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

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 you. You should go back. I’m very tired and need

voice came from behind her, “My badge, you still have it, right? I have an important meeting at the courthouse later,

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Chapter 6/3

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 heart. Clutching

Amold, looking intensely at

palm, her lips pale with tension. As she attempted to retract her

guard, she stumbled into

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

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

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? Scared that I’d really leave, that I’d really take

Camille’s eyes brimmed with tears, her voice choked with

you picked up from your

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

moment, all hesitations and fears were

girl, will ya?

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

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

could no longer hold back the tumultuous emotions within her. Tears streamed down her face as she gave

burst into

back of her neck and kissed her deeply, their embrace tender and passionate.

with work handovers from Cassius, which was why she couldn’t make it to the Elmsworth rendezvous

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

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

back.

“Ugh, I’m beat.”

robot short–circuited, “How can there be so much to do? Did Cassius even live

you’ve even

this is just the beginning. Once you officially take over,

doesn’t exist in Evadne’s

“Just watch me. I’m not just going to do it; I’m going to excel. Just like when I took over K Hotel. I said rd outdo you guys at Abernathy

league of your own, my Evadne shines as the queen she is. What if I just give Abernathy Hotel to you? You’d surely breathe new life into

you and your father aren’t on the best terms, but let’s not

her hands frantically, trying to dodge the suggestion, “If you really gave

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Chapter 678

Abernathy off. I couldn’t bear the

let out a wry smile, ruffling her

they went ahead and did what grown–ups do when they’re in

her cheeky musings, “Broad daylight, I doubt it. Plus, it’s Arnold’s first love; he probably isn’t that bold?

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

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