Chapter 4

I thought Samuel would linger with Sophie, lost in intimate moments.

To my surprise, he left the hospital room in less than ten minutes.

Afterward, he went to the bathroom. Samuel splashed cold water on his face, then stood motionless, staring at his reflection in the mirror as though lost in thought.

He pulled a cigarette from his pocket and lit it. The flame illuminated his impatience as he made a call.

“Any news on Della?”

Besides interrogating my mother and brother, Samuel had sent people to search for me.

“Mr. Finley, please give me more time,” came the reply, trembling with nervousness.

“You useless trash! You can’t even find one woman. What use are you to me?!”

With a loud snap, Samuel hurled the phone to the ground, shattering it. His face darkened with fury, and the atmosphere around him seemed to freeze.

When Samuel returned to Sophie’s room, her doctor was just leaving.

“Mr. Finley, Miss Hales’ condition has worsened,” the doctor told Samuel.

The truth was evident to me. Sophie’s skin had turned a dark purple due to breathing difficulties. Her fingers were swollen, her nails growing bulbous and warped.

Samuel’s expression grew even darker.

Sophie began crying pitifully, clutching his sleeve like a lifeline.

“Sam, my life is almost over…” she sobbed. “I’m not afraid to die, but I’m afraid of leaving you.”

Her tears soaked the fabric of his sleeve.

Samuel pulled her into his arms, his voice soft but resolute. “Don’t be afraid. I won’t let you go.”

“I’ll find Della and make her treat you!”

He stormed out of the hospital and headed straight to the place where my brother was held. In his hand, he carried a whip.

“Damian, tell me where Della is!” he demanded.

“I’ve already told you... You just don’t believe me... Della’s gone,” my brother replied weakly.

The whip cracked through the air, striking my brother’s back with a brutal snap.

“I don’t believe you!” Samuel roared. “This is just another lie your family is telling me!”

His eyes burned with rage as he struck Damian repeatedly, each blow more vicious than the last. When my brother was barely conscious, Samuel took a photo of him and sent it to my mother.

Mom arrived soon after, her hair disheveled, her face wild with worry. Seeing her in such a state broke my heart.

Samuel glanced down at her coldly.

“Are you finally ready to tell me where Della is? If you’d spoken sooner, none of this would’ve been necessary.”

He stood there, sneering.

My mother’s eyes were red and swollen. She looked at my brother, then reached into her pocket, pulling out a small piece of paper.

“This is where she is. Go,” she said, her voice trembling.

Samuel snatched the paper from her, his frown deepening. Instead of reading it, he waved for his men to restrain her.

“Let her lead the way,” he ordered.

During the drive, Samuel absently traced the edges of the paper with his fingers, his frustration simmering beneath the surface.

The car came to a halt outside a cemetery.

My mother was dragged out of the car, her steps faltering as Samuel’s thugs prodded her forward.

Samuel followed, his lips pressed into a tight line.

When he saw the gravestone with my black-and-white photo on it, he let out a harsh laugh.

“You’re really pulling out all the stops with this act, aren’t you?

“What’s next? Are you going to dig up the grave and hand me her ashes?”

My mother clenched her teeth, her voice steady despite the quiver in her frame. “Believe it or not, it’s the truth.”

Samuel’s expression turned cold. Without warning, he shoved her to the ground.

“Utter nonsense—”

Before he could finish, his phone rang.

“Mr. Finley, we’ve uncovered new information on Della!”

Samuel’s lips curled into a mocking smile as he glanced at my mother. However, that grin vanished in an instant.

“Mr. Finley... Miss Jensen... she died while trying to save you.”