Chapter 37: Samuel Gets Shot
“I can handle my own problems; you don’t need to worry,” he assured her. “He wouldn’t dare kill me. Now, step back.”
But Waverly refused to move, her sobs escalating. “Samuel, no! Let him shoot me instead! My life doesn’t matter. You’re the family heir—you’re the one who truly matters. I was lucky enough to reunite with you. That’s already more than I could ever ask for.”
“What a touching display of sibling love,” Jeremiah sneered. “Too bad—I’m not moved at all.”
And this time, he didn’t hesitate.
Bang!
A gunshot tore through the night. Samuel collapsed, a pool of blood spreading beneath him.
“Samuel! Please, don’t die! Don’t scare me like this—stay with me!” Waverly sobbed, throwing herself into his arms.
Casimir was stunned. He never imagined Jeremiah would actually pull the trigger. His eyes, blazing with fury, locked onto Raylee as he harshly demanded, “Are you satisfied now?”
Raylee stared in disbelief, her emotions in chaos. She had thought he was only trying to intimidate Samuel, but he had meant it. As a Lorimer, he had fired a gun in public without hesitation, disregarding the consequences. What was he truly hiding?
At that moment, Raylee felt as if the man before her was a stranger—dangerous, terrifying.
The scene descended into pandemonium. The ambulance arrived quickly. Without a glance at Samuel, Jeremiah scooped Raylee up and carried her into the vehicle. Samuel’s blood stained the ceramic tiles, dyeing the pool water crimson.
Waverly, terrified, frantically called home, her voice trembling as she recounted the night’s events. That night would be anything but peaceful.
At the hospital, Raylee underwent tests. After what felt like endless chaos, they were settled into a room for observation.
Jeremiah’s expression turned grim as he studied the examination results. His fists clenched, and the anger in his eyes morphed into bitterness.
“Is my condition really that bad?” Raylee asked, forcing a wry smile.
Jeremiah nodded slightly, a flicker of unease in his gaze. He hesitated, swallowing back words.
Raylee noticed immediately. Adopting an air of indifference, she softly laughed. “I get it, it doesn’t matter,” she said lightly. “I’m just a shadow of who I used to be. Right now, my only goal is to survive. I don’t expect anything that doesn’t belong to me… including emotions.”
Jeremiah frowned deeply. “What do you know?”
“I know you’d mind this. Wouldn’t you?”
Stepping closer, he gently pinched the tip of her nose. His touch was firm yet careful, a mix of heartache and exasperation on his face. “Stop overthinking. Once I’ve decided you’re my future wife, not even the most powerful force on earth could take you away from me.”
There was an undeniable authority in his words, a possessive finality. Hearing this, warmth spread through Raylee’s heart.
But before she could fully savor the moment, Jeremiah’s expression darkened, his features hardening.
“When you got out of prison, didn’t the Goodridge family give you a full medical checkup? Wasn’t Samuel aware of your injuries? Especially with your legs—even walking is a challenge. How could you possibly swim? That idiot almost got you killed! I should’ve put another bullet in him so he could really learn his lesson!”
Raylee shook her head. “He hasn’t been my brother for a long time. Four years ago, when I was imprisoned, the Goodridge family cut all ties with me. Now, I use my biological father’s surname, Somers.”
“Who cares about the Goodridge name? Once you marry me, you’ll be part of the Lorimer family. From now on, I’ll take care of you.”
He ruffled Raylee’s hair affectionately.
Just then, his phone rang. After answering, Jeremiah’s expression darkened. “I have to step out for a bit. I’ll be back in an hour. Wait for me.”
With that, he left. But that hour stretched into three.
Raylee grew restless. She sent a message—no response. She called—no answer. A vague sense of foreboding filled her heart. Something felt wrong. She suspected it had to do with Samuel.
The Goodridge family might not be as powerful as the Lorimer family, but they were still the fourth most prominent family in Jexburgh’s elite circle. And Jeremiah had just shot their only heir. That kind of scandal was bound to shake the entire city.
Unlike four years ago when Raylee was wrongfully imprisoned, the Lorimer and Goodridge families were then caught in a business feud. She had been a pawn in their power struggle—a scapegoat for Waverly’s mistakes. The Goodridge family, fearing the Lorimer family, had abandoned her to save themselves.
But tonight was different.