Chapter 5

As Samuel paused, Mama Langford promptly pressed her advantage, “Your grandmother’s health is declining, and the doctors are saying that she will only last a few more years. All she wants is for you to get married…”

Samuel cut her short. “I’ll never marry Cindy. Even if she did save my life, I only think of her as a younger sister.”

“And, what? You want to marry this wretch instead?” Mama Langford asked, pointing at Tina.

Samuel laughed coldly. “Her? That’s even less likely!”

“Good.” Mama Langford breathed a sigh of relief. “In that case, we’ll do it my way—let her cooperate with your therapy, and when that’s done, you’ll fulfill your grandmother’s wish.”

Then, as she hurried away, she added, “That’s all I have to say. Think about it!”

After all, Samuel could change his mind in an instant, and she was not about to be embarrassed in front of so many people.

Meanwhile, Tina was left gaping as she looked on. It was often said that rich and powerful families tend to get dramatic, though she had never expected front row seats to the Langford’s family drama. How heart-warming…

Turning towards her, Samuel asked, “What are you looking at?”

“Uh… Nothing. I mean, fine weather today…” She quickly tried to change the subject.

“Judging from that look on your face, you really want to sign this agreement, don’t you?” Samuel asked with an icy smile.

Tina, however, simply ignored his jibe and flashed puppy eyes at him as she asked, “Don’t I know too much, Mr. Langford?”

After all, knowing too much could be a cause for death.

Given how swift and resolute Samuel could be to those underneath him—even his mother—he was coming for her now, wasn’t he?

Nonetheless, Samuel turned away so that he didn’t have to look at her.

He had just spent much time repressing the mysterious impulse he had been feeling, and he was not about to throw that all away because of this woman now.

“Get in here.”

At his order, a group of medical personnel who were dressed in white appeared, and they were carrying various medical equipment.

It naturally scared Tina a little. “Just kill me already! You don’t have to be so dramatic!”

It spooked her further to see the syringes the medical personnel were holding—it left her dazed just seeing it!

“I-I get faint just from seeing needles and blood! Just shoot me dead, I’m begging you…” She was choking with tears, and grabbed Samuel’s arm by reflex.

Samuel’s gaze darkened in turn.

There she goes again—she was constantly trying to seduce him!

“It’s just a medical examination. Let me go, or I’m skinning you. I’ll have my people cut you up, tiny pieces by tiny pieces…”

Tina shuddered, and promptly became tame.

“Fine, whatever you want.”

If it was a checkup he wanted, so be it—anything but skinning her.

Not daring to resist, Tina became as tame as a pretty doll as she allowed the medical personnel to inspect her health.

Her medical report was presented to Samuel in no time at all, and there wasn’t much issue aside from her being a little anemic.

With that, he threw the agreement at Tina. “Sign it.”

“But…”

When Tina tried to refuse, Samuel rose to his feet—the sheer presence of his towering figure virtually devoured Tina as he pinned her against the wall.

“Be a good girl, sign it, and I just might let you live long enough to run away in three months with your money. Think of what would happen to your family if you mess around.”

Tina gulped, and asked gingerly, “Are you saying that I won’t die? But if I do badly, my family is going to die instead?”

Samuel smirked. “Yes.”

And with those words, Tina promptly agreed to the deal. “Alright, I’ll sign it!”

She had to seize such a wonderful chance when it was presented right before her!

On the other hand, Samuel wasn’t surprised since he had already expected such vanity from her.

Just then, Sandy spoke from outside, “Sir, the meeting is starting…”

Hence, Samuel threw his pen at Tina and watched her sign the agreement before turning to leave.

“Arrange for her to stay at one of our suburban mansions, then wait for my return.”

“Yes, Mr. Langford.”

***

Tina was hence sent to one of the Langford mansions in the suburbs of Freesia, where the Langfords had arranged for a housekeeper as well.

Having been briefed about everything by Mama Langford, the housekeeper shot Tina a haughty stare.

“You’re Tina Lynd? Don’t think you’re high and mighty just because you’re staying at this mention—Mr. Langford has his orders, and there are many things waiting to be done.”

“What things?”

“He’s in a meeting at the moment and will return late. There are no servants in this mansion—just you—and the first thing you must do is gardening…”

“I must warn you before that the plants in the garden here are more expensive than the lives of your family members. Mr. Langford himself has sent his people around the globe to choose and import them to this garden.”

“Also, you know how to cook, don’t you? There will be imported food ingredients every day, and Mr. Langford is very selective about his food, so cook it to the appropriate standard.”

“In addition…”

The housekeeper gave Tina tons of instructions, and she solemnly nodded as she remembered the gist of them.

The plants were very precious, and if some were lost, her whole family would be sold off as slaves…

Tina appeared so keen to learn that the housekeeper couldn’t help casting a few more glances at her. “Do you remember everything?”

“Uh-huh, don’t worry,” Tina said with an earnest look. “I’ll serve Mr. Langford well.”

The housekeeper nodded in satisfaction at that. “I shall be returning to the main residence then. Stay here and don’t go anywhere—there’s no escape when Mr. Langford has you in his grasp anyway.”

After that, Tina watched as the housekeeper left, before turning towards the precious plants in the garden.

Picking up a pair of hedge shears, she…

***

A black Rolls-Royce stopped outside the mansion.

However, before Samuel alighted, Tina—who appeared to have been waiting for a while—ran towards him, exclaiming in joy, “Mr. Langford, I’ve been waiting for you! Welcome home!”

Her excitement didn’t seem feigned, and her eyes were round like an enthusiastic, co-dependent puppy staring at him.

Samuel frowned. He was actually quite familiar with those eyes.

Many women liked to stare at him, but Tina was the first one who did not hide it, and her passion burned like flames.

Did she like him that much?

Nonetheless, he ignored her and walked past her as he headed inside.

Tina noticed the sharp smell of alcohol on him just then.

“Were you drinking, Mr. Langford?”

When he didn’t answer, she continued noisily, “Would you like a stroll in the backyard, admire the view? I heard you really love those flowers, and I had to work very hard to clean them up…”

Nonetheless, all Samuel felt towards her was annoyance. “Is there something wrong with your head? Flower-viewing in the middle of the night?”

“Guh…” Tina was stumped—she had forgotten about that part. “Well, I can cook for you, then. Is there anything you’d like to eat?”

“I’ve already eaten,” Samuel replied.

Tina stopped then, her eyes bulging as she snapped, “You won’t go to the backyard or eat? Then what can I do?”

Samuel turned towards her then, finding her blank stare a little funny just then.

Still, he restrained her smile and coolly said, “Wasn’t it written clearly in the agreement?”

Agreement?

To tell the truth, Tina didn’t pay much attention to the contents of the agreement at the time, and had forgotten about everything other than the ten million dollars.

As a matter of fact, Samuel had just successfully negotiated for an international collaboration project. Although he never liked to drink, he couldn’t help doing so at the celebratory dinner.

And right now, the sight of Tina’s slightly parted lips left his throat parched.

“Why are you looking at me?” Tina touched her cheek just then. “Is there dirt on my face?”

She must have been too distracted when she was gardening, and gotten something on her face?

Nonetheless, Samuel caught her chin and leaned towards her. “Right now, you’re nothing more than medicine used for my treatment. You must agree to all my demands for three months, and that includes physical contact…”

As he spoke, he was inching closer, his scorching breath spraying over her as he was about to kiss her!

As his scent closed in, Tina’s brain was left in a puddle.

It wasn’t as if she had never had boyfriends. In fact, right after she made it into university, an upperclassman had pursued her relentlessly. And yet, she realized that the boy merely had his eyes on the Lynds’ wealth just after she agreed to date him!

After realizing that she was adopted and had no love from the family, he promptly switched his sights to Pearl Lynd instead.

Those two hence conspired against Tina, spreading all sorts of slander against her and destroying her reputation, forcing her to be expelled…

Still, while they were dating, the most Tina had done was to hold hands. She had only jumped Samuel because she was compelled to.

But right now, her mind was perfectly clear—as she watched Samuel lean towards her, she slapped him by reflex!

Smack!