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

known about your background for a long time.”

away like that, he couldn’t help but spit it out,

words, “You’ve been checking up

just wanted to know more

this for fun? I’m doing it to get closer to you, to reach 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 fear. If they

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 paragons

trying to kill him with

heavy, ragged gasps, his handsome

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

“My badge, you still have it, right? I have an important meeting at the courthouse later, and everyone needs to wear theirs. Give it

her heart pierced by a sharp

“Alright”

and slowly drew out the badge she kept close to her heart. Clutching it tightly in her palm, then

intensely at her, extending his hand.

the badge in his palm, her lips pale with tension. As she attempted to retract her hand, his strong grasp suddenly enveloped

guard, she stumbled into his

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

with a current of electricity as

crooked 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

from?” Camille’s eyes brimmed with tears, her voice choked with

you picked

mix of adoration and helplessness, holding her close again, “What’s the use of the whole world being right

that moment, all hesitations and fears were shattered by his

girl,

take care of you. All that you’ve lost, all that you’ve never had, let me find it for you, piece by piece. Please, give

were never Amold’s strong suit. These few lines, hard–won from his heart’s depths,

back the tumultuous emotions within her. Tears streamed down her

burst into a kaleidoscope of colors, fireworks exploding in brilliant

neck and kissed her deeply, their embrace tender

Evadne was swamped with work handovers from Cassius, which was why she couldn’t make it to the Elmsworth rendezvous with Camille. Instead, she sent Arnold to pick up some clothes.

Camille to meet. Even

delving into the profiles of corporate executives, and grappling with the group’s financial situation. Although

“Ugh, I’m beat.”

slumped into her man’s embrace, like a beautiful robot short–circuited, “How can there be so much to do?

before you’ve even taken

give you a heads up from someone who’s been there: this is just the beginning. Once you officially take

that word doesn’t exist in Evadne’s life

going to excel. Just like when I took over K

“Looking back, none can rival you; in a league of your own, my Evadne shines as the queen she is. What

not go there. I know you and your father aren’t on the best terms, but let’s not overdo

“If you really gave it to me, wouldn’t that be an over–the–top display of ‘filial piety? It might really piss Mr.

out a wry smile, ruffling her hair affectionately.

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255