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Chapter 3
Samantha's face twisted with concern as soon as she saw me, her eyes darting to my wounds. Without missing a beat, she stepped closer, the worry clear on her face.
"What happened? How did you get out of the mountains alone?" she asked, her voice soft but urgent.
I quickly explained the situation, and she let out a deep sigh.
"Surviving something like this means luck is on your side. Let me help you with your wounds," she said, guiding me toward a car parked at the foot of the mountain.
I draped my arm around her neck for support, the familiar scent of roses filling my senses. For a moment, I hesitated, unsure if I should accept her help.
"Samantha, I can manage. You don't have to do this," I said, but she only tightened her grip.
"It's fine. The path's tricky," she insisted.
Reluctantly, I let her lead me all the way to the car, where she carefully helped me into the passenger seat. She rummaged under the seat for a small first aid kit, then pulled out some alcohol and started tending to my wounds with a gentle touch.
"Does it hurt?" she asked, her voice soft as she cleaned the cuts.
I shook my head, forcing a small smile. "No, not really."
As she worked, I couldn't help but think of the past—the life I'd left behind. The memory of Lily, the woman I once thought I loved, cut through my mind like a shard of glass.
I remembered a company party from my past life. Lily had been getting toasted by everyone, and I, worried she might drink too much, suggested she slow down. Instead of thanking me, she snapped. Without warning, she shoved me into a champagne tower. Glass shattered, and I fell onto the broken pieces, pain ripping through me as champagne poured all over my body.
I cried out in pain, but when I looked up, Lily's cold gaze met mine. "Does it hurt? Good, it should. Alex Johnson never got found. He suffered far more than this. If it weren't for you taking his parachute, he wouldn't have died. It's all your fault, Bruce."
Her words stung, but what hurt more was the realization that she and Alex Johnson had something deeper than I ever had with her. Our marriage had been a formality, nothing more than a way to secure the family fortune.
I remembered standing there, bleeding and in pain, unable to comprehend how everything had unraveled. I laughed bitterly at her, "You think this is all my fault?"
"The plane was sabotaged. The parachute was tampered with. But instead of blaming your rivals, you blame me? You're sick, Lily."
I left her that night, alone in my pain, and went to the hospital by myself. From then on, our relationship was nothing but a hollow shell. She belittled me at every turn, her cruelty growing with every passing day.
But now, Samantha was here, showing me kindness, helping me when I needed it the most. The contrast was jarring.
"Thank you, Samantha," I whispered, my voice breaking slightly.
She looked up suddenly, her eyes locking onto mine. She grabbed my wrist, her touch firm yet gentle, and said, "Bruce, you and Lily might not be a good match, but the engagement between our families doesn't have to end here."
I blinked, surprised. "What are you saying?"
Samantha released my wrist, taking the painkillers from my hand and changing the subject. "Never mind. Should I take you home?"
I hesitated. I didn't want to go home. My parents, who married for business reasons, had never really cared for me. They saw me as a mere asset, something to be passed down. And Lily? She'd never treated me with anything close to affection. After our marriage, she never even took me to formal events, and when she did, she made sure I knew how little I meant to her.
"Samantha," I said softly, "Can I stay with you for a few days? I don't want to go back to that place."
She looked at me, her gaze soft but unreadable. I gave her the most pitiful look I could muster, hoping she'd understand the weight of my words.
She didn't respond right away, but I could see she was considering it. Then, she lowered her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "Are you sure? Living with me... there's a price."
Her words took me off guard. I stepped back, my heart racing, but the scent of roses around her made me dizzy. "Yeah, any price," I said, meeting her gaze.
"Really?" she asked, a playful glint in her eyes.
"Really."
She smiled then, her laughter light but carrying an edge. The air between us shifted, something unspoken passing between us. I thought for a second she might kiss me, but instead, she ruffled my hair, messing up the already wild strands. "You'd better remember that."
"I will," I promised, my heart pounding.
In the end, I ended up going home. As the car drove me back, I felt a knot tighten in my chest. But when we passed a gas station, we ran into Lily and her rescue team.