Chapter 647 Samuel Snaps: Get the Hell Out, Zenobia 2
Zenobia froze.
It was supposed to be her wedding day with Samuel. She had been thinking about freshening up and making the night unforgettable. Instead, Samuel had snapped at her without warning.
She reminded herself she had hosted the wedding. She was Mrs. Collins now. So she ignored his glare, pushed the car door open, and stepped out. "Samuel, you must be exhausted. Stop talking nonsense. I am your wife—where would I possibly go?"
Samuel stayed in the car, silent.
His eyes followed her as she gathered her gown and climbed the front steps toward the villa's entrance. She moved like she owned the place. And for a moment, she almost had.
The maid stepped forward, her eyes flicking between Samuel and the grand front hall. "Mr. Collins, are you really treating this as your marital home?"
Samuel stepped out of the car, his long legs cutting through the cold night air. "No."
The maid looked relieved. Most of them favored Taylor and disliked the newcomer. Zenobia's sharp, calculating look only deepened their distaste.
Samuel stood in the darkness, tore the boutonniere from his chest, and let it fall.
Winter's chill bit through the air.
His expression was grim, the joy of the wedding long gone—washed away by what he had seen in the lounge earlier.
Zenobia was something else.
He pulled a cigarette from his pocket, lit it slowly, took a drag, and walked into the house. Without a word, he headed upstairs.
The master bedroom was decorated in bright, celebratory colors.
Zenobia had changed into a silk nightgown and was seated at the vanity, smoothing cream over her skin.
In the mirror, she caught sight of Samuel's dark expression as he walked in. She curled her lip. "One day into our marriage and this is what I get. How am I supposed to keep playing Mrs. Collins if this is day one?"
Samuel shut the door. "You don't have to."
Her temper flared. "Samuel, you're being outrageous!"
He raised an eyebrow. "Outrageous? How?"
"Zenobia, I put my family aside to take care of you and Thalassa. I ended things with Taylor because of it. You wanted to marry me, and I gave you that title. And how do you repay me?"
Her fingers shook around the jar of cream.
Something in her gut told her he knew—he knew about Geraldo.
She tried to test him. "Samuel—"
"Don't call me that. You make me sick!"
He loosened his tie, shrugged off his jacket, and closed the distance between them.
In the next second, her sharp jaw was caught in his hand. He leaned in, voice low and dangerous. "You chose to betray me on our wedding day. I'm guessing it wasn't the first time you rolled around in bed with Geraldo. You let another man touch you while spending my money without a shred of guilt. What am I to you? An ATM?"
Zenobia's whole body trembled.
So he knew everything.
Even then, she tried to twist the story—her voice breaking as she claimed Geraldo had forced her. But before she could finish, Samuel's hand cracked across her face.
She landed on the bed, clutching her cheek. She tried to rise, but another slap sent her back down.
His voice thundered. "You vile woman. I must have been blind to leave Taylor for you."
Her head sank into the sheets, ears ringing. She could hardly move.
Then, suddenly, she laughed—a wild, shaking laugh. "Samuel, you've finally woken up. Shame it's too late. Your precious Taylor—your refined ex-wife—won't give you another glance. She's already found herself a new man, and they might even be getting married. Hurts, doesn't it? Oh, and there's one more thing I forgot to mention. Samuel, brace yourself."
"That video? I'm the one who leaked it. You blamed Taylor. Do you know how pathetic you looked every time you accused her? A self-righteous man like you deserves a broken marriage. And now you feel wronged? Back when you were sneaking around with me behind Taylor's back, where was that sense of injustice?" she added.
His eyes burned red. He had been ready to strike her again, but seeing her smirk, he changed his mind. Instead, he grabbed a fistful of her hair, yanking her head back. "You think you're fit to be Mrs. Collins?"
That night, Samuel broke her down again and again.
By the time the first light touched the horizon, he dragged Zenobia and her luggage to the door and threw her out. She pounded on the gate, but he didn't move.
Still in last night's white shirt, he stood behind the black wrought-iron gate, staring at the woman he had once loved.
Men could be ruthlessly practical. No matter how much they had once cherished someone, once their pride lay in pieces, they cut the cord.
He swore he would never spend another dime on her. From that moment, it was over.
Winter's bite cut to the bone.
Zenobia's face was pale and numb from the cold. She stared at Samuel's unyielding expression, tears streaking her cheeks. "You think saying we're done makes it true? Samuel, I'm your wife!"
"We never signed the marriage papers, Mrs. Marek."
Her face drained of color.
So he knew everything.
She stopped begging.
In fact, she smiled coldly. "Samuel, getting rid of me won't be that easy. SamZen Tech's File One—I'm sure you wouldn't want that getting out."
"File One?" His jaw tightened, rage flashing in his eyes. "Zenobia!"
She tugged her silk nightgown into place, wearing the smug expression of a rightful Mrs. Collins. "I have to look out for myself. If you leave me with nothing, I'll make sure you end up in prison. An embezzlement case that size? You'd be lucky to get out in under ten years."
Samuel narrowed his eyes.
A moment later, he opened the gate.
Zenobia strolled up to him, slipped her arms around his waist, and breathed against his ear. "Let's play the loving couple, Samuel."
His face twisted with disgust.
But she didn't care. She had long since crossed every moral line. There was nothing she wouldn't do.
She smiled up at him. "I know you hate me. But starting today, you might have to get used to it."
His gaze was ice.
Zenobia ignored it, swaying into the villa. She called to the staff, her tone brisk. "Prepare my breakfast. And have the car ready—I'll be visiting Thalassa at the hospital after I eat."
The maids hesitated.
Samuel's lips curved in a cold smile. "Do as she says."
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