The storm had passed by dawn, leaving the Carter mansion wrapped in silence. Droplets clung to the glass windows like tiny pearls, glistening in the weak sunlight. The air smelled of wet earth and fresh beginnings, though inside, tension simmered beneath the polished calm.
Samantha woke early. She moved to the window of the guest room, her silk nightdress brushing softly against her legs. With one hand, she parted the curtains and watched the garden below, where a maid hurried across the lawn to collect fallen branches.
Same house, same walls… yet they don't know I'm not a guest. I'm the ghost they buried with their lies.
She turned from the window, her expression hardening. The memory of Nick's startled face when he had barged in last night lingered. For the first time, she had seen a glimpse of guilt… or maybe longing. Either way, it was a weakness. And weakness was something she could use.
---
By the time Samantha descended the grand staircase, the family was already gathered at the breakfast table. The clink of silverware against porcelain filled the room. Naomi, always the gracious matriarch, smiled warmly as she saw Samantha approach.
"Good morning, Samantha. I hope the room was comfortable."
Samantha returned the smile effortlessly, sliding into the seat offered to her. "Very. Thank you, Mrs. Carter. Your home is… full of memories." Her tone was even, but her eyes flickered briefly to Nick, who shifted in his chair.
Kate, sitting opposite, stiffened. Her eyes were shadowed, her fingers tightening around her cup of tea. She hadn't slept well; Samantha could see it written in the fine lines beneath her eyes.
Nick cleared his throat, his voice steady though his mind was far from calm. "I'm glad you stayed. It gave us the chance to talk more about business. The Carters are eager to align with Elevate on future projects."
Samantha leaned back slightly, her poise unshaken. "Business isn't just about eagerness, Nick. It's about trust. And sometimes… it's about patience. You'll have to prove both before Elevate considers any alignment."
Chloe smirked. "She's right, Nick. You don't win her with flattery. You win her with consistency."
Nick shot his sister a glare, but Samantha chuckled softly. "Chloe understands the language of leadership better than some men in suits."
Kate placed her cup down with a sharp clink. "Consistency? Forgive me, but sometimes, business requires bold moves. Playing safe isn't always the answer."
Samantha's gaze shifted to her slowly. "And yet… bold moves can cost more than they give. The wrong step in the wrong storm, and you don't just lose the game, Kate. You drown."
The words hung heavy in the air. Kate's face paled slightly, and her hand dropped to her lap. She knows something, Kate thought, panic rising in her chest. But how?
Naomi, oblivious to the tension, smiled brightly. "Well, bold or safe, what matters is unity. And I believe Samantha will find our family a trustworthy partner."
Samantha lifted her glass of orange juice, her lips curving faintly. "Time will tell, Mrs. Carter. Time always does."
*****
---
Breakfast ended, and the family dispersed. Nick lingered near the window, pretending to read the paper while stealing glances at Samantha as she spoke quietly with Naomi. The image of her wrapped in nothing but a towel haunted him, unbidden. He clenched the newspaper tighter. Why does she unsettle me like this?
Meanwhile, Kate hurried upstairs, locking the door behind her. Her phone buzzed again. The same number. The same threat.
If you don't want the truth out, pay the rest by tonight.
She dropped onto the edge of her bed, her hands shaking. A million dollars. Gone. And if Nick ever found out what she had done years ago—
Her chest tightened. She pressed her palms into her eyes, willing herself to stay composed. No one can ever know. Not Chloe. Not Nick. And certainly not Samantha.
But what if Samantha had heard last night? What if she knew?
---
Downstairs, Chloe joined Samantha in the lounge. She poured herself a cup of coffee and flopped onto the sofa opposite.
"You know, you don't act like most businesswomen I've met," Chloe said, studying her. "Most of them… they're predictable. But you—" she tilted her head, narrowing her eyes—"you feel different. Like you've lived more lives than you admit."
Samantha arched a brow, her smirk returning. "Curiosity is a useful trait, Chloe. But be careful where it leads you. Some doors aren't meant to be opened."
Chloe laughed lightly, but her laughter carried an edge. "Maybe. But I've never been afraid of locked doors."
Their eyes locked across the table — two women testing each other in silence, both sharper than they let on.
---
As the morning wore on, the Carter mansion returned to its routine. But beneath the polished surface, cracks had begun to spread:
Nick, shaken by emotions he didn't want to admit.
Kate, drowning under secrets and blackmail.
Chloe, curious and observant, circling closer to truths.
And Samantha, the storm in their midst, watching, waiting, calculating.
The rain may have stopped outside, but inside, the real storm was only beginning.