"For real?"

Samantha lifted her head and stared at him, voice laced with annoyance. "No lunch, so I had to just deal with it. And now it's dinnertime, and no one mentions food? Am I supposed to starve here?"

Huh? Lucas, who was standing off to the side, nearly choked on air.

Just "dealt with it"?

That massive burger and the whole bottle of soda-who exactly was she "dealing" that to?

Watching Alexander's face turn darker by the second, Lucas felt his scalp tingling. Afraid they'd explode in another argument, he jumped in quickly, "Mrs. Perkins, did you forget? Madam Henrietta's supposed to join you both for dinner tonight. It's about time to start prepping."

Samantha's eyes widened, disbelief written all over her face as she pointed to herself. "You want me to make dinner? Is this a joke? Doesn't the great Perkins family have chefs on payroll?"

Lucas blinked. "Ma'am, you haven't forgotten, right? Every month, Madam Henrietta comes over to dine with Mr. Perkins and you. She likes to catch up, but after dinner, she'll also keep an eye..."

"Lucas, that's enough."

Alexander frowned. The last thing he wanted was Lucas blabbing the real reason Henrietta came over-so she could micromanage their marriage and rush them into having a baby. That way, Caitlin could pop one out soon and carry on the Perkins bloodline.

But Samantha wasn't letting it go. Her eyes locked on Lucas, teasing out the rest of his words. "Keep an eye on what?"

"Uh..." Lucas scratched the back of his neck nervously. "Mrs. Perkins, it's getting late. You should really head to the kitchen. Otherwise, there's no way to explain things to Madam Henrietta when she arrives."

"Ugh, half-said stuff is so lame," Samantha huffed, turning her head aside, though thoughts were already spinning in her mind.

This dinner wasn't just a family meal-it was a performance for her dear mother-in-law.

She remembered what Ethan told her: Henrietta only agreed to let Caitlin marry into the Perkins family because some so-called fortune teller claimed Caitlin's birth chart was a golden ticket-tied to wealth, kids, and bringing prosperity to her husband.

But Caitlin had been here over a year and not a single sign of a baby.

Alexander barely even came back to this house. Henrietta hadn't gotten her grandchild and was fuming. Now she came monthly, under the pretense of family dinner, but really just to micromanage things and pressure them into sharing a bed.

Tonight's visit? Probably more of the same.

A cold smirk tugged at Samantha's lips. If they dared push her to sleep with Alexander... she'd make sure that smug bastard regretted ever breathing.

A pang of sorrow hit her all of a sudden. Her sister-married into a rich family, sure-but stuck with a husband colder than winter and a mother-in-law who wouldn't back off.

What kind of life was that supposed to be?

Henrietta, matriarch of the empire that was the Perkins Group in Lichester, was no joke. But Samantha was ready now-time to play this little dinner game her way.

Without realizing, she clenched her fists, that flicker of ice in her eyes sharp and deadly. Unfortunately-or perhaps not-she didn't notice Alexander was watching, picking up on every tiny shift.

He narrowed his eyes slightly. That glance just now... was that hate?

Alexander had barely stayed at the house since the wedding, but he made sure fifty grand landed in her account every month. She didn't lack for anything. Didn't care what she did as long as she stayed out of trouble.

By all accounts, Caitlin lived a life of privilege. Although the two of them were little more than strangers-he didn't care for her, their relationship hadn't descended into hatred.

But then why did she come back from that five-day disappearance, glaring at everyone here like they personally betrayed her?

Watching her retreat toward the kitchen, Alexander's gaze darkened. Something was up.

He crooked a finger at Lucas and muttered by his ear, "Find out where she's been the last few days. Who she's met." Samantha walked into the kitchen, obviously not in the mood. Her sister had been bullied badly by this family-she wasn't here to cook for them, she was here for payback!

But then she thought things through. Coming back all alone and picking a fight with those jerks who messed with Caitlin might be tough. Since Alexander was filthy rich, there was definitely something in it she could use. So, for now, she'd suck it up and play the daughter-in-law role, whipping up a meal to greet that annoying "grandmother-in-law."

She took a lap around the kitchen and quickly hit a wall-when it came to Calverian food, she could barely get past boxed mac and cheese or microwaveable pancakes.

Samantha had grown up in Farsenia with her dad. After he passed away, she ended up in an orphanage until a Calverian family living abroad adopted her. But by then, they'd fully embraced the local cuisine, so classic Calverian dishes? Not something she ever really learned.

Farsenian cuisine, though? That was a whole different story.

And it was all thanks to this Farsenian boy who had a crush on her back in school. His dad happened to be a Michelin-starred chef who owned a top-tier restaurant. Every time they went out to eat, the dad would personally cook for them. The food was so good, she practically became a foodie overnight-and begged to learn. Turns out, her appetite came with a hidden talent that was about to come in handy.

Samantha rolled up her sleeves and got to work in the oversized, near-professional kitchen. Even the kitchen screamed luxury.

The massive fridge was fully stocked-ingredients neatly arranged in labeled containers, spices and condiments lined up like they belonged in a gourmet catalog. As she rummaged through the shelves, her eyes lit up-there were tons of Farsenian sauces, herbs, and specialty items. She'd been worried about the ingredients, but now? Jackpot.

Then she remembered something Lucas had told her: no matter how good Caitlin's cooking was, Alexander never cared. Cold, as always.

So... he didn't like Calverian food?

She frowned slightly, then looked around at all the Farsenian ingredients and suddenly snapped her fingers.

Bingo. So he didn't appreciate her sister's home cooking, huh? Well then-watch me blow your mind with some real-deal Farsenian cuisine.

After a whirlwind of chopping, grilling, and plating, the table was covered with tempting Farsenian classics. Chocolate glazed pancakes, seared duck breast with balsamic glaze, hearty seafood stew, roasted lamb and potatoes, mussels in white wine, slow-braised beef in red wine sauce, and soft-boiled goose egg with truffle sauce.

As the help carried the dishes to the dining room, Samantha calmly tossed together the final one back in the kitchen-her signature mixed veggie salad.

She'd made the vinaigrette herself, and it was perfect-sweet with just the right tang, super refreshing. She grabbed a handful wearing disposable gloves and couldn't resist popping some into her mouth.

"Mmm, not bad at all," she mumbled to herself, the tangy dressing dripping down her lips. With one arm still holding the salad bowl and the other too messy to wipe her mouth, she leaned in, tongue out, trying to lick the dressing off the corner of her lip.

A pale, slender hand suddenly came into view, gently wiping her mouth.

Startled, Samantha froze mid-move, clutching the salad bowl and backing away as her wide eyes scanned the kitchen.

Seriously? Who shows up like that out of nowhere?

Alexander took a tissue from Lucas and calmly wiped his fingers clean, that usual poker face not showing the slightest reaction.

"You're insane!" she huffed, rolling her eyes hard. "You scared the hell outta me! What, worried I poisoned the food or something?"

Alexander didn't say a word, his face unreadable, but there was definitely a glint of amusement in his deep eyes.

That incredible smell from the dining room... it had actually made him hungry.

Just what else was this woman hiding from him?

"I'm just giving you a heads-up-Henrietta's almost here," Alexander said, expression tightening, voice flat.

Samantha didn't even pause, cool as ever. "Great. My job's done then. Maybe worry about yourself first." She tossed that back smoothly while arranging her mixed salad on a plate. Waving at Lucas, she added, "Hey, um... you, help take this out, would ya?"

Over the past five days, Ethan had stuffed her brain with all the 'key players' in Alexander's life-including his shadow, Lucas-but honestly, Samantha hadn't bothered memorizing any of them.

"Uh, Mrs. Perkins? It's Lucas," he replied, looking a bit stunned, like he wasn't sure if she was joking or legit forgot him.

"Of course I know you're Lucas," Samantha shrugged, totally unfazed. "But your name's kinda twisty. Can't expect me to remember it every single time, right?" She smiled, casual enough to squash any suspicion he had.

Lucas looked like he'd just eaten a lemon. Back when she first married Alexander, she used to speak to him all polite, always calling him Mr. Bennett. Now? She didn't even bother with names.

Women... seriously unpredictable. Best not mess with her.

Honestly though, he kinda respected the new her. Way tougher than before. At least she wasn't the same woman who used to cry behind closed doors when things got rough.

Outside, a sleek Bentley pulled up.

"Mom," Alexander said gently, lifting a faint smile as he helped Henrietta-a regal woman, decked out in designer wear and no-nonsense authority-out of the car.

Henrietta gave a curt nod, her sharp eyes locking on Samantha with a frown. "Samantha, are you pregnant or something? Why didn't you come help me out?"

Samantha gave a slight inner eye-roll. What is this-Game of Thrones? Somebody gunning for a throne here?

Still, she walked over with a fake smile and lightly took Henrietta's arm, guiding her inside with textbook manners.

"When I did the count, today, tomorrow, and the day after should be your optimal days. I had Mr. Carson hand you the test strips. Did you use them?"

Mr. Carson was Perkins family's butler.

Henrietta gave zero care to the table full of dishes. Her voice was ice, straight to the point.

"Test strips?" Samantha frowned, wondering what this new level boss was on about. Ethan never mentioned anything about having to pee on things for the job. What the heck?

"Ovulation tests, girl!" Henrietta snapped, raising her voice. The anger in her tone was uncannily similar to Alexander. "I've had someone track your cycle. This is the key window!"

Wait, what?

Samantha blinked, stunned. Was this real? People actually talked about periods and ovulation at the dinner table in this house?

The corners of her brows twitched. She hadn't even had a boyfriend before this-now she was getting grilled over fertility schedules? Wild.

"Caitlin, don't tell me you've been slacking and didn't test at all?" Henrietta's stare sharpened like a blade, tone loaded with judgment.

When Samantha didn't rush to explain, Henrietta slammed the hot towel she'd been holding onto the table. Her voice came down hard.

"Don't forget why you're in this house, Caitlin! If the Perkins family hadn't invested, your stepfather's company would've died a long time ago! You won't give us an heir, but your family keeps coming with their hands out? Unbelievable!"

Samantha let out a soft breath.

Oh wow. The audacity.That old hag really had the nerve to say that in front of everyone-like she never saw my sister as family, more like some baby-making machine!

Samantha let out a soft chuckle, voice turning cool. "You said it yourself-he's my stepfather, not even blood-related. So why should I be the one popping out babies for the Perkins family just because he needs money?"

"You..." Henrietta clearly wasn't expecting the usually docile Caitlin to fight back. Her face turned shades of red and purple as she snapped, "Caitlin, are you and your father scheming together to milk us dry?"

Unbothered, Samantha calmly sliced a bit of lamb and popped it into her mouth, chewing slowly as she said, "Come on, with how sharp you are, you think I could fool you, really? And even if you're mad at me, what's the point? I can't get pregnant by myself, can I?"

Henrietta's eyes widened, her face twisting with rage. "What-what are you implying?"

Samantha raised her brows, playing up the surprise. "No way, you didn't hear about that? Everyone knows Alexander isn't into women. He won't touch me. What am I supposed to do?"

"Caitlin!" Henrietta nearly choked in her fury. She slammed her hand on the table and stood up angrily. "Watch your mouth! If word gets out, how's the family supposed to hold its head up? Alexander! Alexander! Is this how you let her act at home?"

Henrietta was fuming because Samantha had hit a nerve.

All those rumors about Alexander not being into girls? Yeah, they'd been going around forever. She knew the talk, but she just didn't want to believe it.

It was the unspoken thing in the Perkins family-never touched. Alexander had never had a girlfriend. Everyone kinda knew what was up.

Henrietta had been bitter about it for ages. She couldn't do a thing about her son, so she took it all out on Caitlin.

And now, with Samantha throwing it out so casually in front of everyone, it felt like confirmation. Henrietta's face flushed then went pale. "Say one more word and I'll make sure someone shuts that mouth of yours for good!"

But Samantha wasn't backing down. She gave a smirk that dripped with sarcasm. "Me, lying? No way. You track my cycle every month-you even know my ovulation days better than I do. Everything's in place, except the final step won't show up. Can't blame me for that, right?"

Henrietta looked like she'd been struck by lightning. She collapsed onto her chair, slapping the table and screaming.

"Alexander! Are you trying to kill me? If you don't like this woman, then divorce her and find someone new. There are plenty of women out there, and I'll help you marry whichever one you want. But you can't do this to your mother! Look at your brother now, and then you-how's a mother supposed to live like this?!"

Boom. Direct hit.

Samantha's lips curled just slightly, her smile so faint it almost wasn't there. Getting under their skin was an art-and she nailed it.

Push me, and I'll drag you down for sure.

The air was thick with tension-nobody dared breathe too loud.

It was like Mrs. Perkins had just thrown a grenade at the dinner table. Chaos was guaranteed.

Alexander watched his mother lose it, his arms crossed, brows slightly knit.

Was she seriously trying to bring him into this now? Bold move.

Lucas glanced at his boss's stony face, heart sinking a little as he looked toward Samantha, already worried for her.

To his surprise, she was still casually nibbling on her lamb chop, like nothing had happened-mouth curved into the faintest smile. Lucas felt chills creep down his spine.

She must've just come back from vacation-only someone fueled by beachside margaritas and main-character energy could be this fearless today.

"Mom, I'm moving back to the villa starting tonight."

Alexander didn't say a word until Henrietta had finished venting. Then he stood and gently helped her to the couch. "Your health matters most. If you're not feeling well, head home and rest."

"Back to the villa? Are you serious, Alexander? That woman is manipulative and dangerous! She plotted with the Jordans to scam us, and you still want to stay with her?" Henrietta had just calmed down when her son's indifferent attitude lit the fire again-her lips trembled in fury.

Samantha, sitting at the dining table, just kept eating, like their shouting match had nothing to do with her. She was in this house under her sister's name for one reason-to make sure those who'd hurt Caitlin paid the price. Even if she ended up divorcing Alexander, she'd make sure the Perkins family was flipped upside down before walking away.

Alexander looked at Samantha, who remained totally unfazed, and a subtle smirk tugged at his lips. "I'll handle her."

Henrietta's eyes widened. She was caught off guard by her son's tone. "You're defending her now? Since when? I thought you couldn't stand her!"

"Lucas, take Mom home. And let my brother know-I'm not dropping by tonight," Alexander ordered calmly, ignoring his mother's accusations.

Mixed with frustration and confusion, Henrietta was escorted out, and the silence that followed in the villa felt suffocating.

Samantha finished off her red wine and stood to leave.

"Stop right there." Alexander's voice came from the couch-cold and low.

She paused, turned to look at him with unbothered eyes, but her posture subtly shifted, on alert.

His gaze darkened, every bit of him radiating the kind of intensity that made it feel like he could crush her with it.

"I've never kept you here against your will. If you hated being in this house so much, why come back?"

She shot him a sarcastic smile. "Guess I was worried your lives were getting too peaceful. Figured I should stick around and let you all keep belittling and tormenting me."

That just fueled his rage more. He reached out, grabbed her chin, locking eyes with her like he was peering into her soul. "Tell me the truth."

"The truth? Funny," Samantha said flatly, her tone sharp. "None of you ever treated me honestly. Now you want truth?"

She shoved his hand away and raised her chin, eyes clear and defiant.

"Caitlin, what the hell is wrong with you?!"

Watching her stand there like that, so stubborn and proud-it hit Alexander, and he didn't know why it got to him like that.

She scoffed, voice dripping with mockery. "You all pushed me to the edge, then have the nerve to ask why I snapped?"

He stared at her as she continued with a steady voice, "Didn't you want the truth? Fine. The old Caitlin? You all drove her to her death. The person in front of you now-you can't handle her."

His gaze flickered.

There was something wild and fearless in her eyes-bright, beautiful, and totally untamed. For the first time in years, Alexander felt like something had slipped out of his control.

He-the almighty CEO of the Perkins Group in Lichester, with companies across the globe, an empire at his feet. Everyone obeyed him. Always.

No one dared step out of line. No one except her.

And this woman-Samantha-was the only person who'd ever made him feel powerless.

That feeling? It drove him insane.

His jaw clenched as anger flickered across his face. In a flash, he grabbed her by the arm and flung her onto the couch. His voice, cold as ice, cut through the air. "All of you-out."

Not even ten seconds later, every servant had vanished, leaving just the two of them staring each other down.Alexander leaned down, towering over Samantha. His sharp features were set in an icy chill, eyes dark and unreadable.

"Let go," Samantha said coldly.

As she reached out to push him away, he grabbed her arm tightly.

She glared at him, stunning face full of defiance. "What are you trying to pull, Alexander?"

His voice was cold and low, dripping with sarcasm. "Telling my mother I'm not interested in women? Really played it clean. Pissed her off completely. Pretty clever of you."

"If I wasn't clever, I'd have been crushed by you people long ago," Samantha scoffed, her tone full of disdain.

Her scorn made him frown hard. Alexander wasn't used to being looked down on-he was the one who did the dismissing, not the other way around.

"Alright then. Since you're so eager to tell everyone I won't touch you, I might as well prove you wrong. Can't have you going around saying I'm not interested in women."

His gaze turned sharp and in the next second, he pushed closer, pinning her arms and crushing his lips onto hers. There was no room for resistance.

But then-he met those eyes.

"You bastard, Alexander!"

Her eyes, flushed red with rage, were full of pure hate.

His body froze for a split second, then he forced himself to steady his breathing.

"Let go of me." The command was ice-cold as it came from her lips, her face twisted in disgust.

He had stepped in thinking he was taking control, that he was turning things around.

For him, women were never a problem to conquer.

But the way she looked at him, like she couldn't stand to be near him-somehow, that cut deeper than expected.

Caught off guard, he let go, and Samantha shot straight up the stairs.

Only when the door slammed shut with a bang did she finally exhale, practically cursing Alexander a thousand times in her head. That disgusting jerk. Total psycho.

She angrily stripped off her clothes, heading for the shower. Her phone lit up-a WhatsApp message from Ethan.

"Are you free? I'm outside."

Her eyes narrowed. Her fingers flew across the screen. "Sure. Coming."

It was her first day back at the Perkins' place and Ethan already messaged her-was there something he forgot to tell her?

Still puzzling it over, she opened the wardrobe and randomly pulled out one of Caitlin's outfits.

Caitlin always leaned toward muted tones-especially teal. Aside from the basic black and white, almost all her clothes were loose-fitting cotton-linen, hardly anything that hugged the waist.

Both sisters had studied fashion design, but Caitlin's aesthetic leaned soft, pastoral, almost dreamy. Samantha, on the other hand, preferred bold, curve-hugging styles that made a statement.

Their personalities were just as different.

By the time she headed downstairs, Alexander had left. She walked straight out of the house toward a Rolls-Royce parked a little ways off. The second she got in, Ethan looked stunned.

"Uncle Ethan, what's up?" she asked.

He didn't speak at first, just stared at her, gaze softening. Then he reached out, almost brushing her cheek.

Samantha instantly leaned back, raising a hand to block his. Her brows furrowed. "You're thinking about Caitlin, huh?"

Ethan flinched and quickly retracted his hand, clearly uncomfortable with his moment of weakness. "Sorry. That teal dress... it was Caitlin's favorite. She said wearing clothes she designed made her feel at ease. No matter how upset she was, they always made her feel better."

"Got it. I won't wear it again," Samantha said coolly.

Ethan felt a sudden, inexplicable ache in his chest.