Samantha’s POVI woke up feeling unwell, but I wouldn't let it get me down. I needed to be stronger than this sadness I was feeling. I took a long shower, got ready, and turned on my phone while having coffee.I thought it was better to cancel with Enzo. I wouldn't put anyone else at risk. I sent him a message with some excuse, saying we'd reschedule soon, and he replied with a cute sticker of a crying baby.I considered what to do and decided that after settling things with the company, I would spend a few days with my grandmother in the countryside. It would be good to stay there in that peaceful environment for a while.Soon after, I received a message from the company saying they would settle my paperwork today and I should be there at two in the afternoon. Perfect, so I could go to my grandmother's house today.At the scheduled time, I checked in at reception, and a security guard escorted me to the presidential meeting room. They couldn't possibly attack me again! I entered, and
Henry’s POVI was going to talk to my mom while the others were solving the problem they caused with Sam. I needed to stop Reynold, but I couldn't do that without talking to my mom and Hebe. So I invited her for lunch."Look at my wonderful son, back from his trip for three days and only now he calls me!" My mother complained playfully as soon as she arrived."Mom, but I invited you to lunch at your favorite restaurant." I kissed her and pulled out the chair for her to sit."Ah, you're forgiven!" She smiled. "How was your trip, son? Did you manage to clear your head?""That too, plus I made some great business deals.""You took a long time to come back.""I hope I didn't take too long. I heard Sam is seeing someone.""She loves you, son. If she's seeing someone, fight for her. Or are you going to give up so easily?""No, I won't." I smiled.The waiter approached, and we placed our orders. My mother observed me calmly, but with that motherly look that knew when her child wanted somethin
Henry’s POVI had a vague idea of what had happened. I always knew my father was a scoundrel, but this was far worse. This lowered him to a category worse than just a creep or a harasser.Three years ago, my father spent a long time in the city. I had bought his shares in the company a few years before, but he had already blown through all the money he made and came looking for more. When I didn't give in, he kept making my life hell as usual. But suddenly, out of nowhere, he left and stayed quiet in Miami, until now.I never understood why he left. I only knew vaguely that two women had come forward saying he had harassed them and forced them to have sex, but I never knew exactly what had happened, and they quickly disappeared.But now everything was there, right before my eyes. My not-so-dear father was a rapist. I started reading the report.Three years earlier, when he was around here, showing off as a big shot, he threw a party at a beach house he had rented. His little friends, a
Samantha’s POVThe rest of the week flew by. I was away from the office for two days and work piled up, so I worked on Saturday to make up for it and get everything back on track.It was strange, but I felt safer at work than in my own home. So going to work on Saturday was actually relaxing rather than stressful.On Sunday, I woke up late, ordered food, and was crying my eyes out watching yet another romantic movie on TV when my phone rang. It was Vincent."Girl, why do you sound like you've been crying?" he asked, concerned."I'm watching a movie, Vince. The leading lady is suffering so much." He laughed heartily on the other end."Alright, sweetie, drop that, work your makeup magic, and I'll pick you up in half an hour," Vincent sounded relaxed."And where are we going, may I ask?" I asked while turning off the TV."I will take you somewhere nice to have a drink and gossip about other people's lives." His proposal was ridiculous and specific as always."I can barely handle my own li
Henry’s POVIt had been a week since I'd been with Sam. I couldn't resist seeking her out, and I gave my heart and soul to her once and for all. I threw myself into her arms - it was the best night of my life because I felt she gave herself completely to me too. But my phone rang, and I had to rush out in the middle of the night.Reynold had been arrested, and my PR team needed me to handle the damage control for all the media coverage the situation might cause. We managed to keep his arrest under wraps and maintain the confidentiality of the investigation, keeping the press away from the matter, but he got himself a good lawyer who got him out of jail within twenty-four hours. And that deeply irritated me.I had left a note for Samantha in the apartment, asking her to reach out if there was any chance of fixing our relationship, but she simply ignored me. All I could feel now was pain, both physical and emotional. I felt sadness, frustration, anger, and even remorse for letting myself
Samantha’s POVDays have been passing more and more slowly. After I had that dream about Henry in my apartment, I felt like something inside me broke completely. And a few days later, he saw me at the restaurant and looked at me with such disgust that it completely shattered my heart. I was suffering more than I thought anyone could possibly suffer.Catherine was in her final stage of pregnancy, and everyone was so excited about the quadruplets that I had no right to burden them with my problems. I visited her every week, but kept my visits brief, avoided spending too much time with the girls, and didn't talk about myself. I dodged them as much as I could; I didn't want them to worry. Similarly, I avoided Enzo, who was always calling me.But I had a very loyal friend. Over the last few months, Vincent had become my confidant; he knew what I was going through since he also had his own pain from abandonment. So we supported each other. He would share his complaints, and I would share min
Samantha’s POVI anxiously picked up my phone with trembling hands, searched for Henry's contact, and made the call. It went straight to voicemail. I looked uncertainly at Vince, and he sighed."The pizza's here. I'll go get it, and you go get ready. We'll eat while you're getting dressed, and then I'll take you to your Romeo's house." Vince was more determined than I was."But what if he's with someone else, Vince?" I asked, feeling a mix of anxiety and jealousy."You kick her butt out and make it clear that man is yours. I guarantee he'll love it." I laughed at the way Vince put it.Vince got the pizza, and I did as he suggested, getting ready while eating. When I was ready, I grabbed my purse, and we left. He stopped at Henry's house, and I asked him to wait a bit in case something went wrong. I got out and went to the gate, but the security guard informed me that Henry hadn't been there for months. Could he have gone back to his apartment?Like a good friend, Vince drove me to Henr
Henry’s POVI got phenomenally drunk last night! I couldn't even recognize myself anymore, I was devastated. I went to Alexander's house to visit the babies, but when I arrived, Samantha was leaving, she didn't even give me a chance to talk to her. I watched her get in the car and drive away, and I stood there for long minutes. I was in limbo, totally crushed. I didn't even enter the house, went back to my car and headed to the hotel.I went to my room and like every other night, I started drinking. I drank! I drank a lot! I drank more than I even realized I had. When I woke up, I was in a bright room and started looking around at where I was. I looked and saw something connected to me, looked around and saw something like IV bags hanging. I ended up in a hospital. But how did that happen? I was locked in my hotel room, hugging a whiskey bottle, that was all I remembered.My head hurt, everything in me hurt. So I lay there looking at the white ceiling and listening to the muffled buzz
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