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

he turned and quicidy strode toward het. “Why are

with fear, woke up and couldn’t find you, I was

soothingly. Pressing gentle kiss to her forehead,

up in his arms and walked briskly back toward the use. It wasn’t until Shirley

as he was about to turn, Sophia clutched at his shirt tighth. Her brown were knitting in pain, making her look heartbreakingly fragile. “Samuel, it hurts__

much-

Shirley, he said with his tone sharp with irritation, “What exactly do

but no sound came out. Then, as steeling

a moment, then smiled faintly “is

“Nothing I just wanted to let you know

was just an excuse, a desperate attempt to cling to him. He knew he couldn’t afford to show her any softness. Otherwise, she’d start clinging to him again

the strange pang in his chest, Samuel carried

“Congratulations“. Congratulations

car. Her voice was hoarse, as though on the

regretted bringing here. “Maybe he didn’t

She let out

she

you.

a call from home. Megan had been returned safely. Apart from a few bruises, she was unturmed.