"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
Today's agenda - A date with De La Cruz and a late-night dinner with the Miller family.What a day it is.Camila smiled, staring at her reflection.It feels good to be back. When she meant 'back,' she meant - blonde hair perfectly styled; she had her brown hair dyed back to the way it should be.Blue eyes - no more brown contact lenses.Earrings in both piercings.Flawless makeup, and a luxurious or maybe slightly intimidating fur coat draped over her shoulders. A short cocktail gown to complement her long legs.She bet it'll give Lawson a bit of déjà vu tonight. Or maybe a heart attack.She looked… intimidating, powerful. Like she could conquer the world.Good.Exactly the vibe she was going for.And as for the name - well, she'll wipe off Hazel for now. Or probably erase it entirely.With a final touch of her signature red lipstick, Camila turned away from the mirror, her movement slow, deliberate, like she had all the time in the world...She wasn't going to linger; she wasn't goin
"So are we going to just sit here and keep staring at each other like shy teenagers, or are we going to order something to eat?" Camila said, her nails drumming on the table. She would rather be somewhere else. But, well, because of his threats, she had no choice… does she? But Antonio just kept looking at her, no usual smirk this time. His eyes hadn't left her since she walked in. Her hair... Her blue eyes... Every inch of her was being observed, and it was making her skin crawl. And the look in his eyes, the way it narrowed and laid silent altogether, was like he was piecing together a puzzle. Finally, he stirred, leaning back. "I like the new look." Camila chuckled. It's all about her changed appearance, isn't it? Antonio gestured to the waiter, who appeared as if summoned by magic. He ordered for himself and also for Camila, who had just shrugged, preferring to be served any meal knowing she wouldn't even touch it. She had only thirty minutes to spend in this charade.
Camila: *Are you there yet?*Cole: *Please don't go in without me.*Camila: *Why? Worried I might cause a scene?*Cole: *Camila, please, I'm begging you. If you get there first, just hang around. Don't see them without me by your side.*No response.Cole frantically typed another text.*Camila.*No response. "Damn it!" he muttered, tossing his phone onto the dashboard of the car. His eyes, however, were immediately caught by Madison, who sat silently by his side, her gaze fixed on him, too intense."Seriously, Cole? You know I've warned you about texting while driving." She crossed her arms, but there was something else in her eyes Cole couldn't place. "If it was that big of a deal, you could've asked me to type it for you.""No, thank you," Cole replied quickly. "It wasn't...." He trailed off, a knot forming in his stomach under her unwavering stare."Who was that on the phone?" Madison cut in sharply.Cole hesitated for a fraction of a second too long. "Camila."Madison's expressio
"Where are you going?"Lawson froze at his mother's voice, already halfway to the hall that led to the front door."Out," he said, not breaking his stride."Lawson." Her voice rose, and he stopped, letting out a frustrated sigh."Remember, we have dinner tonight with Madison's boyfriend.""I trust you, Mother. You wouldn't let Madison marry just anybody, so... this dinner? My presence isn't necessary," he shot back, not bothering to turn.His mother shot up from the couch, her voice sharp. "Are you out of your mind, Lawson? We agreed on this already! Before Madison goes through with the wedding, we meet his family."She scoffed, a harsh sound. "Your first marriage was a disaster, and this one, with Diane, has proven to be useless and a..." She trailed off, muttering about Diane's inability to have children and the loss of their first child due to carelessness. Then, her voice rose again, firm. "We – and I emphasize we – are not letting Madison make a mistake."Lawson scoffed, a famili
"Sorry I'm late; I got caught up in traffic."A woman.That same woman. At the elevator. But something's different about her today.The hair, the eyes... what hit Lawson most were the legs.Long, slim, so familiar. At the hospital, he hadn't taken notice, too engrossed in her mysterious behavior and the argument with Diane. Now it's so... even more mysterious.Lawson's eyes narrowed at the figure striding in with an air of confidence. Jaw set, shoulders squared, her smile seemed to hold a thousand secrets... so much arrogance in every step, like she owned the world and it should fall at her feet.She reminded him of a certain someone—same blond hair and blue eyes...Wait...He paused, brow furrowed...Who is she? How is she related to Cole? Or was it a family resemblance? It's so striking.Lawson began to walk over, hand outstretched, prioritizing formality first before going deeper.He smiled, eyes crinkling."And.. you are?"She stopped, her eyes trailing to his hand. She didn't tak
No one spoke.No one moved.The silence was heavy, suffocating. The room suddenly felt too small.Lawson just stood staring at the space Camila had occupied. Her words echoed in his mind like a mantra: "Lawson had my kidney, and yet treated me like I was less than dirt."The truth hit him hard. She was right. He had.He never loved her. He was distant, only saw her as his father's pawn. He could still recall the look in her eyes, the hurt, the resentment as she stormed away that day, like she would shatter if she stayed a minute longer.He should have stopped her. He should have tried harder. Maybe, just maybe, it wouldn't have led to this very moment.The silence stretched, taut and uncomfortable, before Diane finally shattered it. She turned on Cole, her eyes wild."You didn't come here for the dinner, did you? You don't want Madison. You just used her... and that woman... you willed her to appear to prove that she's the real Camila because..." Her voice trailed off, the words seemi
"Sorry I'm late; I got caught up in traffic."A woman.That same woman. At the elevator. But something's different about her today.The hair, the eyes... what hit Lawson most were the legs.Long, slim, so familiar. At the hospital, he hadn't taken notice, too engrossed in her mysterious behavior and the argument with Diane. Now it's so... even more mysterious.Lawson's eyes narrowed at the figure striding in with an air of confidence. Jaw set, shoulders squared, her smile seemed to hold a thousand secrets... so much arrogance in every step, like she owned the world and it should fall at her feet.She reminded him of a certain someone—same blond hair and blue eyes...Wait...He paused, brow furrowed...Who is she? How is she related to Cole? Or was it a family resemblance? It's so striking.Lawson began to walk over, hand outstretched, prioritizing formality first before going deeper.He smiled, eyes crinkling."And.. you are?"She stopped, her eyes trailing to his hand. She didn't tak
"Where are you going?"Lawson froze at his mother's voice, already halfway to the hall that led to the front door."Out," he said, not breaking his stride."Lawson." Her voice rose, and he stopped, letting out a frustrated sigh."Remember, we have dinner tonight with Madison's boyfriend.""I trust you, Mother. You wouldn't let Madison marry just anybody, so... this dinner? My presence isn't necessary," he shot back, not bothering to turn.His mother shot up from the couch, her voice sharp. "Are you out of your mind, Lawson? We agreed on this already! Before Madison goes through with the wedding, we meet his family."She scoffed, a harsh sound. "Your first marriage was a disaster, and this one, with Diane, has proven to be useless and a..." She trailed off, muttering about Diane's inability to have children and the loss of their first child due to carelessness. Then, her voice rose again, firm. "We – and I emphasize we – are not letting Madison make a mistake."Lawson scoffed, a famili
Camila: *Are you there yet?*Cole: *Please don't go in without me.*Camila: *Why? Worried I might cause a scene?*Cole: *Camila, please, I'm begging you. If you get there first, just hang around. Don't see them without me by your side.*No response.Cole frantically typed another text.*Camila.*No response. "Damn it!" he muttered, tossing his phone onto the dashboard of the car. His eyes, however, were immediately caught by Madison, who sat silently by his side, her gaze fixed on him, too intense."Seriously, Cole? You know I've warned you about texting while driving." She crossed her arms, but there was something else in her eyes Cole couldn't place. "If it was that big of a deal, you could've asked me to type it for you.""No, thank you," Cole replied quickly. "It wasn't...." He trailed off, a knot forming in his stomach under her unwavering stare."Who was that on the phone?" Madison cut in sharply.Cole hesitated for a fraction of a second too long. "Camila."Madison's expressio
"So are we going to just sit here and keep staring at each other like shy teenagers, or are we going to order something to eat?" Camila said, her nails drumming on the table. She would rather be somewhere else. But, well, because of his threats, she had no choice… does she? But Antonio just kept looking at her, no usual smirk this time. His eyes hadn't left her since she walked in. Her hair... Her blue eyes... Every inch of her was being observed, and it was making her skin crawl. And the look in his eyes, the way it narrowed and laid silent altogether, was like he was piecing together a puzzle. Finally, he stirred, leaning back. "I like the new look." Camila chuckled. It's all about her changed appearance, isn't it? Antonio gestured to the waiter, who appeared as if summoned by magic. He ordered for himself and also for Camila, who had just shrugged, preferring to be served any meal knowing she wouldn't even touch it. She had only thirty minutes to spend in this charade.
Today's agenda - A date with De La Cruz and a late-night dinner with the Miller family.What a day it is.Camila smiled, staring at her reflection.It feels good to be back. When she meant 'back,' she meant - blonde hair perfectly styled; she had her brown hair dyed back to the way it should be.Blue eyes - no more brown contact lenses.Earrings in both piercings.Flawless makeup, and a luxurious or maybe slightly intimidating fur coat draped over her shoulders. A short cocktail gown to complement her long legs.She bet it'll give Lawson a bit of déjà vu tonight. Or maybe a heart attack.She looked… intimidating, powerful. Like she could conquer the world.Good.Exactly the vibe she was going for.And as for the name - well, she'll wipe off Hazel for now. Or probably erase it entirely.With a final touch of her signature red lipstick, Camila turned away from the mirror, her movement slow, deliberate, like she had all the time in the world...She wasn't going to linger; she wasn't goin
"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