Blood And Promises Novel by Sabrina Hart Chapter 05

Blood And Promises Novel by Sabrina Hart Chapter 05

The aide who’d followed Richard, Giovanni Thornton, went pale. He hurried forward. “Mrs. Cantrell, you can’t ask that! Major General Cantrell’s status—”

Richard raised a hand, stopping Giovanni. He looked straight at Samantha, his gaze sharp, as if trying to read her completely.

She didn’t back down.

After a few seconds, Richard unfastened the top button of his uniform, then slowly pulled off his belt.

“Major General Cantrell!” Giovanni blurted.

Richard ignored him. He lifted his arm.

The first strike landed across his thigh, muffled against the fabric of his uniform pants.

Samantha’s heart jumped with the sound.

The second strike hit his other leg.

The third lashed across his side.

He didn’t hold back. Dark lines quickly formed across the fabric.

When he finished, he refastened the belt and secured it around his waist. His movements were precise and calm, as if nothing had happened.

Aside from his paler face, he didn’t even frown.

He looked at her. “Done. Will you come back with me now?”

Samantha looked at his calm, unreadable face. He’d gone that far, humiliating himself for another woman. It felt like an invisible hand had clamped around her heart, squeezing until she could barely breathe.

“Richard, do you really love Rebecca that much? Enough to throw away your pride and rank, to whip yourself in the hallway of some rundown motel, just to coax your walking blood bank back?

“Fine then,” she thought.

She took a deep breath, forcing down the lump in her throat and the tears burning in her eyes. A pale but striking smile formed on her lips. “Alright. I’ll go back with you.”

Richard seemed to relax. He stepped forward, trying to steady her.

Samantha pulled away. “I can walk myself.”

After they got into the car, silence filled the cabin.

Richard glanced at her several times, as if he wanted to say something. In the end, he only told the driver to take it slow. Then, he said, “It’s your birthday today. I arranged a dinner for you at the guesthouse in the military base housing.”

Birthday? Samantha froze.

She’d almost forgotten.

He really was committed to the act. He hadn’t forgotten a thing.

The celebration was elaborate. The largest banquet hall at the guesthouse had been reserved. Many prominent officers and their families attended.

Richard’s gift was expensive. It was a diamond necklace that glittered under the lights.

Throughout the evening, Richard stayed by her side, attentive and composed.

A bold young performer from the Army Band tried to lean into him during a toast. He pushed her away without hesitation and warned her in front of everyone, “My heart belongs to my wife. Please show some respect.”

The girl flushed and hurried off. People around them praised his devotion and envied Samantha’s good fortune.

Samantha listened without expression. It all felt absurdly fake.

At one point, her chest felt tight, and she stepped out to get some air.

When she came out of the restroom, she ran into Rebecca at the corner of the hallway.

Samantha’s expression hardened. “What are you doing here?”

Rebecca held a wrapped gift box, her face apologetic, with a faint trace of smugness. “Ms. Serrano, yesterday was really a misunderstanding. I was worried you still blamed Richie. I heard you were celebrating here, so I came to give you this as an apology.”

“A misunderstanding?” Samantha let out a cold laugh. “It’s just the two of us. Aren’t you tired of pretending? You know exactly what happened yesterday. Rebecca, I don’t care what you’re planning. Stay away from me. Next time, it won’t just be soup.”

At that, she turned to leave.

“Ms. Serrano!” Rebecca called after her.

Samantha turned back impatiently.

The gentle expression vanished from Rebecca’s face. She quickly pulled a glass bottle from her purse, yanked out the stopper, and flung the liquid at Samantha’s face.

The sharp, acrid smell hit instantly. It was sulfuric acid.

Samantha’s pupils shrank. In that split second, she only had time to raise her arm in front of her face.

“Ah!”

An indescribable pain tore through her arm, like being branded with molten metal.

Her vision went black, and she collapsed.

When she woke again, she was in a private ward at the military hospital.

Her eyes opened to the sight of her left arm wrapped in heavy bandages. Voices drifted in from outside the door.

“Richie, I really didn’t mean to. I was apologizing to Ms. Serrano, and she refused to forgive me. We argued, she bumped into me, and the reagent in my hand just…”

“Don’t worry. It didn’t hit her face. With the best medication, the scars on her arm will fade quickly. Sammy won’t blame you.”

“But with her temper…she won’t let this go.”

“I’m here,” Richard said. “No matter what, I won’t let you get hurt.”

Lying in the hospital bed, Samantha listened to them, her heart tightening like an invisible cold hand was squeezing it. She could barely breathe.

“I won’t pursue it? He won’t let her get hurt?” Samantha thought.

What about her? She’d nearly been disfigured.

Rage and despair surged together. She grabbed the water glass from the bedside table and hurled it at the door with all her strength.

The crash of shattering glass cut off the conversation outside.