Then, she swiped to answer the call.
“Hey, it’s me.”
“Okay.”
Dolores looked down, making her way back to the living room. She remained silent, holding the phone, waiting for Sampson to speak again.
“I’m downstairs at your apartment. Do you have some time now? I’d like to meet you,” Sampson said.
After a brief moment of silence, he spoke again.
Dolores responded with a soft hum, ending the call and removing her apron. She walked over to Samuel’s room and knocked on the door. “Samuel, I need to take care of something downstairs. Grandma will be back soon. Stay inside, okay?”
Samuel stood by the window, looking down. He noticed Sampson talking to Jessica downstairs. Hearing Dolores’ voice, he replied, “Got it.”
Dolores put on her shoes and headed downstairs. In the park, Sampson was conversing with Jessica. He tried to hold Simona, but Jessica declined, saying, “She’s been quite mischievous lately,” as an excuse.
Jessica had never rejected him before.
This time, Sampson felt a clear sense of distance from her.
Ever since Jessica learned that Sampson’s mother had approached Dolores and realized that he couldn’t marry Dolores, Jessica naturally couldn’t treat Sampson as warmly as she did before.
After all, she had previously seen Sampson as a potential son-in-law.
Therefore, from now on, she saw no need to actively encourage a relationship between him and her daughter.
It was also unnecessary for the kids to be overly familiar with him.
“Excuse me, Aunt Jessica. Did I do something wrong?” Sampson asked.
“No, not at all,” Jessica hastily waved her hand, attempting to explain. “Simona hasn’t been feeling well lately. I’m just afraid she’ll start crying.”
“I’ve known her since she was a child, and she’s used to me. She wouldn’t cry if I held her.”
“Good evening, Sampson.”
Dolores hurriedly approached. “Mom, it’s getting chilly. Take Simona home now.”
“Okay.” Jessica bid farewell to Sampson and quickly left with Simona in her arms.
“Have you had dinner?” Dolores inquired.
Sampson smiled faintly. “Not yet. Would you cook for me?”
“Of course.”
They exchanged smiles.
“Shall we go for a walk?”
“Sure.”
Their relationship had clearly undergone a change.
They were no longer as close as they once were.
“You’ve figured it out,” Sampson stated, looking straight ahead. “If I told you that I only found out recently, would you believe me?”
“I don’t know,” Dolores gave an ambiguous answer.
“You still don’t trust me,” Sampson smiled bitterly.
He had anticipated that Dolores’ attitude towards him would change once she discovered the truth. And as expected, it had.
“When Maria Herbert and I are in danger at the same time, whom would you save?” Dolores suddenly halted and looked at Sampson. “This is a ridiculous question, isn’t it? But you would undoubtedly save her before me.”
“Why are you so sure?” Sampson stared at her.
“There are different kinds of love in this world. After all, blood is thicker than water. Family bonds are the most precious. She’s your younger sister. If you were capable of disregarding your sister’s life and death, you would be an extremely heartless and cold-blooded man. How could you love someone, and how could a woman accept love from a man like you?”
Sampson remained silent, gazing at her.
What she said was true. Between Maria and Dolores, Maria held a higher place in his heart.
However, it wasn’t because blood was thicker than water. It was solely due to his guilt towards Maria.
It was his negligence that caused Maria to get lost all those years ago.
“But that doesn’t mean I would love you any less.”
“But I can’t accept you for who you are. And I don’t think your family would accept me either. Let’s continue as we were, as long as you still want to treat me like a younger sister.”
Sampson furrowed his brow. He knew Dolores well. She must have concerns for him now, but he never expected her to be so resolute.
He wondered if everything he had done for her over the years justified her being with him.
Even though he had hidden the truth about the car accident, his affection for her was genuine.
He couldn’t fathom that Dolores could overlook everything.
A surge of thoughts raced through Sampson’s mind.
Suddenly, he laughed.
Looking at Dolores, he asked, “Can you truly ignore how well I’ve treated you?”
“I can’t. I still see you as my older brother,” Dolores spoke from the depths of her heart.
When she learned that Maria had orchestrated her car accident, she didn’t pursue it solely because of Sampson.
Dolores wanted to show him her stance now, as well as her plans for the future.
If one day she truly sent Maria to jail, Sampson would undoubtedly harbor resentment.
“As an older brother, I’m truly a failure,” Sampson smiled.
His biological younger sister didn’t understand him.
Even Dolores didn’t trust him.
Dolores resumed her light steps along the roadside, contemplating the complexities of life. A smile played on her lips as she spoke, “I’ve actually considered accepting you. After all, we’ve known each other for nearly ten years…”
Her thoughts had been influenced by Jessica’s guidance and the care Sampson had shown her. She wondered how things had taken such a turn, with Helen White turning out to be Maria Herbert, Sampson’s biological younger sister.
Sampson reached out and grabbed Dolores’ hand, pulling her into his embrace. He held her tightly and pleaded, “She and I are completely different individuals. You can’t reject me because of her. It’s unfair to me.”
“But she’s your own blood, your sister. Can we really disregard that?” Dolores knew that he was fooling himself and others with his words.
“Are you willing to deny me and our love just because she set you up?” Sampson interrogated, his voice filled with urgency.
Dolores remained silent.
She never denied him.
She simply understood that they couldn’t be together in this kind of relationship.
It was a realization that eluded Sampson.
“What if I don’t want to be your brother but only your beloved?” Sampson’s gaze fell upon Dolores’ shadow, blending with the tree shadows under the streetlights. It became difficult to distinguish her silhouette from the surrounding trees.
His eyes darkened, as if he had made a decision. “I’m willing to accept it, but first, have a drink with me tonight. I’m not in a good state of mind.”
“It’s quite late,” Dolores tried to refuse.
“I just want to have a drink with you. Can’t you do that? Must you distance yourself from me like this?” Sampson cupped her face, his eyes locked with hers.
If he could understand and let go like this, Dolores would be willing too. So, she agreed.
“Alright.”
“I know a quiet place,” Sampson said, pulling her hand.
Dolores found herself being almost dragged forward by him.
Once inside the car, Sampson handed her a bottle of water. “Your lips are dry.”
He started the engine.
Dolores lifted her hand to touch her lips, realizing they were fine. Not feeling thirsty, she didn’t drink the water in her hand.
Driving steadily, Sampson glanced at her. “What’s the matter? You’re not even drinking my water. Are you afraid I’ll drug you?”
“What are you saying? I’m simply not thirsty,” Dolores replied, unscrewing the bottle cap and taking a sip. It tasted like regular mineral water. She closed the cap. “Satisfied?”
Sampson remained silent, focusing on the road.
If Dolores had paid close attention, she would have noticed the bulging blue veins on his temples.
Before long, the car came to a stop in front of a private club.
Sampson got out first and walked to her side, opening the door for her.
“I can get out by myself,” Dolores protested.
Sampson held her hand, gripping it tightly as she tried to withdraw. “Just this once. Allow me to hold your hand as I would hold my girlfriend’s. After tonight, I’ll be content if you still see me as your older brother. If not…”
“What are you saying? It sounds like you want to break up with me,” Dolores remarked, sensing a strange behavior from Sampson that day.
However, she couldn’t quite put her finger on what had unsettled her.
Sampson chuckled.
If he were to force himself on her, she would undoubtedly break up with him, given her character.
She wouldn’t continue to love him as Maria had suggested.
If it truly mattered, she should hold onto the memory of the first man she had been intimate with for a lifetime, shouldn’t she?
Thoughts of Dolores’ first lover tightened Sampson’s heart.
Gripping her hand tightly, he whispered to himself, “Dolores, you can’t blame me.”