Chapter 5

"I'm full. Don't worry about me."

After saying that, Samantha got up and wanted to leave.

Sydney's soft voice rang behind her.

"Samantha, did I do something to upset you? Please, don't misunderstand me. I just came back from abroad and haven't found a place to stay for the time being, so I asked Channing for some help. If you don't like it, I'll..."

"It's alright," Channing cut in, comforting Sydney first. "Sydney, don't let it bother you."

Samantha understood what Channing meant. He was telling Sydney not to take her distress seriously. There was no need to care about her feelings at all, because she was just an outsider.

They were the real family.

This marriage was going to end.

Samantha returned to the bedroom.

Her suitcase had already been opened. Opal was worried she would be too tired, so she had taken the initiative to unpack for her. At that moment, she noticed Samantha coming in.

Opal put down the envelope in her hand.

She had clearly seen what was inside. With trembling hands, she tied the document back up and couldn't help asking, "Madam, are you really going to divorce Mr. Lane? That can't be happening!"

"Why can't it?" Samantha was calmer than she had imagined. "Opal, don't you think he and Sydney look more like husband and wife?"

There was a moment of pause before Samantha continued.

"That's right. They were together from the start. A pair of childhood sweethearts. A wealthy heir and a rich lady. I was the one who barged in out of nowhere and took the identity of Mrs. Lane, making it impossible for them to be together openly. But they were already together in secret, and they even had a son... Haha..."

The more Samantha laughed, the more distorted her expression became.

In the end, tears covered her face.

It was truly pitiful and ridiculous.

Opal hadn't known about this and was completely shocked. "Did… Did you just say Mr. Lane and Ms. Ingram already have a son? Where is he, then?"

"Right under our noses, Opal. Harold is their son," Samantha said.

"This... How is that possible?" Opal's expression was immediately darker. "Didn't Mr. Lane and you adopt Harry? How did he become..."

Samantha nodded. "Channing admitted it himself."

Only then did Opal understand why Sydney could sit so openly in the place that had originally belonged to Samantha as the lady of the house, and why she was so close to their adopted son.

Opal couldn't help feeling sorry for Samantha, and tears rolled from her eyes.

"If that's true, then that's just too much. How could Mr. Lane treat you like this? You were hurting so much when you lost your child back then. Given Harold's age, Mr. Lane was probably already seduced by that homewrecker while you were still pregnant."

Samantha nodded. She remembered how she had endured the miscarriage alone back then. Meanwhile, Channing had been quiet and hadn't offered her a single word of comfort.

It turned out the signs had been there all along.

Samantha told Opal not to put anything back into the wardrobe. She would handle it herself.

After Opal left, Channing came in.

Seeing Samantha busy packing her suitcase, he ignored it and went into the bathroom.

A while later, Samantha saw the bathroom door open. Channing came out wearing a dark red robe. The belt was tied loosely around his waist, revealing the firm muscles of his chest and the sharp lines of his abdomen.

His gaze darkened as he looked at Samantha, but she acted as if she couldn't see him.

After a while, Channing suddenly walked to her side and asked in a low voice, "Weren't you tired? Why haven't you gone to wash up yet?"

Samantha heard the implication in his words. He wasn't worried about whether she was tired. He meant that once she washed up, it would naturally be time for them to be intimate again.

But even if she did not wash up, it did not matter. He knew Samantha must have showered before boarding the plane.

His arm slid under Samantha's hips, and he was about to lift her with one hand when Samantha slipped out of his arms.

"Stay away from me."

Channing noticed her rejection, and his thin lips pressed together.

"Samantha, are you still angry? Sydney just came back from abroad and had nowhere to go. She's only staying here temporarily. I didn't expect you to be this petty."

"Nowhere to go?" Samantha almost laughed. "Are all the hotels in the city full? Or is she so young she doesn't even know how to rent an apartment?"

Channing frowned. "Sydney wants to stay here because it'll help with her recovery. She has depression. Having a child keeping her company will make her feel better. Samantha, stop being so petty. She'll move out after some time and she won't affect you."

"Fine," Samantha said, "but if you want to do it, go find Sydney. Am I generous enough for you? I'm letting my own husband screw another woman."

Channing's expression instantly turned dark. He hadn't expected Samantha to say something so unpleasant, but he quickly understood.

Samantha had been born in the countryside after all, and she had grown up hearing all those vulgarities. She couldn't compare to Sydney, who was raised by a wealthy family.

Channing held his anger back. He knew Samantha was only saying that in a fit of anger. They had been husband and wife for so many years, and he had long since grown used to being with her.

Besides, something had gone wrong with him ever since that incident five years ago. He hadn't slept with Sydney again after that at all.

In the end, he still liked Samantha more.

And so, he softened his voice and comforted her. "Just once..."

As he spoke, he leaned in to kiss her.

Samantha immediately moved away.

Once?

Even once would disgust her.

She wanted to reach for the divorce agreement, but Channing grabbed her. His hand was so large that he could hold both of hers with one hand.

She looked at Channing, who had buried his face against her body. She only wanted to turn away, but he grabbed her shoulder.

"Don't refuse me…" His hoarse voice was almost a moan. "Don't refuse!"

At this moment, Channing's expression was more unfamiliar than ever. He wasn't as cold as he usually was. Instead, he was burning hot, his face flushed with desire. His eyes were full of lust, his expression hungry.

Samantha knew this wasn't love at all.

It was only lust.

Love means respect. Love meant standing by her side and protecting her, no matter what.

Suddenly, her mind cleared. She raised her hand and shoved him away hard.

Only after she pushed him away did Channing react. He was in disbelief that Samantha would reject him when he had lowered himself to please her like this.

As the two of them remained locked in a stalemate, an urgent call came.