The Contracted Ever After (Cordelia and Ronan) novel Chapter 687

Samantha was itching to see Harold. Ever since she got out, there hadn't been a chance for a proper catch-up, and the last time Harold had seen her, he probably thought she was the one who snatched Callum away. She needed to clear the air: that wasn't the case at all. She had just taken Callum out for a bit of fun, nothing more. Now that the court had dropped the charges due to insufficient evidence, how could Harold still be so quick to judge?

That evening, Samantha made a trip to the local grocery store to put together a care package for Harold. She loaded her basket with all sorts of goodies and necessities: men's face wash, moisturizer, boxers, tank tops, an array of snacks, and even a few tees. Harold was a few years younger—a real puppy dog—who needed her tender loving care.

But when she got home, her haul caught Sienna's eye.

"Who's all that for?" Sienna asked, sharp with suspicion.

"Mind your own business," Samantha shot back, fully aware her mother disapproved of her seeing Harold.

"That's for Harold, isn't it? I'm telling you, Samantha, cut ties with that boy. No car, no house, and his mother's just a housekeeper for the Cordelia family. How embarrassing is that? You're tarnishing our reputation. You were a star once, and now you're with someone who can't earn a dime. What will the neighbors say?"

Sienna leaned against Samantha's doorframe, dishing out her unsolicited advice.

The more Sienna ranted, the more defiant Samantha felt. She liked Harold, dammit. Sitting at her vanity, she angrily removed her earrings and tossed them onto the tabletop. "Why do you have to control everything? I'm nearly thirty, and I can't even like someone without getting a lecture?"

However, Harold had recently moved out of the camp and into his own apartment. Shirtless and brooding, he was stewing in his solitude. He'd been dismissed from the military, and when he saw the message from Samantha pop up on Messenger, he didn't want to deal with it.

Harold had been on the cusp of being promoted to squad leader. His performance was exemplary, and the promotion seemed just around the corner. But someone else in his barracks had their eye on the position, envious of Harold's excellence. When this rival learned of Harold's secret outing to a hotel, he managed to get hold of the hotel's surveillance footage, which showed Harold with a woman named Victoria. Harold had never cared for Victoria—in fact, he found her repellent—so why would he be in a hotel room with her?

Seizing the opportunity, the jealous rival went to their superiors, spinning a tale of how Harold was toying with women's emotions, leading them on and then refusing to acknowledge them. When confronted, Harold thought it would be dishonorable to tarnish a woman's reputation, so he stood his ground and insisted, "Nothing happened!"