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Chapter_296
Zion stepped out of the room, feeling refreshed after his shower. He walked to the kitchen and poured himself a glass of lukewarm water, taking a deep breath. As he returned to the room, he found Samantha sitting on the bed, her skin flushed and covered in hickeys. Her eyes were heavy with exhaustion, yet she wore an expression of scorn. The scene made his heart sink, as he realized how much he had lost control tonight. No matter how much Samantha had begged him during their encounter, he hadn’t been able to stop himself.
Samantha’s voice was hoarse when she spoke. “Pervert,” she muttered under her breath, clearly disgusted by the entire ordeal. “A hypocritical villain, a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” she thought to herself. Her body ached all over, and she groaned as she propped herself up from the bed. Zion, seeing her struggle, handed her the glass of water, and she gulped it down without a care for how she appeared.
Zion stood in the doorway, watching her. His gaze softened for a moment, but it quickly turned dark again as he noticed water droplets falling from her lips. His mind raced—he couldn’t help but wonder if the lingering effects of the medication had something to do with her current state.
After finishing her water, Samantha looked up at Zion, meeting his eyes for the first time since he had entered. Without a word, she stepped back a few paces, an expression of defense spreading across her face. “Even robots need downtime, right?” she thought sarcastically.
Zion snapped out of his daze when he saw her retreating. Feeling awkward, he cleared his throat. “Why are you doing this?” he asked, his voice uncertain.
Samantha, however, didn’t answer him. Instead, she walked over to the balcony, picked up a cigarette box from the table, and lit one. The smoke slowly swirled upward, carrying with it a minty scent that filled the room. Zion watched her from a distance as she stared out at the city lights, her figure framed by the window, a mixture of nobility and aloofness. It was as if the very air around her became infused with an almost intoxicating mystery.
Finally, she turned to face Zion. “Why are you doing this?” she asked again, her voice colder this time, sharp and biting. “What have I done? Drugged you? Fallen in love with you?”
Zion’s heart clenched at her words. “No, Samantha,” he replied, trying to explain, but she interrupted him, a sneer forming on her lips.
“You’re just captivated by my body, aren’t you?” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “It’s a mistake that every man makes.”
Zion knew she was right. He was, indeed, attractive. Samantha never hesitated to compliment him on his looks, but it was always clear to him that there was so much more to her than her beauty.
Samantha continued to stare at him, her gaze unwavering. After a long pause, she crushed her cigarette out with a cold determination. Zion was taken aback by her tone. It was different from the playful and seductive voice she had used before. Now, she was all business.
“Zion,” she began, her words deliberate, “we’ve been together for ten years. This is the last time I’ll ask. Have you really decided to break up with me?”
Zion felt a wave of panic rise in his chest. His mind raced—was he really going to let go of Samantha for the sake of his own pride? The thought alone sent a cold shiver down his spine. Samantha, seeing his hesitation, narrowed her eyes. Her blank expression only deepened the sense of urgency he felt.
In that moment, Zion realized the truth. Samantha had always been a part of him, someone he couldn’t live without. No matter the rumors or the gossip, none of it mattered anymore. He no longer cared about the world’s opinion of their relationship. What mattered was that Samantha meant everything to him.
But before he could speak, Samantha, ever decisive, interrupted him. “You shouldn’t have hesitated,” she said sharply. “I declare we’re broken up.” Without another word, she began to dress, preparing to leave.
Zion stood frozen, unable to process what was happening. Her cold, indifferent demeanor struck him like a punch to the gut. He couldn’t bear the thought of her walking away like this. Quickly, he stepped forward, blocking her path.
“Samantha, wait!” he pleaded, his voice desperate. “I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to break up. I want to marry you.”
Samantha looked at him then, her eyes cold as ice, as sharp as a knife. She gently removed his hand from her arm, her expression distant, void of any warmth. The woman he had once known to be full of passion and affection was now gone, replaced by someone unrecognizable.
Zion’s heart broke as he watched her. “Samantha, please,” he begged, but she simply shook her head, her gaze unwavering.
“Zion,” she said, her voice low and firm, “after ten years, you still don’t understand me. When I love you, I pamper you. I protect you. But when I don’t… you’re not even worth the dirt on the ground.” Her words cut him deeper than anything he could have imagined. “Now,” she continued, her voice colder than ever, “I don’t love you anymore. I’m done. We’re breaking up. Don’t you get it?”
Zion stood there, motionless, as her words echoed in his mind. He knew what she meant. Samantha had always been passionate when she loved, but ruthless when she didn’t. He should have known this by now. But in that moment, it was too late.
Samantha turned, pushing open the door to leave. Zion stood frozen, his mind racing, unable to move or speak. It wasn’t until the sound of a sports car engine roaring outside the door that he snapped out of his trance. Barefoot, he rushed outside, shouting her name.
“Samantha, I was wrong! Please, don’t leave! Give me another chance! I’m begging you!”
But Samantha, sitting in the driver’s seat, looked back at him with a faint smile. Then, without hesitation, she slammed her foot down on the gas pedal and sped off, leaving Zion standing alone in the street, his heart breaking with every step he took after her.
As she drove away, Samantha thought to herself, “Why did I say those harsh things? To punish him, of course. This time, Zion will know his place. I let him go on his concerts, all for this moment. If he decides to give up on me, so be it. Men are a dime a dozen, and I, Samantha, can have as many as I want. I won’t waste my time on one man when there are so many others. I won’t abandon a whole forest for a single tree. That would be foolish.”
Meanwhile, back at Skyland, Charles had been assigned a room far from the Chavez family’s quarters. His room, located in the far east wing, was miles apart from Yvette’s and Jeremiah’s rooms in the west.
Andrew, watching Charles’s discomfort, couldn’t help but smirk. “Guess Mr. Chavez really doesn’t forgive easily. Every time Charles comes back, he has to deal with the hassle of being so far away. What a clever way to keep him in check.”
Charles, already annoyed, could only glare at Andrew, who was clearly enjoying his discomfort.
Yvette, however, remained blissfully unaware of the tensions in the air. She sat in her rocking chair, sipping a strawberry milkshake and looking serene.
Jeremiah, with a polite smile, addressed Charles, “Charles, I trust the room meets your standards?”
Charles, his teeth gritted in frustration, replied with strained politeness. “Yes, Mr. Chavez, I like it very much, especially…”
Jeremiah, with a seemingly innocent smile, added, “There was another room available, more central, but if you like this one so much, we’ll forget about it.”
Charles clenched his jaw in silence, his anger barely contained.
Meanwhile, Yvette, still lounging in her chair, removed her hat and let the sunlight wash over her, creating a soft glow around her. Her eyes misted slightly as she took in the scene before her. With a dreamy sigh, she murmured, “I want to have barbecue.”
Andrew, confused, thought, “Didn’t we just eat? Her appetite is endless!”
