but it had to look like an accident, after all, she's Sandro's sister. I was going to do the job and blame the old man, but the idiot got arrested and was even trying to go back on our deal. He wanted little Samantha all to himself - that was pure greed.But little Nicole was still
Henry’s POVI arrived at the Social Club with Edward and Enzo. The guys had reserved a room there and they'd gone all out - they'd set up a room with a pool table, poker table, and arcade games, leather sofas scattered around, and a 1950s-style bar stocked with every kind of drink. This was going to be fun and relaxing."So, ready for your last bachelor party bender?" Patrick asked as soon as I arrived."I thought this day would never come." Alexander approached and handed me a glass.Only then did I notice they were all wearing the same t-shirt - a black one with a cartoon of me being dragged by a rope tied to my foot by a cartoon of Sam, with "game over" written below. These guys were acting like kindergarteners.As if the t-shirts weren't enough, they had prepared several activities, and they all involved lots of alcohol. I probably wouldn't remember my own name the next day.I was already slightly drunk when I saw Flavian answer a call and slip out of the room. When he came back, h
Samantha’s POVThe plans for the night were explained, and the girls decided to start the games. Soon we were all seated, and a bowl with folded papers was placed in front of me."Let's start with the lingerie, everyone grabs your box," Erica said, kicking things off."Okay, Sam, you'll draw a paper and read what's written. To win the gift, you have to guess who experienced the situation described in the paper. If you guess wrong, you'll have to share a situation that happened to you. When you open the present, you'll keep your eyes closed and feel around to figure out what it is. Got it?" Emilia explained the rules of the game."Oh my god! Alright, let's begin," I said and drew the first paper. "On my first time, my boyfriend and I watched some movies to learn because it was his first time too. When we tried to do a position we saw in a movie, I accidentally kicked him in the face, and he fell off the bed and broke his nose. I ended the night still a virgin and in a hospital making up
Samantha’s POVThe week had finally ended, and it had been exhausting. Romulus kept calling and threatening me, but Flavian said the wiretap was active and they were gathering lots of evidence, including proof of other crimes Romulus was committing, so he'd be arrested again soon. But it was horrible to keep getting his calls and hearing threats, not knowing what to expect.As if that wasn't enough, ever since he found out that Edward's sisters were organizing my bachelorette party, Henry had been pestering me to know what they had planned, why I'd let them organize the party, and if there would be any kind of wild rituals, as he put it. I assured him I knew nothing about it, but that he shouldn't worry. However, he kept suggesting every five minutes that we should ditch our friends and family and spend time just the two of us. He was driving me crazy with this whole thing, but I wouldn't budge - I was having my bachelorette party, and it would be fun, he'd just have to deal with it.I