C183 Old Wounds

The door opened, revealing a young employee from the HR office. Chris immediately let out a quiet sigh of relief. Thankfully, it wasn't Sarah. The young woman bowed respectfully. "Vice Director Chambers," she said politely, "Director Wood asked me to call you." Chris smiled awkwardly. "Thank you. I'll be there shortly." After the employee left, he turned toward Amanda. "It's lunchtime. Go and enjoy your meal." Amanda smiled. "Thank you, Vice Director." She gathered her things and quietly left the office.

A few moments later, Chris arrived outside Sarah's office. He knocked gently. "Come in." Opening the door, he was greeted by a warm aroma. His eyes widened. The coffee table had been transformed into a miniature banquet. Several homemade dishes filled the table, alongside fresh fruit, soup, desserts, and neatly arranged drinks. Sarah looked up and smiled warmly. "Husband... you're here." Chris couldn't help smiling. "Wife... did you prepare all of this?"

Sarah nodded proudly. "I woke up early this morning. Since today is your first day as Vice Director, I wanted us to have a proper lunch together." Chris looked at the table before looking back at her. "You really spoil me." Sarah laughed softly. "I only spoil the father of my child." Chris walked over and gently squeezed her hand. "Thank you." The two sat down together. Unlike the formal atmosphere outside, the office felt peaceful.

For a while they simply enjoyed each other's company. Sarah kept placing food into Chris's bowl. "Taste this." "And this one too." "And don't forget the soup." Chris laughed helplessly. "Wife... if you keep feeding me like this, I'll become fat." Sarah shrugged innocently. "I don't mind." "You'll mind when I can't fit into my suits." "I'll just have new ones tailored." Chris burst into laughter. "You're impossible." "So I've been told." The atmosphere became lighter as they continued eating.

After some time Sarah slowed down. She absentmindedly poked at the rice in her bowl. Chris noticed. "Wife?" "I'm full." "You barely ate." Sarah smiled faintly. "I don't know... lately I get full very quickly." Chris immediately became concerned. "Is the baby making it difficult?" Sarah nodded. "Sometimes the smell of food makes me hungry, but after two or three bites I suddenly don't feel like eating anymore." Chris gently pushed another bowl toward her. "Then just eat a little more."

She obediently took a few more bites. Seeing that, Chris smiled with satisfaction. "That's better." Just then, Knock! Both of them looked toward the door. "Come in." The door slowly opened. Samantha stepped inside. She froze. In front of her sat Chris and Sarah, happily sharing lunch like a newly married couple. For a brief moment, she felt as though she had intruded on something precious.

Sarah immediately smiled. "Sister!" She stood up. "Come and join us." Samantha hesitated. "No... I didn't mean to interrupt." Chris sensed the awkwardness in the room. Without saying much, he quietly stood. "I just remembered I have a few documents to finish." Sarah looked at him knowingly. "Husband..." Chris smiled reassuringly. "You two haven't talked properly today." He turned toward Samantha. "Please keep Sarah company."

Before either woman could stop him, Chris quietly walked out, gently closing the door behind him. The office became silent. Only the ticking clock could be heard. Sarah poured Samantha a glass of juice before sitting beside her. Neither of them spoke immediately. After a long silence, Sarah finally asked gently, "Sister..." "You said earlier that you'd tell me what happened." "What is it?" Samantha lowered her eyes. For several seconds she simply stared at the table. Finally she spoke. "... Ben has someone else."

Sarah frowned. "What do you mean?" "I went to the prison today." She paused. "I wanted to tell him that Father had arranged his bail..." "But when I got there..." "...he wasn't alone." Sarah listened quietly. "There was a woman visiting him." "His secretary." Samantha forced a bitter smile. "I watched them talking." "He looked... peaceful." "Happy." "He even smiled." Another pause. "I've never seen him smile like that before when he was with me." Sarah remained silent.

Samantha continued in a trembling voice. "I think... things have gone beyond my control." "I spent all these years holding on to Mike." "I kept believing that one day he'd forgive me." "That we'd somehow go back to how things were." She laughed bitterly. "But while I was chasing someone who no longer belonged to me..." "...I completely ignored the man I had already married." Her voice became softer. "And now..." "I think Ben has finally given up on me."

Sarah's expression slowly changed. She reached over and gently held Samantha's hand. "Sister..." "You don't know that for certain." Samantha shook her head. "I do." "I saw it in his eyes." "He looked at her the way I used to look at Mike." "And now..." "I'm scared." Sarah squeezed her hand. "Scared of what?" Samantha slowly lifted her head. Her eyes had already become red. "I'm afraid for Monica." "I'm afraid Ben will bring another woman into the family." "What if he asks us to leave?" "What if Father decides Monica doesn't deserve her shares anymore?" "What if..." "...we're no longer needed?"

As the last words escaped her lips, tears finally rolled down her cheeks. Sarah immediately pulled her into a hug. "Sister..." "Don't think like that." "No matter what happens..." "You and Monica are part of this family." "No one can erase that." Samantha leaned against her shoulder. "I hope you're right..." But despite Sarah's comforting words... ...her tears refused to stop.

Sarah gently pulled Samantha into her arms. "Sister..." she whispered softly, rubbing her back. "Whatever happens, you are still part of this family." The moment those words reached Samantha's ears, the emotions she had been suppressing all day finally burst out. Tears streamed down her cheeks. "I don't know what to do anymore..." Samantha cried. "Everything feels like it's falling apart." Sarah tightened her embrace. "Sister..." Samantha wiped her tears but more followed. "When Ben was arrested... I thought I would finally have peace." She smiled bitterly. "But now... he has someone else."