Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Samantha could not answer that question immediately.

She shook her head and said truthfully, "I haven't thought about it yet."

"Then take your time to think it through. There's no need to rush." Rochelle understood Samantha's feelings very well. "You go ahead and freshen up while I get breakfast delivered. You can't let yourself go hungry now that you have two stomachs to feed."

Samantha smiled gratefully and went back into the room.

Rochelle picked up her phone and clicked into a food delivery app. She ordered a lot of food for breakfast. She then thought of something and made another order.

After Samantha was done washing up, Rochelle went to the bathroom to wash her face too. Then, the food delivery arrived and Rochelle brought in the food and laid everything out one by one on the table.

Seeing practically every type of food filling the table, Samantha could not help but shake her head and laugh, "There's only two of us, Chelle. How are we going to eat all this? It'll be such a waste!"

"Who said it's only the two of us? What about my godson?" Rochelle raised her chin and said righteously to Samantha's stomach, "I don't care if anyone else goes hungry, but I can't let my godson starve."

Samantha pulled the chair, sat down, and picked up a meat bun. "How do you know that it'll be a son? What if it's a daughter? Do you prefer sons to daughters?"

"Please." Rochelle uncapped the lid of a bowl of bean porridge and pushed it to Samantha. She then explained calmly, "It's not that I prefer boys. I just think...women are set to have a bitter life."

It was particularly so for big families like theirs, for their fate was beyond their control ever since they were born.

One's path and marriage were all decided for by one's family and all that needed to be done was to follow each step.

She could not bear letting her goddaughter go down that path.

Samantha felt the same too.

The baby's gender was not that important, since she would love her children all the same.

It was just…unfortunate that it had happened under such circumstances.

Samantha smiled bitterly and lowered her head to take a bite out of the bun.

Although she did not have any appetite, she still tried to eat more for her health and that of the child in her stomach.

Once they finished breakfast, Samantha got up to leave.

Rochelle was surprised. "Leaving so soon? Aren't you going to rest a bit longer?"

"I've had enough."

She had given herself a chance to suffer and be weak the entire night and she did not want to continue wallowing in depression. If things were left at that and remained unresolved, it would continue to remain as a thorn in her heart.

"Are you sure? Are you really alright?" Rochelle was still worried. "How about I go with you if you're going to face Timothy?"

"I can still go with you if you're going to beat up that b*tch-*ss Harmony! You can't be the one beating her up because you're pregnant, and your movements might affect the baby, so I'll beat her up for you!"

Rochelle clenched her fists and raised her chin confidently. "I've been practicing Muay Thai for the past few years, and it'll be Harmony's lucky day to be my sparring partner."

Samantha could not hold herself back from laughing out loud. "Chelle, I'm grateful for your kindness, really. But there's no need to do all that."

Seeing Rochelle's about to protest, Samantha hurriedly explained, "Chelle, I'm not going to face Timothy right now, nor am I going to beat Harmony up. Before I do that, there's one thing I have to confirm."

"What is it?" Rochelle frowned. "Will it be dangerous?"

"It's not dangerous. Don't worry," Samantha assured. "I'll tell you once I find out."

Rochelle would never be able to rest peacefully if Samantha was still that little princess of yesteryear she once was. However, Samantha had since become an opinionated and capable person. Rochelle did not ask any further because she knew that Samantha had her way of doing things.

Even though they were both good friends, they still respected each other's opinions.

"Alright then," Rochelle answered, she then walked to the hallway to get something. She then walked back to Samantha and handed over the thing she went to get. "Your car keys."

Samantha looked at her car keys and was slightly surprised. "How is it... why is it with you?"

The car keys should have been in her bag.

"I took it. I had a driver drive your car over and park downstairs."

Samantha took the car key and felt warm in her heart.

"Thanks, babe."

Samantha hugged Rochelle. "I'll get going then. We'll keep in touch by phone."

"Okay."

Samantha went downstairs and sat in the car. She turned on her phone, ignored the unread messages on WeTalk, and immediately dialed Annabelle's number to request for a leave.

After hanging up, she started the car and drove away.

Rochelle stood on the balcony upstairs and watched as the car drove away. She sighed softly and wondered just how Samantha was going to handle the entire situation.

She suddenly thought of a sentence she read on the internet recently: 'Don't get too attached to men or else you'll end up being miserable.'

What an appropriate saying for the occasion!

…

At the villa, Samantha parked her car and walked into the house.

Aunt Julia was about to head out for some grocery shopping when she happened to run into Samantha. She was a little shocked and asked, "Why are you home at this time, Mrs. Barker? Don't you have work?"

Samantha glanced at the grocery bag that Aunt Julia was carrying and said naturally, "I have an off day today."

"I see."

Samantha then asked, "Are you going out to buy some groceries? I can drive you there. I happen to have some stuff I want to buy at the supermarket."

"I shouldn't be troubling you. What is it that you need? Let me know and I'll get it for you," Aunt Julia said hurriedly.

"It's fine. It's my off day anyway, let's go together."

Samantha wrapped her hand around Aunt Julia's shoulders and walked her to the car.

Since Aunt Julia could not change Samantha's mind, she merely smiled and responded, "Okay then."

The car drove slowly out of the villa.

After driving a short distance, Samantha was the first to start the conversation. "Has grandma slept better these last two days?"

Knowing that Samantha was being filial, Aunt Julia answered frankly, "Not yet. I had a doctor come over to check up on her. She's been prescribed some medication that will be adjusted accordingly."

She could not help but sigh. "You know how old people shouldn't be allowed to let their blood boil."

Samantha nodded and was silent for a few seconds. She pretended to keep up the small talk and said offhandedly, "Grandma has always been calm and composed. This is the first time I've seen her like that. What is it...that Harmony did?"

Aunt Julia could not help but look up at Samantha. "Why are you curious about her, Mrs. Barker?"

Her face sank immediately. "She's an extremely vicious woman. You should avoid all contact with her and stay as far away as you can! Harmony is a bringer of bad luck!"

"No particular reason," Samantha's tone became more natural, as if she was just chatting casually. "It's just…Grandma has been in a bad mood ever since Harmony showed up and she's even had difficulty sleeping. Sometimes these anxieties and worries need to be treated by a doctor who is familiar with such psychological conditions.. I just want to try and understand things a bit more to see if I can help rid Grandma of her worries."