Fireflies in Midnight Silence By Aria Bennett 10

Fireflies in Midnight Silence By Aria Bennett 10 Summary

Samuel sits quietly in Maureen’s hospital room, overwhelmed by guilt and confusion after avoiding Paulette for three days. He is haunted by the memory of Paulette’s despair and hatred toward him, emotions he struggles to face given their close history and his deep understanding of her. The image of Paulette injured in his arms torments him, and he wrestles with frustration over his reckless actions that caused her harm.

 

His feelings toward Paulette have become complicated by her stubbornness and resistance, which have worn down his patience and affection. Samuel admits to having taken their love for granted and even manipulated Maureen to provoke Paulette’s jealousy, but none of his schemes have worked. This reflection brings a painful realization that their once pure happiness has unraveled, and Paulette’s tears have become a daily occurrence.

 

Samuel confronts Maureen about whether Paulette truly sent someone to attack her and force her out of the company. Maureen admits the truth, revealing that Paulette physically threatened her and caused her to attempt suicide. Though reluctant, Samuel believes Maureen’s sincerity, acknowledging the seriousness of her wound and words.

 

Despite this, Samuel’s demeanor remains cold and distant. He tells Maureen she no longer needs to pretend to make Paulette jealous and informs her that arrangements have been made for her to leave the company and the apartment she rented. When Maureen pleads for his understanding and promises to change, Samuel warns her sharply about the consequences of greed, signaling a firm rejection and the end of their connection.

 

Continue Regular Chapter Reading Below

Samuel sat quietly in Maureen’s hospital room, the sterile scent of antiseptic hanging faintly in the air. His fingers absentmindedly flipped through a stack of documents, but his thoughts were miles away, tangled in a web of guilt and confusion. For three days straight, he had avoided visiting Paulette—not simply to give her time to calm down, but because an undefined unease gnawed at his heart.

The memory of Paulette’s eyes, filled with despair and hatred, haunted him relentlessly. He was terrified to face that raw emotion. They had grown up side by side, and he prided himself on being the one person who truly understood her. He knew her quirks, the subtle meanings behind every glance, and how to soften her guarded heart. Yet, the hatred she had directed at him felt genuine, piercing deeper than any wound.

The image of Paulette, bloodied and unconscious in his arms, replayed in his mind like a cruel nightmare, tormenting him night after night. He stared down at his own hands, frustration bubbling up inside him. How could he have been so reckless, so impulsive, to stab her with a knife? In the past, even the smallest injury to Paulette—a cut on her finger—would have caused him unbearable distress, making him wish he could take away her pain.

Was it because Maureen had attempted to take her own life? That was part of it. But there was more beneath the surface. He couldn’t shake the frustration he felt toward Paulette’s stubbornness, her constant resistance to him. When she lost her temper, his initial concern slowly gave way to impatience. As he tried to comfort her, he realized she clung to him tightly, unwilling to leave, and over time, his care began to fade. He grew cold, even indifferent, unwilling to lower himself anymore—expecting her to be the one to yield.

He had taken their love for granted, recklessly consuming it without thought. Lately, he had even listened to Maureen’s manipulations, deliberately lavishing attention on her to provoke Paulette’s jealousy, hoping it would force her back into his arms. But nothing had worked as he anticipated.

These thoughts had consumed him for days, and only now, in a sudden moment of clarity, did he awaken to the harsh truth. Paulette was the one he had vowed to cherish forever. They had loved each other deeply, and once, he had promised never to let her cry again. Yet, when had she begun shedding tears every day?

Their happiness had once been pure and radiant, but everything began to unravel from a certain point. Samuel lifted his gaze to Maureen, who sat quietly on the hospital bed, her expression guarded. His eyes were icy, sharp enough to make her shiver involuntarily.

“Mr. Lloyd, what’s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?” Maureen asked cautiously.

Samuel’s gaze dropped to her cheek, his voice low and steady. “Did Paulette really send someone to attack you and force you out of the Lloyd Group?”

At the time, his anger had clouded his judgment, but now, the more he thought about it, the more doubts crept in. Paulette was not the kind of person to abuse her power and bully others. If she were, Maureen would have been expelled the moment she slipped those lace panties into his pocket. Why wait six months before taking action?

Maureen’s face stiffened, guilt flickering in her eyes. Then, her gaze hardened, and she looked at Samuel with tear-filled eyes. “Mr. Lloyd, yes, it’s true. Do you think I’m lying?”

“She slapped me more than ten times,” Maureen said, voice trembling. “She threatened that if I ever clung to you again, she’d never let me go.”

“If this were all a lie, why would I try to kill myself? We only get one life—would I really risk losing it?” She lifted her hand, pale and wrapped in gauze, showing the fresh wound on her wrist.

Samuel’s expression softened slightly as he took in the sight. Her words made sense—who would gamble with their only life?

Reluctantly, he believed her, yet his eyes remained cold. “Enough. You don’t have to pretend around me to make Paulette jealous anymore.”

“I’ve arranged for someone to buy the apartment you rented. Consider it compensation.”

“Paaulette hurt you and has learned her lesson. I’ll handle your resignation—there’s no need for you to return to the company.”

Maureen stared at him in disbelief, shock washing over her face. “Mr. Lloyd, you don’t want me anymore?”

She quickly climbed down from the hospital bed and stepped toward him. Samuel instinctively recoiled, his face hardening with a hint of disgust.

Her eyes stung with his rejection, and tears spilled over. “Mr. Lloyd, why? Did Paulette say something to make you do this? If I’ve done wrong, just tell me—I’ll change. Please don’t push me away.”

Samuel’s gaze turned icy, his voice carrying a sharp warning. “Maureen, if you’re too greedy, be careful you end up losing everything.”

Conclusion

 

In the quiet aftermath of their confrontation, Samuel’s heart wrestled with the weight of his choices and the tangled emotions that bound him to Paulette and Maureen. The fragile threads of love, betrayal, and regret wove a complex tapestry of pain and longing, revealing how deeply intertwined their lives had become. Samuel’s cold resolve masked a profound sorrow—a recognition that his actions had fractured the delicate balance of trust and affection he once cherished.

 

Though the wounds ran deep and the silence hung heavy, there remained a flicker of understanding beneath the surface turmoil. Samuel’s decision to sever ties with Maureen was not just an act of rejection but a painful step toward confronting the truth of his feelings for Paulette. In this moment of reckoning, the chapter closes on a somber note, reminding us that love’s path is often fraught with hardship, and healing begins only when one faces the shadows within.

 

What to Expect in Next Chapter?

 

The next chapter promises to plunge deeper into the tangled emotions and shifting alliances that have begun to surface. Samuel’s icy resolve and Maureen’s desperate vulnerability set the stage for a confrontation that could redefine their relationships forever. As Samuel distances himself from Maureen, questions about Paulette’s true intentions and the complexity of her actions will linger, keeping readers on edge about where loyalties truly lie.

 

Amidst the fragile aftermath of betrayal and heartbreak, the characters will be forced to confront their own flaws and desires, revealing hidden layers of pain and resilience. The tension between Samuel and Paulette, in particular, is bound to intensify, hinting at a painful reckoning that neither of them can avoid. Emotions will run high, and the fragile threads holding their world together may begin to unravel in unexpected ways.