The audacity of Antonio! Stealing her suitcase like some petty thief! She balled her fists, Antonio slamming the door like a caveman. "Antonio!" she exclaimed, scrambling towards the car before it could take off. She yanked the door open, but before she could fully orient herself or unleash her fury, Antonio grabbed her arm and shoved her into the car. The force of the pull made her collapse right into him, her head almost falling into his thigh. Her hands instinctively splayed out for balance, pressing directly against the unmistakable bulge. A jolt, sharp and unexpected, shot through both of them. Camila froze. Antonio went utterly still. Their eyes locked, and the air around them seemed to cease. The scent of his cologne, a mix of spice and something subtly woody, filled her nostrils. Camila's hands were still down there. She still hadn't taken them off for no apparent reason. And slowly, a thought crept in. A mischievous, reckless little seed of an idea— i
Standing at the gate, Camila's heart was still beating slightly faster than usual. The humid air did little to cool the flush on her cheeks. Her gaze dropped to her right hand, replaying the scene in her mind like a video on repeat.What did she do? She was so carried away by anger and frustration that she did the first thing that came to her mind.Maybe that will teach him.The memory of her fingers clenching, the brief, shocking pressure, flashed vividly in her mind and would probably continue to haunt her for the rest of the night. Was that too much? Had she gone too far?But that guilt was quickly overshadowed by the simmering resentment that had been brewing for days, years even.Men had been nothing but scum to her all her life, her lovely brother excluded.First Lawson. He used her, treated her like she was insignificant. And that one will pay soon; time will tell. She just needed to put herself together first.Now Antonio.The manipulative bastard who feels like some entitled
The air in the hallway crackled with unspoken tension.Camila's mind raced.Madison. Lawson's sister. The pieces clicked into place with a sickening finality.Why does she feel this way, this tightness in her chest? It's subtle, but it still hit harder than it should. She wasn't supposed to feel this way, yet... a bitter cocktail of emotions churned within her.It wasn't just the shock of catching her brother in such a compromising position, nor solely the sting of betrayal.It was the connection to Lawson that twisted the knife.Madison was an immediate and unwelcome reminder of the pain and manipulation Camila had endured.Seeing her here, in her space where she planned on feeling safe for a while, now felt like an invasion.It dredged up the raw anger and vulnerability she had been trying so hard to suppress.And Cole. He knew how she felt and yet..."Cole..." Madison's voice cut through, her eyes darting over Camila in suspicion. "Who's she?"Cole rubbed his temples, his frustrati
A ring.He had put a ring on her finger. On Lawson's sister's finger.It felt like a final, brutal severing of any remaining connection to her brother, a definitive choice of sides.Camila just stared at him, totally speechless. The fight drained out of her, replaced by a cold, hollow ache.Then, like a robot, she turned and walked over to the couch, plopped down, and just stared into space.Cole watched her, a flicker of something unreadable—perhaps regret, perhaps defiance—crossing his face before he walked over and sat down beside her.There was a beat of silence, the room suddenly feels small. "I'm sorry, Camila. I didn't mean to drop this on you... I wanted to tell you; I didn't know how..." he sighed. "You weren't even there for me to tell."Camila didn't speak, her eyes fixed on some point, still lost but hearing every single word.Another long silence stretched between them. Cole shifted uncomfortably beside her, his gaze fixed on his hands. He seemed to be waiting for a rea
THE NEXT MORNINGThere was a knock at the door. Soft, a little hesitant. Camila didn't flinch. She remained a still point in the rumpled bedsheets, her gaze fixed on some unseen spot on the wall.Jaw clenched, eyes narrowed, as if the wall was the enemy ready to attack.Then another knock came, a little louder this time."Camila." Cole's voice cut in, low and hoarse. "You there?"Camila glanced briefly at the door before responding flatly."Yes.""Can I come in?" Camila's expression didn't change. "Yes."The door opened slowly, and first, Cole peeked through, his gaze landing on Camila.He didn't speak immediately, just stood there for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he stepped fully into the room, closing the door softly behind him as if not wanting to break the fragile silence. He moved with a quiet awkwardness, like an intruder in a sacred space."Can I?" he asked, pointing to the edge of the bed. All the while, he didn't dare look Camila in the eyes.Again,
"Keep an eye on that bitch," Antonio muttered into his phone, his voice tight. "Everything she does. Who she talks to, where she goes, the whole shebang. I want to know what she's up to, got it?""Understood, sir," Bruno replied, his voice a little hesitant. "Do you... also want full surveillance on Camila Lopez?"Antonio paused, his eyes darkening. Memories, sharp and unwelcome, flooded back – the defiance in Camila's eyes, the unexpected touch in the car.He gritted his teeth, a muscle twitching in his jaw. The audacity of that woman... she'd dared to provoke him.He let out a short, sharp breath, dragging a hand through his hair."No. Forget about her... for now."A new resolve hardened his gaze as he stared out at the approaching gates of his villa."Focus on Emily. I want the same level of detail, Bruno. See to it personally.""Yes, sir," Bruno confirmed quickly, "Emily it is. Full surveillance, every detail, got it.""Good," Antonio said, a cold satisfaction settling within him.
"It's done," Cole mumbled, hanging by the door. "I just came from my lawyer's office. All the assets... the money... it's being transferred to your account."Camila didn't immediately look up. Her eyes were glued to the mess of fashion design photos spread all over her bed. Sketches, fabric samples, magazine clippings – a whole creative explosion in the middle of the rumpled sheets.Camila finally shifted her gaze fully to him, a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes.Cole hesitated, wanting to say more, to understand the shift in her demeanor."Is there anything else... you need?" he asked, but Camila shook her head, dismissing him."No. You can go now."But Cole still lingered by the door. "Are you sure? You know I can help with those..." He gestured vaguely toward the scattered photos on the bed. "It looks like you want to start something up. I could help with that."Camila finally looked up, really looked at him this time. Her gaze was direct, and held a hint of something
THE NEXT MORNING Camila was just munching on some toast at the dining table, totally lost in her phone. Weirdly, despite knowing Madison was somewhere in the house, God knows when she would leave. Camila felt… lighter. Maybe it was the clear plan she’d made yesterday, the anticipation. Whatever it was, a surprising little spark of energy was buzzing beneath her skin. She almost didn't mind the chirpy interruption. "Morning!" Madison chirped as she walked in. "Hmm," Camila mumbled, not even looking up. Madison lingered on her for a while, but Camila didn't care. "So..." Madison began as she took a seat opposite her. "Cole still hasn't said much about you. The mystery sister, huh?" "What's there to say..." Camila finally replied, still scrolling through potential fabric suppliers on her phone. "He has a sister. Surprise." She punctuated the last word with a dry, humorless chuckle, her eyes never leaving the screen. Madison pressed her lips together, her gaze suddenly fixed inten
"That's right," Antonio purred, the sound Camila found both irritating and... strangely compelling.She stifled a groan. This was ridiculous."You can decline, of course; I'm not exactly forcing you into anything. But consider the alternative: a messy lawsuit... no one wants that."He let those words sink in, the threat hanging.Camila's jaw tightened. He knew exactly where to hit her, didn't he?Her dreams, her hard-won independence, all dangled precariously on his whim. The unfairness of it all made her want to scream."Isn't there another way out?" she said, her voice calm but strained, trying to maintain a facade of composure."No, darling, it's a yes or a no. And I need to get my answer right now."Camila's mind raced, weighing the options, each one more unpalatable than the last."Give me a reason," she finally said, her voice low and dangerous. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't just tell you to go to hell and deal with the consequences.""You'll be damned sure to regret
THE NEXT MORNING Camila was just munching on some toast at the dining table, totally lost in her phone. Weirdly, despite knowing Madison was somewhere in the house, God knows when she would leave. Camila felt… lighter. Maybe it was the clear plan she’d made yesterday, the anticipation. Whatever it was, a surprising little spark of energy was buzzing beneath her skin. She almost didn't mind the chirpy interruption. "Morning!" Madison chirped as she walked in. "Hmm," Camila mumbled, not even looking up. Madison lingered on her for a while, but Camila didn't care. "So..." Madison began as she took a seat opposite her. "Cole still hasn't said much about you. The mystery sister, huh?" "What's there to say..." Camila finally replied, still scrolling through potential fabric suppliers on her phone. "He has a sister. Surprise." She punctuated the last word with a dry, humorless chuckle, her eyes never leaving the screen. Madison pressed her lips together, her gaze suddenly fixed inten
"It's done," Cole mumbled, hanging by the door. "I just came from my lawyer's office. All the assets... the money... it's being transferred to your account."Camila didn't immediately look up. Her eyes were glued to the mess of fashion design photos spread all over her bed. Sketches, fabric samples, magazine clippings – a whole creative explosion in the middle of the rumpled sheets.Camila finally shifted her gaze fully to him, a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes.Cole hesitated, wanting to say more, to understand the shift in her demeanor."Is there anything else... you need?" he asked, but Camila shook her head, dismissing him."No. You can go now."But Cole still lingered by the door. "Are you sure? You know I can help with those..." He gestured vaguely toward the scattered photos on the bed. "It looks like you want to start something up. I could help with that."Camila finally looked up, really looked at him this time. Her gaze was direct, and held a hint of something
"Keep an eye on that bitch," Antonio muttered into his phone, his voice tight. "Everything she does. Who she talks to, where she goes, the whole shebang. I want to know what she's up to, got it?""Understood, sir," Bruno replied, his voice a little hesitant. "Do you... also want full surveillance on Camila Lopez?"Antonio paused, his eyes darkening. Memories, sharp and unwelcome, flooded back – the defiance in Camila's eyes, the unexpected touch in the car.He gritted his teeth, a muscle twitching in his jaw. The audacity of that woman... she'd dared to provoke him.He let out a short, sharp breath, dragging a hand through his hair."No. Forget about her... for now."A new resolve hardened his gaze as he stared out at the approaching gates of his villa."Focus on Emily. I want the same level of detail, Bruno. See to it personally.""Yes, sir," Bruno confirmed quickly, "Emily it is. Full surveillance, every detail, got it.""Good," Antonio said, a cold satisfaction settling within him.
THE NEXT MORNINGThere was a knock at the door. Soft, a little hesitant. Camila didn't flinch. She remained a still point in the rumpled bedsheets, her gaze fixed on some unseen spot on the wall.Jaw clenched, eyes narrowed, as if the wall was the enemy ready to attack.Then another knock came, a little louder this time."Camila." Cole's voice cut in, low and hoarse. "You there?"Camila glanced briefly at the door before responding flatly."Yes.""Can I come in?" Camila's expression didn't change. "Yes."The door opened slowly, and first, Cole peeked through, his gaze landing on Camila.He didn't speak immediately, just stood there for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he stepped fully into the room, closing the door softly behind him as if not wanting to break the fragile silence. He moved with a quiet awkwardness, like an intruder in a sacred space."Can I?" he asked, pointing to the edge of the bed. All the while, he didn't dare look Camila in the eyes.Again,
A ring.He had put a ring on her finger. On Lawson's sister's finger.It felt like a final, brutal severing of any remaining connection to her brother, a definitive choice of sides.Camila just stared at him, totally speechless. The fight drained out of her, replaced by a cold, hollow ache.Then, like a robot, she turned and walked over to the couch, plopped down, and just stared into space.Cole watched her, a flicker of something unreadable—perhaps regret, perhaps defiance—crossing his face before he walked over and sat down beside her.There was a beat of silence, the room suddenly feels small. "I'm sorry, Camila. I didn't mean to drop this on you... I wanted to tell you; I didn't know how..." he sighed. "You weren't even there for me to tell."Camila didn't speak, her eyes fixed on some point, still lost but hearing every single word.Another long silence stretched between them. Cole shifted uncomfortably beside her, his gaze fixed on his hands. He seemed to be waiting for a rea
The air in the hallway crackled with unspoken tension.Camila's mind raced.Madison. Lawson's sister. The pieces clicked into place with a sickening finality.Why does she feel this way, this tightness in her chest? It's subtle, but it still hit harder than it should. She wasn't supposed to feel this way, yet... a bitter cocktail of emotions churned within her.It wasn't just the shock of catching her brother in such a compromising position, nor solely the sting of betrayal.It was the connection to Lawson that twisted the knife.Madison was an immediate and unwelcome reminder of the pain and manipulation Camila had endured.Seeing her here, in her space where she planned on feeling safe for a while, now felt like an invasion.It dredged up the raw anger and vulnerability she had been trying so hard to suppress.And Cole. He knew how she felt and yet..."Cole..." Madison's voice cut through, her eyes darting over Camila in suspicion. "Who's she?"Cole rubbed his temples, his frustrati
Standing at the gate, Camila's heart was still beating slightly faster than usual. The humid air did little to cool the flush on her cheeks. Her gaze dropped to her right hand, replaying the scene in her mind like a video on repeat.What did she do? She was so carried away by anger and frustration that she did the first thing that came to her mind.Maybe that will teach him.The memory of her fingers clenching, the brief, shocking pressure, flashed vividly in her mind and would probably continue to haunt her for the rest of the night. Was that too much? Had she gone too far?But that guilt was quickly overshadowed by the simmering resentment that had been brewing for days, years even.Men had been nothing but scum to her all her life, her lovely brother excluded.First Lawson. He used her, treated her like she was insignificant. And that one will pay soon; time will tell. She just needed to put herself together first.Now Antonio.The manipulative bastard who feels like some entitled
The audacity of Antonio! Stealing her suitcase like some petty thief! She balled her fists, Antonio slamming the door like a caveman. "Antonio!" she exclaimed, scrambling towards the car before it could take off. She yanked the door open, but before she could fully orient herself or unleash her fury, Antonio grabbed her arm and shoved her into the car. The force of the pull made her collapse right into him, her head almost falling into his thigh. Her hands instinctively splayed out for balance, pressing directly against the unmistakable bulge. A jolt, sharp and unexpected, shot through both of them. Camila froze. Antonio went utterly still. Their eyes locked, and the air around them seemed to cease. The scent of his cologne, a mix of spice and something subtly woody, filled her nostrils. Camila's hands were still down there. She still hadn't taken them off for no apparent reason. And slowly, a thought crept in. A mischievous, reckless little seed of an idea— i