Cade replied, "My apologies, Mr. Ackerman, but I'm married. If I visit Mirabelle alone, it might harm her reputation."Victor was taken aback by his refusal. He paused for a moment and gave a dry laugh before saying, "I forgot to consider that you haven't divorced that Yorksworth woman. It must've been tough on you these two years."Cade knew that Victor was testing the waters. So, he replied without hiding anything. "Cameron is a good wife. I won't be divorcing her."Victor did not respond. He knew that he wouldn't be continuing the topic anymore. From Cade's attitude, it was clear that the hopes of him getting together with Mirabelle were slim to none. He never expected Cameron to be capable enough to secure her position as Cade's wife.After some small talk, the conversation shifted back to the day's main topic. Though it was almost certain that Victor had secured his position as president, there was still no official announcement. So, he felt uneasy. He'd also reached out to al
Cameron stared inscrutably at Cade. Just as he thought she would make another sarcastic remark, she inclined her head slightly, spat out the water that was in her mouth, and tilted her head back. She opened her mouth partially for his inspection. She was being oddly compliant.Seeing Cameron's lips and tongue up close had Cade's throat inexplicably closing up. He swallowed instinctively. Everything he said just now was a reflexive reaction to seeing how much pain Cameron seemed to be in. However, he immediately regretted it because it sounded inappropriate.Cameron didn't seem to notice his complicated emotions as she maintained her posture to facilitate his inspection. Due to her open mouth, her speech was somewhat muffled."Is it serious?"Cade quickly collected his thoughts and took a hard look. "It's a little red."The atmosphere then grew quiet. The restaurant's bright lights cast a glow over them. With each passing second of their eyes meeting, there was an undeniable te
The moment Victor returned to the Ackerman residence, Mirabelle approached him and said with a hint of pride in her voice, "Did you take care of it, Dad? I told you that Cade would help even if you didn't ask. "You could've just stayed home and waited for the notice. But, you insisted on going out rather than believe me."The sight of his daughter's proud expression had Victor taking a deep breath, as if about to say something but held back."Have you met Cameron since your return?"Mirabelle's smile faded. She curled her lips up in annoyance. "Why are you mentioning her out of nowhere? "You should get in touch with her more often to build rapport."She was practically jumping out of her skin. Her voice had cracked from outrage."Have you lost your mind, Dad? Do you want me to get along with Cameron? If it weren't for her, I'd already be married to Cade by now. You wouldn't have had to go through his secretary just to get an appointment.""Cade never explicitly agreed to take
Cameron's arrogant and domineering image was already deeply ingrained into Cade's mind. So, his first reaction upon hearing the words was disbelief. Who was capable of making things difficult for her? It would be a blessing if she didn't make things difficult for everyone else.When Cade didn't respond, Fabian assumed he wasn't planning to intervene. While contemplating the matter, he mumbled to himself, "There was so much alcohol. If she drinks it all, she might have to go to the hospital to get her stomach pumped."Cade's hand, which was reaching for his wine glass, froze midair. He shot Fabian an icy glare. "If you're that worried, feel free to drink in her place."Fabian inwardly felt satisfaction surging through him. Cameron wasn't his wife. Why should he be concerned when he wasn't the one being distracted because of her? Still, he maintained a respectful demeanor."One bottle and I'm out, Mr. Carter. Beer will do me in. But the drinks they ordered for Madam Cameron are har
Cade pursed his lips as he gazed sullenly at her, unmoving.Cameron added nonchalantly, "Don't worry. I won't hit her. We're just going to chat. If you're that concerned, you can stay and watch."Then, she tilted her head to glance inside the room, locking eyes with Mirabelle. "But I'm not sure if your precious sweetheart would want that."Cade frowned in frustration. He didn't like that he was being lumped together with Mirabelle. Also, what did she mean by "precious sweetheart"?With a grim expression, he explained, "It's not that I'm worried you'll hit her…"But the impatience on Cameron's face made it clear she didn't care what he thought. All she cared about was when he would leave. Cade swallowed the rest of his sentence with a bitter gulp.He ground his teeth together in frustration, then turned and left with no hesitation. Fabian, who was happily watching it all go down, hurried to follow."Are you just going to leave, Mr. Carter? What if Madam Cameron gets pushed around
Monica seemed touched as she stared at Cameron with sparkling eyes. "You've endured so much for our store."She had wondered how Cameron was going to find someone who could make Mr. Benson change his mind in one evening. She worried that time might be too short for any negotiations to take place. But now, she realized that the time was actually meant for Mr. Benson to sober up.Cameron knew Monica had misunderstood, but she couldn't be bothered to correct the mix-up. Just as she was about to drag Monica away, Fabian suddenly came back into the picture."I've checked the room, Mr. Carter. I can guarantee that not a single hair on Madam Cameron's head was harmed."Instantly, the atmosphere grew awkward. Cade shot him a glance, his expression sullen."Do you ever stop talking?""My apologies, Mr. Carter. That was out of line." Fabian quickly admitted to his mistake before asking, "But, have you told Madam Cameron?"Silence was his only answer."You're not going to win any girl's
The man thought Cameron was upset, seeing that she did not respond. However, he was an outsider, so he wasn't in any place to comfort her.He kept shifting around his seat nervously and said, "If you truly like him, then you should go after him boldly. "Testing him out like this would only drive him further away. Not all men may like this approach, but most men wouldn't be able to resist it. Trust me, I know."Cameron turned around and replied calmly, "Sure. I trust you. Go on now."Cameron wasn't trying to find out whether Cade liked her. She just wanted to confirm whether she could work with the Bark family. But now, it seemed as if that was impossible.Richard Elsing turned his head, one hand gripping the back of his seat as he leaned toward Cameron. Youthful energy radiated from his sharp, confident expression, adding to his undeniable charm."Such a two-timing, indecisive scumbag isn't worth your attention, my lady. Why not give me a chance instead?"He flexed his arm, sho
Cameron told him the truth. "He's one of my juniors from college."Cade pursed his lips. "He likes you?"The way Richard looked at Cameron was obviously off."Yeah."Cade fell silent. Cameron's straightforward answer left Cade unsure how to respond. He felt a surge of frustration building up in his chest. Only after a while did he finally say, "I didn't know feminine boys were your type."Knowing Cameron, it was difficult to tell whether she liked someone. However, it was clear that she seemed more tolerant of Richard than anyone else.As humiliating as it was to admit, Cade knew that if he acted prideful, Cameron would probably make him feel cheated on without any hesitation.Cameron looked at Cade and said in a serious tone, "He's not feminine, he's just a bit young, so his jawline isn't as sharp as yours. Also, it's not noble to speak ill of others behind their backs, Mr. Carter."The way Cameron uttered "Mr. Carter" carried a mocking tone.Cade smiled coldly. "He's young
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,
Cameron replied, "Did I ever say that I was a good person?"She tilted her head slightly as she smiled. Her damp hair gathered to one side.From Cade's perspective, the first thing he noticed was her slender neck and collarbone, with large areas of her fair skin exposed, speckled with a few water droplets from her wet hair.He felt a searing, intense emotion rising in his chest. This was Cameron's room, so it was filled with her scent. Cade subconsciously clenched his fists.The effects of the alcohol finally hit him, overwhelming his senses and making his head feel heavy and muddled.Cameron pulled open the door and gestured in a "see-you-out" motion. "I'm not one to force myself to please others, so we can discuss about our relationship when you decide to get rid of Mirabelle."Cade responded, "Can't it be something else?""Like what?" Cameron's gaze lingered on him as if she was inspecting an item for sale. "Is there anything about you that could spark my interest?"Her wor