Chapter 5
I had never looked into Samuel’s past. It wasn’t until I saw the scandalous photos on my phone that I realized how little I truly knew about him.
His childhood was far from happy–his father was a convicted murderer, his mother was mentally ill, and he had to survive by bouncing between different relatives.
The younger Samuel had been a rebellious troublemaker. He dropped out of school early, worked in bars serving drinks for tips, and even made a living by conning wealthy socialites.
No one knew how he managed to latch onto Mr. & Mrs. Martin, but somehow, he ended up becoming their daughter’s guardian.
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There were even photos circulating of him punching Ryan at a banquet.
The comments under the posts were brutal, accusing him of seducing an innocent heiress just to get a stake in the company.
At the restaurant, Liam grew even more worried when he saw how unfazed I was.
“What are you planning to do about this?”
“Wait and see.”
The scandal was escalating quickly. Before long, someone dug up an anonymous love confession I had once posted online about Samuel. They meticulously connected the dots, proving that the author of that letter
was me.
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The company’s boardroom was in an uproar. They insisted that someone of my status shouldn’t be romantically involved with a man like Samuel.
They unanimously demanded that I redistribute my shares among other shareholders–just in case I got “blinded by love” and let Samuel manipulate me.
As I was drowning in all this chaos, Liam sighed in frustration.
“This is ridiculous. Ethan has been targeting me lately for no reason. By the way, with all this drama going on, has Samuel contacted you at all?”
I absentmindedly stirred my coffee. “No. He’s probably too busy preparing for his wedding to care about my mess.”
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“Evelyn…”
“Hmm?”
Just as I looked up, Liam suddenly grabbed both of my hands.
“Evelyn! I’ve always liked you. When I said we could live our own lives after marriage, I was lying. I genuinely love you, and I hope you’ll truly accept me.”
His confession caught me completely off guard. His expression was serious, his palms warm and slightly sweaty–he was clearly nervous.
I chuckled softly.
“Alright, let’s give it a try.”
At the next board meeting, they were still
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arguing endlessly over my shares.
I frowned, waited for them to pause for a sip of water, then dropped a bombshell:
“I’m getting engaged to Liam.”
“What? With who?”
I smiled. “Liam Hale, the young master of the Hale Group.”
They froze for a moment before erupting in protests again.
“No way! That kid is an illegitimate son. Marrying him would be beneath your status!”
Only Douglas Wright, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up: “I’ve met Liam before. Yes, he’s a bastard child, but he’s ambitious and capable. Rather than letting Evelyn be
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manipulated by Samuel, she might as well try with Liam. He could be a good match.”
Some still wanted to object, but I stood up, my smile carrying a hint of mockery.
“Am I choosing a husband, or are you choosing one for me? This is my marriage -my decision. There’s nothing more to discuss. It’s Liam.”
Later, while taking a stroll with Liam, he brought up my announcement at the board meeting.
“Evelyn, thank you for trusting me. Don’t worry–I’ll treat you well.”
His usual gentle smile remained, but his gaze burned with intensity. Before I could react, I was already pulled into his embrace.
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“When will you truly forget about Samuel and love me instead?”
My heart clenched slightly. “I’ll try my best.”
“I hope you won’t make me wait too long. When it comes to you, my patience is wearing thin.”
Liam wanted to take me home to meet his
parents.
I hesitated. “Isn’t this a bit too fast?”
“Fast? If I don’t lock you down now, you’ll slip away! While my father is still in a good mood, we should finalize our engagement.”
“But shouldn’t my family be involved in something this important? You know my situation… I can’t exactly ask Samuel.”
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Liam gently ruffled my hair. “I know it’s hard for you. Let Douglas bring you instead. Out of everyone around you, he’s the only one who truly cares about you.”
That was true. Douglas had always liked me since I was little. After my parents passed away, he helped me a lot. If Samuel hadn’t been around, Douglas would have been my legal guardian.
“Well, I should ask if he’s willing first.”
“Douglas is a good man. I’m sure he’d be more than happy to help.”
Sure enough, Douglas agreed and arranged a time to take me to the Hale family residence.
When I arrived, Liam’s parents were
incredibly welcoming.
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His mother took my hands, nodding in satisfaction, while his father and Douglas sat together, discussing engagement arrangements.
At some point, I stepped away to use the restroom. On my way back, I noticed a refined–looking man tending to flowers in the garden.
I paused, admiring the perfectly arranged blossoms. Clearly, a lot of effort had gone into them.
“Do you like flowers?”
The man had already noticed me. He turned slightly, a faint smirk on his lips.
“Yeah, I think most women do.”
“Heh.”
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His eyes darkened slightly, and he let out a quiet laugh.
“Beauty doesn’t always mean kindness. The most poisonous things often come in the most attractive packages. People are the same–they hide behind pretty facades while doing despicable things.”
Me: …
“Evelyn!”
Not far away, Liam called out anxiously.
He strode over to my side, his gaze turning cold and wary as he stared at the man in the garden, a silent warning flashing in his eyes.
“Ethan,” Liam’s voice was icy, “what did you just say to Evelyn?”
