Chapter 15

Samuel chuckled. "Since when did you start taking such an interest in my personal life, Yvonne? I must say, I'm flattered." Yvonne hesitated, then quickly composed herself. "You're my cousin. Of course, I care about you." Liana said, "And why shouldn't she? Your cousin is looking out for you—what's wrong with that? Or do you think she's wrong? "She practically forced you into marriage in front of all those people. That wasn't just pressure, Samuel—it was a public slap in the face. So tell me, how do you plan to deal with this?" "I'll handle it," Samuel said. That unshakable indifference in his eyes sent a ripple of unease through Yvonne and deepened the irritation in Liana's eyes. As Liana had been raised with impeccable grace and composure, losing her temper wasn't an option. After taking a deep breath, she suppressed the frustration simmering beneath her poised exterior. "In that case, I think it's best if she moves into the Vance residence. "First, it'll be easier for her to take care of Vincent. Second, she grew up without proper guidance, and if she wants to be part of the Vance family, she needs to learn the rules. "Like it or not, her actions don't just reflect on her—they reflect on your reputation and on the entire Vance family." Not once did anyone ask Kylie for her opinion. After all, when agency was stripped away, feelings would become nothing more than whispers in the wind. At the Vance residence, Kylie was nothing more than an outsider. Other than Vincent and Alissa, no one there wanted her—not even the maids, who barely masked their contempt. Moving into the Vance residence would be nothing short of a nightmare. But staying at Hythe Villa was different. Here, she only had to deal with Samuel. Kylie didn't dare reject them outright. So, she turned to Samuel, hoping for an answer. He noticed her gaze but barely acknowledged it. His eyes flicked toward her for a brief second before shifting away with a mockful smirk. Stay in Hythe Villa? And do what? Try to climb into his bed? Liana turned to Samuel. "Samuel, what do you think?" Under everyone's expectant gazes, Samuel finally spoke. "She stays at Hythe Villa." Liana was bewildered. "Why?" "I'll teach her the rules myself," Samuel replied, casting Kylie a slow, deliberate look before turning back to Liana. "She'll only give you a headache." "You're too busy with work to deal with this." "Work is important. So is marriage. I can make time," Samuel said. Liana moved on to another matter. "Fine. I'll let that slide. Then let's talk about the scandal." Her tone sharpened. "The future Mrs. Vance may not have status or education, but at the very least, she must have a clean reputation. I brought a doctor with me to verify her virginity." If Kylie weren't a virgin, she'd be thrown out immediately. Kylie's breath caught in her throat. She had known they weren't here with good intentions, but even so, she hadn't expected this. Her eyes widened in disbelief.　　 Like mother, like son. The way they handled things was eerily similar. For the first time since the conversation started, Kylie forced herself to speak. She steadied her breath and tried to keep her voice calm. "Owen and I are just friends. Nothing happened between us—I swear." "You swear?" Yvonne let out a soft, derisive laugh. "If an oath could prove innocence, why would we need science or the law? Honestly, how did you even grow up to be this naive?" Liana gave the female doctor a nod. "Go. Take Ms. Clark for the examination." "Yes, Mrs. Vance." The nurse stepped forward, offering a gesture that was polite in form but forceful in nature. The disdain in her gaze was unmistakable. When Kylie didn't move, the nurse reached for her arm. "Enough!" Samuel's deep voice rang out. His face darkened immediately. His gaze locked onto Liana. "Mom, if anyone's going to confirm anything, it'll be me." Yvonne sucked in a sharp breath. "Samuel! She's not worth—" "Shut up," he snapped. Liana held his stare, reading the warning in his eyes. She knew Samuel well enough to recognize when to step back. With a clipped nod, she rose from her seat. "Fine. If you want to handle it yourself, I won't interfere. Yvonne, we're leaving." With that, she turned and strode out of Hythe Villa with her frustration brimming. As the tension in the room finally eased, Kylie exhaled quietly. "Thank you for stepping in." Samuel turned to her with a cold smirk. "You had the nerve to cause trouble, but not the backbone to clean up the mess?" His voice was laced with mockery. "Don't flatter yourself. I wasn't helping you. I just don't let others touch a dog that belongs to me." Kylie's stomach dropped. His dark eyes narrowed slightly before he reached out, tilting her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Your so-called innocence isn't for you to decide. I'll find out for myself." The words had barely left his lips when the sharp sound of fabric tearing cut through the air. Kylie barely had time to react before her sweater was split in two. Before she could react, his hand was already at the zipper of her dress. The dining table pressed into her back, and its icy surface was a cruel contrast to the heat of humiliation flooding her veins. Her face paled while a bitter smile tugged at her lips. She couldn't help but think that this dress must be cursed. How else would it end up being torn apart twice in one day? Kylie closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again. "I'll do it myself." Samuel pulled back slightly, watching her with detached amusement. He waited for her next move. Kylie turned away from him, avoiding his gaze as she reached for the zipper. With that, the dress slid to the floor. 　　 Her skin was pale yet bruised. Patches of yellow ointment covered the worst of her injuries—an alarming sight. The sight made Samuel's brows knit together. Facing away from him, Kylie spoke slowly. "Owen's fans cornered me today. He saved me. "He insisted on driving me home, and given our current situation, I knew you wouldn't want rumors spreading. I had no choice but to go to Blue Lagoon Bay. After that… You know the rest." Kylie's voice echoed through the vast dining room. She swallowed the bitterness rising in her throat, while her words were soft and delicate, like a feather brushing against the heart. When she finished speaking, silence settled over the grand living room. The silence was so absolute that even the drop of a pin would have echoed. Seeing no reaction from Samuel, Kylie drew in a deep breath and closed her eyes. The moment she unfastened the clasp, she turned around to be enveloped by a sudden warmth. Her whole body went still.