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
Just as Cade was about to speak, Cameron stubbed out her cigarette and slammed the window shut with a resounding bang. He pulled his arm out of Mirabelle's grasp with a blank expression. "Stop being so superstitious. Whether your year goes well or not has nothing to do with birthday wishes. Let's go. I'll have the driver take you home."Mirabelle clutched the ribbon wrapped around the cake box in frustration as she watched his retreating figure."You won't even spend time with me on my birthday, Cade?"She knew it was best to say nothing and simply look at him with a pitiful look in her eyes. That would better highlight the contrast between her and Cameron. No man of sound mind would be attracted to such a bossy and unreasonable woman like her.However, Mirabelle was overeager. She remembered what she had done and knew Cameron wouldn't let her off the hook. Back then, it was Cameron who backed her into a corner by leveraging what little affection the Yorkswork family had for he
Violet assumed the posture of a superior reprimanding a subordinate."I heard from Nerissa that you grew up in the countryside and how your biological parents were uneducated. They might not have taught you proper manners, but considering the ties we have with your adoptive parents, I will remind you that respecting your elders is what makes a child likable."Despite her words, she still discreetly checked her surroundings as she walked over. It was only after she made sure that the seat Cameron chose was picked at random that she could sit down.No one believed Mirabelle's original statement. However, Violet, as her mother, wholeheartedly trusted her daughter. She was extremely wary of the person who had caused her daughter great harm."My parents weren't just uneducated. They were scumbags, the kind that would go to hell when they die," Cameron said maliciously, though with a lighthearted smile."But anyone who tried to teach me manners ended up dead. Are you sure you want to do
Rather than say something, Cameron looked at Cade with a wry smile. It was as if she was going along with it.The sight of her smile had Cade's temples throbbing violently. He said through gritted teeth, "Isn't the Carter Mansion massive enough for you? "Besides, why did you choose to accept a house from the Ackerman family when you have better choices out there? They resent you for what you did to Mirabelle. Do you think they'd give you a house out of the kindness of their hearts?""What did I do?" Cameron raised an eyebrow in amusement. "If it weren't for me, she wouldn't be living such an extravagant life. She goes through new designer goods every day for an entire year."The Ackerman family, being in politics, was constantly under scrutiny from rival factions. Even if they were rich, they couldn't flaunt their wealth.But things were different abroad. Mirabelle let herself loose and was thriving like never before.Cade, recalling her disabled hands and ruined career, paused
It was loud over at Asher's end of the call, so he told her to wait and went somewhere quiet. Asher replied, "My family plans to do so, but they only mentioned it once. What about it?"At this moment, Cameron felt that Melissa had been wronged. These people whom she called family couldn't care less about her death and even used it to their advantage. Now, her family was even going to marry her brother off to her enemy. "Did you know who was behind your sister's death? She loved you so much. Yet, you're marrying her enemy?"Cameron's thoughts were stuck in her throat. She realized in despair that even if Asher were to marry Mirabelle, she had no right to interfere.Cameron remembered the night Melissa died. She was kneeling in the living room of Laurier residence, repeatedly slamming her head on the floor as she begged Mr. and Mrs. Laurier, "Mr. Laurier, please don't settle it privately. Mel is also your daughter. If you don't help her, no one will."Her forehead was red and swoll