Bitter Reality

Samantha woke up in the morning feeling genuinely happy. She turned to see Sean sleeping soundly beside her. Her fingers traced the bridge of his nose, the curve of his jaw—his handsome face that made her fall head over heels.

“Had enough of touching my face, sweetheart?” Sean murmured, pulling her into a warm embrace.

“I love you, Sean.”

“I love you more, Sam.”

“No, Sean. I love you more.”

“No, no…” Sean shook his head, teasingly wagging his finger. “When it comes to love, I win.”

“But in sacrifice, I win.”

“That’s what makes you special—your sacrifice, your sincerity, and your big heart.” He held her tighter, as if afraid this moment would slip away. With his return to London looming, he knew this might all become just a memory. Samuel was gone, and he needed to start thinking of how to keep Samantha under his control.

They had breakfast together, exchanging playful banter and laughter. Afterward, they made love again, their passion insatiable, their moans filling the space with desperate desire.

“Only with you do I feel completely satisfied,” Sean panted between kisses. “You’re my addiction, Sam. I can’t get enough of your body.”

“You always know how to please me, Sean. You’re incredible.”

After resting for a while, they gave in to the desire again, groaning in pain and pleasure as Sean thrust deep into her. That afternoon, they went to the beach—Samantha’s favorite place. Standing by the shoreline, she watched Sean gaze at the sea.

“What are you thinking about, Sean?” she asked, eyes full of affection.

“I’m thinking of buying you a house. Somewhere we can be together freely—no one to interrupt us, no one to question us,” he replied, eyes serious.

“Whatever you decide, Sean, I’ll go wherever you go. I’ll live wherever you want,” she said, resting her head on his shoulder.

At that moment, Samantha could only think of Sean—of their love, their connection, their euphoric chemistry. Everything else faded away. She had completely forgotten the problems waiting for her in London.

It had already been three days since Samuel died, and she had no idea her father had passed away. Sean, blinded by selfishness, had kept it from her for his own gain, believing that what he did was justified for the sake of their happiness.

“Tomorrow, we’re going home, Sam. And don’t you dare run from me again. Whenever I want you, you’ll give yourself to me, got it?” Sean said possessively.

Samantha smiled. “Of course, Sean. My body is yours—whenever and however you want it. Because when you’re satisfied, I’m satisfied too.” She felt proud that a man as handsome and powerful as Sean only wanted her. Only her. She was Samantha Jade Peters.

---

The next day, they prepared to return to London. Paris would forever remain their most beautiful memory. When they landed at Heathrow Airport, Sean’s car was already waiting. On the way home, Samantha sat on Sean’s lap while he drove, and they kissed all the way.

Before reaching the house, they had sex again in the car. Sean knew that once they got home, Samantha would likely be too distraught to make love again. He was sure she would be devastated once she learned that Samuel had died during their getaway. He didn’t want to waste any moment with her.

Sean dropped her off near the house and left for work to avoid suspicion—especially from Stella. Not long after Sean left, Stella arrived home with Willy.

“Sam!” Stella ran to her sister and hugged her tightly, tears streaming down her face. “Where have you been, Sam? I’ve been so worried! Your phone was off, and I nearly called the police today!”

Guilt stabbed through Samantha. But the happiness of her trip with Sean had been worth it.

“I’m fine, Sis. I went to Paris with some friends. I lost my phone,” Samantha said with a nervous little laugh.

“But you don’t have friends, Sam.”

“My friends from California, Sis. We reconnected and had fun. It’s been ages since I saw them.”

“Oh, Will’s here too?” Samantha asked, surprised to see Willy in Sean’s home.

“Hey, Sam,” Willy greeted her.

“Hey, Will,” she replied cheerfully.

“You seem to be in an incredibly good mood,” Willy said. “Did you enjoy your trip? Had lots of laughs and positive vibes with your friends, huh?”

“Yup! I did everything. The holiday helped calm my heart, lift my spirits, and clear my mind.” Her smile radiated pure joy.

But her joy was quickly met with something strange—Stella was crying. Samantha’s heart dropped.

“Why are you crying, Sis?” she asked, worried.

“I’m happy you had fun, Sam. But… there’s something I need to tell you. Something hard.”

Samantha frowned. “Tell me, please. What’s going on?”

“You need to be strong for this, okay?”

“Strong for what?” Samantha’s voice trembled. Suddenly, a terrible thought crossed her mind.

“Daddy… Sam… it’s about Daddy…” Stella broke down, unable to continue.

“No…” Samantha shook her head, trying to deny the awful truth unraveling in her mind. “Tell me, please… What happened to Daddy?” Tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Will… please tell me,” she turned to Willy.

Willy sighed heavily. “Samuel Peters passed away four days ago… while you were in Paris with your friends.”

The world seemed to collapse around her. Her knees buckled. Her heart shattered.

“No. No, you’re joking. This is a prank, right?” she laughed in disbelief, even as tears continued to pour. “You’re joking, right, Sis?”

Stella just held her and cried. “I’m sorry, Sam. I’m so sorry…”

“Why didn’t you tell me? Or call Mom?”

“Sean said not to panic Mom Ursula. And we didn’t know where you were. I asked Sean for help… even though he’s usually cold and careless.”

“When did you tell him?”

“Thirty minutes after Daddy died. Sean is my husband, after all.”

Thud. Samantha’s heart stopped. Sean knew the whole time. While they were enjoying Paris, Sean had known—and he kept it from her.

“How could Daddy leave me… after everything I’ve done for him?” she cried. “He was never there when I needed him. I gave up everything, even the man I loved, for him. And now he’s gone!”

Stella and Willy could only watch as she collapsed in grief.

“This is all your fault!” Samantha suddenly turned and screamed at Sean, who had just stepped inside. He had been listening from outside the door, preparing himself for her rage.

“You’re a monster! You knew, and you didn’t tell me! You selfish bastard!” she shouted, sobbing uncontrollably.

Stella, unaware of the truth behind Samantha’s words, was shocked and furious at her sister.

“Samantha! Watch your mouth! How dare you talk to my husband like that?” Stella snapped.

Samantha turned to face her sister, eyes blazing. “You’re still defending him? You think he’s a good man? He’s the reason for all of this. He’s a bastard!”

Stella had never heard Samantha speak so harshly. Her patience snapped. She stepped forward—

Smack!

Her palm landed hard on Samantha’s cheek.

Silence filled the room. No one said a word. Everyone stood frozen. Her face turned to the side, eyes wide in shock, her cheek burning red from the harsh slap. But it wasn’t the physical pain that stung. It was her heart—aching, torn deeper than anything else she’d ever felt.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at Stella, her gaze filled with heartbreak and bitter disappointment.

“I’m… I’m not even angry that you slapped me, Sis,” Samantha’s voice trembled. “What hurts more is that you chose to believe him… over your own sister.”

Stella held her breath, her hand still trembling from what she had just done.

“Sam, I… I just wanted you to calm down. I don’t even know what’s going on. But I couldn’t let you speak that way about my husband in front of everyone.”

“If you knew everything, Sis…” Samantha let out a hollow laugh. “You wouldn’t be able to forgive him either. But it doesn’t matter anymore. It’s all ruined.”

Willy stepped forward, trying to ease the tension.

“That’s enough. Both of you are overwhelmed with emotions right now. Let’s talk when things have settled down. Sam, you’ve just lost someone you loved. Don’t make the wound worse by hurting each other.”

Samantha turned to look at Willy, then nodded slowly. Her eyes shifted to Sean, and the sorrow in her gaze was now laced with hatred.

“You’re not the man I once loved, Sean. You’re nothing to me now,” she whispered in her heart.

And for the first time since Paris, Sean stood there in complete silence. His heart ached. But he knew—this was the price of the lie he chose to tell.

Then Samantha turned and walked away from that house—without looking back.

She h

ad only taken a few steps when the world around her began to spin. Everything blurred.

And then—she collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

---