Janet had always prided herself on her ability to control her emotions, to keep her heart hidden away in the safe vault of her chest, where it could remain untouched by the turbulence of love. Yet, ever since that fateful encounter with Sam, the walls she had so carefully built had begun to crumble, piece by piece. Each time she saw him, whether it was at a charity event or the quiet moments they shared in their casual conversations, the wall cracked a little more.
She couldn't afford to let herself fall for him. Not after knowing that Emma had loved him all along. Janet's heart ached for her friend, for the way Emma had held onto the hope that Sam could one day see her as more than just a friend. And so, Janet made a bold decision that she would avoid him. She would push him away, for Emma's sake, for the sake of her friendship.
Each time Sam tried to engage with her, whether it was a warm smile or a casual comment, Janet turned away, her response cold, her gestures distant. It hurt her more than anything to treat him this way, but she told herself it was necessary. She had no right to let her feelings get in the way of Emma's.
Sophie, of course, noticed the change in Sam's demeanor. Sam's usual confident nature had become more hesitant, his once unwavering focus now clouded with confusion. He tried to mask it, but Sophie could see through his facade.
"Come on, Sam," Sophie teased, a mischievous glint in her eye. "You've been moping around like someone stole your lunch. Spill. What's going on?"
Sam ran a hand through his hair, avoiding her gaze. "It's nothing, really. Just…
Sophie stopped him on his track and whispered with a smile on her face; I want you to meet a friend of mine.
Sam hesitated, but Sophie insisted that it would be nice to just go on a little date. Sam didn't want to, but he loved his sister so he hesitantly went ahead.
Meanwhile Sophie met with Emma and asked her to go on a date with Sam. Still in shock from her confession she was not in the mood to go again. But Sophie assured her that everything will work out between them.
The night of the blind date arrived. Sophie had arranged everything, and Sam found himself sitting at a candlelit table in a quiet, upscale restaurant, wondering if this was a good idea after all. But when he saw Emma there he was shocked. He was dumbfounded knowing that Sophie set him up with Emma. He wanted to leave, but he knew Sophie was watching him from a distance. Sophie and her husband came out for a date too and were watching them from a safe distance.
Her voice was softer and melodic, but as they spoke, Sam couldn't get the spark. He was simply not feeling anything for her. Yes he liked her but only as a friend.
When the date ended, Sam couldn't help but feel a little lost. He said sorry to Emma for the other day and assured her to give him some time to process this.
Back at his office the next day, Sam couldn't stop thinking about the date, about Lady J, and about Emma. Every part of him was pulled in a thousand different directions. He wanted to believe that his heart had been set on Lady J, but something had shifted. There was no denying it anymore. Indeed he felt an urge towards Lady J but when he his heart guided him towards a different someone apart from Lady J or Emma.
He simply didn't care about Lady J anymore because he was in love with somebody else. He had been from the very start. She comforted him in ways no-one could, that she was the solace he always dreamt off. He realised that he fell in love with Janet.
But how could he confess to her when she had been avoiding him for so long? He needed to make sense of his feelings, but in the meantime, his heart continued to ache for her.
Emma on the other hand couldn't shake the growing tension between Janet and Sam Foster. She suspected that there could be something building up between the two. So to ease her down she ended up in a bar drinking.
Coincidentally Liam was also there, and while drunk he accidentally showed Janet's photo with him. Liam was talking about his crush and how she rejected him. Emma now had something to separate Janet from Sam. She took the initiative and called Janet to help her out.
But when Janet came to help her, she found Liam instead. Drunk and helpless. Emma called her and Sam to set the perfect trap.
Janet saw Liam's situation and being a good friend decided to help her despite their situations. And while she tried to lift him off and put him into a taxi, Sam reached to help Emma but saw Janet and Liam together.
Emma acted drunk as she clinged herself to Sam, while Sam felt heartbroken seeing
them together.
Emma's plan to create a wedge between Janet and Sam was set into motion, each move as calculated as the last.Sam had been hers in her mind long before she ever confessed, and she would stop at nothing to make sure he belonged to her, even if it meant deceiving the one person who had always been there for her—Janet.
Emma began to spread rumors, creating moments where Janet and Liam were seen together, talking, and sharing quiet conversations that seemed far too intimate. To the untrained eye, they were simply friends. But to Sam, who had begun to question his own feelings, it seemed like something more.
Janet, still unaware of Emma's dark intentions, felt the weight of Sam's growing coldness. She had noticed it too. The way he would barely meet her eyes when they crossed paths, the awkward silences where there used to be laughter. It crushed her, but she told herself it was for the best.
The world she had carefully built with Mr. S—the secret letters, the stolen moments—began to feel like a distant dream. And yet, as much as she tried to push Sam away, her heart kept calling out to him, a silent plea she couldn't ignore.
In the meantime Emma's heart raced as she watched Sam's retreating figure, the satisfaction of her victory settling in. She had done it—she had torn them apart. Janet and Sam would never be the same. As long as she could keep them apart, there was a chance for her to step in, to finally claim Sam as her own.