Samara sat frozen in her chair, the café's lively atmosphere fading into the background. Her mind replayed Caroline's words, the images she had shown, and the implications they carried. The thought that Damien might have been working with Caroline all along made her stomach churn.Gathering herself, she took a deep breath and stood. She couldn’t let Caroline get to her—not without hearing Damien's side of the story first.---Later that evening, Samara sat in the living room, her arms crossed as she waited for Damien to return home. The engagement ring on her finger seemed to burn against her skin, a symbol of trust she now questioned. The door clicked open, and Damien walked in, his usual confident stride faltering when he saw her expression.“Samara?” he asked, setting his briefcase down. “What’s wrong?”She stood, holding her phone tightly. “Caroline,” she said flatly.His brows furrowed. “What about Caroline?”“She met with me today. She showed me pictures, Damien. Pictures of you
Frederick’s hand covered hers, his touch steadying. “Samara, Damien isn’t the kind of man I’d trust with anything important. But this... this also sounds like something Caroline would orchestrate. She’s manipulative, and she’ll do whatever it takes to get what she wants.”“But what if he’s lying to me, Frederick?” she whispered. “What if everything we’ve built is a lie?”Frederick hesitated, his grip tightening slightly. “Then you deserve to know the truth. You don’t have to make any decisions tonight, Samara. Take your time. Don’t let them rush you into anything.”She looked at him, her eyes searching his face for reassurance. “I don’t know where to go from here.”He gave her a faint, bittersweet smile. “You’re stronger than you think. You’ll figure it out.”Samara felt a sudden rush of gratitude for him. Despite everything they’d been through, Frederick was still there for her, steady and unwavering. She leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder as the weight of the eveni
Frederick opened the door almost instantly when Samara knocked, as though he’d been waiting for her. His expression shifted from concern to alarm when he saw the tears streaking her face and the phone clutched tightly in her hand.“Samara, what happened?” he asked, stepping aside to let her in.She walked past him, her body trembling with the effort to stay composed. “I was right,” she said, her voice breaking. “Caroline… Damien… they’ve been working together this whole time.”Frederick frowned, shutting the door and guiding her to the couch. “What do you mean? What did you find out?”Wordlessly, Samara unlocked her phone, pulled up the video, and handed it to him. She couldn’t bear to watch it again, but the sound of Damien and Caroline’s voices filled the room, each word cutting deeper than the last.Frederick’s jaw tightened as he watched. By the time the video ended, his hands were clenched into fists, his knuckles white. “Unbelievable,” he muttered, his voice low and furious. “Th
Samara drove aimlessly through the city streets, the cool night air seeping through her car’s cracked window. The confrontation with Damien had left her emotionally drained, but beneath the exhaustion was a strange sense of liberation. For the first time in months, she felt like she was in control of her own story.Her phone buzzed on the passenger seat, breaking her thoughts. She glanced at the screen—Frederick.After a moment’s hesitation, she picked it up. “Hello?”“Samara,” Frederick’s voice was calm but concerned. “Are you okay? You left so abruptly earlier. I was worried.”“I’m... better,” she admitted, her voice soft. “I ended things with Damien.”A pause. “You did?”“Yes,” she said firmly. “I couldn’t stay with him after what I found out.”“I’m proud of you,” Frederick said after a beat. “It takes strength to walk away from something that isn’t good for you.”Samara swallowed the lump in her throat, grateful for his unwavering support. “Thank you, Frederick. I don’t know what
Damien stormed out of Caroline's apartment, his mind a whirlwind of anger and regret. He had thought he could control the situation, but Caroline's scheming had unraveled everything. Samara was gone, her trust shattered, and now he stood alone in the chaos he had helped create.As he drove through the city streets, Damien’s grip tightened on the steering wheel. Caroline had pushed too far this time, and he wasn’t going to let her get away with it. He needed to find a way to repair the damage, but what actually could he do to win Samara back? Has he really lost her after all this time of scheming to be with her? Meanwhile, back at Caroline’s apartment, she reclined on the couch, her wine glass in hand, savoring her perceived victory. She had shaken Damien and pushed Samara out of his reach. Everything was the way it should be now. She smiled to herself. If she can't have Frederick, Damien can't have Samara either.----The next morning, Samara woke in Frederick’s arms, sunlight stream
The soldiers came late in the day, grim and unwavering. Everyone had expected them, but their appearances, led by a cold-eyed colonel who has been a terror in the community, was still shocking. The men of the house went out to meet them, while the daughters and their mother stayed back and watched with fear.Samara glanced through the kitchen window with panic. Rafael her brother, lurked just outside the door. He caught her eye and made an urgent gesture, she must hide. She nodded to him, but didn’t budge. She wanted to see everything.“To what do I owe this honor?” Her Father spoke, feigning a smile.The colonel looked at him spitefully, “This is not a pleasant visit”.Samara could see her Father tremble at the colonel’s voice. She felt bad. She has brought this upon her family with her uncouth attitude towards the officers earlier in the day when she had gone to pick oranges. Samara was on her way home when she had heard a sound come in on the wind, voices and a soft mewling. Unab
If he had been asked, Colonel Frederick Smyth could have put his hand on his heart and sworn that he had never met anyone as ravishingly beautiful as Samara Noel. She was beauty personified, from her pretty face, with a bright calling eyes, her well sculpted pointy nose, broad high temple, high cheek bones, curvy luscious lips, and piano keys-like dentition, to her curvy body and very smooth light skin. She was perfection.As a child, Frederick was not a good looking boy. He was chubby, and had a huge round stomach. He was always bullied by his mate. When he became a teenager, he had lost some weight, but his face was filled with acne. He was still taunted and mocked by both boys and girls of his age. No one wanted to be friends with him. Frederick felt so inferior among his mates, that he swore he was going to find a way to measure up, and even get better than them. When an opportunity to join the army came, he grabbed it. He needed so bad to excel at something. And so he did. Frede
NEVER… NEVER… NEVER…Samara kept screaming in her head as she returned home after meeting with the Colonel. She had heard many awful things about the Colonel, but after today she was sure they forgot to mention that he was also a Mad Man. If not, then how on earth did he think of making such a proposal? Or the worst that he expected that she would accept? “Why are you talking to yourself?” Samara looked up to see who had spoken to her. She was totally lost in her thoughts that she didn’t realize she was not alone. A young handsome man stood before her, and she was caught aback for few seconds. He looked like a model, with thick dark brown hair and vivid eyes; Samara remembered thinking that a man with a face like his should be short, just to keep the scales balanced. Instead he was tall and had a casual masculine grace that could draw any feminine eye to him. His looks were wholly masculine. “Why are you talking to me?” She asked after regaining her composure and giving him a good
Damien stormed out of Caroline's apartment, his mind a whirlwind of anger and regret. He had thought he could control the situation, but Caroline's scheming had unraveled everything. Samara was gone, her trust shattered, and now he stood alone in the chaos he had helped create.As he drove through the city streets, Damien’s grip tightened on the steering wheel. Caroline had pushed too far this time, and he wasn’t going to let her get away with it. He needed to find a way to repair the damage, but what actually could he do to win Samara back? Has he really lost her after all this time of scheming to be with her? Meanwhile, back at Caroline’s apartment, she reclined on the couch, her wine glass in hand, savoring her perceived victory. She had shaken Damien and pushed Samara out of his reach. Everything was the way it should be now. She smiled to herself. If she can't have Frederick, Damien can't have Samara either.----The next morning, Samara woke in Frederick’s arms, sunlight stream
Samara drove aimlessly through the city streets, the cool night air seeping through her car’s cracked window. The confrontation with Damien had left her emotionally drained, but beneath the exhaustion was a strange sense of liberation. For the first time in months, she felt like she was in control of her own story.Her phone buzzed on the passenger seat, breaking her thoughts. She glanced at the screen—Frederick.After a moment’s hesitation, she picked it up. “Hello?”“Samara,” Frederick’s voice was calm but concerned. “Are you okay? You left so abruptly earlier. I was worried.”“I’m... better,” she admitted, her voice soft. “I ended things with Damien.”A pause. “You did?”“Yes,” she said firmly. “I couldn’t stay with him after what I found out.”“I’m proud of you,” Frederick said after a beat. “It takes strength to walk away from something that isn’t good for you.”Samara swallowed the lump in her throat, grateful for his unwavering support. “Thank you, Frederick. I don’t know what
Frederick opened the door almost instantly when Samara knocked, as though he’d been waiting for her. His expression shifted from concern to alarm when he saw the tears streaking her face and the phone clutched tightly in her hand.“Samara, what happened?” he asked, stepping aside to let her in.She walked past him, her body trembling with the effort to stay composed. “I was right,” she said, her voice breaking. “Caroline… Damien… they’ve been working together this whole time.”Frederick frowned, shutting the door and guiding her to the couch. “What do you mean? What did you find out?”Wordlessly, Samara unlocked her phone, pulled up the video, and handed it to him. She couldn’t bear to watch it again, but the sound of Damien and Caroline’s voices filled the room, each word cutting deeper than the last.Frederick’s jaw tightened as he watched. By the time the video ended, his hands were clenched into fists, his knuckles white. “Unbelievable,” he muttered, his voice low and furious. “Th
Frederick’s hand covered hers, his touch steadying. “Samara, Damien isn’t the kind of man I’d trust with anything important. But this... this also sounds like something Caroline would orchestrate. She’s manipulative, and she’ll do whatever it takes to get what she wants.”“But what if he’s lying to me, Frederick?” she whispered. “What if everything we’ve built is a lie?”Frederick hesitated, his grip tightening slightly. “Then you deserve to know the truth. You don’t have to make any decisions tonight, Samara. Take your time. Don’t let them rush you into anything.”She looked at him, her eyes searching his face for reassurance. “I don’t know where to go from here.”He gave her a faint, bittersweet smile. “You’re stronger than you think. You’ll figure it out.”Samara felt a sudden rush of gratitude for him. Despite everything they’d been through, Frederick was still there for her, steady and unwavering. She leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder as the weight of the eveni
Samara sat frozen in her chair, the café's lively atmosphere fading into the background. Her mind replayed Caroline's words, the images she had shown, and the implications they carried. The thought that Damien might have been working with Caroline all along made her stomach churn.Gathering herself, she took a deep breath and stood. She couldn’t let Caroline get to her—not without hearing Damien's side of the story first.---Later that evening, Samara sat in the living room, her arms crossed as she waited for Damien to return home. The engagement ring on her finger seemed to burn against her skin, a symbol of trust she now questioned. The door clicked open, and Damien walked in, his usual confident stride faltering when he saw her expression.“Samara?” he asked, setting his briefcase down. “What’s wrong?”She stood, holding her phone tightly. “Caroline,” she said flatly.His brows furrowed. “What about Caroline?”“She met with me today. She showed me pictures, Damien. Pictures of you
Caroline sat on the plush sofa in her mother’s elegant living room, her legs crossed as she sipped a glass of wine. The tension from the courtroom battle had faded, replaced by a smug satisfaction. Across from her, Eleanor watched her daughter closely, her expression a mix of pride and concern.“Now that you’ve gotten custody of Ella,” Eleanor began, setting her teacup down delicately, “what’s your plan? You’ve won the battle, but what about the war?”Caroline swirled her wine, a sly smile playing on her lips. “Oh, Mother, you know me. I always have a plan.”Eleanor raised an eyebrow. “Caroline, I’m serious. Frederick won’t take this lying down. You’ve poked the bear, and he’s bound to retaliate. You need to be careful.”Caroline laughed lightly, the sound tinged with bitterness. “Careful? Frederick can try whatever he wants, but I’m one step ahead of him. He’s predictable—too righteous for his own good. Ella’s mine now, and I’ll make sure he knows that.”Eleanor leaned forward, her t
As the court recessed for deliberation, Frederick sat silently, his heart pounding. The wait was excruciating.When everyone reconvened, Judge Carter addressed the room. The courtroom was silent as she prepared to deliver her decision.“This case has been difficult,” she began, her tone measured. “Both parents clearly love Ella and want what’s best for her. The court’s role is to determine the arrangement that will most benefit the child.”Frederick held his breath, his pulse pounding in his ears.“While Colonel Smyth has provided a stable environment, the court recognizes the importance of a child having a meaningful relationship with her mother. Ms. Caroline Matthews has demonstrated a commitment to her personal growth and to being a responsible parent.“Therefore, I am awarding primary custody to Ms. Caroline Matthews. Colonel Frederick Smyth will have visitation rights, including alternating weekends and scheduled holidays.”Frederick felt as though the ground had been ripped out
A frown creased Frederick's forehead as he set his briefcase on the table and walked through the house. The kitchen was immaculate, no sign of the half-finished sandwiches Ella often left behind or the coffee Caroline habitually abandoned on the counter.“Ella?” Frederick called again, a hint of worry creeping into his tone.He climbed the stairs to Ella’s room. When he pushed the door open, his heart sank. The room was disturbingly bare. Ella’s favorite stuffed animals were gone, her bookshelves empty save for a stray coloring book. Her pink suitcase—the one Caroline insisted was for “special trips”—was missing from its usual spot in the corner.Frederick’s pulse quickened as he turned and headed to the master bedroom. He flung the closet doors open, his stomach dropping when he saw Caroline’s clothes missing. Drawers that once held her belongings were now empty, leaving only a stray hanger or two.Panic clawed at his chest. He pulled out his phone and dialed Caroline’s number, pacin
Damien’s shoulders relaxed slightly, but his eyes remained on her. “You’ve done so well keeping away from their drama, Sam. Don’t let Caroline drag you into it now.”Samara forced a smile and nodded. “You’re right.”But as Damien returned to the kitchen to refill their glasses, Samara’s mind raced. Caroline had never reached out to her directly before. What could she possibly want?That night, after Damien had fallen asleep, Samara lay awake, staring at the ceiling. Her conversation with Debrah replayed in her mind, blending with her memories of Frederick.She remembered how he used to look at her, how his laughter could fill a room. But those memories were shadowed by the pain they’d both caused each other. She thought about Ethan and the way Frederick had spoken to him during the visit. There had been genuine love in his voice, a longing that mirrored her own.Samara sighed and turned to her side, glancing at her phone on the nightstand. The unanswered call from Caroline sat heavy o