Chapter 623 Samuel Goes Crazy: Taylor, Who Is He? 1
Taylor pulled into the parking lot of a supermarket.
GM was a global retail chain with a sixteen percent market share domestically. Rumor had it the owner hailed from Evergreen City, which explained why this two-million-square-foot flagship store was so impressive.
Taylor got out of her car, planning to pick up a small cake.
On the second floor, she was studying the beautiful, elaborate cakes displayed in glass cases when a deep male voice spoke behind her. "You still love mousse cake, just like in high school."
The voice was low and pleasant, tinged with amusement.
Taylor looked up to see a remarkably striking man. He wore a casual suit with effortless elegance on his tall, well-built frame—naturally confident yet commanding attention with his mature sophistication. Everything about him screamed success.
Such a memorable figure should have been impossible to forget, yet Taylor drew a complete blank.
The man noticed her confusion and extended his hand with polished charm. "Julian Learmond. I own this supermarket. We went to high school together—I was two years behind you. The reason I remember you so clearly is because you once saved my life. You performed CPR on me, mouth-to-mouth and everything."
He smiled warmly.
After a moment, the memory came flooding back to Taylor.
Julian had been a campus legend during her high school years. Apart from that one rescue, they'd barely interacted. She couldn't believe it had been over a decade since they'd last met.
Looking at him now, Julian hadn't changed much—still the same cool, aloof heartthrob type that most people found intimidating.
Taylor exchanged a few polite pleasantries, keeping things brief.
Julian clearly sensed her reluctance to engage further, but his expression remained perfectly composed.
Standing beside her, he casually mentioned that he had a child at home with mild autism and wondered if Taylor might take a look.
Taylor was surprised. "Your daughter?"
She added, "I didn't specialize in child psychology. If there are behavioral issues, she'd be better off seeing a pediatric psychiatrist. The field is highly specialized now, and doctors maintain strict confidentiality."
Julian stopped walking and formally asked Taylor to make an exception, given their shared history, to examine the child.
His gaze grew intense as he added, "She's my older brother's daughter. He died in a plane crash two years ago, so I'm raising her now. And I'm unmarried."
Taylor found it difficult to refuse, though Julian's earnest stare made her uncomfortable. There was no need for him to clarify his marital status.
Julian hadn't built such a successful business without understanding people.
Sensing Taylor's wavering resolve, he immediately exchanged phone numbers with her, then politely accompanied her while she shopped. Taylor didn't mind—as fellow alumni, they had enough common ground for conversation.
Taylor picked up several boxes of fruit and was preparing to leave when her gaze suddenly froze.
She spotted Samuel and Zenobia browsing the store like a married couple. Zenobia had her hand looped through Samuel's arm, smiling as she pointed to a carton of milk and asked his opinion. Samuel leaned down, responding naturally to her questions.
The sight was absolutely nauseating.
Taylor blinked once, then pulled out her phone and snapped several photos of the intimate pair, capturing their closeness. This evidence could prove Samuel's infidelity later.
Beside her, Julian clearly recognized Samuel and raised an eyebrow.
In the fresh produce section, Zenobia picked up a package of premium short ribs with a wistful expression. "My cooking never measures up to yours. If you could stay and make soup for Thalassa, she'd be so happy. Whenever you join her for dinner, she eats twice as much."
At the mention of Thalassa, Samuel's expression softened.
He smiled gently. "Next time. I have things to handle tonight."
Zenobia guessed he was returning home to negotiate with Taylor.
Rather than object, she spoke with understanding compassion, "I don't blame Dr. Montague; I understand her concerns. Samuel, please don't put pressure on her. It's simply unfortunate that Thalassa hasn't found a doctor with true integrity."
Tears welled up in Zenobia's eyes as she spoke.
Samuel's heart ached for her. He was about to wipe away his former lover's tears when he caught sight of someone who shouldn't be there—Taylor, his legal wife.
The sound of a camera shutter clicked.
Taylor held her phone, staring at him and Zenobia with icy composure. Samuel panicked, quickly pulling his hand away from Zenobia's grip and walking toward Taylor. His eyes searched hers desperately. "It's not what it looks like."
Taylor laughed coldly. "Then what is it? Are you so helpless that Zenobia's here to take care of you?"
Samuel frowned. "Taylor, why must you be so cutting?"
Zenobia quickly intervened. "Samuel, don't blame Dr. Montague for misunderstanding. I accidentally took your arm and caused confusion. If anyone's to blame, it's me!"
Zenobia bit her lip and slapped herself hard across the face.
A red mark bloomed on her cheek, shocking to see. She looked at Taylor with pitiful eyes. "Dr. Montague, I beg you not to take out your anger toward Samuel and me on Thalassa. She's only six years old with so much life ahead of her."
Zenobia wept openly while apologizing and begging for mercy.
Samuel, highly conscious of his reputation, pulled Zenobia upright. "Zenobia, don't do this."
Zenobia sobbed. "Samuel, are we really so wrong? We're just trying to save a child's life. Taylor is a doctor, isn't she? Samuel, I thought doctors were supposed to heal and save lives."
Samuel looked at Taylor with a hint of reproach in his eyes.
Taylor remained unmoved.
What a perfect match these two scumbags made!
She raised her phone with a slight gesture and addressed Samuel. "Tomorrow my lawyer will file for divorce. Samuel, we could have ended this amicably, but you refused. You insisted on disgusting me. As for you, Zenobia—whether you're playing house with Samuel or after his money, I honestly don't care. I've had that kind of wealth since birth and don't need to compete with you for it. All I want is for you two revolting parasites to disappear from my world immediately."
Zenobia's face went ashen.
Taylor had struck at the heart of her true motives. Yes, she cared about Thalassa, but the child was born to a man she didn't love—a man who couldn't provide a good life.
To Zenobia, Samuel was her savior. Even though she'd once looked down on him, he now had billions in assets. If she became Mrs. Collins, she'd live in luxury forever.
Thalassa was Samuel's weakness.
No man could resist sympathizing with a six-year-old girl. Whether Thalassa could actually be cured didn't really matter—what mattered was Samuel divorcing Taylor, which would make Zenobia's position as Mrs. Collins a sure thing.
Samuel had no idea of Zenobia's calculations.
In his mind, Zenobia was fragile yet strong, caring for a sick child. By comparison, Taylor seemed unreasonably aggressive.
If his heart held scales, they clearly tipped toward Zenobia.
He looked at Taylor with displeasure, about to speak.
Julian made a phone call, summoning two security guards. His tone was casual. "Remove this woman. She appears to suffer from a mental disorder. If she resists, take her directly to a psychiatric facility for involuntary treatment."
Zenobia was stunned.
She looked up at Julian—younger than Samuel by several years, with an elegant but unapproachable air.
Standing beside Taylor, they made a surprisingly well-matched pair. Looking closer, Julian's gaze held a hint of masculine tenderness when he looked at Taylor.
Zenobia felt deeply unsettled.
She blurted out, "I'm not sick."
Julian maintained his measured tone. "If you're not sick, then why are you making a scene here and feigning innocence?"
As Zenobia tried to argue, Samuel pulled her upright. His gaze fell on Julian, then shifted to Taylor, his voice carrying a bitterness and jealousy he didn't recognize. "Who is he?"