Chapter 210
"Caleb, cease!" Susan's countenance was aflame with urgency as she attempted to fend off Caleb's encroaching hands in a state of panic.
Once a paragon of composure, Susan's visage was now etched with anxiety.
"Caleb!" she cried.
Caleb's fingers inched towards her undergarments, a mere tug away from rending them asunder.
He resembled a wolf on the brink of a hunt, primed to pounce at any second.
The repercussions of this wolf breaching boundaries were unthinkable.
And Susan was the prey, acutely cognizant of her precarious predicament.
In a hotel room, a man and a woman were locked in a power play, with Caleb's physical dominance leaving Susan susceptible to his advances.
Susan squirmed, akin to an ant on a searing skillet.
"Release me, Caleb. I swear, if you lay a finger on me..."
"You relish this, don't you? This is your idea of amusement, your so-called pleasure, isn't it?" Caleb's low, mocking laughter cut through the air like a whip.
"I don't partake in such pleasures with just anyone," Susan retorted, meeting his gaze unflinchingly, defiance and a trace of revulsion in her eyes.
Caleb's hold on Susan's wrists tightened, eliciting a grimace of pain from her.
Remain composed, Susan instructed herself.
Her slender throat bobbed once as she struggled to steady her voice, a faint tremor betraying her, "Is this how low the vice president of the Eilish Group stoops? To force himself on a woman? Even one who has cuckolded you, don't you find that repugnant?"
She was aware that her words might incite Caleb's wrath, but it was her only defense to maintain her dignity.
Susan braved his revulsion to safeguard herself.
Even if Caleb struck her, it was preferable to him crossing that line - Susan's line in the sand.
A muscle in Caleb's temple twitched, rage simmering in the depths of his eyes, but his expression hardened, "Of course I find it repugnant."
With that, he released her hands.
Caleb pivoted to retrieve a cigarette from the table.
His mood was now unsettled, disrupted by her.
He had assumed that, even if he encountered Susan again after four years, he would remain unruffled. He hadn't anticipated being so easily provoked by her words.
Every man has his breaking point, and betrayal is one that's utterly intolerable. Despite this, it was Caleb who had initially deceived the other, but this betrayal was different for him-he had genuinely opened his heart to her. Susan, however, had treated him as just another one of her many playthings.
Over the span of four years, the memory of her betrayal had tormented Caleb more than once, a piercing pain that cut deep.
Caleb, bare-chested, his broad shoulders and lean, muscular back silhouetted against the room, took a puff from his cigarette, igniting it outside.
In profile, Caleb's features were taut, his expression somber and contemplative.
Susan averted her gaze and hastily made her exit.
She shut the door behind her and only then did she realize she had been holding her breath. Her entire body had been rigid.
As poised as she was, all of it crumbled in Caleb's presence.
She did not wish to encounter him again, and she couldn't allow him to discover Olivia-otherwise...
A chill ran down Susan's spine, so frigid that her entire body shuddered.
Olivia was her world, her everything, and she wouldn't let anyone take her away.
"I'm sorry, the number you have dialed cannot be reached at the moment. Please try again later"
Layla furrowed her brow and rolled over in bed.
Lying there, gazing up at the crystal chandelier, her mind was in disarray.
It had been three days since Samuel had departed. This was the fifth call she had made to him, all unanswered.
She recalled that the last time Samuel couldn't be reached, he had notified her beforehand and made sure to call her, but this time he'd left without a word.
Could something have befallen Samuel?
Despite reasoning that someone as competent as Samuel couldn't possibly encounter trouble, Layla couldn't shake off the feeling that something was amiss this time, particularly after that nightmare.
The shrill ring of the telephone shattered the silence abruptly.
"Hello?" Layla's voice echoed into the receiver, her tone hurried.
"Layla, your wedding's on the 28th of this month, right?" The voice on the other end belonged to Alice.
A wave of disappointment washed over Layla, her response was listless, "Yeah."
"There are 13 days left. Do you think I have time to slim down, or should I just try to salvage the situation? Did you order a size small for my bridesmaid dress? What if I can't fit into it? I saw this diet pill online recently that seems good. Do you think I should try it?"
Alice's questions continued to tumble out, "Oh, and should I be using face masks every day? I've been breaking out. Oh no, I just realized I'll be on my period on your wedding day."
"Yeah."
"What do you mean 'yeah'?"
"Do whatever you like."
Alice sensed something was off, "You sound down. Did something happen?"
"It's nothing," Layla responded faintly, unsure how to explain the situation or if she was just overthinking things.
Just two days earlier, Layla was overflowing with joy, but today her tone was off. Could it be the legendary cold feet before the wedding? Impossible. She should be too ecstatic about marrying Samuel to feel any fear. Could she be regretting not having a bachelorette party? Teasing her, her friend and maid of honor mused aloud whether she should splurge on hiring some male dancers for Layla. "Are you into cops, sailors, or just guys with muscles?" she joked.
Layla forced a wry smile, but her heart wasn't in it.
All she wanted now was to see Samuel. Immediately, without delay! Otherwise, she would be trapped in a world of worry.
"What's going on? Did you have a fight with Samuel? Look, weddings can be a handful. My cousin and her husband had plenty of arguments over their wedding details, but it'll be fine."
"I'm just tired, I want to sleep," Layla said, rubbing her temples.
"Alright then, get some rest. A bride needs her beauty sleep. I won't keep you up. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Still, Layla couldn't let it go and dialed Samuel's number again, only to be met with the same lack of response.
Her concern only grew as the minutes dragged on.
Meanwhile, at the Golden Waves Club, in the dining area, Anthony and Brenda sat at a small round table opposite the Gabrie family.
"Isabella really knows how to raise her children. Sophia is so gentle, kind, and well-mannered. She's just lovely," Brenda said with a gentle smile, nodding in agreement.
"I don't mean to brag, but our Sophia is quite the treasure. She's talented in both piano and painting. And, Anthony, you're impressive too, taking over the entire Eilish Group at such a young age. Your potential is boundless," Isabella beamed with pride, extremely satisfied with both the Eilish family's heritage and Anthony.
There had been a while when there was no word from the Eilish family, and Isabella was anxiously hoping, nearly losing hope. But when she suddenly received a call from the Eilish family, she literally jumped off the couch with joy.
Although the Gabrie family also had a prestigious name, the title of being the Eilish Group's mother-in-law was evidently leagues beyond Isabella's own standing.
Isabella was visibly elated, and Sophia even more so. She couldn't help but send adoring glances at Anthony, her eyes brimming with love that she couldn't hide.