Chapter 4
My heart ached dully, Samuel's harsh words cut right through me, leaving me exposed and ashamed.
My eyes prickled with pain, and tears rolled down my cheeks.
Samuel's face was icy with anger as he pulled me away.
As we left, I heard Andrew shout from behind me.
"Emily, if you ever decide, come see me at the Harper Estate."
It was the first time I'd ever seen Samuel totally blow up like this.
No matter how twisted he was inside, he always acted like a gentleman on the surface.
But today, he shoved me hard onto the couch in the private room, his face cold and empty as he pulled up my skirt without a hint of emotion.
Outside, people were constantly coming and going past the private room.
Scared out of my mind, I started crying and begging him to stop.
"Samuel, please, not here. Can we go somewhere else? Please, Samuel!"
Samuel didn't budge. He kept going, rough, almost savage, wiping away my tears without a hint of tenderness.
"Sophie, you're way too naive. Only the tears of sweet, innocent girls ever make a guy feel anything for them. But you? You're just a worn-out plaything. Who'd ever care about you?"
But I used to be a pure, innocent girl.
Samuel ruined me for life, all because of some trumped-up charge he pinned on me.
Because of him, I could never see the light again, and I could never even get close to Andrew.
After he was done, Samuel got up and answered a call. The person on the other end sounded pretty anxious.
I only caught a few scattered words.
"Six years ago," "taco shop," "Ms. Lane," "can you come over and confirm?"
I curled up weakly in the corner of the couch, forcing a bitter smile.
Samuel worked faster than I ever thought he would.
He was finally about to uncover the truth.
Maybe tonight, I'll finally be free from all the blame.
And the secret I'd kept safe for six years was finally something he was going to see.
Samuel left, but not before glancing back at me, his eyes full of tangled emotions.
"Sophie, I need to go check on something. Wait for me, okay?"
I smiled and nodded. Of course I'd wait for him.
I'll wait for him to finally see the truth, to be eaten up by regret, to break down, and to fall from his pedestal until he's just as ruined as I am.
After Samuel left, I headed home.
I lived in a shabby little apartment on the west side of town.
Just as I got to my door, a car came tearing up and stopped right in front of me.
The window rolled down, and Adrian's fat, pig-like face popped out.
"Miss Lane, you sure made me work to find you."
I panicked and dashed for my door.
Before I could even lock the door, Adrian burst in.
He panted, lunging at me for a kiss, already tearing off his clothes like he couldn't wait.
He pinned me down, and all I could do was keep track of the time, desperately hoping Samuel would show up soon.
Samuel, you better get here soon.
The gift I'd prepared for Samuel was hidden in the second drawer by the bed.
Tonight, everything would come to an end. One way or another.