CHAPTER 14

TRISTAN POV

I squeezed my fists hard, my knuckles turning white, as I walked back to my car. Anger boiled inside me like a fire, ready to consume me. I never thought I'd feel so strongly about emotions about a stranger, but seeing Samantha with another man filled me with jealousy and possessiveness that I couldn't control.

The scene played over and over in my mind like a never-ending loop, each time making me angrier. My teeth clenched together, showing the turmoil inside me. What had I just seen? Samantha, the woman whose reason why I'm here, laughing with another man. It shouldn't have bothered me. I had never been possessive, never felt the need to own someone. But the idea of her with someone else made me furious, and I didn't understand why.

The sound of a faraway car horn snapped me back to reality, cutting through my thoughts. With a deep sigh, I sat in the driver's seat, the leather not easing my inner turmoil. My hands tightened on the steering wheel, my knuckles turning white with the force.

"Why?" I murmured softly, almost drowned out by the engine's roar as I started the car. "Why him?"

The intense urge to confront Kent surged through me like a constant beat. I just wanted to let out my anger on him, to hit him until my hands hurt and I was tired. But as I watch there, fists clenched at my sides, I knew that giving in to that urge would only make things worse, not just for him, but for her—the woman who was everything to me.

With every part of me crying out for revenge, I made myself step back, to control the storm inside. It wasn't about Kent; it was about Samantha. She was the one who had been on my mind lately, her presence always there in my thoughts. And even though I wanted to strike out, I knew it wasn't right. Not if I wanted to save what little was left of our fragile connection.

Instead of giving in to the primal urge to confront, I chose to wait, to pick the right moment to act. It wasn't about revenge; it was about making amends. I needed to fix things, to make up for the errors that brought us here. And to do that, I had to be patient, to avoid acting hastily out of desperation.

As I watch there, battling my inner demons, a plan started to take shape in my mind. It was risky, full of unknowns, but it was the only option. I had to erase myself from her memories, to become a stranger again so I could begin afresh and regain her affection.

I turned away from the sight before me, the picture of Kent and Samantha imprinted in my mind like a mark on my soul. I needed to release the anger, the resentment that could devour me entirely. It was time to seize control of my fate, to reshape the story that had led us here.

I gave up the demands of my job, ignoring the constant buzz of my phone as my secretary's urgent messages filled my inbox. The board was probably furious, my absence from the important meeting a clear disregard for their time and expectations. But at that moment, none of it mattered. All I could think about was Samantha.

Despite the freezing cold that crept through the gaps in my car's and the tight space of the driver's seat, I stayed committed to watching outside her house. It was a hopeless effort to ease the painful ache in my chest, to reassure myself of her safety. But what I found was a harsh reality to accept—a sight that tore through my hopes and shattered them completely.

Damn it!

What did Ellaine notice in that guy that she didn't see in me?!

I just wiped my face with my hand and wearily grabbed my phone to call my secretary. It took several rings before she answered the call.

"Yes, boss?" the voice on the other end responded promptly, the familiar tone of my secretary echoing through the receiver.

I sighed deeply, feeling utterly exhausted. "Send the chopper to where I am," I instructed tiredly. "I'm going back in Manila."

There was a short pause on the other end of the line, surely my sudden request surprising her. Before she could say anything, I hung up with a firm click, the sound echoing in the quiet of my car.

I drove into the parking garage of my condo building, finding comfort in the familiar surroundings amid my turbulent thoughts. As I entered the elevator, the gentle hum of the machinery provided a soothing background to my chaotic thoughts. Despite the sense of looming conflict, I couldn't shake it off. I was heading home to resolve the issue, but that didn't signify surrender. No, I was not giving in.

The doors opened with a gentle ding, showing the plain hallway leading to my apartment. With every step, determination surged through me like a powerful river, pushing me forward with firm resolve. I wouldn't stop until I earned Samatha trust, until I showed myself deserving of her love.

As I reached the familiar doorway of my apartment, some of the uncertainty lifted from my shoulders. I was home, and even though challenges lay ahead, I knew I wouldn't tackle them alone.