Reborn Heiress: Taking Back What Is Rightfully Hers!
Chapter 540: Are You Willing?

Chapter 540: Are You Willing?

Eric stood up, coldly staring at Nicholas. He suddenly realized that this was turning into a troublesome situation.

He was glad that Samantha hadn’t died, and he was willing to repay her with money.

Though it seemed crass and even hurtful, Eric couldn’t divorce his wife just for a woman like Samantha—that would be a joke of the highest order.

"Mr. Nicholas, Samantha, I truly appreciate what happened all those years ago. I know that if it weren’t for Samantha, I would have long since left this world. But... I can’t marry you just to repay a debt of gratitude and abandon my wife and children. I’m sorry. If it weren’t for this, if you weren’t forcing me to be with you, I would do anything else for your Richardson Group."

Eric spoke softly. After returning to Country S and gaining power, he had reached out to Nicholas’s parents, hoping to do what he could to help them with their problems, even offering to treat them like godparents.

But their response had been harsh, telling Eric never to appear in their world again.

Eric had no choice but to use other methods, discreetly making sure Richardson Group was well taken care of.

Richardson Group was a well-regarded family business in Country Y, running several chain supermarkets and cosmetics companies, living a prosperous life.

But despite his efforts, Eric was continuously rebuffed by the Richardson family, so he decided to stay out of their sight.

However, he still occasionally asked friends in Country Y to look out for the group. Over the years, Richardson Group had continued to thrive.

Nicholas was immediately furious, sneering as he spoke, "Eric, you really are as heartless and cold-blooded as they say! Do you know how much my sister has suffered over the past decade? How much hardship she’s endured? Even though she survived, her health has never been the same. She’s always sick... and now you say you won’t marry her?"

"Brother, please stop!" Samantha’s face flushed with shame. How could she be so selfish, knowing that Eric was already married with children?

Although she could still feel the love Eric once had for her...

She longed for him to divorce his wife and marry her. She wished that all these years, Eric had loved only her and remained single for her.

But it was all just a fairy tale.

For the past ten years, Samantha had constantly been making plans to escape, while also causing a rift between Eric and her parents.

But in the end, her parents refused to relent and even forced her to marry a childhood friend, someone from an equally respectable family.

Samantha finally compromised. No matter what, if this marriage could make her parents give up on controlling her, then she’d have the chance to leave their grasp.

In the past, whenever Samantha had rebelled, Mrs. Richardson would threaten to commit suicide, so even when there was an opportunity, Samantha had never dared to truly leave her family.

Samantha was someone who valued emotions deeply, and if her mother had suffered because of her, she could never forgive herself.

Later, Samantha married her childhood friend, but because she never truly invested in that relationship, her husband quickly realized she still had feelings for someone else and became furious.

The couple fought constantly, and her husband started staying out all night, seeking women to spend the night with.

Her in-laws were also cold toward her, though not in the way typical families might argue over trivial matters every couple of days.

It was a coldness that only the nobility could carry, and it was something most people couldn’t tolerate.

Seeing their daughter’s condition deteriorate, Nicholas’s parents no longer wanted to force her to stay in that painful marriage. They finally gave up and stopped pressuring her.

After the divorce, Samantha immediately headed to Country S, only calling her parents just before boarding the plane.

Over the years, her parents had finally compromised and stopped causing trouble. Samantha had realized this, which was why she had intentionally delayed her departure for so long.

She knew that sacrificing her marriage for a fleeting love was a childish and laughable decision.

But love, like a heart demon, stayed with her, and as long as the demon lingered, she couldn’t let go.

Now, seeing Eric again, her heart slowly began to die.

"Mr. Nicholas, I’m sorry. I’ve disappointed you. I believe Samantha isn’t the kind of woman who would force someone else’s happiness. I’m going to head back now, but tomorrow I’ll bring my wife to visit you," Eric said, before turning and leaving swiftly.

"Eric, stop right there! Bastard!" Nicholas yelled, furious at the man who had dared to turn away. But, seeing his sister’s plea, he reluctantly gave up on chasing him.

Samantha’s eyes welled with tears, her expression full of sorrow. She tightly gripped her sleeve, holding back the desperate urge to call out to Eric.

Nicholas sat down beside her, taking her hand, his brows furrowed so tightly they seemed impossible to unravel.

"Sis, are you really going to give up on him? You’ve fought for this relationship for over ten years, and now you’re just going to walk away? You even gave up your marriage for that man!"

Nicholas said urgently. Samantha smiled bitterly, her lips tight.

"What else can I do? Put a knife to his neck and force him to divorce and marry me? Big brother, this is a society governed by law. I don’t want... to love someone so lowly."

Though Samantha said this, the sorrow in her eyes made Nicholas sigh deeply.

"You’ve never been the type to give up without a fight. You’ve already spent more than a decade working toward today. Even though... breaking up someone’s family is immoral. But haven’t you heard? In a family where love is fragile, there’s always another mistress waiting. If you don’t want to try..." Nicholas’s voice softened, unable to watch his sister throw away her genuine, if misguided, love.

Women like Samantha—so deeply devoted—were rare in this world.

"I..." Samantha was moved by her brother’s words.

Had she really been holding on for all these years just to give up now?

Though Eric was already married with children, her brother was right. A family shaken by a mistress was never that solid.

Without her, there would only be room for another mistress.

Before coming here, Samantha had learned about Eric’s situation, but she hadn’t expected him to reject her so resolutely.

Back in high school, she had been the acknowledged school beauty, with countless men falling at her feet.

When Eric appeared, she found him to be a calm, somewhat melancholic boy.

But now, after all these years, Eric’s cold indifference had left her feeling heartbroken, yet she still foolishly loved him.

"Listen to your brother. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. If you’re truly willing to let everything you’ve given up go to waste, then come back to Y country with me."

Nicholas’s expression was firm. He hoped that his sister’s naive, unrequited love would one day be rewarded with a perfect relationship.

Samantha closed her eyes wearily, her tone cool, "Brother, let me think about it."

Nicholas didn’t press her further. He could see that Samantha, though calm now, still needed time to think about what she truly wanted.

He understood that her efforts had been one-sided—Eric didn’t know, and wouldn’t accept her feelings.

But Nicholas didn’t want his sister to have sacrificed so much for so many years, stubbornly destroying everything, only to end up with nothing in the end.