Chapter 160
“What is the meaning of this?” Jackson roared, storming through the flower shop like a hurricane. His voice cut through the laughter and music like a knife. Every customer turned, shocked into silence as his eyes locked on Samantha.
She stood frozen by the display table, still holding a small bouquet meant for a waiting bride outside. The warmth drained from her cheeks.
“I asked you a question!” Jackson snarled, stepping closer. “How dare you disappear and then pull this stunt? A flower shop? With him?” His glare shifted to Inigo, who had immediately stepped between them.”
Samantha’s voice trembled. “Jackson, you need to leave-“}
“Shut up,” he spat. “You’re still my wife!”
“No, she’s not,” Inigo said firmly, moving closer. “She divorced you. Remember? You signed it.”
Jackson’s jaw clenched. “She tricked me-“”
“She gave you a way out,” Samantha interrupted, regaining her composure. “And you took it.“\
He turned to her, eyes wild. “You vanished. Do you have any idea what I’ve been through? Do you know what you did to my reputation? To my company? You humiliated me!”
“You hurt me first,” Samantha said, voice sharper now. “You left me long before I walked out. You broke me piece by piece until there was nothing left.”
“And now you’re what? Selling daisies and pretending you’re fine?” he scoffed. “With him?”
“Yes,” she said without hesitation. “And I’m happy. Something I never was with you.”
1.“0
That did it.”
Jackson’s fist flew before she could react, aimed straight at Inigo.
The two men crashed into the flower table, sending petals and glass shattering to the floor. Customers screamed and scrambled out of the way as chaos erupted in the shop.
“Stop it!” Samantha shouted, running toward them. “Stop!”
They didn’t.
Jackson threw another punch, Inigo blocked it, grunted, and shoved him into the wall. The air filled with grunts, the dull thud of fists hitting flesh, and the splintering sourid of broken furniture.
“You don’t get to touch her!” Inigo growled. “Not ever again!”
“You don’t know anything about us!” Jackson shouted, blood trickling from the side of his mouth.
“I know she was miserable!” Inigo roared back. “I know she cried herself to sleep every night because of you!”
Samantha reached between them, trying to pull them apart-“Stop it! Please, just stop!“–when Jackson’s elbow swung around blindly-
-and struck her.”
She gasped, stumbled back.
Her knees gave out.”
The room spun. Then darkness./
The sterile white of the hospital ceiling came into view like a slow sunrise. Samantha blinked once, then again, her vision swimming.
“Samantha…” Inigo’s voice cracked as he leaned over her, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead. His knuckles were scraped, his eyes bloodshot. “You’re awake.”
Her head throbbed. She lifted her hand and winced when her fingers grazed the swelling beneath her eye.”
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered. “He hit you–God, Samantha, I should’ve protected you-”
She opened her mouth to speak, but the door creaked open.
Jackson stood in the doorway, looking as wrecked as she felt. His shirt was torn, blood drying on his collar. He looked at her -really looked–and for the first time in a long time, there was no anger in his eyes.”
Just guilt.
“Samantha…” he murmured.”
She turned her face away.
He took a step forward. “Please, I didn’t mean-”
“She doesn’t want to see you,” Inigo snapped, stepping in front of her.”
“I just want to talk–“%
2/2
66769
11:02 AM
“She’s not talking to you.“”
Jackson’s jaw tightened. “She’s still my wife.””
“No,” another voice rang out. “She’s my daughter.“”
Everyone froze.\
0
Sasha stepped inside, calm and composed despite the tension in the room. Her heels clicked sharply on the tiled floor. Her eyes flicked to Samantha’s bruised cheek, and her lips tightened.”
“You’ve done enough,” she said coldly.”
“Sasha-”
She didn’t give him the chance to finish.
Slap.
The sound echoed.”
Jackson’s face snapped to the side.
“That’s for touching my daughter,” Sasha said, voice trembling with rage. “You’re lucky I didn’t call the police.“”
Jackson staggered back a step. “It was an accident-“}
“She wouldn’t have been in that position if you hadn’t barged in like a wild animal,” Sasha hissed. “You lost her. Live with it.” Jackson stood frozen, the sting of Sasha’s slap still burning across his cheek. But it was nothing compared to the ache splitting open in his chest.
He took a hesitant step forward. “Samantha… please.”
She looked away, refusing to meet his eyes.<
“I didn’t come here to hurt you,” he continued, voice hoarse. “I–I was angry. I saw you with him and I lost it. But I didn’t mean to hit you. You know that. I swear on my life, I never meant-“}
Samantha reached for the nearest thing on the bedside table–a water pitcher–and threw it hard.”
It hit the floor with a crash, water spilling everywhere.<
Jackson flinched.
“I deserve that,” he whispered. “But just… listen to me.“”
She grabbed the box of tissues and hurled it next. Then a pillow. Then the small tray from the side. “Get out!” she screamed, voice shaking with rage and grief. “Get the hell out, Jackson!“}
He didn’t budge. “I still love you.”
That broke her.
“You don’t get to say that!” she shouted. “You destroyed me! You locked me up, humiliated me, made me feel like I was nothing! And now you want to crawl back in like a ghost from my nightmare?“}
He stepped back, hands trembling. “I was wrong. I know that. I lost everything when I lost you. Please… just give me a chance to make it right. Just one chance-”
Another pillow flew at his chest.
“Leave,” she said coldly.
He stood there a second longer–crumbling–then turned and walked out without another word.”
This time, for good.
Or so it seemed.[
