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.

day Arnold changed his mind, stopped liking her, if their love faced opposition from the whole world, she would

about your background for a long

it out, “But what of it? I still

checking up on me?! Arnold, are you letting your detective instincts take

know more of

your heart, to be with you! I know what you’re worried about, but it will never happen. You’re Evadne’s best friend, and she’s told me more than once how much she wants you as her sister–in–law. As for my family, and my father, you have nothing to

and closed her eyes, shaking her head in denial, pushing him away with her hands on his heaving chest, “Dr. Bright is the second son of the Bright family, and Thaddeus is the CEO of the Abernathy group, both

Was she trying to kill him with frustration?!

ragged gasps, his handsome face flushing

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

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

stiffened, her heart pierced by a

“Alright”

into her jacket pocket and slowly drew out the badge she kept close to her heart.

looking intensely at her,

lips pale with tension. As she attempted to retract her hand, his strong

stumbled into his

her lips with a fervent kiss, deepening it with every second, his desire for possession swirling between

tingling with a current of electricity

smile playing on his lips. “You turned white just now, were you scared? Scared that I’d really leave, that I’d really take it back. Am I

Camille’s eyes brimmed with tears, her voice

you picked up from

and helplessness, holding her close again, “What’s the use of the whole world being right if I don’t like it? I only love you.

fears were shattered by his

be my girl,

you, take care of you. All that you’ve lost, all that you’ve never had, let me find

of love were never Amold’s strong suit. These few lines,

the tumultuous emotions within her. Tears streamed down

burst into a kaleidoscope of colors, fireworks exploding in

cradled the back of her neck and kissed her deeply, their embrace tender and

was why she couldn’t make it to the Elmsworth rendezvous with Camille. Instead, she sent Arnold

was to create an opportunity for him and Camille to meet. Even

corporate executives, and grappling with the group’s financial situation. Although Thaddeus was there to assist, she was still left with a spinning head and aching back.

“Ugh, I’m beat.”

like a beautiful robot short–circuited, “How can there be so much to do? Did Cassius

you’ve even taken the reins?”

been there: this is just the beginning. Once you officially take over, a myriad of

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

league of your own, my Evadne shines as the queen she is. What if I just give Abernathy

father aren’t on the best terms, but let’s

hands frantically, trying to dodge the suggestion, “If you really gave it to me, wouldn’t that be an over–the–top display of ‘filial piety? It might really piss Mr. Frederic Abernathy off. I couldn’t bear the thought of

let out a wry smile,

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