Chapter 185

Chapter 185: Chapter 185

Samuel’s POV

Getting involved with someone really does change the whole vibe between people.

Whatever weird push-and-pull Dominic and Lena had going on before, they’d clearly crossed into a whole new phase now.

Gemma hadn’t caused any trouble. She was behaving, staying with Eliza, not calling, not pushing, not making a scene.

She was the kind of woman who made your life easier just by existing, not harder.

I sat in Dominic’s office, wiping my glasses while watching him work, and yeah, I couldn’t help feeling a little jealous.

“How is your life this smooth?” I put my glasses back on. “A woman you used to love shows up again after eight years and acts all graceful and chill. Your current partner doesn’t blow up. No one’s screaming, no one’s threatening to leave. And you? You’re just sitting there looking refreshed like you’ve been blessed by the universe.”

“Who are you talking about?” Dominic finally looked up from his screen.

“Gemma. She’s the one you used to love, right? Or wait.” I tilted my head. “Have you actually fallen for Lena now? Because that would be kind of wild.”

Dominic gave me the same look people gave annoying mosquitoes.

“If you’ve got that much free time, go find something useful to do.”

“I’m admiring you. Honestly, I’m a little in awe.” I spread my hands. “Makes me want to stir up some drama just so I don’t have to watch you live this comfortably.”

“Get out.”

“I’m leaving this afternoon anyway. Business trip. You won’t see me for a few days.” I stood up lazily. “You’re definitely gonna miss me.”

“Where are you going?”

My gaze flickered for a second before I answered, “Silverpine Pack.”

That got his full attention for the first time.

“For work?”

“What else?” I got to my feet, avoiding his eyes as I headed for the door. “If you get lonely, call me.”

That evening, I arrived in Silverpine territory, checked into my hotel, met the client, talked business for three straight hours, then went out to eat by myself.

After dinner, I wandered the streets.

And the second there was nothing left to distract me, my thoughts drifted to her again. Of course they did.

I pulled out my phone, opened my contacts, and stared at her name. My thumb hovered over the call button, trembling just a little.

She’d avoid me.

She’d come up with some excuse.

I shoved the phone back into my pocket and let out a long breath.

When I got back to the hotel, I had just stepped out of the taxi when a pink Rolls-Royce pulled up at the entrance.

A dark-haired girl got out first. Then the passenger-side door opened, and a young man stepped out. Handsome, solid build, clean features—but the way he was dressed looked completely out of place next to that absurdly expensive car.

She slipped her arm through his, and the two of them walked inside together.

I followed them into the elevator.

The girl leaned against him like she belonged there. Then his phone rang.

He glanced at the screen, and his expression tightened on the spot. He looked at the girl, then turned his head slightly and answered the call.

“Hey... I’m still working. Might be home late tonight. I can’t go see you and your mom. Yeah. Get some rest. See you tomorrow.”

He hung up and let out a heavy breath.

The girl looked at him. “You still haven’t broken up with her?”

“I just...”

“Whatever. I don’t care.” She lifted a hand and pinched his chin between her fingers, hunger burning in her eyes. “Keep seeing her if you want. As long as you come back to me in the end.”

She didn’t care at all that I was standing barely three feet away.

The man noticed me. He glanced over and silently signaled for her to tone it down.

She flicked me a look, clearly decided I wasn’t worth caring about, and finally dropped her hand.

The elevator doors opened. I stepped out first.

Back in my room, I took a shower, then stood by the window with a towel around my waist. The city lights glittered below like they had no business being that bright, and the ache in my chest spread with them.

I picked up my phone again.

Opened my contacts.

Found her name.

This time, I hit call.

Every ring made my stomach clench tighter. I gripped the phone and counted in silence.

She wasn’t going to answer.

But she did.

“Hello?” Her voice was soft, careful, the kind of voice people used when answering an unfamiliar number.

My throat tightened. My abs tensed on instinct. I adjusted my breathing and forced a smile into my voice.

“Is this a bad time?”

“No. I can talk.”

“I’m in Silverpine.”

Silence on the other end.

I knew she was nervous. Maybe even scared.

“Are you free tomorrow?” I asked. “I want to take you to dinner.”

I already had lines prepared in my head for when she turned me down. I’d come this far. I was going to see her no matter what.

“Okay.”

I blinked.

I’d expected rejection. Instead, she answered the call and agreed.

My mood lifted so fast I almost laughed.

“What do you want to eat?”

“Anything’s fine.”

“Then I’ll pick the place. I’ll come get you tomorrow.”

“You don’t have to go through all that. Just send me the address. I can go by myself.”

I held back the smile pulling at my mouth. “Deal.”

“Samuel?”

She said my name, and warmth rushed through me so suddenly it almost hurt.

“Yeah?”

“Can I... bring my boyfriend with me?”

All that warmth froze in an instant.

She wanted to bring her boyfriend.

To dinner.

With me.

Her voice was quiet, careful, the voice of someone asking a question when they already knew the answer. This was going to hurt.

“Sure,” I said evenly, and I was weirdly proud of how steady I sounded. “Bring him.”

After the call ended, I stood there with the phone still in my hand.

The good mood was gone, wiped clean. That call, that answer, that dinner—six words had crushed all of it.

I barely slept that night.

The next day, after dealing with the rest of my work, I went to the restaurant early.

I wanted to be seated before she arrived. I wanted to watch her walk in, even if she walked in with someone else.

If seeing her with another man was what it took to finally kill this thing in me, then fine. I’d sit there and let it wreck me.

I saw her first.

She was wearing a soft green blouse and a white skirt. Fresh, bright, impossible not to look at.

The man beside her wore a white shirt and faded jeans. Neat, handsome, with that young, clean-cut look people found easy to trust. I narrowed my eyes slightly. Something about him tugged at the back of my memory.

Then they got closer, and it hit me.

This boyfriend was the man from the hotel elevator.

The same guy who lied on the phone and said he was working late.

The same guy whose rich girlfriend had lifted his chin and said she didn’t care if he kept another woman on the side.

And Aria was that “other woman.”

“Samuel, sorry we’re late.” Aria held his arm, smiling at me with open sincerity. “This is my boyfriend, Kyle. Kyle, this is the lawyer I told you about. He helped my cousin Garrett with some business matters before.”

Kyle held out his hand, polite and composed. “It’s good to meet you, Alpha Samuel.”

He didn’t recognize me.

The elevator lighting had been dim, and his attention had been glued to the woman beside him. He hadn’t really looked at the man standing behind him.

“Good to meet you too.” I shook his hand. “Actually, we’ve met before.”

“Really?” Aria looked between the two of us, curious. “You know each other?”

Kyle frowned and shook his head. “I don’t remember. Where?”

“Last night. At the hotel.”

The color drained from Kyle’s face so fast it was almost impressive. His eyes shifted, thoughts clearly racing, replaying the elevator, the phone call, the girl.

“The hotel? Which hotel?” Aria looked confused.

Kyle’s composure cracked for half a second, then snapped right back into place.

“Oh, right. Last night a client left some documents at the hotel, and my boss sent me to get them.” He kept his eyes on me the whole time, testing whether I would blow up his lie. “Mr. Clarke and I must’ve run into each other in the lobby.”

Aria didn’t doubt him for even a second. She nodded, smiled, and let it go.

She trusted him completely. No suspicion. No second-guessing. Nothing.

Looking at her warm, honest face, I felt something bitter twist in my chest. She had no idea what he was doing behind her back.

I wasn’t going to expose him tonight.

I didn’t have proof she’d believe, and no matter how I said it, it would sound like jealousy.

She would take Kyle’s side.

And I would lose the last thin thread still connecting us.

“Samuel, you order first.” Aria slid the menu toward me. “Dinner’s on me tonight.”

I looked at the menu but didn’t take it.

“I’m the one who asked you here. I should be paying.”