The passage of time did little to ease the growing concern in Samantha's heart. With each passing day, Tristan's absence loomed larger.One dawn, as Samantha sat in the living room lost in her thoughts, her mother walked in. She had been observing her daughter's growing anxiety over Tristan's prolonged absence. Her maternal instincts were on high alert, sensing that something was amiss. Even though the thought of her child also have feelings for her step-son sometimes lingering in her mind, she just chose to understand thing, that maybe her daughter was only worried to her brother, after all, Samantha always had a dream of having a siblings back when she's still not marrying Benjamin yet."Samantha," her mother began, her voice soft and concerned is very evident in it. She took a seat next to her on the couch, her eyes searching Samantha's face for any signs of distress."Yes, Mom?" Samantha replied, pulling herself out of her thoughts. She turned to face her mother. She had been try
"Gabriel," she began as soon as he picked up, her voice shaking slightly. "It's Samantha. I... I need your help." There was a pause on the other end, followed by a sigh."What's wrong, Samantha?" Gabriel's voice was calm. "It's Tristan," she admitted."He hasn't been home, and he didn't show up at the office until today." Gabriel hesitated for a moment before replying."He's... he's at my condo, Samantha." A wave of relief washed over her. At least she knew where Tristan was."May I know the location of that condo?" she asked, and been thankful when Gabriel told her the exact place. Without wasting any time, she quickly prepared herself and left the office. She had to see Tristan, had to convince him to come back home.~Elsewhere, Viviana found herself dialing Tristan's number. When he finally picked up, she wasted no time in voicing her concern. "Tristan, where are you? I've been calling you and asking you on your company!" she said. "You promised me the last time we've talked t
Tristan despite being unbelievable of Samantha initiating the kiss for the first time, immediately responded to the kiss. His hand started moving down Samantha's body, tracing the curves of her waist until it reached her hips. Samantha gasped when he pulled her closer to him. She felt the tip of Tristan's nose touching hers. They were breathing heavily, but they could hear the sound of their heartbeat. "I missed you, Tristan... I tried, but this time I gave in. I love you so much, brother..." Tristan didn't expect what he heard that he feel the corner of his eyes tear up, and instead of responding he pull Samantha closer to him again, wrapped his arms around her. And kissed her passionately, until it became more heated.Tristan start trailing kisses down Samantha's neck, sucking lightly on her flesh while his fingers move up and down her sides. He felt her shiver and smiled against her skin, knowing that he caused her to react this way. And that he liked seeing her so affected."Tr
"Tristan, Viviana's calling..." Samantha said worriedly, but he gave him a reassuring smile, as he didn't answer the call, and looked at Samantha's eyes. "If I marry Viviana, I'm leaving you behind. And it means like I'm leaving the most precious person in my heart." Tristan felt a lump forming in his throat when Samantha looked at him silently, waiting for him to continue."I don't want to spend my whole life without you by my side. I love you, Samantha and I will choose you in a way where I can be with you always." Samantha broke into a wide smile with a teary eyed. She thinks that maybe it's also the right time for her to give him some reassurance as well."I love you too, Tristan. And this time I'll do my best to fight for you, no matter what happens. No matter what kind of danger we'll have to face." She gently touched Tristan's muscular chest and kiss him again.Samantha stay that night, to prevent her mother and stepdad to think something wrong about her, she called her mom an
"Aren't you really coming back home with me?" Samantha asked Tristan."I need to talk to Gabriel before I leave."I really owe him a lot for letting me stay here on one of his condo. Don't worry, I'll be home also before lunch," Tristan said as he pulled Samantha into his arms, kissing her forehead before accompanying her outside. "Make sure that you're really going home, Tristan or else..." she began to say.He cut her off by placing the palm of his hand softly against her lips. "I won't lie to you, Sam." She nodded and smiled, but before she could finally stepped her feet away from him, she stared at his blue eyes, looking at her deeply. "Tristan?..." "I just come to think how should we act now after going back home? In front of our parents, your fiancee, from everyone around us?" she asked while staring down now. Tristan held her hands. "I can tell them the truth, Sam. But I don't want to do that if you're still not ready. When it comes to Viviana, I already told you that I am
Samantha found herself nestled in the cozy corner of 'Cafe Serenity', her favorite spot in the city. She just called Evelyn to meet her here, before finally returning home. Their friendship have a countless conversations over cups of coffee in this very cafe. But today, the ambiance was different. Samantha had something more serious to discuss.The cafe was bathed in the warm glow of the afternoon sun, the soft hum of the bustling city serving as a gentle backdrop. Samantha fiddled with her coffee cup. She glanced at Evelyn, when she finally arrived and approached her with a kiss on her right cheek before seating in the chair across Samantha."Evelyn," she began, her voice a notch lower than usual, though het voice filled with happiness."What's up, Sam?" she asked, her tone softening as she noticed her friend's unease. "Don't tell me it's all about Tristan again? I told you already just let him stay away from you. If he doesn't want to go home just let him." Samantha took a deep bre
Almost all the staff on Tristan's company noticed the different smile on his lips. The employees had never seen him smile, usually he would frown, his brow furrowed and his gaze cold. Most times they wondered whether his mood swings were caused by stress or other factors. But today he smiled more often."Good morning, Sir!" some of the employees greeted him."We are glad to see you again, Sir. Tristan!"He responded with a polite nod as she continue walking towards his work area, while he became the topic of everyone's conversation again. As they started chattering amongst themselves."What happened to Sir. Tristan? He just came back here after couple days of unexplainable absence." "Come on guys! Maybe he's in a good mood since, the engagement party for him and his fiancee's wedding is coming closer.""Yeah, right! That must be it!" "And we should support that kind of Sir. Tristan's behavior, who know he'll surprised us by a sudden promotion!" Some of the employees laughed and nod
She bit her bottom lip to not let out a loud moan, but a soft sob escaped her lips instead. Tristan chuckled in response, and he kissed the corner of her mouth. Samantha turned her head a little to kiss him properly and deepened the kiss, feeling Tristan's fingers sliding slowly down her thighs, caressing her inner thigh. "T-Tristan, what are you doing?" She barely managed to say, while her knees were trembling. Samantha looked into his eyes and saw the same lust she saw in earlier. "I don't understand why you're torturing me like this?" she said weakly, unable to stop whimpering. Tristan smirked, then slowly, very slowly, slid his finger inside her."Let just day, I'm punishing you for making me jealous," he whispered."Mmm~..." Samantha moaned, while her nails grabbed on the table tightly as she tried to control herself. She needed to calm down. Tristan continue to rub his finger inside her, and then it stopped at one point. She could feel her eyes tearing up, as she was strugglin
Samantha could hear the waves crash against her earlobe. Her skin seems hugging the coldness that's whispering in her surroundings. "Evelyn, where we actually are? Just make sure you have no hidden anger towards me that you are gonna drown me on the sea." Evelyn chuckle while she's acting as Samantha's support while walking and making sure that her friend will not going to removed her blindfold. "Nah, you can trust me for this, Sam!" Evelyn even giggled. After some time, they already stopped from walking, Samantha then sense that Evelyn already removed her hands from her shoulder. The silent of the surroundings made her heart race. "Evelyn? Should I remove it already?" She asked with a shaky tone, but Evelyn didn't answer her anymore so she decided to slowly removed the blindfold on her eyes. As she opened her eyes, the beauty of the night sky and the lights coming from the decorated lanterns was what greeted her eyes. But her eyes soon focus into one spot. It's a heart shape can
"Tristan, what should we do now?! My daughter's in danger," Nathalie said, panic seeping through her voice, while Evelyn is trying to calm her down. Benjamin then, is already calling some men to come and help to find where Viviana kept Samantha. "I c-can't afford to let her get killed!" Tristan jaw clenched, he quickly picked his car's key and jacket."Tristan, where are you going?" Benjamin asked his son. "Dad, I can't just wait here. I need to do something!" Tristan was about to step out of the mansion when his phone rang, and to their surprised when Tristan answer the video call, it's not only Viviana they see, instead she's with Kristoffer also. "Kristoffer?!" Nathalie can't believe what she's seeing. She even trusted Kristoffer to take care of her daughter, but now he's actually one of the kidnappers. "How dare you, Kristoffer?! Where did you take my daughter!? What have you done with her?!" "Oh, easy, Aunt Nathalie. She's there still breathing." The camera was being zoomed
"How could you do that to me, Viviana?!" Viviana quickly followed Tristan inside their home. "T-Tristan, babe... Please, let me explain.""Damn you! Explain what? Your lies? Maybe you can still fool me if ever I didn't follow Samantha to Kristoffer's house and I didn't hear and see all your lies. You are pregnant, huh?" He spat the last words like they were a curse word.Viviana froze for the second time, she's afraid, too scared that Tristan might just leave her, but she's more than angry, because if only Samantha didn't go there, maybe he won't follow her and discover the truth."So, from the start you are just fooling me? You fucking made me believe that we are really having a child!" Her hands curled into fists as she looked at the other side of the living room. "Tristan, I'm sorry okay? T-That's the only thing I can do to make you marry me." Viviana tried to grab his arm but Tristan pulled away and stepped backward. "And to get my wealth?" Viviana shook her head even it's too
"I'll just pay the bills, just wait me here?" Samantha smiled and nodded at Kristoffer. She can feel the furious gazed of Viviana towards her. She can actually hear her fingers tapping on the tap of the table. "If you are not really going to rest room, then we should go," she heard the words coming from Tristan. Its been half an hour since she's trying to control her hand from trembling because of undeniable nervousness. "No, I really want to, but I just really don't have a good feelings making you wait here." Samantha finally met Viviana's sight, who's not surprisingly still lingering on her. "Viviana..." Tristan whispered like the tone of his voice is fulll of tiredness. "Fine! I'll be back here quickly. Tristan, just sit there, and wait me, okay?" Viviana said while standing up from seating, and even looked back at Samantha with a warning look before walking into the hallway that leads to the rest room. When both of their lovers already out of the picture, Samantha could fee
"Tristan," Viviana approached Tristan and hugged him. She needs to act like a good wife again and not to trigger his anger towards him since their marriage is in a verge of failure because Samantha seems to be entering the picture again, especially now that Kristoffer also told her that before this month end, Samantha will be back here in New York and she doesn't like that news.She knows very well that Tristan is still in love with Samantha, and she won't let them be happy. "I-I'm happy that you are back. Look, I am sorry about our last fight. You don't have to stay away from me babe, especially that it's only a few months before I give birth." She gives him a small smile and caresses his cheek lovingly.Tristan stares at her silently for sometime and then sighs as he pinches the bridge of his nose. He looks tired, and Viviana knows that it's because of his hidden purpose at London. "I'm tired, Viviana. I want to rest." Despite the anger simmering inside of her, she still managed t
Samantha slowly opened her eyes, finding herself inside an unknown place she can't really recognize. Soon enough she realized that she's like in an apartment. She got up from lying on the bed, thinking how she somehow ends up here."Sam..." Her eyes widened as she heard a very familiar voice, the same time she saw Tristan standing by the door of the bedroom. Samantha quickly got up from the bed and find her purse and wear her shoes again. She's about to leave the room when Tristan approached her."Sam..." He hugged her, holding tightly on her waist. "Tristan!" She pushes him away. "What are you doing?! Let me go!" When their eyes met she immediately felt like he's hurt. His face shows that he wants to hold her more. Her heart beat more faster as Tristan held her hands, but she just pushed his arms.She's too shocked to opened her eyes and see him here, like all of this feels like a dreams. She doesn't know how to react, but her feelings can't deny that he's still have an effect on
"I hate him, Kris! But I hate your girlfriend more!" Viviana raised her voice, she's calling her brother, after Tristan left her and telling him about Tristan knowing the truth already that Samantha goes back to New York to witnessed their wedding. "Can you calm your ass, Viviana?" "Calm down? How can I calm down when he seems interested to know the reason why the fucking Samantha go there that time? What if... What if Tristan find her and leave me? I... I'm scared. I don't want any of this! You should have hide that girlfriend of yours and not let him see her," she said while sniffing. Kristoffer doesn't want to see his sister hurting especially because of Tristan because it made his blood boiled. He could do anything just to make her sister happy and no one could prevent him from doing that. "Stop crying, Viviana. I will make sure that Tristan is going nowhere near her and he can't just treat you like you are not his wife." Kristoffer told her with a serious tone and a cold voi
Viviana's bedroom was a sanctuary of luxurious fabrics and adorned with extravagant things, that cast a soft glow upon her surroundings. It was within this lavish haven that Viviana stood, her phone resting on a marble tabletop, its screen displaying Kristoffer's name.She pressed the speaker button, allowing her to still hear his voice, as she gazed upon her reflection in a grandiose mirror. The mirror, framed with ornate golden carvings is reflecting perfect body shape.Kristoffer's voice echoed from the phone, with a confident tone. The timbre of his voice reverberated through the room. "Of course, she can't do that to someone like me, Viviana," he proclaimed, there's an arrogance seeping into his words.She raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk dancing upon her lips as she turned away from the mirror, fixating her gaze on an exquisite vase of orchids. "Psh! You are too confident, Kris," she taunted, her voice tinged with amusement. "Are you sure she's not just using you to cover
"Tristan?" "What are you doing here? And I didn't invite you to come inside already!""Samantha's there during our wedding right?" Evelyn, didn't expect that from Tristan. She doesn't know how Tristan knew it. But then she need to stick on her promise as what Samantha request her to do and that's not to tell anyone about it."W-What are you talking about? How could Samantha possibly there that moment, do you think she'll come back here just for you?""Tristan, you ruined my best friend's life. You are the reason why she suffered from humiliation." "Please, Evelyn... Don't hide it anymore. Tell me, tell me why she was there during that time? Did she plan to stop our wedding because the truth is she still loves me, right?" Tristan's voice quivered with a mixture of desperation and hope. He was searching for answers, clinging onto the possibility that Samantha's presence meant something more than what he had initially believed.Evelyn bit her lip, her eyes darting around the room as if