What a heartwarming display of friendship! Genuine bonds like this were touching in a world where superficiality often overshadowed human connections.Reporters promptly pointed their microphones and cameras in Calista's direction."Ms. Everhart, Ms. Jacquez put her safety on the line to rescue you during that crucial moment. How does that make you feel?" one reporter inquired.Vivian locked eyes with Calista and raised an eyebrow ever so slightly, signaling that she was playing a role intentionally.She didn't mind letting Calista in on her plan. She almost wished Calista would lose her composure in public, revealing her ingratitude to the world.But even if Calista didn't react that way, it didn't matter to Vivian. Her motive for orchestrating this incident wasn't solely to tarnish Calista's reputation. Calista responded with a gracious smile."I'm genuinely touched, deeply moved indeed. Vivian and I have only recently become acquainted. Aside from work, we haven't had many int
Vivian was recording Calista under the blanket with her phone. She had discreetly positioned her phone earlier, tucking most of the device beneath the blanket and exposing only the camera lens.Moreover, she had covered the phone with a white decorative case to conceal it. Calista paused the recording and casually wiped some blood stains from Vivian's clothes with her fingers."Are you using public pressure to pressure me into allowing you to stay in Capeton, Ms. Jacquez? You don't need to resort to such tactics. If you want to stay, just stay. Capeton isn't mine, and I can't exactly evict you, can I?"Vivian stayed quiet, deep in thought about the circumstances. Hugo had a soft spot for Vivian, and if it weren't for Lucian's reputation, he wouldn't have been so insistent on sending her back to Apthon.Vivian's injury and her selfless act to rescue Calista could potentially garner public support, which might persuade Hugo to have a change of heart.However, despite achieving her g
In that split second, Vivian quickly averted her gaze as if repulsed by him when their eyes met."If you don't do as I've told you, don't bother to show up in front of me again."She absently touched the stiff cast on her leg, the anesthesia still numbing the pain. A trace of determination flickered in Vivian's eyes as she clutched the bedsheet tightly.With a broken leg, she decided to make the most of her situation. The man remained tight-lipped, lowered his gaze, and fixed on her emotionlessly. "Do you want to marry him?" he asked."Yes, I do. Or would you rather I marry you? Get out of here right now, or I won't think twice about letting my father know what you've been up to behind his back."On the other hand, Calista was hanging out in Yara's shop."Is Vivian completely out of her mind? You weren't the one responsible for her injury. What's with her attitude? Just because she saved you, does that mean you must play nursemaid in the hospital, doing all her chores?" Yara ex
Hector knew Calista probably saw something. However, he was unbothered by it at all."It's nothing. Just a minor injury and it'll heal after two days." "The bandage on your chest is already stained with blood. Is this a minor injury?"Calista was just about to bend down to lift his blanket. Her hands were stopped by him when they were about to land on the edge of his blanket.Helplessly, he said, "Don't be so hasty. What if I wasn't wearing any pants?"Calista remained silent. His hands were scorching hot, which was nothing like a normal body temperature. She whipped her hand out and felt his forehead instead."You're having a fever. How long has it been since you've changed your bandage?" The top floor was already hot. There wasn't even an air conditioner. All the place had was a fan. Calista felt scalding hot even when she'd only been here for a few minutes, let alone Hector, who was injured. Hector was extremely frail and drained of energy. He had been in a semi-coma f
"I guess you can say that for now," replied Calista.Given Hector's current state, it wasn't appropriate for her to go into details now. Looking at how he struggled with talking, she was genuinely worried that he'd die on the spot if she was late for a second. Hector wore a stern expression."Calista, you're not confident in this relationship."She's not confident that they would last long, hence the lack of possessiveness and sense of belonging. Calista paused while removing a seatbelt. She didn't respond to his remark. She got out of the car and opened the door of the front passenger seat."Shall I go get a bodyguard to help you up?"Hector coughed. As he smirked faintly, he mischievously teased her."Then you might as well go on the streets and make an announcement, so they all know I'm here."Calista rolled her eyes disdainfully at him."... You're almost dying, yet you still have the nerve to talk nonsense."She bent down and helped him out of the car."You can sit
Although Calista didn't believe what Lucian said, she couldn't help but worry. Her gaze swept across him. "Are you injured?"On the surface, Lucian was apathetic, but fury lurked in his eyes. "I've been working my ass off at the company. And the first thing I see when I come back is my girlfriend feeding another man. Don't you think I'm injured as well.?"Calista didn't have the fetish to purposely make her boyfriend jealous by using other men.It didn't matter how long her relationship with Lucian would last, but the last thing she wanted was to cause a misunderstanding between them.In haste, she explained, "The doctor came without preparing an anesthetic. His wound was just treated and he didn't have the energy to lift his hand …"Hector chirped in to support her, "Yeah, I can't even lift my hand."Lucian stared at him in silence. After a few seconds, he snorted. "That's none of my concern. I'll give you half an hour to leave our house."After he said so, he dragged Cal
"Clank!"The sound of plates shattering resonated from Hector's room. Calista turned and looked toward the direction of the sound. She couldn't even bother to answer Lucian and ran for Hector's room. Earlier before the doctor left, he urged that if Hector's fever wouldn't go down, he would have to be hospitalized. As Lucian extended his hand to grab her, Calista was already long gone. She ran so fast that when Lucian lifted his hand, she was already out of his reach.His gaze was fixated on her. He almost wanted to drag her back forcefully and throw Hector out, but his rationale stopped him.Looking at how weak Hector was right now if he was dead, he'd always have a special place in Calista's heart. Lucian sneered and proceeded to follow her.The door was ajar. Hector was still in the same position as earlier on, leaning against the bed. His shoulders were drooped, eyes narrowed, exuding an air of idleness. The food was all on the floor and the plates were shattered as well.
There's no way Calista would listen to Lucian. Not only did she sneak away, she even closed the door for them. For the sake of that stack of condoms on the bedside table, she wouldn't have listened to Lucian as well. His skills sucked. Until now when she recalled their sex, she could only picture pain. Lucian's expression darkened when he saw she escaped as fast as a rabbit. Hector lifted his chin toward the direction of the door. "Isn't it clear enough? She doesn't want to move back to the master bedroom."Lucian looked at him in utter disdain. "Just say so if you're jealous. Callie's my girlfriend now. Did you think you could part us with this pair of stupid handcuffs?"Hector was visibly overjoyed. "Yeah, I'm a bit jealous. So for the sake of my mental and physical health, you have no choice but to sleep here tonight instead."Lucian was expressionless."In your fucking dreams."He took out his phone, preparing to call David to get the locksmith to come over. "Do yo
With Cade covering Cameron's mouth, there was no chance for her pointed words to offend anyone in the room. His palm was cool to the touch. It was a sensation she disliked. So, she couldn't help but tilt her head.When Cade noticed her movements, he gently stroked her cheek as if he were calming a child who was throwing a tantrum.Victor spent years in a position of authority, giving him an air of unspoken authority. His gaze hardened, and his lips pressed into a firm line as he watched Cade. "Cade, don't jeopardize the long-standing relationship between our families over a woman.""If that's how you see it." Cade glanced at the door. "Aren't you doing the same for a woman?"Victor snorted contemptuously. "How can a cheap girl who was merely adopted be worth anything compared to Mirabelle?""How is my daughter, a Yorksworth, worth any less than yours?" Blaire stood at the doorway as she took in the occupants of the home with her sharp gaze. She had been feeling restless ever sin
Mirabelle frowned. "Excuse me?"As soon as she finished speaking, Cameron walked up to her, grabbed her by her hair, and forcefully bent her over.Cameron held up the guest list Monica had sent her and shoved it in Mirabelle's face. "Call them. Tell them to be there by 3:00 p.m., or else…"She tightened her grip threateningly. "You can kiss this head of hair goodbye."Mirabelle pressed down on her scalp where it had been pulled, her voice distorted with pain when she spoke."Let go, Cameron! Are you out of your mind?""Didn't I tell you not to involve anyone else in our feud?""Can't take it anymore?"Mirabelle endured the pain of turning her head to flash a disdainful sneer at Cameron."This is just the appetizer. If you go against me, you'll eventually crawl out of Capeton with your tail between your legs. I'll call your business partner right now and pin the catastrophic failure of this event on you…"Seeing Mirabelle's condescending expression brought Cameron back to the
The kiss lifted the dark cloud that hung over Cade's mood over the past few days.The next day, as Fabian brought in documents for him to sign, Cade asked, "When is Cameron's show?"Fabian was taken aback for a split second but quickly replied. Fortunately, he was well-prepared and kept track of Cameron's events for the year in advance."Has the invitation been delivered?"Fabian swallowed, almost wanting to laugh to mock Cade. Given Cade's strained relationship with his wife, Cameron would sooner invite a dog than have him around. However, all Fabian could do was revel in Cade's misery in his mind while keeping a businesslike facade."It was probably already delivered. The front desk brought in a stack of mail yesterday. I haven't sorted it out yet."He had already sorted out the mail this morning. Everything had gone straight to the trash."Clear my schedule for the day. Make reservations at a restaurant for a celebratory dinner.""Yes, sir."On the day of the show, Monica
That was obviously an excuse to get Cade out of the picture. Knowing what Mirabelle had done to Cameron in the past, leaving the two of them alone was out of the question. Besides, it wasn't convenient for him to move the car, so he refused without a second thought."Get the attendant—"However, Cameron cut him off before he could finish."Ms. Ackerman is a guest. You should fulfill her requests if she has any."Cade cast her a cold glance. "Shut up." Why should he dance to Mirabelle's tune?Cameron stared at him. "Run along."He gritted his teeth as rage crossed his face. After a brief pause, he sneered and turned to leave. As soon as the door shut behind him, Mirabelle's calm expression slipped. "Did you make me come here just to show off how much you two love each other?""You call that love? I think we have different definitions of what 'love' is then. He's nothing more than…" Cameron's fingers lightly traced the cup's rim as she smirked and said, "A lap dog.""You fu
Cameron crossed her arms over her chest and gave the bouquet in Cade's hands a nonchalant glance."What are you trying to pull, Mr. Carter?""Fabian said it was Women's Day today.""So what?"There was silence all around. The sound of soothing music could be heard through the door. Cade was silent for a while. "We're not getting a divorce, Cameron."It was the same old topic that Cameron had grown too weary of. She turned around and felt for the cigarette box on the table. There was already a layer of cigarette butts in the ashtray next to it. Judging by the color of the lipstick marks, more than half of them were hers.Cade frowned. He clearly disapproved of her smoking but kept himself from stopping her.Smoke curled from between her lips. The flickering embers of the cigarette reflected in her eyes, softening her indifferent gaze. Through the thin haze, Cameron's lips curled into a wide, unrestrained smile. Every time she smiled in this way, it always filled Cade with a
Cade began unbuckling his belt as he spoke. When it came to this sort of thing, men often had a strong sense of competition, especially in the presence of a woman they were interested in."Such a dark atmosphere isn't right for our situation."Cameron didn't like him to begin. In such a dark atmosphere, there was no telling what kind of grotesque creature she might imagine him to be. It would be strange if she felt attraction for him.She leveled a steady stare at him. Cade's shirt was half undone, showing his tense muscles underneath. Under the influence of alcohol, his skin took on a faint reddish hue. There was a heart-pounding tension in the air as if something was about to ignite. Occasionally, his slightly heavy breaths could be heard."You haven't been working out recently, have you?" Cameron asked.Cade was confused.Cameron pressed her hand against his chest, right below his ribs, and gave it a little push. After a moment, she commented, "Your muscles are a little soft
Cade tossed his phone onto the table in frustration when he saw who entered. He pressed his hand against his brow."Leave. You should see Diane for a work uniform.""Are you feeling unwell, Mr. Carter?" Rosalia approached the desk with a glass of milk in hand. "I learned how to give massages. Why don't I…" "Get out."Cade abruptly got to his feet and avoided Rosalia's outstretched hand, causing the milk to spill all over him. He glanced down at his now-stained shirt with a dark expression and pressed his lips tightly together. After a long pause, he asked through clenched teeth, "Did my wife ask you to send this up?" Every syllable was pronounced with the gnashing of teeth.Rosalia froze under his piercing gaze."It really was Mrs. Carter who asked me to bring it to you, sir," she stammered."Leave. From now on, you will not enter my study unless you have permission."Rosalia had come to work as a housekeeper to land herself a wealthy husband. She had even bribed the manager
On the next day, Cameron was discussing the fashion show with Monica when she suddenly heard a familiar voice from behind. "Cammie…" It was Blaire.Although Monica didn't fully know about Cameron's past, she didn't like Blaire at all. What kind of mother wouldn't protect their own child, after all?However, it wasn't appropriate for her to intervene as much even though she was Cameron's close friend. After all, it was Cameron's family matter.Monica stood up with her notebook in hand and said, "Well, I just remembered that there's still a few more invitations to send, so I'll go and take care of that. Let's discuss more about the fashion show later."After saying that, she glanced at Blaire and left without even greeting her.Cameron got up and nodded at Blaire. "Is something the matter?"She thought that her distant attitude last night had made it clear enough that she didn't want any more involvement with the Yorksworth family. She didn't expect that Blaire would come and loo
Cameron pushed the door open. She looked tired as she laid down her bag. As she changed her shoes, she caught sight of the food on the dining table out of the corner of her eye."Diane, didn't I tell you I wasn't coming back for dinner? Why did you make so much food?"Diane glanced upstairs. "It's for Mr. Carter. He hasn't eaten yet."The moment Cade was mentioned, Cameron dropped the topic. She rubbed her sore shoulder as she headed upstairs. "I see.""Madam…" Diane called out hesitantly, looking troubled. "Mr. Carter asked you to call him down for dinner when you got home.""Me? Call him down for dinner?" Cameron stopped in her tracks and turned around in confusion. "Why?""Mr. Carter seems to be upset. Did you two have another fight?""So If he's in a bad mood, I'm supposed to go upstairs and invite him down to eat? Should I also say 'Your meal is ready, my liege!' while I'm at it?" Cameron scoffed. Her sarcastic smirk quickly faded. "He can eat if he wants. If he doesn't,