Love Burned to Ashes

"Samantha, I'm sorry. It's all my fault. Cheer up. You can hit me, yell at me—whatever you want, as long as it makes you feel better."

Samantha just stared at him, her eyes wide and glistening like a wounded pup.

She didn't say a word. Just sat there, looking heartbreakingly fragile.

No one else dared to speak.

It took Connor a long time to finally soothe her into sleep.

The moment he rose from the bed and gently closed the door behind him, the warmth on his face vanished completely, replaced by a biting cold.

Downstairs, he glared at the group, rage simmering behind his eyes like it might set the whole room on fire.

"What did you tell me? Wasn't this supposed to be foolproof? Didn't you say that Matt never touches women? What the hell happened?"

Everyone stood frozen, holding their breath, exchanging nervous glances but not daring to speak.

Hannah pressed her lips together in frustration and cautiously stood up, placing her hand on Connor's shoulder. "Connor…"

"Get your hand off me." He shook her off immediately.

Her hand froze awkwardly in the air. After a beat, she scratched at her hair and forced a bitter smile.

"Connor, so what if someone else slept with her? What's the big deal? You don't even really like her, right? Why are you so angry?"

Others chimed in, trying to help.

"Exactly, Connor. Don't tell us you've actually fallen for Samantha? Have you forgotten? She's the one who got Cathy killed!"

The mention of Cathy made the vein at Connor's temple twitch.

He waved a hand irritably. "Of course not. I'm just mad because this didn't go according to plan. The plan was for Samantha to get beaten. But now look at her…"

Without warning, an image flashed in his mind—Samantha, tangled in bed, helpless beneath another man's weight. His breath quickened.

"It's okay, Connor. So what if the plan failed? We still got back at her in a way. Didn't you see how hard she was crying just now? And I've still got more tricks up my sleeve." A sly grin curved Hannah's lips.

"I just—what if she can't take it? She loves me so much. What if she kills herself in a moment of despair? What if she breaks up with me? Then what?"

Even voicing the possibilities made a flicker of anxiety flash across his eyes.

A snide voice replied, "Break up with you? Come on, Connor. Samantha has no one in this world but you. If she leaves you, where would she even go?"

Only then did some of the tension in Connor's body seem to ease.

That's right. Samantha had no one left.

No family. No support. No future.

He was the only one she had.

And the best revenge? Would be to slowly become someone she couldn't live without. Then one day, toss her aside without warning. She'd be shattered. Completely.

Samantha stood quietly at the top of the stairs, hiding behind the wall.

She had heard everything. Not a single word had escaped her ears.

After a while, a smile tugged at her lips. Beautiful, but broken.

Even now—after everything—Connor still wasn't satisfied?

Her parents' ashes were scattered and lost. Her college diploma was gone. She'd nearly been thrown in jail with a criminal record.

What more did Connor want?

What kind of ending would finally satisfy his need for revenge?