Before Gabriel even got home, his phone buzzed with a bank alert — one million dollars had just been deposited into his account.By the time he walked through the door, his mood had shifted.“Welcome,” Samantha said with a warm smile.He handed her the bag of fruit, the perfume, and the body spray without a word. Samantha was happy when he saw the items, whoa! This is nice of you. I love you, my dear. Hugging him on his seat. But then, she noticed that Gabriel was not happy.“Don’t tell me you’re still upset about what happened at that party,” Samantha said, studying his face. “Because the look in your eyes and your mood say it all.”Gabriel didn’t answer. His mind was somewhere else, turning over the thought of how he could end their marriage.A few days later, Clark was driving through the neighborhood. On a whim, he decided to turn toward Samantha’s house before heading home.“Hello, Samantha. Are you at home?” he said over the phone.“Yes,” she replied.“Okay, I’m coming right ove
Samantha and Gabriel got home still burning with anger.“Jake looked me right in the face and insulted me in front of everyone,” Samantha said, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. “So this is what it was all along. I thought you had changed, but you’re still the same bad guy I met back on campus.”Gabriel paced the room, his hands on his hips, while Samantha stood facing the wall, her shoulders tense.“How can I be humiliated like this?” she whispered. “God help me not to cross paths with those people again… because if I do, it won’t be a good day at all.”Gabriel stopped pacing and walked up behind her. He placed his hands gently on her shoulders. “It’s okay, dear,” he said softly. But as he looked closer, he realized she had been crying the whole time.Samantha ended the call and set the phone back on the table. Gabriel was still sitting on the couch, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.“That was Clark,” she said quietly.Gabriel looked up. “What did he want?”“He called t
“No problem,” Clark said with a smile. “I’m expecting both of you.”“Alright, bye.”The call ended.The party was already in full swing when Samantha and Gabriel arrived. Music floated through the air, glasses clinked, and laughter rolled from one corner of the room to the other. Clark had gone all out for his birthday. The place was warm, bright, and filled with familiar faces.They mingled quietly, greeting a few people, trying to blend into the crowd. Samantha was happy to see Clark smiling, moving from guest to guest like the perfect host.About an hour in, the room shifted. Heads turned toward the entrance as Jake and Julia walked in. They looked polished, confident, the kind of couple that drew attention without even trying. They made their way around the room, greeting people with hugs and handshakes.But when they reached Samantha and Gabriel, they stopped. Jake’s eyes flicked over them, and without a word, he moved past as if they weren’t even there. Julia followed, her lips
Samantha got home that morning, tired but relieved. As soon as she stepped inside, her mother rushed to her and pulled her into a tight embrace.“Where have you been?” her mom asked, voice trembling. “You had me so worried.”She led Samantha to the couch and sat beside her. “Are you okay?”Samantha nodded. “Yes, Mom. I’m fine.”“At least you could’ve told me where you were going,” her mom said, gently scolding. “My heart was restless all night. And you didn’t even take your phone.”“Mom… I just needed to clear my head. I’ve been carrying so much emotional stress lately.”“And you thought disappearing was the best way to handle it?”Samantha looked down. “I’m sorry for putting you through all that. I didn’t mean to make you suffer because of me.”Her mom sighed, brushing a hand over Samantha’s hair. “It’s okay, my dear. I’m just glad you’re back—and safe.”Just then, Samantha’s phone rang. She glanced at the screen. It was Gabriel.“Hello?” she answered.“Hey, Sam. Just checking—did yo
Lillian’s heart was restless. What if she wasn’t there? What if something terrible had happened to her?“Oh, Samantha… you wouldn’t take my life before my time, would you?” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I don’t understand why you’ve chosen to be so stubborn, why you’ve decided to punish me like this. You were never like this before you started keeping company with men. But the moment you let love matters consume you—when you began giving your body to a man—everything changed in the blink of an eye.”She paused, her breath shallow. “My illness has left me too weak to guide you through these grown-up matters. But I promise you this—before my greatest fear comes to take me away from you and from your father, I will be your truest friend, your counselor, your tutor, and your most loyal adviser.”“I will be your bank of wisdom and understanding,” Lillian whispered, her voice trembling. “Even though I’ll let you make your own choices in life, I will always be here for you. So that wh
The MC’s patience finally ran out. With a playful grin, he pointed into the crowd.“Hey! Lady in white—yeah, you next to the guy in red—come on up here!”The woman froze for a second, then laughed and made her way to the stage. The crowd erupted in cheers and laughter, clapping like they’d just witnessed a plot twist.“Alright, DJ,” the MC called, “give us a beat—let’s get this dance started!”The music kicked in, bass thumping through the floor. All eyes locked on the two of them.“Come on, celebrant, show us some moves!” someone shouted.“Dance with her—we won’t tell your woman!” another teased.Phones went up, flashes blinking as guests recorded every step. The room was alive with whistles, laughter, and playful chants.Waiters moved through the crowd again, serving another round of food and pouring drinks until glasses overflowed. The night rolled on in a blur of music and chatter.By the time the party began to wind down, some guests drifted out into the night while others stayed