BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES

2

Fury flashed in Madeline’s eyes, and without hesitation, she slapped Samuel hard across the face.

The sound echoed in the hallway.

“Enough!” she hissed, her voice trembling with anger. “Know your place.”

Samuel’s cheek burned, but he stood tall, his voice calm.

“You’ve just made the biggest mistake of your life.”

Madeline laughed derisively. “Who do you think you are, Samuel? Without my grandparents’ charity, you’d still be nothing more than a street rat! Don’t delude yourself into thinking J&S succeeded because of you.”

“Your skills were all ours to begin with,” she continued, her tone dripping with contempt. “If someone as useless as you could run the company, imagine what we can achieve without you.”

Samuel gave a faint smile, saying nothing more.

“You know, Samuel? I’m marrying Gideon!” she declared, her voice laced with venom.

“You’re not my fiancé anymore,” she continued, her voice dripping with disdain. 

“I don’t have to waste my time tolerating someone like you! So far beneath me!”

“Imagine how much I’ve suffered these past three years!”

Samuel responded with a smirk, one corner of his mouth lifting.

“What are you laughing at? You think you’re better than Gideon?!” Madeline snapped, her eyes narrowing into furious slits.

“Well,” Samuel replied coolly, “I’m just curious how he plans to manage J&S Corp when he had just been bailed out of prison.”

His words struck a nerve, causing Madeline’s hands to clench into tight fists.

Because Samuel wasn’t wrong.

Gideon Hawthorne had a terrible reputation, having been arrested for raping a minor.

Madeline forced a loud, mocking laugh.

“Don’t bother worrying about other people’s lives,” she spat. “You should focus on how you’ll rot away in prison!”

Her tone turned crueler, sharper. 

Samuel had fully understood: this was a trap woven by his fiancée’s family, meant to keep him locked away forever.

Madeline turned back to the police, signaling for them to do their job.

Handcuffs gleamed, but the officers stood rooted in place, as if an invisible force had shackled them.

Samuel’s sharp gaze pierced through the three officers like a blade.

It wasn’t anger in his eyes, but something far more potent—an air of authority so commanding that it froze the officers in their tracks.

He didn’t need to speak to establish dominance.

His reputation alone preceded him—known not just for his wisdom, but for his ability to utterly dismantle his opposition with little more than his words and presence.

Samuel Hayes wasn’t a man to be taken lightly.

He held his head high and descended the steps ahead of them, looking nothing like a criminal.

As the flashing sirens disappeared into the night, Madeline let out a relive sign. 

She pulled out her phone and called her father, Arthur Brooks.

“My daughter,” came Arthur’s gravelly voice. “I trust you’re calling with good news about your plan.”

“Of course, Daddy. When have I ever failed?” Madeline replied, her smug grin spreading. She basked in the satisfaction of her apparent victory.

“Good job, my daughter,” Arthur said. “Forgive me for doubting you. Now, prepare to welcome your future husband.”

“Don’t worry,” Madeline purred. “I’ll have Gideon wrapped around my finger in no time. We will get as much money as we want.”

After ended the call, Madeline turned toward the villa.

"At last, I’ve finally gotten rid of a poor fool," she whispered, striding into the opulent estate.

Meanwhile, in the small interrogation room, Douglaz gestured to a chair. 

“Have a seat, Mr. Hayes. I understand who you are, but I expect full cooperation here.”

Samuel nodded once, his eyes drifting to the phone on the table.

“I’d like to borrow your phone,” he said, his tone casual but firm.

Douglaz hesitated. “To call your lawyer? That’s a good idea, Mr. Hayes.”

“No,” Samuel replied, his voice steady. “I want to call your chief.”

“Call our chief?” another young officer, who hadn’t been involved in the arrest, laughed and interrupted. 

“Who do you think you are?! Our chief is not someone you can mess around.”

Chief Joey Gunther, with a career spanning over two decades, had earned respect and admiration for his achievements.

Firm, authoritative, and revered by all, Joey exuded leadership.

Even the sound of his footsteps down a corridor could silence his subordinates.

This arrested criminal had no right to see the chief.

Besides, how many billionaires had tried to bribe Chief Joey Gunther, only to humiliate themselves?

This man was just a manager of a local company, and a nominal one at that.

The officer sneered.

“If you don’t want us to shove your face in a toilet, shut up and answer the questions!”

“He’ll want to meet me,” Samuel replied. “It’s better for you to let me call him than for him to find out about this himself.”

Douglaz hesitated. He had seen Samuel’s earlier behavior, and realized perhaps he should listen to this man.

He dialed Chief Joey Gunther. Though, before the call connected, he was pretty sure.

“I don’t think the chief will respond to you.”

Samuel just smiled confidently. 

Of course, he didn’t wait long.

A few minutes later, Joey Gunther showed. 

His face was drenched in sweat as he rushed forward as quick as possible.

“How dare do you bastards lock Mr. Hayes here?! Do you ever know who he is?!” Joey shouted.