Chapter 4: The Rich Billionaire 

Samantha POV 

"Now get to work cleaning up this dog shit, you maggot."

I barely had time to respond before she grabbed the bucket, ready to dump it on me.

But she never got the chance.

Cal moved fast, grabbing her wrist in mid-swing. The bucket wobbled, some of the vile water spilling onto the floor, but not a single drop came close to me.

"My wife will not clean one more speck of shit off your floor," he said, his tone flat and lethal.

Vanessa gasped. "How dare you touch me?!"

Before she could pull free, Shirley tensed up, her eyes widening as she took in something.

"Wait." She turned to Cal, her voice shaking a bit. "C. Vandalay? I mean… Calladan Vandalay?"

My heart skipped a beat.

Cal laughed low. "Yeah. He's the boss of the company I work for. His name's on all our vests.".

Vanessa giggled, shooting at him with a dismissive hand. "Mom, come on. You actually believe Calladan Vandalay would wear that? And marry Sam? Out of all people?"

Then she and Shirley were laughing.

I clenched my fists. They were laughing at me. Again.

Cal didn't even appear annoyed. If anything, he appeared bored.

"Fine," Shirley spat at last, her laughter ending as she gave me a vicious grin, "if you're not going to clean up this mess of a mess, then you can just forget about living here. Get your shit together and get out."

My breath caught. "But I have nowhere else to go."

Shirley's face didn't even flinch.

"Do you think that's my problem?" She sneered. "You're nothing but a spoiled little brat, and you can be out on the streets for all I care."

But before I could even begin to process it, Cal's voice cut through the room like a knife.

"She's my wife." His voice was firm, commanding, and unshakeable. "She will live with me."

I yanked my head up, staring at him with wide eyes in shock. "Cal, do you mean it?" 

He met my gaze, his face completely sincere.

"Yes. You're my family now."

Cal let out a small chuckle, tilting his head as he looked at Shirley.

“I’m sure Mr. Vandalay will be just as charmed as I’ve been.”

He said it so smoothly, like it was some inside joke only he understood.

Then, before Shirley or Vanessa could say another word, he gently took my hand and led me toward the door.

Shirley's face twisted in anger. "Good luck with her, then," she sneered, crossing her arms. "Go live in whatever pit your bum of a husband is taking you off to."

Vanessa snickered beside her. "Don't forget to send us a postcard from the ghetto, sis."

I clenched my teeth, my fingers clamping on the small bag of belongings I had been able to grab before we'd left.

I was frozen in the doorway, my heart pounding as I stared up at the mansion in front of me.

It wasn't big. It was gigantic—massive gates, marble columns, and glass windows that stretched so high they seemed to touch the sky.

This wasn't a house. This was a palace.

And supposedly… I was moving in now.

I turned slowly, my voice barely above a whisper. "You live here?"

Let me know if you need any further assistance.

Cal leaned against his car, gazing at me with that same unreadable expression. "And now, so do you."

I exhaled a laugh, shaking my head. "No… no, this doesn't add up. If you live here, then why were you selling blood?"

His lips trembled, like he was holding back a smile. "I wasn't selling blood. I was donating it."

I blinked. "Donating? But why?"

Cal shrugged. "I built that hospital. I wanted to help the patients."

His words hit me like a truck.

I slowly turned back to him, my voice barely a whisper. "Wait… who are you?"

He didn't hesitate.

"I am Calladan Vandalay, CEO of Vandalay Enterprises."

I felt the ground slope beneath me. My stomach dropped.

I couldn't breathe.

My vision blurred, and my chest tightened.

Cal stepped in front of me, his hands on my shoulders. "Breathe, Sam," he told me.

I drew a ragged breath, my whole body trembling.

This was impossible. This couldn't be possible.

I had just married one of the richest, most powerful men in the city.

And I hadn't even known.

"Why would someone like you want to marry someone like me?" I finally managed to choke out.

Cal's frown intensified. "Why wouldn't I?"

"Because you're Calladan Vandalay," I breathed. "You could have any girl you want. A million girls would kill for this."

He scoffed. "Yeah. A million girls like your stepsister, who care more about my bank account than who I am."

I gulped. "But I'm nobody. I mean… there's nothing special about me."

Cal tilted my chin up, forcing me to look at him.

His eyes were even, his voice even.

You're my wife. That makes you special enough."

And with that, my heart stopped.

I could barely keep pace.

He continued talking, 

"If you really think that's true," Cal said, his voice gentler now, "then you don't see yourself like I do."

I gasped when he stepped closer. There was something in his eyes that I couldn't understand.

"I hope that changes one day."

And then, he leaned down, tilting his head, lips inches from mine.

But before his mouth could meet mine….

His phone was ringing.

Cal stepped back. "I need to get this."

I swallowed, trying to suppress the sudden surge of disappointment.

He pulled out his phone, reading the screen before answering. His whole attitude shifted.

Seriously Cold. Professional.

As if the guy who was about to kiss me just now had disappeared into space.

Before I could even think about it, he turned slightly and whispered, "By the way, your wedding gift has been credited in your bank account."

My eyes widened. "Wait, what?"

But he had already stormed out of the room, speaking into the phone to the person on the other end of the line.

Confused, I picked up my phone and glanced at my banking app.

And then….

I nearly dropped my phone.

Because there, in my account, was a fortune of money so enormous that I nearly passed out.

I shut the door, phone still clutched in my hand.

"Hey, Cal, I've got to talk to you about money…."

But I was only halfway through before I spun around too quickly and crashed into him straight on.

His chest. His bare chest.

My palms are planted against his chest, feeling the warmth, the muscles beneath my hands.

I'm standing frozen.

My heart is pounding in my ears.

His shirt was unbuttoned, loose on his shoulders, displaying his ridged abs and sharp collarbones.

Oh. My. God.

I swallowed hard, unable to breathe.

Cal's arms instinctively closed around my waist, anchoring me in place.

His skin seared through the thin fabric of my clothing, sending shivers running down my spine.

I raised my head slowly, only to find him gazing back at me with dark, unreadable eyes.

The air between us changed.

It was thick. Tight. Electric.

Neither of us moved.

Neither of us spoke.

I wanted to say something, anything but my mind failed me.

Cal's eyes flashed down to my lips.

Was he going to kiss me?

I should step back. I should move.

But I didn't.

Because the truth is, I didn't want to.

He began to kiss me from my neck down to my chest. That makes me want more of him. He was so sweet the kisses were deeping until we found ourselves in his bed none of us wanted to stop.

And then….

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Someone knocked on the front door.

The spell was broken.

I jumped back, my heart racing in my chest.

Brad stepped into the room, clearing his throat. “Oh, sorry, boss.”

Cal barely glanced at him. “It’s fine. What is it?”

Brad shifted uncomfortably. “Your grandmother has returned from France. She wants to meet your wife.” He paused before adding, “She also said that now that you’re married, it’s time to go public and reveal your identity.”

I swallowed hard. Public? Reveal his identity?

Before I could even react, Brad continued, "But sir, there's something more. From what we've learned in our investigation, Samantha may quite possibly be. your niece."

The room spun.

Did he just say….?

"What?" My voice was raw, a mere whisper.

Cal's entire body tightened beside me. His grip on the doorknob tightened, his jaw setting.

"Repeat that," Cal instructed, his voice precariously controlled.

Brad paused before repeating, "There's a possibility that Samantha is your niece.".

I took a step back. My heart was pounding so hard that it drowned out the rest of the conversation.

Niece? That is not possible!

how could it be possible, what are they talking about, there must be a mistake somehow.

all over my body was shaking, I couldn't hold it, after the wedding, me and cal had just… Oh, no this can't be. 

"That's impossible," I gasped, my head shaking. "My father… he…"