Chapter Five

Samantha's hands trembled as she clutched her phone, tears streaming down her face. "Please, Rose, you have to help me. Ethan threw me out. I have nowhere to go."

Rose's voice crackled over the phone, a mix of concern and helplessness. "Please calm down, my dear," she said softly, her words a fragile comfort against Samantha's rising panic.

"I don’t know what I’m going to do. My whole life has been ripped away in a single day. Where do I even start?" Samantha's mind swirled with despair.

"Don’t cry, Samantha. You’re stronger than you think, I promise you."

"Ca… Can you please talk to Ethan for me? At least let him hear me out!" Samantha pleaded.

There was a few seconds of silence between them.

"I’m sorry, Samantha, but I don’t think I would be of help."

"Please don’t turn your back against me, Rose. You’re literally my last hope." Samantha's voice cracked as she spoke.

She heard Rose sigh. "You’ve not done anything to offend me, my child, and I don’t think you did anything to offend Ethan either. It’s just unfortunate that all of this had to happen."

"I need answers, Rose. Where did I go wrong? We used to be so close. We literally couldn’t do without each other, and now he wants me out of his life?!"

"Calm down, my child, and please listen to everything I’m about to say."

Samantha sniffled, trying to steady her breath.

"You’re an amazing woman, and God knows how much I’ve been rooting for you and Ethan to be together. I really like you for him, and I’m so sorry that this had to happen."

"I’m just as shocked as you are about everything," Rose continued. "I would have come out to meet you or let you in, but I was ordered not to do so. Rose changed the passcode, making it clear that he doesn’t want to see you on his premises. I was also shocked about the news of him getting married to Ingrid."

"Since I knew him to be in love with you, he had never brought any other woman home. At some point, I thought maybe you offended him, but after hearing from you, I’m beginning to think everything is all Ethan’s decision."

"That means he never loved me. He was just in my life to toy with my feelings and ruin me." Samantha’s voice was laced with bitterness.

"Honestly, Samantha, I had never seen Ethan in love with someone the way he was with you. He was really crazy about you and his intentions were genuine. I honestly wish I had answers for this sudden change, but I don’t."

"He seems to have moved on, and I want you to do the same. It might be hard, but I want you to know that you’re stronger than you think."

Just when Samantha thought that her life couldn’t get any worse, a sharp knock rattled the car window, jolting her from her thoughts. She turned, her heart leaping into her throat as her phone nearly slipped from her trembling hand. Mrs. Blake, Ethan's formidable mother, stood outside, her face a mask of disdain. Samantha's heart rate increased, and she was forced to cut the call as another round of knocks came through on her glass door. This time, the knocks were harsh.

Samantha had no idea if she should call this a dream come true or otherwise. She had never seen Mrs. Blake in person except on TV and in magazines. And now that she was right outside her car, she honestly had no idea how she should react or if she could actually lay her problems before her.

With shaky hands, Samantha kept her phone aside, wiped tears away from her face with the back of her palm, opened the door, and got down from the car. She barely had time to steady herself before a stinging slap sent her reeling. Hot tears sprang to her eyes, blurring the sight of Lisa's cold, furious expression.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Lisa's voice was icy, her words slicing through the air.

With her lips quivering and hands by her cheek where she was hit by Lisa, Samantha tried to speak her mind, but no words came out of her mouth.

“You b*tch, why can’t you stay the hell away from my son?” Lisa spat.

“You think we are gonna allow a gold digger like you to creep into his life and take advantage? What the hell are you doing in his home?” Samantha was about to say something, probably defend herself, when Lisa shut her up by raising a hand.

“You, piece of sh*t! Don’t you dare say anything when I’m talking.”

Samantha tried to muffle her tears.

“Wait, isn’t this the company’s car?” Lisa's eyes narrowed with suspicion.

“Ryder!” She called one of her guards over.

In realization of what was about to happen, Samantha broke the rule and went ahead to plead, “Please don’t take the car away from me. This is literally the only shelter I have. Please, Ma.”

Lisa ignored her pleas. “Throw her things out and take the car in.”

“Please, Ma, don’t do this to me.” She cried, pleading.

“Don’t you dare lay your filthy hands on me!” Lisa glared at her.

Ryder did as his boss said. He went into what used to be Samantha’s luxurious car, took out her handbag, and literally threw it out on the street, her phone falling harshly on the floor.

“Don’t you ever come near me, my son, or my family anymore, you hear that?!” Lisa pushed her away. Samantha stumbled, her knees giving way as she collapsed onto the cold, unforgiving pavement. A sharp, searing pain knifed through her abdomen, drawing a cry of agony from her lips as she cradled her swollen belly.

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