Chupter 15
As everyone was staring at samantha, the room was as silent as a graveyard at midnight. Even with her eyes shut, she could feel the sharp edge of a gaze cutting through her
“All of you, get out.” The shap–command shattered the stillness.
Footsteps echoed through the room as everyone rushed out, but not a single word was spoken. As they passed, she saw the way they looked at her, like the was already as good as
They glanced at her with the kinded pity reserved for the condemnedl
Leela parted her lips as if to say something, but before the end, non men in black suns dragged her away.
Within moments, the packed room emptied. Only Leonardo and Samantharemained.
“Come here.” Leonardo ordered with a firm.
Samantha stole a glance at him, trying to know what was on his mind by reading his expression. However, his face remained indiferent, and this page was unreadable. There was no hint of anger or disgust.
Gerfully, she stepped closer and said, “I–I’m sorry..‘
“Sorry for what?”
“Ter..skeping with you
Leonardo was speechless. His lips nwitched slightly. Without warning, he grabbed her WEBL
Hefter she could react, he pulled, throwing her off balance. She stumbled backward and accidentally sat on his lap. Her mind quickly flashed to the way he had treated Lay
Sitting on his lap?she was done for!
She struggled to get up, but a strong am wrapped around her waist, holding her in place.
“Don’t move
His cold voice sent a chill down her spine. She frow and didn’t dare to move, as if she had just been given a royal decree
Leonardo buried his face in the curve of her neck, greedily inhaling her scent.
ver been anything li
He had once thought that the reason he lost control that night was due to external influences. However, as he caught her scent again, he realized had never
The thing that truly unsettled him and made him lose all restraint was simply her.
inwasher, and that wa
ittelt like she was a part of him, written into his very being.
Suddenly, Samantha was spun around and pulled into a fiomembrace. At that moment, heat radiated from the body pressed against hers.
She stiffened, instinctively trying to pull away, but before she could, he reached up and pulled off her mask.
There was no longer anything between them. No disguise, no barrier.
She then sak Lepardo wasn’t surprisedat all, as if he had known from the very start. It looked like he was certain that person was her.
“You knew
Before she could finish her question, he cupped the back of her head and kissed her lips, Heat, deep and unrelenting, surged through her, stealing her breath,
Her mind urged her in resist, bit her body refused to obey Wesk and powerless, she couldn’t even lift a hand push him away.
His lips trailed from hes, down the care of her neck, then lower, tracing the delicate line of her collarbone slow, lingering, unwilling to let go of a single inch of her
Her thoughts blurred, and reason slipped away. She was falling fast, sinking into him, until he suddenly pushed her away.
Samantha’s bright eyes blinked to confusion.
Leonardo said, “Sorry… 1 lost control®
She pursed her lips, wiping the saliva from her lips. He hadn’t seemed to lose control when he was kissing her. Yet now, all of a sudden, he did
“Are you disappointed?”
“No!!!
She turned away, refusing to look at
looked like she was sulking
“You’ve always known what really happened that night. Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked. “Did that woman tell you to be?
Samathy frowned. “You were the ones who got it wrong. Layla is my best friend, and I would never hurt her”
So it’s line to hurt me instead?” he asked.
“How did hurt you?
Leonardo fell silent. He didn’t know how to answer her question because he wasn’t sure why he would say those words to her
The thought that Samantha knew the truth yet chase to keep it from him made Leonardo angry. However, he felt more sadness i an odd being
cith even a bit of frustration was
Leonardo had pays been good at suppressing his emotions. Without another word, he changed the subject, pulling a check from his pocket and handing it to het
**This is compensation for that night.”
As she glanced at the check, she thought to herself, “Two million?”
she didn’t dare to take the check. Her face bimbad as she shook her head.
We both gorenght up in the moment that night. We’re adults. It meas just
d’impulse. I was happy too, so there’s no need for compensation
She forced the words out, not just to avoid taking the check but also to ease the awkwardness between them. More than anything, she just wanted to put this behind her. She wasn’t ready to face the consequences.
shouldicalitatransaction” he asked
“You seemed to enjoy it like one”
“Huh?” I took Samantha a full ten seconds to process what he met. When she finally did, her face blushed. “That’s not what I meant
Though, she was being honest, that was exactly how she had seen it. It was as if she had spent the night with a high–end male escort.
With someone like Leonardo, that kind of luxury wouldn’t come cheap. Yet somehow, she got it for free. That thought alone lifted her moodalitle. However, what she hadn’t expected was for Leonardo to see right thenrgh her. Lowering her head, she avoided eye contact with him.
Leonardo said, “I was the one who initiated it that night, so compensating you is the least lean do.”
Before she could protest, he pressed the check into her hand, leasing her no chance to refuse.
samanthabit her lips. With a slightly trembling voice, she said firmly. “I–I’m not a prostitute or esco
The slight pause revealed her nerves, but very word was clear and deliberate. She was holding on to the Lost shred of her dignity. As long as she didn’t take the money, she could
With that, Samantha mimicked Leonardo’s actions and forcefully shoved the check back into his hand.
Leonards couldn’t help but chuckle. So even two miliun couldn’t put a price on the pride?
Heyblad with determination, biting her lips as she held her ground.
Leonardo finally gave up, Looking at her now, he almost wondered if she was about to cry. Strangely, the thought left him une
“Alright the” He relented. “Let’s change the subject.”
He played with Samantha’s delicate fingers, gently rolling them between his own. “Let’s get married”
Samantha was stunned. She understood every word he said, but it didn’t make any sense.
Leonardo wanted to marry her? This had to be a joke!
Ader a while, she asked, “Did Thear that right?”
“Yes, I did tell you to marry me. My family is pressuring me, and I need a cover.
“You low, you could ask someone else. Besides, I don’t want to get married right now”
“Fighe you million a month as an allowance.”
“I think I’ll pass. We barely know each other, so getting married would be way too impulse. I really don’think–
She then pulled her hand from his grasp with a smile. The memory of their best counter flashed though her mind, sending a nervous chill down her spine.
might be the next one getting tossed into a crocodile pit, set was better to say no now. No matter hour attractive Leonardo was, her survival mattered.
Besides, this nauriage would only bene thim. There was nothing in it for her.
