Xavier was about to appreciate her gesture but Tracie suddenly came to the living room from the kitchen with a ss filled with orange juice. And just instantly, Anastasia started sneezing.


    Her face turned bright red as she instinctively took a few steps back, trying to escape the overpowering aroma of the orange juice. Her skin had already begun to flush, the reaction spreading rapidly, making her resemble a ripe tomato.


    "I’m sorry, are you allergic to oranges?" Tracie asked, concern etched on her face. Deep down, guilt gnawed at her as she silently apologized to Anastasia for triggering her allergies by bringing the ss of orange juice into the room.


    Tracie couldn’t hold it in anymore. As much as she respected Anastasia’s decision, watching the two of them dance around each other without truly being together was unbearable. It was torture. If she couldn’t tell Xavier the truth outright, then she would at least leave him breadcrumbs—small hints that might lead him to finally figure it out on his own.


    Anastasia didn’t wait to respond. She immediately rushed to her room to take her anti-allergy medicine.


    Xavier stared at her as she rushed into her room, his eyes narrowing.


    ’Anastasia is allergic to oranges,’ he thought to himself.


    Then he decided to wave the thoughts away. Anybody could be allergic to oranges. <i>Jennifer </i>is allergic to oranges but that didn’t mean she was Anastasia. She didn’t even look like Anastasia.


    As Xavier tried to not be paranoid about what had just happened, he could feel something kicking inside him and it left him feeling unsettled.


    Then he nced at Tracie who was already looking at him.


    "I didn’t know she was allergic to oranges," she responded.


    **


    Samantha was at her apartment in Xattlewood. She rarely came here—her work consumed every part of her life, leaving little room for personal space. Most of her days were spent overseeing the girls and managing the factory, ensuring everything ran smoothly. But ever since her argument with Xander, she hadn’t returned to his ce. Instead, she’d chosen solitude, retreating to her apartment and handling business from afar. It was easier this way—less painful.


    Thinking about their argument caused her blood to boil and she didn’t think she was going to forgive him anytime soon.


    Samantha stepped out of her home, dressed in one of her finest gowns that can force people to kneel and worship her, her green eyes instantlynded on someone familiar—the same person she’d been cursing in her mind the entire time. Her mood dropped dramatically, leaving her with no excitement.


    Xander was leaning against his car, his gaze on Samantha. It was obvious from the outfit, that she wasn’t going to the house or the factory. She was going to meet a special someone. A special someone he’d already deemed unworthy.


    She didn’t even bother to make eye contact with him as she ignored his presence as if he never existed and went to her car.


    "Samantha," he called again, his voiceced with something she couldn’t quite decipher—desperation, anger, or something in between. She didn’t wait to find out. Instead, she yanked the car door open, determined to leave, but before she could slip inside, a strong hand grabbed her wrist.


    Before she could react, she was yanked backward, and the car door mmed shut with a force that sent a sharp jolt through her. Her back hit the cold metal, and she barely had a moment to regain her bnce before she found herself trapped between him and the car.


    "What is wrong with you?" She questioned, her gaze subtlynded on her arm he was holding. "Let me go!" She yanked it right off his grip.


    "I don’t want you to go to meet with Benjamin," he said.


    "In case you’ve forgotten, I’m not your property that you canmand to do whatever you like," she snapped. "I can see that you still haven’t gotten that through your thick skull."


    "I’m not saying you’re my property, but Benjamin is not the right guy for you," he exined, but all he got from Samantha was a raised eyebrow as she red at him.


    After the past few days of not seeing Samantha, he’de to realize that he’d be attached to her for a very long time. As for love, he wasn’t sure if that was what he felt for her in his heart.


    "What are you even doing here?" Samantha asked.


    "I came to take you out on a date of course," he replied.


    Samantha waspletely caught off guard as she looked at him but she couldn’t bring herself to reply.


    Unbeknownst to them, someone was watching them from a car parked right opposite the house.