C5 Chapter 5

AIDEN went out to go to the mall. He did not even bother to ask their driver to drive him to that place, he himself drove because he knew he can drive. He brings their Land Rover with him.

Aiden bought complete personal belongings. He did not waste money because he used his own money for himself. He bought trendy clothes today and is worn by people his age.

He can afford to buy anything, no matter how much it is. Aside from the huge trust fund that Geneva left them, he also saved a lot of money when he was working. He didn't have any expenses then, so he manages to have his own penny.

With his purchases, he is sure that he can be compared now to the models and celebrities. And Samantha will not feel any regrets about marrying him.

When his personal belongings were completed, he went shopping for the mansion. He spent several hours in the home and appliances center. He bought almost everything from furniture to appliances. He also bought a 65-inch smart LED TV, and an automatic washing machine so that their housemates won't have a hard time cleaning their clothes. He bought modern kitchen utensils and a vacuum cleaner. It's like he is starting a new house with the amount of furniture and appliances he bought. When Geneva was still alive, modern equipment was not the trend in their home. The old woman seems to have lived in the medieval period.

He wants to reciprocate all the kindness and diligence shown by their housemates so, in order for him to show his gratitude to them, he should just give them the tools to make their jobs easier.

That night, after Aiden taught the housemates how to use the new appliances properly, he saw how happy they were. Everyone was smiling. Aiden also felt a strange sense of fulfillment. He is happy to make other people have some smiles on their faces.

IN THE NEXT following days, Aiden had a meeting with Atty. Suarez and their various shareholders. For several days he studied the entirety of the Anderson businesses, property, and investments.

Then, he found out he had nothing to worry about. Everything is fine and there will be no problem in replacing his mother as Chairman of their company.

The days flew so fast and he was finally appointed as the new Chairman of the company. There was no violent reaction because the whole company already knew his skills and he showed perseverance despite his young age. And only now did Aiden notice that his job is exciting and challenging, which before seemed like a big responsibility to him when Geneva was still alive.

~

4 YEARS AFTER

SAM CAME to her office unable for a painter to draw her face. She continued walking to her cubicle. She didn't even greet her staff. Her friend and assistant Denver followed her.

It is not new for Denver to follow her boss in her private office. They are very close and treat each other like siblings.

"Good morning," the man greeted her happily. "You should smile, you look better when you smile. And what are you grumbling about?"

Samantha pouted her lips or better known today as Sam. "How can I be happy, Denver? It's too early but I already received bad news," she said angrily and threw her body on the swivel chair.

"Why?" the man asked worriedly. "Did something happen, Sam?"

Sam rolled her eyes. "How can I not be mad? Come here, read this." Sam handed her iPhone to the man and he read her email.

"Huh? Is he going to fetch you here in England?" Denver seemed can't believe what he just read.

"What else? We both read it, so meaning, I'm not having nightmares." Sam rolled her eyes.

Denver tried to make his boss happy. "Well, we know that this day will definitely come, don't we? You will meet him soon again, it is impossible for that not to happen." Denver said.

Samantha knew that. But it almost slipped away in her mind and she did not think that he would follow her here. Anyway, she can't blame him, because she promised him that she will only stay in London for 2 years. But what happened is that she has been here for almost four years. She didn't make her promise that she will go home during the holidays and take vacations there. She never returned to their home and neither did she answer Aiden's emails or calls from him or Atty. Suarez.

"Hasn't he gotten my message? I haven't been home for four years, so it just means I don't want to come back there anymore," She is throwing her tantrums now.

Denver messed up his boss' friend's hair. "Don't worry. It's not the end of the world yet. Besides, maybe he wants to talk to you to discuss your annulment. Why, I assumed your husband is not a saint to stay loyal and faithful to you, you know. It's impossible he doesn't have a woman there in our country. So just stay positive okay?"

Sam looked at her friend. "Den, what if he doesn't agree and doesn't want us to file an annulment?"

The man sighed. "Sam, we are in the modern age. Nothing is impossible now. Even if he refuses, you have a fight. And one more thing, you will not take away from him his right as your parent's adopted child. Just continue with the annulment application. It is a valid reason that your mother just forced you to two to get married. Your marriage was not consummated. You will win, Sam."

"I'm still scared," she admitted.

"Scared of what? What are you afraid of?" Denver looks shocked.

"I'm afraid to face him," Sam replied. "It looks like I will meet mommy again. I know Aiden, he was very well shaped by mommy according to her beliefs."

Denver held her shoulders. He put his two bare hands in her cheeks. "Sam, don't make your own ghost. Aiden can't do that. You're a different person now, aren't you? You said, your mom just shaped him. Just like what happened to you. You two are just fair. Now, you are greater than him because you changed too much. You are not the Samantha four years ago,"

Sam sighed again. "You don't understand me," she said.

"Sam..." Denver replied angrily.

Sam quickly turned around and apologetically looked at her friend. "Sorry," she said immediately. "I didn't mean that. I just don't know what to do, Den, what am I going to do now?"

"I already told you what you should do. I've been lecturing you here for almost a couple of minutes and you act as if you heard nothing!"

Sam took a deep breath. "Okay... I'll try to relax. I'll try to focus my mind on work."

"Right," Denver replied quickly. "You should do that exactly, and not just that. Why don't we go to a bar later? Come on, it's Friday."

"No," she answered quickly.

Denver did not speak and left her private office, but he looked at her again. "Just tell me if you want to unwind later. Okay?"

Sam is the woman formerly known as Samantha Anderson. But if those who once knew her, see her now, they can say that they are different people. Because she is very different now.

Even in appearance, she has changed a lot. Her hair was still long, but she curled it up and dyed it with golden blonde. She also became body-conscious and many envied her hour-glass figure.

She also knows now how to put on make-up and fix herself. Especially since she needs that in the kind of work she does. She is already a Designer and she has many big clients. It is embarrassing to face them that she looks nerd and is not presentable. Even her personality has changed. She is no longer the formerly shy and timid Samantha. She is bold and daring now. Although not as liberal as the people in England, but one thing is for sure, she is no longer the former Samantha who is innocent and naive.

For four years, she was able to find herself. She was able to form her own character out of the mold created by their mother Geneva.

She is no longer Samantha. She is Sam now.

She has been working as a Designer for two years and now she has her own firm where clients go for their services. She also has now Designer employees who are also talented and her fellow man too.

Probably because of her experiences, she easily overcame the challenges and now her firm is well-known in London. Many artists and celebrities take their services to improve their home design.

And here, she met Denver. The man helped her when she was still ignorant in London. So she promised herself that one day she would help him too. So now that she has her own business, she took Denver as her assistant. They became close friends.

Denver was also the first one to call her "Sam". He said that her name is too long to pronounce and Sam is more suitable for her until everyone is used to calling her Sam Anderson now.

For four years, Sam found her passions, strengths, and weaknesses. Her self-confidence grew. She had a direction in life now - not the direction Geneva programmed, but the direction she wanted for herself. There are times that she still asks what is the condition of their company through Atty. Suarez.

Sam's intention now is to improve her knowledge more. Being a Designer is her career. This is where her new life now. Here is her future. She is happy in this place.

And if there's one thing that goes against all of Sam's new stances and plans, it's their marriage. Her marriage to Aiden.

She regrets being obedient to her mother four years ago. She is very angry at the forced marriage of her and Aiden. And she was intrigued by the idea that she just wanted them to have a child to make sure Anderson's had an heir! What kind of mindset is that!

She will never allow that nonsense to continue. So Sam decides that when Aiden arrives she will annul their marriage.

~

SAM COULD not get the problem out of her mind. She was already sitting in her swivel chair with her eyes still focused on her cellphone. The email that was sent by Aiden.

The content of that email is just short. It looks more like a business email rather than a message of a husband, and just as before, he states the details about his arrival the next following days.

Sam could literally imagine Aiden's appearance as he typed that email - which also looked like her mommy. Strict and emotionless. Sam felt annoyed by that thought.

She recalls that during her early years in London, Aiden often emailed and chatted with her. It is a formal email but there is a story about his condition in the mansion and company.

And because she had no intention of talking about life with him and remembering the past, she did not answer any of those messages. She was just beginning to build her new life here and she did not know how to tell the truth to Aiden.

Sam knows that what she did was like an escape. She escaped the fact that she had an Aiden who was her husband in her mother country. She may read all his emails and messages but never tries to reply to any of those and archives them.

She just assigned Atty. Suarez to report to her what is happening in the mansion and company at least once or twice a year.

Not so later, it seems that her husband gets tired of sending her messages. And soon after, Aiden did not email her again. It gives her relief somehow. That's why she was so surprised now that he said he was going to London to see her now.