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 one day Arnold changed his mind, stopped liking her, if their love faced opposition from the whole world, she would rather avoid that beginning altogether.

Tve known about your background for a long time.”

Arnold’s eyes reddened with her pushing him away like that, he couldn’t help but spit it out, “But what of it? I still like you; I still look forward to seeing you.”

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

“I just wanted to know more of you!”

Arnold, desperate, gripped her shoulders tightly, “Camille, do you think I’m doing all 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 aren’t open–minded, then no one in the world is. My dad accepted Cassius‘ preference for men; he accepted Thaddeus, who once hurt Evadne, so how could he possibly not accept you? Why shouldn’t he?!”

Camille felt a sour tightness in her chest 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 paragons among men. What am I, how can I compare? It’s different. Don’t waste your time on me.”

The stubborn woman! Was she trying to kill him with frustration?!

Anold’s breath came in heavy, ragged gasps, his handsome face flushing red

couldn’t make it, so she asked you to pick up

it, right? I

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Chapter 6/3

her heart pierced by a sharp

“Alright”

drew out the badge she kept close to her heart. Clutching it

intensely

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

off guard, she stumbled into his embrace.

wrapped his arms around her waist and sealed her lips with a

her body tingling with a current of electricity as she embraced him, lost in the moment.

his lips. “You turned white just now, were you scared? Scared that I’d really

from?” Camille’s eyes brimmed

also something you

“What’s the use of the whole world being right

hesitations and fears were shattered by

girl, will

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

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

back the tumultuous emotions within her. Tears streamed down her

as if the whole world burst into a

back of her neck and kissed her deeply,

handovers from Cassius, which was why she couldn’t make it

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

project proposals, delving into the profiles of corporate executives, and grappling with the group’s

back.

“Ugh, I’m beat.”

embrace, like a beautiful robot short–circuited, “How can there be so much to do? Did Cassius even live a human life before?”

before you’ve even taken the

is just the

doesn’t exist in Evadne’s life dictionary.”

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 now,

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

let’s not go there. I know you and your father

to dodge the suggestion, “If you really gave

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Chapter 678

might really piss Mr. Frederic Abernathy off. I couldn’t bear the

a wry smile, ruffling her

he and Camille hit it off? Maybe they went ahead and did what grown–ups do when they’re in love?” Evadne’s mind raced with excitement, squirming in her man’s

to her cheeky musings, “Broad daylight, I doubt it. Plus, it’s Arnold’s first

uniform.” Evadne turned over to pin the man down, her fingers teasing his pronounced Adam’s apple, “Besides, what does daylight have to do with it? When you men are in the mood, being able to pick a spot is already something, let alone caring

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