Quinn looked on as everyone continued the countdown, but Sam still had his whole upper body in the car…"Three…""Two…"Quinn thought she could not breathe just then and closed her eyes at the very last instant.She was afraid to look—to see something that would overwhelm her.That was when a resounding crash could be heard over the hill. It started just beside her ears before becoming distant.The car had tipped over and fell down the hill, slamming thunderously down below.Quinn was trembling, still afraid to open her eyes.She had no idea what happened, let alone whether Sam was safe…As if avoidance would spare her from having to face reality. "Quinn," Bob suddenly called out.Quinn jumped—it was as if she could suffer a breakdown with even a slight breeze.Nonetheless, Bob urged, "We should go."Quinn bit her lip, finally opening her eyes… and she saw Sam nearby immediately. He was with the other racers, carrying the injured driver to one of the cars.In other wor
Everyone was waiting quietly in the hallway, and Sam was amongst them.Around two or three hours later, the doors to the operating room opened, and the surgeon stepped outside. Everyone surrounded him right then. "How is he, doctor?""Don't worry—he's not in danger."Everyone heaved a sigh of relief.Quinn did so too, although her eyes were on Sam."How are his legs? He was squeezed beneath the dashboard when he crashed," Sam asked calmly then."He was brought in just in time—any later and he would need amputation," the doctor said generously. "But thanks to the timely intervention, he'll make a full recovery without any issues. It would take a while since it is a serious fracture, though.""Good. He's a racer, after all," someone suddenly said.Sam nodded silently, relieved just then.Just as the patient was wheeled out of the operating room, hurried footsteps and cries could be heard from the other end of the hallway. "What happened to my son? How is he?"It was the racer
Bracing himself, Sam said, "Scold me all you want." It was not the first time—or the first day—that Quinn got upset with him.He was plenty prepared, but that was when he stiffened as he felt her suddenly throwing herself into his arms, holding him in a firm embrace.She had wanted to do that for a while but had been constantly holding back.She was never this scared of losing him before, and she had no idea when she started to pay so much attention to Sam.Still, she would not deny that it might have started with that accident three years ago, when she began to take her marriage with Sam seriously. Were they really unable to stand each other?And when he was sentenced to prison, she kept remembering him for some reason—persistently, too.Then, once he was out, she could not wait to mend her marriage with him… or to nurture Sam's feelings for her, to be precise. Either way, she knew very well that she was not that cold toward Sam now. She cared about him and perhaps even li
Maybe Quinn just could not stop her tears as soon as she began. Those were tears of joy, after all—because Sam lived."Stop crying, or I'm going to kiss you." Sam frowned.He had always been tall, but his facial features were rigid and frightening once he got upset.However, Quinn suddenly did not feel afraid. She just could not stop her tears, so she took a deep breath as she attempted to control her emotions—she already knew that she had lost composure.Then, at that very moment…"Mmmph…" Quinn's heart skipped a beat.She found herself staring at Sam's face up close as he suddenly kissed her.She even forgot that she was crying as she looked at him, feeling the warmth of his lips.Then, she stopped moving.Seeing that she calmed down, Sam slowly let her go. "Cry again, and I will bully you—Mmmph."It was his turn to be surprised—she was standing on her toes, wrapping her arms around his neck with much difficulty as she pressed her scarlet lips against his.Sam gulped
When Sam got out of the bathroom, Quinn was sitting tamely by the table with the food, waiting for him.He frowned. "Why didn't you eat first?"He knew all too well he had stayed a long while in the bathroom, since it took him considerable effort to calm his libido. Whenever he started to show signs of calming, he would suddenly remember what they were doing and get restless again.As such, he had to soak himself in cold water for who knew how long, and it never crossed his mind that Quinn was still waiting for him to eat.How stupid could she be? She could eat first if she was hungry!"I was waiting for you," Quinn replied mildly, not upset with his hostile tone."No one asked you to wait. Start eating," Sam growled as he sat down, shoving a fork and knife at Quinn and pettily putting extra food on her plate.Quinn did not refuse, though she was just staring at him so much that he was starting to get uncomfortable. Still, he said, "Finish it. You're as thin as a stick."Qu
That was when Quinn realized that Sam was reclining on the chaise lounge.Quinn went to stand before him, waiting for him to leave.Her sleeping gown was conservative, but it still left Sam hot and bothered.He was imagining tearing the sleeping gown into pieces and other unspeakable images…Taking a deep breath, he calmed himself and got off the couch. However, just as Quinn was putting her blanket on the chaise lounge and ready to get on it, she gasped in surprise, "Oh!"Sam had suddenly scooped her up in his arms.It could not be easier—against his burly figure, it was as though she was just a tiny chick, weak and unable to fight back."What are you doing, Sam?" she exclaimed in complaint."Sleep on the bed," he told her and threw her unceremoniously onto the bed.Quinn was left feeling daze, but she insisted, "You'd be uncomfortable on the couch—""I'm sleeping on the bed too.""What?" Quinn exclaimed, taken aback.She thought she had heard him wrong—he despised her,
Sam was silent, and Quinn could not see his reaction in the darkness, let alone tell if he was willing.Nonetheless, she pressed, "It's possible that we missed out on our chance to be together, and I won't deny liking Ryan as a child—""I don't need you to push yourself," Sam said flatly, pursing his lips."Can you let me finish?" she asked with a hint of plea in her voice.Sam stayed silent, and taking that for his approval, Quinn mustered her courage to continue. "At the time, I just felt he was good to me. He protected me like a brother after what happened to my family, giving me warmth, while you always made me cry…"Sam gulped, remembering the past just then.His parents brought Quinn home after her parent's accident, and he had no idea at the time, simply presuming that she was visiting Ryan like she always did.After all, she was always tagging along with Ryan wherever he went, and it was exasperating how she was always calling out to Ryan.That was why he played a prank
Sam was about to apologize when Ryan suddenly said, "Apologize? What's the point? He loves bullying Quinn constantly and still behaves the same even after what happened to her family. I'd have our parents disown you if you weren't my brother!"Sam had actually no idea what happened to Quinn's family, but Ryan's outburst left him incensed.He clenched his jaw and refused to apologize since it was pointless—they would never forgive him! Even Quinn never cared to look at him!That in turn sent Marvin into a frenzy, beating the snot out of him for his stubbornness and for hurting Quinn.He resented Quinn for that, until he found out that her parents died—they were being buried the day he hurt her too.He felt remorse, scarcely able to imagine how miserable she was. And what if she died with them at the time too?That was why he tried to apologize, but Ryan kept her with him at all times after she returned to Saunders Mansion, refusing to let Sam approach her.And on occasions wher
Soon, another nurse emerged from the delivery room with a small bundle. "Is the mother's family here?""Yes!" John exclaimed loudly."The delivery was successful," the nurse said. "The baby weighs eight pounds—""How is she?" John asked in agitation, not caring about the child."She's fine. The doctor is just helping her clean up and she'll be out soon," the nurse replied.As John breathed a sigh of relief, the nurse reminded him, "Aren't you the father? Here's your child."John took the baby off her arms, staring at her for a moment as the others flocked around him. "Oh, she's so fair!" Zoe could not help exclaiming. "That's the most beautiful baby I've ever seen.""Are you saying that your son's ugly?" Bob teased."To be honest, yeah," Zoe replied without thinking.Jay cleared his throat—even if it was a subjective opinion, it still hurt to have his own baby called ugly."Let me carry her," Zoe volunteered just then, and John did not hesitate to hand her his baby.As Zoe
"What?!" Zoe exclaimed in shock.Beside them, John's face fell despite being usually stoic.Still, even before anyone could react, he scooped Cordy up in his arms and left.Zoe did not hesitate to follow, but Jay reminded her, "We're the hosts, Zoe.""Don't care." Zoe was completely unconcerned. "Ask my mom and your sister to handle the guests. I'm going with Cordy!"Jay hesitated for a moment before deciding to follow since there was no reasoning with Zoe.Sam and Quinn also realized that something was out of place.As they pulled away reluctantly, Bob shouted from below, "If you're done kissing, we're going to the hospital! Cordy's going into labor!"Quinn hurried after them as soon as she hurt, but Sam caught her. "Slow down. We can catch up."In fact, most of the guests were leaving as well—it was as if the banquet for Zoe's son was actually intended for everyone else.The poor boy was certainly unlucky to have such unreliable parents!-As everyone rushed to the hospit
"I'm swelling from my pregnancy," Quinn explained. "It's not your fault."Sam was left staring at her for a while before asking, "So, what should I do?""I'll put it on when I slim down.""Oh." Sam was a little disappointed, since he had always dreamed of having her put on the ring he had custom made.But this was fine—they had all the time they needed, and the most important thing for him is that Quinn was marrying him!He rose to his feet just then, and everyone was cheering as soon as he did. "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"Quinn blushed right then, and Sam could see that she was embarrassed.He did not want to make things awkward for her, even if he was quite eager at the moment.Heaven knows how much he missed that night's drunken fumble they had. In fact, during the times he remembered it in dreams, he had to wash his pants when he woke up.Still, just as he took Quinn's hand and started to leave, he felt a softness on his lips—Quinn was kissing him! Sam's heart pounded thunderous
Everyone waited patiently for the final outcome.Quinn's eyes were welling up with tears, threatening to gush if she so much as blinked.She did her best to hold back her tears—to be strong!Sam pursed his lips in turn, his Adam's apple bobbing.A long while passed, and it felt like a century for Quinn when she finally heard him say, "Yes."Quinn's tears started falling in happiness as Sam declared loudly, "I'll marry you, Quinn—it's what I've always wanted to do! I won't let you go even if you regret it eventually! You only get to be with me, and I'll never let any other man claim you! I'll become very overbearing… eventually!""I won't regret it," Quinn said, determined.She certainly would not regret marrying him!Zoe walked up to them with perfect timing just then, and Sam did a double take.He finally remembered that Zoe was the host of this luncheon and was going to leave with Quinn when Zoe whipped out a small red velvet box."You know what's in here, don't you?" Zoe a
However, Sam had already pushed Quinn away before she could tell him. But even if he did not love her or did not want to be with her, she would never stay with Ryan.She had been disappointed in Sam, wondering why he would give up so easily.Was she that unimportant to him?Therefore, if it were not for Zoe and Cordy showing her that video or telling her so much, she would never have known that he loved her for years…Sam's heart ached even as he looked into Quinn's tearful eyes.He reached out a hand, but soon withdrew it—would he not burden her?Even so, it hurt to restrain himself as he watched her, and he was actually getting the feeling that Quinn loved him…But she already had Ryan's child…Well, he was fine with that, as long as the child was Quinn's.But would she not mind?"I will marry you, Sam," Quinn said slowly and clearly then. "Not because you're a good man, not because you prepared so much for me, and not because of how much you prepared for me, but because I
Everyone in the hall was staring at Sam and Quinn, while Quinn took center stage, staring fixedly at Sam.He stood in the middle of the crowd, watching her silently.She in turn felt fear that he would turn and leave, just as she did not know if she had the courage to stand before him again and to declare her feelings for him in front of so many others.Nonetheless, amid the deafening silence, Sam suddenly walked toward the stage.His pace was slow as if his feet were made of lead, but he was also unusually determined.Quinn's heart raced uncontrollably right then!Everyone else was watching them nervously, especially Cordy and Zoe, with the latter being especially concerned that the cowardly Sam would bail.Fortunately, he was a man who showed responsibility. He would not leave Quinn alone and embarrassed.Hence, as everyone looked on, Sam stood before Quinn, his gaze flickering as their eyes met.He gulped ever so slightly, his emotions clearly ruffled even as he did his bes
The guests were encouraging, loudly asking, "Why?!""Because of a woman," Sam's recording replied."Who is it?""Quinn Summer," the Sam on the screen said slowly and clearly, leaving the Sam who was in the hall stunned.What the hell?! That was the proposal video he prepared before! Why did it show up here? Did Zoe make a mistake?!He knew it—leave anything to Zoe, and she would mess it up!He started striding toward the stage, intent on stopping the recording, when John and Bob intercepted him with a look of utter guilt while the recording continued. "Quinn is my wife, and we've been married for years, but I've never really loved her—not because I don't, but because I'm afraid to. I feel too insignificant in comparison to the one she loves, so I'd always hurt her… painfully and childishly. I regret that so much now, Quinn. How could I have abandoned you for so long because of my own jealousy? I'd rather hold you in my sleep every night, but my damned pride denied me that for y
At the banquet hall, Jay and Zoe were thanking their guests with their children in their arms.Then, Zoe announced excitedly, "Please give my best friend, who is also my son's godmother, a warm applause as she comes on stage!"Sam stood at a corner of the hall, watching as Quinn walked up the stage, only realizing just then that her belly was clearly swelling despite her baggy clothes.Time flies—he had not left that long ago, but she and Ryan already had a child.She was not worried about giving him a stroke, was she?He watched as Quinn took the mic and looked around below searching, seemingly searching.After a while, he thought she was looking at him, but by the time he looked up, she had already turned away.Maybe she was looking for Ryan before remembering that Ryan was not there?Nonetheless, Quinn spoke into the mic, saying, "I'm honored to be chosen as the godmother to Zoe's son, and she's been saying he'd be engaged to my child if it's a girl. I already love my godson
As their eyes met, Sam turned frantic and averted his. "Of course.""Really?" Quinn asked."Would I lie to you?" Sam asked a little grumpily."And you didn't bring her back?" Quinn asked."I'm on a schedule, and it'd be taxing for her if I bought her along," Sam said, making things up as he went along. "I'll bring her along when things are less busy.""Is she pretty?" Quinn pressed."What, have I ever picked an ugly one?" Sam snorted smugly. "You know I prefer curvaceous types, and there are plenty of those abroad.""Do you have a photo?"Sam was silent for a while and eventually said, "Yeah.""Can I see it?""What, does she have to pass your assessment?""Just curious about the girl who can tempt you to settle down," Quinn replied. "You'd be humbled." Sam hastily came up with an excuse."I won't," Quinn said, determined."You'll see her when I bring her home." Sam refused nonetheless."I would like to see a photo now.""No, she's not that photogenic. It'd be slander a