Don't Ignore Me

Chapter 8: Don’t Ignore Me!

Samantha POV…..

“Come with me,” he said, not giving me a chance to decide before dragging me into the bathroom and slamming the door shut behind us.

“What are you doing? Let me go!” I finally broke free from his grip, my eyes blazing with anger as my chest heaved. “What’s wrong with you? Have you gone mad?”

I still couldn’t understand what gave him the audacity to do this, or why.

“What’s wrong with me?” he scoffed, tightening his grip. “You shameless bitch. Are you seriously asking me that?” my eyes widened at his remark. Shameless bitch?

“Who are you calling a shameless bitch, huh?” I tried not to raise my voice, but my irritation bled through.

I watched as he paced back and forth with clenched fists, as if struggling to stop himself from doing something reckless. I stood in a corner of the bathroom, my back pressed against the wall.

His behavior only made me angrier. I was the one who had every right to be furious, not him. After everything he had done to me,what right did he have?

Memories crashed into my mind like wildfire, the beatings, the betrayal, the pain, the trauma he put me through.

“You think I don’t know what you’re doing?” he stepped closer snatching me out of chain of thoughts, a twisted grin on his face.

I glared at him, wishing I could grab his neck and strangle him to his own death.

He scoffed and pulled closer, until his breathe fell on my neck. “Step back” I pulled away in irritation. Everything about him getting on my last nerves.

“You’re trying to get back with me, aren’t you?” he rolled out clicking his tongue.

“What?!” My tongue almost escaped my lips, my hands clenched by the side.

“You know Adrian is my brother, and you married him just to get close to me, didn’t you?” The words hit me like a slap.

My heart echoed with anger, my ears ringing. Is that what he had reduced me to?

I bit down on my lower lip, forcing myself not to explode. Yelling would alert everyone, especially Adrian. Being caught together in the bathroom would only make things worse. It would make me look cheap and desperate, and I wasn’t going down that road again.

“Answer me when I’m talking to you, Samantha,” he snapped, shaking me roughly.

I glared at him, my eyes screaming a warning.

“Get your filthy hands off me, Steven,” I said through clenched teeth.

I was losing control. I curled my fists tighter, trying to suppress the storm inside me, but it refused to settle.

He chuckled and stepped back. “So now you’ve found the courage to challenge me?” A smirk tugged at his lips, amusement dancing in his eyes.

“You can talk back now?” He moved closer again, placing his hands above my head, trapping me.

I stared at him unflinching. I wasn’t scared anymore, not of him, not of his past beatings.

“What did you expect, Steven?” I scoffed bitterly. “That I would tremble and hide the moment I saw you? That I would let you walk all over me again?” shock flickered across his face.

He laughed dryly, trying to mask it. “I see. You’ve grown bold because you’re married to my brother… and….” His eyes dropped to my stomach….“pregnant for him.” Pain crept into his voice, he couldn’t hide it and I wondered what that meant.

“How long has this madness been going on?” His gaze stayed glued to my stomach.

Watching his eyes remain on my stomach, panic slowly flooded my anger away.

What if he touches it?

What if he realizes it’s fake?

If he exposes me, Adrian will blame me for everything.

“No… I can’t let that happen.” I pulled away slightly, breaking his stare.

“Don’t move, Samantha.” My breath caught in my throat as he stepped closer, his eyes still fixed on my stomach.

My heartbeat thundered with each step he took. I instinctively placed my hands over my belly, and no matter how hard I tried to steady myself, my trembling betrayed me.

He was only Inches away.

I closed my eyes, whispering a silent prayer. Steven was dangerous, reckless, violent, but worse, he was intelligent. He always uncovered the truth, no matter how well it was hidden.

I didn’t open my eyes until I felt his warm breath brush against my neck.

“Did you think I forgot you?” he whispered. “Or that this pregnancy …” he glanced at my stomach with scorn before returning his gaze to me, “…would scare me away?”

I stared at him, confused and shaken at the same time. Before I could speak, his lips crashed onto mine and my world froze.

“Tell me you don’t love me,” he murmured as he pulled back, searching my stunned eyes. “Tell me you didn’t miss me.”

I stood motionless, trying to comprehend what had just happened. My reflection in the mirror stared back at me, just as shocked.

“Tell me you didn’t enjoy that kiss,” he whispered into my ear.

That was it. Without thinking, I raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face.

The sound echoed and he held his face firmly, his eyes wide with shock.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I snapped, my voice trembling with fury. “Are you insane? How dare you touch me?”

I wiped my lips aggressively, disgust burning through me.

“What do you think?” My eyes were bloodshot red as I spoke, unable to stop glaring at him. “You think I would run back into your arms after everything you did to me?”

My fists clenched, and before he could react, I slammed a punch into his stomach.

He doubled over in shock, clutching his abdomen, but the disbelief in his eyes was even louder than his pain.

“Listen,” I continued, my voice trembling but firm. “I am not the Samantha you left behind. Not that scared girl who loved you blindly and trusted you with her entire heart.”

I swallowed hard, my throat burning.

“That girl you broke… the one you treated so unfairly because she gave you everything…” my voice cracked, “…I am not her anymore.”

Tears streamed down my face, my emotions spilling uncontrollably.

“You think I would forget everything so easily?” I wiped my tears angrily and tapped my chest. “I, Samantha Williams, will never forget what you did to me…and I will never forgive you. So get that straight.” I jabbed my index finger at his face as I spoke.

“So don’t even dream of it. Don’t ever try to talk to me again. We are done, done for good. As it stands now, we are nothing but in-laws, and I want it to stay that way.”

I shoved his hands away and turned toward the sink.

My reflection stared back at me weakly. I looked exhausted. My mascara was smeared from crying, my makeup ruined, my lipstick messed up from that unwanted kiss.

Disgust churned in my stomach just remembering it.

I wiped my lips again, the memory of the kiss making my skin crawl. I wish I could cut my lips off and grow new ones.

I leaned forward and splashed water on my face. My makeup was ruined anyway, and I didn’t want anyone in the house seeing me like this.

When I lifted my head again, I barely recognized myself—but I looked stronger.

I grabbed a towel and wiped my face, then turned around.

Steven was still standing exactly where I left him, stunned, confused, and speechless.

I didn’t say a word. I returned the towel and moved toward the door, but his grip caught my wrist.

“Don’t think I’ll give up on you so easily,” he said quietly. “I will come back for you, even if it means exposing our past.”

I yanked my hand free and slapped him again, harder this time.

“I would rather go back to a goat than ever come back to you,” I snapped, my eyes blazing with hatred.

I shoved the door open forcefully and froze.

Standing right outside was Adrian.

His face was calm, unreadable, his eyes perfectly hiding whatever storm brewed beneath. Oh my God!