Matthew snapped, his facade crumbling as he lashed out.
“Your grandmother is sick, and this is what you’re doing? At least Lily has been trying. Do you know how often she’s been going to beg Mr. Garrett for help? she failed, but at least she tried! What about you? What have you done?
“Your grandmother has spoiled you since you were a child. Even if you don’t acknowledge me, tine, but are you really going just to sit back and watch her die?
“you already work in a place like that–what’s one more man, or even two? Can you stop being so selfish?”
Samantha’s face tumed deathly pale.
Se ever expected ham to say something so vile.
Did he think slar hadn’t tried to help Cynthia? She had–she just hadn’t succeeded. How hare he call her selfish?
Why was she the only one expected to make sacrifices?
Why her?
But size wasn’t beir to aigue. She had another reason for coming.
“If you don’t want me to press charges, fine but have one condition”
“What condition?
“What did you say? Retumthem? Those belong to the Newton family. You’re not even part of this family–what right do you have to take them?” Matthew slammed the table in anger, poliating a furious finger at her. “L’in warning you, don’t covet things that don’t belong to you!”
Samantha fomed herself to ignore his insults. She had promised Cynthia that she would protect those inanuscripts, and she intended to keep that promise. Her voice was calm and steady. “So, what will it be? Return the manuscripts, or go to prison? Your choler. ”
Her pails dug into her palma, the pain keeping hier gruutuled.
She spoke again, ber tone unwavering, “170 ink one last thune—yes or no?”
He spewed!
you really have to do this? Do you have to push me this fan
wavering. “Tuinot interested in heating nonsense. Are you giving it to me at not
Are your trying to dive me to my grave? You heartless boat You’ve disappointed me beyond words! The biggest mistake of my
innen, nevei niice addressing the actual issue of retuming the mammcripts.
Samantha picked up her bag and made a move to leave. “Alright. Since you’ve made your decision, I’ll se
Aftand she was ne
be finally dropped his act, his voice laced with anger. “If I give you the manuscripts, you won’t press charges?”
char know you’hie telling the truth?
bwiite you a statement of forgiveness !!
Tilbing the matmiscripts tomonow. We’ll exchange them
-manuscripts for the statement.
“That sonla. ” Samantha glanced at the time. “Some place fomnow at 2:00 pm. I have other things to take care of, so if you’re late, I’ll leave. You know what t
nileverything settled, she grabbed her bag and walked out, completely ignoring the insults Matthew Imirled at her as she left.
It wasn’t until she stepped init of the cate that she finally fell some of the tension in her body ease.
Khiclenching her hand, she saw deep nail marks pressed hutoler palm–proof of her effort to keep herself composed.
She called Bradley, asking him to prepare the statement of forgiveness, and then went to his law firm to pick up the documents.
He gave her one last warning as he handed the papers taber.
“Oner you sign this, holding hilin accountable will be much harder later.”
“Thanks for the reminder.”
Despite his words, Samantha book the statement of forgiveness willout hesitation. She had already made up her mind. There was nothing more to consider. Bradley sighed but didn’t aigor further, Instead, he simply advised her, “he careful on your way,”
The next day, Sanandha arrived at the cafe early
dy for thei
their meeting
She kept glancing outside, waiting for Matthew to show uju
iught on the dot, he finally appeared at the entrance, a few notebooks clutched in his hands.
The moment le spotted her, his expressiontwisted with resentment,
hut Samantha let out a quiet breath of tellet. At least he came. She wouldn’t have low who to do next if he hadn’t.
With a cold expressindi, Mati[iew slammed the notebooks i the table. “See for yourself!=
Samantha picked them up and flipped through a few pages. They were precisely the mies she had seen in Cynthia’s
She placed the statement of forgiveness on the table. “This is what you wanted.”
“Youngrateful wortch! You’ll get what’s coming in youl Spitting those thual words at her, Matthew matched the document and stomped off.
All flist mattered was keeping the promotar alır made to Cyodila.
Carefully tucking the manuscripts into her bag, she stepped outside to hail a cab to the courthouse
Just theni, a message from Leotardo popped up on her phone.
“I’ll be at then mailumse at poojan. Don’t be late.”
blar kuar w law mnich he hated tardiness, so she wouldn’t risk teuing
Chataide the courthoster in jedu, naipon sat in the flood patentigët arat, custously i
kal Leonando.
“Mc Guamen, didn’t you agree to meet Ms. Newtonal 3:00 pin barely pasi 2 no pm. De we really need to be here this early?”
