He could feel her body tremble as she sniffled and sobbed in his chest. A tear fell as raised his head and closed his eyes, trying to stay strong for the two of them.

"If... you cry so much, you'll smear your make up," he whispered.

Samantha pulled back and slapped his chest, annoyed that he had to comment something like that. "Who cares about my d.a.m.n make-up at this moment?" 

"I do," he wiped her tears gently with his thumb. "I care about everything that concerns you and also… you look very beautiful tonight." His gaze bore into her and she felt it burn right through her.

Pursing her lips, Samantha looked at him in the eyes as she tried to read what was on his mind until she heard him continue, "I missed you... Terribly." He swallowed his doubts and hugged her one more time. She allowed him as she also wanted to feel his warmth.

"It's been about two years, Sam. I'm sorry," he m.u.f.fled while his heart ached. The woman in his arms was the same woman that he loved before. She smelled the same and she behaved the same but the way she felt in his touch, she seemed to have changed.

There was something in her physical appearance that changed and he tried to examine it. Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s seemed to have grown and she became curvier than she was before. She also felt softer and she was even more beautiful than the last time that he saw her.

But he was not complaining at all! Whatever happened to her during the times that they did not see each other and although he could not point out all the things that changed, he knew that he was still in love with her — and that he was possibly even more in love with her than he was before.

"Don't be sorry, Daniel. I know that you've been trying your best. I just… I miss you too... a lot." She raised her head and inhaled his scent that she missed so much. To her, he was the same Daniel Cho. He was her Daniel Cho.

 "Too bad that you came with someone else," he sighed. "Why the h.e.l.l are you with that… douche?" He asked as he looked down at her and studied her gaze.

"Daniel…" Samantha opened her mouth and was just about to answer him when a.s.sistant Ahn came and interrupted their reunion, "Boss, I'm sorry to disturb your reconciliation but a few men are coming this way, we need to go."

Daniel acknowledged his a.s.sistant's warning before he seriously looked at her, "You can not tell anyone about what just happened. Not even your… friend. Do you understand?"

Nodding, Samantha became nervous when she knew that they have to separate again. So even though she was reluctant, she answered, "I understand."

"Are you staying in this hotel?" He asked, tucking a loose hair behind her ear and she nodded again. "Then I will find you later tonight, okay?" The corner of his lips curled up, revealing a very charming smile.

There was nothing else that she could do that time but nod. She was lost in his eyes and she did not mind at all. How was it possible that after all these years, she was still undoubtedly head over heels for him despite their separation?

Footsteps could be heard from afar and they caught her name being called by Gael. Daniel's brows furrowed but he stepped in and placed a kiss on her forehead before he moved aside and pushed her gently towards the hallway.

"Samantha?" Gael mused when he noticed a figure in front of him.

She snapped her head to Gael and tried to compose herself when he was nearing.

"You did not come back right away, are you okay? Where were you?" He asked in a concerned voice.

"I…" she turned her head to the right where she came from but she found no trace of Daniel. Her heart sunk with the thought that she must have just dreamt it because of how much she was yearning for him.

But she refused to believe that it was just a dream, she knew that it was real because it felt very real. She could still smell him from their recent encounter and so she brushed off the negative thoughts away and formed a smile on her face when she looked at the man in front of her. 

"I got lost on the way back. The hallways look very much alike and it's a little dark too, sorry."

Gael knew that she was probably hiding something but he did not press on the matter. He chuckled as he gestured his hand towards the path, "I should have asked someone to go with you, my apologies. Now, shall we?"

Since Samantha was now in a better mood, she complied without question and walked back to the event with Gael.

...

Back in the Hall where the Charity Gala was held.

The bidding started and almost everyone joined the event. It was a charity gala but it was also a chance for all the filthy rich people to show off their wealth.

Of course, Gael did not miss the chance to bid as well. 

"The next item that is up for bid is this precious diamond necklace." The host went on and on about how valuable it was because the main diamond pendant was so large and the rose gold chain was also adorned with 300 carats of smaller diamonds. Almost everyone's jaw dropped when they heard that it was roughly 60 million dollars.

A lot of people flinched when they heard its price but Gael was not even fl.u.s.tered. While they were preparing the item on the center of the stage, Samantha's head turned left and right but was not able to spot where Daniel was. 

"Ms. Kim, your neck will hurt if you keep turning and twisting it in all angles," he mused, making Samantha stop what she was doing. Sitting properly on her chair, Gael grinned at how behaved she looked at the moment. "You still haven't found your ex-husband?"

Samantha turned to him and her brow raised. "What?" She knew that he was aware of who she was looking for but she still had to utter that word.

"Come on, I know you have been looking everywhere just to find him. He's actually not far from us." 

She got surprised by what he just said and her eyes were just about to scan the room once again but she froze when he heard him add, "It's best not to look at his way for now or you might just be bothered by what you will see. Mr. Cho's not alone tonight."

Samantha swallowed when she heard him. How could that be? Who the h.e.l.l could be with him tonight? Certainly, it's not someone who's a threat to them, right?

Her eyes darted as she looked at the floor, figuring out what to think of the situation but her train of thoughts was interrupted when she heard him bid. "Forty-five million dollars," he said as he raised his paddle up.

It was the first amount and everyone was shocked including Samantha whose head snapped towards him. Why the h.e.l.l was he spending so much for this?