Chapter 4

Hannah had given Samuel shares in Garber Corporation to make up for Tyler's intrusive presence at the beginning of their marriage. Samuel hadn't thought he'd end up using the shares to his advantage.

After signing the share transfer agreement, he returned to the bungalow.

Fresh tears filled his red-rimmed eyes as he took in the traces Benjamin had left behind in every corner of the house. He held the box of ashes closer to him, and unable to stop himself, he sobbed openly.

"Why are you still crying, Samuel? Are you still mad at me?" At that moment, a voice rang out behind him. Before he could register who it belonged to, Hannah pulled him into an embrace.

Samuel stared at her loving expression. She behaved as if she hadn't been all over Tyler earlier that day and lashed out at Samuel and Benjamin in the same breath. It sickened him.

Pushing her off him, Samuel seethed, "Get the hell out of here! I don't want to see you."

He only wanted to wait out the next seven days in peace until the woman aiding him in the shadows got back to him. Once he'd avenged Benjamin, he would leave and never return.

Hannah's face darkened, but a sudden thought crossed her mind, and she pulled Samuel back into her arms again. "Samuel, I can explain my relationship with Tyler. He was diagnosed with brain cancer two years ago, and the doctor said he had three years, at best.

"When I asked him about his final wishes, he told me his biggest wish in life was to marry me. I know he mistook me for his girlfriend because of these eyes, so I figured I'd grant him this one wish and marry him.

"I'd hoped to let him spend his last three years in happiness."

Samuel snorted. "What about the child? He's three, isn't he? You and Tyler haven't been married all that long."

Hannah looked evasive. "He's Tyler's kid, and I agreed to look after him as if he were my own. I got drunk one day and mistook Tyler for you. One thing led to another, and we ended up sleeping together. I decided to take accountability for him and his kid.

"But I swear I love you the most, Samuel. I'll throw us a grand wedding after Tyler passes, and Benjamin is the eldest son of the Garber family. No one will dare to put you or Benjamin down."

It was only at the mention of Benjamin that Hannah realized the little boy hadn't happily thrown himself into her arms as he usually would. Brows furrowing, she asked, "Where's Benjamin? Why isn't he home with you? Is he still at the hospital? Did he get hurt badly from the fall, or was it because I made him kneel for a little while—"

A loud crack split the air.

With bloodshot eyes, Samuel delivered a hard slap across Hannah's face. "You have no right to speak of my child, Hannah! Get the hell out of here! I don't want to see you. Get out!"

Storm clouds gathered on Hannah's face. "What are you lashing out for, Samuel? Benjamin only knelt for a bit, and sure, he fell, but he'll toughen up. It's not like either of those things would kill him."

Samuel thought his heart might bleed when he heard her dismissive words. The kneeling, the fall—Hannah had said these wouldn't kill Benjamin, but they did! Benjamin was dead, and it was all because of her!

Samuel grabbed the first object he touched from the table and hurled it to the floor. He stared at Hannah with red-rimmed eyes and thundered, "You're a bastard, Hannah!"

Hannah was about to say something when her phone ringtone cut her off. Upon spying the caller ID "Honey" flashing on the screen, Samuel snorted in contempt.

She grimaced awkwardly, then turned away as she picked up the call. She asked gently, "Yes, what is it, Tyler?"

Samuel couldn't hear what Tyler said, but Hannah blanched. She hurried out the door after that.

As Samuel watched her leave, he had a distinct feeling that their decade-long relationship was nothing more than a waste of time and effort. Thankfully, it was over, though Benjamin had become the sacrifice.

The thought of Benjamin brought a wave of fresh hatred into Samuel's eyes. He vowed he wouldn't let Hannah and Tyler get away with this.

He got into bed with the box in his arms, feeling as if Benjamin was simply resting in his embrace like before.

Samuel slept, only to be woken up in the middle of the night by a bucket of ice water tipped over his head. Even colder was the voice that came from above him. "Look at you, sleeping so soundly after what you did. Have you no shame, Samuel?

"So Tyler snapped and pushed you and Benjamin down the stairs. Did you have to be so heartless as to hire people to pick on him and my three-year-old?"