Chapter 2
My brain was already playing out the rest of the drama.
I blushed a little and smiled, "It... it was a gift from Sam's mom."
"Wow, she must really adore you," Charlotte said, eyes sparkling with envy.
Then she asked carefully, "Vivian, can I see it? Just for a second?"
She looked so sweet and hopeful that saying no would make me look like a jerk.
I glanced at Samuel, who was leaning back on the couch, his expression unreadable.
Not even trying to help me out.
Whatever. You two ran the show.
Left with no choice, I braced myself and started slipping off the bracelet. "Sure, here you go."
Just as it left my wrist, Charlotte squealed "Oops!" and lurched straight into me.
The sound of shattering cut through the living room.
The diamond bracelet hit the marble floor and shattered into pieces.
Great, there goes my 20 billion dollars.
No—not just the money. The Foster family heirloom.
Charlotte was lightning fast. She dropped to her knees, tears on demand.
"Sorry! I'm so sorry, Vivian! I didn't mean to! I just lost my balance. And something so valuable..."
All tears, looking pitiful—like it was her heart that shattered, not the bracelet.
I just stood there frozen, face drained of color, tears brimming.
I totally nailed the bullied wife part—too scared and heartbroken to even get mad.
[Damn, girl, with acting skills like that, you could make a fortune scamming people.]
[Now it's Samuel's turn. If things go by the usual script, he'll help his precious Charlotte up, shoot me that icy glare, and say, "It's just a bracelet—how could it compare to Charlotte?"]
I glanced at Samuel, waiting for that finishing blow.
Samuel didn't budge.
He didn't even look at Charlotte bawling on the floor, or at the shattered bracelet.
His gaze was locked on me.
That look... he was sizing me up, and for the first time ever, I saw something like disappointment in his eyes.
What was he disappointed about? That I didn't go full drama queen and throw down with Charlotte?
[Why are you staring at me? Go comfort your beloved Charlotte! She's waiting for you to swoop in. Why aren't you playing by the book?]
[Next up, she'll say she'll make it up to me, then pull out some tacky fake bracelet she bought at a street stall to make me look bad. Countdown starts now—five, four, three...]
"Vivian, I'm really, really sorry," Charlotte whimpered.
She looked up with red, puffy eyes and, sniffling, slipped a bracelet off her own wrist with trembling hands.
"It's not as expensive as yours, but it was my mom's. Please take it, or I'll feel guilty forever..."
She held it out with puppy-dog eyes, then shot a pleading look at Samuel, clearly hoping he'd jump in.
The living room was dead silent.
Just when I was sure Samuel would nudge me to accept, he finally spoke. "No need."
Two words. Charlotte's sobs and her whole act froze.
Samuel got up slowly and walked over.
He looked down at Charlotte coldly.
"The housekeeper just mopped. Floor's slippery—watch yourself next time."
He paused, then turned toward the door. "Eric, take Ms. Winters home."
Charlotte's face went from weepy damsel to totally stunned, then pale.
Even I was speechless.
Wait, what the hell was he playing at?
He didn't comfort Charlotte, didn't blame me—just casually sent her away.
As Eric "escorted" Charlotte out, she shot me a look of pure hatred.
Now it was just me and Samuel in the living room with the shattered bracelet scattered across the floor.
He was still staring at me with that unreadable look.
For the first time, I actually felt a little panicked inside.
This man I always thought I had under control—it was like something about him had completely changed, and I hadn't even noticed when.