Chapter 10

Samantha stopped right in front of Alexander, eyes locked on him, her gaze sharp and unapologetic. "As for why I went out... I don't think you'd really wanna know that, Mr. Perkins. Since you've got the skills to have me followed, I'm sure you can dig up all my secrets yourself." Her breath was warm against his face, the faint sweetness lingering between her words. That look in her eyes—sharp and knowing—made his chest tighten with the urge to silence her lips again, forcefully. "You better spill the truth now while you still can. Otherwise, the price you'll pay later... might be more than you can handle." His voice dropped several degrees colder, the storm in his eyes barely restrained as he tried to pull himself back from the edge. Damn it, this woman had this ridiculous ability to rile him up—again and again. And the worst part? She wasn't even trying to flirt. She was just provoking him. Samantha's lips curled with a slow, mocking smile. The cherry-red color on them added an icy edge to her otherwise calm face. "What price? Seriously, whatever it is—I'm game." Alexander's tone, his presence that usually made people shut up and back off, was completely ineffective on her. A jolt of frustration hit him—hot and sharp. Without thinking, he yanked her into his arms, slammed his lips against hers in a kiss completely lacking tenderness. "Ugh—get off!" She shoved at him hard, breaking free, and the crack of her slap echoed across the room. "Caitlin, do you have a death wish?!" His fury erupted, tension thick in the air as if the whole room had dipped below zero. "You think I'm scared now?" Her eyes were burning with something darker, deeper. "Back then, I tried so hard to play nice, to get close—and you didn't even look at me. Now that I want absolutely nothing to do with you, you come crawling back like I owe you something? Grow up, Mr. Perkins. Don't be pathetic." She had the nerve—the actual nerve—to throw reasoning at him like he needed a moral lesson. A dry, humorless smirk tugged at Alexander's lips. Since when did someone like him get told off by a woman? "Alexander, I'm tired. I'm calling it a night. If you're still not done yelling or throwing tantrums, come back tomorrow, okay?" Samantha shot him a look that could freeze over hell, her eyes skimming over the red, slap-shaped mark on his face. "Get lost." His voice was gravel, low and rough. For the first time, he felt something weird, something like... powerless. Samantha strolled back to her room like nothing happened. She began undressing for a shower and froze when her eyes landed on a stained piece of clothing—her sister's, blotched with black ink. She knelt on the bed, pulling the fabric to her face, and let the memories wash over her like waves—messy, aching, and full of weight.Caitlin was the last family Samantha had in this world. They had the same blood running through their veins. If Caitlin were still alive, maybe Samantha wouldn't feel so alone all the time. Ethan had told her that their mother passed away when Caitlin was just ten. After that, Caitlin stayed with the Warrens. She'd known all along she had a twin sister but never had the chance to reunite because of all the mess in the Warren family. It wasn't until she met Ethan that she begged him to get Samantha out of the orphanage and place her with a Calverian family in Farsenia to be cared for. The money that supported Samantha's living expenses and tuition? A chunk of it came from Caitlin. She scraped by, working part-time while saving every penny she could. Ethan mentioned that even though Caitlin wasn't short of food or clothes back then, life wasn't exactly easy for her. Just to save pocket money, she'd often skip breakfast. In truth, Ethan became Caitlin's only rock during those years. Though, he later admitted that the first moment he saw her, he fell in love. They weren't just leaning on each other, they were in it together. Samantha's stable life and her chance to attend the top design school in Farsenia—that was all thanks to Caitlin and Ethan. It was just tragic that all this time, she never realized she had a blood sibling out there. Back when she was with the foster family, she used to watch their two daughters bicker and giggle together. Even their fights were full of sweetness. Samantha would sit there, watching, so jealous it hurt. She'd always been the odd one out, with no one to share her thoughts or secrets with. And how cruel was fate? By the time she finally knew she had an older sister, there wasn't even a chance to say goodbye. On the day she returned to the country, Samantha stood by Caitlin's grave. She listened in silence as Ethan told her about all the hardships Caitlin had endured—the injustice, the pain. And deep down, she made a promise: whoever hurt her sister was going to regret it. Gently, she ran her fingers over Caitlin's favorite soft cotton-linen top, her tears spilling before she even noticed. "Caitlin!" The door burst open without warning—Alexander stormed in. His chiseled face still bore the harsh red imprint of her slap. Samantha froze. Clad in nothing but bra and panties, she gasped, too stunned to even cover herself properly. Alexander's gaze fell on her nearly bare figure. His pupils contracted sharply. She had the kind of figure that could shake a man's soul. That kneeling pose, her soft curves—it practically had him swallowing hard. For a second, whatever he meant to say just vanished from his mind."Alexander, seriously? You're the big boss of Perkins Corp and you're out here spying on someone getting changed? That's pretty low, even for you." Samantha's glare could cut glass. She snatched up her clothes and wrapped them around herself, her voice cold and sharp. "Get out." "I'll give you one minute. Get dressed and come out," Alexander said, unfazed by her outburst. He closed the door behind him and waited outside, oddly calm. His heart, however, was in chaos. She'd only been gone five days, but came back like a whole different person—hostile and intense. Her whole vibe had changed. It was like she'd turned into someone else... someone magnetic. And suddenly, he couldn't look away. Even her style had taken a sharp turn—from plain and boring to bold and eye-catching, just like he liked. Caitlin used to wear these loose, shapeless clothes that completely hid her figure. He'd never realized how stunning she really was until now. Changing her wardrobe had completely changed the way he saw her—her body, each curve, suddenly impossible to ignore. "Alexander, barging into a woman's room? That's just pathetic." Samantha stepped out dressed in a plain sporty outfit, her hair pulled back in a high ponytail. The look was simple, but on her, it worked—confident, casual, and somehow still gorgeous. "Depends on the man," Alexander said, furrowing his brow. "Last I checked, I'm still your husband. Legally." She let out a dry laugh. "Big ego much?" "Let's go," he said, grabbing her hand without another word. Samantha pulled away, standing her ground. "Why should I?" "I don't owe you an explanation," he replied, clearly annoyed. "Funny. I don't like being touched. And unless you tell me where we're going and why, I'm not going anywhere." "I need you to cook a Farsenian meal. For someone important. It might be the only thing that can bring them back," he said, his tone serious. Samantha raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "You think dinner's gonna pull off a miracle?" "I didn't believe it either. But weird things happen." She studied him, her curiosity piqued. "So you're saying you need me?" "Yeah." His eyes narrowed slightly, picking up on her shifting mood. He wasn't sure what game she was playing this time. "I can do it. But we're making a deal." She gave him a slight smirk, all business. "Name it." Of course it wouldn't be that easy. She was barging right into negotiations. His lips curved into the faintest trace of a smile.