Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Samantha began her story with the kidnapping. Rochelle frowned as she listened to it and her anger was surging uncontrollably.

Even though she was already convinced Timothy did it, hearing Samantha say it herself made her feel like murdering him!

On the contrary, Samantha seemed very indifferent at that moment, as if she was telling someone else's story instead of her own.

She stretched out her hand and held Rochelle's hand gently while comforting, "Okay, okay. I'm fine, aren't I? It'll be a waste of your emotions to get angry at someone who isn't worth your anger."

Rochelle looked at Samantha in distress.

Even though Samantha seemed to make light of it, Rochelle could still feel her despair and pain at the time.

She did not want to let her recall that feeling again, so she suppressed her anger and asked, "What happened after that? How were you saved? I went there as soon as I could, but I couldn't even save you!"

"You're right." Samantha nodded. "You came quickly enough."

Rochelle responded immediately and rushed over as soon as it happened.

In the end, she was simply not fast enough to be of any help.

She thought about it and continued, "I don't really know what happened next because I sank into the water and suffocated to the point where I lost consciousness. I thought I was dead at the time too."

"Anyway, I was already in the hospital when I next regained consciousness. The first person I saw was Dr. Sherwood. He was the one who saved me."

"Dr. Sherwood?" Rochelle raised her voice suddenly and sounded extremely surprised.

Then, she asked in confusion. "But how could he have saved you in time when even I couldn't reach there quickly enough?"

Samantha replied, "According to Dr. Sherwood, he happened to be in Aharromoggh for a meeting at that time and was planning to come and see me. He then happened to receive a call from Dr. Jameson, who told him that I was missing, and immediately hurried off to find me."

"I'm fortunate that he came quicker and managed to rescue me not long after I was submerged in the water. If that didn't happen, even God would have a hard time saving me!"

Rochelle had the feeling that something was off but could not quite put her finger on what it was. She could only sigh and say, "It really is a coincidence."

However, half a month after Samantha's 'passing', she called Alan and asked him to take good care of Corey. He did not mention a word about Samantha to her after the rescue and even left her to mourn.

During the three years after that, she called Alan once in a while to ask him about Corey's situation but he still never said a thing.

"Why didn't he tell me that he saved you? He never once told me that you were still alive!"

Rochelle was initially very angry already, but her anger had truly shot through the roof now!

"What's wrong? You can't trust me? Do you think I'll betray you?"

Samantha had expected Rochelle to be angry after giving an explanation, so she immediately reached out to hug Rochelle. "Babe, won't you let me finish!"

Rochelle looked at her coldly with an expression that said, 'Show me how you're going to coax me'.

Samantha sighed softly. "Dr. Sherwood didn't tell you at first because I was in really bad shape. I was submerged in the water for too long and my baby's condition wasn't very good either. Dr. Sherwood kept on persuading me to save my own life and give up the baby.

"But I didn't want to. I insisted on keeping the baby. I wanted to survive and I wanted my child to survive too. With everything that happened then, I might not be able to make it if my baby didn't make it too."

"Dr. Sherwood was under so much pressure at the time and he was busy treating me every single day. He didn't have time to think about anything else. When my condition stabilized later on, I read on the news that you had reconciled with Jonathan, and I was the one who decided not to tell you."

Samantha looked at Rochelle seriously, "Chelle, you know how we are. We both hope for happiness for ourselves. When I saw you letting go of your resentment and accepting Jonathan again, I decided that I didn't want you to worry that much about me anymore. I wanted to let you continue believing that I was dead."

"Chelle… Don't blame Dr. Sherwood. If you want to blame someone, blame me."

Rochelle's anger still did not subside and her voice was cold, "Don't think that you saying that will make me any less angry!"

Samantha blinked. "Then what do you need to do to calm your anger down? Would you like to punch me?"

She leaned her face nearer on purpose. "You can hit me however you like. I won't dodge!"

Rochelle clenched her fists immediately. "You think I wouldn't dare to hit you?"

Her grieving, the deal she had to make with Jonathan to avenge Samantha…all of it was for naught! The reconciliation and whatnot were all pointless!

"Okay, hit me then!" Samantha pursed her lips tightly.

Rochelle swung her fist towards Samantha's cheek. The latter did not dodge or avoid it at all and merely stood there. At the last moment, however, Rochelle retracted all her strength and merely gave Samantha a gentle punch.

The strength she used was much lighter than being tickled.

Samantha could not help but laugh and even her eyebrows were curling up into little arcs.

Rochelle gave her a sullen look. "You're only lucky that I can't bring myself to do it!"

"Babe, I have another piece of good news for you that will help you ease your anger," Samantha added.

Rochelle glanced at her and said, "What good news? Are you and Dr. Sherwood getting married?"

Samantha was could not be bothered to explain and immediately took out her cell phone. She clicked into her photo album and showed the screen to Rochelle.

She said bluntly, "Your son is three years old now!"

Rochelle was stunned.

Although Samantha managed to survive, Rochelle did not bear much hope for the child. After all, Samantha was submerged underwater while being pregnant at the time. It was remarkable that the baby's life could be saved and was even delivered safely. Furthermore, the baby was already three years old!

Rochelle's big, charming eyes stared at the picture.

His tender face, fair skin, delicate facial features, and long eyelashes were so adorable that they made her heart melt.

It was exactly as she had imagined the baby to be!

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH... My son, he's too handsome!!!" Rochelle screamed like a madwoman.

It was so loud that Samantha nearly became deaf.

Rochelle would never let out such a maniacal shriek even if she met the most handsome guy in the world!

She snatched Samantha's phone and admired the picture frantically, "I'll be magnanimous enough to forgive you for the sake of my son!"

Samantha was speechless.

That there was human nature at its most genuine!

Samantha instantly felt that her position in Rochelle's heart had been replaced by her little boy.

Then again, she was fine with giving way to him.

Rochelle admired the photos while asking, "What's his name?"

"Matthew. M-a-t-t-h-e-w." Samantha replied simply.

Rochelle immediately understood the meaning of his name. "If that's the case, why did you come back?"

Why would she come back if she wanted to stop feeling anything for Timothy?

Did she find it difficult to reconcile with the fact that Timothy and Harmony were getting married?

Hopefully not!

That scumbag was not worth an ounce of nostalgia at all!

It was time to get down to business and Samantha's expression became solemn too. "I came back because of the divorce certificate."

She roughly explained to Rochelle about the email from that mysterious person, then looked at Rochelle seriously and asked, "Were you the one who took what's left of my belongings, Chelle?"

Rochelle's temper began flaring up at the mention of that and she said angrily, "I was supposed to get it when it was handed over! I was just...one step too late. It was snatched away because I was one step too late!"

Her words suggested that...it was not with her!

Samantha's heart thumped. "Does that mean....it's with Timothy?"