Fireflies in Midnight Silence By Aria Bennett 6

Fireflies in Midnight Silence By Aria Bennett 6 Summary

Paulette is overwhelmed with emotion as she watches Samuel leave, her tears reflecting the heavy burden she feels. Her thoughts drift back to the day Samuel became CEO, recalling how he fiercely protected her from a female employee’s insults, promising that anyone who crossed Paulette would be dismissed. He had even placed a photo of them on his desk as a sign of their bond, a symbol later shattered under suspicious circumstances when Maureen joined the company.

 

Samuel returns, dragging a suitcase, with Maureen close behind, her injured appearance a calculated act to evoke sympathy. Samuel coldly confronts Paulette, accusing her of sending men to harm Maureen, who claims she is seeking revenge for threats Paulette allegedly made. Paulette vehemently denies the accusations, but Samuel orders his bodyguards to hold her as he forces Maureen to strike Paulette repeatedly, each slap leaving painful marks on her face. Maureen’s playful defiance contrasts sharply with Paulette’s growing despair.

 

Despite Paulette’s pleas and protests, Samuel remains unyielding, insisting this punishment is justified and must end Paulette’s harassment of Maureen. He shows a fleeting glance of pain or regret when he sees Paulette broken on the floor but quickly returns to cold detachment. When Samuel offers to help Paulette up, she responds with a bitter laugh and fierce anger, rejecting his gesture and lunging toward Maureen with wild determination, signaling a dramatic escalation in their conflict.

 

Continue Regular Chapter Reading Below

Chapter 6

Paulette watched as Samuel’s figure receded down the hallway, his footsteps fading into the silence of the room. Overcome with a flood of emotions, she sank onto the sofa, tears spilling freely down her cheeks. The weight of everything pressing on her chest felt unbearable.

Her mind wandered back to a memory she held close—the day Samuel was appointed CEO of the Lloyd Group. The office had been buzzing with excitement, but Paulette recalled a particular incident that had left a lasting impression. A female employee, clearly vying for Samuel’s attention, had made cutting remarks about Paulette. The woman’s tone was sharp, her intentions obvious.

Samuel had overheard the exchange and, without hesitation, dismissed the woman right then and there. Paulette had been worried about the consequences of such a hasty decision. She had gently urged him to reconsider, afraid that his reputation might suffer from such impulsiveness. But Samuel had only smiled, pulling her close with an infectious laugh. “I’m yours,” he had said firmly, “and this company is yours too. Anyone who crosses you will be out the door.”

Later, he had placed a framed photo of the two of them on his desk. “This way,” he explained, “when I miss you, I’ll see your face first thing in the morning. And everyone will know you belong to me.” Paulette remembered how that photo frame had been shattered the first year Maureen started working there—an “accident” that was anything but accidental. Now, in its place sat a small, charming trinket Maureen had bought Samuel, a silent reminder of her presence.

Before long, Samuel returned, dragging a suitcase behind him. Maureen followed closely, her small frame almost hidden as she clung to his jacket. Her swollen cheek and trembling demeanor were a calculated performance of innocence and fear.

Samuel’s gaze was cold as it swept over Paulette. “Go ahead,” he said quietly but firmly to Maureen.

Paulette’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “What is this? What are you two doing?”

Samuel’s voice was sharp, edged with frost. “You sent your men to beat her up. This is her way of paying you back.”

Maureen’s voice was soft, almost timid, but laced with defiance. “Mrs. Lloyd, you had your people threaten me, told me to leave or else. I told Mr. Lloyd I wasn’t going anywhere until I got my revenge. After this, I’ll let it go.”

Paulette’s shock was palpable. “I never did that! I didn’t touch her!” she protested, her voice trembling.

Samuel raised a hand, signaling silently. Two bodyguards stepped forward, grabbing Paulette firmly by the arms.

Her eyes flashed with fury, tears of anger blurring her vision. She struggled against their grip. “Samuel, are you out of your mind? I told you, I didn’t do it! Let me go!”

Samuel ignored her pleas and led Maureen to stand directly in front of Paulette. His expression was icy, unyielding.

“You should have thought about the consequences before you decided to hit her,” he said coldly.

He glanced at Maureen, giving her a subtle nod. “I promised I’d protect you. Don’t be afraid. Do it.”

Maureen shrank back against Samuel’s chest, her eyes wide with a carefully crafted look of terror. “I… I can’t…”

Paulette’s whole body trembled. “Samuel… how could you ask this of her?”

Samuel made a dismissive sound, impatience clear in his tone. Without warning, he grabbed Maureen’s hand and swung it sharply, connecting with Paulette’s cheek.

The sharp slap echoed through the room.

Paulette’s head whipped to the side, her breath catching in shock. Maureen’s eyes sparkled with a mix of triumph and mischief as she glanced at Samuel, biting her lip to hide a smile.

Samuel raised an eyebrow. “Scaredy-cat. Feeling better now?”

Maureen giggled softly. “Not with you here, I’m not afraid!”

Without hesitation, she raised her hand again and struck Paulette. Another sharp slap landed, followed by more—each one harder than the last.

Paulette’s face soon bore the marks of a dozen slaps, her pale skin crisscrossed with red handprints. Her hair was tousled, her cheeks stinging from scratches Maureen’s nails left behind. Tears streamed down her swollen face, each one burning as they fell onto the raw skin.

Finally, Maureen stopped, glancing back at Samuel with a playful smirk. “That’s enough. My hand hurts now.”

Samuel chuckled softly, taking her hand in his and blowing gently on her palm. When his eyes landed on Paulette, who was now slumped on the floor, disheveled and broken, a flicker of something—pain, regret, or something harder to read—crossed his gaze. But it vanished almost instantly, replaced by cold detachment.

“Paula,” he said quietly, “you can take your frustrations out on me, but not on her. This is your punishment for bullying her. It ends here. You won’t trouble Reenie again.”

He released Maureen’s hand and stepped forward, reaching out to help Paulette up.

But Paulette, trembling and soaked in tears, suddenly let out a bitter, hollow laugh that sent a chill through the room. The sound was haunting, a raw expression of despair.

Samuel’s heart clenched painfully. “Paula…”

She snapped her head up, bloodshot eyes blazing with fury as she glared at him. Then, with a sudden, fierce movement, she slapped his outstretched hand away and lunged toward Maureen with wild determination.

Conclusion

 

The chapter closes on a harrowing note, where Paulette’s emotional turmoil reaches a breaking point under the weight of betrayal and humiliation. The fragile bonds of trust and love between her and Samuel are shattered, leaving her feeling isolated and wounded. The contrast between Samuel’s cold judgment and Paulette’s desperate pain highlights the complexity of their fractured relationship, underscoring themes of loyalty, power, and the devastating consequences of miscommunication.

 

Despite the anguish and the harshness of the moment, there remains an undercurrent of raw emotion that hints at unresolved feelings and the possibility of confrontation. Paulette’s fierce defiance, even in the face of overwhelming odds, reveals her resilience and unwillingness to be silenced. This chapter poignantly captures the tumultuous nature of love entwined with conflict, setting the stage for the characters to confront their deepest fears and desires.

 

What to Expect in Next Chapter?

 

The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the tangled web of emotions and power struggles that have only just begun to surface. Paulette’s fierce outburst and Samuel’s conflicted demeanor hint at cracks forming in their relationship, setting the stage for intense confrontations and heart-wrenching decisions. As loyalties are tested and hidden motives come to light, the fragile balance between love and resentment will be pushed to its limits.

 

Expect the tension between Paulette and Maureen to escalate, with the lines between victim and aggressor blurring in unexpected ways. Samuel’s role as both protector and enforcer will be called into question, revealing the complexities of his character and the burdens he carries. Readers will be drawn into a whirlwind of emotions, where trust is fragile and every action carries weighty consequences. The next chapter will leave you questioning who truly holds the power—and at what cost.