Chapter 7

Owen only regained consciousness the next afternoon. He wasn't fully lucid yet, but the first thing that came out of his mouth was related to Samantha.

"Was her surgery a success? How is she? Is she awake?"

Gabriella took in his anxious expression. She hadn't slept a wink the entire night, so her voice was a little hoarse when she nodded and answered, "The doctor said that she's fine. She'll make a full recovery after resting for a few months."

Owen felt as if a heavy weight had fallen off his shoulders when he heard her words. However, he was still feeling uneasy. He tossed his blanket aside and tried to get off the bed, telling Gabriella that he wanted to see Samantha with his own two eyes.

Gabriella advised him to stay put, but he refused to listen. In the end, he was stopped only by the nurse, who, coincidentally, showed up to change his IV.

Panic flickered in his eyes as he looked at the large bag of medicine that the nurse was carrying with her. His heart was filled with nothing but concern for Samantha's well-being. After getting lost in his thoughts for a few moments, he was struck with an idea when his eyes strayed to the fruit basket on the cabinet.

"I called Samantha's parents yesterday, Gabriella. They flew back to the country last night and should be in the hospital right now. Deliver that fruit basket to them and send them my regards. You can check on Samantha's condition while you're there, too."

Gabriella stared steadily at Owen for a long time before finally humming in agreement. She picked up the fruit basket and left the ward.

Samantha's ward was located one floor above Owen's.

Gabriella was just about to knock on the door when she realized that it was ajar. She peeked through the gap and saw Samantha curled up in an unfamiliar man's embrace as she spoke sweetly to him.

"Didn't you say that you wanted to introduce your parents to me, Nate? Why are you alone?"

"I do want to introduce you to my parents, but this isn't a good time since you haven't recovered yet. I'll take you to meet them once you're discharged from the hospital, okay?"

Gabriella clenched her fists tightly upon hearing their exchange.

Samantha was already dating someone else? And their relationship was stable enough for her to meet his parents?

Coincidentally, a doctor dropped by to check on Samantha, startling her and the man when he pushed the door open.

Samantha's face twisted in an instant when she looked up and saw Gabriella standing in the doorway. "Why are you here?" she asked.

Gabriella didn't answer her. Instead, she strode into the ward and placed the fruit basket on the floor before turning around and heading back downstairs.

Samantha dragged her still-injured body out of the ward and chased after Gabriella, grabbing the latter just as she was about to descend the staircase.

"You're going to snitch on me to Owen, aren't you?"

Gabriella turned to look at Samantha, taking in the panic that flickered across her face. Her voice was cold when she asked, "Why are you still clinging to Owen like a leech if you already have a boyfriend?"

Samantha arched her brow. She quickly regained her composure and answered, "I want to have two boyfriends. I want to toy with them in the palm of my hand and enjoy myself as they spoil me with their affections. Can't you tell?"

"Do you have to trample over their feelings like this?"

Samantha snickered at Gabriella's indignant expression. She sounded extremely proud of herself when she said, "I have what it takes to make them go crazy over me. Even a prestigious scion like Owen isn't immune to my charms.

"What's wrong? Are you jealous? If you admit that you are, I wouldn't mind teaching you some of my tricks if I'm in a good mood."

Gabriella was rendered speechless by her arrogance.

On the other hand, Samantha grew more smug as Gabriella remained silent. She scrutinized the latter, her eyes lingering on the wedding band around her ring finger.

"You're just someone who benefited from the situation that I orchestrated. You have no right to challenge me. In fact, I'll let you in on a secret. The truth is, I didn't actually move abroad. I just drank too much while fooling around with my friends the night before the wedding, so I couldn't get up in time.

"You would never have gotten the chance to be 'Mrs. Wendell' if Owen hadn't thrown a tantrum when I stood him up at the wedding."

The fury that Gabriella had been suppressing all this time finally exploded at that moment. Unable to control her anger any longer, she raised her hand and slapped Samantha across the face.

She hadn't actually slapped her that hard, but Samantha reacted as if Gabriella had channeled all her strength into her slap, toppling to the side and rolling down the stairs.

Gabriella was shoved aside by Owen, who had just stepped out of the elevator, before she could wrap her head around the situation.

Owen hurried down the stairs, looking utterly heartbroken as he picked up Samantha, whose entire body was covered in bruises. His eyes were burning with fury as he glared at Gabriella.

"Why did you hurt her when she didn't do anything to you?" he demanded.

Samantha intentionally turned her head to the side where Gabriella had left a bright red handprint on her cheek. Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed in Owen's arms.

"Forget it, Owen. She must be angry at me because I'm your ex-girlfriend. I don't blame her. Let's just go."

Her words caused Gabriella's retort to get stuck in her throat.

Gabriella knew that explaining the situation to Owen would be a pointless endeavor at that moment as she watched his face darken.

Meanwhile, from Owen's perspective, Gabriella's silence meant that she was admitting to her transgression against Samantha. Disappointment spread through him as he averted his gaze and carried Samantha away, not even bothering to spare a single glance back at Gabriella.