Chapter 2 Broken-Hearted

Samuel pinched Irene's cheek affectionately, his voice soft as he spoke to her.

"Oh, Samuel, Hannah's not here. Go ahead and smoke if you want. Hasn't anyone told you how charming you look when you smoke?" Julie's voice was sweet and coaxing, which was immediately met with cheers from the people around them.

Samuel only smirked, indulging in the somewhat flirtatious attention.

Suddenly, Julie opened the top lid of her lighter and lit a cigarette for herself.

"Samuel, after all these years, why does it feel like you've changed? You seem less like your old self."

She exhaled a slow stream of smoke near Samuel's neck, her arms coiling around his shoulders like a snake.

"Alright then. Since you said so, Julie, I'll break the rules and have one cigarette today."

Sure enough, Samuel took a cigarette from the case and placed it between his lips.

Without missing a beat, Julie leaned in boldly, lighting his cigarette with hers, their faces so close they appeared to be kissing.

"Look at you two," someone teased. "All those years apart, and now you're missing out on marrying each other.

"Well, since you didn't get to share a wedding toast, why not share a cigarette like good buddies?" The voice was mischievous, and then, to my shock, they pushed Julie right into Samuel's arms.

For a moment, I thought Samuel would push her away. But instead, he just sat there, legs sprawled wide, making no effort to resist.

He didn't embrace her, but he didn't reject her either. In fact, he seemed to relish the attention, soaking in the admiration from those around him.

The scene pierced through me, a sharp ache blooming in my chest. The joyful news I had been so eager to share felt stuck in my throat, impossible to say now.

I turned, ready to leave. But just then, Irene spotted me.

"Mom! You're here!" Irene toddled toward me, waving her little hands, and asking for a hug.

Thus, I opened the door, instantly spoiling the mood in the room.

Samuel, on the other hand, subconsciously removed the cigarette from his mouth and put it out in the crystal ashtray on the table while pushing Julie away.

"Oh, don't mind me. Please, carry on with your fun. I'm just here to pick up Irene," I said, my gaze locking on Samuel, who was trying to act calm. I couldn't help but sneer.

"Uh… Hannah, don't take this the wrong way. This is Julie, our junior from college. You remember her, right?"

"Really? Sorry, I can't recall knowing her or being close to her," I replied coolly. "Come on, Irene, let's go home."

I skillfully picked Irene up and turned to leave, not staying a second longer in that room full of people who now seemed like devils in human form.

Disgust rippled through me just by being there.

After settling Irene in at home, I drove through the night to clear my mind. I didn't realize it until later, but I ended up at my old high school.

This was where Samuel and I had first met. Back then, I was the top student, first in our grade, while he was the school's notorious troublemaker.

He went to great lengths to woo me, never giving up.

"Samuel, if you put as much effort into your studies as you do chasing girls, you'd make it into the Ivy League," his homeroom teacher used to tease him whenever they saw him.

Eventually, in an attempt to shake him off, I set an impossible challenge. "You can pursue me, Samuel, but your grades can't be at the bottom. You have to make it onto the honor roll, like me."

"Yes, ma'am!" he had saluted me with his usual mischief.

To my surprise, those words lit a fire in him. In less than a semester, he ranked among the top 100 students in our grade, landing on the honor roll's last column.

I would never forget the sight of him racing toward me, waving his test paper like he had just won a great battle. My heart melted at that moment.