Chapter 1
“Sweetie, Noel cheated on you, I caught him taking, his ex to a prenatal checkup,” Jasmin. Evans said over the phone.
Camila Bateman was at the police station handling a traffic accident case when she got the call from her best friend, Jasmin
“That jerk. His ancée nearly died in a car crash, and he’s out there cozying up to his ex” Jasmin was furing. “Your fiancé is basically as good as dead. Always MIA always busy. Turns out, he’s busy playing house with his ex now?
Camila’s grip on her phone tightened. The bloodstains on her collar made her already pale face look even worse
There had been a massive chain collision on the North Freeway Overpass. It was a serious wreck a lot of people had died.
Camila was lucky. When the accident happened, a white G–Wagon swerved out of nowhere and took most of the hit for her. She walked away with a few injuries and a mild concussion.
She had been trying to reach Noel Anderson over and over, but every single call went unanswered. She thought he was just busy. It turned out that he was busy–busy taking his ex to a prenatal checkup.
A chill ran down her back, making her shiver. In the middle of summer, it somehow felt colder than a winter’s nighc
Camila gutted her teeth against the stabbing pain in her chest, her hoarse voice trembling slightly. But deep down, she still couldn’t help but cling to a sliver of hope. “Could you have mistaken him for someone else?”
“No way” Jasmin said firmly. “My eyes have a built–in jerk radar. No way I’d get it wrong” As the spoke, she sent over a video. “Just took it. See for yourself. It’s that scumbag Noel”
In the video, Noel stood tall right outside the OB–GYN exam room, looking every bit the devoted man
Right beside him was a pethe figure in a white dress. The soft curve of her belly, the gentle expression on her face–it was Shirley Gladwin, Noel’s
The short video was only about ten seconds long, but to Camila, it felt like a century.
Her eyes fixated on their interlocked fingers at the end of the clip. Camila’s fingertips trembled. As the phone screen dimmed, her own wretched. disheveled reflection stared back at her.
Looking at herself, she let out a bitter laugh, thinking, “What a joke. The proof is right in front of me, yet I still cling to some pathetic hope, fooling myself. For five years. I’ve poured my heart out.
And yet, the moment Shirley crooks her finger, he runs right back to her. Even though Shirley got married and is pregnant overseas, in Noel’s eyes she’s still the one he could never let go of
It was already late by the time Camila finished giving her statement. Her car had been towed to the dealership, so she had no choice but to call a
Just as she stepped out of the police station and was about to go down the steps, a sudden wave of dizziness hit her, Her body swayed, and she nearly tumbled down.
“Careful. A gentle, melodious voice sounded as a strong warm hand wrapped around her slim waist. A critp, pleasant scent instantly surrounded her.
ir of smoldering gen de eyes.
Camila froze for a second. She instinctively looked up and found herself staring into a pair
ofher “You okay?” The man’s low, magnetic voice carried a trace of concern, like an electric current slipping right into her ears, snapping her out of her dave
d yet still managing to be polite. “Mr. Hemaining thank you. You saved me again
She straightened up, looking flustered yet
The man standing before her was none other than Johnathon Hemming, the owner of the white G–Wagon who had shielded her during the crash. If it hadn’t been for him, she might be lying in a morgue right now.
on Johruition.
Even after the car accident, there wasn’t the slightest trace of dishevelment on
His simple white shirt and black trousers somehow made him look composed and elegant. The calm refined aura about him gave o detachment, like he didn’t quite belong to this world.
off a sense
of
Johnathon’s deep–set eyes lingered on her pale face. He asked casually, “You don’t look too good. Want to get checked out at the hospital!”
Chapter i
Camila shook her head. “No, I’m fine. Really, its nothing”
Johnathon glanced up at the darkening sky. His husky voice dropped a little as he said, “Your boyfriend still hasn’t come to pick you up?”
They had arrived in a police car earlier. On the ride over, Camila had told the officers her boyfriend would handle things. But now, there wasn’t anyone by her side.
Camila pulled out a biter, forced smile. “He probably doesn’t have the time.”
Johnathon seemed to catch on. His eyes shifted briefly, but he didn’t press further. Instead, he smoothly changed the subject. Then hop in my car. I’ll drive you home.”
His G–Wagon had taken a serious hit and was also towed away. The one parked nearby was the car his assistant had brought over.
“That’s alright. I’ve already called a cab. You’ve done enough for me today,” Camila said as the cab she ordered pulled up right on time.
She gave Johnathon a polite nod. “See you around”
In the fading twilight, Johnathon quietly watched her figure disappear into the distance. Only when she was completely out of sight did he slowly withdraw his gaze.
As soon as Camila got into the car, a message popped up from Luke Hartley, Noel’s childhood friend.
Luke: [Noel’s drunk at Midnight Mirage. Get here, quick.
Camila’s eyes darkened. She hesitated for a moment, but in the end, told the driver to turn around and head to Midnight Mirage
Midnight Mirage was a well–known nightclub in Emberwick. It was the go–to spot for people in Noel’s circle.
After asking a staff member which private room Noel was in, Camila stood at the door, ready to push it open. But through the gap of the door left slightly ajar, she caught a scene that made her blood run cold.
Noel was holding Shirley by the waist, kissing her like no one was watching. The air n the room was quiet, so quiet that the wet, messy sounds of their deep kiss echoed clearly.
Camila’s face turned deathly pale. She stood frozen, her mind going blank for a second. A wave of nausea rose in her stomach,
Then she heard Luke’s mocking voice. “Honestly, back then I thought Noel and Shelly were perfect for each other. I was sure they’d end up together. Who knew Camila would pop up out of nowhere!
“If it weren’t for her, Shelly wouldn’t have left the country and ended up marrying some abusive prick. If you ask me, nothing but a homewrecker.”
it’s all Camila’s fault. She’s
Camila’s chest tightened. Her lashes fluttered as she instinctively looked toward Noel, still holding on to a shred of hope, wondering, “Will he stand up for me?
But of course, she was just fooling herself. Noel held a wine glass in one hand, resting the other lazily on the back of the sofa behind Shirley.
When he heard Luke’s words, he simply curled his lips into a faint smile, saying nothing–not a single word to defend her.
“Noel, seriously, how did you even end up engaged to someone like Camila! It was so out of the blue. None of us saw it coming. It felt like you were just ticking off a task,” Luke asked
Noel, who had been silent the whole time, let out a mocking laugh. “Of course it was just a task.”
“Oh!” The whole room suddenly perked up, clearly interested.
Sitting next to Noel, Shirley caught a glimpse of someone standing by y the door. Her eyes shifted slightly as she softened her voice. “Noey, what do you mean? Didn’t you get engaged to Cami because you loved her?”
“How could that bet Noel’s always been in love with you. Isn’t that right, Noel?” someone chimed in.
The room fell dead silent, as if everyone was holding their breath, waiting for
Noers wer
A second later, Noel gave a curt “Yeah” and said flatly, “Her dad did my family a favor. My grandma pitied her and said she couldn’t stand seeing Camilla alone
coup if I managed to win her over
“She even promised me the Vice President position at Anderson Group
A round of sarcastic laughter erupted. “So you were forced into it after all. I was wondering how you could ever end up with someone like that—
2/3
Chapter 1
Camila, really? She had the nerve to pull the pity card just to thing to you.”
Standing outside the door, Camila shivered are hair on her body stood on end as a chill pierced straight through her heart. She struggled to steady herself just to keep from collapsing
Luke’s disgusted voice rang out again from inside. “V
“You should just dump that desperate leech already. I bet all she’s after is your family’s fortune.
Noel, who hadn’t shown much interest until now, let out a dismissive scoff, his tone dripping with contempt. Since you already know she’s a desperate leech, let’s see if she even has what it takes”
Camila thought, Desperate leech? So that’s what I am to him, huh?
Tear welled up blurring her vision. She didn’t even know if it was from the cold or the anger. Her body trembled uncontrollably, and before she knew it she stumbled a step forward, accidentally bumping men the door.
The door suddenly swung open. The sharp sound of laughter inside instantly came to an awkward halt.
AD
