Sam was finally tearing down his facade walls, only to have his marriage proposal rejected by Jade.
"Is it because there are no flowers or rings? I can compensate for them later…" Sam teared up at her crying self, knowing it wasn't the reason, but he still wanted to say it to comfort her. She shook her head as her sobs grew heavier.
"I want to give you what you wanted… Why are you rejecting me?" Sam asked sadly, only to have Jade sob more in his arms.
"I'm so sorry, Jade…" He whispered as he held her.
"Why didn't you tell me all that had happened? Why did you suffer all these… Why do you still keep coming back to me…" Sam's sobs were loud enough for Violet to hear from the door as she felt bad for the couple. She led Jade's assistant to sit further away from the door to give the couple some privacy.
"So, sorry Jade…" Sam could only profusely apologise to her. It was Jade's first time seeing him so vulnerable, and she was glad he finally stopped acting tough in front of her.
If she had known earlier that an accident like this could tear down his tough walls and melt his cold heart, she would have done so before he left. However, now, she had a new goal and direction.
Jade helped him wipe away his tears and sniffed as she took a good look at him. "The award season is close by… You have done so much for me back then. I cannot see them all go to waste just because of a setback, can I?" She coaxed him gently as he slowly began to understand her.
"But I am not allowing you to film your new drama." He sternly voiced out as Jade smiled at his protective self.
"I know what your concern is. Like I said, the award season is around the corner. That accident was on purpose…" His eyes widened, but her gaze was calm as she held on tightly to his hands..
"I wanted to keep myself in the limelight. I will be fine. There's Daniel and Mei Jia, though… I wish you could replace Austin…" Jade explained.
"I should never have let Austin manage you… I…" Sam was very disappointed with himself as Jade held his shoulder.
"Promise me, you will do well with your direction. I will do my best too. Wait for me to reach my career peak… I will come to you by then." Jade blinked away her tears.
Sam knew it was the greatest sacrifice any artist could make for their loved ones. "Are you sure?" Sam asked her as she smiled and nodded.
"This time… I want to build a family with you, Sam." She said with conviction. Sam knew she was determined, and as much as he didn't want her to make that sacrifice, he forced himself to accept and respect her decision.
"I promise I will make it worthwhile." He said in return as they both smiled before he pulled her in for a long kiss to seal their promise.
"Call me anytime. You're mine now. I will jump on the next plane available to come see you if anything." Sam whispered when they pulled away as she nodded in his hug.
"Now, go. I am fine. Tell me when you safely return. You have an artist to manage and a company to run." Jade reminded him as Sam kissed her forehead before reluctantly leaving her.
It wasn't till Violet spotted a smile on Sam's face while they were walking past the hospital's park that she finally dared to speak.
"She is fine, isn't she?" Violet asked as he hummed in acknowledgement, recalling their kiss and promises.
"Are you still flying off the next flight out?" Violet asked, and again he hummed in acknowledgement.
She knew he was happy from his look, but he just wanted to remain quiet to savour the moment. So she gave up questioning more when a text message was received.
It was a message from Dexter.
Pack your stuff away when you have time. Let me know when you're coming. Violet sighed as Sam gave her a questioning look.
"Who's that?" He asked her, noticing her heavy sigh and frown.
"Dex… I need to go to the old house. Do we have time?" She asked as he nodded and silently led the way to hail a taxi.
When they arrived at her old place, Violet forced herself to enter the PIN to the door, only to find they were wrong; she frowned. She clearly knew in her mind that their pin had always been their wedding date. He had most likely changed it, and this was all a trap he set, yet she fell for it. One thing she could not understand was the reason he wanted to still meet her when they had amicably signed off on the divorce papers that day.
"Didn't he leave the house to you?" Sam asked as she nodded, but was still frustrated. Before she could respond, the front door opened, and she frowned even more to find Dexter at the front door.
"Hey, come in! I didn't know you were here, too, Sam…" Dexter greeted warmly, only to be faced with the grumpy siblings.
"I will be fast," Violet told Sam as she rushed to see what she had left to grab while Sam sat as invited by Dexter.
"How's the new job? I have heard from Dad." Dexter's question made Sam feel uncomfortable that Dexter was still in contact with his father.
"I don't think you're in any position to question that, considering the divorce…" Sam sarcastically retaliated. Violet heard Sam's raised voice and realised she actually had nothing left to shift out of the house. She began to suspect Dexter's motive was to reconcile.
"Oh wow, just being courteous. Relax, bro… Besides, it's not finalised yet…" Sam was fuming when Violet appeared at the doorway, right on time to hear that their divorce papers weren't finalised yet. She was furious for being fooled into coming that night.
"Let's leave…" She said flatly to Sam, and that was when Dexter panicked. He held her arm.
"Vi, can we talk?" Dexter pleaded when Violet's gaze met with Sam, who was still hostile. Violet recognised the desperation in Dexter's voice, but she knew she wasn't in the right mood to speak with him either. Besides, there's nothing left to talk about either.
"There's nothing to talk about. Don't find my father again, given we have already filed for divorce." Violet was brutal, but Dexter's grip did not leave her arm as she threw a cold stare at him.
He insisted on his request when Sam intervened with a lie.
"We have a flight to catch… Why don't you both talk on a phone call?" Sam forcefully pulled Violet's arm away from Dexter, leaving him no choice but to give up while watching them both leave.
He was angry with himself. So angry that while Violet and Sam were waiting for the lift, they heard the smashing of glass in the house. Violet was worried, but was dragged by Sam into the lift.
"But he…" Violet was interrupted by Sam holding her in his arms.
"I will call his lawyer cousin to check on him." Sam comforted as Violet quietly hoped he was fine.
In actual fact, Dexter received a text from his sister stating that their mother was admitted to the hospital cause she fainted from coughing too much. He had the intention to speak with Violet to reconcile earlier, and also to get her to appease his mother for the time being, knowing her pneumonia had deteriorated since Violet's departure. However, everything was crashing down his plans.
He recognised how his world was collapsing once again, like it did before the marriage with Violet and again during the reunion dinner. There was nothing he could do again this round as he collapsed to the ground, succumbing to his emotions helplessly.
In the lift, after texting Edward, Sam noticed Violet did not pack anything.
"Weren't you supposed to pack?" Sam asked as Violet sighed. "It's a trap… I think he wants to reconcile, but the papers should be in the process of finalisation now…" Violet said solemnly as they stepped out of the lift.
"Vi… The baby…" Sam reminded her as she blinked the brewing tears away.
"It's fine. Let him be. Perhaps it's karma." Violet brutally shrugged all the guilt and sadness away as Sam headed for the airport after sending Violet back to Jade's place.
That night, Jade returned home to find Violet sitting by the window in the living room.
Mei Jia was surprised to find Violet there. "It's fine. She will live here with my fiancé from now on when they are in town." The new way she addressed Sam made Violet smile as she turned around and met with Jade's gaze.
"Mei Jia, you can call it a night. I will be fine. Just monitor my schedule for tomorrow." Jade said before sending her off and closed the door behind her. Jade stood by the door, smiling back at Violet.
"Welcome home, my sister in law." Violet teased as the girls ended up in laughter. Jade walked over to join her, sitting on the balcony.
"Pretty view, isn't it?" Jade asked as Violet hummed with a sad smile.
"Are you sure you're alright, Vi? Sam may have been very caught up with work and tried to care about you, but I know you know your ways to hide things from him…" Jade was upfront with Violet, who was caught off guard.
"You're right. I just didn't want to worry about him earlier when I was trapped to head to the old place and see Dexter…" Violet wiped away a falling tear.
"It's not that I still hold on to him, but I just wish he could live better since I have decided to let him go… But he isn't…" Jade pulled her in for a hug.
"It's never easy… Since you have decided so, then be strong about it." Violet began to sob into Jade's arms as Jade sighed and quietly accompanied Violet that night.
Ladies being ladies.
After a heart-to-heart night with each other, the next day, they both fought their way with their career as Violet worked on Maliwei's friend's event while Jade walked confidently, crashing Carlson's photoshoot session for their new drama together. She cooperated well with the crew members and joined in, which made the crew members respect Jade for her professionalism even after her accident.
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger indeed.