Billionaires with Benefits

155 155. Dad’s Support

Seeing Clara who was crying in Larissa’s arms, Samuel and Thomas canceled entering the room. They chose not to disturb the two women who were sharing their care.

The men then waited outside the room. Thomas wanted to know the problem from Samuel’s mouth.

“Who’s she?” Thomas asked his eldest son.

“He ... I don’t know,” replied Samuel lazily.

“Larissa is angry because you brought a girl to the house?” asked Thomas intently.

“Sure, because that’s not a good example for Sofia,” Samuel replied again.

“Is there something else that makes her angry?” Thomas probed again. “Seeing the behavior of the two of them, it’s impossible for Larissa to just be angry because you brought a one-night stand home.”

Samuel rubbed his face. He leaned his back against the wall. “She’s another man’s fiancé. Getting married soon,” Samuel answered in a faint whisper.

Thomas’s face tightened. His face was suddenly unfriendly. “Do you really not know her?” Thomas insisted, demanding answers from his son.

.....

“I don’t know her. I already told you, didn’t I?” answered Samuel with a gloomy face.

“However, your face says that she is no stranger to you. Do you always do that every time you meet a woman?” Thomas insisted as if he wanted to corner his son with the inevitable question.

Samuel looked at his father lazily. He felt he didn’t want to be interrogated and chose to avoid it. He was about to run away, but his father held back. “Don’t run away from my questions if you still want to get all this facility from me.”

“Dad!”

“I have the right to ask you,” Thomas demanded again. “Have you forgotten that you made me ashamed of my own brother because you chased after her daughter-in-law?”

“Dad! didn’t know they loved each other! What’s wrong with trying?” Samuel was angry because his father brought up his actions again, after Paula, and it ended in failure and conflict with William’s family.

“You know they love each other,” said Thomas, making Samuel chuckle in annoyance.

“The two of us just spent the night together. Nothing else. I won’t stop her from marrying her future husband,” Samuel answered curtly. “Isn’t it natural for someone to want to end their single life by spending the night with another man before getting married?”

“Maybe,” Thomas replied curtly. “However, I see you have things that have the potential to derail the wedding plans.”

“I am not going to—”

“I have a feeling you want to thwart her,” Thomas cut in. He knew his son very well. This was different from Paula’s case. There was a wound radiating on Samuel’s face. Surely their night wasn’t just a meaningless night.

“Who asked to sleep first?” he asked.

“She’s after me, I was just asking for more,” Samuel replied. “What did I do wrong?”

Thomas laughed wryly. “The problem is only you two know,” said Thomas, patting his son on the back. He then embraced Samuel to provide support.

“Sometimes, feelings do come at the wrong time. However, be a man with dignity. Don’t chase a girl and fail her marriage if you don’t intend to be serious with her,” said Thomas in a wise tone. “Consider all the consequences of your actions.”

Samuel’s face grew even darker. He laughed wryly. “I don’t know what I’m feeling. I also don’t want to spoil other people’s relationships. I ... last night just asked her to do what she deserved to do to her fiancé. An eye for an eye” explained Samuel further.

However, Samuel’s feelings were more messed up than what he was saying. He already realized that Clara was the girl who six years ago gave her virginity to him to help him who was under the influence of drugs. The only virgin he’d ever touch.

He also realized from Clara’s questions that the young woman already knew that he was the man who claimed to be Jade six years ago. They both lied about their names. However, there must be the same feeling when they meet again.

“Six years ago, she came to me when her engagement was about to be made official,” Samuel said suddenly. “Now, she came to me when she was about to marry her fiancé. Do you think it was all just a coincidence?” asked Samuel to his father but without looking at him

Thomas felt the tightness from Samuel’s scarred face. Surely their meetings were something. Just like fate.

“Do you think I was wrong when I wanted to take her away from her fiancé who impregnated another girl? Am I wrong if I want to pull her so as not to be sucked into the valley of suffering?” he asked again.

Thomas listened to Samuel’s rants carefully. The wise father then said, “You’re not wrong. Even if … you fall in love with her, you’re still not wrong.”

Samuel turned to his father who said something he didn’t expect at all. He thought his father would scold him as his mother had.

“What’s wrong is, if you force your intention on her,” continued Thomas in a soft and hoarse whisper. “Everyone has a choice, Sam! And sometimes their choices aren’t just based on feelings.”

Thomas patted Samuel one more time. Then they decided to enter the room. 𝒇𝑟e𝙚𝑤𝙚𝐛𝗻𝐨ν𝚎𝘭.c𝐨m

Clara invited Samuel’s father to come in and wait for his wife. She then said goodbye to them.

Both Larissa and Thomas agreed that Samuel could not accompany Clara, to avoid trouble. As she said goodbye, Clara thanked everyone.

“When are you going to treat us to ice creams?” asked Noah.

“Clara is very busy. Instead, I’ll buy ice creams for all of you later,” said Samuel.

The young man then turned to Clara. “You don’t have to think about their requests.”

Clara smiled in return. “Thank you. Your family is very kind to me.”

Sam smiled and nodded. “Since this is our last meeting, I will return this to you.”

Samuel reached out to Clara, giving her the handkerchief Clara had left behind six years ago. Clara’s eyes heated up. Tears streamed down her cheeks again without daring to look at Samuel. Her heart shattered into pieces.