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?

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

soothingly. Pressing gentle kiss to her forehead, he

toward the use. It wasn’t until Shirley called out to him that be remembered

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

much-

Samuel had left evaporated. Turning back to Shirley, he said with his tone sharp with irritation, “What exactly do you want to say?

sound came out. Then, as steeling herself, she bot out

then smiled faintly “is that

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

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 like

Samuel carried Sophia inside

“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 actually said congratulations to

of guilt. He regretted bringing here. “Maybe he didn’t take your words sealously.

down Shirley’s cheek. She let out a bitter laugh. “Really!”

much longer could she keep

you.

call from home. Megan had been