Chapter 4
The next morning, Samuel didn't wait for me to walk to school together.
He'd gotten beaten up pretty badly the night before.
I figured he was probably blaming me for it in his head.
That was just how Samuel was.
All I could do was deal with it.
I spent the whole night writing twenty-seven love letters for Samuel.
I was planning to give them to him before class.
But as soon as I walked into school, there was no sign of Samuel anywhere.
I was looking everywhere for Samuel, and when I walked past the bulletin board, I noticed a bunch of people crowded around it.
My curiosity couldn't hold back, so I squeezed in to see what was going on.
But just one look made my entire body go cold. My legs gave out, and I dropped to the floor.
The bulletin board was completely covered with my photos.
And every single one was an intimate shot.
My mind went blank, a loud buzz echoing in my ears.
It must be Samuel.
People around teased, "Who would've guessed that mute girl looked so dorky but actually has a smoking hot body?"
"You've been staying at the Jennings residence for a decade. No way you're still a virgin, right?"
"I just wanna know, was it the old one or the young one?"
Harsh laughter exploded all around me.
Through their jeers, I forced myself up and started ripping the photos down, both hands shaking.
They mocked, "She's freaking out now."
"I thought people like you were totally shameless, just living without a care."
"Guess she's still got a shred of dignity, huh."
When I heard their words, my hands shook even harder.
I wanted nothing more than to slap them right across the face.
But I knew I couldn't.
They were all big shots. One word from them and my mom and I would be out on the streets.
I just had to grit my teeth and take it.
After ripping down all the photos from the bulletin board, I was frantically searching for Samuel.
I even checked the boys' restrooms.
Completely drained, I spotted a figure up on the rooftop.
I didn't care about the pain or how tired I was.
I summoned every last bit of strength and bolted up to the rooftop.
Samuel was standing there with a cigarette clamped between his lips, looking like he'd just been killing time waiting for me.
When he spotted me, he finally stood up, swaggered over, and with absolutely no warning, shoved his cigarette right into my mouth.
The second it touched my lips, my stomach twisted in disgust.
Instinctively, I spat the cigarette out and shoved Samuel away.
He sneered, "Wow, you really have the guts to push me, huh?
"I've been too nice to you, haven't I?"
His expression switched in a heartbeat, eyes flashing with pure rage.
He didn't even hesitate and just smacked me right across the face.
That was Samuel—never let anyone treat him like crap, not for a second.
But why did I always have to be the one swallowing this crap?
I said, "Samuel, why the hell did you take those pictures of me?
"If you hate me so much, why can't you just stay out of my life? Why do you have to keep pushing me like this?"
I was basically shouting at him at this point.
I just didn't get it.
If he didn't like me, he could've just turned me down. So why did he keep playing these twisted games, hurting me over and over again?
Was this all just for his sick amusement?
Samuel watched calmly as I completely broke down, not even flinching.
There wasn't a shred of sympathy on his face.
He leaned in close, clamped his hand tight around my jaw, forcing me to look straight into those cold eyes.
He said, "This is your punishment.
"You didn't give me those love letters on time.
"And you're still trying to play the victim? Who do you think you're fooling?
"Pathetic slut."
It finally hit me that Samuel had been putting on an act this whole time.
He'd always been hiding behind a mask.
Now, with Samuel standing in front of me, eyes full of malice—this was his true self, mask off and all.
He said, "Take my advice: don't cross me again.
"Otherwise, this is what you get."
I wouldn't even think about stepping out of line again.
Samuel treated me like his obedient servant, only good for following orders and getting kicked around.
No way was I gonna go begging for that kind of humiliation again.
After we came down from the rooftop, we both tacitly agreed not to mention it.
But the whole thing turned into such a big scene.
It even caught the attention of the school leaders.
And once they got word, Samuel's dad found out as well.
That night, Samuel ended up bowing in front of me.
Dennis stood there holding a small sheepskin whip, making Samuel spit out an apology.
Dennis barked, "You brat, can't even pull your grades together, and now you think you're big enough to bully others?
"How many times have I told you—Hannah is part of our family as well. You're supposed to protect her."
Dennis was always crystal clear about what he liked and what he couldn't stand.
If one screwed up, one got punished—simple as that.
Dennis kept whipping Samuel.
Samuel's screams echoed through every corner of the villa.
In the end, when it finally became unbearable, he raised his eyes and stared right at me.
"I'm sorry," he muttered.
Those words came out of Samuel's mouth like he was choking down broken glass.
It was supposed to be an apology.
But Samuel's eyes sent a chill straight down my spine.
He didn't mean a single word of it.
That night, I was just about to fall asleep when a sudden chill crept up my back.
I looked up, heart pounding—Samuel was standing stiffly by my bed, just staring at me, his face completely blank.
"Hannah, do you really want me to fall for you?" he said.