Samantha fell back laughing. She knew Chris was joking with her, but now she had heard enough. After last night, all she wanted to do was sleep in her own bed after a hot shower.
"Oh my God, I can't believe I almost bought your act for a second," she laughed.
Chris raised his brow, eyeing her as if she had lost her mind.
"I am getting that sleep," she said calmly.
She tapped him gently on his shoulder as she climbed up the steps towards their room. Dave leaned back against a wall, watching her.
"Are you in denial or are you just delusional?" he asked, raising a brow.
She stopped at the top of the stairs and turned around.
"I said, I am going to sleep, stop it!" her voice strained.
She appeared to be doing her best to hold it together, but was at her breaking point.
Chris let out a breath and ran his hand over his head.
"This must be confusing for you," he said softly, throwing his hands in the air. "Imagine how I feel. I don't even know who you are, and apparently, we are married."
"Stop talking… Please just SHUT UP!" she said through clenched teeth.
"Let me explain-"
Samantha screamed. The sound tore through the house.
Dave blinked at the horrible screeching sound. His hands covered his ears.
"Stop it!" he shouted.
She didn't listen. She was at her breaking point. He rushed up the steps without a second and clamped his hand over her mouth.
She stopped screaming. Her eyes held his. She bit him.
"Hey!" he shouted in pain, stepping away from her, rubbing his hand.
A flash of something crossed his eyes. His head jerked up as he studied her.
"Did you bite me before?" he asked in confusion.
Then he shook his head. "No… that's not possible."
Samantha started panting as her face slowly broke into sobs. She lunged and wrapped her hands around his waist. Tight.
"Hey, lady!"
He raised his hands quickly, not touching her.
"Chris!" she cried. "Stop this, I can't take this anymore. Please… stop this."
Her whole body shook with sobs.
"Lady… I think you have figured it out already."
She shook her head and held him tighter. "Shut up. Don't say it. I don't want to hear it."
He grabbed her arms and tried to pry her from his body. She locked her fingers around him.
"Let me go, lady!"
"No!" she shouted in tears. "Ne… Never!"
He sighed.
"I am not Chris."
Samantha shook her head vigorously.
"You must have figured it out. You are just in denial," he said flatly, finally prying her off him.
He held her at arm's length.
Her devastated gaze held his. Her eyes held fear and denial as she continued shaking her head.
"Don't say it," she begged.
"I am Dave. Not Chris."
She fell on her knees. All the fight left her body. Her hands fell to her side as tears fell silently down her face.
"I am sorry, lady. I don't understand how you got caught up in this," he continued coldly. "I will compensate you. Just tell me what you want, and you will get it."
His words snapped something in her. She raised her head and stared at him in disbelief.
Dave noticed the look she gave him.
He scoffed.
"I am doing you a favor. You don't have to look at me like that."
A sad chuckle escaped her lips.
He closed his eyes for a second as if he were pitying her and sighed.
"If you are trying to use this to get more money or blackmail me, know that I will destroy you. Destroying your life would be child's play."
"What? I would never," she asked in disbelief.
"C'mon, anyone could have figured that the only reason you and Chris got married was because of money."
"I-"
"Trying to deny it," he smirked.
"At first that might have been the reason, but—" she tried to explain.
He bellowed. "If you are a gold-digger, act like one. Why are you acting like you have a conscience all of a sudden?"
"Enough!"
"Why?" he asked bitterly.
Dave bent to her level. He held her chin with his thumb. She gasped. Her lips slightly parted.
He leaned and whispered in her ear, "Don't tell me you can't stand the truth, lady?"
She bit her trembling lips to bite back her sobs.
"I will get the divorce papers ready. Sign it… Or I will make you wish you were dead!" he continued.
Samantha shuddered. His eyes were dark and cold.
She pushed him. He fell back, then saw the fear in her eyes. He smiled wickedly.
"You… you are crazy!" she trembled, getting back on her feet.
He wiped his lips with the back of his hands.
"I am," he said, getting back on his feet. "If you have been listening, you would have realized that by now."
He dusted the back of his trousers. "I really hate repeating myself, and I am honestly tired of talking to you. It is a waste of time."
"Asshole!" she bit her lips, glaring at him.
"That is a perfect description of who I am," his voice was low and dangerous.
He stepped closer. She stepped back.
He took another step closer. She took another step back.
And another.
Another and another.
Until there was nowhere left to go.
Samantha noticed too late the devilish smirk in his eyes, just as her foot slipped at the edge of the steps.
He caught her by the wrist, holding her there, not pulling her back up. She turned, catching a glimpse of how far the ground was. She gulped.
She stilled. Closed her eyes and didn't move an inch.
He studied her face. His expression was cold...yet curious.
A second passed.
"What do you think would happen if I just let go?"
Her eyes snapped open. Fear flooded them instantly.
"You…you are not Chris," she stammered.
A pause.
His grip tightened slightly.
"I am Dave. Not Chris…" His gaze didn't leave hers. "And I don't know you."