“What are you talking nonsense for?” Sampson didn’t want to be criticized like that, even though he knew she was right.
“Fine, go ahead and consider me nonsense,” Maria didn’t want to argue either. There were more urgent matters to address at the moment.
“We need to figure out where Jessica escaped to,” Maria inquired.
“She fled to the river just outside the village.”
That location was dangerously close. If any hints were given, Dolores would surely find them in no time. Maria feared this place was no longer safe for them.
They couldn’t keep hiding Samuel here.
“We have to leave and find another hiding spot for Samuel,” Maria squinted. “The farther we can get, the better. Somewhere Dolores will never be able to find us.”
Samuel was her son. If Dolores discovered that her son was missing or harmed, she would lose her sanity completely.
“Our plan was only to kidnap him and use him as leverage to force her into marrying me. Then we would release him…”
“And then what?” Maria interjected. “Will she genuinely marry you? Stop dreaming! The only way to keep her by your side is if you hold Samuel hostage forever.”
There was no turning back now.
Sampson placed the still unconscious Samuel back in the rear seat.
“Let’s leave this place and find another spot,” Maria got into her car. Just as she was about to start the engine, she noticed a black SUV approaching. The sleek black paint was fortified with sturdy iron plates, exuding an intimidating aura. It was Matthew’s car; she had seen it before.
Her expression changed instantly as she shouted to Sampson, “Hurry!”
But it was too late. Matthew pressed the accelerator, skillfully maneuvering through the mud and potholes, drifting about sixty degrees. He parked the car perfectly at the entrance, blocking their way.
Sampson’s car was trapped.
Dolores quickly exited the car and rushed towards Sampson to find her son.
Regaining his composure, Sampson turned around and swiftly took Samuel into his arms.
Dolores was a step behind, reaching out for him.
“Give me back my child!” Dolores approached the driver’s seat door. Sampson locked the door, preventing her from opening it. Dolores could only gaze at her son through the tinted glass. She couldn’t tell if he was injured; his face appeared swollen.
Frantically, she pounded on the window, shaking the glass. “Sampson, get out and give me Samuel.”
Sampson didn’t dare to face her; he averted his gaze from the window.
“Sampson, please come out. We can talk about this. Just give me back my child, please?” Dolores pleaded.
“Alright, if you want your son, then…” Maria approached Dolores. “Bow down to me, and I’ll ask Sampson to return your child. Deal?”
Dolores trembled all over.
“I forgot to mention, your son has been quite disobedient. He tried a few tricks…”
Smack!
Before she could finish her sentence, Dolores slapped her hard.
Maria’s meticulously made-up face transformed into a disarray within seconds.
Her false eyelashes curled up, her hair became disheveled, and much of her makeup powder was smudged.
Her once beautiful appearance turned into a nightmare.
“How dare you hit me?” Maria glared at her, unable to comprehend what had just transpired.
Dolores seethed with anger, her hands itching to strangle Maria to death.
Since joining the Herbert family, Maria had always held a sense of superiority. Being slapped in the face was unbearable for her.
She raised her hand to retaliate.
Yet, as soon as she lifted her hand, it was caught from behind.
She looked up and saw Matthew standing beside her. The sun was positioned behind him, casting a bright glow around his silhouette, leaving his face shadowed.
He forcefully let go of her hand.
She quickly stepped back a few paces to regain her balance.
Trembling, she reached up to touch her left cheek. The pain of being forcefully dismissed by Matthew was more intense than the sting of the slap.
This was the man she deeply loved.
The man she was willing to obtain by any means necessary.
Now, he was only cold and ruthless towards her.
“Matthew…”
Matthew didn’t even spare her a glance.
He reached out to support Dolores, who was trembling with anger.
Dolores looked as though she might collapse at any moment.
She gazed at Sampson in the car, pleading, “Please, give Samuel to me. I beg you. You know how much he means to me. You’ve seen him grow up. How could you hurt him?”
Her heart was in agony.
It hurt deeply.
Just like Randolph had betrayed Jessica and forced them, mother and daughter, to leave.
She had always regarded Sampson as a family member.
Even when he had attempted such a thing against her, she still believed it was a momentary lapse of judgment.
He wasn’t a bad person.
Today, she realized that she might have been mistaken.
She didn’t understand him. She didn’t know what lay within his heart.
“Let me go first.” Sampson refused to release his grip. For now, he could only take Samuel away and address the rest later.
But Maria couldn’t wait. She couldn’t bear to see Matthew and Dolores together.
Especially the way Matthew held Dolores tenderly.
She had once been the recipient of that tenderness.
It had been snatched away from her by Dolores!
“If you want to save your son, you have to marry my brother,” Maria sneered, looking sinister. “Your only option right now is to enter the bridal chamber and finish what was left unfinished.”
Matthew’s expression darkened. “Do you want to die?”
“Yeah, ever since you called off our engagement, I’ve been tired of living. Everyone in City B knows me as a discarded woman. I’ve had enough!” She stared at Matthew as if she were deranged. “You’re too heartless!”
Her gaze then shifted to Dolores. “Don’t be too thrilled thinking he’ll love you. If he could abandon me, he could abandon you too!”
“He’s heartless, cruel to the core. I lived with him for so many years…” She began sobbing.
Her cries were loud and unrestrained.
While they confronted each other, there was suddenly a loud crash. The passenger door of Sampson’s car was forcefully ripped off.
Before Sampson could react, Samuel was snatched from his arms.
It all happened in an instant.
While everyone’s attention was diverted, someone had stealthily approached and violently tore off the car door.
“Samuel.”
Dolores rushed over, her heart nearly giving out at the sight of blood on his face. She hesitated for a moment, then hurriedly reached him.
“Samuel, Samuel.” She reached out to touch his hair, his cheeks. She lifted his head, urging, “Look at Mommy, Samuel.”
Boyce personally handled the situation, effortlessly succeeding.
He, Armand, and Matthew had been roommates since their university days.
They were also Matthew’s only two friends.
Now, they all had successful careers.
Their professional lives were thriving. Armand had become a well-known lawyer, and Boyce Shawn had risen to the rank of Chief of Criminal Police.
The only area where things weren’t going smoothly was their love lives.
Armand was a playboy, with numerous ex-girlfriends, while Boyce had never dated anyone in his life.
Boyce approached Matthew. “Leave him to me; you take her back first.”
Abbott had provided clear instructions on the situation.
He had outlined exactly what needed to be done and made all the necessary arrangements.
Now it was time to handle the aftermath.
“I’ll leave it to you then.” Matthew patted Boyce’s shoulder.
“Don’t worry, everything is taken care of!” Boyce assured him.
Matthew walked over to Dolores, attempting to hand Samuel to her. She evaded him. “No.”
As she spoke, she realized her voice was trembling.
She didn’t need someone else to hold her son for her.
She could hold him herself.
“I’ll take you to the hospital.”