Chapter 60 A WORTHY OPPONENT
CHAPTER SIXTY
SAMANTHA’S POV
Walking through the front gates of the Pink Mansion without fear was exciting
Master had given me permission.
The guards did not question me. The mansion looked beautiful from the outside. It always did.
As I stepped onto the marble floor of the hallway, I saw Nanny coming down the staircase.
For a brief second, something inside me tightened.
We were back together. That was what we told ourselves. I had apologized. She had accepted. We had gone back to speaking softly and sharing small smiles.
But I could not forget her face today
I could still see it clearly. Mrs. Draven’s hands on me. The sting. The humiliation. And Nanny standing there with that small smile on her lips. A quick one. Almost invisible.
Almost.
Was she really on my side?
Or had I simply been too desperate for comfort to question her properly?
“Samantha!” she called softly, her face lighting up as if she had not just been a stranger in my worst moment.
She reached me and pulled me into a hug before I could step back.
“Are you okay?” she asked, her voice warm against my ear.
“I’m fine, Nanny. I’m fine,” I replied.
The words came out slowly
She pulled away and examined my face, her fingers brushing lightly against my cheek.
“Were you wounded?”...like she wasn't there when it all happened
“A bit,” I admitted. “But Master treated me. So I’m fine.”
Her hand stopped
“He treated you?”
“Yes.”
I met her eyes deliberately.
“In his inner chambers.”
I did not know why I added that detail. Maybe I wanted to see her reaction. Maybe I wanted to test her loyalty.
For a second, something flickered across her face. Surprise. Something darker. Then it disappeared.
“Oh,” she said quietly.
I did not wait for her to say more. I walked past her and into the parlor.
That was when I saw her.
She sat like she belonged there.
Crossed legs. Perfect posture. Phone in hand. Completely at ease.
Her skin glowed softly. Her hair fell in waves that looked too perfect to be real. Even the way she breathed looked graceful.
I did not need anyone to introduce her.
Eliana.
The woman Kane was eventually going to marry.
My chest tightened unexpectedly. I felt small standing there, painfully aware of the difference between us. She looked like someone raised in silk sheets and soft voices.
I looked like someone who learned how to survive.
I
started to walk past her without a word. I might be a slave in this house, but I was not everyone’s slave. I belonged to one person. And she was not him.
“Hey.”
Her voice was soft. Almost sweet.
I stopped.
Slowly, I turned.
“Are you talking to me?” I asked.
She smiled and nodded slightly. “Come here.”
I walked toward her. I did not bow. I did not lower my eyes. I simply stood before her.
“You are Samantha, right?”
“Yes, I am.”
Her gaze traveled over me slowly, studying me like I was a rare object.
“So you are the mutate that is making Kane break laws and act irrational.”
My heart pounded once, hard.
“I beg your pardon, ma.”
Her lips curved slightly. “You are beautiful.”
The compliment felt misplaced. As if she were speaking to a child who needed reassurance.
“If you do not mind,” I replied calmly, “I am busy.”
“I know you are scared,” she said gently, leaning back in her chair. “Your position is threatened because I am here.”
I folded my arms slowly. “Is it?”
“Yes. It should be.” Her smile widened. “But I am a nice person. I can help you.”
“Help me?”
“I can help you get another buyer. A kinder one.”
The words stung more than I expected.
Another buyer.
Like I was something to be exchanged.
“Can you excuse me?” I asked, my voice firmer now.
“If you leave Kane for me,” she continued smoothly, ignoring my tone, “I promise I will find you a good home. And I will even give you something valuable in return.”
I raised an eyebrow. “What would that be?”
“Information. On the widow collector. On the laws you seem so eager to challenge.”
My breath caught.
How did she know that?
I forced a small laugh. “You must be mistaken. I do not have that kind of influence over my master.”
“Oh, but you do,” she said softly. “You have Micky’s affection. You have Kane’s attention. That is more power than you realize.”
Her voice lowered.
“You are walking a dangerous path, Samantha. And you know it.”
I stared at her, trying to understand her true intention. One moment she sounded like she wanted to buy me off. The next, she sounded like she was warning me.
“You are saying a lot,” I said carefully. “But nothing is clear.”
She stood slowly, smoothing down her dress.
“I am saying that powerful men destroy what makes them weak,” she replied. “And right now, you are Kane’s weakness.”
Before I could respond, the sound of small footsteps echoed through the hallway.
“Yay! Mummy!”
Micky’s voice broke the tension.
She ran straight into me, her tiny arms wrapping tightly around my waist. I bent down and lifted her into my arms, holding her close.
“You came!” she said excitedly, her eyes shining.
“Of course I came,” I whispered, kissing her forehead.
Over her small shoulder, I saw Eliana watching us.
Her expression had changed. It was no longer soft.
It was calculating.
“We will continue this conversation later,” she said calmly. “I will be expecting you.”
She walked away without another glance.
Her perfume lingered long after she disappeared.
Micky cupped my face with her small hands.
“Why do you look sad?”
“I am not sad,” I said gently.
“You are thinking too much.”
I smiled faintly. “Maybe I am.”
As she rested her head against my shoulder, my mind replayed everything Eliana had said.
She knew about the widow collector.
She knew about my curiosity regarding the laws.
She knew about Kane’s behavior.Which meant one thing.Someone had been watching me.Carefully.
And if she truly was going to marry him, then she was not just here for romance. She was here for power.