Sam's POV
The grand dining hall of the Jones mansion was overwhelming, the sheer size of the table and the glittering chandeliers making me feel even smaller than usual. Scarlett had insisted I wear a formal dress-a soft pink gown that hugged my figure in all the wrong ways, drawing attention I didn't want. Her possessive arm stayed wrapped around my waist as we entered the room, and my heart pounded with dread at the sight of so many unfamiliar faces.
"This is Sam," Scarlett announced with pride, her voice echoing through the room. "My partner."
The whispers began immediately. Eyes darted toward me, judgmental and sharp. I felt like a bug under a magnifying glass, and I tried to shrink into myself, but Scarlett held me tighter.
Beside us, Leroy introduced Janice as his "lovely wife," pulling her close with an arm around her waist. Janice's nervous smile and downcast gaze mirrored my feelings, though she didn't dare voice them.
Scarlett guided me to my seat beside her, and I tried to disappear into the background as the dinner began. The food was lavish, each plate a work of art, but I couldn't bring myself to eat much. My hands trembled as I reached for my glass of water, the weight of the stares and whispers making it hard to focus.
And then it happened.
The glass slipped from my hands, spilling its contents across the pristine white tablecloth. The room fell silent, and my heart dropped into my stomach as all eyes turned to me.
"Clumsy," Leroy said, his voice cold and sharp. "You've made a mess, Sam."
"I-I'm sorry,"
"I stammered, my face burning with humiliation.
Leroy stood, his imposing figure towering over me. "If you can't behave like an adult," he said, his tone laced with condescension.
"Then perhaps you shouldn't sit like one."
Before I could protest, he grabbed my arm and pulled me from my seat, forcing me onto his lap. The room erupted in whispers and muffled laughter as I sat there, humiliated and trembling, unable to meet anyone's gaze.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Scarlett's POV
The moment Daddy pulled Sam onto his lap, I felt something inside me snap. The sight of her sitting there, tears welling in her eyes, was too much to bear. My hands clenched around the glass of water I was holding, and before I knew it, the glass shattered in my grip, shards digging into my palm.
"She's mine," I growled, my voice low but deadly. The room fell silent as all eyes turned to me. I stood, the blood from my hand dripping onto the floor as I stormed over to Daddy. He didn't even flinch as I yanked Sam off his lap, pulling her into my arms.
"She's mine," I repeated, louder this time, my voice trembling with rage. "No one touches her but me."
The whispers started again, but I didn't care. I cradled Sam against my chest, ignoring her protests as I carried her out of the dining hall and up to our bedroom.
Once we were inside, I didn't stop. I headed straight for my shrine, pushing open the hidden door and stepping inside. The familiar glow of the lights did little to calm me as I sat down on the plush chair, pulling Sam onto my lap
.
She was shaking, her tears soaking into my dress as she clung to me. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I didn't mean to make you mad."
I froze, her words cutting through my rage like a knife. "Mad at you?" I repeated, my voice cracking. "Oh, Sammi, no. No, baby, it's not your fault."
Her sobs grew louder, and I felt my tears start to fall. I hugged her tightly, rocking her back and forth as the rage boiled over into something uncontrollable.
"He touched you," I murmured, my voice shaking. "He dared to touch you. My baby girl. My Sammi."
I buried my face in her hair, my tears mingling with hers. "I love you so much," I whispered obsessively, over and over again.
"You're mine, Sammi. Only mine. No one else can have you."
She didn't say anything, just clung to me as if I were the only thing keeping her grounded.
We stayed like that for what felt like hours, both of us crying for different reasons-her out of fear, me out of love and rage.
Eventually, exhaustion overtook us, and we fell asleep in the shrine, her small body curled against mine.
No one would ever take her from me. Not even him.
