Ethan's gloomy aura exploded completely. "How could she go missing?"
Jade replied, "After she left the Emperor Group today, she went to the Fletcher Group to find Justin, and then disappeared without a trace. I've sent people to look for her, and I believe we'll find her soon."
Ethan narrowed his icy eyes, gritting his teeth. "Go find her, but once you find her, don't startle her. Just have someone monitor her."
"Yes!"
"And have someone keep an eye on Samantha, report her every move to me in detail."
"Yes!"
Jade acknowledged the orders and quickly hung up the phone.
Listening to the busy tone from the other end of the phone, Ethan's chest heaved violently.
What a fool. No wonder after all these years, Karen still couldn't get Justin in her grasp.
Samantha...
Since she had provoked him, she shouldn't expect to walk away unscathed.
This game wouldn't stop until he said so, and no one else could stop it.
In the bedroom, Samantha took out a clean blanket from the wardrobe and handed it to Justin.
"It's very late, you should rest early! You have to get up early for work tomorrow!"
Justin quietly looked at Samantha's flushed face. He reached out slowly, gently caressing her soft cheek, and said hoarsely, "I know you're not ready yet! Don't worry, as long as you don't agree, I won't do anything rash."
Samantha was deeply moved.
Justin continued, "I believe that one day, you will willingly accept me!"
After saying that, without waiting for Samantha to respond, he took the blanket, said "Goodnight," and got up to leave.
After he left, Samantha closed the door.
She leaned tightly against the door, her heart pounding like a drum, 'beating rapidly.
That was close.
Just a little bit.
Just a little bit more.
Fortunately, she stopped it at the last moment.
Otherwise, she dared not imagine the consequences.
Looking at Justin's disappointed face, she felt guilty.
But she really wasn't ready.
Instinctively, she wanted to avoid his intimate touch.
Just then, Charlotte, who was sleeping, suddenly chuckled and laughed in her sleep, sucking her thumb and murmuring, "Daddy... hehe... Daddy..."
Seeing her dreamily calling out for her father, Samantha's defenses crumbled.
Samantha's body slid down to the ground, caught in the painful dilemma.
What should she do? Should she agree to Mrs. Fletcher’s request for the sake of her pride and separate from Justin?
Or should she take a gamble for Charlotte, throwing caution to the wind, and be with Justin no matter what?
As she struggled with her conflicting thoughts, her phone suddenly rang.
Afraid of waking Charlotte, she didn't check the caller ID and answered the call, placing it against her ear.
"Hello, who is this?"
A deep male voice came from the other end of the line, "Samantha Miller?"
The unfamiliar voice caught Samantha off guard, and she asked cautiously, "Who are you? How did you get my phone number?"
The man on the other end of the line chuckled lightly. "I am Albert Davis, Ellena's fiancé..."
The words ‘Albert Davis’ immediately brought back memories that Samantha didn't want to recall.
"It's you? What do you want from me? How did you get my phone number?"
Albert asked in return, "Is it difficult to find you?"
Samantha hesitated for a moment, unsure how to answer.
Seeing her silence, Albert continued, "Do you have time tomorrow afternoon? I would like to meet with you."
"Meet?" Samantha frowned, instinctively rejecting the idea. "I don't think we know each other well enough to have anything to talk about."
Albert remained unruffled. "Don't you want to know who set us up that night? Don't you want revenge?"
He had always been someone who repaid grievances tenfold.
"If I knew... would it make a difference?"
Samantha hesitated.
Revenge?
Of course, she wanted revenge.
She knew that the person who had set her up that night must be Suzy, and only Suzy.
But what could knowing do? Her grudge with Suzy wasn't built in a day, and even if she wanted revenge, she had to take it step by step.
Seeing that there was no surprise in her tone, Albert tentatively asked, "Do you know the person who set us up?"
Instead of answering his question, Samantha asked, "I have time tomorrow afternoon. Where do you want to meet?"
After Albert provided the specific time and location for the meeting, both parties hung up.
The next morning, at dawn.
Justin got up, and Samantha had already prepared his clothes meticulously.
Not only were they clean and dried, but they were also ironed neatly.
Justin changed into the clothes, smelling the faint fragrance on them, feeling great. He couldn't help but say, "My dear Samantha is the epitome of a virtuous wife and loving mother. Being able to marry you in this life is the greatest blessing I've ever received."
Samantha felt embarrassed by his praise, her cheeks turning a slight shade of red.
"Alright, stop with the sweet talk and hurry up to eat breakfast and go to work!"
Justin made an ‘OK’ gesture towards her and held Charlotte's hand, sitting beside Samantha at the dining table.
The three of them enjoyed their breakfast happily, and then Justin went to work while Samantha took Charlotte to kindergarten.
Charlotte innocently asked Samantha, "Mommy, when will Uncle Justin become my daddy?"
The question left Samantha speechless, unsure of how to respond.
Charlotte, with her simple thoughts, didn't necessarily require an answer. Seeing Samantha's silence, she didn't persist and instead pouted, looking aggrieved. "Noah and Alex transferred to another school. I haven't seen them in a long time. I miss them. Will I still see them in the future?"
Samantha looked ahead, pondering, and said, "Yes, you will definitely see them!"
Life was so long, and they lived in the same city. They wouldn't be unable to meet each other. Even if there was only a one in a million chance, there was still hope.
It wasn't just Charlotte who wanted to see them. Samantha also missed Alexander. They had lived together for four years, and this was the first time they had been apart for so long. Although she knew she had to adapt slowly, she couldn't help but miss them.
After dropping Charlotte off at kindergarten, Samantha drove to the location agreed upon with Albert.
Little did she know, as soon as she entered, the person sent by Ethan to monitor her reported her whereabouts to him.
Arriving at the destination, Samantha opened the door to the private room, and Albert was already waiting inside.
Today, he was dressed in dark gray casual pants paired with a blue business shirt, with the sleeves slightly rolled up, exuding a rebellious and wicked charm all over his body.
Coupled with that face that could captivate anyone, he was simply irresistible.
This was the first time Samantha had carefully observed him.
During the party that night, her attention was focused on Alexander and Noah, so she didn't pay attention to this man.
As she observed Albert, he was also observing her.
She wasn't wearing any makeup, completely bare-faced, with her long hair tied up in a simple and elegant bun, revealing a beautiful and clean face like that of a harmless college student.
Her eyes were dark, bright, and clean. Like a clear spring, it seemed to ripple slightly, affecting people's hearts.
The night on the terrace was very dark, and he didn't get a good look at her.
Today, upon seeing her, there was an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
As if they had met before.
His gaze was too direct, making Samantha feel uncomfortable all over. She pulled out a chair and sat opposite him, extending her hand towards him. "Hello, I'm Samantha Miller!"
Albert smiled and gently shook her hand. "I'm Albert Davis."
Her hand was soft and smooth, warm in his palm.
The touch was excellent.
The sense of familiarity became even stronger.
Samantha didn't want to waste time and got straight to the point. "Let's not beat around the bush. Why did you ask me here?"
***