Chapter 678

As Arnold spoke, his muscular arms wrapped around her slender waist, pulling her closer with an increasingly tight grip that seemed to fear her slipping away again.

Camille felt a ticklish warmth spread through her, her voice soft; she was playfully complaining yet more of saying in a coquettish way, “You do realize you’re like a thief, don’t you? Quite perceptive of yourself.”

“Camille.”

He called her name again, his voice laced with an addictive quality that brought a rosy hue to her pale cheeks, “Actually, you’re a thief too. A thief who stole my heart.”

Camille had heard her mentor occasionally mention her family. He said she had an older brother who, despite his dashing good looks, spoke the most cheesy pick–up lines that were oddly endearing.

Now, she could see her mentor hadn’t been exaggerating.

Seeing her silent, Arnold grew anxious and turned her to face him, “Are you still mad at me?”

Arnold Ashbourne.”

The way Camille suddenly used his full name made him even more nervous, his Adam’s apple bobbing uncontrollably.

“I’m the illegitimate daughter of the Evert family; my background isn’t something to be proud of. The Evert family hassle me so frequently, it’s a wonder I find any peace. Someone like me isn’t a good match to you. Being with me, you’ll never have a day’s rest.”

As she spoke, a pain throbbed in her chest, as if she were being forced to carve off a piece of her heart, “You deserve…better. Perhaps out of sympathy or pity, you felt the need to protect me. But once the intensity fades, you’ll see. Love is just a fleeting illusion that brings nothing but trouble. With your privileged background, even if you don’t seek out nobility, you could find a lady from a reputable, well–read family. My life is full of blemishes. And what you see today is just the tip of the iceberg.”

Camille, a top fashion designer, used her flawlessly cool demeanor and her dazzling creations to mask her intense inner turmoil and insecurity.

She felt rootless, like a drifting weed, never able to proudly tell anyone that she was a child of the Evert family.

It wasn’t that she was blind to Arnold’s virtues or his genuine love for her, but the deep–seated sense of unworthiness tore at her heart day and night, forcing her to stay alert.

Arnold changed his mind, stopped liking her, if their love faced

your background

away like that, he couldn’t help but spit it out, “But what of it? I still like you; I still look forward to

defenses cracked at his words, “You’ve been checking up on me?! Arnold, are you

to know

once how much she wants you as her sister–in–law. As for my family, and my father, you have nothing to fear. If they aren’t open–minded, then no one in the world is. My dad accepted Cassius‘ preference for men;

second son of the Bright family, and Thaddeus is the CEO of the Abernathy group, both paragons among men.

Was she trying to kill him with

in heavy, ragged gasps, his handsome face flushing

looked down, forcing herself to harden her heart and turn away. “I heard from my assistant that you came to pick up some clothing? Is it because Evadne couldn’t make it, so she asked you to pick up Dr. Bright’s tailored suit? I had my assistant pack it, she’ll give it to

“My badge, you still have it, right? I

stiffened, her heart pierced by a sharp icicle of

“Alright”

barely a whisper, she reached into her jacket pocket and slowly drew out the badge she kept close to her

Amold, looking intensely at her, extending

attempted to retract

she stumbled

wrapped his arms around her waist and sealed her lips with a fervent kiss, deepening it with every second, his

blurred, her body tingling with a current of electricity as she embraced him,

like an eternity, Arnold reluctantly broke the kiss, his fingers gently tracing her jaw, a crooked smile playing on his lips. “You turned white just now, were you scared?

do you get that confidence from?” Camille’s eyes brimmed with tears,

also something you

of the whole world being right if I don’t like it? I only love you.

fears were shattered

be my girl, will

the stars, “From now on, let me love you, cherish you, take care of you. All that you’ve lost, all that you’ve never had, let

strong suit. These few lines, hard–won from his heart’s depths,

within her. Tears streamed down

if the whole world burst

and kissed her deeply, their embrace

which was why she couldn’t make it to the Elmsworth

the clothes was secondary, the main agenda was to create an opportunity for him and Camille to meet. Even if Cupid was willing,

day, skimming project proposals, delving into the profiles of corporate executives, and grappling with the group’s financial situation. Although Thaddeus was there to assist, she was

“Ugh, I’m beat.”

man’s embrace, like a beautiful robot short–circuited, “How can

second thoughts before you’ve even taken the reins?”

massaging her temples, “Let me give you a heads up from someone who’s been there: this is just the

Ha, that word doesn’t exist in

do it; I’m going to excel. Just like when I took over K Hotel. I said rd outdo you guys at Abernathy Hotel, and I meant it. Look at me

can rival you; in a league of your own, my Evadne shines as the queen she is. What

you and your father aren’t on the best terms,

an over–the–top display of ‘filial piety? It might really piss Mr. Frederic Abernathy off. I couldn’t bear the thought of being responsible for

let out a wry smile, ruffling her hair affectionately.

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