In the morning, after leaving the house, Samuel decided to stop by the company before heading to work. He wanted to visit his brother Samuel and officially congratulate him on the promotion while actively hoping to evade his mother. He was off to a good start after walking out of the elevator and crossing the threshold of his brother's office.

"Little brother!" He rolled his eyes at the title and took a seat. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your pretty face in my office."

"I had a list of people I wanted to check in on today, and I realized I haven't seen your new office, Mr Vice President."

"Yeah. Nepotism at its finest."

"Oh, come on, don't do that." Samuel scolded sternly. "You may work at your parent's company, but no one can dispute that you worked hard to earn that seat."

Peter grinned. "If they do, should I send them your way? Will you handle them for your big brother?"

"Without breaking a sweat."

"Thanks, man."

"Don't mention it." He slapped the desk enthusiastically, a proud smile still plastered on his face. "So? How's the new office? How's working so close to Mom?"

"I'll take the first question and say, great. It's been good the past week, and I am settling in well. Mom is letting me handle my part the way I want, and I think it would go on like that as long as I keep getting things right."

"And you will."

"And you? Haven't seen much of you around the house the past few days. Are you avoiding Mom or Giovanna?"

"Why would I be avoiding Gio?"

"I heard about the drama she caused at your place. I thought maybe you were staying away so you didn't blow up on her in frustration."

"Nah. She apologized, and that's fine with me. Kali, on the other hand, still doesn't want anything to do with her unless it is absolutely necessary."

"I can see why. If anything I heard was close to being true, Giovanna might have taken things a bit too far."

"I figured the same. Things seem to be dying down, so I think everything is falling back into normalcy." Samuel exhaled sharply, looking at the time on his watch. "Wish I could stay longer, but I also have a job. Can you believe it?"

"I can not," Peter replied in feigned awe.

Samuel chuckled and stood. "See you later. I'll try and stop by the house and see Dad in the evening."

"Sounds fine. I'll walk you out." Peter offered as he came around the table.

"I am really happy for you, man."

"Thanks."

Peter escorted him to the elevators, and they stood in wait for the car when his brother suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, tell Kali I might arrive late to your place Saturday. I had a previous date planned. I am not cancelling. I might just be late."

"Why would you be stopping at my house?"

"Didn't she tell you?" Samuel shook his head. "We are having dinner at your place on the weekend. At six."

"Why?"

"Do I look like your wife? Go ask her."

He planned to. Samuel knew the relationship between Ember and Kali was developing, albeit faster than he thought it would. His sister often visited the house to spend time with Kali when she wasn't working, and they spent time going out to enjoy the city. According to Kali, Ember was showing her the ropes, teaching her how to maintain a good image for their family name.

Samuel didn't believe that was all it was. He also didn't like Kali growing too close to his sister. If anyone was a wealth of information about him and the family, it was Ember. He didn't know why she was also involving Peter, but he was determined to find out.

"Samuel?"

"Mom." He sighed, turning to face her.

"When did you arrive?"

"Couple of minutes ago. I wanted to say hello to Peter and finally see his office, but I am leaving."

"If you are finished, I want to see you in my office." She stated plainly before brushing past them and continuing walking.

"You better get to it." Peter shivered, laughing while he slinkered back to the office, leaving Samuel by the elevator.

Samuel followed his mother to her office. He closed the door and approached the desk where she waited for him, watching him with an unreadable expression.

"Sit."

"Thank you. What can I do for you?"

"I heard you went to visit your father."

Straight to the point.

It served him well because it meant he could be out of the office quicker than he thought. He was pleasantly prepared for her question. His mother had her ways of having news fall on her lap. Samuel only wished he could do damage control and salvage the situation to stop her from knowing how much he knew about Kali's relationship with Richard.

"I did." He answered truthfully.

"What for?"

"It's been a long time. I wanted to see if he was aware I had finally gotten married. In case you didn't pass the news on to him." She looked unimpressed with his sarcasm, but Samuel remained unmoved.

"I am not one for your little jokes. Answer me."

"One of the maids passed on the message that he came around the house, and I went over there to see what he needed."

"And?"

He shrugged casually, nervously tapping his right foot. "He said he only wanted to speak to me, but knowing him, I didn't buy that story. I think he might be up to something."

"Like what?"

"How should I know? I just told you he didn't say anything to me. If you are so curious, you can drop by and ask him yourself. He might have more reason to talk to you than he does with me."

It was a dangerous idea to give his mother any ideas regarding Richard. Everything could easily go wrong if the man decided to face the situation with the courage he had allowed to take a back seat all these years. If he told the truth, there was little his mother wouldn't be capable of doing in her anger. On the other hand, having his mother confront him might also serve to scare him away from coming close to Kali.

Samuel took it a step further. "I will tell you what I told him. I don't want him in my life. Not even to say hello. I don't care for his interest now."

"I am sure he had his reasons for going to your house. Aside from you, what else of importance could your father find there."

Samuel spotted the mischief behind her eyes but kept his words to himself. There was no doubt she had summed up the reason for Richard's visit.

Unable to continue with the charades, he got up from the chair. "If you'd excuse me, I am not strong enough to continue this. I had a long night. I am going back to get some rest."

"Long night? I hear your wife has been keeping you plenty busy."

The words finally captured Samuel's attention, and his hand slid away from his neck. "What are you suggesting now?"

"I am not the one suggesting anything. That would be your wife. It seems she is taking all her roles seriously."

Samuel scoffed. He didn't want to get involved between the two women, but he knew his mother too much to allow her run with her imagination. "Kali and I are only married on paper. That's where our relationship starts, and that's where it ends. There is nothing else."

"Really?" He nodded. "Then it's quite interesting that you share a room. Isn't it? I thought your relationship with Flora would make it impossible for you to get so close to another woman."

"Like you care about my relationship with Flora."

"I don't. I am just stating a thought. Room aside, your relationship with Kali seems to be getting...intimate."

"We sleep in the same room, so no one who comes around will have questions, and she is affectionate in public because that's what she is meant to do. That's what you asked we do."

"And at the dinner last night? No one was around, and you weren't aware I was watching, so who was the show for?"

"It wasn't a show. It was kindness." Samuel didn't allow his eyes to shift from hers. "She saw Christen chastising me and felt pity for me."

Samuel knew it went deeper than that, but his mother didn't need more fuel for her altar.

"Make no mistake, I won't have a relationship between you. Kali is your wife for now. Not a daughter-in-law I am interested in having long term."

"Is that right? And after we are divorced, would you find a new daughter-in-law for yourself? Maybe someone you want for the long run since Kali and Flora are not your taste? Because that's what matters, no? Your tastes. Your plans. Should I prepare myself to be thrown at another woman?"

"I'll see."

Kali's theory that a bigger game was at play was beginning to grow on Samuel with each passing day. If she didn't intend for Kali to remain married to him forever, what was his being married to her serving to achieve in the now?

"Well, this was great." Not really. "I have to go because I have other things to do. Have a nice day, Mother."

"I am not done."

"But I am." He finalized as he strutted out the door, closing it behind him without looking back.

If anything, he at least confirmed something he began suspecting ever since he found out who Kali's boyfriend was. His mother wanted everyone to be tormented. She derived a sick sense of satisfaction knowing the chaos she held at her fingertips. He wondered if she was itching to let the bomb slip or just enjoyed tormenting Richard with the idea that the woman he wanted was married to his son.