Chapter 5

Samuel just laughed at her.

"Tania, you're always telling stories. You've been sneaking birth control pills for three years. How could you be pregnant? I must have been blind to think you were so precious!"

Without a second thought, he tore her nightgown open.

The sharp scent of blood filled the air.

Tania's belly ached sharply, and she was weak from not eating or drinking for three days. Coupled with her tailbone injury, she couldn’t even cry.

Right then, Lucy burst in, bubbling with excitement. "Samuel, Kingston University said yes to me joining the Rare Disease Research Institute!”

"It's for that project on the Ferguson family's genetic disease! I've got an interview tonight. Will you help me pick out an outfit?"

Seeing the blood beneath Tania, Samuel finally got scared.

He pointed at the stain, his voice shaking, "Lulu, call an ambulance!"

Lucy just glanced at it, made a face, and rolled her eyes. "It's just her period. Why call an ambulance? She can get up and clean herself.”

"I bet she's just pretending to be sad to make you feel sorry for her."

It was clear to anyone that this was no ordinary period.

However, Samuel hesitated, then actually listened to Lucy. He walked out with her, leaving behind a cold remark, "Don't play dead. Get up and clean yourself off."

The instant the door clicked shut, Tania felt the last trickle of warmth ebbing from her body.

Her gaze fixed on the ceiling as the room spun into darkness. She could not fight it anymore and passed out.

Coming to, Tania found herself on her bedroom bed, changed into fresh clothes, with her forehead wound neatly bandaged.

About to leave the bed, she noticed Samuel with a bowl of oatmeal in hand.

"Up and about? The doctor said you're weak, so I made you some oatmeal. Have it while it's warm."

Tania did not accept it, just gave him a frosty stare. "Where's my phone?"

Samuel's eyes darted away, setting the oatmeal on the nightstand, he reached to stroke her hair, but she avoided his touch.

"Have your oatmeal first, you need to get stronger. We'll talk about the phone later."

Tania stayed silent, her cool gaze unsettling Samuel.

He cleared his throat and went on.

"I was at Kingston University's Rare Disease Institute with Lulu. They're close to finishing the new drug for our family's genetic illness — there’s just one last set of data to go.”

"If I keep up with the meds, I'll live as long as anyone else.”

"Tania," he edged closer, "You can stop worrying, right? Once the drug's released, let's start a family, shall we?"

His voice carried a hint of a sneer.

"I tried to personally thank the institute's dean, but her staff said she was out. Acting all high and mighty, not even up for a thank-you lunch."

Tania watched him, her mind racing through many nights gone by.

For years, she came home from the lab, tired to the bone, and found Samuel waiting at the dinner table.

She never bragged about being the Dean or how she had worked through three whole nights to get her experiments right. She just said that she was "a little busy at the lab."

She now realized that he thought all her secret hard work was just someone else showing off.

Her voice was dry as she asked again, colder now, "Where's my phone?"

Samuel swallowed hard and handed her a shiny new phone.

"Your old one must've been broken, so I got you this," he said, trying to sound cheerful. "It's all set up. I even got your favorite games on it."

Tania barely smiled as she took the phone. Without looking at Samuel, she stepped out to the balcony and called the police.

"Hello, is this 110? I need to report a theft.”

"I've got drug research data worth billions that Lucy stole. I need to file a report and protect the evidence."

She had just hung up when she heard footsteps.

Suddenly, Samuel's arms were around her, just like they had been so many times before.

"Tania," he said, his voice close to her ear, "I know Lulu showing up has been tough on you.”

"She's so bright, so amazing. It's okay to feel a little jealous.”

"However, remember, you're Mrs. Ferguson."

He shifted the conversation, his voice growing serious, "Remember to act properly. Let's pretend that the last few days were just a bad dream, okay? From now on, we'll live happily."

Tania closed her eyes, and when she opened them, they were calm.

She whispered, "Okay."

She planned to forget everything about that place, including Samuel, once she left.

Samuel let out a sigh of relief, loosened his grip, and gave her shoulder a pat, "Go get dressed. I've had some new jewelry sent up for you.”

"There's a big party for Lulu tonight with lots of reporters. Don't make me look bad."

Tania went to her closet but ignored the fancy new jewelry and the dress Samuel had picked out.

Instead, she found a plain black dress and a simple silver necklace she had bought with her first paycheck before she married Samuel. It had nothing to do with him.

When she came out, Samuel was waiting on the couch.

He swallowed hard when he saw her, his eyes clouding over, his voice rougher than before.

"Tania, why aren't you wearing the new jewelry?"

"It's too flashy."

Her voice was cool as she glanced at him, "Tonight's about celebrating Lucy, right? I shouldn't outshine her."

Samuel missed the edge in her words and nodded to himself.

‘Lulu was right, spoiling women too much only made them start thinking they can do anything,’ he thought, ‘Tania's learned her lesson this time. She's much more agreeable now.’

The party was at the fanciest hotel in town, and as soon as Tania walked in, all the big names recognized her.

The brilliant young girl who had once dazzled Kingston University's Medical School, the Russell family's most exceptional heir in a hundred years.