Cade could doubt whatever he wanted, but he could never doubt a fashion designer's tastes by saying something was unsightly. Cameron frowned as she scanned him from head to toe. He was always dressed impeccably. Yet, his appreciation for fashion was terribly basic.Cameron had initially been furious, but once a thought crossed her mind, her anger deflated."Forget it. What's the point of wasting my breath on you? How good can your taste be if you can fancy someone as two-faced as Mirabelle and even get engaged to her?"Her expression was filled with derision and scorn. Cade took a deep breath to forcibly tamp down his growing frustration and said coldly, "We weren't engaged. Our families were just in talks."Cameron genuinely did not know of this. From the moment she knew Cade and Mirabelle, everyone saw them as the perfect couple. When they made public appearances, they were always by each other's side.She stared at Cade with an unreadable look in her eyes. "You must be in lov
Back in the car, Cade would sporadically fiddle for the pack of cigarettes in the glove box next to him but retract his hand each time."You should lessen contact with Mirabelle."Cameron shot him a cold glance. She turned to face the window and paid him no mind at all."Don't mess with the Ackerman family or Mirabelle."Cameron remained silent, but her body language conveyed her resistance to his words. The sight of her stubborn defiance made him lose his temper."Don't come crying when things go wrong."The Ackerman family had gotten to where they were today through their endless array of tactics. They were not an entity that Cameron could contend with. After all, she had no background and had only just started her career.Throughout the journey home, Cameron ignored him no matter what he said. Upon returning to the Carter Mansion, she immediately got out of the car the moment it pulled to a stop. Then, she hurried into the home.When Diane noticed Cameron was back, she quick
Cade's heart clenched as he stared at Cameron's lips to take a better look. But with the constant ripples in the water, he couldn't be certain if she had actually spoken or if he was seeing things.The pressure of Cameron's hands tightened around his throat further. The coldness in her eyes was unmistakable, which gave Cade a suspicion that she truly wanted him dead.As her fingers squeezed tighter, the pressure sent a sharp pain through his throat, followed by the onset of suffocation. Cade grabbed Cameron's hand, flipped her over, and easily took control by pinning her down with one leg."Do you want me dead so badly?"He was breathing heavily. His wet hair hung down due to his towering stance as water dripped down continuously.A drop of water fell into Cameron's eye, making her blink instinctively. Cade's fingertips brushed behind her ear, lightly caressing it with flirtatious touches.With that, the air seemed to have become charged with tension. Cameron suddenly opened he
Only the haughty Ackerman family would use such a nonchalant tone while using the person whom their daughter had killed as a bargaining chip.Cameron let out a cold, mocking laugh. "You seem to miss her a lot. Aren't you afraid that she'll come visit you at night?"There was silence on the other end of the line. The woman was likely enraged. Even her breathing had grown heavier."Where do you want to meet?"Cameron didn't expect any conscience from the Ackerman family since they could disregard human life. Melissa was dead because of her. She didn't want Melissa's peace to be disturbed even in death."Since it's New Year's Eve, let's discuss it at home. Give me your address, and I'll send a driver to pick you up…"Cade looked up and gave Cameron a casual once-over. She was still on the phone, which meant that her attention was not on him. The feeling of being ignored irritated him. "Focus on your food. We still have to go shopping before we head back to the Opheros Manor. It's
Meeting someone during such a family-oriented holiday meant they were important to Cameron. The restlessness in Cade's heart was mollified, and the corners of his lips curled up imperceptibly. Even his voice carried a hint of joy."Okay." The garden, though not large, was carefully arranged in an aesthetically pleasing way, complete with rock formations, water features, and pavilions.Cameron leaned against the nearby pillar. "Do you have a cigarette?"Cade's expression turned cold in an instant. "No," he said stiffly.Cameron didn't have an addiction to smoking. She had just asked casually since the thought happened to cross her mind. Since he didn't have any on him, she didn't say anything more."Who are you meeting the day after tomorrow? I'll prepare a gift.""It's fine."Cade clenched his fists. Sometimes, he wanted nothing more than to strangle her.That was when the housekeeper came over to notify him that his father, Tyrone Carter, wanted to see him."It's almost ti
Cade studied the gifts tucked in Cameron's arms and had a rough idea of who she was going to meet.She attended a university in Apthon, and the gifts she picked out were the kind that elders would appreciate. It was highly likely that she was going to meet a professor from university.When the plane landed at Apthon Airport, the car that Cade had arranged for was already waiting outside. They headed straight to their destination as soon as they exited the airport.Cameron stared dazedly out the window, lost in thought. Neither spoke in the car, leaving a disconcerting silence.That was the norm when it came to the way they interacted with one another. Yet, Cade felt restless. He found everything irritating. He glanced at an eye-catching building outside and tried to get a conversation going."Where's that?"Cameron looked up and followed his gaze. "I don't know."Speaking a few more words would've made her sound less dismissive.Cade tried to rein in his anger as he said discon
The amount of information that Clara had been saddled with was so overwhelming that she couldn't process it all at once. She was so shocked that she forgot about the vegetables in her hand. She looked at Cameron, who was calmly rinsing the vegetables, before glancing in the direction of the living room."Did you bring him here on purpose to get him to listen to what Ben has to say?""I already planned to visit you and Mr. Peterson before the New Year. He's just tagging along."Outside the kitchen, Benjamin was still lamenting Cameron's wasted potential. Cade didn't make a sound. There was no telling if he felt sorry for Cameron or was tired of listening to an old man's ramblings to respond."Are you trying to make him feel sorry for you?"Clara was old enough that she couldn't keep up with the thought process of those younger than her. She seemed to understand why Cameron was doing this but was no less confused. "Why didn't you just tell him? As the person involved, you can de
Cameron, for once, didn't retort. She was in a pleasant mood today. Having to go behind her mentor's back and drop out of school was one of her regrets. She couldn't bring herself to contact Benjamin or meet up with him in the past two years for fear of seeing the disappointment cross his eyes. Now, this burden had finally been lifted.It was already past 9:00 p.m. when she and Cade returned to Capeton. Cameron, who had woken up early and experienced a rollercoaster of emotions, felt exhausted and dizzy when she got into the car. Her head throbbed with every slight movement. However, she didn't sleep very well and was also particular about her sleeping environment. It took her a long time to fall asleep despite the familiarity of the Carter Mansion, let alone in a car.So, despite her closing her eyes and pretending to sleep throughout the journey, the discomfort didn't subside.As the car pulled into the Carter Mansion, the headlights illuminated a figure. The driver took a clo
Fabian said, "Mr. Ackerman was taken away by the Office of Inspector General this morning. Madam Cameron and the Bark family are reportedly the ones responsible."The Carter Group hadn't broken any laws, nor had they been financially entangled with the Ackermans for over a decade. Still, the long-standing ties between the two families ran deep. If Victor Ackerman had skeletons in his closet, Cade would have a hard time avoiding the fallout.Cade propped his hand against his cheek. "What about my wife?""Madam Cameron…" Fabian had to steel himself to answer Cade. "Madam Cameron left the country. She applied for a long-term visa."Even with reporters hounding him, that sentence rang loud and clear in Cade's ears.A long silence stretched before he let out a quiet, bitter laugh.He had never realized how much Cameron had orchestrated behind his back. The Ackermans or the media could trip him up for now, but her betrayal cut deeper. Every move had been calculated.And the most absur
Cade crossed the room as Cameron, already seated, leaned her cheek against her hand, skimming the menu. "Want a drink?" she asked casually.His heart skipped a beat.Cameron's appearance radiated deliberate perfection. From her flawlessly styled hair and expertly applied makeup to her impeccable outfit and carefully chosen accessories, every detail was considered. Even her expensive "Allure" perfume hinted at a desire to captivate.A private dining room meant for couples with only spouses in each other's company…Given the setup, sharing a drink seemed like an implicit invitation.Cade pressed his lips into a line, trying to ignore the rising curve of a smile. "Sure," he replied, his tone deceptively even. "We'll start with two bottles of Magnolia's Pulpit," Cameron said.Cade choked on his water, coughing as he asked, "Seriously?"Who would start a date with such a strong distilled spirit? With two bottles, no less.Cameron propped up her chin and raised an eyebrow. "Is that
Cameron stared at her screen, where Gale had just sent a single word. "Ready." Her lips curled up involuntarily.Cade noticed the smile. He didn't know who she was messaging, but it irritated him for some reason. After a long pause, he exhaled slowly and asked, "What if the Ackermans refuse to settle?"Cameron didn't bother to answer. She knew Violet and Victor would soon be in hot water, so she hadn't considered the aftermath. However, to Cade, her silence only confirmed his assumptions—she was reckless, unprepared, and acting purely on emotion. He clenched his jaw and finally stopped holding his breath. Then, suddenly, he pulled the car over with a sharp twist of the wheel. "Did you think it through before turning yourself in? What if the psych evaluation comes back clean, and the Ackermans insist on pressing charges? What then? You hurt Mirabelle badly. You think you'll have it easy in prison with the way they dote on her?" In contrast to Cade's exasperation, Cameron remaine
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