The Runaway Groom

Chapter 143

Samantha was in a great mood since Irene was gone, and was convinced that the Spencer estate now was all her son’s to take.

Naturally, what belonged to her son was hers as well.

“As the doctor ordered, I made a blanched meal of meat and vegetables. You should eat more, and you’ll get better soon,” she told Lionel.

When Lionel tried to push himself up, she quickly came to help him, even putting a pillow behind him for him to lean on.

Then, as she poured him a bowl of broth, she said, “By the way, I heard that Irene went missing.”

Lionel’s head jerked toward her right then, and the look in his eyes puzzled her.

“What’s with that look?” She smiled.

Lionel realized that he was overreacting too, and quickly tried to hide it so that she did not notice. “The broth looks good. It must have taken a while to cook it, right?”

“Yeah! I spent hours on it-have as much as you like.” Samantha handed him the bowl, and *quickly changed the subject. “Don’t you think Irene would meet an accident, going missing

like that?”

As Lionel stared at Samantha, he did not need Irene to tell him that Samantha knew something he did not, given the way she was testing the waters.

Moreover, Samantha had never liked Irene, but she was somehow eager to mention her today.

Irene must have been telling the truth-Samantha had tried to harm her, or worse.

“She’ll be fine. Why would she get into an accident?” Lionel said, appearing calm but he was already turning cold inwardly. “She went missing for months last time too. Maybe she’s just hiding again–why panic?”

“I’m just worried.” Samantha kept probing. “You need to plan ahead if something really happened to her.”

“What are you talking about?” Lionel asked, glaring at her now.

“I mean, Ricky is your sole heir now, so you should focus on him. Don’t think about your daughter– she’s married and belongs to another family, and the Jeffersons would never want for money..

Lionel could no longer stand it right then, and cut her short. “Did you do something to Irene, Samantha White?!”

Samantha laughed. “No way-

That was when she heard a sound behind her, and turned to find Irene standing there.

“No!” she cried out in panic and terror from guilt. “You should be dead! Don’t come near me!”

“That’s not what you said when you tried to kill me!” Irene said as she strode toward

Samantha

Still panicking, Samantha cowered. “No, I didn’t kill you! You shouldn’t be haunting me!”

“Your men, your plan,” Irene said, baiting Samantha to confess as she had already started recording their voices with her cellphone.

Once Samantha admitted it, it was proof enough that she tried to kill Irene-even if she failed!

It was conspiracy to murder!

Nonetheless, Samantha kept shaking her head. “It wasn’t me, it wasn’t me!”

Her near-manic state left Lionel glowering, and he barked, “Do you have a death wish, Samantha White? You actually attempted murder?!”

Samantha’s head seemed to clear up from his scolding, and she looked between Lionel and Irene. “Y- You’re not dead?” Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

“You’ll be if she really was!” Lionel bellowed.

Finally coming back to reality, Samantha promptly denied it. “No! I’d never kill anyone! It’s all a misunderstanding!”

“A misunderstanding?” Irene laughed. “Your goons tried to rape me and kill me, but I managed to escape. Did you think I’d let it go after all that?”

Samantha played dumb. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Your thugs tried to rape her?” Lionel asked, his voice turning quiet-he was less agitated, but furious nonetheless.

“Don’t listen to her! I’d never do that,” Samantha said fawningly. “Don’t you know what your own daughter is like?”

“I do that’s why I trust her,” Lionel replied.

Samantha tried to defend herself further, but Lionel cut her short. “I know you want Ricky to inherit the family estate, and I am death’s door. It is understandable that you would desire. that to happen, but do you think I’d forgive you for trying to murder Irene, my daughter?”

“I’m not

“If you want Ricky to inherit the family fortune, surrender yourself at the precinct. Refuse, and Ricky won’t get a cent.”

It was not as if Lionel did not love his son, just as he was not cold enough to cut him out of his

will

He had to do this to force Samantha to give in, because she was the only reason Irene would refuse to acknowledge Ricky as a sibling

Irene was older and had discipline, whereas Ricky had been spoiled too much by Samantha, and only ever caused trouble!

To entrust Ricky to Irene’s care, he must punish Samantha!