Samantha's eyes locked onto Xander and Michael, her pupils dilating in stunned silence.
Xander swiftly turned away, his shoulders hunched as if shielding himself from Samantha's piercing gaze.
Her thoughts swirled, memories of Xander's deception flashing before her.
"How did he manage to deceive me for so long?" Samantha's mind whispered, the question echoing through her numbed brain.
Michael's voice sliced through her reverie. "Samantha, are you alright?" His tone held a hint of concern.
Samantha's brows furrowed, her lips compressing into a tight line. She shook her head, a barely perceptible movement.
"I'm thirsty," she murmured, the words tumbling out as an excuse.
As she turned away, her thoughts lingered on Xander. Years of believing he was Nolan and Nicholas's father – the f
