Chapter 14
1070 Words
"What am I supposed to do now?"
***
SAMANTHA
The housekeeper immediately let me in since they knew me here.
"Samantha?" Slade’s eyes widened in shock when he saw me.
"Uh, Hi Slade. Just wait a second, I’ll go see King." I smiled and walked toward the King's room.
I quickly opened the door, eager to surprise him.
"King! Happy..."
But I was the one who was surprised by what I saw.
There was King, kissing a woman.
His eyes widened in shock as he looked at me, but the woman just sneered at me.
"Samsam, it's not what you think," King said.
"What do you mean, 'it's not what she thinks,' Ches? We're getting married! Why don’t you just tell her the truth?" the woman said, grinning, her arm still wrapped around King’s.
I dropped the cake I was holding, stunned by what she had said.
"Happy… Happy break-up, Chester," I said, my voice trembling with tears, and I ran out of their house.
"Samantha!" I heard Slade calling after me, but I ignored him.
I rushed to my car and sped off, not even realizing there was a truck blocking my path.
All the memories came flooding back. Everything. Oh, s**t.
"Aaahhh!" I screamed, clutching my head as the pain in my chest intensified.
It hurt so much. It was like my head was being crushed. Tears streamed down my face as I was overwhelmed by the pain, to the point where I wished I could just die.
"Colline!"
I heard a voice before everything went black.
"B-Brother..." I whispered, drifting into unconsciousness.
***
"Colline..."
"Colline, eat something.."
"Colline, just a little..."
I could hear my brother’s voice calling me from outside my room, but I ignored him. I sat there in my room, staring blankly at nothing, tears silently falling as I cried.
"Colline..."
I couldn't face them. Not yet.
"Colline. I'm going to have to kick down your door if you don’t come out."
I knew that tone. He was angry. But I still didn’t respond. Why should I? Did he ever acknowledge me when I was in pain?
"Samantha, one."
I sighed, reluctantly standing up and walking to the door to open it.
"Kristoff, please. Can you just leave me alone for now?" I weakly asked.
"I’ll leave you alone if you talk to me properly." He insisted.
I sighed again. "I know you're worried. But can you please just let me be? I’m so confused. My head is spinning with everything that’s going on in my life, and none of you did anything to clarify all this."
I walked out of my room and grabbed the scattered money on the table. I quickly left the house and took a taxi.
I needed to be alone.
I needed time to think.
What’s really happening?
***
"Heaven..." I whispered to myself as I sat by the fountain where Chester and I once fell.
I had decided to just relax here in the park. I needed to unwind. I could feel myself on the edge of losing my mind.
"King... king..." I whispered, repeating Chester’s name over and over.
I tried to remember why Diane and Chester were getting married. I wondered if I knew the reason. But all I could remember was their betrayal.
"Samantha?"
I turned to the side when I heard my name. There was Slade, holding two chocolate ice creams.
"Slade? What are you doing here?" I asked, confused.
For context, it was already nine in the evening. Yes, I went out even though it was late—don’t do what I did, kids.
"You’re the one I should be asking that," he said, sitting next to me. "What are you doing here?"
"Just unwinding. My head hurts. You?" I replied, trying to sound calm.
"Same. Here, it’s for you." He handed me one of the ice creams he was holding.
Despite my irritation, I took the ice cream from him. Well, who am I to reject a treat?
"Thanks."
He gave me a thumbs up in response.
After that, the atmosphere became awkward. I had something I wanted to ask him, but I wasn’t sure if I should. After everything, why would I want to ask him anything? But I was still curious. Maybe I’d just ask.
"Slade..."
He didn’t answer, but he looked at me.
"I wanted to ask you something—"
"You're going to ask why Diane and my brother are getting married, right?" he interrupted, knowing exactly what was on my mind.
My eyes widened. "Are you psychic?"
He laughed softly. "No. It's just obvious from your face."
"You know, even though you and Chester are siblings, you're completely different in personality." I said.
"Everyone has their own personality," he replied with a smile. "But it’s your brother’s personality that you fell for."
I furrowed my brows. Why was he so blunt when it came to feelings? I was about to respond, but he cut me off.
"Don’t say anything, please. I don’t want to get hurt," he said, his voice filled with sadness.
I let out a long sigh.
"About your question earlier, the truth is... your brother doesn’t want you to know what really happened. But I think you deserve to know the truth."
I looked at him, my attention fully on him, as I paused from eating my ice cream, realizing how serious he was.
"I'm ready to listen," I said.
"Do you know that my brother owns a company?" he asked, and I nodded immediately.
"My brother’s company went bankrupt. And Diane was the only one who could help him, so they needed to get married. Both you and my brother Kristoff didn’t know about this, which is why he’s so angry at your brother. That’s why I’m the one he wants for you. But I understand now. I know you’ll never like me."
A wave of sadness hit me, and I was about to speak when he stopped me.
"Don’t say anything, please. Just let me say this. I love you so much, Samantha, but I’m letting you go now."
He stood up and looked at the sky, breathing deeply.
"By the way, my brother wants you to know he loves you very much. And everything’s okay now."
After that, he walked away.
I stood there, stunned.
Instead of finding clarity, I only became more confused.
What am I supposed to do now?
- Writer
