C299 What About Samantha

I froze. For a brief moment, I turned to look at Alicia, hoping she would rescue me like she usually did. Instead, she laughed softly. "Mike," she said, smiling mischievously, "this one really needs your answer. I can't help you this time." I scratched the back of my head before letting out a small sigh. "Well..." Everyone waited quietly. "My wife..." I glanced at Alicia with a smile. "Before she became my wife, she helped me see things from Samantha's point of view. After hearing everything, I realized there were many things she never planned."

I paused before continuing. "So I can't stay angry at her for something she never intended to happen." Chris folded his arms but remained silent. "The only thing that still hurts," I admitted, "is that she disappeared without telling me the truth. She left without giving me a chance to understand what had really happened." I smiled faintly. "That silence could be interpreted in many different ways." Sarah nodded thoughtfully. "But I don't hate her."

I reached over and gently held Alicia's hand. "As long as she doesn't bring up love again or try to interfere with my marriage, I don't have any problem with her." I looked at Alicia lovingly. "I'm happy with my wife." Alicia smiled warmly and squeezed my hand. Sarah clapped happily. "So... does that mean she can join us next time?" Before anyone else could answer, Chris groaned. "What?" He looked at his wife in disbelief. "Why can't it just be the four of us?" Sarah blinked innocently. "What do you mean?"

Chris spread his hands dramatically. "You always want to add someone!" He pointed toward Sarah. "First Laura... now Samantha." He shook his head. "Can't we have one outing where it's just the four of us?" Sarah laughed. "She's my sister." "And besides," she added, "she doesn't really have anyone else she's close to." Chris still looked unconvinced. "But what is she going to do by herself?" He looked at me and Alicia before continuing, "Imagine her standing there while Mike suddenly kisses Alicia."

Alicia burst into laughter. "Brother!" Then she looked at Sarah. "Sister-in-law, whether Samantha comes or not is completely up to her." She smiled gently. "As long as she comes with good intentions, we've already forgiven her." Chris immediately protested. "Alicia!" "You can't make that decision for us." Sarah covered her mouth as she laughed. "Chris, why are you making such a big issue out of this?" "You already had lunch with her." Alicia turned toward Chris in surprise. "What?" "You ate lunch with Samantha?"

Chris groaned. "I also had lunch with Bright." He crossed his arms stubbornly. "And I still said I haven't forgiven him." He pointed at Sarah. "I can say exactly the same thing about Samantha." Sarah's smile widened. "But you won't." Chris narrowed his eyes. "And why not?" Sarah answered sweetly, "Because if you do..." She leaned closer to the camera with a mischievous grin. "...you'll continue starving." "I'll simply go to sleep." For a second, complete silence filled the call. Chris slowly opened his mouth. "How is that acceptable?"

He looked utterly wronged. "That's cheating." "You're threatening your husband." Sarah shrugged innocently. "I'm not threatening you." "The decision is still yours." She giggled. "It's just that..." "...every decision has consequences." I laughed so hard he nearly dropped the phone. "Sarah, you're terrible." "How can you put my brother in such a difficult position?" Alicia laughed beside me. Even Sarah couldn't stop laughing. Chris rubbed his forehead dramatically. "You women..." He sighed deeply. "I don't even have human rights anymore." Everyone burst into laughter.

After pretending to think for another few seconds, Chris finally raised both hands in surrender. "Fine." "I forgive her." The moment those words left his mouth, Sarah's face lit up. She immediately threw her arms around him. "Thank you, Husband!" Chris smiled helplessly as he hugged her back. Alicia laughed. "Brother, you're going to have to work hard tonight." I immediately joined in. "Will I also get a chance to work hard?" Alicia froze. "What?" "We already did yesterday."

She looked at him in disbelief. "You can't possibly want it again." I grinned shamelessly. "If my brother is working hard tonight, then I should work hard too." I pointed at Chris. "You were the one who said he has to work hard." Everyone burst into laughter once again. Sarah quickly waved her hand. "Well, we'd better stop talking." She smiled knowingly. "We also want to get busy." Chris nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly." After exchanging a few more jokes and saying their goodbyes, the call finally ended.

The room became quiet again. Without wasting another second, Alicia picked up her mother's diary and immersed herself in its pages. I watched her quietly. The concentration on her face made me smile. She was completely absorbed in reading. Not wanting to interrupt her, I simply asked, "Wife..." She hummed softly without looking up. "Where should I set up my computer?" "Anywhere you find a good spot," she replied absentmindedly, her eyes never leaving the diary.

I looked around the study. "What about here?" Only then did she glance up at me. A small smile appeared on her face. "You're disturbing me." She pointed around the room. "This is our study." "So of course your computer belongs here." She looked around thoughtfully. "You'll just need your own desk and chair." I nodded. "Understood." Not wanting to interrupt her any further, I quietly left the study. A few moments later, I returned carrying my computer, carefully setting it up in one corner of the room.

As I worked in silence, Alicia remained completely immersed in her mother's diary, turning each page with growing curiosity. After completely setting up my computer, I suddenly remembered how my system had been traced before. If I wanted to continue investigating without exposing myself again, this setup wouldn't be enough. I made a mental note to visit the computer store tomorrow and buy better components to upgrade my machine.

At the Chambers family home, the video call had just ended. Chris stood up, walked to the door, and locked it before turning around with a grin. "Well, Wife... it is time." Sarah giggled and shook her head. "Not yet. Your mother might come in at any moment." Chris smiled confidently. "But I just locked the door." Sarah laughed. "I'm still busy." Without wasting another second, she picked up her phone and called her father. Kelvin answered almost immediately. "My child, is something wrong?"