Chapter 17

Samuel stared coolly at Tina.

This was a test—Tina wouldn’t crawl for the black card if she had any dignity.

And yet, he proved to have overestimated her.

Tina took the car with no hesitation, even asking, “Can I go now?”

“Leave!”

Samuel’s furious single word was the only response she got.

Tina promptly ran away and breathed a sigh of relief.

In contrast, such humiliation from Samuel was insignificant in comparison to the humiliation she faced constantly with the Lynds.

Moreover, once the Lynds get their money, they would not disturb her, and Sylvia would make a full recovery after her surgery.

That was what mattered most!

Nonetheless, after Tina left Samuel’s house, a car nearby slowly followed her.

The private detective inside called Cindy’s number. “Miss Young, the one you want me to keep an eye on is leaving.”

“Where did she go?” Cindy asked.

“Mr. Langford’s private residence.”

“Alright, good work. Keep following her.”

Though Cindy maintained her soft tone, her face turned ashen once she hung up.

“Tina Lynd!”

Her teeth were clenched, and she wanted nothing less than to dice Tina into a million pieces.

Samuel’s private residence? How did that happen?!

Cindy had never once managed to set foot there, and she had known Samuel for ten years!

And now, not only did Tina jump him, she even got inside his private residence!

What trickery did she use to bewitch Samuel?!

No, she must not be left alive!

“You will die!” Cindy’s words were dripping with utter venom.

***

After Tina returned to her mansion, she quickly transferred the money to the Lynds, and then called the hospital and arranged for Sylvia to be transferred to another hospital specializing in neurology.

She didn’t dare to use the rest of the money, and she simply left them in the bank…

Soon, a month had passed, and Samuel never showed up around her again, let alone have anything happen between them.

Tina remembered that Mama Langford had demanded that she seduce Samuel in a month, or she would chase her away.

Instead of having Mama Langford knocking on her door, Tina simply moved out, and found a job as an attendant at a hotel.

Every weekend, she would visit Sylvia, who then needed peace and quiet to recover after her surgery.

Life was more or less comfortable, but the private detective Cynthia had hired told her about all those details.

Cindy, however, was suspicious. “Impossible. Why would she leave the mansion just like that?!”

After all, that wretch Tina had resorted to so much trickery—why would she leave so easily?!

“Mr. Langford must have gotten tired of her,” the private detective suggested. “If he really cared, why would he not show up around her after so long? If she had left so willingly, it has to be either under Mr. Langford or his mother’s orders!”

“That’s true.” Cindy became smug right then.

She really was a fool—Mama Langford had always liked her, and would never let a wretch like Tina legally marry Samuel.

And after knowing him for ten years, did she really not know what Samuel was like?

He only cared about Cindy, his savior, and not those women who didn’t know what was good for them.

She was the one and only person who could stay at his side!

Be that as it may, her hatred towards Tina did not diminish.

After some thought, Cindy ordered one of her lackeys to draw out Tina, and sent an anonymous text…

[You’ve been looking for someone recently, haven’t you? Head to this nightclub called Sombrero Nights tonight, and you would find yourself a surprise.]

She was in high spirits once the text was successfully delivered.

After all, Tina would cease to exist in Freesia by tomorrow.

That was the price for seducing Samuel!

***

Meanwhile, Samuel had just finished a meeting and was rubbing his forehead in exhaustion.

Once he stepped outside the conference room, Cindy—who had waited for a long time—welcomed him in delight. “Sam!”

She reached out in an attempt to link arms with him, only for Samuel to shoot her a cool glare.

Cindy’s heart skipped a beat—that was Samuel’s look of impatience.

He had always tolerated her, but once she crossed the line, he would show that look of impatience.

As such, Cindy had to pull away and say, “You must be tired, right? I’ve spent the day brewing you some chicken soup!”

Amidst her hopeful gaze, Samuel noticed the bandages on her fingers and asked, “What’s wrong with your hand? Were you hurt?”

“It’s nothing serious,” Cnythia said, sounding a little flustered. “I was scalded a little by accident, but your mother insisted that I get bandaged, so I did—you don’t have to worry about it, Sam.”

It was a deliberate hint to Samuel that Cindy had spent hours cooking that soup for him, and was injured severely because of it.

Samuel naturally couldn’t refuse, and nodded to going to her house.

Soon, two cars drove out of the basement parking lot. Samuel’s car was up front, while Cindy’s was behind.

Samuel had always been a clean freak who never allowed anyone else to ride in his car.

Still, Cindy was used to it, though she was clutching her chest as her heart pounded in excitement at the backseat.

Mama Langford called her just then. “How did it go? Did Samuel agree to go to your house?”

“Yes, he did,” Cindy answered docilely.

“Good.” Mama Langford then started to speak mysteriously.”You have to seize this opportunity, Cindy! He’s always so busy!”

Cindy neither agreed nor refused. “Oh, Mrs. Langford! Samuel doesn’t want that, and I won’t want him to hate me…”

“It’s fine,” Mama Langford replied enigmatically. “You’re the only daughter-in-law I have in mind. I’ll definitely allow you two to be together.”

When Cindy hung up, she was grinning in complete satisfaction.

She was aware that Mama Langford had always wanted to set her up with Samuel, but Samuel’s aloof nature had prevented any development all this while.

However, Mama Langford had started scheming again after Tina showed up.

Also, the chicken soup that night contained certain extra spices… and Cindy just might become Mrs. Langford by the next day.

Even as she turned to look outside the window, the grin on Cindy’s face broadened.

This was the chance she had been waiting for ever since she had impersonated the girl who saved Samuel.

Ten years, and success was in hand!

***

At the same time, Grandma Langford called Samuel when she heard that he was finished with work.

“Do you even remember your grandmother? How many days has it been since you last visited me?!”

“I’ll visit you tomorrow, Grandma,” Samuel replied.

“Now that’s better.” Grandma Langford snorted coldly, before adding, “By the way, you left early the other day, but that girl…”

“I’m very busy, Grandma,” Samuel said feebly. “I don’t have time to meet irrelevant people.”

“Who are you calling irrelevant? She will become the apple of my eye if she becomes my granddaughter-in-law!” Grandma Langford snapped in displeasure, but then added, “After you left, that girl never came back—I’m very worried, so help me look for her.”

It was only then that Samuel realized Grandma Langford had no idea who the girl was, let alone her name.

Still, he agreed to help, and told Sandy, “Remember to do a background check on her.”

After all, he would never allow any potential danger lurking around his grandmother.

Nonetheless, the matter at the hospital the other day made Samuel remember Tina.

She had been quiet recently… Could she be up to no good again?

“What’s up with Tina Lynd these days?” he asked.

“She left the mansion, sir..” Sandy replied.

“What?!” Samuel frowned. “Who allowed her to leave?”

Sandy started to sweat all over his forehead and passed him a document folder, stammering, “S-She’s at a nightclub.”

Samuel remained impassive as he browed through the contents of the folder.

The most recent entry was a camera photo, showing that not only was Tina at a nightclub, but that she had also headed to a hotel when she left!

Samuel’s wrath was irrepressible.

She really showed her true colors when he wasn’t around.

Taking his money, and then hooking up with someone else in the blink of an eye?!

“Turn this car around,” he demanded.

“But sir, Miss Young…”

Even so, Samuel had lost all sanity as he snarled every word, “I’ll cut her into tiny pieces with my bare hands!”