He Took Her Side, I Ended Our Love

Chapter 2

Something about Samuel's reaction felt... off.

A heavy sense of unease settled in my chest and would not lift.

I looked him straight in the eye. "She's flirting with you."

It was not a question.

It was a fact.

Silence filled the room.

On the screen, Dorothy went still. She clearly had not expected me to call her out so openly.

Color rushed to her face.

"No, that is not true." She shook her head frantically. "Please do not misunderstand. I really sent it to the wrong person." Her voice shook, and tears quickly pooled in her eyes.

Wearing nothing but an oversized shirt that barely covered her thighs, she looked fragile enough to win anyone's sympathy.

Samuel finished his task and finally turned to look at me.

He saw the anger written all over my face.

A faint, helpless smile touched the corners of his mouth.

He ended the call, leaned over, and gave my cheek a soft, playful pinch.

"Alright," he said in an easy tone. "She was flirting with me," he spoke, as if he were soothing a child upset over something silly.

Before I could reply, the lab door swung open.

Dorothy hurried inside.

The oversized shirt slipped down one shoulder, revealing her bare skin, and showed off her long pale legs with every step she took.

"I wanted to explain properly in person."

She looked at me with wide innocent eyes, but I caught a faint glint of satisfaction behind her apologetic smile.

"That photo was for my boyfriend. I just picked the wrong name. It really was an accident." She folded her hands together pleadingly.

"Please do not be upset, Ms. Finn. I would hate to think the two of you might argue because of me," she continued.

Samuel barely glanced up.

"You are reading too much into this. We are fine."

Dorothy let out an exaggerated breath and pressed a hand to her chest.

"Oh, that is such a relief. You had me worried."

She gave a shy little smile. "I know how easily women get jealous over things like this, so I was afraid you might take it the wrong way."

Samuel ignored her and kept packing up his equipment.

But every word she said made my temper rise higher.

With that perfectly rehearsed speech, she had somehow turned things around so that I was the one who looked unreasonable and insecure.

I clicked my tongue sharply.

"Are you done yet?" My voice cut through the quiet room.

The air turned cold at once.

Dorothy froze.

Samuel stopped what he was doing and frowned.

"Nearly finished."

He did not look at me.

"Stop rushing me."

Behind his back, Dorothy stood perfectly still, watching him with tear-filled eyes.

She made no move to leave.

A sharp rush of anger burned through me.

I was about to speak when I caught sight of my own reflection in the glass window.

I stopped for a moment.

Then the anger just drained away.

It was not worth fighting someone like her.

That would be far too low.

Dorothy's eyes grew red as she looked timidly toward Samuel.

"Samuel..."

He never even turned his head.

It was a clear rejection, and it stung.

After standing there awkwardly for several long seconds, she lowered her head.

"I truly did not mean any harm," she whispered.

Then she turned and walked quietly out of the lab.