Chapter 3 : My stepmother 

Samantha's POV 

Cal was still holding onto my phone, listening in on Shirley's rant.

"Where in the world are you? The house is a mess, and there's a smell in the bathroom. Clean it up, get back home! Or by God, I'll throw you out-"

She didn't get a chance to continue before I snatched the phone from Cal's hand.

"I'm sorry," I said quickly, stepping back. "I have to leave."

Cal simply looked at me, his expression unreadable. He'd said nothing since Shirley started shouting, but I knew he was thinking.

I didn't wait for him to say anything. I turned and ran.

I knew what would happen if I didn't arrive home on time. Shirley threatened to kick me out too often in the past, and now I had no money left.

I had to go.

Cal's POV

The moment Samantha left, a small smile played on my lips. She had no idea who I really was.

She thought I was just a construction worker.

Good.

I pulled out my phone and called my PA, Brad.

"Get me everything you can on Samantha Rae. Start with her address. I think she's going to need my help."

Brad, immediately, responded instantly. "On it, sir.".

I hung up and leaned against the hospital wall, my head reeling.

Samantha was different.

I had dated enough women in my life, gold diggers, social climbers, women who faked being nice just to get close to me.

But she… 

She's completely different.

Samantha's POV 

I was sweating and my legs were burning from running by the time I got home.

The instant I opened the door, a slap hit me across the face.

I took a step back, stunned.

Shirley stood in front of me, her eyes blazing with fury.

"How dare you not pick up when I call?" she snarled.

Shirley's hands shoved me harshly to the ground.

Pain shot through my knees, but I hadn't even stood up before her foot came crashing down, holding my hand to the cold floor.

I gritted, my body tensing in pain.

"You broke up with Tad?" Shirley sneered, pressing harder. "I always knew you were stupid, but this takes the cake."

I clenched my teeth. "He was cheating on me.".

Shirley rolled her eyes, completely unimpressed. "So?"

Behind me, in the corner of my eye, Vanessa, alleged stepsister, stood by the door, arms crossed over her chest, a smile spreading on her face.

Shirley lifted her foot from on top of my hand, but before I could move it, she'd kicked me in the gut.

I doubled over on myself, gasping.

"Tad was about to graduate and start making some real money," Shirley spat. "I should have shown you the door when your daddy died instead of 'helping' you."

My eyes welled up with anger and grief.

"Helping me?" My voice shook. "I never took a single penny from you! You stole my inheritance!"

Shirley didn't have time to respond. I was shocked, grasped a clump of my hair, and yanked my head back.

I let out a shrill, bitter scream.

"Ah-"

Her face twisted with revulsion. "Go get Tad and beg for him back. Beg for him like the pitiful little orphan that you are."

I pressed my eyes closed, struggling not to cry.

But then….

"Take your hands off my wife."

The authoritative, low voice cut through the room like a knife.

I was paralyzed.

My eyes snapped open, and when I shifted my head ever so slightly, I saw him standing there.

Cal.

His expression was like stone, his blue eyes locked onto Shirley like she was nothing more than a piece of dirt beneath his boot.

Shirley’s hand immediately released my hair, her body going stiff.

Vanessa’s smirk vanished.

The entire room went silent.

Shirley narrowed her eyes, clearly trying to process what he just said. “Wife?” She let out a sharp, mocking laugh. “You expect me to believe that?”

Cal moved forward. His very presence filled the room, like a hurricane ready to devastate all in its wake.

"Believe it."

I was still on the floor, my head spinning, my heart pounding.

Did he just…?

Shirley sneered. "Married or not, she's still a nobody."

Cal's jaw tightened.

I watched Vanessa's face twist with disgust, arms folded across her chest.

"Wife?" she sneered. "Who in the world would marry her?"

I didn't have a chance to say a word before Cal just casually pushed his hands into his pockets and smirked.

"I would."

The room fell dead silent.

Vanessa's mouth dropped open, and Shirley blinked as if she had just misheard him.

Cal turned to them, his face mockingly polite. "You must be my lovely mother-in-law and sister-in-law. I'm Cal.".

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest.

What is he doing?

Shirley's face twisted in raw outrage. "You married a construction worker?!" she snarled, glaring at me as if I had personally insulted her. "Instead of introducing a lawyer into this family?!"

My fists were balled. "If you want Tad so much in this family, why doesn't Vanessa marry him?"

Vanessa's face turned beet red. "Excuse me?!"

Shirley let out a bitter, mocking laugh. "Because Vanessa is marrying Calladan Vandalay, CEO of Vandalay Enterprises and the richest man in the city."

Cal raised an eyebrow. "Oh, is she?"

My stomach curled up in knots.

Shirley stood up straight, chin up. "Yes. In case you hadn't heard, he's looking for a wife, and my Vanessa is perfect for him."

I glanced at Cal, but his face remained impassive.

Something wasn't right.

I didn't know much about Calladan Vandalay, but I'd heard of him already, he was improbably rich, the kind of person who didn't even share the same air as someone like us.

And Vanessa? No chance in hell that some guy like him would select a girl like her out of nowhere to be his wife.

There was something fishy here.

I could feel Cal's eyes on me, but before I could even process what was happening, his voice cut through the air.

"That's interesting."

Shirley's smug smile faltered. "It is, isn't it?"

Vanessa tossed her hair over her shoulder, rolling her eyes and smirking.

"The minute he sees me, he'll be head over heels about me."

Cal slumped against the wall, leaning in a relaxed way, arms crossed. "Yeah, sure he will." His voice was heavy with sarcasm, but Vanessa, so self-absorbed, didn't even notice.

Instead, she picked up a bucket of dirty water and approached me.