Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Samantha had thought that she had survived the trials of that day, but little did she expect that something like that would happen at the very end…

Samantha instinctively turned to Timothy. He did not look at her at all, but instead reached out and directly held the bunch of pink roses. He said, “My wife and I appreciate this gift for our home. Thank you.”

Just like that, the flowers meant for Samantha had transformed into flowers meant for both husband and wife.

Alan did not let go right away. His dark pupils continued to look at Samantha while Samantha looked at Timothy.

His hand only loosened little by little after half a second.

Timothy held the flowers and said, “By the way, Dr. Sherwood, I’m really thankful for your help toward Sammy and Corey recently. I know that your medical team is currently conducting some major research, so I shall donate a set of Exwy-Sea medical equipment to your team under my wife and I’s name. I hope it will be of help.”

Exwy-Sea…

Samantha’s eyes widened suddenly. Exwy-Sea was the newest technology in medical equipment. They were hard to come by and one might not necessarily be able to obtain them even when one had money. Amazingly, the first thing that came out of Timothy’s mouth was his desire to donate them…

Although she had always known that Timothy was affluent, she could not help but feel shocked at that moment.

There was even some fluctuation in Alan’s emotions.

He would have felt it beneath him if Timothy thanked him with money, but no medical team could refuse an Exwy-Sea. Having a batch of that would enable their research to proceed faster and smoother, which would be a giant favor for mankind.

Timothy’s stance was very clear as well. As Samantha’s husband, he has repaid Samantha’s favor on her behalf. If Alan accepted that gesture, he and Samantha would no longer owe each other anything.

It was no surprise that Samantha liked Timothy. After all, Timothy was not that simple a character.

Alan kept quiet and had a hesitant look on his face.

Timothy did not urge him either, but then turned to Samantha and said, “You can head back in, Darling. I want to have a few words with Dr. Sherwood in private.”

A few words? In private? Or was a fight about to happen?

Samantha hesitated. She did not dare to walk away just like that because she felt that she would have let Alan down if Timothy were to lose his temper!

However, Alan then said, “It just so happens that I have something to say to Mr. Barker in private too. It’s fine. You can go in.”

Samantha was speechless and nearly thought that she had heard it wrongly.

Was she the superfluous one all along? Did she end up being the odd one out?

Since both men had already said so, Samantha had no choice but to leave even if she did not want to. She responded dryly, “Okay then, you guys…have a good chat.”

She turned around slowly and walked just as slowly back into the house.

The two men stood tall and looked at each other, with both of them keeping quiet for a brief moment.

After about half a minute, Alan took the lead and said, “Mr. Barker, forgive me for being blunt, but I’ve read about your past with Sammy. The both of you were initially separated because you publicly broke off the marriage with her. My question is, are you treating Sammy sincerely right now?”

When Alan learned that Samantha and Timothy were already married during the day of the press conference, Alan could not control himself after returning to the hotel and immediately did an internet search on them.

One search was all it took to reveal every piece of information.

That was when he found out about such an insufferable past between Timothy and Samantha. The reason why Samantha went abroad was because she had been chased away. It was no wonder then that she lived in poverty abroad and had such a terrible life there.

Even though Samantha remarried, she did not seem to have been ever happy. Instead, she was always by herself when she did all kinds of things for Corey.

If there were any other reasons for their marriage, Alan was determined to follow his heart.

As a doctor, he was able to swiftly and accurately identify a patient’s condition. That was how he was able to clearly discern his own feelings for Samantha after things had reached a certain point.

He liked the fragility and strength that came to characterize Samantha as a woman.

It might even be possible that he had already developed feelings for her since she was abroad. After all, he would not have gone so far as to find out the details of her address and look for her when he no longer heard anything from her.

That was why he decided to follow his heart, accept Samantha’s invitation, and personally give her the bunch of pink roses. He wanted to tell her that he was willing to wait for her.

It was unfortunate that an uninvited guest, Timothy, appeared.

Timothy seemed to have expected well in advance that he would make that kind of remark. His tone was indifferent and he replied with a question rather than an answer, “In what capacity are you asking me this, Dr. Sherwood?”

Alan looked up and made eye contact with Timothy. There was an additional hint of incisiveness to his ever-gentle gaze. “I’m asking as a man, and as a suitor.”

“Heh.” Timothy’s tone became colder. “You’re frank, I’ll give you that.”

After a pause for half a second, he curled the corners of his lips, “To have Little St. John telling me to my face that he admires my wife… I wonder if you’re too confident in your own ability or whether you…look down on me?”

The light in Alan’s eyes flickered slightly.

After interacting with Timothy for over two hours, he knew that a man like Timothy possessed an ability that was beyond measure. However, Timothy seemed to be much stronger—and much more terrifying—than he imagined.

One must not make an enemy out of a man like that.

However, Alan was not actually afraid because he was doing it for Samantha.

Unfortunately, Alan had seen all too clearly during the meal that he had no place in Samantha’s heart. He thought of her as more than a friend, but that was not the same for Samantha.

There was no point going further unless both parties felt the same way.

Worse still, Timothy probably still had a place in Samantha’s heart regardless of whether or not he actually had any feelings for her.

Anyone else around her probably did not stand a chance at all.

Alan’s heart could not help but feel a little ache when he thought of that, but he nevertheless opened his mouth and spoke with an emphasis on each word, “Mr. Barker, Sammy is a very, very good woman. I hope you’ll treat her well. Don’t let her…suffer as much as she did when she was abroad.”

‘Suffer…abroad?’

Timothy’s black eyes narrowed suddenly.

Alan forced a smile. “I’m telling you this as a friend.

“But…”

He raised his gaze and looked straight at Timothy once more, with his tone taking an extremely serious turn. “Mr. Barker, if you treat her badly and abandon her on a whim like before, I’ll take Sammy away from you even if it means I’ll become your enemy.”

Timothy snapped to his senses and curled his lips slightly. “You’ll have no such opportunity.”

Alan stretched out his hand to him again, “Then on behalf of my medical team, I’d like to express my thanks to you for your generous donation, Mr. Barker. Your contribution will be felt by every patient treated by our team in the future.”

Timothy stretched out his hand and returned the handshake. “It’s a joint contribution from Sammy and I.”

“One more thing, Little St. John. You can always look for me if there’s anything you need in the future.”

Alan replied without hesitation, “I surely will.”

He had no reason to refuse sponsorship from a tycoon like the Barker Group.

…

Timothy walked back into the house and glanced from the corner of his eyes at the figure who thought she had hidden herself well on the other side of the window. He smiled and walked in..