Chapter <b>83 </b>
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“Listen…” Samuel called out just as Emery turned to leave. His hand shot forward, but she stepped back before he could touch her. “Please–just listen, alright? I know there’s been a misunderstanding between us.”
Emery arched a brow. “Misunderstanding?<b>” </b>
“Yes,” Samuel pushed, his voice gaining force. “Everything that happened, it wasn’t intentional. It wasn’t even me. It was my mother. She was the one who insisted on that marriage arrangement, not me. It was her mistake, not mine. You know how she is. Controlling. I had no choice.”
For a second, Emery just stared. Then augh broke out of her chest. She doubled over slightly, gripping her stomach as herughter echoed through the lobby. “Did you hear that, Lucille?” she asked, wiping at her eyes.
Lucille smirked and gave a small nod. “Loud and clear.”
Emery turned to Nina next. “And you? Have you ever met anyone this shameless?<b>” </b>
Nina’s mouth dropped open before she shook her head, almostughing herself. “Never. Not once.”
Samuel’s face reddened. “You don’t have to mock me like this,” he snapped. “We’ve been together for years, Emery. I know you better than anyone. I know you still love me, whether you want to admit it or not.”
Emery’sughter cut off. She straightened, her expression t and unamused. “You know nothing.”
Samuel’s jaw clenched, but he plowed on, desperation seeping into arrogance. “You’re angry, fine. But I’m willing to forgive you. I forgive you for running off with another man. I forgive you for humiliating me like this. Juste back to me and we’ll fix everything.”
Emery blinked slowly. “Forgive me?”
“Yes,” Samuel insisted. “Forget Logan Hayes. Forget all of this nonsense. If youe back now, I’ll make sure you never have to worry about anything again. I’ll never marry Talia, I swear it. You’ll be my wife, the mother of my children, and everyone will know it. We’ll be stronger than before.”
Lucille let out a low chuckle under her breath as Nina muttered, “Unbelievable.”
Emery tilted her head, studying Samuel with a look that made his confidence falter. “So let me get this straight. You betray me. You let your mistress and your mother drag me through the mud<i>. </i>And now you stand here, offering to forgive me for surviving you?”
Samuel’s nostrils red. “I’m giving you a chance, Emery. Don’t be stupid enough to waste it.”
For a second, Emery was speechless. She just stared at him, lips pressed together, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of a response<b>. </b>
Samuel took her silence as encouragement. He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a low, insistent tone. “You can’t pretend you’ve forgotten. You were always there for me, Emery. Everyte night at the office, every fight I had with my mother<b>, </b>every bad deal 1-1 had you. You stood <i>by </i>me through everything. We were happy once, weren’t we? Youughed at my stupid jokes. You cooked for me. You held me when I was down. That wasn’t nothing. That was real.”
<b>9:25 </b>Mon, Sep 15 <b>d</b>.
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He kept going, his words spilling faster, more desperate. “You loved me. You know you did. We were good together. Strong together. And deep down, you still feel it. Otherwise you wouldn’t even be standing here.”
Emery finally lifted her hand, palm out, cutting him off. “Enough,” she said sharply. “I don’t need this, Samuel. Go back to your mother and Talia.”
That made him snap. His voice rose, echoing in the lobby. “Stop it! Stop being so vindictive! You think you’re punishing me by ying this little game, but you’re only hurting yourself. Juste back, Emery. Come back to me so we can raise our child together.”
Her breath caught, but she didn’t say a word.
Samuel pressed on, his tone swinging between pleading andmanding. “Think about it. A family. Our family. You and me, raising our child the way it should be. You can’t do it alone. You won’t survive without me. And Logan? He’s not going to stay. Men like him get bored. They get tired of women like you. He’ll abandon you, Emery. He’ll toss you aside the moment he’s done, the moment he finds someone younger, prettier, easier to handle.”
He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping but still harsh. “But me? I’ll never leave you. I’ll never marry Talia. I promise you that. Juste back and we’ll be perfect again, the family you always dreamed of. You know I’m right. You’ve always wanted this.”
Lucille’s eyes narrowed from where she stood, clearly restraining herself from stepping in while Nina folded her arms, shaking her head in disbelief.
“Is that the only thing you came here to say?” Emery asked, her patience thinning. “Because I’m tired of this, Samuel. I already told you, I’m with another man. There’s no chance for us to be together. You should put your focus on Talia and your mother.” She turned sharply. “Let’s go.”
“Em, please—”
“We’re done talking, Samuel.” Emery cut him off coldly. “The child I’m carrying is not yours. Respect yourself enough and stop bothering me. If you approach me again, I’ll treat it as harassment, and you’ll hear from mywyer.”
With that, she walked out with Nina right beside her.
Almost immediately, Samuel lunged a step forward to follow, but Lucille moved like a wall, blocking his path with a re that could cut steel. “You heard her.”
Samuel sneered, “Get out of my way.”
Lucille didn’t flinch. “One more step, and you won’t just have a harassment suit, you’ll need a hospital bed.” She leaned in slightly, her voice sharp as a de. “You don’t get to breathe down her neck anymore. You don’t get to call her Em. And if you keep pushing? I’ll personally make sure the next time you see her, it’ll be across
a courtroom.”
Samuel’s jaw clenched, but Lucille’s stare never wavered.
“You had your chance,” she finished. “Now stay the hell out of hers<b>.</b><b>” </b>
“No-” Samuel was about to protest when Lucille suddenly pushed him. Surprised, Samuel stumbled back
<b>9:26 </b>Mon<b>, </b>Sep 15 <b>d </b>
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andnded hard on the marble floor with a loud thud. The sound echoed through the lobby, drawing a few curious stares from bystanders.
For a moment, he just sat there, blinking in shock. He hadn’t expected Lucille to have that much strength. His pride stung worse than the pain in his tailbone.
Lucille didn’t move from her spot. She loomed over him, her eyes sharp, arms folded like she owned the ground he sat on. “That <b>was </b>just a push,” she said. “Next time, you won’t be walking away at all.”
Samuel’s mouth opened, then closed again, without saying another word. How could this woman be this strong? He wondered.
Lucille crouched slightly, just enough so that her re locked him in ce. “The next time you try this stunt… showing up, harassing her, pretending she still owes you something, you won’t be sitting on the floor. You’ll be waking up in a hospital bed. And trust me, it won’t be a pleasant experience.”
She straightened again, her heels clicking once against the tile. “You had your warning. Don’t test me.”
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