Beauty and the Devil

chapter 14

Samantha’s POV

Claire was straddling him.

Her bra was halfway off, slipping down her arms like an afterthought. Clyde’s shirt was open, exposing his chest, and his hands were on her waist like he had every right to be there. Their mouths were tangled — not gently, not casually. It was a kiss that had history in it. Familiar. Rehearsed. Casual.

I stood frozen in the doorway, my body absolutely still, but something inside me cracked so loudly it was all I could hear.

Everything after that blurred.

I didn’t speak. I didn’t scream. I turned around and walked out as fast as I could without letting them see me fall apart. I didn’t wait to hear if Clyde said my name. I didn’t care if he had an excuse. There was no version of the truth where this was okay.

By the time I reached my room, my hands were shaking. My jaw was locked so tightly it hurt. I slammed the door behind me, yanked off the outfit I’d worn to the club like it was made of poison, and stumbled into the shower. I didn’t even wait for the water to heat. I just stood under it, letting the cold sting my skin and trying to convince myself I was still in control of something — anything.

But it didn’t help. I felt disgusting. I felt used. I felt stupid.

Because I’d gone there to tell him.

I’d gone there to say I’d picked him. That I’d turned down Aaron’s plan to betray him. That I’d seen something in him no one else did — something good, something worth salvaging. And what was he doing while I was defending him?

He was making out with Claire on the couch.

I dropped to the floor, curled into myself, and let the tears come. Not the soft kind. The ugly, hard ones that wrack your whole body and leave you breathless. The kind you choke on. The kind you haven’t allowed yourself to cry in years.

I hadn’t even realized how tightly I’d been holding myself together until that moment.

Downstairs, I heard voices — raised, angry — but I didn’t listen. I didn’t care what excuse he gave. Nothing he said could undo the image burned into my memory. Claire on top of him, like she lived there. Clyde not even trying to stop her.

He didn’t look surprised. That was the worst part.

He looked like it was normal.

Like I wasn’t even a factor in whatever the hell that was.

***

I didn’t know how long I sat on the bathroom floor, dripping wet and shaking. Eventually, I moved. I wrapped a towel around myself and opened the closet. My suitcase was still in the corner from last time — not even fully unpacked. I yanked it out, threw it on the bed, and started shoving clothes inside without thinking.

I didn’t care where I would go. I just knew I couldn’t stay here. Not after that.

Not after choosing him.

Not after making a fool of myself — twice.

And then I heard the door open. I didn’t turn around.

“Did you dance for Aaron?”

His voice was low, tight.

I turned slowly, holding a pair of jeans in my hands. I looked at him like I didn’t recognize him. Because in that moment, I didn’t.

“You’re asking me that now?” My voice came out quieter than I wanted. “I came here to tell you that Aaron tried to take your empire — that he offered me a way out. That I said no.”

He didn’t respond.

“You want to know what happened with Aaron?” I asked. “Nothing. Because I still thought you were worth something. I thought maybe you were twisted and broken and cold, but not cruel.”

He said nothing.

“You were too busy letting Claire climb into your lap to care.”

I stepped past him, yanking the zipper on my suitcase.

“You want to punish me? Do it. You already are. I’m done apologizing for caring about someone who clearly never gave a damn about me.”

I was at the door when he slammed it shut.

“I’m not punishing you,” he said.

I turned back, eyes wet but furious.

“I’m claiming what’s mine.”

Before I could move, his mouth was on mine. His hands gripped my waist like he thought I might vanish. There was no warning, no softness — just heat and fury and months of tension unraveling all at once.

I kissed him back. I hated myself for it. But I did.

And when the towel slipped, I didn’t pick it up.