Chapter 2 He Found the Woman From Five Years Ago

Five years later, in an apartment in Dovaria, Samantha, dressed professionally, leaned back on the couch and talked on the phone. "Samantha, we've acquired the Navette Jewelry Atelier in Corynthea. It's a well-known, long-standing store, and I want to expand this brand. Since the domestic jewelry design competition is about to begin, having you represent Navette is the perfect fit. It will also help promote the brand." "So, you want me to return to Corynthea?" Samantha inquired. She was part of the Filigree Jewelry Group. Eventually, she became the chief designer for the group's global diamond brand after five years of blood, sweat, and tears. "That's right. If you're okay with it, I'll book a flight for you in three days." Samantha contemplated for a moment, and her gaze gradually grew resolute. "Alright." "Mommy, are we going back?" Just as she hung up the phone, a little guy emerged from behind her, clutching some snacks. He wore a blue checkered shirt and a pair of denim shorts. His features were delicately chiseled, albeit childish. He was only four or so, but there was unmistakable elegance to his movements. Samantha smiled and nodded. "Would you like to go back with me?" "Of course! I'll go anywhere you go, Mommy!” the little guy beamed, his large eyes looking like glistening onyxes as they curved into crescent moons. Samantha couldn't help musing over how beautiful the child was. Every time she looked at his little face, she felt a surge of comfort and gratitude, as though constantly in awe of how she had managed to birth such an adorable little one. Five years ago, her father had disowned her after being framed by her step-sister and ex-best friend. In the end, she started a new life in Dovaria and pursued her dreams. Little did she expect that one fateful night would lead to her having a baby. Initially, she was in deep despair, even attempting to end her life by jumping into the artificial lake. Fortunately, someone rescued her. She was so grateful for her second chance at life that she decided to keep the baby. Life in Dovaria was tough. Samantha repeatedly visited a professor's office with her design sketches in order to gain admission to the country’s most renowned design school, pleading for special consideration. Alas, she faced repeated rejections. She found herself in a state of despair again and again, but the thought of the child growing inside her gave her the strength to persevere. In the end, she knocked on the professor's door with over 100 design sketches even though she was seven months pregnant. Her determination moved the professor, who decided to admit her as a mature student. She managed to overcome those challenging times with her son accompanying her throughout those ups and downs, eventually achieving her current success. Now, she was no longer the same person she was five years ago, and those who had framed her back then were about to face the consequences. Meanwhile, in a luxurious villa in Corynthea, the cold and sterile lighting softly illuminated a man's handsome face. He appeared as if he were God's favorite child, impeccably good-looking. His high-quality handcrafted shirt subtly revealed his well-defined muscular contours. He was the true successor to Xylon Group. He had taken over the reins five years ago and launched the conglomerate to new heights, so much so that it was crowned first place among the world's leading companies. Joseph Xylon sat on a leather couch, his eyes emanating an unfathomable icy glare, gazing at the elderly lady opposite him with a tense expression. This was his third-hour standoff with his grandmother. No matter what he said, the old lady remained resolute in her initial idea. "Joseph, you must take Samantha Woodword for a wife. I will only have her and no one else as my granddaughter-in-law in the Xylon Family." Right now, however, the only person Joseph was thinking of was the woman whom he had ravished in the dark all those years ago. Ever since taking over the family business, he had been exceedingly cautious to safeguard against competitors in the market. That one night five years ago was the only instance in his life when things went awry. Someone had spiked his drink. So, he had taken refuge in a private room upon realizing that something was amiss. When the drug's effects were most potent, a woman appeared and helped him out of his predicament. That woman had an incredibly sweet scent; her lips were soft, and her moans from deep in her throat were enticing, causing his already rigid manhood to swell even further. He could recall just how he had parted her legs, and how roughly he penetrated her. His kisses rained down on her delicate skin, and his lips suckled at her breasts. Each thrust brought him pleasure. The woman beneath him sobbed brokenly, her pleas tinged with desperation. Even though he felt profound guilt regarding his treatment of her, the drug's intensity had robbed him of reason, and he took her again and again. In the final moment, after he ejaculated into her and they both reached a climax, the effects of his medication began to wear off. He removed his watch and handed it to her before passing out. When he woke up, he saw a faint trace of blood on the couch under the lamplight. Since then, the fact that he had just ravished and taken away a girl's innocence had been weighing on his conscience. For the past five years, he had been searching for that woman, wanting to make amends. He had reserved the position of being his wife for her. Little did he expect that his grandmother would insist on him marrying another woman. "Grandma, I don't have to marry her. We could always use some other way to repay her mother's kind deeds and make it up to her...” "No, you will marry her, take care of her, and protect her for the rest of your life." The old lady adamantly rejected his suggestion. "You can't even imagine how many stabs Officer Celeste Quimby had sustained just to protect you. The amount of blood... The gruesome nature of the crime..." Her eyes were sad as she said this. She looked up at her grandson, her tone becoming more resolute. "Taking care of her daughter is the least you could do. You won't ever be able to repay the officer's selfless deed, even if you were to take care of Samantha for eternity." Joseph fell silent at her words. When he was very young, he had been kidnapped by a criminal, and thanks to a female police officer taking multiple stabs to protect him, he survived the ordeal. However, the female officer, Celeste, had succumbed to her injuries on the spot. Although many years had passed, he still vividly remembered that horrific scene. The Xylon Family had long wanted to compensate the family of that female police officer, but her records had been encrypted. It was only now that Old Madam Xylon managed to track down the female police officer's only daughter, Samantha. After much internal struggle, Joseph nodded. "Alright, I will marry her." Old Madam Xylon finally felt her strict expression ease upon hearing his agreement. "That's my good grandson. We must return a favor with gratitude. By the way, I just received a message that Samantha will return to Corynthea in three days. You should pick her up." "Got it, Grandma." As Old Madam Xylon left, he leaned back on the couch, wearily massaging his forehead. Suddenly, his phone rang. He reached for it and answered, "Hello?" "Young Master Joseph, we've located the woman from five years ago. She just sold your watch in the secondhand market. Her name is… Mary Seymour." "Where is she now?" Joseph excitedly got up to leave. It took five years, but he finally found that woman.