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.

if their love faced opposition from the whole world, she would rather avoid

background for a long time.”

reddened with her pushing him away like that, he couldn’t help but spit it out, “But

aback; her defenses cracked at his words, “You’ve been checking up on me?! Arnold, are you letting your detective instincts take

to know

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

her hands on his heaving chest, “Dr. Bright is the second son of

Was she trying

came in heavy, ragged gasps, his

it, so she asked you to pick up Dr. Bright’s tailored suit? I had my

just that, there’s another thing‘ Arnold’s cold voice came from behind her, “My badge, you still have it, right? I have an important meeting at

stiffened, her heart pierced by a sharp icicle

“Alright”

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

intensely at her, extending his

with tension. As she attempted to retract her

off guard, she stumbled into his embrace.

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

tingling with a current of electricity as she embraced him,

his lips.

that confidence from?” Camille’s eyes brimmed

also something you

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

all hesitations and fears were

my girl, will ya?

a sincerity as bright as 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 me find it for you, piece by

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

her. Tears streamed down her face as she

as if the whole world burst into a kaleidoscope of colors, fireworks exploding in brilliant

cradled the back of her neck and

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

for him and Camille to meet. Even if Cupid was willing, without sight, how could sparks

with the group’s financial situation. Although Thaddeus was there to assist, she

“Ugh, I’m beat.”

“How can there be

second thoughts before you’ve even taken the

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

doesn’t

I’m not just going to do it; I’m going to excel. Just like when I took over

“Looking back, none can rival you; in a league of your own, my Evadne shines as the queen she is. What if I just give Abernathy Hotel to you? You’d surely

your father aren’t

gave it to me, wouldn’t that be an over–the–top display of ‘filial piety? It might

a wry smile, ruffling her

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