99 Chances to Lose You

I quickly snatched the paper back from Samuel and shoved it into the box, closing it. "It's nothing. Just a letter I wrote for my parents."

He sensed I was being secretive and seemed to realize something. "What, you still believe those lies you were told when you were a kid? You're still sending things to your parents?"

He was talking about all the silly things I did as a child. When I learned my parents were buried underground, I worried they would be short on food and clothes, so I'd hoard little things in boxes. Then I'd drag Samuel out to the backyard to dig holes and bury them, pretending I was sending them to my parents.

When I got older, Samuel often brought up those old stories to tease me. I didn't expect him to still remember.

Despite being misunderstood, I didn't say much this time and just nodded along obediently.

The memory made him crack a rare smile on his usually serious face. "You're all grown now, so you should stop doing these silly things. Now, open the gift I got you this time."

Joseph pushed a box in at the door. When I opened it, I found a piece of clear crystal, which looked quite expensive.

Samuel wrapped his arms around my waist and said gently, "I know you were upset about the keepsake. I specifically took some of my dad's private collection to make it up to you. I'll carve your parents' names again for you. How about that?"

The housekeepers outside saw how lovingly Samuel looked at me and turned their heads, feeling shy.

But I stayed unusually calm and said, "Just put it in the study."

Then I pulled my hand free. "I don't need you to carve their names. I'm already so grateful for all you've done for me all these years."

Samuel's face went pale bit by bit, and he stared at me as if he wanted to see through me. "Wh-what do you mean by that?"

I left his arms without a flinch. "I just felt sentimental seeing how happy you and Ms. Hill are, so I wanted to express my thanks. Don't get all worked up."

But my words didn't calm him. His eyes were locked on me, as if he sensed something was wrong. "Your face… Why are you so pale?"

I froze, suddenly realizing that my body was weak because I'd just had the abortion, and I had forgotten to put on blush.

"Are you hiding something from me?" He gripped my shoulders with his big hand, demanding an answer.

Seeing as I refused to explain, he snorted coldly, slammed the door with a crash, and stormed off.

I knew he'd be with Zara tonight. Sure enough, Zara sent me a photo of them kissing, showing off. I promptly turned off my phone and slept soundly.

Since I was a master's student in archaeology, I went straight to school early to submit my application for the Drakefang Heights excavation project.

My advisor was thrilled. He accepted me into the team and said I could leave anytime.

I planned to leave things tidy with Samuel, so I'd fulfill his final request at home, and then grab my things and go. But as soon as I stepped out of school, someone knocked me out.

When I opened my eyes, Zara was there with a group of tattooed men. "Ophelia, you’re so shameless. Samuel and I are married! Why are you still clinging to him?"

Sensing danger, I pretended to be obedient. "I'm not clinging to him. I already terminated the pregnancy. I'll leave him alone."

Samuel spoiled her so much and was willing to marry her. Why would she get her hands dirty for a nameless, powerless girl like me?

Zara smirked. "You've got some self-awareness, at least. Otherwise, you probably would go down with your bastard. But I can only secure my place as Mrs. Blanton if you die…

"But first, let's teach you a lesson."

With that, Zara waved, and the tattooed men started hitting me. I hugged my head, screaming, "Zara, you're insane! Aren't you afraid Samuel will take revenge if he finds out?"

She waved them off and pressed her heel into my face, amused. "Let's see if he even cares about you."

My body ached as they worked me over, then tied me back-to-back with Zara.

A moment later, I heard a loud noise outside the abandoned warehouse.

Samuel came running with a briefcase. Seeing me beaten, he shouted in rage, "How dare you hit her! Don't worry, Ophelia. I'm here. I'll take you home."

After the thugs took the briefcase and he quickly approached me, Zara suddenly fell from behind me, crying out, "Honey, don't worry about me. Save Ophelia first. These people came for my family. Ophelia's innocent. I don't care if I die today, as long as she's safe!"

Samuel finally noticed her presence. The tattooed men had guns and said slowly, "Mr. Blanton, you can only take one of them. The other dies. I suggest you think carefully."

Samuel's step froze, then he struggled to speak to me, "Ophelia, Zara saved my life. I can't ignore that. I'll save Zara first. I'll come get you later."

Zara's act was obvious, and Samuel would've realized that if he had just paid attention. But he still bought it and abandoned me once again. He pointed at Zara and shouted, "I choose Zara!"

That single sentence pierced my heart like a knife, and I could feel the hope draining out of me. I looked at him in despair. "Samuel, this is the last time."

He met my gray, broken eyes, a sharp ache of helplessness and longing flooding him. He felt like holding sand, but the sand kept escaping through his fingers.

He was about to say something when Zara suddenly collapsed and coughed up blood, barely breathing.

Samuel panicked. All his doubts were cut off in an instant, and he hurriedly carried Zara out. "Ophelia, trust me. I'll come back for you."

As he ran out the warehouse gate, a cold gun pressed against my forehead.

The tattooed man sneered, "Your man didn't pick you. Tough luck."

A split second before he pulled the trigger, a shot ripped through the air, hitting the man in the head. A group of police stormed in and rescued me.

Samuel didn't come.

In the ambulance, I got a text from Zara. [I won't let him come back for you. Wanna bet?]

At the same time, Samuel called. "I heard the police saved you. Zara's badly hurt, so I can't leave her now. Go home first. I'll check on you when I get back. Be good."

Before I could answer, he hung up and vanished.

During my hospital stay, he never came. Instead, Zara reported their daily life to me, even through the nurses.

I slipped out of the hospital without a word and went home, prying open the hidden compartment where I kept my documents.

When I turned 18 and started dating Samuel, he had already laid the groundwork for our future, separating my legal ties from the Blantons so I could stand on my own, all to make it easier for him to marry me.

But now, I was using these very same papers to leave him.

I pulled out a sheet of paper and scrawled "99" on it. Then, on the back, I wrote two lines.

[Goodbye, Samuel. I've repaid my debt, and our story ends here.]

I handed the box with the shattered crystal keepsake, abortion sheet, and letter to the housekeeper to give to Samuel.

She hesitated. "Mr. Blanton personally put the antiques he got you in the study. Don't you want to look at them?"

I replied calmly, "No."

With my simple luggage, I boarded a plane to Drakefang Heights.

After everything we had been through, I truly wished Samuel well.

When I arrived at Drakefang Heights and entered the tomb with the team, Samuel finally returned home. Not seeing me, he asked the housekeeper, "Where's Ophelia? Why isn't she home?"

The housekeeper shook her head and handed him a box. "Ms. Wagner said not to worry about her. She left this for you before leaving."

Samuel froze, opened it, and immediately saw the abortion sheet. He went rigid, eyes wide.