"Drake!" Samantha gasped as the door suddenly swung open. She hadn’t even touched the handle yet when it moved on its own. And standing there—tall, serious, eyes locked onto hers—was Drake.
He had just come from her grandfather’s study, his expression unreadable. Samantha, caught off guard, instinctively stepped back, clutching the edge of the doorframe.
“Sam.” His voice was quiet, but there was something in the way he said her name. Something heavy.
She had assumed he was already asleep, shut away in his room after a long, frustrating day at the office. He hadn't stepped out all evening, likely buried in thoughts about his uncle’s project—torn between loyalty and logic. Samantha understood his dilemma. Lee had rejected the proposal for good reasons, but Drake didn’t want to hurt his un
