As Michael left the residence, he suddenly felt his phone buzzing in his pocket. He took it out, raised it to his face, and saw that it was a text message.From Camille.He couldn’t quite describe what he felt at that second. For a few minutes, he just stared at his phone, at the first part of the message, reading it over and over, like he was in a trance.When he finally snapped out of it, he opened the phone and started reading the message in full.It seemed that she wanted to meet him at a coffee shop later tonight. The same café where they had reunited after fourteen years.Liezel’s café.He just stood there, his fingers stiff. He didn’t know how to react.To be honest, he had never expected Camille to send him a message like this, and especially not to take the initiative to invite him. It felt uncanny, especially the timing.Michael’s mind began to race.What kind of reply should he give her? Should he tell her that he couldn’t make it, that his schedule was too full?He had dec
Her answer made Michael’s heart drop to his stomach.Yes, she did seem uncomfortable for a moment, but that could easily be explained by the fact that Camille wasn’t really an affectionate type of person. She wasn’t the kind of woman who said sweet words and liked to talk about feelings and emotions and things like that. Basically, it could be waved away as an expression of embarrassment.So… that was it.She loved Christian.Was this her answer to Michael’s confession?All this time, she was in love with another man?A man who wasn’t him…?“I’m sorry, Noah. I really am,” Camille said, looking a little distressed. She must have noticed the way he froze after her answer. Or maybe… she had already prepared to say these words. “I didn’t want to tell you like this. I… feel like I’ve hurt you a lot, to be honest. Ever since we met after all these years, I feel like I’ve only ever made you upset. But even so, you’re still kind to me. You still treat me well, and I… I feel so bad.”She looke
Michael fell silent, and his expression became pensive.Had Joanna really felt the same way?He had never really thought about it before. After all, the Joanna that he knew was always cold and merciless. He hardly ever saw her show emotion.He couldn’t even remember seeing her cry or laugh. Maybe once, or maybe a few times, and that was it.He didn’t know if he wanted to dwell on the subject. It felt too strange at the moment.“I’ll keep trying,” he finally said. “I don’t want to keep being like this forever, either.”She smiled at him. “That’s good to hear. How about the rest of your family? Your parents and Will? I remember you used to tell me about your brother and how kind he was to you.”“Yeah. Will was great, and he still is.” He nodded. “But as for my parents… I’m still not on good terms with them, unfortunately.”“Oh…” Camille’s expression turned awkward, and she didn’t know what to say. “I’m sorry.”He shook his head. “There’s no reason for you to apologize for bringing it up
After taking a sip of their coffee and ordering dessert, the two of them talked for a while while eating, enjoying each other’s company. The atmosphere between them became peaceful and comfortable, something that suited both of their moods at the moment.“You had friends?” Camille said in surprise.Michael gave her an unimpressed look. “What kind of person do you think I am? I’m not a complete loner, you know.”“Oh. Sorry, I just thought that you wouldn’t have enough time to… mingle,” she explained awkwardly.She decided not to admit that she thought Michael was too closed off to have friends, especially considering his top position.“Well, looks like you’re in for a surprise,” Michael said with a smile. “I’m friends with Lennon Meiner, the fashion designer. Colin Nellis, the owner of one of the top five jewelry stores in the country. Also Leanne Kinsley, the model on the Lipstick magazine.”“Really?” Her eyes went wide. “I was expecting only one!”Michael’s expression was flat. “You
The Callahan family mansion was massive, built with a modern design of smooth white stone with dark steel accents. The garden was also huge, with different kinds of flowers growing everywhere.In front of the entrance, after entering through the gates, there was a large fountain and several paths leading to various places, such as the greenhouse, the driveway, and the swimming pool area.It had been a while since Christian had last visited this place. After he and Camille got their own place, he hardly had a reason to come here.It wasn’t that he hated his father’s company. Rather, he was too busy to visit and just have tea and small talk with his aging father.Gregory Callahan was no longer the almighty and intimidating presence he once was. As the years passed, age had taken its toll on his features, making him look weaker than before. Though his vitality and intelligence still shone as brightly as ever, Christian was clearly the more domineering and intimidating one in the family.
The office was classic and elegant, much like Gregory’s taste in furnishings. The walls were lined with mahogany bookshelves that were filled with a vast collection of books on everything from business and finance to history and literature.Christian wondered if his father read every one of them. The number seemed a little too large for his tastes.To one side of the office, a large floor-to-ceiling window overlooked the back garden, providing a breathtaking view of the place.Christian sat in one of the leather chairs in front of the desk. Gregory, on the other hand, was sitting in his own office chair with his arms crossed over his chest. There was this unreadable emotion in his eyes, and he seemed to be considering what to say and what to leave out.Gregory looked at his son. Christian was so much like him at times. Even as a child, he didn’t like to get along with people just for the sake of it. Rather, he preferred to get something out of it.So Christian was more like his father
Barely a day later, Pamela was forcibly returned to the Callahan mansion. The police already had another important case on their hands and did not have time to deal with a case that was apparently already “proven” to be a suicide.The media knew nothing about it. Pamela, on the other hand, knew that Gregory had something to do with all of this. With his power and influence, he could do anything that he wanted. Money could buy anything, and he wasn’t stingy with the price.She also knew that Gregory had Winston killed out of revenge and as payback for the betrayal, for the affair they had and for running away together.Pamela was horrified by this revelation. Gregory obviously had blood on his hands, especially when she learned what Winston had discovered, something that she hadn’t been able to tell the investigators.Once she was brought back to this house, and she had had enough. This had gone too far!She pulled her hand away from his grip and stopped in the middle of the second flo
“You are selfish and a hypocrite,” Gregory repeated in a calm voice. He was completely unfazed in the midst of her tirade. “You’re still trying to make yourself look like a good person to justify your misdeeds. Don’t you feel even a little bit of shame?”Pamela burst into tears.She couldn’t take it anymore.“I hate you. I hate you so much!” she cried out in despair. “You murderer! I don’t care what happens to you. I hope karma gets you for killing an innocent man who just wanted to live—”“So you’re angry because I ordered Winston Berkley’s death,” Gregory interrupted, his soft smile contradicting the frosty look in his eyes. “Again, you have no compassion for our children. You really are not a good woman.” He stepped closer, his smile turning slightly wicked. “But don’t get me wrong. A woman with a clear bad side is also interesting. It’s even more amusing that you try to deny it.”Pamela said nothing. She just continued to glower at him.Gregory didn’t mind. Her vivacity after all