Chapter 20
Samuel’s POV
The divorce didn’t happen.
Larissa was barely a day into our marriage -technically still a new bride–when she pulled that ridiculous stunt. If word got out that she’d been cast aside within twenty–four hours, it wouldn’t just be her reputation that would crumble. It would bring shame to the entire Windrow family.
My father wasted no time. The moment he heard, he ordered me to stay home and play the dutiful husband until Larissa “recovered.” Divorce? Maybe–but only when the scandal cooled off. No one was allowed to tarnish
the Windrow name, not even me.
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So there I was, pacing in that suffocating mansion while pack doctors came and went. They examined Larissa again and again.
She wasn’t in critical condition. Bled a lot, sure, but with rest, she’d recover.
Three days passed. She finally opened her eyes. And there I was, sitting stone–faced by her bed.
Her voice was weak, almost sweet.
“Samuel… thank you for taking care of me. I’ll make sure to be a good wife from now on. I’ll take care of the house and of you.”
Like nothing had happened.
She smiled like she hadn’t just tried to manipulate her way back into my heart with blood and tears. But I’d had enough of her
games.
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I stared at her, cold and detached. “When you’re better, I’ll speak to your father. The divorce is happening. I’ll take responsibility for everything.”
She froze.
“Samuel…” she whispered, lips trembling. “Do I really mean so little to you? Not even a fraction of what Felicia does? We were happy in our past life–how could you change so much in this one?”
That stopped me. My breath caught. She remembered.
But just as quickly, I masked it. My voice was steady, laced with contempt.
“In the past, we were together because you lied. You hid the truth about the shooting,
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about the mate bond. I was already married to Felicia. We were happy. You were the one who came crawling to me, seducing me, whispering that you were my true mate. You talked me into faking my death and running away with you. If not for your deceit, Felicia and I would’ve lived out our days in peace.”
“I don’t believe it,” she whispered. “I won’t. We spent years together before. You weren’t pretending then. You cared for me–I know you did. Samuel, tell me honestly… If that silhouette at the training ground hadn’t been mine or Felicia’s, if it had been someone else, would you still have fallen for her?”
She looked up at me, all soft voice and downcast lashes–the same act that used to reel me in back then. But I wasn’t that Samuel anymore.
I looked away. All I could see was Felicia’s
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smile, the light in her eyes when she brought me gifts, always pretending it wasn’t a big deal. She’d follow me around like a stubborn little pup, never asking for anything in return. Just being near me was enough for her.
How could I ever choose Larissa over her?
I looked at Larissa and answered quietly, “It’s always been Felicia. You just tricked me into believing otherwise.”
The woman in bed went stiff. Her mask cracked. She clenched the bedsheet in her fists, bitterness radiating off her in waves.
“You say I tricked you. But what did I ever lie about–besides the shooting and the mate bond? In the past life, you were the one who said Felicia was dull. You wanted adventure. That’s why you agreed to elope with me. The fake death? That was your plan, Samuel, not
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mine!”
Her voice rose with every word, trembling with fury and desperation.
“And this life? Everything I did was because you let me! You never believed in Felicia. You ignored her. You left her vulnerable! Don’t act like the victim now! You don’t love her–you just regret living a poor life with me before. You think choosing her now will bring you glory, Alpha’s pride, a pretty little fairytale!”
That was the last straw.
Crack.
My hand landed hard across her face, and blood welled at the corner of her lips.
“Lies,” I hissed.
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She covered her cheek, eyes glinting through tears. Then she laughed.
“Lies?” she echoed, voice rising. “You know damn well I’m right, Samuel. You just don’t have the guts to admit it.”
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