Chapter 5
Samuel's eyes were bloodshot as he kept asking over and over, "Tell me—are you jealous?"
I kept resisting, shaking my head frantically. "No! I'm really not!"
Samuel kept pressing me, his hand tight around my waist. "If you're not jealous, then why are you so worked up over some college girl?"
"Because she's a college girl! Are you some kind of monster? What kind of man your age messes around with a student? You're disgusting! I can't believe I misjudged you so badly—ah!" I shouted.
After ranting at him, I felt a lot better.
Samuel snorted dismissively and grabbed my wrists, pinning them together.
"Finished your rant? Now it's my turn. I'm going to teach you a lesson, you feisty little brat," he said.
Judging by his attitude, I had a feeling I wouldn't be getting much sleep tonight.
The next morning, I called Fiona to take a sick day, claiming I was too unwell to get out of bed.
Samuel, on the other hand, looked refreshed and headed to the office like nothing had happened.
Before leaving, he kissed my forehead. "Get some rest. We'll pick up where we left off tonight."
Every muscle in my body was sore, and I was covered in Samuel's marks.
After sleeping half the day away, I finally had the strength to drag myself out of bed.
As soon as I checked my phone, I saw my coworkers chatting in the work group chat.
"Oh my god! Mr. Foster's wife is so young! She totally looks like a college student!"
"I heard she's actually a college student!"
"Such a cute college girl! Honestly, some older women should just give up the fantasy. They can't compete!"
The college girl was at the office?
Any lingering haze of sleep vanished instantly.
Did I even exist in Samuel's world anymore?
He had spent the previous night claiming me, only to parade this girl in front of everyone the very next day. Would there even be a place for me in this home tomorrow?
Utter fury could crystallize into a chilling, brutal calm.
Moving quickly, I packed a bag, taking the most valuable jewelry and handbags I owned, and walked out of the sprawling villa Samuel had bought for our marriage.
*****
Returning home, Samuel found the house unnervingly quiet.
The familiar figure usually curled on the couch under a blanket, absorbed in daytime dramas, was nowhere to be seen.
"Julia?" he called toward the darkened staircase.
No one answered.
Shrugging off his suit jacket, he tossed it over the sofa back.
Fingers worked to loosen his tie.
"Amanda, where's Julia?" he addressed the housekeeper who appeared at the sound of his voice.
Amanda Lewis shook her head. "Mrs. Foster went out this afternoon, sir. She hasn't returned."
Samuel's eyes narrowed slightly.
Was this a tantrum? Or had something happened?
A quick check of his phone showed no messages from her all day.
Strange. She'd been sleeping peacefully when he left that morning.
A thread of worry tightened within him.
He placed a call to his assistant, Alex Grant.
"I need you to look into someone's whereabouts. And keep this between us," Samuel said.
After securing Alex's agreement, Samuel released a deep sigh.
It seemed a thorough reassessment of his relationship with Julia was in order.
*****
I checked into an executive suite at a five-star hotel.
Going back to my parents was out of the question—I couldn't face their inevitable disappointment.
My marriage to Samuel was a strategic alliance, deeply entwined with both our families' business interests.
After thinking it over, I figured it was better to keep them out of it for now.
That night, sleep evaded me. Tossing in the unfamiliar bed, I kept seeing him: the sharp line of his nose, those intense eyes, that infuriatingly attractive mouth.
And those big, strong hands, his rock-hard abs—God, I missed him so much it hurt just thinking about it.
Damn it! How could I let a man who'd betrayed me affect me like this?