—SAMANTHA— The drive to Emerald Villa was long and silent. Zeke didn’t say a word, and honestly, I preferred it that way. His presence beside me felt like poison in the air—thick, bitter, suffocating. His hands gripped the steering wheel, his jaw clenched like he was biting down on his own tongue. When the Bentley finally rolled to a stop in front of the grand villa, he stepped out without a word, slamming the door so hard behind him causing me to flinch like I was nothing but a burden. Typical. Not like I cared. “Scumbag,” I scoffed, brushing my fingers through my hair before I opened the car door. Emerald Villa had always felt too lavish for me, too cold despite its beauty. I never felt welcome here… not by the Frosts anyway. The cold night breeze greeted me, tossing my hair around my shoulders as I walked after Zeke, I made sure to put a respective distance of ten feet away from him. “Mr Frost!” The butler respectfully bowed we strode toward the building. I r
—SAMANTHA— Grandma Sydney’s hand reached for mine, her fingers cold and trembling. “Samantha…” I looked at her, really looked at her, and saw the sadness swimming in her aging eyes. My chest clenched. If there was one person in this house who ever made me feel like I mattered… it was her. “I’m sorry, Grandma,” I whispered, gently squeezing her hand. “You were the only one who ever treated me like a human. But I can’t stay anymore.” Her lips quivered. “But you love Zeke,” she said softly. “I’ve seen it. Please… don’t leave him, Sam. Can you not divorce him?” the old woman's voice was teary. I swallowed the lump rising in my throat and forced myself to stay still. Calm. Steady. “I don’t love Zeke, Grandma,” I said clearly, my voice not shaking for once. “I never did.” The words hit the room like a slap. Everyone fell silent. Shocked. Breaths were held. Even the clock on the wall seemed to pause. Grandma blinked at me, like she hadn’t heard right. “What…?” “I only stay
—SAMANTHA— The next day, the taxi came to a gentle stop, and I didn’t move. I just sat there, eyes fixed on the entrance of City Hall like it was some kind of finish line I’d been crawling toward for years. My hands were resting on my lap, but they were clenched, stiff. Today was the day we would finally end our marriage. At the entrance of the city hall, many young couples were in line holding hands, laughing, and taking pictures. They were here to get married. I could feel the happiness and love in the air. Even the clouds above feel too romantic, shaped like hearts against a pale blue sky. It's all so painfully ironic. I was here to end mine. I remained inside the taxi, still… cold. I watched them, their eyes filled with dreams, oblivious to the pain marriage could bring. I remembered three years ago, standing in the same line with Zeke. We weren’t in love, but I still smiled. I smiled because I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought honoring Gina’s wish would be
—SAMANTHA— After leaving the City Hall, I boarded a taxi and headed straight to the hospital. I sat quietly in the back seat, resting my head tiredly against the cold glass window while I watched the city. The streets blurred by, tall glass buildings standing proud against the pale afternoon sky. Couples walked hand in hand, cars' horn blared, children played by the roadside, and life carried on like it didn’t know my world had just ended. Or maybe… it had begun. Still, I felt a wave of relief wash over me —the divorce was finally done. It was over. No more Zeke. No more ties to the Frost family. I was just Samantha now. A small sigh escaped from me. Now, all I cared about was my daughter. Once Amore got better, I planned to leave Skyline City for good. There was no future here for me anymore. Too many bad memories. Too many scars. I needed a new place —a new start, somewhere no one knew my name, my story, or my pain. I needed a new complete life far from the lies and betraya
—SAMANTHA— Unspoken tension filled the air around us. I felt my stomach twist, and my chest tightening with uneasiness as I looked around the powerful people in front of me. “Wh-why are you all here?” I finally asked, my voice lower than I intended but loud enough to get their attention. Mrs. Bellamy’s face softened, her eyes glowing like she’d just been waiting for this moment. “Do you remember what I told you when I came here a few weeks ago, child?” she asked gently, taking my hand. I frowned, craning my neck slightly, my gaze dropping to the floor as I dug through my thoughts. I did remember… that day, a few weeks ago, when she came to visit me here in this very hospital. I’d thought it was strange then too. She said something about wanting to meet Amore. To see her… And just like that, it hit me. I lifted my eyes slowly, meeting hers, and I could tell by the way her smile widened that she knew I’d pieced it together. “I remembered,” I replied quietly, my voice a li
—SAMANTHA—Back inside the hospital ward, my hands wouldn’t stop shaking.I rushed to Amore’s side, almost tripping over my own damn feet as I reached the bed. Then I grabbed her little hand, pressing it against my cheek.God… what did I just do?I slapped Dalton Montclair! My heart pounded so hard it hurt.I could still feel the sting in my palm, still hear the crack of that slap echoing in my ears.Jesus. What have I done?! But then…No.He deserve it. That arrogant bastard! He’s a scumbag. Just like my ex-husband, Zeke. No… maybe worse.I slowly pulled away from Amore for a second, brushing away the hair from her cute little face. She was sleeping. She looked so peaceful.Too innocent for all this mess.But my mind wouldn’t leave it alone.Dalton’s face. His eyes. His voice, when he spat those ugly words at me… And that one thing I tried to bury —the uncanny resemblance.She looked so much like… like him. The more I stared, the more I felt that strange knot in my stomach. Dalto
—SAMANTHA—I parted my lips to speak, but before a single word could leave, Dalton suddenly moved. Slow, controlled steps in my direction, each one closing the distance between us.His eyes were locked on mine, sharp and dark, like a predator watching its prey. Every instinct inside me screamed. Run. Now. My heart hammered so loud I could barely hear my own thoughts. I staggered back without thinking, my palms sweaty, my legs weak.“W-What are you doing?” I asked him, trying to sound strong. But my voice shook. God, I hated that it shook. “Don’t come any closer!” I panicked. But he didn’t stop. Of course, he didn’t. Dalton was built like a storm you couldn’t escape from, and every step he took made my skin cower. My heart jumped into my mouth when my back finally hit the cold wall behind me.No. No. No.I tried to move sideways, but it was too late. His hand came up, pressing against the wall right next to my head, trapping me in place. His body so close I could feel his h
—SAMANTHA—I turned around, and my eyes flew to the bed with shock. My heart jumped so fast in my chest. “Bunny?!” my voice was low, like I wasn’t sure if this was real.But there she was.Amore.My little girl.Her small hand moved a little on the bed, her eyes barely open, but she was awake! Tears rushed to my eyes as I hurried to her side. I grabbed her small hand and held it so tight to my chest, like I was scared she might slip away if I let go.“Oh my baby… my Bunny…” I choked, raining kisses on her forehead, her cheeks, her hand. “Mummy’s here. I’m here, baby.”I didn’t even know I was crying until her little fingers reached up and touched my wet face.“Mum… Mummy… don’t cry,” she whispered sadly in that small, soft voice of hers. God. It broke my heart.I let out a small, shaky laugh, my tears still falling but now because I was so happy. “I’m sorry, baby,” I sniffed, wiping my face with my sleeve. “Mummy’s just so, so happy you woke up.”When I looked up, I saw Dalton stand
—SAMANTHA— I swear my heart dropped to my stomach.“Trending?” I repeated slowly, like I didn’t understand the word.“Yes, online, everywhere!” she said, sounding like she was about to lose it. “It’s everywhere, Sam! Your name, Amore, everything! People are talking, you need to check it now!”My heart thudded in my chest.“Just check it!” she cried. “It’s bad, Sam — it’s really bad!”My fingers felt cold as I slowly pulled the phone away from my ear and unlocked it with shaking hands.My notifications were blowing up.Messages, missed calls, social media alerts, it was a mess.I pulled my phone away from my ear, my hands already shaking as I opened the browser and tapped on the first link she sent me.There it was, big, bold letters staring right at me.*COUNTRYSIDE GIRL EXPOSED —ZEKE FROST’S CHARITY CASE TURNS GREEDY, SLEEPS WITH A GIGOLO ON HER WEDDING NIGHT AND GOT PREGNANT!*I felt the world around me spin.My breathing grew tight.No… no, no, no…I scrolled down, my eyes wide, m
—SAMANTHA—I turned around, and my eyes flew to the bed with shock. My heart jumped so fast in my chest. “Bunny?!” my voice was low, like I wasn’t sure if this was real.But there she was.Amore.My little girl.Her small hand moved a little on the bed, her eyes barely open, but she was awake! Tears rushed to my eyes as I hurried to her side. I grabbed her small hand and held it so tight to my chest, like I was scared she might slip away if I let go.“Oh my baby… my Bunny…” I choked, raining kisses on her forehead, her cheeks, her hand. “Mummy’s here. I’m here, baby.”I didn’t even know I was crying until her little fingers reached up and touched my wet face.“Mum… Mummy… don’t cry,” she whispered sadly in that small, soft voice of hers. God. It broke my heart.I let out a small, shaky laugh, my tears still falling but now because I was so happy. “I’m sorry, baby,” I sniffed, wiping my face with my sleeve. “Mummy’s just so, so happy you woke up.”When I looked up, I saw Dalton stand
—SAMANTHA—I parted my lips to speak, but before a single word could leave, Dalton suddenly moved. Slow, controlled steps in my direction, each one closing the distance between us.His eyes were locked on mine, sharp and dark, like a predator watching its prey. Every instinct inside me screamed. Run. Now. My heart hammered so loud I could barely hear my own thoughts. I staggered back without thinking, my palms sweaty, my legs weak.“W-What are you doing?” I asked him, trying to sound strong. But my voice shook. God, I hated that it shook. “Don’t come any closer!” I panicked. But he didn’t stop. Of course, he didn’t. Dalton was built like a storm you couldn’t escape from, and every step he took made my skin cower. My heart jumped into my mouth when my back finally hit the cold wall behind me.No. No. No.I tried to move sideways, but it was too late. His hand came up, pressing against the wall right next to my head, trapping me in place. His body so close I could feel his h
—SAMANTHA—Back inside the hospital ward, my hands wouldn’t stop shaking.I rushed to Amore’s side, almost tripping over my own damn feet as I reached the bed. Then I grabbed her little hand, pressing it against my cheek.God… what did I just do?I slapped Dalton Montclair! My heart pounded so hard it hurt.I could still feel the sting in my palm, still hear the crack of that slap echoing in my ears.Jesus. What have I done?! But then…No.He deserve it. That arrogant bastard! He’s a scumbag. Just like my ex-husband, Zeke. No… maybe worse.I slowly pulled away from Amore for a second, brushing away the hair from her cute little face. She was sleeping. She looked so peaceful.Too innocent for all this mess.But my mind wouldn’t leave it alone.Dalton’s face. His eyes. His voice, when he spat those ugly words at me… And that one thing I tried to bury —the uncanny resemblance.She looked so much like… like him. The more I stared, the more I felt that strange knot in my stomach. Dalto
—SAMANTHA— Unspoken tension filled the air around us. I felt my stomach twist, and my chest tightening with uneasiness as I looked around the powerful people in front of me. “Wh-why are you all here?” I finally asked, my voice lower than I intended but loud enough to get their attention. Mrs. Bellamy’s face softened, her eyes glowing like she’d just been waiting for this moment. “Do you remember what I told you when I came here a few weeks ago, child?” she asked gently, taking my hand. I frowned, craning my neck slightly, my gaze dropping to the floor as I dug through my thoughts. I did remember… that day, a few weeks ago, when she came to visit me here in this very hospital. I’d thought it was strange then too. She said something about wanting to meet Amore. To see her… And just like that, it hit me. I lifted my eyes slowly, meeting hers, and I could tell by the way her smile widened that she knew I’d pieced it together. “I remembered,” I replied quietly, my voice a li
—SAMANTHA— After leaving the City Hall, I boarded a taxi and headed straight to the hospital. I sat quietly in the back seat, resting my head tiredly against the cold glass window while I watched the city. The streets blurred by, tall glass buildings standing proud against the pale afternoon sky. Couples walked hand in hand, cars' horn blared, children played by the roadside, and life carried on like it didn’t know my world had just ended. Or maybe… it had begun. Still, I felt a wave of relief wash over me —the divorce was finally done. It was over. No more Zeke. No more ties to the Frost family. I was just Samantha now. A small sigh escaped from me. Now, all I cared about was my daughter. Once Amore got better, I planned to leave Skyline City for good. There was no future here for me anymore. Too many bad memories. Too many scars. I needed a new place —a new start, somewhere no one knew my name, my story, or my pain. I needed a new complete life far from the lies and betraya
—SAMANTHA— The next day, the taxi came to a gentle stop, and I didn’t move. I just sat there, eyes fixed on the entrance of City Hall like it was some kind of finish line I’d been crawling toward for years. My hands were resting on my lap, but they were clenched, stiff. Today was the day we would finally end our marriage. At the entrance of the city hall, many young couples were in line holding hands, laughing, and taking pictures. They were here to get married. I could feel the happiness and love in the air. Even the clouds above feel too romantic, shaped like hearts against a pale blue sky. It's all so painfully ironic. I was here to end mine. I remained inside the taxi, still… cold. I watched them, their eyes filled with dreams, oblivious to the pain marriage could bring. I remembered three years ago, standing in the same line with Zeke. We weren’t in love, but I still smiled. I smiled because I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought honoring Gina’s wish would be
—SAMANTHA— Grandma Sydney’s hand reached for mine, her fingers cold and trembling. “Samantha…” I looked at her, really looked at her, and saw the sadness swimming in her aging eyes. My chest clenched. If there was one person in this house who ever made me feel like I mattered… it was her. “I’m sorry, Grandma,” I whispered, gently squeezing her hand. “You were the only one who ever treated me like a human. But I can’t stay anymore.” Her lips quivered. “But you love Zeke,” she said softly. “I’ve seen it. Please… don’t leave him, Sam. Can you not divorce him?” the old woman's voice was teary. I swallowed the lump rising in my throat and forced myself to stay still. Calm. Steady. “I don’t love Zeke, Grandma,” I said clearly, my voice not shaking for once. “I never did.” The words hit the room like a slap. Everyone fell silent. Shocked. Breaths were held. Even the clock on the wall seemed to pause. Grandma blinked at me, like she hadn’t heard right. “What…?” “I only stay
—SAMANTHA— The drive to Emerald Villa was long and silent. Zeke didn’t say a word, and honestly, I preferred it that way. His presence beside me felt like poison in the air—thick, bitter, suffocating. His hands gripped the steering wheel, his jaw clenched like he was biting down on his own tongue. When the Bentley finally rolled to a stop in front of the grand villa, he stepped out without a word, slamming the door so hard behind him causing me to flinch like I was nothing but a burden. Typical. Not like I cared. “Scumbag,” I scoffed, brushing my fingers through my hair before I opened the car door. Emerald Villa had always felt too lavish for me, too cold despite its beauty. I never felt welcome here… not by the Frosts anyway. The cold night breeze greeted me, tossing my hair around my shoulders as I walked after Zeke, I made sure to put a respective distance of ten feet away from him. “Mr Frost!” The butler respectfully bowed we strode toward the building. I r