A deal with the devil

Chapter 20

Samuel glanced at the woman bring in his bed through the phone screen. After a moment of silence, he finally gave in and agreed.

Once Samuel left the room, the woman on his bed opened her eyes.

A short while later, Shirley spotted Samuel’s tigate. She stepped out of the car and stood a few feet away, gazing at him from a distance.

Neither of them moved closer, as though an unbridgeable chasm had separated them.

Shirley had died to the nines that evening, She was an embodiment of elegance, carrying herself with both regal poise and the youthful charm of a young maiden Samuel had always known the was stunning, but that night, his heart had no room for anyone but Sophia,

“Spook.”

umar) stood there, as composed and poised as always. Yet the tenderness and indulgence that used to color his gaze were no longer there. Shirley suddenly found herself at a loss for words. After a long pause, she finally said, “I just came back from seeing Ben…”

H

She was off by a pained ery

To was Sophia. had fallen to the ground

as he turned and quicidy strode toward het. “Why are you put of bod? Where did

face was filled with fear, woke up and couldn’t find you, I was so scared. Promise me, Samuel. Promise that

back soothingly. Pressing gentle kiss to her forehead, he muured, “Alright

that, he scooped sophia up in his arms and walked briskly back toward the use. It wasn’t until Shirley called out

clutched at his shirt tighth. Her brown were knitting in pain, making her look heartbreakingly fragile. “Samuel,

much-

Turning back to Shirley, he said with

but no sound came out. Then, as steeling herself, she bot out

frome for a moment, then smiled faintly “is that so?

“Nothing I just wanted to let you know that I’m getting married tomorrow.”

believe her, not for a second Tobam, it was just an excuse, a desperate attempt to cling to him.

strange pang in his chest, Samuel carried Sophia inside without looking back

“Congratulations“. Congratulations

and unmoving the turned her head to look at Brook, who had been sitting silently in the car. Her voice was hoarse, as though on the verge of collapse. “Did you hear than? He

“Maybe he didn’t take

She let out a bitter laugh. “Really!”

she keep deceiving herself?

you.

home. Megan had been