《A One Night Stand With My Boss》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 On a clear June morning, sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, gently waking Cam Blinking away her sleepiness, she shielded her eyes from the ring light and struggled to sit up in bed. Ouch! Pain! A pounding headache! Her whole body ached! Robbing her eyes, she looked around and was startled by the unfamiliar surroundings. This wasn¡¯t her bedroom. Where was she? At the sight of her bare body, her mind came to a halt. She rubbed her forehead, desperately trying to force her memory to function. She hoped to gain some recollection of her past, which was stubbornly hiding within the depths of her confused mind. Slowly, the previous night¡¯s events began to rey in her brain. She had caught her boyfriend in the act at a brot h e l. He had pleaded on his knees, iming his love for her, exining that after six months of simply holding hands, he had physical needs. Cam had ended it right there and stormed out. Her best friend had dragged her to a bar to celebrate her newfound freedom. Halfway through, her friend had to leave due to an emergency, and Carm found herself drinking alone. Soon, she was approached by a sleazy man. Slightly under the influence, Cami reached out, her hand closing around the arm of a stranger who was on the brink of leaving. It was an act born of desperation. Cam¡¯s head spun as she abruptly turned to see a man sleeping next to her in bed. As she recalled the intimacy of the previous night, her cheeks burned hot. Had she lost her mind? She had slept with a stranger! Now wasn¡¯t the time for regrets. She needed to get out of here. Fast. She quietly slipped out of bed. Her legs gave way, and she fell with a thud. She quickly covered her mouth to stifle any sound. She searched the floor and found only men¡¯s clothing. ncing up, she saw her lingerie hanging on the sofa arm. D a m n it! Panicked, she wrapped herself in the man¡¯s white shirt and tiptoed to the sofa to grab her underwear, and as she turned around¡­ ¡°Oh my G o d!¡± Cam screamed, clutching the shirt tightly for fear of exposing herself. The man in bed was staring straight at her. Last night, under the dim bar lights, she only knew he was tall. Now, she could see him clearly-gorgeous hazel eyes, a prominent nose, rugged yet refined features, and a jawline that flowed smoothly, undeniably handsome. His bare upper body showcased well-defined abs. She really had lucked out, grabbing a prime catch on a whim. Swallowing, Cam forced a calm smile and said, ¡°Good morning.¡± The man nodded, his voicezy as he replied, ¡°Morning.¡± With aposed smile, Cam eyed the man while frantically gathering her clothes from the sofa. Once she had all her belongings, she dashed into the bathroom. Bang- The door mmed shut a bit too forcefully, Cam didn¡¯t care. She quickly dressed. She turned on the faucet, sshed water on her face, and stared at her drenched reflection in the mirror, ¡®Cam, what were you thinking? She needed to get out of there right now! After drying her face with some tissues and taking a deep breath, she opened the bathroom door. Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. The man was now dressed in pants but still shirtless, watching her. ¡°My shirt,¡± he said after a few seconds of staring at her hand. ¡°Sorry,¡± Cam muttered, not wanting by further contact. She thought about throwing the shirt at him but instead walked over, handed it to him, and tumed her back. The men slowly buttoned up the shirt, his movements deliberate Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Cam had r h e a r s d many words in her mind. She thought that he should have dressed by now, so she turned and looked up at him. ¡°Aboutst night ¡°Do I need to take responsibility They both started speaking at the same time ¡°You go first¡± the man said, looking down at her, his face devoid of emotion. Pretending to be nonchnt, Cam said, ¡°Sir, we are both adults. It was just a night together Casual rtionships aremon. There¡¯s no need to talk about ¡®responsibility¡¯ when it¡¯s consensual. Once we leave this room, forgetst night ever happened.¡± The man was surprised by her response but quickly agreed, ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Bye¡­¡± Cam grabbed her purse, opened the hotel room door, and left with aposed farewell, As the door shut behind her, the man turned back to look at the faint bloodstains on the sheets, scoffing. Without that little trace, she would have yed her part perfectly, Cam rushed to the elevator, not minding the pain as she left the hotel. She reached a nearby park, copsed onto a bench, and harshly ruffled her hair How did this happen? Suddenly, her phone buzzed. The caller ID showed Enca. Cam answered the phone weakly, ¡°Hello. Erica, who hadn¡¯t slept all night, felt something was off and asked, ¡°You still asleep?¡± Cam shook her head. ¡°How¡¯s your grandpa Kennedy doing?¡± ¡°He just had a minor brain hemorrhage. They did a minimally invasive procedure in the middle of the night. He¡¯ll be discharged in a few days Enca replied. She heard birds chirping and suddenly felt uneasy. ¡°Cami, where are you? Did something happen?¡± Cam told her everything aboutst night. There were no secrets between them. ¡°Oh my G d ! Our girl is all grown up, having a one-night stand, huh? How was it? Was it thrilling?¡± Erica, whose longest rtionshipsted only three months, was never shy about discussing such topics. ¡°Stop it,¡± Cam¡¯s temperature rose, her face burning up. Erica raised an eyebrow,ughing. ¡°Come on, tell me! Was he handsome? How was hest night?¡± ¡°How would I know. Cam responded imitably. It was her first time experiencing something like this. ¡°Alright, just kidding. The most important thing is you took precautions, Erica said seriously Cam furrowed her brows tightly. ¡°I think we didn¡¯t use protection¡­ Erica was gobsmacked! ¡°D a m n! That guy is a jerk. He only cares about his own pleasure!¡± Her voice suddenly rose, startling Cam, who quickly covered the phone. *Get emergency contraception right away! Also, you never know with men you meet af clubs. Who knows if he¡¯s clean!¡± Erica, too agitated, caught the attention of a nurse. She lowered her voice and said, ¡°Tile with you to get checked. We¡¯re still within the golden 24 hours. There¡¯s still time!¡± Cam pursed her lips, taking a moment before responding. ¡°No need, I can handle it myself. You haven¡¯t slept all night. Go get some rest.¡± After hanging up, Cam took a deep breath. She had always been unlucky. Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. She was born on the day her parents divorced. Every kindergarten she attended shut down within a year. Both her elementary and high school buildings were demolished. She fell ill during her exam and missed her preferred university by three points. And there were many more¡­ She hoped that this time, Lady Luck would be on her side. Cam went to a nearby pharmacy, took the emergency contraception pill, thoroughly showered at home, and then took a taxi to the disease control center. Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Cam waited anxiously in the hospital corridor for her test results. She kept ncing at her watch, feeling for the first time that time was crawling by She stood up, sat down, and repeated the process over and over. Finally, the results were in. She clutched the report tightly, her heart filled with trepidation as she walked into the consultation room- The doctor took the report from her hands and examined it carefully Cam¡¯s heart raced, her eyes fixed on the doctor, her hands tuming white as she clenched them under the table. After reviewing the report, the doctor looked up and said, ¡°All eightmon tests for STIs are negative, including HIV. However, HIV has a window period of 2 to 6 weeks. I¡¯ll prescribe you post-exposure prophxis. Take it once a day after meals, one pill at a time, for 28 days. It¡¯s about 99% effective, but remember stopping the medication during this period can significantly reduce its efficacy. Come for a follow-up after you finish the course. I rmend another test after the window period for more urate results. ¡°Thank you, doctor,¡± Cam nodded. The doctor shook his head, saddened, ¡°It would be a tragedy if you were infected. Please, go pay for your medication and collect it, and be more careful in the future * Cam murmured an acknowledgment. No sooner had she left the health center than Erica called. Cam shared the test results with ber. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Taking medication is just a way to protect yourself and buy some peace of mind. I¡¯lle over tonight and keep you company,¡± Ericaforted her. ¡°I¡¯m tired and just want to go home and sleep. Let¡¯s¡­ not meet for now,¡± Cam sighed softly, still worried about the window period. ¡°What nonsense are you talking! Erica eximed angrily. ¡°Would you cut ties with me if I had HIV?¡± Cam frowned. ¡°Tsk, what was I thinking!¡± Cam rubbed her head, ¡°Okay, I¡¯m going home to take my medication and sleep. I have work tomorrow.¡± ¡°Get some good rest. You¡¯re fine, just don¡¯t worry about all this stuff,¡± Erica advised. The next day, Monday. As Cam stepped out of her building, she noticed a red Porsche parked conspicuously at the entrance of her old apartment complex. She smiled knowingly. The car window rolled down. ¡°Hey, gorgeous, need a ride to work?¡± Erica leaned out, her eyebrows yfully arched Cam got into the passenger seat,ughing. ¡°You¡¯re up at this hour?¡± ¡°Yeah, I came to take Princess Cam to work,¡± Erica turned and grabbed a lunchbox from the backseat, handing it to her. ¡°Trevor made breakfast Eat it while it¡¯s hot.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t scare him by waking up so early, did you?¡± Cam chuckled, opening the lunchbox to find her favorites-pancakes, beef patties, scrambled eggs, and a bottle of warm milk. She knew Erica was there to cheer her up. It was an unspoken understanding between them. ¡°This is delicious,¡± Cam eximed after taking a bite of the pancake. ¡°You know, s k i p p i n g breakfast every day isn¡¯t good for you. I should start bringing you breakfast,¡± Erica yawned uncontrobly. Camughed, ¡°Forget it. Asking you to wake up early is like asking for your life.¡± Erica wiped away the tears that had slipped out with her yawning. ¡°Nobody knows me better than you, Cam.¡± With Erica¡¯s personal chauffeur service, Cam arrived at the office much earlier than usual. ¡°Cam, you¡¯re here so early today?¡± Dana greeted her with a smile as she came out of the break room. Dana always dropped her kids at school and then headed to the office, arriving even before the receptionist.. ¡°Yeah,¡± Cam responded with a smile. ¡°Have you had breakfast? I made some waffles. Want to share? Dana offered warmly.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Dana had joined thepany the year it was founded, and only recently transferred to this particr branch office because it was closer to her child¡¯s school. ¡°Thanks, I¡¯ve already eaten, Cam smiled as she returned to her desk and booted up herputer to start her day- As the workday began, her colleagues gradually arrived. ¡°Cam, could youe to my office?¡± Mr. Cash called out as he possed by her desk ¡°Sure.¡± Cam picked up her notebook and followed Mr. Cash into the General Manager¡¯s office Mr. Cash sat down and gestured for her to do the same. ¡°Sil.¡± After Cam sat down, she opened her notebook and prepared to take notes. Mr. Cash leaned back in his chair, his expression serious ¡°Cam, how long have you been with us?¡± Cam¡¯s heart tightened Mr. Cash¡¯s demeanor made her nervous. She maintained herposure, smiling slightly. ¡°One year and a month¡± ¡°Over a year, huh?¡± Mr. Cash nodded. MI He then slowly continued, ¡°As my assistant, you¡¯ve performed exceedingly well over this past year He looked up at Cam. ¡°There¡¯s an opportunity at headquarters. There¡¯s a vacancy in the CEO¡¯s office that needs filling!¡± The previous night, Mr. Cash had received a call from n, who mentioned that his assistant Cam was quite capable and requested her transfer to headquarters to serve as the CEO¡¯s personal secretary ¡°Headquarters? Which position?¡± Cam was puzzled. Both the branch office and headquarters were in the same city. The branch office handled sales channels and had no ovepping positions with the headquarters.. ¡°You¡¯ll be the CEO¡¯s personal secretary, Mr. Cash rified. ¡°The CEO¡¯s personal secretary?¡±? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Cam¡¯s eyebrows slightly furrowed. As far as she knew, this position had been newly created at headquarters three months ago and had already seen over ten recements. Wasn¡¯t this just like setting her up to be fired? Mr. Cash continued, The sry for the CEO¡¯s personal secretary is double what you¡¯re currently eaming, with a raise after the probation period, plus monthly bonuses, quarterly bonuses, and annual bonuses. The benefits are better than the ones at this branch office.¡± Cam pursed her lips. She was well aware that the headquarters paid more, but one had to not be fired to receive it. She frowned slightly, her red lips parting slightly. ¡°Can I refuse?¡± Mr. Cash waved his hand. ¡°I understand your concerns, don¡¯t worry. Your position as my assistant is reserved for you. If it doesn¡¯t work out, you cane back¡± ¡°Understood, thank you, Mr. Cash.¡± Cam nodded. ¡°Pack up for the day. You¡¯re off work now. Report directly to headquarters tomorrow, Mr. Cash instructed Cam adjusted her chair and nodded, ¡°Okay¡± Back at her desk, she let out a deep breath. ¡°You look a bit off¡­¡± Dana stopped by her desk. ¡°Dana, do you know Mr. Connor?¡± Cam looked up, her expression nk. With over a year of experience at thepany, Cam only knew the big boss¡¯ name, Connor, and had no clue whether he was tall or short. He never showed his face on the company website.or in financial magazine interviews. ¡°Our big boss, Mr. Connor?¡± Dana¡¯s face was a picture, her grin barely contained. Cam nodded. Dana pulled up a chair next to her, leaning in to whisper, ¡°Why the sudden interest in him?¡± Cam sighed, ¡°I¡¯ve been transferred to be his personal secretary¡± ¡°Really?¡± Dana¡¯s mouth fell open in surprise, her face alight with excitement. She remembered to lower her voice. ¡°Let me tell you, Mr. Connor is super hot!¡± Cam was speechless and gave a perfunctory smile. She couldn¡¯t care less about how hat her boss was. Chapter 5 Chapter 5 ¡°Come on, trust me! He¡¯s tall and attractive, better looking than any movie star!¡± Dana scratched her head and chuckled, ¡°Although Eve only seen him from a distance a few times¡± Cam gave an awkward smile. ¡°No, I was wondering about his work style. You know, no one, male or female, hassted more than a week in that position. Is it because the expectations are so high, or is he just a bit entric?¡± ¡°What are you thinking about now?¡± Dana yfully tapped her on the head,ughing. ¡°The standards are high, and decisiveness is a must. His abilities are well recognized. Thepany was established just five years ago and is already a top yer in the industry.¡± She spoke with admiration, propping up her chin and studying Cam¡¯s face with a smile. As his personal assistant, you¡¯ll have to handle a lot of his personal affairs, so his expectations might be even higher. You¡¯re smart and clever, and with your angelic beauty and stunning figure, I think he¡¯ll be quite considerate.¡± Cam sighed. ¡°I might also be sent back here soon. Luckily, Mr. Cash has promised to keep the assistant position open for me. Otherwise, I¡¯d be out of a job.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry so much. The big boss is really a good guy, Dana reassured her, patting her on the shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m gonna set a small goal for myself, like staying for a month.¡± It was double her current sry, so Cam certainly wanted to achieve Dana smiled and said, ¡°Youck ambition. I¡¯m off to a meeting.¡± ¡°Bye, thanks, Dana¡­¡± Afterward, Cam checked the headquarters address. The headquarters building was located in a high-tech industrial area, home to hundreds of listedpanies. All the well-known major firms were there, and the office park was brightly lit untilte at night, filled with various legends and around-the-clock stories. Impressive, and far from where she lived, with no direct transportation. Taking the bus and then the subway was the fastest route and would still take an hour and a half. Traffic jams could make it even longer, meaning hermute time was several times longer. Cam felt quite disheartened. She shut down herputer and left work. It was only ten o¡¯clock when she got on the bus. An hourter¡­ Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Cam, what are you doing back at this time?¡± Cole was surprised to see her. ¡°Hey Cole, got off work early today and came to check on my mom,¡± Cam responded with a smile. At that moment, Cole picked up an apple and, smiling at Cam, said, ¡°Here¡¯s your favorite apple.¡± Cam waved her hand. ¡°Thank you. You keep it. I¡¯m heading back to the store, bye!¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Cole walked out with the apple. There was no one at the entrance of the fruit shop. He turned and looked towards ¡°Cami¡¯s Deli grinning broadly Cam sneaked into the shop just before lunchtime. Several tables were upied. ire was standing by arge pot, cooking ravioli. ¡°Can I have a bowl of chicken ravioli, no vegetables, please?¡± Hearing the familiar voice, ire looked up and saw her daughter, her lips curving into a smile. ¡°Oh, Cam, why didn¡¯t you tell me you wereing? I didn¡¯t make lunch.¡± ¡°I felt like having some ravioli, Cam said with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll cook some for you. It¡¯s Monday today. Why are you back so early?¡± ire asked, puzzled. ¡°I¡¯ve been temporarily transferred to headquarters, and thepany gave me the day off¡± ¡°Headquarters? Isn¡¯t that far from where you live? How long is themute?¡± ire said, concerned. ¡°Not long. I¡¯m only transferred there for a while.¡± ¡°Check, please¡± A customer called out. *Coming, Cam responded, smiling at the customer, ¡°One small bowl of ravioli for eight dors.¡± Chapter 6 Chapter 6 As the customer finished her payment codes, she said to Cam, ¡°You¡¯ve always been quite the charmer, Cam. Got a boyfriend yet?¡± Cam just smiled and shook her head. ¡°What are you looking for in a guy? Maybe I can set you up,¡± the customer offered. ¡°No need for that, another customer chimed in from a different table. ¡°With her looks, she could easily be a beauty queen. The line of suitors must stretch all the way to Paris.¡± ¡°Absolutely, she can take her pick.¡± ¡°Td love for Cam to be my daughter¨Cinw. It¡¯s just that my son isn¡¯t quite up to par The neighborhood regrs went back and forth, making Cam awkwardly stand in the middle.. ¡°If there¡¯s a good match, just let me know, I¡¯ve got the matchmaking fee ready,¡± ire said as she came over and put an arm around her daughter¡¯s shoulder. ¡°No problem!¡± At that moment, Cam wished she could just vanish. 1 made you so some chicken soup with lots of greens. Come and eat,¡± ire invited Cam to sit down. Cam scooped up a spoonful of chicken soup and swallowed it, feeling a wave of contentment wash over her. She¡¯d been eating it for over a decade and got tired of it, but she found herself craving it ever since she moved out. ¡°Cam, have some fruit after your soup, her mom suggested. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Looking up, Cam saw Cole approaching with some freshly cut apples. Thanks, Cole. Why don¡¯t you join us for some soup?¡± she offered. Having lost his wife early, Cole raised his two sons alone and ran a local fruit shop. He had harbored feelings for Cam¡¯s mother for many years. When Cam and her mother first moved to this vige, Cole had always silently looked out for both of them, Cam knew her mother also had a soft spot for Cole, but neither had openly breached that topic. She always felt her mother stayed single because of her. Whenever she came home, she would try to set them up. ¡°I already ate. There¡¯s no one at the shop, so I¡¯ll head back. Call me if you need anything.¡± Cole said with a warm smile as he left. ¡°Mom, I really think Cole is a nice guy, Cam said earnestly, ¡°You focus on yourself first. So, still no boyfriend?¡± ire skillfully changed the subject ¡°Uh¨Chuh.¡± Cam continued with her chicken soup. She had broken up with her ex a few days ago, but she wasn¡¯t upset. Perhaps she never really liked her ex¨Cboyfriend. Truth be told, she wasn¡¯t very hopeful about love, heavily influenced by her parents¡® divorce. Her grandmother once told her that her father had pursued her mother persistently and was always ready to please. However, he changedpletely after marriage. Not only did they often fight, but he also became abusive What was worse, when her father found out she was a girl, he immediately demanded a divorce. It turned out he already had a son from another woman a few months earlier. She vaguely remembered that one day, her mother took her to confront her father for child support. He insulted them and even kicked her. ire lost her temper, picked up a brick from the vi¡¯s entrance, and struck her father, leaving him bleeding profusely. The police cameter, but she couldn¡¯t remember how things were resolved after that. Since then, ire never pursued child support again and moved to this vige with her daughter never mentioning that man again. Only Cam¡¯s grandmother would sometimes look at her with resentment, saying, ¡°If only you were a boy, we wouldn¡¯t have to live this hard. Your father¡¯s worth billions now. I could have been living in luxury.¡± After helping with the dishes, Cam checked the time. She saw her mother preparing more ravioli, so she carefully pulled out a pill from her bag, and took it with water. ¡°Cam, what medicine are you taking? ire¡¯s voice startled her Chapter 7 Chapter 7 ¡°Vitamos¡± Cam squeezed out a smile and added, ¡°I don¡¯t eat enough vegetables. I¡¯m trying to get some nutrients¡± You should spend some time learning to cook instead of always ordering takeout Eating real food is much better than relying on supplements Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. ire spoke with heartfelt concem, then continued to focus on making ravioli. ¡°I will, I promise¡± Cam was relieved that her mom didn¡¯t suspect anything ¡°Mom, why don¡¯t you go upstairs and rest a bit? I¡¯ll finish making the ravioli,¡± ¡°Nice try, but the ravioli you make is a bit of a mess. They¡¯d ruin my reputation,¡± ire said with a hint of disdain ¡°What do you mean, a mess?¡± ?? 11 your office wasn¡¯t so far from home, I really wouldn¡¯t want you living on your own. You can¡¯t even cook properly, and always having takeout Look how thin you¡¯ve gotten¡± ire said, her eyes full of concem. ¡°Tm not thin. I¡¯ve got a great figure, Cam retorted, hands on her hips. ire watched her daughter, dressed in a smart pencil skirt and blouse, her fine figure and delicate features reminiscent of a TV drama¡¯s career woman. She beamed. ¡°You are so beautiful. I wonder which lucky man will end up marrying you¡± ¡°Let¡¯s drop that subject¡± Cam said, waving her hand dismissively. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s your life. I¡¯ve made some ravioli for you to take back and freeze. After you finish them, I¡¯ll send more.¡± ire carefully packed the neatly made ravioli into a container. ¡°Thanks, Mom I¡¯m heading back now. Call me anytime, or you can reach out to Cole,¡± Cam said, hugging her mom with a big grin. ¡°You rascal,¡± ire chuckled, giving her a light pat on the back. Cam winced yfully. ¡°Drive safely, and call me when you get there.¡± ¡°Will do¡± The next day, Cam got up early, applied some lipstick after her morning routine, and left for work. As expected, she hit traffic. The journey from her house to the subway station took over half an hour alone, and after changing subway lines three times, she finally arrived at the headquarters by 8:30 AM. Work started at 9 AM. She went to the restroom to swap her sneakers for high heels and checked her appearance before entering the office The sign for [Future Inc.] was strikingly conspicuous and stylish. The receptionist was already at her post. After Cam introduced herself, the receptionist, Tina, warmly escorted her to the waiting room and served her a cup of coffee. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Tina, the receptionist. Please rx here for a while. A colleague from HR will be with you shortly toplete your onboarding process.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± After returning to her desk, Tina excitedly told a colleague who just arrived, ¡°The new CEO¡¯s personal secretary is absolutely stunning. I hope she catches Mr. Connor¡¯s eye¨CI¡¯d love to work with her!¡± Faith scoffed, ¡°How pretty can she be? Weren¡¯t the previous ones pretty, too? Sadly, they left after just a few days.¡± ¡°She¡¯s different! She¡¯s not just pretty. She has ss. You¡¯ll see what I mean when you meet her!¡± Tina said confidently, crossing her arms and lifting her chin proudly. It wasn¡¯t long before an HR employee came to process Cam¡¯s entry formalities. ¡°Doesn¡¯t work start at nine? Everyone seems to be here early.¡± Cam nced at her watch. It was only 8:45 AM, yet most desks were already upied. ¡°Mr. Connor usually arrives at nine, so everyone tends toe a bit earlier.¡± Cam nodded, realizing she would need to leave home by 6:30 AM daily during her time at the headquarters. Chapter 8 Chapter 8 The HR employee then took her on a tour of the headquarters. The building was a five¨Cstory structure,plete with two elevators. The first floor housed the administrative, human resources, and nning departments, as well as the showroom. The second and third floors were dedicated to research and development. The fourth floor was where the finance, procurement, and legal departments were located, and the fifth floor was home to the CEO¡¯s office. F F22 2 As Cam toured the building, her colleagues were very weing, but she could hear them whispering among themselves after she walked past. Everyone seemed incredibly curious about the new arrival. By the time they reached the fifth floor, the CEO was already in a meeting with the senior executives in the conference room. Cam took her seat at her desk in the CEO¡¯s office, which she shared with eight other employees. ¡°Are you Cam?¡± A man in a suit approached her with a smile. ¡°Yes, how can I help you?¡± Cam replied, standing up ¡°I¡¯m n, the CEO¡¯s executive assistant.¡± n was a university student sponsored by the Passos family and had been working at Passos Corporation ever since he graduated. He¡¯s ced with Connor, the founder of this techpany, so that he could work closely with him. Connor was dedicated to developing innovative technologies centered around robotics, independent of the resources from Passos Corporation. In just a few years, thepany¡¯s products had gained international acim. What remained unknown to the public was that he was the youngest grandson of the renowned billionaire, Ray. Connor was a total workaholic, often workingte into the night and not staying at his family estate, which worried Ray about his health. Ray insisted that Connor needed a personal secretary to take care of his daily routines, or else he would have to move back to the family estate. Reluctantly, Connor agreed.. In just a few months, n had proposed eleven candidates, but none met Connor¡¯s standards, regardless of gender. He heard about a bright and diligent assistant manager from the branch office and had no choice but to request her transfer. The moment he saw Cam, he was impressed. ¡°This position will mainly involve managing Mr. Connor¡¯s daily schedule and assisting me with my work. It will be busy, and overtime will bepensated ording toborws, with additional allowances as detailed in the employee handbook, n exined. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°As for Mr. Connor, he has high standards, is a perfectionist, and values privacy. Remember, don¡¯t ask questions that shouldn¡¯t be asked, and don¡¯t say things that shouldn¡¯t be said, ¡°One of your most important duties will be ensuring Mr. Connor has his breakfast and lunch. Every morning, you¡¯ll need to arrive early at Mr. Connor¡¯s house to make sure he eats his breakfast ¡°Breakfast?¡± Cam blurted out in surprise. She skipped breakfast and was expected to ensure her boss ate his? Also, didn¡¯t that mean leaving home before dawn? No wonder no onested long in this job. ¡°If Mr. Connor refuses to eat, what can I do?¡± Cam asked with a forced smile. ¡°Just tell him it¡¯s his grandfather¡¯s directive. He won¡¯t make it too hard on you,¡± n reassured her with a smile. ¡°Here¡¯s Mr. Connor¡¯s home address and the code. Just be there before 8:30 AM. Mr. Connor doesn¡¯t like people invading his personal space, so try to make yourself as inconspicuous as possible¡± Cam nced at the address it was in a top¨Ctier luxury area! She maintained her smile with effort. Although it wasn¡¯t far from the office, that area had no subway ess. SPF 322 38 2 3 3 2 2 2 2 8 n seemed to guess her thoughts and added with a smile, ¡°Thepany will cover your taxi fare.¡± Cam¡¯s smile became much more genuine. Suddenly, the door to the conference room opened ¨C the meeting must have ended. ¡°Mr. Connor ising: n whispered. Following n¡¯s gaze, Cam turned to look. The moment she saw her boss, her mind was struck as if by lightning, her body tingling. from head to toe. Her eyes widened in shock. It was him! The man from that night! Connor walked towards where she was standing. Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Campletely forgot to breathe, her face freezing in ce as a piercing ringing echoed in her ears. She watched the moving lips of people around her, understanding nothing as if she were deaf. Connor, with his long strides, was getting closer. In her sight, his tall figure gradually narrowed down to just his chest and above. She clearly saw his dark eyes flicker slightly, his lips tightly closed, his face devoid of any emotion. He passed by her like a breeze. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. n followed Connor into the CEO¡¯s office, followed by the sound of the door closing softly. Cam suddenly gasped for air breathing heavily as if to refill the oxygen she had missed. She copsed weakly into a chair, her heart pounding violently. It really was him! Why was she so unlucky? Was the world really this small? Her one night stand was with her own boss! She turned her head to nce at the closed door. Had Connor recognized her just now? In the CEO¡¯s office. ¡°Who is she?¡± Connor¡¯s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly ¡°Her?¡± n paused for half a second, realizing Connor was referring to Cam, and reported, ¡°This is your new personal assistant, named Cam. She used to be the branch office manager, Mr. Cash¡¯s assistant.¡± Connor sat on the couch, one hand gently gripping his knee, the other running his fingers along the rim of his coffee mug, looking up at n. ¡°You transferred her here?¡± Yes, Mr. Ray was aware that you had dismissed another personal assistant and was quite displeased. He called me over the weekend demanding a recement within three days. HR couldn¡¯t recruit in time. I¡¯ve always heard that Mr. Cash¡¯s assistant was meticulous and performed well, a real asset to him, and it turns out she¡¯s also quite pleasing to the eye.¡± n knew his face was not swayed by beauty, but he added thatstment anyway. Connor thoughtfully stared at the coffee cup in front of him, his fingers tapping lightly. ¡°Send me her resume.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± n quickly opened his smartphone and sent the digital resume to him before exiting the CEO¡¯s office. Connor, after reading the resume, walked to the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows and lit a cigarette, gazing out at the distant ocean view. ¡°Cam¡­.Cam¡­ n called out to Cam twice without a response and then tapped on her desk. Cam¡¯s thoughts snapped back. ¡°Sorry.¡± n ced a document on her desk, saying, ¡°These are some of Mr. Connor¡¯s personal habits. Just a friendly heads¨Cup, Mr. Connor is not a morning person, so if you visit his house in the morning and he seems in a bad mood, it¡¯s definitely not personal¡± ¡°Understood, thank you.¡± Just as Cam opened the folder, the internal phone rang. She stared at the phone, her hand as heavy as if filled with lead. ¡°Mr. Connor wants you,¡± n said. Cam took a deep breath, swallowed, and slowly picked up the handset. ¡°Come to my office. Connor spoke briefly and then hung up without waiting for her reply. Cam felt an immense heaviness, a resistance bubbling up inside her as if bound by an invisible force. She took difficult steps towards the CEO¡¯s office door, and knocked softly. ¡°Come in.¡± Cam pushed the door open, noticing Conner standing in front of the spacious, bright, floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window. The sunlight streamed through the ss, casting his tall, upright figure in silhouette. He stood there, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a cigarette, a faint scent of tobo lingering around him. Chapter 10 Chapter 10 He stood there like a towering mountain, exuding an aura of invincibility. Cam stood a few meters away from him. Her lips pressed tightly together, her heart pounding like it might leap out of her body. She steadied her breathing before speaking naturally, ¡°Mr. Connor, did you want to see me?¡± Connor tumed around, walked to his desk, extinguished his cigarette, and sat down in the executive chair, fixing his gaze on her with slightly narrowed eyes. ¡°We¡¯ve met before,¡± he said c o o l l y. Cam, trying to suppress the panic rising inside her, forced a smile and feigned confusion. ¡°Oh? I don¡¯t think so. We move in different circles. It¡¯s unlikely we would meet. I have a prettymon face, Mr. Connor You might have mistaken me for someone else¡± She spoke confidently, her face betraying no sign of blush or heartbeat. She couldn¡¯t admit it, no matter what. Theers of Connor¡¯s mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. How could he possibly mistake the woman he had spent a night with? It was fine if she didn¡¯t acknowledge it. He didn¡¯t want to get overly involved, either. ¡°Perhaps I was mistaken,¡± he said, a satisfied smile ying on his lips. Cam felt a wave of relief. She just had to insist they had never met. Connor slowly began, ¡°Tve reviewed your resume. Aside from working at Future haven¡¯t stayed at anypany for a for a wear fou more than three months. Why is that?¡± Camughed awkwardly. ¡°The first twopanies went bankrupt, and thest one had a boss who was arrested for tax evasion¡­¡± N?velDrama.Org (C) content. She noticed Connor¡¯s brows furrow slightly as if doubting her words, so she quickly added, ¡°It¡¯s true. You can check. ¡°So, you¡¯re a bit of a jinx forpanies?¡± Connor chuckled. Cam was lost for words. Surely Connor was not superstitious, right? Could he be worried she might jinx him? Initially, she had applied to the Future Inc. branch, hoping to find a stablepany. She cleared her throat and said, ¡°Future Inc.¡¯s performance has multiplied several times this year.¡± Hearing her response, Connor looked down and chuckled. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve got it. You can go now.¡± On her first day at work, Connor didn¡¯t ask Cam to work overtime. By the time she got home, it was already past eight. Cam had spent the day in a state of nervous exhaustion. Stripping off her work clothes, she stood under the shower, washing off the day¡¯s fatigue with her eyes closed. Suddenly, the image of Connor from that night shed in her mind, and she was startled, her eyes snapping open. The thought of seeing his face every day meant she could never escape the memory of that night. The double sry didn¡¯t feel worth it at all. She just wanted to return to the branch office and be a mere assistant. After drying off and changing into a loose nightgown, she copsed despondently onto her bed. Erica¡¯s call came through. Her friend¡¯s excited voice came over the line. ¡°How was it working at the headquarters today? I heard Connor is quite a catch. Did you get to meet him?¡± Erica¡¯s family owned a clothing manufacturing business, and she worked at a fashion magazine, frequently mingling with high society. Camughed weakly and coldly. ¡°I met him and mentioned him to you before.¡± Erica¡¯s mind raced, puzzled. ¡°I have a good memory, and I even asked if you had a chance to meet him, ¡°I mentioned him to you the day before yesterday¡­¡± Cam sighed. and you said no.¡± oly sh i t! Your ¡°The day before yesterday?¡± Erica searched her memory of that day, paused for a few seconds, then gasped in shock, ¡°Holy one night stand was with Connor!¡± Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Cam sighed disheartedly. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. However, Enca was ecstatic, screaming several times in excitement. ¡°Oh my gosh, out of the millions of people in this city, how did you end up having a one-night stand with him? It¡¯s fate! You two are already on speaking terms, girl. Seize the chance and win him over!¡± Cam choked on her own saliva from Erica¡¯s blunt words and coughed a few times. ¡°What fate? This is a disaster! Plus, he denied ever meeting me. It was as if he was relieved.¡± 3 28 8 3 8 F: 8 ¡°What! That jerk! Acting like he doesn¡¯t recognize you after doing the deed! You were still a virgin!¡± Erica eximed angrily. Cam shook her head. ¡°Not really. Actually, when I woke up, he did mention he would take responsibility¡­¡± ¡°Then let him take responsibility! Future Inc. is very promising, and a wealthy wife!¡± Erica said eamestly. ¡°out to go public soon. You could transform overnight into Cam¡¯s eyelids drooped, a veil of sadness clouding her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t want to marry for money, and I¡¯ve no ns for marriage, you know that.. ¡°Your father¡¯s negative influence on you runs too deep¡± Erica¡¯s brows furrowed tightly, and Cam fell silent at the mention of his biological father, forcing Erica to change the subject ¡°Lily has arranged a dinner this weekend. Don¡¯t forget, okay?¡± After the day¡¯s shocks, Cam quickly fell asleep after hanging up the phone. She had that nightmare again. ire, alone in the hospital after childbirth, faced Cam¡¯s despised father with his mistress and a little boy. Her father stood in front of her mother, staring menacingly at the newborn Cam. The mistress sneered. Cam¡¯s father harshly spat, ¡°Useless woman, couldn¡¯t even bear a son.¡± Then he s n a t c h e d Cam from the crying ire and violently threw her to the ground¡­ Cam woke up with a start. The night was pitch ck, so dark she could see nothing. Gradually, her eyes adjusted to the darkness, and she nced at the clock. It was five in the morning. She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. It had been a long time since she¡¯d had such a nightmare. She sat motionless on her bed, staring out the window, feelingpletely drained. After a long while, she slowly got up and took a cold shower. After getting dressed in her business attire and applying some lipstick, she headed to Connor¡¯s ce. The morning was clear of traffic, and it took less than an hour by taxi. Connor lived in Fairmount¡¯s top luxury, Cedarhill Estate, where even the cheapest home was worth a fortune. Cam got authorized at the gate and then looked around the residential area. There was a quiet, mysterious garden. The entrance, full of ceremonial grandeur, offered a clear view of theyered rtionship between thendscape and the buildings. The eye-catching tiered water za at the center echoed the main gateway, blending life and art seamlessly. She boarded themunity¡¯s private vehicle and, apanied by a security guard, arrived at the building where Connor lived. The guard used his badge at the elevator entrance and then his fingerprint, opening the elevator doors. Bowing slightly, the guard gestured politely. ¡°Ms. Cam, please, the elevator goes directly to the 58th floor.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Cam entered, and the elevator swiftly ascended, arriving shortly. As she stepped out of the elevator the adjacent doors opened simultaneously. A man in his fifties, dressed in a suit and carrying a large bag, stopped upon seeing Cam. Politely, he asked, ¡°Are you the new personal assistant?¡± Cam nodded and smiled back, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Cam ¡°Nice to meet you, Cam. I¡¯m the housekeeper here. Call me David.¡± David lifted his hand, smiling, ¡°You¡¯re early. Please,e in.¡± Chapter 12 Chapter 12 After exchanging greetings, he unlocked the front door with the fingerprint scanner. Cami followed him inside. As they moved through the foyer into the living room, she was taken aback by the beauty of the space. The open, airy room was lit brightly, with floor to ceiling windows offering an unobstructed view of the stunning seascape. *Mr. Connor is still asleep. You can rx in the living room for a bit. You¡¯ll wake him around 8:15 for breakfast¡± David said as he set out the insted boxes of breakfast on the table. She nodded and took a seat on the couch, her eyes immediately drawn to a wall covered in famous paintings. They were by a renowned contemporary artist, Peter, and she happened to be a fan. Each piece was worth millions, and all together, they were valued at over a hundred million. Cam rememberedst year¡¯s financial report from thepany. With the huge R&D costs, the profits had just barely topped a hundred million. It amazed her how extravagant her boss could be, and she shook her head in disbelief. David brewed a pot of coffee and poured a cup for Cam. The room was filled with its rich aroma, ¡°Cam, have some coffee.¡± ¡°Thank you, David.¡± Cam sniffed the coffee, appreciating its strong aroma. She took a sip, finding the taste smooth with a hint of acidity and bitterness, not too overwhelming. After a sip, she set the cup down. She preferred her coffee sweet, and this was not to her taste. ording to the information given to her by n, Connor disliked sweets. Yet, she was particrly fond of sweet things, like mocha. ¡°David, could you teach me how to make coffee?¡± Even if it was just for a day¡¯s work, she wanted to excel at her tasks, starting with learning how to brew the boss¡¯ favorite coffee. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll show you, David replied with a pleased smile. He had made coffee for many secretaries before, but she was the first to ask to learn. ¡°These are Kopi Luwak coffee beans¡± ¡°Civet coffee? Cam eximed, horrified at the thought that she had just drunk something excreted by a cat. David just chuckled in response. When the clock struck 8:15, David instructed. ¡°Go wake Mr. Connor up. The door is unlocked. Just go right in,¡± ¡°Mr. Connor is not a morning person, and if he seems moody, please don¡¯t take it personally,¡± he added. ¡°Understood.¡± Cam was me n t ll y prepared, knowing that her high sry also included dealing with such situations. She cautiously pushed open the bedroom door. The room was brightly lit, and she frowned slightly. Just a few steps in, she tumed to look towards the walk-in closet, her gazending on a man¡¯s bare back, his shoulders broad and waist slim, his muscles smoothly defined. 525 32 33 Cam was stunned. She hadn¡¯t expected this scene. Her heart pounded wildly, and her cheeks involuntarily flushed red. She wanted to turn and flee but felt that would be improper. So, she stood at the doorway of the walk-in closet, feeling awkward and uncertain. Connor had already heard the door open. He calmly continued buttoning his shirt. Once dressed, he turned around, his gaze meeting Cam¡¯s. At that moment, the air in the room seemed to freeze. *Seen enough?¡± Connor asked c l ly. Cam quickly averted her gaze, squeezing out a professional smile to hide her embarrassment. ¡°Mr. Connor, your breakfast is ready.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Just as Connor finished speaking, Cam rushed out of his bedroom. He shook his head, amused by her reaction. Chapter 13 Chapter 13 David heard the door close and nced towards the bedroom, catching sight of Cam leaning against the door frame. ¡°Cam, howe you¡¯re out so soon?¡± ¡°Mr. Connor¡¯s up.¡± David looked puzzled. Normally, waking Mr. Connor was no easy task. Even Pay had trouble getting him out of bed. It seemed the new secretary had a way with him, and David¡¯s fondness for Cam deepened. A momentter, Connor, dressed neatly, came to sit at the dining table. David unpacked the breakfast he brought, still steaming hot and fragrant, drawing a swallow from Cam, ¡°Have you had breakfast?¡± Connor asked, looking up at her, his tone even. Cam hadn¡¯t even had dinner the night before, let alone breakfast, because she was too tired when she got home. ¡°Yeah¡± Cam replied with an unchanging smile. Suddenly, a rumbling sound came from her stomach. Her ears turned red in an instant, and she wished she could vanish into thin air from embarassment. Connor stared at the source of the noise for two seconds, then calmly returned his gaze to his food. ¡°Sit down and eat.¡± ¡°Cam, see if it suits your taste. Let me know if there¡¯s anything specific you¡¯d like, and 111 bring it tomorrow¡± David said, though his eyes lingered on Connor His silence was an agreement. Thank you David. I¡¯m not picky.¡± With that settled, Cam sat down and started on the nutritious porridge David served her. David then added scrambled eggs and bacon to her te. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°Thank you¡± Cam eyed the chives on the scrambled eggs, internally conflicted. She didn¡¯t eat chives. If she ate them? She might just throw up on the spot. Could she pick them out? But she had just imed she wasn¡¯t picky Ultimately, she decided to pick out the chives. Social death was more dignified than vomiting on the spot. Carefully, she removed the chives. Both Connor and David watched her. David spoke first, smiling, ¡°I won¡¯t add chives next time.¡± ¡°Thank you. I also don¡¯t eattro or green garlic, Cam smiled awkwardly. David paused, thenughed, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll remember that.¡± Connor huffed and continued with his breakfast. Cam muttered to her herself about his reaction. Well, it was toote to care now. She casually continued picking out the chives. She couldn¡¯t help but nce at Connor asionally, admiring how gracefully he ate. Watching him was quite a delight. After breakfast, they took the elevator to the underground garage. The mansion¡¯s garage was brightly lit, with a refined ceiling and elegantly colored walls. Luxury cars with consecutive license tes were everywhere. A Rolls¨CRoyce Phantom was parked closest to them. The driver immediately got out to open the door upon seeing Connor. Cam naturally took the passenger seat. She couldn¡¯t help but marvel. Her best friend, a legitimate rich second¨Cgeneration, drove a car worth just over a million. Future Inc. was still in its early stages, and the money Connor earned was hardly enough for such extravagance. This was too luxurious! She began to worry about the future of thepany. How long could she keep her job? ?? ? ?? ? ?? ??? Once in the car, Connor switched to work mode. Within a short ten¨Cminute drive, he had already made several business calls. Back at the office. After pouring Connor a cup of coffee, Cam returned to her desk to handle the tasks assigned to her by n. A stranger walked straight towards the CEO¡¯s office. Cam stood up and gently stopped him, asking, ¡°Hello, do you have an appointment?¡± Chapter 14 Chapter 14 The man nced at Cam with a hint of amusement and sneered, ¡°You¡¯re Connor¡¯s new secretary? That kid¡¯s taste is getting better. He hired such a prettydy¡± Cam felt slightly irked by his frivolous tone. ¡°Logan!¡± Having just opened his office door, Connor cought him flirting with Cam and spoke in a stern, low voice. ¡°Wow, you actually came out to greet me. That¡¯s rare!¡± Logan looked surprised, then nced at Cam again, his eyes twinkling mischievously, ¡°I guess I have you to thank for this.¡± Cam was quite perplexed. ¡°Get in here now.¡± Connor frowned slightly, his voice tinged with impatience. ¡°See you around, gorgeous.¡± Logan winked at Cam before following Connor into the office. ¡°This is Mr. Connor¡¯s good friend, so even if Mr. Connor isn¡¯t here, he¡¯s allowed into Mr. Connor¡¯s office, n exined to Cam as he approached her side. Cam nodded. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Inside the CEO¡¯s office. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Connor asked, his tone displeased. With his legs crossed, Logan chuckled, ¡°I came to see if you were down and out. It seems my worries were unnecessary. I didn¡¯t even go home after my business trip. Instead, I came straight here tofort your broken heart Connor¡¯s gaze dimmed. A few days ago, Haylie had publicly announced her engagement. Connor had spent the night alone in a bar, drowning his sorrows in alcohol, and under the influence, he had ended up hooking up with Cam. Logan nced outside the door and spoke mischievously. ¡°Hey, there are plenty of fish in the sea. Forget about that ungrateful girl. I think your new secretary is quite a catch. That figure, that face, wow! If you¡¯re not interested, I might chase after her!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than a pillow flew rapidly towards him, though his quick reflexes saved him from being hit. ¡°Don¡¯t set your sights on my employees, Connor said grimly. Logan snickered, a knowing look on his face, and teased, ¡°I have alsoplimented Amy from the nning department as being pretty, and you didn¡¯t say that then,¡± ¡°I see that you¡¯re doing fine, so I¡¯ll go catch some sleep,¡± he yawned twice. ¡°Get out,¡± Connor dismissed him. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m heartbroken here. Someone¡¯s feeling guilty and kicking people out,¡± Logan pretended to be hurt and left the office sheepishly. As he walked past Cam¡¯s desk, he said, ¡°Mr. Connor is handsome and wealthy. He¡¯s such a great man.¡± After finishing his sentence, he waved his hand and left. Cam waspletely baffled. What an odd character Logan was. During lunchtime, after delivering lunch to Connor, Cam and Tina, the receptionist, had lunch together. Tina, who loved gossip, shared many secret office romances. ¡°Why are they all secret affairs?¡± Cam asked, puzzled. ¡°Thepany has a policy against office romances. Mr. Connor believes the workce is for work, and dating in the office could affect performance,¡± Tina shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s bizane. The branch office doesn¡¯t have this rule. Out of sight, out of mind?¡± Camughed. Back in the office, Cam quickly took her preventative medication. Although her boss didn¡¯t seem like a sick person, she still followed her doctor¡¯s advice just in case. mpty and stood up to go to the break room for water Just as she was about to swallow her pill, she realized her cup was empty After finishing his meal, Connor tried to call the internal phone line but got no answer. He packed up his lunch box and ced it on Cam¡¯s desk ine, Biktar He noticed a box of medicine, Biktary, on her desk. He took a photo of it before cing it back where it was. Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Connor sent a photo to the family doctor The Adams, what is this medication? In just a few seconds. Connor¡¯s phone rang, and Dr. Adams was on the line As soon as he answered, the doctor asked urgently, ¡°Mr. Connor, who is taking this medication?¡± Connor loosened his tie and furrowed his brows slightly, replying, ¡°That¡¯s none of your concem.¡± Dr. Adams cleared his throat before speaking, ¡°Biktarvy is an antiretroviral medication used as an initial treatment for adults with HIV¨C1 infection He paused, then added. ¡°It¡¯s also known as a blockade drug for AIDS¡± Connor¡¯s actions froze, and his dark eyes narrowed suddenly After Dr. Adams finished speaking, sweat trickled down his spine. ¡°How many pills are taken per day?¡± Connor asked calmly. ¡°One per day.¡± ¡°Ainght, I understand. Don¡¯t tell my grandfather about this, Connor said sternly. ¡°Understood,¡± Dr. Adams nodded vigorously, ¡°Mr. Connor, if you need to get tested¡­ N?velDrama.Org (C) content. ¡°No need.¡± Connor out him off and ended the call. He sat back in his chair, thoughtfully staring at the door, rhythmically tapping his fingers on the desk. Three pills were missing from the box. She must have started taking them on Sunday. His brows were tightly knit. Who was she protecting herself against? That¡¯s also his first time alright? And to think she believed he had that disease! The more he thought about it, the more upset he became, and he pressed the inte Cam had just put the pill in her mouth when the phone rang. She hurriedly swallowed the pill with a big gulp of water and answered, ¡°Mr. Connor.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± She could sense a hint of anger in Connor¡¯s voice. She muttered under her breath about being summoned during lunch break and thought Capitalist! Exploiter! She stood up, straightened her clothes, and knocked twice on the door of the CEO¡¯s office before entering with a professional smile. ¡°Mr. Connor, you wanted to see me?¡± Connor¡¯s face looked sour as if he had a bad taste in his mouth. Oh wait, he always looked like that in the mornings. Cam noticed that Connor was silent, staring intensely at her his gaze piercing like a sword. She felt a sudden unease. Her professional smile was almost faltering when Connor finally spoke slowly. ¡°What medication are you taking?¡± Cam was choked up. Did he see her medication when he ced his lunchbox on her desk? Her mind went nk, realizing he must have known about the preventative medication ¡°Throw away your medication. I¡¯m perfectly healthy!¡± Connor red at her, his teeth clenched. Cam¡¯s smile was still frozen on her face, her toes curling in awkwardness. With things having escted to this point, there was no use pretending she wasn¡¯t the one from that night. She bravely replied, ¡°Understood, I¡¯ll dispose of it right away¡± Connor¡¯s eyes remained sharp as he said, ¡°If you needpensation, I can provide you with a sum of money. I don¡¯t want a third person to know about this.¡± Cam scoffed silently. What did he tak take her for? Though, indeed, a third person already knew¡­. She spoke earnestly, ¡°Mr. Connor, I¡¯ve already forgotten about that night. Your performance was hardly memorable.¡± Connor was visibly stung by her words, his face darkening and the fury in his dark eyes nearly exploding Cam, not waiting for his anger to erupt smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Connor, unless there are other business matters, fill take my lunch break Chapter 16 Chapter 16 After she finished speaking, Cam walked towards the door without turning back. d in a pencil skirt and a fitted blouse, her graceful figure was entuated with each step. She opened the door, deliberately flipped her hair with a flirtatious ir, and then mmed it shut with a loud bang. Connor was furing, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white Back at her desk, Cam¡¯s heart was still pounding fiercely. She hugged her head with both hands. ¡°Cam, oh Cam, why can¡¯t you just hold your tongue?¡± she muttered to herself. She sighed deeply, thinking about her possible unemployment. Cam nced at the prescription bottle, having only taken a few pills, and tossed it into the trash. She couldn¡¯t afford to use her health Insurance and had paid over a thousand dors out¨Cof¨Cpocket. However, the relief of knowing she wasn¡¯t seriously ill made her feel much lighter. As soon as it was time to start work, she hurriedly sent a message to Mr. Cash. Cam: [Good aftemoon, Mr. Cash. Have you been busy these past few days without me?] Mr. Cash [I¡¯ve had to work overtime for two days without your assistance.] Cam: Ill be back soon and ready to assist you at work again *smiley face¡°] Mr. Cash was surprised. His prized assistant couldn¡¯t evenst a week at headquarters? But it was just as well. He really did need the a week help. Mr. Cash [That¡¯s great looking forward to having you back.] Cam responded with a smiley emoji. She just hoped Connor wouldn¡¯t be too petty and keep her from returning to the branch office. For now, she was still Connor¡¯s secretary. She checked Connor¡¯s schedule for the afternoon. He only had one meeting in the R&D department, and she needed to distribute the meeting materials in advance, which meant they wouldn¡¯t cross paths. Just as she breathed a sigh of relief, a colleague from the finance department, Adrian, approached her with a financial report. ¡°Cam, could you please takest quarter¡¯s financial report to Mr. Connor?¡± Cam gasped. Couldn¡¯t he deliver it himself? Noticing Cam¡¯s uneasy expression, Adrian chuckled, ¡°The CEO¡¯s office isn¡¯t a ce we can just walk into. These tasks are for his assistant or personal secretary Since n isn¡¯t here, I have to hand it to you. Thanks for the trouble.¡± Cam forced a smile. ¡°No t Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. trouble at all; Life was tough. Just a minute ago, she was relieved about not seeing her boss whom she had confronted, and now here she was, about to face him. She still held her position and had to do what was required of her. A minuteter, Cam, with a nervous heart, knocked on the CEO¡¯s office door. ¡°Come in.¡± Connor was reviewing documents and didn¡¯t look up. Taking a deep breath, Cam handed over the documents, managing her facial expressions to the best of her ability, and smiled. ¡°Mr. Connor, here is the financial report forst quarter.¡± Hearing her voice, Connor finally looked up. He leaned back in his chair, a slight smirk ying at theers of his mouth, his eyes twinkling mischievously. Cam looked at him and was reminded of the harsh words she had blurted out at noon. In truth, she didn¡¯t understand the technical details of their one¨Cnight stand. She only remembered begging for mercy before falling asleep. The memory made her ears burn with embarrassment, and she struggled to breathe. She quickly said, ¡°Mr. Connor, I¡¯ve ced the documents here. If there¡¯s nothing else. I¡¯ll get back to work.¡± Then, she hurried out of the office, flustered. Connor watched her leave, a barely perceptible smile on his face. Now she knew fear? Before the meeting. n returned. Connor called him into the office. Cam craned her neck to peer into the CEO¡¯s office, certain that Connor, furious about the noon incident, was about to fire her by involving n Chapter 17 Chapter 17 When n stepped out of Connor¡¯s office, Cam looked up as he approached her step by step. Here ites, she thought. She was about to be fired. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. n smiled and said, ¡°Cam, could you go to the R&D department to find Mr. Bryan and pick up some materials for the uing meeting? Youll also attend the meeting and be responsible for taking the minutes¡± Cam was slightly shocked. What? She wasnt being fired? And she was asked to attend a meeting? What was Connor ying at? ¡°Okay,¡± she nodded. m went downstairs to the R&D department. The door to Mr. Bryan¡¯s office was open, and no one was inside. She asked. ¡°Hello, do you know when Bryan will be back? I need to pick up some materials for the meeting¡± A programmer looked towards the direction of the meeting room with a smile, ¡°They¡¯re in there.¡± ¡°Is he in a meeting?¡± Cam asked, puzzled. ¡°Not exactly. You can just go in,¡± the programmer said with a mysterious smile After thanking him, Cam headed to the meeting room and pushed the door open. The room was filled with the aroma of pizza, and several executives from the development team were enjoying their slices. Cam¡¯s sudden appearance didn¡¯t seem to disturb them. ¡°Cam, have a slice,¡± Bryan offered, holding up a piece of pizza. Cam shook her head with a smile. It¡¯s just past three. She hadn¡¯t even digested lunch yet. ¡°Are you attending the meetingter?¡± Bryan asked. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m taking the minutes. I came to get the materials. ¡°You should eat something then,¡± Bryan said with a hint of mystery ¡°Yeah,e join us,¡± another executive chimed in. ¡°No, I¡¯m still full, Cam declined politely. Bryan handed her a USB drive with a smile, ¡°Alright, you¡¯re new. You¡¯ll get the hang of it next time.¡± Cam didn¡¯t quite understand but smiled and epted the USB drive. It was close to four o¡¯clock, and Cam had the meeting materials printed and brought them to the executive meeting room. The Manager of Administrative Services, Marissa, had already set up the meeting equipment. ¡°Cam, I¡¯ll leave the rest to you. Call me if you need anything.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± After Marissa left, Cam distributed the materials as the R&D colleagues gradually arrived in the meeting room. At four o¡¯clock sharp, Connor and n entered the meeting room on time. The meeting began, and Bryan started the presentation. ¡°Future Robot 2.0 uses a quick¨Crelease battery design, with 58.8V battery power, which is consistent with the voltage standard gait of domestic mediurn and small¨Csized quadruped robots, providing about 2 hours of operational time. With our continual improvements, Future Robot 3.0 will have up to 8 hours of battery life and enhanced stability ¡°System control equations, calculus equations¡­ ¡°We transferred equations, setting the initial conditions to zero, applying force F as input, and measuring the pendulum angle as output. We performed a Lace transform on the differential equation to obtain.. ¡°Using MATLAB to express the transfer function¡­ Cam stared at the PPT filled with equations and functions, feeling utterly lost. Was Connor trying to prank her? He was definitely holding a grudge. The meeting involved too many technical terms, and she looked bewilderedly at Bryan¡¯s assistant, Curtis. ¡°Cam, I¡¯ll give you the matenalster so you can organize the meeting notes better¡± Curtis said unde ¡°Thank you so much!¡± Cam expressed her gratitude, ingly. She was responsible for sales at the branch office and was familiar with every specification of the Future Robol. Yet, attending her first R&D meeting was still a staggering experience. Every singleponent was the result of countless calctions and experiments. Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Connor was deep in discussion with his subordinates from the R&D department at Future Inc., the leader in modern robotics technology. He even had suggestions for modifying the programming After what seemed like an endless meeting, Cam finally understood why Bryan and the others had made sum to eat well beforehand. The meeting had stretched over three hours and was only halfway through its agenda. ¡°Thanks, everyone, that¡¯s it for now? Connor announced atst. Relieved, Cam checked her watch-9.30 PM. After organizing her documents, she returned to her desk, where Curtis had sent her the files. Cam: [Thank you so much. I owe you a smoothie tomorrow! Curtis: No worries, always happy to help a beauty!] ¡°Cam, how are you finding the pace of work? n asked. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Cam replied with a smile. ¡°Keep it up! I have high hopes for you!¡± n encouraged her giving a thumbs up. Connor walked out of his office. ¡°Mr. Connor, I¡¯ll have the driver bring the car around,¡± n said. Connor nced at his watch, a slight frown on his face, and then at Cam. ¡°Let¡¯s grab a bite downstairs before heading back,¡± he told n, n was momentarily surprised but quickly recovered. ¡°Sure.¡± Cam assumed she was not included and said, ¡°I¡¯ll head off then.¡± ¡°Join us,¡± Connor said simply Tm not hungry. You two go ahead,¡± Cam quickly declined, not keen on dining with her boss. ¡°Come on, it¡¯s Mr. Connors treat¡± n joked. ¡°Really, I¡¯m too tired to eat Cam blurted out, immediately regretting her words. Connor¡¯s expression darkened slightly. ¡°Am I working you too hard?¡± Cam sensed that the implied meanings behind his words were awkward. She replied promptly. ¡°I¡¯lle.¡± The three of them went to a diner downstairs. Connor ordered a seafood chowder and some sides. ¡°Any dietary restrictions?¡± the server asked. ¡°Please serve the chives andtro separately, not in the chowder Connor requested. Cam was slightly taken aback. n looked at Connor with confusion as well. ¡°Til be right back, Connor said, ignoring n¡¯s gaze and heading to the restroom As soon as Connor left, It, n spoke with a puzzled look, ¡°Strange, since when does Mr. Connor dislike chives andtro?¡± Cam just shrugged and gave a sheepish smile. ¡°It¡¯s the first time Mr. Connor is having dinner after a meeting. Quite unusual,¡± ¡°Mr. Connor doesn¡¯t like dinner? Cam asked, puzzled. ¡°Not exactly. Mr. Connor is a workaholic. He often s k ip s meals when he¡¯s busy, so his grandfather insisted on having a personal N?velDrama.Org (C) content. assistant ensure he eats.¡± stomach issues. But she ¡°Does Mr. Connor have a bad stomach? Camughed, amused by the thought of a powerful CEO with s quickly covered her mouth, realizing her faux pas nughed. ¡°Not really, but¡­ Mr. Connor¡¯s grandmother er passed away from stomach cancer, so he¡¯s very particr about his meals.¡± ¡°That makes sense, Cam nodded in realization. ¡°So your primary task is to keep an eye on Mr. Connor¡¯s dietary habits.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Since Connor showed no signs of dismissing her and for the sake of her sry, she was determined to excel at her job. When Connor returned, their conversation paused. Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Soon, a pot of c r e a m y seafood chowder was served Chopped green onions andtro were ced in two separate small bowls The server dished out the chowder to each of the three. Connor scooped some green onions into his bowl. n followed suit and then passed the spoon to Cami ¡°Cam, here you go.¡± ¡°No, thank you¡± Cam shook her head. n gave a meaningful ¡°Oh, cing the spoon back into the bowl of green onions. Cam avoided his gaze, keeping her head down. n stealthily nced at the boss, who was slowly savoring the chowder, seemingly indifferent to their exchange. Meanwhile, Cam pretended to be busy devouring her chowder, but it was too hot and scalded her tongue. She slightly stuck out her tongue to cool it off. ¡°Could I get a ss of ice-cold milk, please?¡± Connor called over a server. ¡°Make itctose-free,¡± n added, thinking Connor wanted the milk himself ¡°Are youctose intolerant?¡± Connor turned to ask Com. Cam, locking confused, shook her head. ¡°No need, Connor said expressionlessly. Soon, a ss of ice-cold milk was ced in front of Connor ¡°For thedy.¡± Connor said, nodding toward Cam as he gently forked some greens into his mouth Cam was surprised that it was ordered for her and hesitated before taking it, ¡°Thank you! She took a sip, and the pain on her tongue finally eased. She hadn¡¯t expected Connor to notice she¡¯d burned herself with the chowder. n watched them with a gossip-hungry look, slightly thrilled. After they had finished eating, the server came over to settle the bill. ¡°That¡¯ll be $385¡± Cam nced at the bill, impressed by the luxurious king crab and shrimp chowder, which exined its deliciousness. After n paid, he said, ¡°Mr. Connor, your driver is at the door He tumed to Cam, about to offer her a ride home, but after sensing something subtle between her and Connor, he closed his mouth without saying it N?velDrama.Org (C) content. While n was getting a receipt, Cam followed Connor out while opening a ride-sharing app. The rumor was indeed true. This high-tech hub was a taxi rush hour after 11 PM, with over a hundred people in line. It would be at least an hour¡¯s wait, but with public transport halted, there was no choice. ¡°Get in,¡± a deep voicemanded, leaving no room for refusal. Surprised but without hesitation, Cam got into the passenger¡¯s seat, knowing she wouldn¡¯t get home until past midnight otherwise, ¡°First to Cedarhill Estate, then drop Cam off, Connor instructed the driver Cam was back home by 12:15 AM. After a refreshing shower, she sat in front of herputer to continue working overtime. Thanks to the data provided by Curtis, the meeting minutes wereing along smoothly. By the time Cam went to bed, it was nearly 2 AM. Shey there thinking. There¡¯s a reason my sry doubled. The workload certainly did, too.¡¯ The next day, Cam arrived at Cedarhill Estate on time, expertly making coffee. There was no need to wake Connor up, who was already up and about. ¡°I can¡¯t remember thest time Mr. Connor woke up on his own, David whispered to Cam with a chuckle Cam smiled, wondering if they had exaggerated Connor¡¯s morning grumpiness. The past couple of days, he seemed quite normal. ¡°I heard Mr. Connor is punctually at the office by nine every day, neverte. His moming mood must be fine¡± ¡°Mr. Connor often s k i p s breakfast and chooses to sleep in instead,¡± David said, covering his mouth to giggle. Chapter 20 Chapter 20 In the car. The driver nced at Cam in the passenger seat and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t realize you lived so far away. It takes an hour by car. You must have to wake up quite early?¡± Connor, who had been reviewing documents, perked up his ears. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Mr. Connor is considerate and reimburses us for our taxi fares.¡± Cam looked up at the rearview mirror and deliberately raised her voice slightly, knowing it never hurt to sing the boss¡¯ praises. A happy boss meant easier days for her. ¡°That¡¯s true. Ourpany¡¯s benefits are among the best in the industry,¡± the driver nodded repeatedly Throughout the ride, they kept praising the boss and thepany. Connor, head down, couldn¡¯t help but smile. At nine o¡¯clock sharp, Cam sent yesterday¡¯s meeting notes to Connor¡¯s email. Connor saw the notification, and opened it. It was meeting notes from Cam. She had gone home sotest night, yet she still managed to get the work done. His brows furrowed deeply. As he read through the details, his expression softened. True to her reputation as an efficient assistant, having only joined the headquarters a few days ago, she managed to summarizest night¡¯s meeting so concisely and correctly that even the technical jargon was spot on. Clearly, she had put in effort All moming, Cam was so busy that she barely had time to drink water. With less than three months left until theunch of Future Robotics 3.0, her schedule was tight, and the tasks were heavy. Besides the R&D department, other departments were also bustling in preparation for the new product Cam shuttled between different departments, attending meetings all morning. After delivering lunch to Connor, she was so exhausted that she lost her appetite and slumped in her seat. Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. During lunch break, Cam nibbled on a few cookies but was too sleepy to continue and soon fell asleep on her desk Connor looked up and, through the ss, saw Cam¡¯s desk appeared empty. He took his finished lunchbox out of his office, intending to ce it on her desk. As he approached, he realized she was asleep. Cam slept peacefully, her breathing shallow, her skin contrasting with her long, curledshes, reminiscent of a delicate doll. His phone vibrated in his hand, pulling him from his reverie. Cam¡¯s brow slightly furrowed. The continuous vibration seemed to disturb her, so Connor silenced the phone. Once quiet returned, Cam¡¯s brow smoothed out, and she slept peacefully. Connor noticed a packet of half-eaten cookies on the desk, squinting slightly. She had said that she loses her appetite when tired. He adjusted the central air conditioning a few degrees warmer. After the break, Cam stretched, feeling quite rested aside from a numb arm. ¡°Cam, there¡¯s a fold-out bed in the rest area for naps. I forgot to mention it, sorry. Mr. Connor sometimes has guests, and this doesn¡¯t look good, n said. Mr. Connor had even called him about it, sounding slightly displeased. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ll remember next time, Cam said apologetically ¡°Tea time!¡± Marissa and a colleague came up with a big bag and ced a cup of iced tea and a cupcake on Cam¡¯s desk. ¡°Aren¡¯t our tea breaks on Fridays at three?¡± n¡¯s tone was stem. The administrative department colleague seemed confused, not even realizing that today was Thursday. She had made such a basic mistake. Marissa shrugged, a smug expression on her face. ¡°Mr. Connor Chapter 21 Chapter 21 ¡°Where¡¯s Mr. Connor order?¡± Cam asked ¡°It seems like Mr. Connor didn¡¯t order for himself, just for the staff, Marissa replied, her forehead crinkled in confusion. ¡°And this tea time is way too early. I haven¡¯t even digested lunch yet.¡± This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°It¡¯s all sweets. Mr. Connor doesn¡¯t eat those,¡± n added, equally puzzled. 1l go help distribute them. I¡¯ve left yours at your desk, Marissa told n. ¡°Thanks. !¡®ll have some when I get back,¡± he smiled at Cam, ¡°Looks like we¡¯re in for ate night at the office. Mr. Connor is sweetening us up in advance.¡± ¡°At least there¡¯s overtime pay,¡± Cam chuckled. She and After they left, Cam opened the afternoon tea bag and was pleasantly surprised. This bakery was expensive! She and Erica loved the desserts from this ce. A piece of cake was seventy to eighty dors with a cup of iced tea. It could cost thousands for the hundreds of employees in thepany. It seemed the boss was in a good mood! Through the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows, Connor saw Cam enjoying the treat, and he smiled unconsciously. Refueled by the sweets, Cam was a all fired up for t the afternoon, focused intently on herputer ¡°Time to leave, Connor¡¯s deep voice resonated through the office. Cam suddenly looked up, realizing it was already dark outside. She nced at the time¨C7 PM. No overtime today? ¡°Okay,¡± she responded. Seeing that Cam didn¡¯t seem to want to leave, Connor just stood in front of her desk. Cam felt an invisible pressure. She quickly packed up and shut down herputer. Connor watched her get ready, then headed straight for the elevator. Cam followed behind him. Connor got into his car, and she waved, ¡°See you tomorrow, Mr. Connor¡± Connor rolled down the window, ncing at the passenger seat. ¡°Get in¡± Cam¡¯s smile widened. ¡°Yes! No need to call a taxi. A free ride home, awesome! Without hesitation, she opened the passenger door, turned her head, and nodded with a grin at her boss. Connor slightly furrowed his brows and stretched his neck, closing his eyes to rest. ¡°Drop Cam off first,¡± he said nonchntly. ¡°No, no need, I live far away.¡± Cam quickly turned her head and waved her hand. Traffic was heavy at this hour. It would take over an hour to get to her ce. Connor slowly opened his eyes. ¡°Drive,¡± he stated unequivocally. During the rush hour traffic, Cam yawned repeatedly. The luxury car¡¯s seats were toofortable, and leaning against the door, she dozed off. ¡°Cam, we¡¯re here.¡± The driver parked by the roadside, gently tapping the sleeping Cam. Startled, Cam jerked awake, Her brain was not fully booted up, and she nodded mechanically She turned to look at Connor, who had his eyes closed¨Cshe wasn¡¯t sure if he was asleep, so she whispered thanks to the driver and carefully opened the door, gently closing it behind her, Squeak- Connor opened his eyes, watching her hop cheerfully into an old residential building. He muttered softly. ¡°Still bouncy in heels,¡°¡± ¡°Mr. Connor, back to Cedarhill Estate?¡± ¡°Mm. A few minutes into the drive, the driver remarked. ¡°Oh, Cam left her phone in the car.¡± Connor, ¡°Take it back to her.¡± Humming a tune, Cam climbed three flights of stairs, grumbling. ¡°When is thendlord going to fix these lights? It¡¯s the second time this month they¡¯ve broken.¡± Using the light from the windowsill, she cautiously ascended the stairs, gripping the handrail. She reached her floor, and just as she was about to close her door, suddenly, a hand swiftly caught the door, pushing it open with force. Cam screamed in shock, instinctively blocking the door with her body, struggling with all her might. Chapter 22 Chapter 22 ¡°I have surveince here! I¡¯ve called the police! They¡¯ll be here any minute!¡± Her voice trembled, her heartbeat thundering like a storm, eyes wide with fear and helplessness. Clearly, her words didn¡¯t deter that person. He pushed the door forcefully, and the disparity in strength made it impossible for her to resist the door¡¯s impact. She s t a g g e r e d backward. The door burst open, and a familiar figure stood before her. It was Tucker, her ex-boyfriend. Cam, suppressing the panic rising within her, turned on the light and scolded, ¡°What are you doing here? We¡¯re over!¡± Tucker mmed the door shut with a loud bang. Cam took a few steps back, her gaze swiftly scanning the room for anything she could use to defend herself, Thud! Tucker knelt on the ground, a repentant look on his face, pping himself repeatedly. ¡°Cam, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m such an a s s h o l e. I shouldn¡¯t have cheated. Please don¡¯t break up with me!¡± ¡°Get out of my house!¡± Cam pointed towards the door, teeth clenched. ¡°Cam, I love you, I really do. I can¡¯t live without you.¡± His face bore a humble smile, but to Cam, it seemed utterly insincere and despicable. ¡°I don¡¯t love you¡± Cam said coldly. ¡°The police will be here soon. Please leave immediately. Tucker stared at her intensely, his eyes suddenly fierce as he stood up and grabbed Cam. He held her tightly. Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Cam felt an overwhelming mix of fear and anger, her body tensing up as she pushed him away, screaming, ¡°Let go of me!¡± Tucker, seemingly out of his mind, forcefully tore open her blouse. With a snap, buttons sc a t t r e d across the floor. Her white bra was exposed, her skin stark against Tucker¡¯s bloodshot eyes, his expression turning grotesque Anger surged through Cam. Without hesitation, she grabbed a vase and threw it with all he r might at his head. The crisp sound of the vase breaking echoed through the house, shards flying. Tucker felt a s¨¦vere pain at the back of his head. His head reeled, and he let go, Cam seized the moment to run for the door. ¡°B i t c h!¡± Before she could open the door, Tucker grabbed her hair and yanked her back. Cam, in her high heels, lost her bnce and was pulled back forcefully. ¡°My beautiful girlfriend, tonight I¡¯ll show you what pleasure is!¡± Cam¡¯s head buzzed, ¡°Help¡­!¡± ¡°Shh!¡± Tucker forcefully covered her mouth. ¡°Save your energy for screaming in bed!¡± Cam struggled desperately, and dug her sharp heels into his foot. Tucker cried out in pain, flinging her onto the couch, still covering her mouth. He sneered as he lifted her chin. ¡°You don¡¯t seem to understand your situation. Just behave. Cam fought back fiercely, punching and kicking, but his adrenaline surged, making him impervious to pain, his leering gaze fixed on her. A wave of inexplicable fear rose in Cam¡¯s heart. She knew she had to save herself. Pretending toply, she stopped struggling andy motionless on the couch, tears rolling down from theers of her eyes. Tucker caressed her face, ¡°That¡¯s better. §±l be gentle.¡± Seizing the moment he let down his guard, Cam kicked hard at his groin. ¡°Ah!¡± Tucker¡¯s face contorted in pain. He slid off the couch, curling up and wailing. Cam quickly y removed her high heels, threw them at his head, and ran barefoot outside. Chapter 23 Chapter 23 fung open the door, ignoring the sting in her feet as she me desperately. She had only taken a few steps when she collided with chest and let out a startled cry, pushing hand with both hands. Connor taken aback by the shove, responded irritably ¡°Cam, what¡¯s got you running like a bat out of hell?¡± res familiar, deep, and nch voice reached her ears. Carm looked up abruptly, her face still marked by fear, breathing heavily it was only under the dim streetlighting through the window that Connor could see Cam¡¯s hair was disheveled, and tears streaked her face. Her blouse was unbuttoned and wrinkled, revealing her figure. brow furrowed, he asked sterly, ¡°What happened?¡± Overwhelmed with fear and grievance, Cam burst into tears. She pointed towards her home, sobbing uncontrobly. ¡°My exboyfriend onnor strode past her up the steps. Cam followed, worried about him. pushed open the door to find shattered ss everywhere and a man struggling to rise using the sofa. Then eyes met. nor clenched his fists, veins throbbing, and took a step forward, punching the man in the face. Tucker barely steady, s t a g e r e d and fell, blood trickling from theer of his mouth. Connor grabbed him by the cor, lifting and pummeling him repeatedly Tucker couldn¡¯t fight back. He had blood smeared over his face, crying out in pain. Disgusted by the blood on his own hands, Connor threw him down and kicked him in the stomach. Tucker curled up, blood pouring from his mouth. Hofed, Cam grabbed Connor¡¯s hand and cried out. ¡°Enough! He¡¯ll die if you keep this up!¡± This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Connor paused, then slowly turned around, his eyes fierce. ¡°Are you feeling sorry for him?¡± Cam shook her head, crying, ¡°If he dies, it¡¯s excessive self-defense¡­ Dinnor then stomped on Tucker¡¯s groin. That would incapacitate him, if not kill him. The room reeked of blood. Cam, terrified, trembled violently and copsed to the floor. Connor pulled out some tissues to wipe the blood off his hands and threw them on the man. He approached Cam, his eyes neticeably softer. ¡°Can you walk?¡± he asked gently. With tears still on her face, Cam shook her head. Connor took off his suit jacket and draped it over her, then scooped her up in his Thud- The door shut, sealing off the scent of blood and Connor¡¯s brutality. Cam clung tightly to Connor¡¯s shirt, still shivering Connor walked down the five-story staircase steadily. The driver, seeing his boss carrying Cam, was startled. He quickly approached. ¡°Mr. Connor, what happened?¡± ¡°Call someone to take care of the mess at Cam¡¯s ce,¡± Connor said emotionlessly ¡°Yes, sir, the driver immediately made the call. Connor helped Cam into the car and took a tissue to wipe the tears from her face. He opened a bottle of water and handed it to her. color After taking a sip. Cam slowly came back to her senses, her pale face regaining some Feeling better?¡± Connor asked softly. Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Cam nodded, her eyes fixed on Connor ¡°Will he die? Will you be in trouble?¡± Although Tucker¡¯s demise wouldn¡¯t be a loss, society was govered byw, and she didn¡¯t wish to see Connor face prison because of her. ¡°I don¡¯t know if he¡¯ll die, but I won¡¯t be in trouble. My family has some connections, Connor said lightly. ¡°Thank you¡± Cam said, her eyes brimming with gratitude. Connor chuckled softly. ¡°Tm your boss. Thepany is responsible for your safely.¡± He paused, then asked, ¡°Do you have a ce to go?¡± Cam patted her jeans pocket, frowning slightly. ¡°Your phone is in my coat,¡± Connor mentioned, ¡°Why would my phone be with you?¡± Cam looked puzzled. ¡°You left it in the car.¡± ¡°Were you bringing my phone to me?¡± Cam was surprised. Connor hummed in affirmation ¡°Thank you¡­sic Cam then called Erica. Im going to stay at a friend¡¯s tonight. She lives at Willowbrook Estate, Cam said. Connor rolled down the car window, ¡°To Willowbrook Estate.¡± It wasn¡¯t long before they reached Erica¡¯s ce, which was nearby. Cam looked down at her bare feet, embarrassed. ¡°Here, wear these,¡± Connor tossed her a pair of men¡¯s slippers. Cam slipped on the slippers and took off the coat she had draped over herself to hand back to Connor. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Connor, for your coat¡± ¡°If you think it¡¯s fine to go out like that, it¡¯s up to you.¡± Cam looked down and suddenly realized she was scantily d, wearing only a demi-cup bra, her chest almost fully exposed. Her ears tumed instantly hot, blushing to the point of almost bleeding. Embarrassed, she quickly put on Connor¡¯s suit jacket and fastened the buttons. Connor chuckled softly. ¡°Take the day off tomorrow. You don¡¯t have toe to the office.¡± At that moment, Cam just wanted to escape. She turned her back to Connor, muttered a ¡°thank you, and immediately opened the car door to flee. F Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. The moment the vi door opened, Erica¡¯s pupils shrank, and her initially smiling face instantly fell. She saw Cam in front of her, with disheveled hair, wearing an oversized suit and mismatched slippers, looking bothical and disheveled ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a long story,¡± Cam exhaled deeply. ¡°What exactly happened?¡± Erica pulled Cam to sit on the sofa. Pain crossed Cams face as she lled the recent events, still feeling the aftershock. Just as she mentioned Tucker¡¯s attempt to assault her, Erica leaped up, grabbing a kitchen knife from the table, mes nearly bursting from her eyes. ¡°That b a s t a r d! I¡¯ll skin him alive!¡± Cam quickly held her back. ¡°I haven¡¯t finished yet¡­ She told Erica the whole story. Erica pped her thigh, her face full of admiration. ¡°I had no idea Connor had it in him. He¡¯s really risen in my estimation! You should really thank him properly!¡± Cam¡¯s brows furrowed deeply, her eyes filed with worry, her hands tightly sped. ¡°Erica, I¡¯m scared¡­ could Mr. Connor end up in jail?¡± ¡°Surely not?¡± Erica said uncertainly, then, after a moment¡¯s thought, suggested, ¡°Maybe ask Wesley?¡± Chapter 25 Chapter 25 ¡°ording to what you said, you had already fled the house, so subjectively he couldn¡¯t still pose a threat to you. Mr. Connor¡¯s actions clearly exceeded the necessary limits for self-protection. If he causes severe harm or even death to Tucker, he needs to face criminal charges, Wesley stated. Cam¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll pay for the best defense attorney for him,¡± Erica said, holding her cold hand ¡°Hold on. I¡¯ll book a flight back tomorrow!¡± Wesley eximed. ¡°Come off it. You barely passed the bar exam after two tries. Don¡¯t drag someone else into your mess. Besides, don¡¯t you have finals this week? If you don¡¯t graduate, your dad will have your head,¡± Erica teased. ¡°That really stings! I¡¯ll ask my advisor if they know any good criminalwyers in Fairmount¡± Wesley retorted. Cam interjected, ¡°Let¡¯s not bother just yet. I¡¯ll ask Connor if he can handle this.¡± ¡°True. He did say he had the connections to deal with it. Let¡¯s not overthink this,¡± Enca agreed. After their shower, theyy in bed. ¡°Connor¡¯s gone all out for you. Aren¡¯t you moved? Enca tumed to ask ¡°Moved? Who wouldn¡¯t be? I definitely need to thank him property, and repay him,¡± Cam said resolutely ¡°Why not give yourself to him! You guys have already slept together¡± Enca joked, a bit wickedly ¡°Get lost. You are supposed to be a modern woman How can you have such outdated ideas? There are many ways to show gratitude,¡° Cam scoffed, looking at her friend with disdain ¡°Would you fall for your boss?¡± Erica burst outughing, ¡°I might, but my boss is g a y!¡± ¡°Are there no straight men in the fashion industry? Cam questioned in disbelief Erica raised an eyebrow. ¡°Maybe, but I haven¡¯t met one ¡°I still need to send my boss a message to thank him Cam sat up in bed, grabbing her phone, then paused. Erica asked, ¡°What are you daydreaming about?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have his number,¡± Cam admitted with an awkwardugh Ericaughed silently. ¡°Some assistant you are?¡± ¡°I always report in person. Let me find the executive contact info that n gave me THE Cam searched through her phone, finally finding Connor¡¯s number. Sheposed a new text and sent it. [Mr. Connor, I can¡¯t express my gratitude in words. You¡¯ve been a savior to mel meterally grateful and ready to repay you for saving my life! At Cedarhill Estate Connor saw the message, and smiled slightly it was so formal He saved the number,beling it Cam Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. At Willowbrook Estate. ¡°Has your boss not replied?¡± Enca inquired. Cam stared at her phone, shaking her head. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because it¡¯s an unknown number? Oh my, what if he¡¯s been arrested?¡± ¡°That¡¯s unlikely. The incident happened at your ce, and you¡¯re directly involved. If he were arrested, the police would have contacted you too.¡± Enca reassured, patting her shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t bother going back. Move in with ¡°it¡¯s alright. I was nning to move anyway Living at your ce isn¡¯t ideal long-term. Let¡¯s not talk about this now. Once all this is over, rs And a secure apartmentplex, so don¡¯t worry about me Chapter 26 Chapter 26 ¡°Ugh, I always ask you to move in, but you never agree,¡± Erica sighed helplessly The events ofst night had been terrifying, leaving Cam anxious all night. She only managed to fall asleep as the dawn barely broke. Cedarhill Estate David nced at the clock, looking toward the door now and then. When Cam didn¡¯t show up, he decided to go wake Connor himself. In the pitch-dark bedroom, the man on the bed slept soundly as David pressed the automatic curtain control. When sunlight invaded the room, Connor furrowed his brows and shut his eyes tightly, evidently imitated, pulling the covers over his face with clear dissatisfaction and annoyance. Mr. Connor, time to get up,¡± David called softly. He didn¡¯t respond. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°Breakfast is ready, David said as he pulled away his nket. ¡°I¡¯m not having breakfast,¡± the man replied gruffly. His tone was heavy with resentment, and his expression was as dark as a storm cloud. David, resigned, felt the resurgence of Connor¡¯s notonous morning mood that had been absent for a few days ¡°It¡¯s time for breakfast, Mr. Connor David continued softly, persisting for a full ten minutes. Annoyed, Connor finally threw off his covers, sitting up in bed with a scowl, roughly running his hands through his tousled hair. The moment Connor closed the front door behind him, he seemed like a different person. The previous imitability vanished, reced by a clear andposed demeanor. Inside, David looked at the untouched gourmet breakfast on the table and deeply sighed ¡°Mr. Connor, Tucker was rushed to the hospitalst night. He¡¯s been saved, but he¡¯s in a bad shape. His penis might not work again. We¡¯ve settled with his family for apensation of fifty million. They¡¯ve agreed to leave the country immediately after discharge and there will be no further issues,¡± the driver reported ¡°When is he being discharged?¡± ¡°He¡¯ll need to stay in the hospital for about two weeks¡± ¡°idents happen all the time, right? Connor said lightly, a faint smirk ying on his lips The driver nodded, ¡°Yes, getting caught in a robbery is quitemon¡± Connor thought for a moment, then said. ¡°The area where Cam is staying has significant safety risks. Have someone clean up my apartment at Belleview Heights.¡± ¡°Right away, sir,¡± the driver responded. Connor opened his contacts on his phone, chuckled softly when he saw the name [Caml and dialed. Cam looked at her phone, recognizing the number and answered, ¡°Hello?¡± Connor frowned slightly. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Hearing the familiar voice, Cam bolted upright, startling Erica awake beside her. ¡°Mr. Connor, good moming,¡± Cam blurted out nervously Erica leaned in closer to listen. ¡°I have a small house in Belleview Heights. You can move in there,¡± Connor said ¡°Wow, he¡¯s spoiling you, huh!¡± Enca, still groggy, blurted out without thinking. Cam, shocked by Enca¡¯s boldment gasped and stared wide-eyed at her. Enca quickly covered her mouth, looking apologetic. Connor¡¯s lips twitched slightly, and his brow furrowed. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. It¡¯s just that you¡¯re my assistant, and your current ce isn¡¯t safe. It¡¯s simply a perk I provide as an employer¡± At that moment, Cam truly wanted to punch Erica. ¡°Thank you Mr. Connor, but it¡¯s okay. I have a ce to stay¡± Connor¡¯s lips curved into a faint smile ¡°Cam, don¡¯t worry too much. My apartment is empty, and it would be convenient for work if you stayed there.¡± Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Cam thought about it for a moment. After what Connor had said, it would seern ungrateful to refuse. ¡°Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.¡± The driver will bring you the keys Inter. You can move in over the weekend, Connor said, leaving no room for refusal After Cam hung up the phone, Erica smirked a little mischievously. ¡°Do you think your boss might be into you?¡± ¡°Did you not hear how he spoke? Don¡¯t overthink it,¡± Cam replied with a big eye roll. Erica hugged her. ¡°Since we¡¯re up anyway, let¡¯s go back to your ce and stort packing.¡± When she stood at the doorstep, Cam¡¯s hand trembled uncontrobly as she reached for her keys. The events of the previous night reyed in her mind. She dreaded to think what scene would greet her upon opening the door. Would there be a lifeless body if Connor hadn¡¯t taken care of everything? Would the stench of blood permeate the entire house? Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Let me do it,¡± Enca said, taking the keys from her hands. Inserting the key and turning it, she held her breath and pushed the door open, Cam mustered her courage and stepped inside. The sight before her eyes astounded her. The living room was spotless and tidy, as if nothing had ever happened. Sunlight gently illuminated everyer, and a vase of fresh lilies spread their subtle fragrance through the air. ¡°The scene has been cleaned up,¡± she uttered numbly. ¡°Connor must have handled it. You don¡¯t need to worry anymore,¡± Erica also breathed a sigh of relief. After packing ten boxes, both were out of breath. The driver handed Cam the keys to her new ce. ¡°Nothing will happen to Mr. Connor because ofst night, right?¡± Cam couldn¡¯t help but ask. The driver smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Connor has taken care of everything. You have nothing to worry about.¡± That¡¯s a relief Cam finally rxed. Erica drove Cam to her new home. ¡°Belleview Heights is a top-notchplex. Even a studio apartment there costs millions. It¡¯s just sitting empty? What¡¯s Connor¡¯s entrepreneurial story? Does yourpany really make that much money?¡± Erica, an editor at a fashion magazine, was increasingly curious about Connor, particrly his insights on fashion. If she could get him for an interview, the magazine would sell incredibly well. ¡°Rumor has it he started Future Inc. after winning over a million dors at a hacking contest,¡± Cam shared what little she knew, mostly from coworkers. ¡°That¡¯s impressive.¡± Upon opening the door to the apartment, they gave each other a bewildered look. ¡°He calls this a ¡®small apartment¡±?¡± Erica pointed at the expansive living room. Cam was just as stunned. This was clearly a luxury mansion! They quickly toured the ce. ¡°There were four bedrooms, and all the furniture is brand new and luxurious!¡± Erica eximed excitedly. ¡°Let me tell you, Passos Corporation is truly incredible. Belleview Heights wasunched at the peak market prices five years ago. Then Ray sold off his real estate firm right before the market crashed under the debt crisis. Many publicpanies now faced closure. Ray sure had a keen eye!¡± Cam nodded in agreement. ¡°You have to respect such a legendary figure she said, knowing well of Ray¡¯s renown in the city. Erica sat down on the leather sofa, thoroughly pleased. ¡°It¡¯s literally move-in ready. I was thinking about what appliances to gift you, but now I can save my money.¡± The next day after moving, they went out to eat with their friend Lily. 28 28 Miss Cam, Miss Erica, hi, Brody greeted politely. Lily was Cam¡¯s college friend who unexpectedly became pregnant in her sophomore year and got married, leaving her studies unfinished: Once bright and clever, she now spent her days as a housewife, busy with three meals a day, taking care of her husband and child, bing dull and listless. ¡°Brody is such a good boy!¡± Cam said, patting his head. ¡°I¡¯m starving. Let¡¯s order some food,¡± said Cam, exhausted from a busy day. ¡°I¡¯m so hungry I could eat a whole cow.¡± ¡°Wait a minute. I¡¯ve got a coupon,¡± Lily said, pulling out her phone with a smile. This meal deal for four is a real bargain, just over a hundred.¡± Erica nced at the menu, which seemed scant. ¡°Alright, if it¡¯s not enough, we¡¯ll order more ¡°Hi-I have a coupon,¡± Lily called to the waiter. The waiter quickly verified the coupon, ¡°Didn¡¯t your husband get a promotion?¡± Erica asked. ¡°Why are you still pinching pennies?¡± ¡°He said the sry hasn¡¯t increased,¡± Lily replied, stroking her son¡¯s hair ¡°That doesn¡¯t make sense. A branch manager at Capital Solutions should be earning a decent wage. Is he still only giving you five hundred for household expenses?¡± Cam asked, surprised. Lily nodded bashfully. Erica frowned. ¡°At his level, his sry should be at least ten thousand, right?¡± Lily, who had never worked, was clueless about these matters and simply went along with what her husband told her. ¡°He showed me his paycheck, just over two thousand. He says he¡¯s under a lot of pressure with the mortgage and car payments, barely has money left for himself,¡± she sighed. ¡°Daddy hit Mommy,¡± Brody blurted out. His little face crumpled almost to tears. ¡°He hit you?¡± both women eximed in shock. ¡°That b a s t a r d, how could he hit you! We need to confront him. That¡¯s outrageous! Erica burst out angrily. ¡°He was just drunk, and he apologized,¡± Lily said, pulling her cardigan sleeve down. ¡°How can you forgive him so easily! Your family is far away, but here, we are your support,¡± Cam said, grasping her hand. ¡°Divorce him! Why tolerate such an a s sh o l e who doesn¡¯t even provide for you?¡± Erica mmed the table. Lily stroked her son¡¯s hair, smiling helplessly. Divorce had crossed her mind. ¡°I haven¡¯t even graduated from college. I have no money. How would I win custody¡­¡± The harsh reality silenced everyone at the table. ¡°Come work at my fashionpany. I¡¯ll arrange something for you,¡± Erica offered. Brody looked up. ¡°Mom, you can go to work and eam money¡± Really? Lily¡¯s eyes sparkled with hope. ¡°But if I work, you¡¯d have to go to after-school care¡­¡± ¡°A few kids in my ss wait there for their moms too. I can do it¡± Brody said sensibly. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. That settles it. I¡¯ll talk to my dad about it tonight,¡± Erica dered. Lily nodded, tears streaming down her face. After dinner, Lily took her son home. ¡°I think your luck has been turning aroundtely¡± Erica remarked ¡°Really?¡± Cam responded skeptically. ¡°Look, your sry doubled, and you got a free luxury apartment. Maybe Conpor broke your streak of bad luck?¡± Erica teased. Cam¡¯s cheeks reddened, but upon reflection, her luck seemed to have improved since meeting Connor. ¡°Maybe try a scratch card?¡± Erica suggested, spotting a lottery shop across the street. 29 29 ¡°Scratch cards?¡± Cam was unfamiliar but had heard of them. The only time she had bought a lottery ticket was when a ssmate persuaded her, a two-dor welfare lottery ticket. She randomly selected a set of numbers. Each number was just one step away from the lucky numbers, yet so far apart like miles between. As she reminisced, she found herself standing inside a lottery store. Erica had never bought one either, but had seen some fun videos online. She quickly bought a total of 500 dors of scratch card. The owner smiled broadly as he took the money. ¡°I just take one of these,¡± Cam said, pointing to a five dor scratch card among a de money into the water. array. After all, it was just throwing The owner slightly frowned, barely noticeable, and put out a few unpopr ones in front of her. Cam picked one at random. Erica, after reading the rules, became engrossed in a round of scratching. ¡°Not a win¡­ another miss¡­ won $20¡­¡± After ten minutes, she only got $80. It proved to be just a money pit. She leaned bored against the ss counter, ying with her phone. ¡°Cam, try scratching one.¡± Seeing her win rate, Cam was d she only spent five dors on this. She finished scratching amidst the friction sounds of the coating and the scraper. ¡°Erica, can you check if I won anything?¡± Enca took her scratch card, and her previously distracted eyes suddenly lit up. She excitedly eximed, ¡°Holy cow! You won ten thousand The store owner immediately stretched his neck to get a better look at the ticket, his eyes stretching wide in disbelief. He quickly came over to Cam,pletely taken aback. He had been running this store for many years, and thergest amount ever won on that particr ticket was a mere twenty dors. This situation was unimaginable and he looked at Cam, utterly stunned. Cam looked puzzled at the owner. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°You won! Congrattions! You are so lucky!¡± The owner was thrilled, smiling from ear to ear. ¡°Cam, your luck has really changed!¡± Erica hugged her excitedly, not forgetting to turn to the owner. ¡°Sir, we¡¯d like to cash this.¡± This needs to be exchanged at the issuing center,¡± the owner informed them with the detailed address and instructions. ¡°It has to be on a weekday?¡± Cam was incredibly busy with work, and now with this huge windfall from Connor, she was prepared to go above and beyond. She wondered if taking a day off to im the prize would be frowned upon by him. Erica immediately transferred ten thousand dors to her via message. ¡°I¡¯ll go im it. Here¡¯s the money first.¡± ¡°Erica, how can you be so kind?¡± Cam was deeply touched. ¡°I¡¯ve got to treat you right. Can¡¯t let Connor outdo me,¡± Erica raised an eyebrow. ¡°Let¡¯s go for a buffet tomorrow,¡± Cam smiled, giving her a reassuring gesture.N?velDrama.Org (C) content. *Deal! I¡¯ll take you home. Big meal tomorrow.¡± Erica chuckled Perhaps due to exhaustion, Cam slept soundly in her new home, waking up refreshed at dawn. After stuffing themselves at the buffet, Erica suggested they go shopping. Stopping at a luxury brand store, Cam paused in front of the disy window. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Erica followed her gaze, spotting a men¡¯s tie. ¡°I think I¡¯ll buy a gift for the boss, to thank him for his help,¡± Cam said. ¡°That¡¯s thoughtful,¡± Erica agreed. Cam picked a simple tie, made of deep blue silk, with the brand¡¯s logo discreetly ced at the large end, understated yet luxurious. ¡°Does it look good?¡± ¡°Beautiful!¡± Erica affirmed. ¡°Please wrap it it up.¡± Cam felt this tie was just Connor¡¯s style. 30 30 ¡°Madam, we offer a unique service of embroidering initials on the back of lies for our esteemed customers. Would you like to add this personal touch?¡± the sales associate naked. Cam thought for a moment. ¡°Please embroider C.P, thank you¡± ¡°Of course,¡± the sales associate responded. ¡°Please leave your address, and we will send it to you once it¡¯s ready.¡± Afterward, Cam picked out two scarves. ¡°Erica, this one¡¯s for you. It¡¯s $200 more expensive than the boss, Cam said with a smile. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°As always, you spoil me the most¡± Erica responded affectionately. ¡°And this one¡¯s for my mom, Cam told the cashier as she had the items wrapped. The total came to $11,200. ¡°You¡¯re spending all your lottery winnings, and then some,¡± Erica teased. Cam justughed. ¡°It was unexpected money anyway.¡± Leaving the luxury store, Cam headed to the supermarket downstairs to buy some ingredients for making cookies. Her new ce had arge oven, and after researching cookie recipesst night, which seemed simple enough, she decided to give it a try. When she got home, Cam followed the recipe and baked deliciously aromatic cookies. Surprisingly, although shecked cooking skills, she was quite adept at baking. She packaged the cookies nicely, nning to bring them to work tomorrow for her colleagues to try. On Monday moming, Cam opened her balcony curtains, stretched leisurely against the backdrop of a blue sky and white clouds, and then went about her moming routine. It was only a ten-minute walk from her ce to Cedarhill Estate, a relief not having to worry about traffic jams anymore. At 7:45 AM, Cam walked through the quiet, affluent neighborhood streets, surrounded by the chirping of birds and the fragrance of flowers. Early risers walked their dogs along the lush, tree- lined avenues a stark contrast to the bustling urban apartments she lived in, with its narrow alleys, persistent hawkers, and the constant haggling of customers. Workers hurried to their jobs, and their faces were etched with exhaustion and anxiety. It was truly like two different worlds. ¡°Good morning, David!¡± Cam greeted as she changed her shoes in the foyer, looking up to see David with a smile stered across his face. ¡°Morning, Cam!¡± he replied cheerfully. After making coffee for Mr. Connor, Cam pulled out a bag of cookies from her bag for David. ¡°I baked some cookies. Give them a try.¡± David opened the package and took a bite, praising them repeatedly. The two sat down at the dining table to chat. ¡°Mr. Connor has been a bit down these past few days, and his morning moodiness is getting worse. When you go to wake him upter..¡± Before David could finish, the bedroom door opened. ¡°Good morning, Mr. Connor!¡± Cam greeted energetically as she stood up. Connor grunted nonchntly, walked over to the dining table, andzily sat down, picking up the coffee and sipping it slowly. David looked puzzled. Mr. Connor¡¯s moodiness had vanished? He had actuallye out for breakfast on his own! Cam, on the other hand, was busy preparing the breakfast. ¡°Mr. Connor, please have your breakfast.¡± Connor sat up straight, took the fork, and leisurely started eating his omelet. Cam began her breakfast sitting across from him. David, who had served the Passos family for over thirty years, felt for the first time that perhaps he was a bit redundant in that moment. Connor nced at the cookies on the table, which didn¡¯t quite fit with the breakfast, and frowned slightly. Had David made a mistake by cing his least favorite food on the table? Sensing his nce, David discreetly took the cookies back to the kitchen. Unaware of David¡¯s actions, Cam continued her breakfast without any realization that anything was amiss. 31 31 After getting into the car, Cam pulled out a bag of cookies, turned around, and said, ¡°Mr. Connor, I baked these cookies myself.¡± Connor stared at the cookies in her hand. His gaze intensified as his fingers unconsciously tapped on his knee. So, the cookies that appeared at the breakfast table were made by her? He smiled slightly, and the hand resting on his thigh slowly lifted. When Connor didn¡¯t take them, Cam suddenly remembered how David had quietly moved the cookies away at breakfast. Connor didn¡¯t like sweets. How could she have forgotten? She almost made a basic mistake. She quickly retracting her hand holding the cookies, and apologized, ¡°Ah! Sorry, I forgot you don¡¯t eat sweets.¡± Connor¡¯s outstretched hand paused mid-air, quickly brushing through his hair. His gaze drifted towards the car window as he murmured softly, ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°I totally got it Now.¡± Cam nodded vigorously before turning to sit up straight. She smiled at the driver and said, ¡°Hey, these are for you. David also said they were delicious.¡± ¡°Thank you, Cam. I will enjoy them,¡± the driver responded with a smile. Connor continued to stare out the window, scoffing. ¡°Is Mr. Connor in a bad mood today?¡± Cam whispered to the driver. Her lips barely moved. The driver shrugged, nced at the rearview mirror, and smirked. Back at the office, Cam distributed cookies to her colleagues. From his office, Connor watched through the transparent floor-to-ceiling windows as Cam was surrounded by a crowd of people. The scene was lively, with some even giving thumbs up. Although he couldn¡¯t hear what they were saying, he could guess they were praising her. His brow furrowed. Then he pressed a button, and the clear ss turned frosted. Out of sight, out of mind. After organizing Connor¡¯s schedule, Cam took some documents for him to sign. She knocked and entered the CEO¡¯s office, where Connor was looking at the documents on his desk without lifting his head. ¡°Mr. Connor, these documents need your signature.¡± Cam ced them on one side of his desk. As she closed the door, Connor scoffed coldly, feeling unappreciated after standing up for her, and giving her a ce to stay. Where were his cookies? Every Monday, Mr. Cash had to report to headquarters. Cam greeted him warmly, ¡°Good morning, Mr. Cash.¡± ¡°Cam, didn¡¯t you sayst week that you would be back soon?¡± Mr. Cash looked dismayed. Cam apologized, ¡°I might have to stay here a bit longer¡­¡± ¡°Well, I can only console myself that Mr. Connor¡¯s approval of you is also an approval of me,¡± Mr. Cash sighed.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°You have been a mentor in my career. With your help, I¡¯ve been able to gradually adapt to the work here,¡± Cam sincerely said. 32 32 ¡°Working under Mr. Connor is a great opportunity. He¡¯s a fantastic boss, and you¡¯ll learn a lot from him. Cherish this chance.¡± Mr. Cash shrugged, sighing, ¡°Looks like I need to hire a new assistant now.¡± ¡°By the way, your boyfriend Tucker came looking for you at the officest week. I sent him away. Didn¡¯t you tell him you¡¯ve moved to the headquarters?¡± At the mention of Tucker, Cam shuddered with aversion. ¡°We broke up,¡± she said tly. ¡°Good riddance, that guy was never right for you. Chris from marketing will be thrilled to hear this. Everyone at the branch knows he¡¯s got a soft spot for you,¡± John chuckled. Cam forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in dating right now.¡± ¡°Take your time. You¡¯re a catch, so there¡¯s no shortage of admirers. You know, the folks from the R&D department here at the headquarters are golden bachelors. Once thepany goes public, they¡¯ll even get stock options, and those are some solid assets. When you arrived, several people discreetly inquired about you. I told them you were taken, and they were quite disappointed. I¡¯ll let them know you¡¯re single now,¡± John said. Cam shook her head vigorously, rmed. ¡°No, let¡¯s just say I have a boyfriend. I just want to focus on my work.¡± Having lost faith in love after what happened with Tucker, she had decided to focus solely on her career. Mr. Cash conceded, ¡°Alright, you¡¯re still young, so no rush. I¡¯m off to see Mr. Connor now. Drop by the branch when you can. Everyone misses you.¡± ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll treat everyone to dinner when I get the chance,¡± Cam replied with a smile, ¡°Great¡± Lately, Cam sensed that Mr. Connor¡¯s mood was off. As a businessman, he prioritized profits. Could he be regretting the generous benefits he had given her? She worried about potentially losing her job. Fortunately, the delivery from the luxury brand store arrived, giving her a chance to show her gratitude. Unwrapping the package, she gently touched the brand¡¯s logo, reassured by its prestige. Surely, Mr. Connor wouldn¡¯t disdain it. Cedarhill Estate. Cam pushed open the door to Connor¡¯s bedroom, which was shrouded in darkness. The curtains were drawn tightly, blocking out any sliver of sunlight. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. She tiptoed to the window and swiftly pulled open the heavy drapes. Sunlight filtered through the white sheers, brightening the entire room. The sunlight softlynded on the man¡¯s face, forcing his eyes open. He frowned slightly, reluctantly sitting up, and his expression softened upon seeing Cam. ¡°Good morning, Mr. Connor, Cam greeted with a smile.. Connor stretched. His silk pajamas slipped slightly to reveal his well¨Cdefined torso. Cam¡¯s eyes inadvertently lingered on his muscr chest. A smirk appeared on Connor¡¯s face as he teased, ¡°Seen enough?¡± Cam¡¯s ears instantly turned red, as if all her blood had rushed there. Her eyes darted away, and she turned around, fanning herself with her hand. Connor remained silent, just watching her. Feeling his gaze on her back, Cam awkwardly ced the gift box on the bed and chuckled nervously, ¡°Mr. Connor, thank you for your bravery that one time and for the matter with the house. This gift is for you.¡± Then, she dashed out of his bedroom as fast as she could. Connor chuckled, reaching for the elegantly wrapped box. Upon opening it, he found a tie with his initials embroidered on it. She was quite thoughtful. 33 33 Connor stood in front of the wardrobe mirror, adjusting his tie with a slight smirk on his face. His eyes approved of the reflection. After a moment of hesitation, he put the tie down and picked up an everyday one he usually wore. Hearing the door close, Cam stealthily looked up and noticed he hadn¡¯t worn the tie she gifted him, feeling a slight pang of disappointment. Her eyes seemed to possess x¨Cray vision, piercing through his crisp white shirt to the sculpted chest beneath. It briefly ovepped with the memory from that night, causing her ears to flush red and her mind to buzz. She quickly lowered her head, pinching her thigh hard. A wave of pain brought her back to reality, and when she looked up again, Connor was neatly dressed, sitting across from her. The only sound at the dining table was the clinking of cutlery. Even David noticed how unusually quiet Cam was today. The awkward atmosphere lingered until Cam sat at her desk at work. The busy workload helped her push the morning¡¯s events to the back of her mind. Time seemed to be powered by a high¨Cspeed motor, spinning rapidly. It was dark by the time the boss left work, and finally, Cam did too. In the twilight, the outlines of skyscrapers were clearly visible, highlighted by gentle lighting. Cam sat in the passenger seat, quietly watching the bustling traffic outside, while Connor¡¯s slender fingers tapped away on his tablet, replying to emails. Buzz, buzz, buzz¡­ The vibration from Cam¡¯s phone in her bag broke the silence. She immediately grabbed it and turned it off. Looking up at the rearview mirror, she locked eyes with Connor, whose dark eyes still held a hint of warmth. After a few seconds, Connor looked away and continued with his work. The buzzing sound resumed. ¡°Take it,¡± Connor said, not looking up from his tablet. Hesitant, Cam answered the call, ¡°Mom¡­¡± Connor¡¯s eyes shifted slightly. Cam frowned slightly, ¡°I don¡¯t want to go. Can you bring a gift to Grandma¡­¡± The conversation on the other end dragged on, and Cam finally responded weakly, ¡°Okay, I know. I¡¯ll go¡­¡± After hanging up, Cam leaned her head against the car window, her mood low. The car fell silent again. Connor hesitated, but ultimately didn¡¯t ask her. He wanted to say, ¡°Are you alright?¡± On the weekend, Cam headed to the jewelry store early and stopped at the counter disying gold jewelry. ¡°Could you show me those earrings?¡± Cam pointed at a pair patterned with delicate willow branches. ¡°Miss, you have great taste. These just arrived yesterday. They¡¯re very elegant and dignified,¡± the salesperson said enthusiastically. Cam tried them on. It looked elegant a style her grandmother would appreciate. ¡°Is there a promotion for these?¡± Cam asked. The salesperson quickly typed on theputer, replying, ¡°The craftsmanship fee can be discounted. This will be $3600.8.¡± Cam bit her lip and swiped her card. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. When she drove back to her hometown, the diner was closed. Cam got home, and her mother had already packed everything. Today was her grandmother¡¯s birthday. Her grandmother¡¯s deep¨C seated preference for males had made it hard for her mother after her divorce. When her mother sought refuge in her parental home, her grandmother refused to take them in, insisting her mother humble herself and beg her worthless father not to divorce. Every visit was inevitably filled with criticism andints. ire hugged her daughter tenderly, ¡°Cam, If Grandma says anything unpleasant, don¡¯t take it to heart¡­ 34 34 Cam was already used to this after years with her Grandma. She said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you on a trip for the holidays,¡± ire said. ¡°Yay, the diner is closed for seven days over the holidays! I got a big raise, so I can treat you to see the snow,¡± Cam giggled. ire nodded with relief, ¡°You¡¯re really something, sweetheart.¡± After more than an hour on the bus, they finally arrived at the Maple Seafood. ¡°This ce is pretty expensive,¡± Cam remarked. ¡°It¡¯s your grandma¡¯s 70th birthday, so your uncle probably wants to do something nice,¡± ire said, linking arms with her daughter as they walked inside. Cam frowned and said, ¡°I bet he will find an excuse to go to the bathroom when it¡¯s time to pay the bill.¡± This had happened a few times before. Every time the waiter brought the bill, either he was on a phone call or had gone to the bathroom, so to avoid embarrassment, her mom would always end up paying. Later, her uncle would pretend to be surprised, saying, ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve paid already?¡± He never mentioned splitting the bill or transferring money. Once they reached the private room, her grandmother and uncle¡¯s family had already arrived and ordered. ¡°Mom, happy birthday.¡± ire handed her mother a prepared giftbox. Her grandmother squeezed the thickness of the giftbox, and her smile beamed. ¡°ire, you¡¯re so thoughtful.¡± ¡°Grandma, wishing you health and happiness.¡± Cam presented the gold earrings she had bought that morning. Her grandmother smiled as she took them, opened the box right away, but upon seeing the gleaming earrings, her expression subtly changed. She looked slightly scornful and shook her head gently as she closed the box. She extended her hand, wrinkled and spotted, disying a shiny new gold bracelet. Her eyes were filled with pride. ¡°This is the gift from Drew.¡± Drew was Cam¡¯s cousin. Cam nced at the gold bracelet in her grandmother¡¯s hand, estimating it to be around ten thousand. Drew had just graduated from a lesser¨Cknown college. How could he afford such an expensive gift? N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. ¡°Drew is really talented. He made over thirty thousandst month,¡± Riley boasted proudly. ¡°He is indeed sessful,¡± ireplimented. ¡°That¡¯s right. Cam has been working for over a year since graduating and doesn¡¯t even make ten thousand a month, does she?¡± her aunt Melinda pointedly said towards Cam. Cam forced a smile. ¡°Yes, and since you have such a sessful son like Drew, maybe it¡¯s time you treated us to dinner? You won¡¯t need to ¡®leech¡® off my mom anymore.¡± Riley¡¯s and Melinda¡¯s faces turned ashen. ¡°Such an ungrateful child!¡± ire squeezed Cam¡¯s hand, smiling, ¡°It¡¯s wonderful that Drew is doing so well. Riley and Melinda, every child has their own path in life. The amount of money one earns isn¡¯t the sole measure of a person¡¯s worth. Cam works at apany with great prospects, and she¡¯s hardworking. I¡¯m very proud of her.¡± Just then, the door to the private room opened. ¡°Grandma, sorry I¡¯mte. I was just sealing a deal with a client.¡± Drew entered, dressed in a suit and tie, looking every bit the corporate executive, and Cam almost didn¡¯t recognize him. ¡°Drew is getting more handsome by the day. That suit really suits you,¡± ireplimented. ¡°Hi Aunt ire, Cam,¡± Drew nodded in greeting. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s eat. You must be starving.¡± Their grandmother pulled Drew by the hand, her eyes filled with affection. ¡°Drew has to meet with another client this Saturday. With a top salesman like him, no wonder Capital Solutions can be the biggest financialpany!¡± Melinda bragged. Capital Solutions? Wasn¡¯t that thepany where Lily¡¯s husband worked? Cam took the seat next to Drew.. 35 35 Cam asked, ¡°You earn over $30,000 as a salesperson. So, the manager of the Capital Solutions branch must be earning a lot, right?¡± ¡°The branch manager? Drew sipped tas tea ¡°Do you know Jian?¡± ¡°Of course, he¡¯s my boss! You know him?¡± Drew¡¯s eyes lit up. Cam shook her head with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ve heard yourpany pays well. A friend of mine aims to reach his level. Do you know how much he cams?¡± She didn¡¯t mention Lily to Drew, fearing he might slip up in front of Julian. Drew said enviously, ¡°Based on our performance, he made $110,000 just frommissionsst month.¡± Cam frowned, ¡°Yourpany doesn¡¯t split the sries, does it?¡± Drew looked surprised ¡°Cam, how did you know? Our base pay is public, but bonuses are private. The finance department says it¡¯s for tax reasons¡± Cam¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°What¡¯s the annual return on investment for yourpany?¡± Drew replied, ¡°8 percent.¡± Cam was shocked. Such a high return made her doubt the legality of thepany. Drew was new to the working world, andcked experience and vignce, which made him vulnerable to scams. ¡°Have you looked into thepany¡¯s projects? Do you know if the targets are legitimate?¡± Bang! Melinda, overhearing their conversation, mmed her fork on the table. ¡°Cam, what are you implying? Jealous that Drew¡¯spany is doing well and pays high, and you start to spread rumors?¡± Cam responded calmly, ¡°Why would I spread rumors about Capital Solutions? I¡¯m worried it¡¯s not legitimate, and it could affect Drew.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing illegitimate! We just invested $2 millionst month. They have projects both domestically and internationally, and even the royal family of Country T has invested, Melinda argued loudly. ¡°Melinda!¡± Riley scolded, and Melinda realized her mistake and fell silent. ¡°$2 million? Where did you get that money!¡± Cam raised her voice. The room fell silent, and ire looked bewildered at everyone. ¡°What¡¯s the fuss about? I mortgaged the house,¡± their grandmother spoke up. ¡°You mortgaged the house?¡± ire¡¯s pupils shrank as she stared intently at her mother. ¡°Investing in thepany can make us money, about $100,000 a year. We can pay off the mortgage and still profit substantially,¡± Riley exined. ¡°I paid for half of that house, but you mortgaged it without even discussing it with me?¡± ire looked coldly at her family. ¡°It¡¯s in my name. Why can¡¯t I decide on my own?¡± Cam¡¯s grandmother said shamelessly. Cam¡¯s eyes were filled with unspeakable sadness, ¡°Grandma, what are you talking about? My mom scrimped and saved all her life to umte some money. You forced her and my uncle to buy that house for you, and for fairness, it was put in your name. But how can you now im it¡¯s solely yours?¡± Cam¡¯s grandmother, embarrassed and angry, mmed her hand on the table. ¡°When I die, won¡¯t it all be yours? What¡¯s there to argue about? You are waiting for me to die now, aren¡¯t you!¡± ¡°Mom, that¡¯s not what we mean. You mortgaged the house, and we didn¡¯t even have the right to know?¡± ire scoffed coldly. ¡°Thispany is unreliable. Pull the money out,¡± Cam said to Drew. ¡°I can¡¯t, Cam. We signed a contract, Drew replied weakly. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°It¡¯s just about money, isn¡¯t it? You think we¡¯re making money, so you¡¯re jealous,¡± Melinda said disdainfully. ¡°Really blinded by money. Fine, from now on, you don¡¯t need to give me money for the household,¡± Cam¡¯s grandmother dered. 36 36 ¡°I just feel like you never really saw me as part of the family¡­¡± ire said with a sad smile. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Cam.¡± The birthday party ended on a sour note. Sitting in the car, ire appeared distant and lost in thought. ¡°Mom, you still have me. I¡¯ll be with you for life,¡± Cam said, wrapping her arms around her mother¡¯s shoulders. ire leaned into Cam¡¯s embrace, with tears trickling down her cheeks. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Cam quickly pulled out her phone and typed a message to Drew. [Drew, I¡¯m giving you two options here. First, pull out the $2 million you invested in yourpany ahead of schedule. Even if you have to pay a penalty for early withdrawal, you have to do it. And we can pretend none of this ever happened. If your grandmother and parents refuse to withdraw, don¡¯t me me for choosing option two. Mom originally paid $700,000 for that house and we have the bank statements to prove it. I will take legal steps to reim what belongs to my mom.] Drew quickly responded. [Cam, you¡¯re putting me in a tough spot. Withdrawing early will cost a lot, and the house is mortgaged so there¡¯s a monthly loan repayment.] Cam replied, [That¡¯s your problem. Mom spent her whole life working hard in her shop to save up this money, and we¡¯re still renting. Who¡¯s putting whom in a tough spot? As a daughter, my mom¡¯s already done enough!] [Cam, I understand. I¡¯ll talk to mom and dad. Wait for my message.] Cam then messaged Wesley, summarizing the situation. Wesley analyzed the case and confirmed that if a donor¡¯s legal rights were vited, the donation could be revoked. She hoped everything would resolve smoothly without having to go to court. That evening, Cam stayed at home with her mother. Watching her mom sleep, Cam felt a pang of sadness. The once radiant beauty was now middle¨Caged. Her features were still delicate but her skin had lost the luster of youth, with crow¡¯s feet creeping around her eyes. Her face was marked with fatigue and mncholy. Life had dealt her many hardships. Now, Cam was her mother¡¯s only support. The next day, Cam helped out at the diner, warmly greeting the handful of customers. ¡°ire!¡± Erica, armsden with items, stood at the doorway, smiling. One winter when Erica was about seven or eight, she followed her cousin to the beach and was identally swept away by a wave. She thought she was going to die. ire happened to be passing by and without hesitation, jumped into the sea to rescue her. Erica¡¯s parents were immensely grateful to the lifesaver, offering money and gifts, which ire declined. Eventually, they asked her to be Erica¡¯s godmother. ire quickly wiped her hands with a clean cloth. ¡°What are you doing carrying so much stuff again?¡± ¡°My parents brought back these from their business trip,¡± Erica exined, setting the bags down at an empty table and pouring herself. a ss of water. ¡°You came at the perfect time. You can give me a ride home,¡± Cam joked, sitting across from her. ¡°Ugh, had I known, I wouldn¡¯t havee today, Ericaughed. ¡°Are you hungry? Eat while it¡¯s hot, ire said, bringing over a bowl of freshly cooked ravioli. ¡°I just missed the taste,¡± Erica cooed yfully. ¡°You sure know how to sweet¨Ctalk,¡± ireughed. Erica¡¯s phone rang, and she answered to the sound of a child¡¯s cries, ¡°Miss Erica, help! My dad¡¯s going to kill my mom!¡± 37 37 Erica jumped up when she heard Brody¡¯s voice, anxiety written all over her face. ¡°Brody, stay safe. I will be right there.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Cam asked. ¡°That jerk hit Lily again!¡± Erica¡¯s eyes zed with fury. ¡°Let¡¯s go. We need to hurry.¡± Cam took off her apron. ¡°ire, we have to go now. We¡¯lle over another day,¡± Erica said to ire with urgency. ¡°Be safe!¡± ire called out as they rushed to the car. Once in the car, Cam immediately called the police. When they arrived at Lily¡¯s house, nosy neighbors were gathered around the door, whispering and pointing. They pushed their way through. The police were already on the scene. Broken dishes and food scraps littered the floor. Lily was curled up in aer, holding her son, her eyes filled with fear and helplessness. ¡°Aunt Erica, Aunt Cam¡­¡± Brody¡¯s eyes were red, his face streaked with tears. As Lily looked up and saw them, a flicker of hope shone in her eyes. Julian¡¯s parents showed up. Julian¡¯s mom, clearly impatient, kicked away some food scraps and said, ¡°Couples always argue? Calling the police over such a trivial matter, how thoughtless.¡± The police officer red at her, and she fell silent. 5223 ¡ê 3 3 5 8 2 P 2 ¡ê ¡°What happened here?¡± the officer asked. Julian stood up from the couch, agitated, ¡°I didn¡¯t hit her. I just flipped the table, and it might have identally hit her.¡± ¡°Sir, please calm down. We¡¯re investigating,¡± the officer instructed him to sit. Cam helped Lily up, her eyes full of sympathy. ¡°Ma¡¯am, can you tell me what happened? Don¡¯t be afraid,¡± the officer said. ¡°Today, he first threw a bowl at my head, then he flipped the table on me.¡± Lily¡¯s forehead was bleeding, and she pulled up her sleeves to reveal bruises, ¡°I can¡¯t even remember how many times he¡¯s hit me.¡± The female officer frowned and checked her injuries. ¡°Have you had a medical assessment done?¡± Lily shook her head. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°First, we¡¯ll take your statement at the station, then you should get a medical assessment.¡± Upon hearing this, Julian¡¯s mom panicked, pulling Lily aside,and whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t do it! Think about how embarrassing this will be. If not for yourself, think about Brody. Do you want him to have a father who¡¯s been in jail? It will affect Brody¡¯s future.¡± ¡°He just needs to apologize properly, and promise it won¡¯t happen again. Peace in the home is the most important,¡± Julian¡¯s dad chimed in. Lily feltpletely overwhelmed. As thoughts of her son filled her mind, her determination began to falter. Cam and Erica stepped out onto the balcony to call Wesley, seeking advice on the legal standards for domestic abuse. When they returned to Lily, they said, ¡°He¡¯s done this before. You have a job now. You don¡¯t have to be afraid.¡± ¡°Go away, what are two spinsters doing here, stirring up trouble? This is our family matter!¡± Julian¡¯s mom tried to pull them away, but Erica red at her. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t be afraid.¡± Brody spoke up. Brody¡¯s words seemed to empower Lily. She took a deep breath and told the officer, ¡°Officer, I refuse on¨Csite mediation.¡± The officer nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the station for your statement.¡± ¡°Honey, I swear there won¡¯t be a next time! Julian clutched her hand, lifting the other in oath. Lily forcefully pulled away, scoffing, ¡°What¡¯s your promise worth?¡± At the station, they made their statements, and Lily underwent a medical assessment. Due to the minor nature of the domestic violence, the police gave Julian a warning and issued a cautionary notice. 38 38 Lily clutched the police report and a cautionary notice in her hands. ¡°With these, you can start the divorce proceedings. Plus, my cousin works at Capital Solutions, and he mentioned that Julian¡¯s sry is in the high five figures. His base pay and bonuses are issued separately, and he¡¯s only shown you the base pay, hiding his real ie,¡± Cam exined. Erica added, ¡°Right! And if heys a hand on you again, you need to call the police.¡± Lily nodded vigorously, ¡°Thank you both. I¡¯m lucky to have you.¡± She had always been a hopeless romantic, moving alone to Fairmount to study, only to be sweet¨C talked into dropping out and marrying Julian after getting pregnant from his charming promises. No one could persuade her otherwise, and her parents were so furious they cut ties with her. She was full of regret. Now, she spent her days gathering evidence of Julian¡¯s hidden financial activities. 5 5 3 3 6 1 8EF Cam organized Connor¡¯s schedule for the day. Her tasks were piling up, particrly with the uing shareholder meeting next month, which required a detailed report on thepany¡¯s performance for the first half of the year. The report needed data integration from various departments, followed by in¨Cdepth analysis. She ran between departments all day, too busy even to drink water. After delivering lunch to Connor, she immediately returned to her desk to continue working with the data. Half an hourter, Connor, looking through his office¡¯s French windows, saw her still typing relentlessly. He frowned slightly and pressed the inte. ¡°Come to my office.¡± When the CEO called, Cam had to pause her work. ¡°Mr. Connor, did you need me?¡± Connor put down the documents he was reviewing, looked up at her for a few seconds, then pointed to the lunch box on his desk with amanding tone, ¡°Finish it.¡± Cam blinked, ¡°Huh? Mr. Connor, that¡¯s your lunch.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not hungry. I don¡¯t feel like eating. You have it,¡± Connor said tly. ¡°No way.¡± Cam refused without a second thought. Part of her job was to ensure he ate properly, and now she was to eat his meal instead? That would be a clear dereliction of duty. ¡°Mr. Connor, please don¡¯t make this difficult for me. You know my responsibilities. If n finds out, I¡¯m done for.¡± ¡°Who pays your sry?¡± Connor¡¯s gaze sharpened. Cam took a deep breath. ¡°You do.¡± ¡°Are you listening to me or him?¡± Connor tilted his head. Cam gave a resigned smile. ¡°Obviously, you.¡± Connor smiled satisfactorily and gestured for her to proceed. T Cam sighed, picked up the lunch box, and started to walk out. ¡°Eat here,¡± Connor nced at the coffee table. VIN?velDrama.Org (C) content. Cam stepped back and chuckled, ¡°Alright.¡± She carried the lunch box to the sofa. Mr. Connor was truly thoughtful. He had considered everything. If n saw her eating Connor¡¯s lunch, it would blow her cover. Opening the lunch box, she smelled the delicious aroma and her stomach rumbled. Though she wasn¡¯t hungry, the sight and smell of the appetizing food triggered an instinctual response. The first box containedyers of jumbo shrimp, beef rolls, and vegetables, while the secondyer was packed with salmon and sea urchin. The second box held ayer of fruit and another of creamy mushroom and chicken soup. Such avish meal! Mr. Connor was indeed hard to please, to have no appetite in the face of such delicacies. Today, she¡¯d y the role of Mr. Connor¡¯s/trash can. 39 39 Cam quietly ate her meal, asionally sneaking nces at Connor. His features were distinct, as if sculpted by a divine hand¨Chandsome yetposed. He was absorbed in hisputer, his long fingers constantly tapping. Indeed, a man focused on his work was truly charming. She shook her head, chiding herself for her wandering thoughts. Connor nced over hisptop and noticed her enjoying her meal, his lips curling into a subtle smile. Soon, Cam had polished off her food and identally let out a satisfied burp. ¡°Finished?¡± Connor asked. ¡°Yes, sir. All clear!¡± Cam replied with augh. She pulled out a napkin to wipe her mouth clean and started tidying up the coffee table. Connor opened his drawer, took out a box of cigarettes, and lit one. A thin trail of smokezily rose into the air. Cam, catching the scent of the smoke, looked up. Their eyes met briefly before both quickly looked away, busying themselves with their tasks. Frowning slightly, Cam held her breath and briskly wiped the coffee table with a napkin. When Connor noticed her difort, he extinguished his cigarette and turned on the air purifier. Hearing the machine start up, Cam looked over and saw he had stopped smoking. She took a deep breath and picked up the empty lunchbox. ¡°Mr. Connor, I¡¯ve cleaned up. I¡¯ll head out first.¡± Connor hummed in acknowledgment, continuing to type on his keyboard. Cam returned to her desk, revitalized after her meal, and resumed her data organization. Time passed until she stretched and looked out the window to see dusk approaching. She rubbed her tired eyes and ncing at her watch, realized it was already six¨Cthirty. n emerged from the CEO¡¯s office. ¡°Cam, Mr. Connor has ast¨Cminute meeting with the factory at seven. You can leave now. The driver will take you home.¡± ¡°Am I not needed for the meeting minutes?¡± Cam asked. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. ¡°You¡¯ve been busy enough with the performance reports. Paul will handle tonight¡¯s minutes,¡± n said with a smile. ¡°Alright. Cam looked towards the CEO¡¯s office. The meeting would probablyst a few hours, and Connor hadn¡¯t had lunch. It would be irresponsible of her if he got a stomach ailment from hunger. She hurried downstairs and ordered a beef and egg sandwich from the diner. Back at the office, she knocked on Connor¡¯s door. ¡°Come in.¡± Connor looked up, surprised to see her. He frowned slightly and asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to leave?¡± Cam ced the mealbox in front of him. ¡°Mr. Connor, you missed lunch. I got you a sandwich.¡± Connor¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, then he opened the mealbox. He smiled faintly and said. ¡°Looks delicious, thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee, I¡¯ll be off then,¡± Cam said with a smile. After she left, he unwrapped the sandwich and took a bite, his face expressing sheer satisfaction. The day¡¯s fatigue seemed to vanish with that bite. The diner¡¯s sandwiches were indeed good. The next day at noon. When Cam went downstairs to pick up Connor¡¯s lunchbox, the driver handed her two. ¡°Why are there two¨Ctoday?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure, maybe there¡¯s a client visiting?¡± The driver was also puzzled. He had received instructions from Mr Connor to prepare an extra lunch from now on. Cam didn¡¯t question it further and took the lunchboxes into Connor¡¯s office. ¡°Mr. Connor, I¡¯ve ced your lunch on the coffee table. As she was about to leave the office, Connor nced at the coffee table and said, ¡°Take 40 40 Cam looked at him puzzled. ¡°Take it¡­ where?¡± ¡°From now on, the driver will deliver two lunch boxes, one for you,¡± Connor said nonchntly. ¡°For me?¡± Cam was ttered. Connor looked at her with a face full of disdain. ¡°Look at you, you¡¯re as thin as a bean sprout. A gust of wind could knock you over. You¡¯ve only been at headquarters for a short while and you¡¯ve lost weight. People might think I am mistreating my assistant.¡± Cam was a bit surprised. Indeed, she had lost a couple of pounds since arriving at headquarters, but she had slimmed down exactly where she needed to, without losing an ounce where it mattered. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. She straightened her back, showing off her shapely figure, and said indignantly, ¡°Bean sprout? You call this figure a bean sprout?¡± Fine, you have a great figure,¡± Connor chuckled slyly, then quickly changed the subject, ¡°How are the mid¨Cyear performance reportsing along? Don¡¯t waste time going out to eat. Have a quick lunch and get back to work.¡± Cam gave a professional fake smile. ¡°Typical capitalist, almost had me moved.¡± She thought to herself. She picked up her own lunch, smiled, and said, ¡°Understood, I¡¯ll eat out so as not to dy work.¡± Returning to her desk, she nced at the door of the president¡¯s office and reluctantly texted her lunch buddy, Tina. Cam: [I can¡¯t go out for lunch with you anymore. Mr. Connor wants me to rush the work.] Tina: [What? He used to be a nice guy. Now he¡¯s even squeezing your lunch break?] Cam: [Well, he¡¯s a capitalist, after all. Gotta eat fast and keep working.] When she opened her lunch, Cam¡¯s gloomy mood was instantly healed by the delicious and free meal. Considering that the food was delicious and free, she unterally forgave Connor. After a satisfying meal, she cleaned up her lunch box and opened the document to continue working. When lunch break came, a colleague turned off the office lights. Cam was typing in the dark when Connor came out of his office and ced his finished lunch box on her desk. Yourputer screen is too bright. It¡¯s disturbing my rest.¡± Cam was taken aback. Furious, she nearly cursed out loud. He rushed her with work and now comined that her screen was too bright, affecting his rest? She gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Mr. Connor, you just need to press a button, and this transparent window will frost over. The screen brightness shouldn¡¯t bother you¡­¡± Connor: ¡°It does. Go get some rest. Just have the report ready by the beginning of next month.¡± Cam was stunned. Half an hour ago he wouldn¡¯t let her go out to eat and waste time, and now he comined her screen was too bright for his rest. What was this? She turned off herputer screen and managed a rigid smile, ¡°Alright, sir, whatever you say.¡± Connor watched her shut down herptop before he returned to his office to continue reading documents, Cam had a wonderful nap. After the break, she returned to her workstation, refreshed. As she typed away, a stylish young wornan in a white sleeveless, high¨Ccored dress gracefully made her way to the president¡¯s office. Her hair was artfully arranged, and she confidently walked in her high heels. Cam stood up and smiled, ¡°Hello, are you looking for Mr. Connor?¡± The woman smiled back at Cam, saying, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m here to see him.¡± At that moment, Connor opened his office door, frowning at the woman. The woman gave Cam a¡¯meaningful look, chuckled softly, and called out to Connor in a sharine voice. ¡°Conny.¡± Cam shuddered at the sound. 41 41 Connor looked distinctly unimpressed as he said coldly, ¡°Stop it.¡± The young woman chuckled softly, linking her arm with Connor¡¯s and following him into the office. The door closed behind them. Cam shivered slightly, dispelling the goosebumps on her skin as she walked to the break room to make some coffee. Inside the CEO¡¯s office. ¡°Is that Cam?¡± the woman asked with a graceful smile, sitting elegantly on an armchair. ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± Connor retorted from his position on the couch. She propped her chin on her hand, her smile ying on her lips. ¡°I heard your new assistant is quite beautiful, and that you have a soft spot for her.¡± She didn¡¯t care much for rumors, but lending his apartment to an assistant didn¡¯t sound like a simple employer¨Cemployee rtionship to her ¡°Nonsense,¡± Connor nced at her briefly. Cam knocked gently on the door after preparing the coffee. ¡°Come in,¡± the woman said quickly, before Connor could respond. The moment Cam entered, both of them fell silent, and the office was unusually quiet. The woman¡¯s gaze followed Cam, her eyes filled with a benign curiosity. Cam offered politely, ¡°Coffee, please.¡± Connor instructed, ¡°Just set it down.¡± The woman watched Cam, her heart chuckling silently, ¡°Thank you, you¡¯ve been a great help.¡± Cam smiled politely, ¡°You¡¯re wee. Let me know if you need a refill or anything else.¡± ¡°No need, she¡¯ll be leaving soon,¡± said Connor, his face expressionless. ¡°I¡¯ve just arrived and you¡¯re already eager to see me off?¡± the woman said with a pout, her tone yful. Connor¡¯s gaze was sharp, and the woman burst intoughter at his look. Cam, feeling that it was time to exit, set the coffee down on the coffee table and quickly left, closing the door softly behind her. ¡°The bar opens this Sunday. Why don¡¯t you bring Cam along?¡± the woman finally got back to the point. ¡°Overtime on weekends needs to be paid,¡± Connor nced at her. *Stingy, pulling the overtime card, really? You¡¯re a shareholder,, At least show your face at the opening,¡± she huffed. ¡°I¡¯m busy. I¡¯ve said I¡¯ll only invest money, nothing else,¡± Connor replied. ¡°Doesn¡¯t your sister¡¯s word mean anything?¡± she crossed her arms, frowning. ¡°You¡¯re only two months older than me, so stop acting like an older sister,¡± Connor retorted. ¡°Older by a day is still older. If you don¡¯t support me, I¡¯ll report you to your dad.¡± ¡°Rita, how old are you? Childish much?¡± Rita, the only daughter of Connor¡¯s aunt from the Passos family, was the only one among his cousins with whom Connor had a good rtionship. They, along with Logan, had grown up together and were very close. ¡°So what if I am childish?¡± Patting Connor¡¯s shoulder earnestly, Rita said, ¡°I think Cam¡¯s quite nice, much better than Haylie. Conny, your taste has finally improved.¡± ¡°She¡¯s just my assistant. Don¡¯t listen to Logan¡¯s nonsense.¡± Rita scoffed, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m blind? Do you think the way you look at her is the same as you looked at n?¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough on this topic,¡± Connor said sternly. Rita knew better than to push it and possibly harm their rtionship, and quickly changed the subject back to the bar¡¯s prospects and ns. Before leaving, she threw out, ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t think you even like Haylie¡± This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Connor¡¯s gaze fell. What did that even mean. ¡°See you this weekend.¡± Rita made a point of walking over to Cam, smiling. Cam looked bewildered as she watched Rita, who chuckled softly and waved goodbye as she left. Saturday meant there was no need to go to Cedarhill Estate. After a quick shower and tying her hair into a bun, Cam dressed in a T¨Cshirt and shorts and drove to the office. 42 42 Thepany¡¯s mid¨Cyear performance data had been analyzed and just needed a final touch on the slides before the task could bepleted today. Cam thought only the R&D department colleagues would be working overtime on the weekend, but upon arriving at the CEO¡¯s office. she was surprised to find not only n but also Connor present. n could barely recognize Cam as she lookedpletely different from her usual professional attire. Without makeup, her skin was glowing, giving off an air of innocence. Her simple T¨Cshirt did not hide her attractive figure, which made her look even more youthful and vibrant. ¡°Cam, what brings you here?¡± n asked. ¡°I¡¯m working on the slides. Are you guys also doing overtime?¡± Cam¡¯s gaze fell on the brightly lit CEO¡¯s office. n sighed with a smile. ¡°We don¡¯t have weekends here, especially Mr. Connor, who often works late into the night even after getting home.¡± Hearing this, Cam finally understood why a startuppany could reach the top of the industry in just a few years, and also why he was not a morning person. ¡°Has Mr. Connor had breakfast yet?¡± n shook his head. Cam frowned. He hadn¡¯t? ¡°The usual morning grumpiness, David and I just can¡¯t handle it,¡± n said helplessly. Cam was a bit puzzled. She hadn¡¯t experienced the so¨Ccalled moming grumpiness they spoke of. ¡°Maybe because I¡¯m a female employee, Mr. Connor is quite a gentleman.¡± n chuckled dryly, ¡°Mr. Connor is indeed a gentleman, but his morning mood doesn¡¯t discriminate.¡± He always felt Cam had a special standing with Mr. Connor. ¡°Keep at it, and remember to submit an overtime request, or you won¡¯t get the extra pay¡± he advised. Cam gave an okay gesture. She was voluntarily doing overtime, but since the n mentioned it, she wouldn¡¯t be shy about iming it. Near noon, the conference room door opened, and Connor walked through the double ss doors, catching a glimpse of Cam at her desk from afar. He turned and asked in a low voice, ¡®Did you ask her to work overtime?¡± ¡°No,¡± n replied. Cam heared the conversation picking up. She knew the meeting was over and immediately stood up to greet her boss, ¡°Mr. Connor¡± Confor nodded slightly as a greeting and passed by her to his office. n followed, cing the documents neatly on the desk. ¡°I don¡¯t feel like having takeouts today. Order a seat from the Silver Tower Restaurant, and invite her,¡± Connor nced outside the door. ¡°Sure, n followed Mr. Connor¡¯s gaze and responded. Cam checked the documents, clicked send, and felt a wave of relief wash over her as she hummed a tune, packing up to leave. that moment, n came out of the CEO¡¯s office. ¡°n, I¡¯ve sent the mid¨Cyear performance report to your email. Please check,¡± Cam said with a smile. ¡°That was quick? Such efficiency deserves praise,¡± n expressed his surprise. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to the help and support from colleagues across departments that I couldplete it smoothly.¡± *Keep it up! Mr. Connor is treating us to lunch, and make sure you order something nice, n said with a sly smile. Do I have to go?¡± Cam asked. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°You don¡¯t have time?¡± Cam shook her head. ¡°We leave in half an hour, n checked his watch. After returning to his office, n opened the email and read the report, nodding in satisfaction. The staff trained by Mr. Cash were indeedpetent Half an hourter, the three of them headed to the building¡¯s ground floor The driver opened the car door for Connor, Cam pudled open the passenger door. As she was about to get in, n stopped her with a smile, ¡°Ladies ride in the back 43 43 Cam had no choice but to pull open the rear door of the car, giving Connor a slight nod. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Buckle up.¡± Seeing Connor¡¯sposed expression, Cam quickly fastened her seatbelt. On their way to the restaurant, both sat in the backseat, neither speaking, and the only sound was that of their assistant tapping on an iPad. The atmosphere was quiet. Although Cam rode in this car every day, she usually sat in the front with a seat as a barrier. Now, Connor was just half a meter away from her, his presence beside her making Cam somewhat ufortable. She wanted to start a Conversation several times to break the silence, but each time she hesitated and shut her mouth. After ten minutes, Cam managed a forced smile and spoke, ¡°Mr. Connor, where are we dining today?¡± ¡°The Silver Tower Restaurant,¡± Connor replied, staring at her face without a hint of emotion. Perhaps because of the proximity, Cam felt the atmosphere was a bit odd and quietly shifted her gaze away. ¡°I see¡­¡± The conversation ended, and silence returned to the car. Bored, Cam searched for The Silver Tower Restaurant on a food eyes widened as she took a deep breath. app. Her It¡¯s an upscale restaurant with an average cost of over $500 per person. Recognized as one of the most top¨Ctier and elegant dining. spots in the city, it even demanded a dress code. ¨C She nced down at her attire a T¨Cshirt, shorts, and canvas sneakers. ¡°Sir, won¡¯t my outfit be totally out of ce there?¡± she murmured, turning to Connor. Connor nced at her and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need to conform to the restaurant¡¯s ambiance. Dressing freely is a right everyone should have.¡± Cam was surprised. Connor was usually meticulous about details. Even in the heat of summer, he was immactely dressed in a crisp suit and shiny leather shoes. If it weren¡¯t for the tailored fit, high¨Cquality fabric, and fine detailsplementing his tall frame and handsome features, he could easily be mistaken for an insurance salesman. ¡°I think so too,¡± Cam chuckled, not really caring. As long as the CEO didn¡¯t think she was embarrassing him, it was fine. As soon as they entered the restaurant, a host in a sleek uniform greeted them. He nced at Cam, a flicker of surprise shing in his eyes, but after catching Connor¡¯s gaze, his expression quickly professionalized, and he led them inside. The restaurant¡¯s decor was elegant andvish, adorned with masterful paintings on the walls. Looking around, Cam noticed a grand piano in a corner of the restaurant where an elegant pianist yed a soft melody, the notes flowing like silk through the air, bringing a sense of peace and comfort. The patrons were all in formal attire, making Cam feel out of ce. Once seated, the restaurant manager immediately approached them, apologetically saying, ¡°Mr. Connor, I¡¯m sorry, but all our private rooms are booked today.¡± ¡°That¡¯s okay.¡± The manager then proceeded to describe the fresh ingredients flown in for the day. ¡°I¡¯m going to the restroom,¡± Cam whispered to the assistant. Returning from the restroom, Connor noticed several men at a distance staring fixedly at Cam¡¯s legs. Her shorts clung to her glowing skin, outlining long, shapely, and alluring legs. As she walked, her limbs swayed gracefully, drawing eyes irresistibly. Connor¡¯s expression darkened, and he casually summoned the restaurant manager. ¡°Find us a private booth.¡± ¡°Mr. Connor¡­¡± the manager hesitated. Connor¡¯s piercing gaze carried a chilling firmness, making the manager¡¯s heart quiver. 44 44 ¡°I¡¯m on it. Please wait a moment.¡± Cam slightly furrowed her brow as she overheard their conversation. She nced up at Connor, puzzled by hisment. After a moment of frustration, she sighed, feeling she had perhaps embarrassed him. They moved to a private booth, where a spread of delicious dishes was served, but Cam found the meal tasteless. Once Connor finished eating and wiped his mouth, he said, ¡°There¡¯s a bar opening tomorrow. You¡¯ll attend as my date. Consider it overtime.¡± ¡°Okay.. Cam understood that at such events, men often brought dates, and as his personal assistant, it was natural for her to apany him. Well, at least there was overtime pay. ¡°Do you have a suitable dress?¡± am rolled her eyes internally. She wondered if he was worried about her embarrassing him with inappropriate attire. ¡°Yes.¡± ne next day. ¡°What does he mean by that?¡± Cam was still upset about the sudden change to a private booth the day before. ¡°I haven¡¯t met him, but do you know how much this suit costs?¡± Erica pulled out the suit jacket Cam had worn the night she was almost assaulted. Cam shook her head. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°It¡¯s custom¨Cmade from a private tailor in Italy, starting at $10,000. This one must be at least $20,000 to $30,000.¡± Cam whistled, taking the jacket and holding it carefully, ¡°My gosh, I need to return this to him ASAP!¡± ¡°It¡¯s rare to find a startup CEO with such taste.¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s excessivelyvish. Ourpany¡¯s dividends aren¡¯t that high, especially with several shareholders.¡± Erica rummaged through the wardrobe and pulled out a chic haute couture cocktail dress. ¡°I¡¯ll do your makeup nicely, and with this dress, you¡¯ll stun everyone there. He¡¯ll have to take a second look.¡± After some preparations, Erica said with satisfaction and pride. ¡°Perfect!¡± The wine¨Cred cocktail dress clung tightly to her skin, outlining her graceful curves. Her curls cascaded around her impressive cleavage, her skin glowing like diamonds, and her waist slender enough to be grasped with one hand, her legs long and straight. With her exquisite makeup, Cam was truly a sight to behold. = 8 8 F F F = 3 3 2 F 50 1 0 3 ¡°If only I were a man.¡± Erica mused,pletely captivated by Cam¡¯s beauty. ¡°You are being dramatic.¡± Although Cam hadn¡¯t nned onpeting for attention at the bar, being beautiful was something every girl liked. Her phone rang, and Cam answered. ¡°The driver¡¯s here.¡± She walked out of the vi in her high heels, where the driver was already waiting. His face showed a look of astonishment when he saw Cam,pletely taken aback. His gaze lingered on Cam¡¯s face for a second before he hurriedly opened the car door. Cam was about to sit in the front passenger seat, but seeing the driver had already opened the door for her, she covered her chest with her hand and bent down as she stepped in, unexpectedly making eye contact with the man inside. Instantly, the air inside the car turned icy. Connor was the first to avert his gaze. Cam thought the driver would pick her up before going to pick up Mr. Connor. She didn¡¯t expect to meet him in the car, her surprise no less than his. ¡°Mr. Connor, she greeted him with a slight smile. ¡°Seatbelt. Connor said as he turned his head and picked up his phone to reply to a message, seemingly busy The air in the car seemed to flow slowly, very quiet, even the sound of breathing was clearly audible. Despite the air conditioning, Connor felt a bit stifling. He wanted to ask the driver to turn down the air conditioning but then thought of the woman next to him and decided against it. irritably pulling at his the. What dreadful weather, both stuffy and hot. 45 45 Soon, the car arrived at the city center, next to the Passos Mall, where a standalone building housed the bar. Last year, this building was a fancy private kitchen. Erica brought Cam here once. Apparently, when the lease expired, the mall took it back. A wealthy individual had rented it and transformed it into a bar. Looking around, men and women dressed to the nines filled the ce, making her attire seem perfectly appropriate. Before stepping out of the car, Cam nced at Connor and noticed his tie was askew. ¡°Mr. Connor, your tie¡­¡± Just as the driver was about to speak, Cam had already reached over to adjust it. He drew.in a sharp breath. Mr. Connor disliked anyone touching his personal attire, ties included. Connor instinctively leaned back, his brow furrowing. ¡°There.¡± Cam said with a smile, convinced she was apetent assistant. Having noticed Connor often wore ties, she had even gone online to learn about them. Connor shifted ufortably, clearing his throat. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± relieved not to witness an outburst from Mr. Connor, quickly got out and opened the door. Connor stepped out first, and Cam, opening her door herself, found Connor waiting by the car, gesturing for her to take his arm¨Ca gesture of social etiquette. Cam naturally looped her arm through his. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°Connor.¡± Tuming towards the voice, Cam saw a woman in a white evening gown approaching, a smile gracing her face. Cam recognized her as the woman who had visited Mr. Connor at the office a few days ago. PF 3 F 3 The woman gave Cam a meaningful look, saying, ¡°Cam, you look lovely, almost more exquisite than a famous actress.¡± Just as she was contemting withdrawing her hand from Connor¡¯s arm, Connor called out impatiently. ¡°Rita.¡± Cam blinked in surprise. ¡°I didn¡¯t get a chance to introduce myselfst time. I¡¯m Rita, this guy¡¯s cousin.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you, Ms. Rita.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so formal, just Rita is fine. If Connor ever gives you trouble, you cane to me.¡± Cam nced at Connor and nodded awkwardly. Connor said, ¡°Don¡¯t mind her.¡± Rita clicked her tongue, ¡°You two enjoy your evening. I¡¯ll go greet the other guests.¡± The entrance was nked by luxury cars, with staff checking invitations at the door. FK P 8 8 2 = 0 2 2 5 D/F F Connor led her past the check¨Cin, straight into the bar. As the door swung open, the bar¡¯svish decor and high ceilings lent an air of elegance to the ce, dominated by dark tones creating a subdued and mysterious ambiance. The walls were adorned with artistic paintings and decorations, enhancing the artistic vibe. Smooth jazz yed in the background, devoid of the expected noise. Cam spotted celebrities from the entertainment industry, including top¨Ctier stars. ¡°Mr. Connor, can I go get an autograph?¡± ¡°These people are just here to add mour,¡± Connor said dismissively, implying she shouldn¡¯t devalue herself. Tonight¡¯s guests, besides the celebrities, were all high society folks who recognized Connor. ¡°Mr. Connor!¡± A group of young men of simr age came over to greet him, their eyes curiously scanning Cam. Actually, from the moment Cam entered the bar, the staring never stopped. Her stunning beauty and alluring figure drew envious nces from women and fervent admiration from men. If not for Connor by her side, countless men would have been at her feet tonight. ¡°Is there something you need?¡± Connor¡¯s voice was icy cold, his handsome face intimidating enough to send chills down one¡¯s spine. 46 46 ¡°It¡¯s nothing, no worries.¡± A few gentlemen awkwardly smiled and backed away. Cam sensed that the man beside her seemed displeased. She looked up into his eyes, which were slightly narrowed. What¡¯s with Mr. Connor today, so moody. Connor pulled his arm away from Cam¡¯s grasp, took off his jacket, and draped it over her shoulders. ¡°Here, take this.¡± Cam caught it, blinked, and neatly folded the suit jacket over her arm. ¡°How are you supposed to drink holding that? Put it on,¡± he said, his voice cool and distant. Cam paused for a moment, then obediently draped his still¨Cwarm jacket over her shoulders. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Connor took her by the wrist and led her towards the sofa area. ¡°Is that Mr. Connor¡¯s girlfriend?¡± people whispered from afar. ¡°A celebrity? Probably not some rich girl.¡± ¡°New her before, but she sure is stunning.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the mist time I¡¯ve seen Mr. Connor bring a date to an event. It must be serious.¡± ¡°Hooking up with Mr. Connor, she¡¯s about to soar high.¡± ¡°Do you think the Passos family is just any wealthy family? Is this girl dreaming to climb the social ladder?¡± a woman sneered with augh. In the sofa area. ¡°Mr. Connor, what would you like to drink?¡± the bartender asked, bending over slightly. Connor replied, ¡°Get her a juice and pour me a ss of 50¨Cyear¨Cold Glenfiddich.¡± Cam nodded and smiled at the bartender. ¡°Mr. Connor, long time no see,¡± another guest approached to greet. The sofa area quickly filled up, and Cam quietly moved to a corner, bored, sipping her juice and listening to the music. ¡°Connor, Rita told me you were here and I didn¡¯t believe her,¡± Logan approached with a drink in hand, giving Cam a quick nce. ¡°Oh, Cam¡¯s here too.¡± ¡°Good evening, Mr. Logan, Cam nodded. Spotting Logan, others made space for him. ¡°I actually have something for you, about that special edition Future 3.0 with jewelry elements we discussed. I¡¯ve designed a few models, and I also found out Jaiden has privately invested in a roboticspany.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s talk in the private booth,¡± Connor stood up, calling out to Rita not far away. Rita sauntered over. ¡°Take care of her, and make sure she doesn¡¯t drink any alcohol. I¡¯ve got business to discuss,¡± Connor instructed. ¡°Sure, leave her to me,¡± Rita winked. Rita found it amusing to see Cam wearing Connor¡¯s jacket. She chuckled softly, pulling Cam by the hand towards the bar. ¡°What would you like to drink?¡± Rita asked. ¡°Just juice for me. I need to drive Mr. Connor home,¡± Cam replied with a shake of her head and a smile. Rita was busy. After chatting briefly with Cam, she was called away. Before leaving, she told the bartender to keep an eye on Cam. Cam¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. She wasn¡¯t a child that needed watching. A stranger noticed the empty seat beside Cam and approached. ¡°Good evening,¡± the man greeted, ncing at the men¡¯s suit she was wearing. The man smiled and pulled out a business card. ¡°Are you an actress?¡± Cam took it without looking and replied lightly, ¡°No,¡± ¡°I thought you might be a talent agency¡¯s new face. No worries, I specialize in investing in films and TV shows. I¡¯ve got a project in needi of an actress, and you seem perfect. Maybe we can find a quiet ce to talk? What¡¯s your name?¡± the man said suggestively. ¡°Cam.¡± But it wasn¡¯t Cam who spoke. She turned towards the voice. 47 47 A woman in a pink miniskirt approached Cam with a smirk of disdain on her face. Cam¡¯s brows furrowed, a sense of wariness in her heart. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see you here,¡± the woman said as she reached Cam, ncing at the man beside her with malicious intent. ¡°Boyfriend?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know him,¡± Cam replied coolly. ¡°So, now you do?¡± The man extended his hand, smiling. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m working, and I¡¯m not interested in acting,¡± Cam said, not taking his hand. ¡°How ungrateful!¡± The man, his hand still hanging in the air, left in a huff, embarrassed and angry. Tabitha, who is this?¡± someone asked. S This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Tabitha curled her lips into a sneer. ¡°Her? She¡¯s my half¨Csister,¡± she said, looking at Cam. ¡°Is your mom still running that shop?¡± Everyone looked over, their eyes filled with mockery. Tabitha¡¯s family owned a chain of grocery stores throughout the state. Even though online shopping had caused the closure of several stores in recent years, they remained significant yers in the industry. Tabitha was often affectionately called the ¡°Grocery Princess.¡± Cam, wanting nothing to do with her, turned to leave but was stopped by Tabitha. ¡°What¡¯s going on. Can¡¯t even exchange a few words with your sister?¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to talk about? How your mom became the other woman?¡± Cam retorted. Furious, Tabitha grabbed and tore off the jacket draped over Cam. ¡°It¡¯s those who aren¡¯t loved who are the home wreckers!¡± Cam just smiled and picked up Connor¡¯s jacket, dusting it off. DA The bartender tapped on the counter, displeased. ¡°Ms. Cam is Ms. Rita¡¯s guest. Show respect.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ so she¡¯s some CEO¡¯s secretary,¡± Tabitha said with a meaningfulugh. ¡°No wonder she doesn¡¯t want to act. Sticking with the CEO must be lucrative.¡± ¡°Exactly. Why bother showing face in the entertainment world to earn a hard living when you can have it easy?¡± ¡°I know a few friends who might be interested in you.¡± Their words grew more direct and offensive, barely stopping short of using her of being kept by her CEO like a sugar baby. Cam watched them with a coldugh, her eyes revealing nothing but disdain. Just as she was about to speak, someone took her by the arm. Cam turned and saw Rita, who had arrived unnoticed. ¡°Who¡¯s interested in Cam?¡± Rita¡¯s eyes swept over them, her smile tinged with a chill. Suddenly, everyone fell silent, leaving only the bar music ying. It was no secret in the circles that Rita was Ray¡¯s granddaughter. Offending her was akin to provoking the Passos family, a powerful n with global influence and stakes in the entertainment industry. ¡°Why are you so quiet? I thought you all had a lot to say. Cam is my friend, my cousin¡¯s assistant. Since when did it be your ce to judge?¡± ¡°Ms. Rita, it¡¯s a misunderstanding,¡± Tabitha said, forcing a smile. ¡°Misunderstanding?¡± Rita¡¯s gaze pinned Tabitha, sending shivers down her spine. ¡°Cam is my sister. We were just chatting, right?¡± Tabitha looked desperately at Cam. ¡°I don¡¯t have a sister, Cam straightened her dress and smiled. Immediately, the crowd around Tabitha stepped back, leaving her isted. Tabitha¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment, her hands nervously clutching the hem of her skirt. Rita chuckled lightly. ¡°Since Cam doesn¡¯t know you, you¡¯re not wee here, and the Passos family doesn¡¯t wee you either.¡± 48 48 Oh no, several people felt uneasy, quickly trying to distance themselves from Tabitha. Ms. Rita, we were just passing by. We don¡¯t really know her.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t keep your mouths shut even when you¡¯re just passing by? Maybe you shouldn¡¯t be in the entertainment industry. Go home, wash up, and get some sleep.¡± Rita nced over, summoning the security guard and whispering a few words. The security promptly escorted them out. ¡°Ms. Rita! Ms. Rita!¡± Some still called out desperately, attracting the attention of everyone around. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see these people in the industry ever again.¡± Rita, after sharing a smile with the audience, took Cam by the arm and headed back to the bar. ¡°I¡¯m sorry you had to see that. Connor¡¯s going to me meter.¡± ¡°Not at all, I should be thanking you.¡± Cam quickly waved her off. ¡°Two Alcoves, please.¡± Join me for one. The cocktails are low in alcohol,¡± Rita said warmly after ordering, smiling gently at Cam. ¡°Sure.¡± Rita had just helped her out. It was hard for Cam to refuse, and she nodded with a smile. As they chatted, the bartender quickly prepared their drinks. Cam tasted hers¨Cit was sweet with hardly a hint of alcohol. Connor descended from the private booth and approached them. As he was about to speak, his eyes suddenly caught sight of the empty ss in front of Cam. His brows furrowing slightly. ¡°Have you been drinking?¡± Cam¡¯s eyes were slightly unfocused, and she nodded nkly, her cheeks tinged pink as if caressed by the gentle breeze of spring, radiantly beautiful. ¡°It¡¯s just a cocktail, no big deal,¡± Rita said, slightly annoyed. ¡°She can¡¯t handle her liquor.¡± Connor red at her, and Rita pursed her lips, looking imploringly towards Logan. Logan tried to ease the tension, ¡°Hey, it¡¯s just one drink, no biggie.¡± The bartender, who had already prepared another drink, hesitated. He held it mid¨Cair, unsure whether to set it down. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Cam spotted the drink hanging in the air and reached out for it, murmuring, ¡°Thank you.¡± She was indeed a bit tipsy, her voice soft and mellow. Connor swiftly took the drink from her hand and downed it in one gulp. ¡°That was my drink, why are you taking¡­¡± Cam¡¯s words slurred slightly, like a whisper in a dream, alluring and mesmerizing. ¡°We should head back,¡± Connor told Rita. He took Cam by the arm, saying softly, ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Cam looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with a mesmerizing glow. She smiled sweetly, her smile blooming like a flower, delicate and enchanting. She got up, staggering slightly. Connor held her arm tightly to prevent her from falling. When they walked out of the bar, the driver was already at the door with the car door open, waiting for them. Connor gently guided Cam into the car, then walked around to the other side and got in, helping her to buckle up. Beside him, all was quiet. Connor turned his head and saw Cam leaning against the back of the seat, her eyes closed and her head tilted to the side. Was she asleep? As Cam drifted further, her head also began to tilt further. She looked like she was going to fall at any moment. Connor reached out to support her face. In the dim light of the car, her delicate features appeared even more exquisite. THEL She seemed to feel the warmth, rubbing her cheek like a kitten against his palm. Connor intended to adjust her head upright, but unexpectedly, her soft lips brushed against his palm. Suddenly, a jolt of electricity spread from his palm, as if time had frozen at that moment. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed slightly. In the dimly lit room. Connory over her bare body, gently kissing away the tears at the corner of her eyes. 49 49 Mr. Connor, wake up.¡± Cam¡¯s voice was soft as she tried to rouse him. Connor¡¯s eyes snapped open, his gaze fixating on the neatly dressed Cam as confusion washed over him. His mind crashed. Was it a dream? But it felt so real, The stubbom physical reaction he still felt added a shade of embarrassment. He bent his knees slightly and slowly turned his back to Cam. Pulling the nket over his head, he let out a hoarse, parched voice. ¡°Please, step out for a moment.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Cam sensed something off about Connor today, though she couldn¡¯t pinpoint exactly what it was. She just felt he was acting strangely. After she gently closed the door, Connor yanked the nket off and took deep breaths. He chided himself for having such a dream, and felt a lingering sense of unfulfillment. This had never happened before. Was it because of he slept with her before? Both in his dream and in reality, it was the same person. After a moment, he texted Cam before getting up. Locking his room, he entered the bathroom, turned on the shower, and let the cold water cascade down as he leaned against the tile wall. The cold water hit his skin, causing him to shiver. He clenched his eyes shut, the water streaming down his thick brows, tracing the line of his high nose, and flowing over his tightly closed lips, cooling the heat within him gradually. Cam nced at her watch. It was already 8:40 AM, and Connor hadn¡¯t emerged yet. She walked to the bedroom and gently tried the door. It was locked? What was Connor up to? She knocked softly, and minutes passed with no response. ¡°Mr. Connor locked the door,¡± Cam said to David. ¡°Locked?¡± David also found it strange. Connor usually was dressed and ready by now, even if he was running late. He frowned and said, ¡°Could he be sick?¡± ¡°Maybe, his voice was really raspy this morning. Does he have a cold?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nearly 8:50 AM. Something¡¯s off. I¡¯ll go find the key.¡± David was getting anxious. It was the first time in years that Mr. Connor was Upon obtaining the key, David opened the bedroom door. Connor was fastening thest button of his shirt. ¡°Mr. Connor, are you feeling unwell? Should I call Dr. Adams?¡± David looked concerned. ¡°No need, I¡¯m fine.¡± Connor donned his suit jacket and headed out, facing away as he passed Cam. Cam, unaware of his difort, followed him. Connor passed the dining table, where the foody untouched, his brow furrowing in displeasure. In the elevator, Cam couldn¡¯t help but feel that there was a chill emanating from Connor. ¡°Didn¡¯t I ask you to have breakfast first?¡± Cam was puzzled. This morning he had only asked her to step out. When had he mentioned breakfast? ¡°I must have misheard.¡± ¡°I sent you a message.¡± Cam checked her phone and indeed found a message from Connor. ¡°Sorry, I often get spam messages. I didn¡¯t notice.¡± Connor closed his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll have n send my contact to you.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Throughout the ride, Cam could sense that Connor was in a bad mood, not even sparing her a nce. Had she offended him somehow? Could it be something she said or didst night while drunk? N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Her memories of the previous night were fragmented. She only remembered bits and pieces. Connor had taken her home. Once at home, she had crashed on her bed, falling asleep without even changing or removing her makeup. Back at the office, she discreetly called the driver to ask if anything had happenedst night. 50 50 The driver said that she fell asleep as soon as she got into the car. He said he and Connor took her home together. The whole ride was quiet without any fuss, and the driver evenplimented her on handling her alcohol well. ¡°Breakfast. n, the assistant, picked up sandwiches from the diner downstairs. ¡°Is that for me?¡± Cam asked. 1 Yes, Mr. Connor skipped breakfast, so I got two.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take it to him.¡± Cam stood up, reaching for the other sandwich in n¡¯s hand. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯ll take it.¡± n was also puzzled. Mr. Connor had specifically asked him to deliver it personally. Cam nodded, ncing at the frosted floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows, unable to see inside. n camed the breakfast into the CEO¡¯s office. ¡°Mr. Connor, here is your breakfast.¡± ¡°Did you deliver hers?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I want you to handle the reports today.¡± ¡°Understood.¡±This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. After leaving, n scratched his head. Connor unwrapped the sandwich, took a bite, chewed a few times, and then pulled out a napkin to spit it out. Disgusting. How had he ever found this appetizing before? Must have been the hunger. For a whole week, Connor hadn¡¯t looked Cam in the eye, even though they shared breakfast at the same table. Cam clearly felt Connor was avoiding her. She hadn¡¯t even stepped into the CEO¡¯s office. Cam couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. This suffocating work atmosphere was worse than being fired, so she knocked on Connor¡¯s office door. ¡°Aren¡¯t you not supposed to report today?¡± Connor said, a hint of displeasure in his voice. ¡°Mr. Connor, am I doing something wrong? Please tell me, or if you want to fire me, just do it quickly.¡± Connor looked up at her, blinking unconsciously. ¡°No, you¡¯re doing fine.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s not about my work performance. You have a personal issue with me.¡± Connor propped his head with one hand, rubbing his temples, ¡°No.¡± Cam looked at him skeptically. ¡°Are you sure? Should I resign?¡± ¡°No, you don¡¯t need to,¡± Connor replied softly, like a child admitting a mistake. ¡°Then that¡¯s settled. I¡¯ll continue with the work reports?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Okay, Mr. Connor, I¡¯ll get back to work.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± After she closed the door, Connor realized he was the CEO here. In the following days, although Connor was still a bit awkward, their work interactions returned to normal. The shareholder meeting was in three days, and Cam was very busy. Ding! Cam checked her message, her lips curling into a smile. The branch office had transferred $1000. Not only half a month¡¯s sry but also a perfect attendance bonus. Mr. Cash, what a good man! She began to look forward to the headquarters¡® sry. Half a month must be around three thousand at least. Ding! Sry deposited: $4,132.80. Cam rubbed her eyes, making sure she wasn¡¯t seeing things. Over four thousand! What a hefty sum! It was her highest earning ever! 11:12 Was there a mistake in the finance department? Upon receiving the payroll email from HR, she couldn¡¯t believe her eyes. Half a month¡¯s sry was a thousand, and the rest was various allowances. She loved the headquarters! Loved overtime! Loved her boss! Of course, her love for Mr. Connor was like that for a god of wealth. From the moment she received her sry, her mouth kept turning up, her face beaming with unstoppable joy. Through the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window, she watched Connor working. He was so handsome. For the first time, she found him so pleasing to the eye, his refined face seemingly haloed with light. Connor, feeling the intense gaze, looked up and met Cam¡¯s eyes. She gave him a big smile. He thought for a moment, puzzled. Right, today was payday. 51 51 Erica arrived at Cedarhill Estate with barbecue skewers and beer in tow, settling in to watch TV with Cam. ¡°This is so boring,¡± Erica remarked as she eyed the yogurt in Cam¡¯s hand. ¡°Let¡¯s drink together during the holidays. Be good for now.¡± Cam chuckled as she munched on the skewers. She had work the next day and could not indulge in more alcohol. After that cocktail at Rita¡¯s bar opening, she had received cold stares from Connor for days. ¡°How¡¯s Lily¡¯s divorce case going?¡± Erica asked. ¡°Wesley got her a divorcewyer, found quite a bit of the assets Julian had transferred, and there¡¯s also an affair. Julian¡¯s worried the scandal could affect his job, so they¡¯re still in mediation.¡± Lily has always been too romantic. Got married and had her kid so young, she couldn¡¯t even finish her degree.¡± That¡¯s why I say, a woman needs to eam her own money to stand tall.¡± The TV news shed a disturbing headline: [A man was shot in the spine during a home robbery, fears of paralysis.] Cam¡¯s eyes widened with shock, a flurry of thoughts overwhelming her as she began to tremble slightly, clutching Erica¡¯s sleeve tightly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You suddenly look so pale,¡± Erica asked, touching her forehead anxiously. ¡°That man, he looks like Tucker¡­¡± Cam pointed at the TV, but the screen had already moved on to the next piece of news. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. ¡°I¡¯ll check it out. Why would he be abroad?¡± Erica reactivated the long¨Csilenced university group chat, which was buzzing with discussions. [Tucker mentionedst week he struck it rich and was moving abroad¡­] [Didn¡¯t Cam break up with him?] [I asked my friend abroad. It¡¯s really him. Seemed too shy and got envied.] [How did he suddenly get rich? Did he win the lottery?] [Not exactly, they said it was a windfall, but look what happened so soon.] * P F FSE 2 = ¡À 2 9 8 # F = 3 3 3 5 2 3 ¡°Cam, it really is him.¡± Cam scrolled through the group chat messages. The windfall, it was from Connor. ¡°Erica, do you think Connor could be behind this incident in the U.S.?¡± Cam asked, staring nkly. ¡°It¡¯s probably a coincidence. Connor is powerful, but he can¡¯t reach that far, can he?¡± ¡°I need to ask him.¡± 4ce they Cam tapped on Connor¡¯s message thread, a nk pag¨¦ since they had never chatted before. At that moment, Connor was in a quiet video conference with a factory manager. His phone buzzed, and he swiped the screen casually. Cam: [Mr. Connor, I saw a news report. Did you do this? (link)] In the video feed, the factory manager saw Connor rub his brow and paused his speech. ¡°Give me a few minutes.¡± He walked out with his phone to the balcony and lit a cigarette. Cam¡¯s phone vibrated intensely, her heart pounding, ¡°Connor¡¯s calling.¡± ¡°Answer it.¡± Cam walked to her room and pressed the call button. ¡°Mr. Connor,¡± Connor exhaled a stream of smoke, ¡°Yes, I did it.¡± Cam hadn¡¯t expected him to admit it so directly. Tucker had been beaten badly, facing a possibly paralyzed future. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit too much?¡± At her words, Connor let out augh, his tone turning dangerous, ¡°He took tens of millions from me and expects to livefortably? I¡¯m not that generous. Cam felt a strange, ruthless vibe from Connor. You scared?¡± Facing Connor¡¯s interrogation, Cam didn¡¯t blink an eye, ¡°Mr. Connor, this situation started because of me. I can¡¯t pay you back those millions, but if it settles your anger, I can resign.¡± 52 52 Connor took a drag of his cigarette, his expression unreadable in the dim light. ¡°But if you think I can be of any help in your work, and you haven¡¯t found someone to rece me, I¡¯m ready to give it my all until the end, Cam continued. ¡°You¡¯ve said it all.¡± Cam gave a sheepish smile, waiting quietly for him to speak. Connor stubbed out his cigarette and said indifferently, ¡°Don¡¯t bete tomorrow.¡± ¡°Good night, Mr. Connor,¡± Cam responded with a nod. Connor¡¯s lips curved slightly upwards as he returned to his study with a poker face and said, ¡°You may continue.¡± ¡°How did it go?¡± Erica asked anxiously. ¡°It was him.¡± Erica looked at Cam in disbelief. ¡°He went that far?¡± Cam nodded, ¡°He must have spent millions to settle the matter, but Connor doesn¡¯t want Tucker to have an easy life.¡± 20 Erica was stunned, ¡°Wow! A few million? Well, that¡¯s a lifetime of ease. Speaking of which, do you think your boss might actually like you?¡± Cam rolled her eyes, ¡°You¡¯ve been reading too many novels?¡± ¡°The self¨Cmade wealthy are less traditional about marriage. Connor fits the bill of tall, rich, and handsome. Marrying him wouldn¡¯t be a loss for you.¡± ¡°You are getting more and more absurd. Tall, rich, and handsome has nothing to do with me. I¡¯m just happy with the high sry he pays.¡± The next day, Cam arrived on time at Cedarhill Estate, made coffee as usual, and went to wake Connor up. At the breakfast table, David had already served their breakfast. Cam took a sip of milk and bit into a pancake, suddenly feeling queasy. ¡°Oh¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t control the nausea. Connor and David watched her intently. Cam, embarrassed, said, ¡°Excuse me¡­¡± and covered her mouth as she rushed to the bathroom, hugging the toilet as she vomited uncontrobly, tears streaming down her face. After a while, she walked out of the bathroom. Both sets of eyes were still fixed on her. ¡°Cam, are you feeling alright?¡± David asked. Cam quickly waved her hand, not admitting to the onion in the pancake, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just a sensitive stomach.¡± Connor pursed his lips, his anxiety apparent. He nced at Cam, his expression turning dark and unreadable. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Mr. Connor, you haven¡¯t eaten anything¡­¡± David began. I¡¯m not hungry.¡± Connor grabbed a set of car keys from the cab and pulled Cam by the arm towards the elevator. ¡°Get in the car.¡± Connor pressed the lock on the Bentley, leaving Cam and the driver baffled. ¡°We¡¯re going somewhere. You don¡¯t need to follow,¡± Connor told the driver. Cam hurriedly followed, buckling her seatbelt, and turned to stare at Connor in the driving seat, whose handsome face was filled with worries. The car quickly left the parking lot, not heading towards the office. ¡°Mr. Connor, where are we going?¡± ¡°To the hospital.¡± ¡°The hospital?¡± Cam was puzzled./Mr. Connor, are you feeling unwell?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not me. It¡¯s you,¡± Connor said tly without turning his head.. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. ¡°Me? I¡¯m fine. Cam nced at herself. At the traffic light, Connor gently applied the brakes and turned to look at Cam¡¯s stomach. 53 53 Cam followed Connor¡¯s gaze to her own stomach. She had just been sick, and the thought that he might assume she was pregnant seemed absurd to her. She couldn¡¯t help but snicker, ¡°Mr. Connor, you don¡¯t actually think I¡¯m expecting, do you?¡± Connor¡¯s eyebrows knitted together tightly, his expression turning a shade paler. ¡°Mr. Connor, do you think I¡¯m out of my mind? Would I take blockers instead of contraceptives? It was just a reflex to the green onions I ate this morning, not morning sickness.¡± Connor¡¯s face darkened ominously, sending a shiver down Cam¡¯s spine. ¡°The light¡¯s green,¡± Cam pointed out. With a sharp turn, Connor expertly maneuvered the steering wheel, his arm muscles tensing visibly. Cam clutched her seatbelt tightly, barely daring to breathe. Connor gripped the steering wheel firmly with one hand, his fingers clenching it tightly, while his other hand casually rested on the window sill, his chin propped up by his bent fingers, his face expressionless. Unable to contain her curiosity, Cam asked, ¡°If I really were pregnant, what would you do?¡± Connor blinked, his lips pursed, clearly unsure. ¡°Keep it or not?¡± ¡°Keep it.¡± ¡°Would you marry me?¡± ¡°I¡¯d take responsibility.¡± Cam chuckled softly, a hint of self¨Cmockery in her voice, ¡°Using the child to climb the social ladder? I¡¯m not that naive. Two people who don¡¯t love each other getting married just because of a child is the ultimate irresponsibility.¡± Raising an eyebrow, she continued, ¡°So, Mr. Connor, rest assured, I won¡¯t be having your illegitimate child. As for anyone else, I wouldn¡¯t know.¡± Hearing this, Connor felt an inexplicable emptiness and rummaged through his pockets. ¡°Looking for a smoke?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a convenience store around the corner. Pull over, and I¡¯ll go buy some,¡± Cam suggested, pointing ahead. The car pulled over, and Cam headed straight into the convenience store. ¡°I¡¯ll take a pack of cigarettes, this brand, and a lighter, please.¡± As Cam was about to pay, Connor handed over the card. ¡°They didn¡¯t have your usual brand, so make do.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s grab some breakfast too,¡± Connor suggested, pointing at the food disy. ¡°You want some breakfast?¡± Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Connor nodded. ¡°Two servings of toasts. Please, separate them.¡± Cam nced at the counter and picked up a box of candy, ¡°Is this the only vor of Jelly Beans left? I haven¡¯t been able to find the orange vortely.¡± ¡°They¡¯ve discontinued it, no moreing,¡± the cashier shrugged. ¡°You are too old to like sweets. Aren¡¯t you worried about cavities?¡± Connormented as he ced a bottle of milk and a bottle of water on the counter, taking the candy from her hands. Cam wrinkled her nose and snatched the candy back, cing it on the.cashier¡¯s desk. ¡°I¡¯ll treat you to breakfast.¡± Connor picked up the water and the packed breakfast and got back into the car, ¡°You start eating. I¡¯ll have a smoke.¡± Cam took a big bite of the beef ball sneaking nces at Connor at the designated smoking area. He stood casually, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a cigarette, gently drawing in a breath of smoke and then slowly exhaling, seemingly releasing his emotions. His gaze, through the thin veil of smoke, appeared somewhat lost and profound. He must be relieved, Cam thought. After a moment, Connor made a call. ¡°Hi, Mr. Connor, what can I do for you?¡± ¡°Do you guys produce a candy called Jelly Beans?¡± *Jelly Beans? Sounds familiar, the snack department is my brother¡¯s responsibility, I¡¯ll ask him for you.¡± ¡°Thanks, I¡¯m looking for the orange vor.¡± Connor pressed the cigarette butt down until it waspletely extinguished before slowly opening the car door and getting back inside. 54 54 ¡°Here you go.¡± Cam handed over the breakfast. Connor looked at the toast in front of him and frowned slightly, ¡°I don¡¯t want it.¡± Cam¡¯s temper red up as she scowled, ¡°Wasting food is shameful.¡± He had asked for it, and now he didn¡¯t want it. So capricious. Reluctantly, Connor took it and took a bite, finding it surprisingly tasty. ¡°You don¡¯t like sweets, so I didn¡¯t add syrup,¡± Cam said, sipping her milk. Connor ate slowly, finishing the toast, and realized that trying something different once in a while wasn¡¯t so bad after all. Cam threw the trash in the bin. ncing at the time and realizing they werete, she couldn¡¯t help butugh thinking about how Connor had misunderstood her being pregnant. ¡°Laughing over throwing out trash.¡± Connor teased her as she got into the car. ¡°Mr. Connor, you better drive fast. We have a meeting at ten,¡± Cam said as she buckled her seatbelt. Connor checked the time and sped up. ¡°This afternoon, you and the driver will go to the airport to pick up Steven, take him to the hotel, and book a dinner at the hotel restaurant. I¡¯ll join with n as soon as we¡¯re free.¡± ¡°Gotit,¡± Cam checked the flight details. In the afternoon, the driver had to take leave due to a family matter, so Cam went to the airport with Alex to pick up the guest. Steven was a tycoon¡¯s son and the secondrgest shareholder in thepany, investing in his own name. Cam stood at the VIP parking lot entrance with a sign waiting for Steven. Among thoseing through the VIPne, a particrly striking figure in a satin blue shirt with rolled¨Cup sleeves and an open cor caught her eye. Spotting Cam, he smiled, ¡°You must be Cam.¡± ¡°Mr. Steven, hello, let me help you with your luggage,¡± Cam said with a smile, taking his suitcase. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. ¡°It¡¯s been half a year, and I had no idea Mr. Connor had such a beautiful secretary now.¡± Cam smiled and maintained a professional distance as the driver loaded the luggage into the trunk, and she opened the car door. ¡°Mr. Steven, please.¡± Whether intentional or not, Steven¡¯s hand brushed lightly against Cam¡¯s as he entered the car. Cam¡¯s brow tightened imperceptibly, and she wiped her hand with her sleeve after closing the car door. ¡°Mr. Steven, we¡¯ll take you to the hotel first. Mr. Connor will arriveter,¡± Cam said, turning around. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whether hees or not. Having you here is enough for me,¡± Steven said with a raised eyebrow. Cam forced a smile and turned back around. They soon arrived at the hotel, and Alo went to park the car while Cam pushed Steven¡¯s luggage to the front desk to check in. ¡°Mr. Steven, all set. The bellboy will take your luggage up.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t youing up?¡± Steven asked, slightly disappointed. ¡°I need to report back to Mr. Connor, but if there¡¯s anything unsatisfactory about the room, please call the front desk directly,¡± Cam replied with a smile. ¡°Cam, this isn¡¯t very hospitable,¡± Steven tilted his head to look at her. ¡°Sorry, Mr. Steven. I really need to report back to Mr. Connor.¡± Even with a bellboy present, Cam dared not go up with him. In the public eye, Steven couldn¡¯t press further and gave a resigned smile, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll see you in the private dining room. ¡°Sure, please rest a bit, Mr. Steven. I will send you the room number in a while.¡± Cam sent the reserved private room number to both Connor and Steven: The door to the private dining room was open. With half an hour to spare, Cam sat on the sofa looking at the menu when she suddenly felt someone tap her shoulder. She looked up. 55 55 ¡°Mr. Steven, why don¡¯t you rest a bit longer?¡± Cam returned his nce with a subtle smile. ¡°How could I let you wait here alone? That would not be considerate, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Steven said as he plopped down next to her, their shoulders almost touching. Cam, smiling, shifted slightly away, creating a distance of about half a meter between them. ¡°Cam, no need to be nervous. How long have you been with Future Inc.?¡± Steven asked earnestly. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. ¡°I was at a branch office before, only recently transferred to the headquarters.¡± ¡°Ever thought about relocating to another city, like Southville?¡± His implication was clear. Cam shook her head with a smile. ¡°You know, I think you don¡¯t really need to work. Ever considered being ady of leisure?¡± ¡°Mr. Steven, you are so funny. Shall we order? Mr. Connor and the others will be here shortly.¡± Cam moved a bit further away, cing the menu between them. Steven removed the menu and moved closer to Cam, his arm casually draping over her shoulder. Cam dodged smoothly, and Steven¡¯s arm fell onto the empty space next to her. He stared at her profile, smiling and touching his lips. ¡°Cam, Mr. Connor sent you to pick me up. Don¡¯t you understand what he means?¡± Steven knew well. Every time someone came to pick him up, it was always a man. This was the first time Connor had deliberately sent a woman his way, and he was not about to let the opportunity slip. With such a beauty around, even if thepany¡¯s performance was unsatisfactory, he wouldn¡¯t pursue it. He had seen plenty of tactics of ying hard to get. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Cam¡¯s tone lost its deference, her eyes cold and sharp. Connor found out she wasn¡¯t pregnant and sent her to Steven¡¯s bed? What did Connor take her for? Or perhaps, was this how Future Inc. had grown so quickly, with contracts secured in this manner? ¡°What do you mean?¡± Steven said, ¡°Some things are too obvious to need spelling out.¡± He reached for Cam¡¯s back, attempting to pull her close. Cam swiftly moved aside and threw the hot coffee in front of her into Steven¡¯s face. ¡°Mr. Steven, please show some respect.¡± ¡°Damn it!¡± Steven jumped up, his face sshed with tea. ¡°What the fuck did you just do!¡± He wiped his face furiously. The door to the private room was open, and with all themotion, the waitstaff gathered at the doorway, whispering among themselves. One of them handed Steven a towel. Steven, never having been so publicly humiliated, was furious. In the next moment, he grabbed Cam¡¯s wrist. ¡°You bitch!¡± Cam tried to push him away, and the waitstaff intervened to separate them. Amid the chaos, a figure rushed up and punched Steven in the face. Unprepared for the assault, Steven staggered back and fell onto a couch. Cam saw that the person who had hit Steven was Connor. His face was stern as he stared down at Steven, his gaze carrying an unspoken threat. He then turned to Cam, his expression softening, filled with guilt. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Cam red silently at Connor, her heart seething with the desire to y him alive. Wasn¡¯t this humtion all given by Connor? ¡°Connor, you hit me? Believe it or not, I¡¯ll pull my investment!¡± Steven clutched his bruised face, Connor turned around, his expression fearless. ¡°Sure.¡± He nced at n, ¡°n, contact the finance department to calcte the market value of all Steven¡¯s shares for transfer, get the legal department to draft the transfer agreement, and have the administration department change tomorrow¡¯s shareholders¡® meeting agenda to include the business alteration.¡± 56 56 *Connor, are you out of your mind?¡± Steven exploded, his voice filled with incredulity. ¡°Do you have any idea how much my shares are worth? Can you even afford them?¡± ¡°I can afford whatever they cost. You need to sign the agreement today,¡± Connor retorted sharply. Surrounded by an audience of onlookers, Steven gritted his teeth and sunk into the couch. ¡°I invested a hundred million when I bought in, and by today¡¯s market value, it¡¯s worth at least a billion. I¡¯ll take two hundred million today, and the rest must be in my ount within three days.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Connor replied coolly. ¡°n, make sure to add these terms to the contract and transfer two hundred million immediately after it¡¯s signed.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Steven was skeptical that Connor could gather such a substantial amount in liquidity within just three days. After whispering briefly to n, Connor turned his gaze towards Cam. He reached out, gently grasping her arm. ¡°Cam.¡± Cam jerked her hand away, her face etched with disappointment, her breathing rapid and heavy. Her fists were clenched tight she was struggling to control her emotions and prevent herself from exploding. The room was thick with tension, suffocating, and the onlooking waitstaff silently slipped away. ¡°I¡¯ll have the driver take you home,¡± Connor said after a moment, his voice soft. as if Cam snatched her purse from the couch and stormed out. Throughout the ride, the car was silent, the scenery outside speeding by. Alex nced at Cam asionally, finally breaking the silence. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I knew Mr. Steven was not to be trusted, and yet I left you alone with him.¡± Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Cam chuckled lightly, ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, no need to apologize.¡± She felt a surge of indignation at being sent to meet with a lecher. It¡¯s just so appalling. ¡°No, I usually wait in the car when I drop off colleagues,¡± Alex said guiltily. When he had been on the phone with n, Mr. Connor had snatched the phone away and given him a severe reprimand. ¡°Mr. Connor came as soon as he knew. I¡¯m sorry, I almost let something bad happen to you.¡± Cam stared at Alex in disbelief. She had been wrong about Connor. ¡°I¡¯m alright, aren¡¯t I?¡± she said with a smile, clearing away the gloom. As she calmed down, she began to feel uneasy. If Steven pulled his investment now, it would significantly impact thepany. He held 20% of the shares, and if Connor couldn¡¯t buy them, other shareholders might, and the control of Future Inc. could change hands. Would Connor¡¯s hard¨Cbuiltpany change ownership just like that? Back home, her worries only grew. Maybe if she had been more patient and tactful, the situation wouldn¡¯t have gotten so tense. Did Connor really have that much money? After much thought, she decided to wait for Connor at Cedarhill Estate. Entering the security code, Cam pushed open the door. The lights instantly illuminated her, catching her off guard. She hadn¡¯t expected the house to be brightly lit. Had he returned? As she stepped into the living room, she saw an unfamiliar woman sitting gracefully on the couch, absorbed in a book. The woman¡¯s delicate and dignified demeanor exuded a calm and gentle aura. Cam felt awkward, unsure whether to greet the woman or turn around and leave. 57 57 Just then, the woman looked up and saw Cam. A sh of surprise crossed her eyes, but it quickly faded into calmness as she smiled slightly, set down her book, and stood up. ¡°Hello, are you looking for Connor?¡± the woman¡¯s voice was gentle and clear. Cam nodded, somewhat awkwardly replying, ¡°Hello, I am Mr. Connor¡¯s assistant. I have some work matters to discuss with him.¡± ¡°Work matters?¡± The woman nced out the window into the pitch darkness, then smiled lightly. ¡°At this hour, isn¡¯t it a bit inappropriate for a woman to visit her CEO¡¯s house?¡± Cam froze, a wave of inexplicable nervousness rising within her. Could this be Connor¡¯s girlfriend? The woman appeared to be in her early thirties, graceful and beautiful, with an innate nobility that was impossible to ignore. Cam¡¯s face showed a trace of embarrassment and anxiety. She worried about causing a misunderstanding. She quickly exined, ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong. I am Mr. Connor¡¯s assistant. Tomorrow is the shareholders¡® meeting, and I need to coordinate some details with Mr. Connor.¡± ¡°You seem a bit nervous?¡± The woman smiled, looking at the sofa like a hostess, ¡°Why don¡¯t you sit down and we talk?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Cam actually wanted to leave immediately, but felt that it would be rude to do so. She was also concerned about potentially affecting the woman¡¯s rtionship with Connor. Thus, she reluctantly sat down, sping her hands tightly together, trying to calm her emotions. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± the woman asked. ¡°Cam.¡± ¡°Cam.¡± the woman repeated, with a meaningful look. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Well, since Mr. Connor isn¡¯t here, I won¡¯t disturb you further.¡± Cam suddenly stood up. The woman looked puzzled and gently grasped Cam¡¯s hand, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t go, don¡¯t you still need to discuss work with him?¡± Cam was torn between staying and leaving, standing awkwardly in ce. The woman¡¯s gentleughter broke the silence. ¡°Have you eaten yet? I¡¯ve made some soup for Connor,e have a bowl.¡± Without giving Cam a chance to refuse, the woman led her by the hand to the dining table. She unscrewed a thermos, smiling. ¡°Chicken soup with herbs is great for beauty and anti¨Caging, very suitable for young women. Connor really misses out.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t, it¡¯s made for Mr. Connor. I shouldn¡¯t.¡± Cam looked horrified. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s the same if you have some.¡± The woman had already served a bowl of soup and ced it in front of Cam. Cam smiled stiffly. ¡°Please, have a taste.¡± the woman urged. The aroma from the bowl was tantalizing, and looked very nourishing. Cam took a sip and eximed, ¡°Wow, this soup is delicious!¡± ¡°Of course, I simmered it for hours. It¡¯s low¨Cfat and nutritious. You don¡¯t have to worry about gaining weight,¡± the woman said with a pleased expression. ¡°It really tastes great.¡± ¡°If you like it, I can make it for you often,¡± the woman looked at Cam earnestly. Cam shook her head with a smile, ¡°Today I just got lucky because of Mr. Connor.¡± The woman propped her chin, looking at Cam. The woman¡¯s eyes were like two bright stars, twinkling with warmth. She smiled, ¡°Seeing you makes me happier than seeing him.¡± Her smile seemed very sincere to Cam. Cam gradually rxed. ¡°Miss, b should I address you?¡± ¡°Miss?¡± The womanughed behind her hand, ¡°You can call me ¡®Miss¡® for now, and maybe change it later. ¡°Mrs. Passos?¡± Cam ventured. The woman smiled mysteriously, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s not wrong * 58 58 Cam looked knowingly, convinced that the woman must be Connor¡¯s girlfriend After finishing her soup, Connor still hadn¡¯t returned home, prompting Cam to get up and bid farewell. ¡°Mr. Connor must still be busy It¡¯s gettingte. I won¡¯t wait any longer.¡± Til drive your home.¡± The woman looked at Cam earnestly. Thinking of her residence at Cedarhill Estate, Cam quickly waved her hand to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings. ¡°No worries, I live nearby¡± Connor pushed open the front door, noticed that the lights were on, and heard voices, so he followed the sounds. Seeing the two people at the dining table, his face immediately showed surprise. ¡°Mom.¡± ¡°Mom?¡± Cam¡¯s pupils shrank suddenly, incredulously staring at the woman beside her. ¡°Yeah.¡± The woman beamed at Cam. ¡°No no no, sorry, I misspoke. I was just startled.¡± Cam flustered, waving her hands. ¡°You¡¯re so young, I thought you were Mr. Connor¡¯s girlfriend.¡± ¡°Girlfriend? Hahaha,¡± the womanughed heartily. Connor helplessly took off his suit jacket. ¡°Mom, why didn¡¯t you let me know you wereing? If I wasn¡¯t home, you¡¯d have waited for nothing.¡± Emily smiled, ¡°I wasn¡¯t waiting for nothing. Cam kept mepany.¡± Cam offered a polite smile. ¡°Let me reintroduce myself, I¡¯m Emily, Connor¡¯s mother.¡± Emily smiled and extended her hand to Cam. ¡°Nice to meet you, ma¡¯am.¡± Cam gently shook her hand. Emily patted her son¡¯s shoulder, her smileden with meaning. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll leave you two,¡± Emily said, taking the empty thermos from the table and ncing at her son, ¡°Young man,e home if you want more soup.¡± Connor frowned slightly. ¡°I¡¯ll walk you downstairs.¡± ¡°Cam has something to discuss with you. Come home for dinner this weekend. Grandpa has been asking about you.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± After Emily left, Cam stood still, still caught in the awkward interlude. Connor loosened his tie, sat down, and beckoned Cam over with a finger. ¡°You needed to see me?¡± Cam pursed her lips, hesitating before she spoke. ¡°About Steven¡­¡± ¡°You came over thiste just for this small matter?¡± ¡°Small matter?¡± Cam looked shocked. She had been nearly worried to death. Being unemployed was nothing important, but causing trouble for thepany would be something she could never settle in her heart. ¡°It¡¯s all sorted, Steven¡¯s shares have been transferred to me, I¡¯ve been wanting to reim those shares for a while. In this, you yed a part. I know what kind of person Steven is, and today was the perfect opportunity.¡± Cam blinked. ¡°Opportunity?¡± So, he knew what Steven was like, and his quick appearance to save her had a reason. Suddenly, her heart was a mix of feelings. Upon learning the truth, the initial touch vanished, reced by a deep sense of destion, her gaze bing vacant. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Congrattions Mr. Connor on sessfully reiming the shares. It¡¯ste, I won¡¯t disturb you any longer.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll drive you home.¡± ¡°No need.¡± Cam refused, coldly stating, ¡°It¡¯s not far.¡± Connor insisted, abruptly taking her arm and leading her toward the elevator. ¡°Fine, you¡¯re the boss.¡± She thought to herself. Cam pulled away from his grip, standing in the comer of the elevator. 1121 The ride was silent. At her front door, Cam turned after unlocking it and said coldly, ¡°Mr. Connor, thanks for the ride. It¡¯ste, I won¡¯t keep you¡± Connor stared at her. Not waiting for her to close the door, he squeezed inside.N?velDrama.Org (C) content. 59 59 Connor lounged on the sofa, casting a nce around the room. This was Connor¡¯s first visit since the house had been redecorated. Over the decades, Passos Real Estate had built numerous houses across the country, leaving one for each descendant. ¡°Mr. Connor, you can go home now,¡± Cam dered, clearly trying to dismiss him. ¡°Go home? This is my home too, Connor responded nonchntly. Cam¡¯s face turned pale. She took a deep breath, trying to keep herposure. ¡°Yes, I should be the one to leave.¡± She turned to go. reaching for her purse. Connor suddenly panicked, stood up, and grabbed her hand tightly. ¡°Hey, just kidding.¡± Cam pulled her hand away, giving a coldugh. ¡°Mr. Connor, this is your house, and you have every right to make decisions here. Even if you asked me to leave right this moment, I wouldn¡¯t comin.¡± Connor didn¡¯t understand why she had suddenly exploded. He said, ¡°Who¡¯s making you leave? Make us some dinner then. Consider it your rent. As long as you¡¯re employed, you have the right to use this house. I can¡¯t make you move out.¡± Cam stared at him dumbfounded. What the heck? Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Seeing her silent, Connor asked, ¡°Got any paper and a pen?¡± ¡°What for?¡± ¡°To write you an agreement,¡± Connor said helplessly. Cam rolled her eyes and calmed down. Forget it, don¡¯t argue with the boss. Given her experience, she couldn¡¯t find a better job anyway. For the sake of a paycheck, she¡¯d endure. ¡°No need for an agreement, I¡¯ll go make dinner.¡± Connor raised an eyebrow, smugly resettling himself on the sofa, casually crossing his legs as if he owned the ce. In the kitchen, Cam stared at the empty fridge, furrowing her brows. She was always casual about meals, often mooching off Connor for breakfast and lunch, and just making do when she got home. Opening the freezer, there were only some frozen ravioli. Ten minutester, Cam ced a bowl of ravioli on the dining table. ¡°Mr. Connor, dinner is served.¡± Hearing this, Connor put down his phone and came over, frowning at the sight. A bowl of in ravioli topped with a few leaves. He looked at Cam and asked, ¡°Is this it?¡± As soon as he spoke, Cam¡¯s face scrunched up. She wasn¡¯t a cook anyway. ¡°That¡¯s all there is. Mr. Connor, if you don¡¯t like it, then don¡¯t eat. Please leave. You can have David bring you something, or go out to a restaurant. They have all sorts of delicacies.¡± Connor pulled out a chair and stared at the ravioli. ¡°I¡¯ll manage.* He sat at the table, his posture erect. He swallowed a ravioli, savoring it slowly. Cam watched him discreetly. He made a simple bowl of ravioli seem like a Michelin¨Cstar meal. After finishing the bowl, Connor pulled out a napkin and gently wiped the corners of his mouth. ¡°Not bad. Where did you buy these? A nearby restaurant?¡± Cam wrote down an address on a napkin and ced it in front of him, ¡°Some small diner.¡± Connor paused, folded the napkin into a square, and put it in his pocket, then stood up and gently ruffled Cam¡¯s hair. ¡°Thanks for the meal. Get some rest early.¡± It was an offhand gesture, seemingly casual Yet, this sudden act startled Cam as if she had been electrified, causing her to jerk her head up, her face full of astonishment. The gesture seemed overly intimate. She quickly brushed Connor¡¯s hand away, as if fleeing from something terrifying, instinctively retreating, her body leaning back. 60 60 Connor was just as startled by her action as she was, and he quickly withdrew his hand. The atmosphere turned awkward. The clock ticked on, seconds passing by. Clearing his throat, Connor finally said, ¡°I should go.¡± Cam, her head towered, simply hummed. Only after hearing the door close did she touch her wildly beating heart and breathe a sigh of relief. She assured herself, ¡°My heart must have been scared there. Calm down, calm down.¡± The next day, it was as ifst night¡¯s episode had never happened. The shareholders¡® meeting went on as scheduled. Steven was absent, and when Cam saw the transfer agreement worth $1.38 billion, she couldn¡¯t help but gasp. After a busy day, just as Cam sat down at her desk, she received a call from the front desk about a delivery for Mr. Connor. She took the delivery to Connor¡¯s office. ¡°Mr. Connor, your package.¡± As Cam was about to leave after setting it down, Connor nced at the package and said, ¡°Wait.¡± Connor opened the parcel, revealing a box full of candies. Cam¡¯s eyes instantly lit up, fixated on the box of her favorite orange¨Cvored candies. Those familiar shapes and colors, those vors that had apanied many joyful moments in her life, were all there before her again. ¡°Want them?¡± Connor pushed the package toward her, a slight smile curling at his lips. Cam nodded vigorously. Watching her face light up with joy, Connor casually said, ¡°Take it.¡± Yesterday, snack mogul Evan had called him. The production line for the orange¨Cvored jelly candies had stopped, and thepany had sent him their remaining stock. ¡°Are they really all for me? ¡°I don¡¯t eat sweets, But someone sent these to you,¡± Cam said, her hand gently caressing the candies. and I don¡¯t know who would be so clueless to send these to me,¡± Connor said with feigned disgust. At that moment, Evan sneezed several times as his assistant reported that the candies had been delivered to Connor¡¯spany. Evanughed and told his assistant, ¡°Mr. Connor must be delighted with the sweets I sent. He must be praising me right now.¡± Back at Future Inc. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then I¡¯ll dly ept them,¡± Cam said, her smile widening as she clutched the large box of candies to her chest. Connor smiled and nodded. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Cam returned to her desk with the candies, unwrapping one and popping it into her mouth. The sweet taste of orange flooded her mouth, bringing a surge of happiness. She closed her eye¡¯s, clenched her fists, and joyfully twirled around. Through the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window, Connor watched her face beam with happiness, a joy that radiated from within, a look of pure enjoyment. He felt as if he too was touched by that joy. He quietly watched her, taking in the beauty and peace of the moment, the day¡¯s fatigue suddenly vanishing. With a smirk, he muttered, All this happiness over a candy.¡± He watched for a while longer before lowering his head to get back to work. As n passed by Cam¡¯s desk and saw her in a good mood, he joked, ¡°What¡¯s got you so happy?¡± ¡°Eating candy,¡± Camughed, grabbing a handful of candies from her desk to show him. ¡°No, thank you. Were you okay yesterday?¡± n asked. Cam¡¯s face, previously full of smiles, suddenly became serene, the upward curve of her lips quickly fading. In that moment, it was as if all her joy had been drained away, leaving emptiness behind. 61 61 n slowly exined, ¡°Yesterday, while we were in a meeting with the brokers, I received a call saying you went upstairs alone with Steven. Mr. Connor was so furious he almost smashed his phone. He left the brokers, ran through several red lights to get there, and fortunately, he made it in time.¡± Hearing this, a flicker of shock passed through Cam¡¯s eyes. So there was no betrayal or deceit. Her thoughts had been so had even harbored anger and resentment towards Connor. curdly wrong. It had all been a misunderstanding. Just yesterday, she Her hands clenched tightly, she looked towards the man engrossed in hisputer, her heart knocked on her head, chastising herself. How could she ever doubt his character? filled with guilt and self¨Creproach. She ¡°Are you alright?¡± n couldn¡¯t understand why she had hit herself. Steven.¡± Cam sighed softly, ¡°I thought Mr. Connor had intentionally asked me to apany n¡® mouth dropped open, and after blinking a few times, a burst ofughter broke the silence. ¡°Why would you think tha is not that kind of person.¡± Yes, I misunderstood him,¡± Cam murmured guiltily, picking at the desk. Mr. Connor ¡°It¡¯s good that the misunderstanding is cleared up. It even turned out to be a blessing in disguise, allowing us to reim the shares,¡± nforted. Cam pursed her lips and nodded. After much deliberation, she finally knocked on the door to Connor¡¯s office. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Connor asked, seeing her hesitant expression. Cam sped her hands tightly, her lips parting slightly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Connor paused, puzzled, ¡°Why are you apologizing to me?¡± Cam hesitated, then shared her misunderstanding about him. Connor was silent for a moment, then couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°So that was it.¡± Cam nodded, her head lowered. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I shouldn¡¯t have guessed wildly about you, doubting your character. You can punish me.¡± Connor stood up, walked over to her, and gently patted her shoulder, saying helplessly, ¡°Don¡¯t get upset the use of having a mouth? It¡¯s not just for decoration.¡± His gaze fell on her tightly closed lips, and he smiled, ¡°Although they do look pretty.¡± over nothing next time. What¡¯s Cam felt a bit shy and covered her mouth. After all, beingplimented on her lips by a man felt like a very intimate and sensitive form of praise. Connor couldn¡¯t resist flicking her forehead gently. ¡°Silly.¡± ¡°Ouch!¡± Cam¡¯s hand quickly moved from her mouth to her forehead, frowning and pouting. ¡°That¡¯s your punishment. Don¡¯t make the same mistake again,¡± Connor said, finding her expression amusing. Okay Cam rubbed her forehead, responding softly. Back at her desk, Cam felt enlightened and relieved as the misunderstanding was cleared. Her mood gradually improved. Ping- A new message notification. She opened it to find a message from her mother, telling her that her uncle had transferred $700,000 to her. Cam immediately called Drew, who answered quickly. ¡°You redeemed $2 million?¡± Drew hesitated, ¡°Cam, don¡¯t worry about it. I did my best. Apologize to Aunt re for me.¡± ¡°Why do I feel like you¡¯re hiding something from me?¡± Not at all. ¡°It better not be. Quit your job too. I always felt something was off with the Capital Solutions model.¡± Alright, I know. Cam, I¡¯ve got to go. 12:00 1 Cam gave a few more instructions before hanging up. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. The only valuable thing left in the Mallory family was that old house, which they likely had redeemed their investment money from. 62 62 Finally, she had dealt with a nagging worry. Her mood lightened considerably, a relieved smile spreading across her face. A night over the weekend. In her rare leisure time, Cam brewed a pot of tea and sat on the balcony, contentedly reading a book. Her phone rang, disying ¡°Erica.¡± She answered the call, ¡°Cam, what are you up to? I¡¯m at Royal Karaoke,e join me.¡± ¡°No thanks, I¡¯m reading.¡± ¡°Come on, I want to introduce you to my boyfriend.¡± ¡°When did you start dating again?¡± Cam wasn¡¯t surprised at all. Erica¡¯s rtionships were like ythings, the longeststing no more than three months. ¡°Just started, that¡¯s why I want you to meet him. Hurry over, I¡¯ll text you the room number.¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. After hanging up, Cam changed her clothes and headed out. Arriving at the karaoke lounge, she was immediately enveloped by the lively music and bustling atmosphere, dim lights, and tables laden with drinks. Upon seeing her, Erica grabbed the microphone and shouted. ¡°Wee my best friend, Cam!¡± Everyone turned to look at the door, and for a moment, only the music filled therge private room. Cam nodded with a smile. The room was filled with a dozen stylishly dressed young men and women, Erica walked over and pulled Cam by the hand to the couch. ¡°Move.¡± Erica kicked aside someone¡¯s obstructing leg along the way. The man quickly withdrew his leg, making way, his gaze following Cam. As they sat down, the men around quickly gathered. ¡°Back off, guys, go do your thing,¡± Erica red at them. The men, touching their noses, tactfully dispersed, and the karaoke resumed its lively vibe. ¡°Phil,¡± Erica pinched the cheek of the young man next to her. Cam greeted him with a smile. The young man shyly returned the smile. He looked quite young, dressed in a white shirt, jeans, and sneakers, giving off a fresh and well¨Cbehaved impression. Cam whispered to Erica, ¡°He seems quite young, doesn¡¯t he?¡± Ericaughed, looking up. ¡°Twenty, a college student.¡± Surprise flickered in Cam¡¯s eyes. ¡°Met him at our magazinepany where he works as a part¨Ctime model. Sometimes it¡¯s nice to change things up. Young guys have more stamina,¡± Erica said with augh, covering her mouth. Cam looked puzzled but she respected Erica¡¯s decision. ¡°Come on, sing a song for me,¡± Erica nudged Phil. He went to the jukebox, chose a romantic bad expressing love, and sang with his eyes fixed on Erica. The crowd cheered him on, prompting him to continue with a few more songs. ¡°Phil sings quite well; Cam remarked. ¡°Such a young, obedient guy, soforting,¡± Erica raised an eyebrow. ¡°Hope this onests a bit longer for you,¡± Cam chuckled. ¡°We¡¯ll see. Drink to that?¡°¡± Cam shook her head, knowing her own limits with alcohol. Just a little, to celebrate my new young boyfriend. I¡¯ll drive you hometer.¡± Erica poured a bit of red wine into a ss. Alright, cheers to you.¡± Cam clinked sses and took a sip. As Erica and her friends continued to toast, Cam retreated to a corner and dozed off in the dim light. Are you feeling alright?¡± noticing her, Erica put down her ss and asked. I¡¯m fine, just sleepy. I¡¯ll head to the restroom.¡± I cane with you.¡± No need, I¡¯ll be right back. Cam stood up. 63 63 After using the restroom, Cam walked past an open door of a private lounge and overheard a familiar name. ¡°Tabitha, you really can¡¯t hold your liquor.¡± Cam paused, peering into the lounge. Inside, the girls were all dolled up, each dress shorter than thest, some familiar faces from celebrity circles visible among them. Tabitha was in a plunging tank top, ufortably embraced by a portly man. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. ¡°Mr. Smith, I¡¯m just going to the restroom. I¡¯ll be back to drink with you soon.¡± Cam frowned slightly. The life of a celebrity seemed morous, with their multimillion¨Cdor roles easily gained. However, the price for a woman to seed in this industry was steep. Cam once read an interview where a director boasted about the power to make or break careers daily, with eager actresses vying for his ¡°favor.¡± With a soft sigh, Cam walked away. ¡°Stop right there!¡± Turning around, Cam saw Tabitha, her high heels cking erratically as she stormed up furiously. ¡°What do you want?¡± Tabitha red at her, spitting venomously, ¡°You fatherless, whore¨Cborn bastard!¡± ¡°Tabitha! Are you out of your mind? Listen, my mom waswfully wed. If you are that forgetful, see a doctor, not throw tantrums here!¡± Cam red back fiercely. Knowing she was on shaky ground, Tabitha shoved Cam¡¯s shoulder. Unexpectedly, Cam caught her wrist and pushed back. Tabitha, tipsy from the alcohol, staggered backwards. ¡°What, you think you¡¯re something special because you¡¯re close with Rita? See how long thatsts. In her eyes, you¡¯re just apdog.¡± ¡°Mind your own business first. There¡¯s someone waiting for you back in the lounge.¡± Cam didn¡¯t want to linger and turned to leave. Tabitha was seething with anger. Since Rita¡¯s bar opening, she¡¯d lost the lead role she fought hard for, and was suddenly dropped from a reality TV show. All her gigs vanished overnight, all thanks to Cam. ¡°Don¡¯t you walk away from me!¡± Tabitha shouted, losing it and lunging at Cam. ¡°Bitch! If it weren¡¯t for you getting Rita to cklist me, would I be here entertaining these sleazebags for a minor role?¡± Tabitha grabbed Cam¡¯s hair and yanked hard. A sharp pain shot through Cam who, in reflex, twisted around, facing Tabitha in a tangled fight. ¡°Are you insane? Let go!¡± Cam, inexperienced in fighting, was bewildered and shouted. Tabitha was beyond reason. She kept yanking Cam¡¯s hair, Cam gathered her strength and shoved Tabitha against the wall. The impact made Tabitha double over in pain. They scuffled, pushing and pulling at each other. Tabitha¡¯s high heels came off during the struggle, but she showed no sign of stopping, her face twisted in rage, as if venting all her frustrations and hatred on Cam. Passersby stopped to watch. Some recognized Tabitha and began recording the fight, specting it was over a love rivalry. Back in the KTV lounge. Worried after not seeing Cam return, Erica immediately headed out to find her. Those two girls are fighting outside, hurry!¡± The KTV manager instructed the security. 64 64 Confused, Erica hurriedly followed, wondering if Cam was just there to watch the drama unfold. She sprinted after the security guard and was shocked by the scene before her. Two women were pulling each other¡¯s hair, and upon closer inspection, it was Cam. ¡°Stop it!¡± Erica immediately charged and tackled Tabitha, mming her against the wall. Tabitha felt a sharp pain in her back and wed at Erica. In the chaos, Erica¡¯s neck was scratched by Tabitha¡¯s long nails, and blood began to bead. She hadn¡¯t expected Tabitha tosh out so wildly. Stumbling backwards, she fell. Cam quickly caught Erica. At that moment, the security guard intervened, separating the three women. They looked a mess. Their clothes were disheveled, their hair a tangle, and their faces bore scratches and bruises. The threedies¡® bodies ached and felt exhausted, as if every bone was protesting the fight. They sat on the floor, backs against the wall, breathing heavily. Tabitha¡¯s face was etched with anger, her eyes still defiant. Word of the fight quickly got back to the private room. The director cursed under his breath, ¡°Damn! Make sure no one got this camera.¡± The dozen people in the room quickly left, leaving only Tabitha¡¯s purse lying lonely on a corner of the sofa. on Everyone from Erica¡¯s room rushed over, the girls helping Cam up. Erica¡¯s boyfriend Phil helped her up, his voice full of concern, ¡°Erica, you¡¯re hurt.¡± Erica gently touched her neck and hissed in pain. Cam hugged her tightly, filled with guilt. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Erica smoothed Cam¡¯s hair,forting Tabitha sat against the wall, watching them coldly. Just then, the police arrived. ¡°Officer, it was just a few girls being jealous, pushing each other around, nothing serious. Thanks for coming,¡± the karaoke bar said, bowing slightly and rubbing his hands nervously. Fights weremon at karaoke bars and usually not a big deal. Minor incidents were typically resolved with a few stern words on site. However, the leading officer stood firm, ¡°Take them to the station.¡± ¡°What?¡± The manager was baffled, offering a nervous smile. ¡°Surely that won¡¯t be necessary. A warning should suffice.¡± ¡°Fighting is not a trivial matter.¡± Previously, he might have let it slide, but he was up for a promotion and couldn¡¯t afford any bad press. His gaze swept over the three women as hemanded, ¡°Take them in.¡± Cam and Erica exchanged looks. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll call my dad right away,¡± Erica reassured, patting Cam¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve dragged you into this.¡°¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be silly,¡± expression turning to on At this moment, Tabitha regained herposure, her of fear and anxiety. She quickly got up, grabbed the officer¡¯s arm, and whispered, ¡°Officer, my situation is a bit delicate. Can we just let this go? I will make it worth your while,¡± she stressed the word ¡®worth¡¯. The officer scoffed. ¡°Why did you still fight in public then? Take her in, we¡¯ll handle this by thew.¡± ¡°No¡­ please!¡± Tabitha was truly scared now. Her career was already on thin ice, and if this incident blew up, she would be finished. ¡°Can¡¯t we just settle this?¡± Tabitha trembled, looking towards Cam. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. This is a case of assault. You can talk about settlement at the station,¡± the officer turned away, giving no leeway. 65 65 Three individuals were escorted out of the club by the police, attracting the attention of passersby who quickly whipped out their phones to capture the scene. The spotlight was on them as whispers and murmurs filled the air. ¡°Look, isn¡¯t that the woman from that TV show?¡± someone eximed in surprise. ¡°How can a public figure act like this?¡± critiqued another. ¡°Is that woman a celebrity too? She¡¯s gorgeous,¡± someone pointed at Cam. Erica was standing close to Cam. She overheard and quickly pointed towards the back. ¡°Stop filming! We¡¯re ordinary people with rights to our images. That person over there is the celebrity.¡± Tabitha quickly covered her face with her hands, ring at Erica, wishing she could silence her. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. As the police car started, the shrill sound of the siren pierced the night, echoing ominously¨Ca clear sign this night was far from over. In the police station, the three girls sat in a cramped room facing a stern officer. Cam cooperated with the questioning, recounting the events clearly without much emotional disturbance. Tabitha sped her hands tightly, her inner turmoil evident. As she responded to the officer¡¯s questions, she started off defensively, continually justifying herself. ¡°It was just an idental bump!¡± The club manager provided surveince footage, proving Tabitha had initiated the conflict. ¡°I¡¯ve reviewed the surveince footage. Are you still going to deny it?¡± the officer stared into her eyes. ¡°I had a bit of a drink, and then she bumped into me. Maybe I got confused.¡± Tabitha¡¯s tone softened. ¡°Do you realize your mistake now?¡± the officer remarked. ¡°Yes, sir, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Tabitha nodded earnestly, feigning understanding. ¡°Do you folks need to have injuries examined?¡± inquired the officer. All three shook their heads. ¡°Write up a statement of reflection each, get a family member to vouch for you, and you can leave,¡± instructed the officer. ¡°Can we avoid contacting our families?¡± Cam frowned, not wanting to worry her mother. Do you have someone else who can vouch for you?¡± ¡°Me!¡± Erica raised her hand. ¡°Do you even know your own situation? And you want to vouch for others?¡± ¡°My family isn¡¯t around.¡± Cam exined. The officer nced at her interview record and suggested, ¡°Your supervisor cane and vouch for you then.¡± Cam looked troubled and hesitantly made a phone call to n. After they wrote their statements, Erica¡¯s mother was the first to arrive at the station. She entered the mediation room, gently caressed her daughter¡¯s head, and carefully examined the bruises on her neck with concern, ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Hugging her mother¡¯s waist, Erica whimpered, ¡°It hurts.¡± ¡°You only realize it now, you silly girl,¡± J firmly patted Erica¡¯s back. Releasing her daughter, J turned to pull Cam in for a closer look. ¡°Darling, let me see.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s my fault Erica got dragged into this,¡± Cam said, head lowered. ¡°Silly child, let me give you a hug,¡± J embraced Cam, then turned to the officer, ¡°Can I take them both?¡± The officer shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve contacted my supervisor, and he¡¯ll be here soon. Don¡¯t worry about me. Take Erica home,¡± Cam reassured. ¡°We¡¯ll wait with you,¡± J held Cam¡¯s hand. Tabitha nced at them and scoffed. At that moment, a man stormed into the station, mming his hand on the counter, ¡°What have you done to my daughter!¡± The man¡¯s eyes were filled with fury. He was overweight with a puffy face and wore arge gold chain, looking every bit the part of a nouveau riche. ¡°Sir, please calm down and stop shouting. What¡¯s your daughter¡¯s name?¡± the desk officer looked up with a warning re. 66 66 ¡°Tabitha.¡± The assistant following behind Marc spoke up. ¡°She¡¯s in the mediation room. Just go through this door and turn right.¡± N?velDrama.Org (C) content. Marc strode through the door into the mediation room and saw his daughter sitting in a chair, her face pale. Tabitha cried out in a voice full of grievance, ¡°Dad¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on here! It¡¯s such a minor issue and you bring it to the police station. Don¡¯t you know my daughter is a celebrity?¡± He red angrily at the police officer. ¡°Mr. Marc, your daughter was the first to strike,¡± the officer said tly. ¡°So what! She was hit too.¡± Cam looked on coldly, finding the situation almost amusing. Smack- A crisp sound. Marc¡¯s pnded harshly on Cam¡¯s face, instantly reddening her cheek. The p caught her off guard. Cam fought back tears, ring furiously at him. ¡°What are you doing! This is a police station!¡± The officer immediately intervened. J and Erica rushed over to check on Cam, with J clenching her fists in sympathy. ¡°Mr. Marc, what the hell are you doing!¡± Erica eximed angrily, ¡°Damn! She¡¯s swelling up.¡± ¡°What do you think a police station is for, that you can strike someone here!¡± the officer said sternly. ¡°I¡¯m disciplining my own daughter. How is that striking someone!¡± Marc stood with his arms akimbo. ¡°Your daughter?¡± The officer asked, puzzled, then turned to look at Cam. Cam touched her face, unable to understand why she would have such a father, and why he treated her so differently. ¡°I don¡¯t know him,¡± she said through clenched teeth. ¡°You say that again!¡± Marc warned her. ¡°Can I charge him with assault?¡± Cam turned to the police officer. The officer nodded. ¡°Go get a medical exam. Even minor injuries could mean a few days¡® detention.¡± ¡°What medical exam? It¡¯s just a domestic issue, no need to waste police resources.¡± The deputy chief, standing at the door, spoke up. He had received a call from Marc five minutes earlier. Marc owned a supermarket in this jurisdiction and had provided him with many favors. Coincidentally, he was on duty today and arrived just in time to witness the scene. ¡°He struck her. Shouldn¡¯t she be examined? So many eyes saw it. They¡¯ve had no familial rtionship for a long time.¡± J red at the deputy chief. The deputy chief nced at Cam¡¯s swollen face, then said, ¡°It¡¯s just a bit red. He just needs to pay some medical bills.¡± Cam stared in disbelief, unable to believe such words came from a public servant. ¡°I insist on a medical examination.¡± ¡°Her family hasn¡¯t arrived, right? She can¡¯t leave. Keep her here overnight,¡± the deputy chief told the officers. The swelling would diminish overnight, so even if she insisted on a medical examinationter, it would be inconsequential. ¡°Deputy chief, her supervisor from thepany wille to vouch for her,¡± one police officer said, trying to control his anger. The deputy chief red at him. ¡°No, the rule is a family member must vouch.¡± Cam looked coldly at the chief and scoffed, ¡°How much did Marc give you?¡± Smack- ¡°Watch your mouth!¡± The deputy chief¡¯s eyes sharpened as he mmed the desk. ¡°Cam, I advise you to be smart. You can¡¯t fight us, Tabitha was aware of her father¡¯s deep connections with the deputy chief, and grew bold. Just then, a police officer knocked on the door. ¡°They are here to pick up Cam.¡± ¡°I said only a family member can vouch.¡± the deputy chief impatiently looked toward the door, then suddenly startled and quickly smiled, ¡®Sir, what brings you here?¡± 67 67 The Chief walked in leisurely with his hands behind his back and red at the deputy chief, his voice icy. ¡°If you can¡¯t handle even this minor issue, you can forget about ever getting promoted.¡± The deputy chief¡¯s face turned ashen. After years at the grassroots level, the position of chief was almost in his grasp, just one official document away, and now this had to happen. He swallowed hard and began, ¡°Chief, there¡¯s been a misunderstanding, these two are father and daughter.¡± ¡°Father and daughter? I heard from the front desk he was here to pick up Tabitha?¡± the Chief questioned. The deputy chief desperately signaled to Marc. ¡°Chief, the thing is, her mother and I are divorced, but she is indeed my daughter.¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Cam scoffed, ¡°For over twenty years you¡¯ve ignored me, never paid a dime in child support, what kind of father¨Cdaughter rtionship is this?¡± ¡°Cam, you keep quiet and do not stir up trouble at this crucial moment.¡± Marc red at Cam angrily. The Chief stepped beside Cam and faced Marc. ¡°Watch your tone. This is a police station, not your house. You assaulted someone in public. Do you have no regard for thew?¡± Marc forced a smile. ¡°Chief, let¡¯s talk over there.¡± ¡°Speak here.¡± Left with no choice, Marc whispered, ¡°I own the Sherrill Supermarket, and we have severalrge stores in the city. Do me a favor, and let¡¯s discuss this privately.¡± The Chief flicked his ear, his expression one of disdain. ¡°Even your grand talks don¡¯t matter to me. Thew treats everyone equally.¡± Marc stood awkwardly in ce. ¡°Ha! Just a grocery store owner, what¡¯s so great about that? The retail economy is struggling, and many have shut down, right?¡± Erica couldn¡¯t help but mock. ¡°You!¡± Marc red at her furiously. J interjected, ¡°Yeah. Mypany¡¯s annual revenue is many times that of your store and you think you¡¯re all that. It¡¯sughable.¡± ¡°You have a big enterprise, so what? You still don¡¯t have a son!¡± Marc, humiliated and angry, hurled the ugly insult. Cam just smiled. ¡°Marc, what age are you living in? Are you even sure your son is your son?¡± Marc, enraged, turned blue and clenched his fists. If not for the Chief¡¯s presence, he would have thrown a punch. He gritted his teeth, ¡°Cam! What the hell are you bbering about! How did your mother raise you!¡± The argument escted. In the surveince room, Connor watched the video, his veins popping and an intimidating aura about him, making the young officers too afraid to breathe. ¡°Where is she now?¡± ¡°In the mediation room. I¡¯ll take you there.¡± The young officer immediately led the way. The young officer didn¡¯t know who this man was, but this man was apanied by a member of the citymittee, clearly someone influential. Connor followed the young officer toward the mediation room. Even before reaching the room, they could hear various voices mixing together in a noisy sh. ¡°Silence! This isn¡¯t a market!¡± the Chief couldn¡¯t help but shout. Everyone immediately fell silent. ¡°Mr. Tanner,¡± the young officer knocked on the door. The Chief looked towards the door, his eyebrows slightly raised, ¡°Mr. Connor, you¡¯ve arrived.¡± Mr. Connor? Could it be the Mr. Connor she knew? Cam¡¯s pupils shrank, her heart skipping a beat. She turned abruptly. It was that familiar figure, the person she knew. As she met those cold, undisturbed eyes, Cam¡¯s breath caught, her heart suddenly pounding violently. Quickly, she lowered her head, fiddling with her hair to hide the emotions on her face. 68 68 By doing this, she thought Connor could not see her. How could n be so careless! She had clearly instructed n over the phone toe and bail her out himself, and under no circumstances was Connor to find out. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Everyone was curious about the chief¡¯s demeanor, their gazes uniformly fixed towards the entrance. Connor walked into the room at a measured pace. He was tall and stood straight, dressed in a finely tailored ck suit, his handsome features exuding a mysterious and noble aura. His lips curled into a half¨Csmile, though his eyes remained icy cold. He surveyed everyone in the mediation room without betraying any emotion before he finally spoke, ¡°Tanner, I appreciate youing out thiste at night.¡± ¡°No trouble at all, just doing my duty,¡± the chief replied with a smile. ¡°Can take her home now?¡± ¡°Of course, of course, just need a signature.¡± The officer handed over the paperwork, and Connor quickly signed his name. The room fell quiet except for the rustling of papers and the swift strokes of the pen. All eyes were on Connor. Erica nudged Cam gently with her elbow. With a smirk in her eyes, she nced at the man signing and then back at Cam, as if to ask: Is that Connor? Cam frowned slightly and nodded. A mix of surprise and delight spread across Erica¡¯s face as she stifled her giggles.¡± Tabitha watched the scene, her teeth gritted in frustration, her fingers white¨Cknuckled as they gripped the edge of her chair. The man they had always underestimated was now associated with such a high¨Cprofile figure. One Rita wasn¡¯t enough. Now there was this man, a figure even the city police chief was wary of. Jealousy and hatred red in Tabitha¡¯s eyes. Connor nced at the woman with her head lowered and said lightly, ¡°Aren¡¯t you leaving yet?¡± Cam looked down, took a deep breath, and slowly stood up, walking towards him. Connor noticed her face seemed swollen under her long hair and frowned as he brushed her hair aside. There was a clear handprint on her face. He reviewed the surveince footage and saw no such p. ¡°What happened to your face?¡± he demanded. ¡°He did it!¡± Erica suddenly stood up, pointing at Marc, and eximed, ¡°He pped her right here.¡± Marc¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and he red at her angrily. A man even the chief greeted with a smile was not someone he could afford to offend. He immediately attempted a conciliatory smile, ¡°She¡¯s my daughter.¡± Connor stared at the man, his eyes cold. He had seen Cam¡¯s file; under ¡°father,¡± she had written ¡°none.¡± ¡°Mr. Tanner, assaulting someone in a police station is a serious offense, isn¡¯t it?¡± Connor¡¯s voice was stern, his gaze chilling. ¡°Indeed.¡± Then, the chief looked towards the deputy chief and said, ¡°Now you know what to do?¡± The deputy chief immediately nodded, ¡°Assault causing minor injuries, especially in a police station in front of officers, is a severe offense. ording to the public security regtions, he should be detained for fifteen days.¡± Marc and Tabitha were stupefied. Erica was so thrilled she almost pped her hands in delight. ¡°Sir¡­¡± Marc¡¯s voice trembled. The deputy chief couldn¡¯t wait to distance himself and turned away, refusing to look at Mar?. ¡°Cam, I¡¯m your father¡­ Marc had no choice but to plead with Cam. ¡°I don¡¯t have a father,¡± she replied coldly, her chin slightly raised. ¡°Dad¡­¡± Tabitha looked up, tears swirling in her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s all your fault! Really, having a daughter is such a curse.¡± Marc red at her, then at Cam again. 69 69 After leaving the police station, the group walked into the night, which seemed devoid of stars. Cam and Erica walked together, thetter keeping her eyes on Connor at the forefront, whispering to herpanion, ¡°Your boss is really something else, isn¡¯t he? He owned that room back there, so dashing. I¡¯m rooting for you guys.¡± N?velDrama.Org (C) content. ¡°It¡¯s not the time for jokes.¡± Cam was nearly in tears. Parking was not allowed directly outside the police station, so their cars were parked further away. Reaching the entrance, Connor stopped, and everyone behind him halted too. Connor nced at Cam, signaling her toe over. Her feet felt like they were filled with lead as she moved slowly towards him. Suddenly, Erica pushed her from behind, and she almost fell into Connor, who quickly caught her by the arm. Turning her head, Cam saw Erica giggling with round, wide eyes. ¡°Get in the car,¡± Connor said, standing in front of his vehicle. Cam forced a smile, ¡°No need, I¡¯ll ride with J¡­¡± Bang- The loud m of a car door and in a seamless motion, the vehicle sped off. In mere seconds, J and Erica¡¯s car disappeared into the night. Cam was dumbfounded. What just happened? They didn¡¯t wait for her and even drove off so fast. ¡°What did you say?¡± Connor nced at the receding car, a hint of amusement in his heart. ¡°Nothing Cam, feeling utterly defeated, opened the passenger door. Connor got into the driver¡¯s seat and began to reverse. At therge entrance of the police station, only Tabitha and Marc¡¯s assistant remained. Tabitha nced at her phone and suddenly, as if driven mad, her bloodshot eyes glinted fiercely as she violently threw her phone to the ground. ? ?? ? 8 ? ??? ? ¨¹ ?? ??? ??? ?? She screamed loudly, her voice piercing and shrill. Marc¡¯s assistant, startled by her actions, kept a safe distance. Exhausted from her outburst, Tabitha copsed on the ground, her eyes filled with endless despair and anger. The assistant picked up Tabitha¡¯s smashed phone from the ground, noting several deep cracks. The screen was still on, disying a long message. [Tabitha, who have you angered this time? All your works have been taken down, your endorsements terminated, and they are demandingpensation. The agency is cancelling your contract. Get ready to pay up. Don¡¯t bother contacting me, I¡¯m no longer your agent from this moment.] ¡°Cam, you¡¯re ruthless.¡± Tabitha looked up, staring in the direction of Connor¡¯s departing car, her teeth clenched in anger. Inside the car. Cam nervously stole nces at Connor. ¡°Quite the achievement.¡± Connor remarked slowly, a cold smirk ying on his lips. I had asked n to vouch for me. How could he tell you about it?¡± Cam muttered to herself about n¡®ck of loyalty. ¡°You thought you could keep it from me?¡± Connor countered. Cam sighed deeply, knowing she couldn¡¯t hide it forever, though a dy would have been nice. She slumped against the car window like a deted balloon. ¡°You can¡¯t even win a fight. Don¡¯t go around saying you¡¯re one of my people. I can¡¯t afford to be embarrassed like that.¡± Cam looked at him, his handsome lips curving into a mocking smile. Suddenly revitalized, she retorted stubbornly, ¡°I didn¡¯t lose. I pulled out quite a bit of her hair. She¡¯s probably got a bald spot now.¡± Connor nced at her, absorbing her reaction, a faint smile breaking through his normally tight¨C lipped demeanor. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for causing you more trouble/ Cam sat up straight, her face apologetic. 70 70 ¡°Idiot.¡± Connor turned to look at her, his words tinged with a hint of indulgence. The car entered the parking lot of Cedarhill Estate. After parking the car, Cam unbuckled her seatbelt. She sighed softly, thinking that if she had been dropped off at the intersection, she could have avoided a long walk home. After a night of hassle, she was physically and emotionally exhausted. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. ¡°Mr. Connor, thanks for tonight. Good night.¡± ¡°Come upstairs,¡± Connor said. Cam thought she had misheard and stared at him, confused. ¡°Your face¡­ go and take care of it.¡± Connor unbuckled his seatbelt and stepped out of the car. Cam hurriedly pushed the car door open and got out. ¡°No need to bother, I can handle it myself at home.¡± ¡°Are you sure you have ice packs and medicine at home?¡± Connor raised an eyebrow. Cam thought of her empty refrigerator and quickly followed Connor¡¯s steps. Connor nced at the clear handprint on her face, his brows furrowing, his hand gripping the keys tightly. A surge of frustration built up in his chest, with nowhere to vent. ¡°If you show up to work on Monday with that face, thepany¡¯s reputation would be totally shot.¡± Cam covered the handprint with her hand, as if it no longer hurt. Trading a p for someone¡¯s fifteen days in detention seemed worth it to her, and she let out a relievedugh. ¡°How could you stillugh!¡± Connor red at her. ¡°Sir, yourwork is really extensive. My admiration for you has grown even more.¡± Cam covered the handprint with her hand, her lips pursed in a smile. As she lifted her face, she appeared both innocent and charmingly alluring. Connor was momentarily lost in thought, quickly turning his face away. Once home, Cam was made to sit on the sofa, watching Connor bustling around. Soon, he sat beside her, holding a medicine box in one hand and an ice pack in the other, wrapping the ice pack with a towel. ¡°Put it on.¡± Cam ced the ice pack on her cheek, the coolness gradually prating deep into her skin, bringing a strangefort. ¡°Why are you so silly? You could have just grabbed her hair and mmed her against the corner of the wall,¡± Connor said, clearly annoyed. Cam¡¯s eyes widened as she took a deep breath. ¡°Sir, don¡¯t you know that if you lose the fight, you¡¯ll end up in the hospital. But if you win the fight, you¡¯ll probably go to jail?¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to be afraid of? I¡¯ve got your back. Who dares to put you in jail?¡± Connor snorted coldly. With her mouth slightly agape, Cam blinked and looked at Connor as she asked. ¡°Sir, I feel like your role isn¡¯t just the head of Future Inc., right?¡± ¡°What, you¡¯ve got your eye on my estate now?¡± Connor chuckled. Cam rolled her eyes at him. ¡°Cut it out. I¡¯m just worried you might go too far, and I¡¯ll lose my job. After all, thepany pays too well, and I intend to earn for a few more years.¡± Connor smiled. ¡°Want to earn more for a few more years? Improve your physical fitness. Starting tomorrow, I¡¯ll train you in mixed martial arts.¡± ¡°You¡¯re joking, right?¡± Cam looked incredulous. ¡°No joke. Tomorrow¡¯s Sunday, be here by seven, and on weekdays by six¨Cthirty.¡± ¡°Seven in the morning? Are you serious?¡± Cam asked, troubled. It was already one in the morning now. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll count it as overtime.¡± ¡°Overtime?¡± Cam¡¯s eyes sparkled, her lips unconsciously curling up, her mind calcting how much overtime pay this could mean. ¡°Money¨Cgrubber,¡± Connor clicked his tongue. ¡°Heh, I¡¯m fine with it, but you¡­¡± You, with your difficulty in getting up early, will you manage?! ¡°That¡¯s settled then. Go apply the medicine.¡± 71 71 Connor was holding a cotton swab loaded with ointment for her. Cam, toozy to head to the bathroom to look in the mirror, randomly dabbed it on her cheek. ¡°You¡¯re making a mess even with just applying ointment,¡± Connor said with annoyance, taking the cotton swab from her hand and gently but attentively spreading it across her cheek. Suddenly, Connor¡¯s face loomedrge before Cam, startling her so much that she held her breath, her dark eyes darting to the side. Probably because she held her breath too long, Cam coughed, breaking the intimate atmosphere. ¡°Alright, remember to apply the ointment in the morning. Here, I¡¯ll give it to you. It¡¯s gettingte. I¡¯ll take you home.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The next day, just as the sun was starting to rise, Cam sat on her bed, sighing quietly. She couldn¡¯t even enjoy azy weekend moming. Only overtime pay couldfort her spirit. Arriving at Cedarhill Estate, Connor emerged from the bedroom, bleary¨Ceyed and yawning. ¡°Morning.¡± Cam couldn¡¯t help but chuckle secretly. Early mornings seemed to torture him even more. Seeing him barely able to keep his eyes open lifted her spirits immensely. This exercise phase would probably pass after a few days. After pouring Connor a ss of warm water, Cam sat on the sofa scrolling through her phone, waiting for him to freshen up. Suddenly, something cold pressed against her cheek. Cam jumped, nearly dropping her phone. ¡°Hold this,¡± Connor said. Realizing it was an ice pack, Cam quickly grabbed it. With a faint smile, Connor walked off to freshen up. Both changed into their workout clothes and went downstairs to the tree¨Clined avenue to stretch. Cam thought they would just jog casually, but they ended up running nonstop for fifteen minutes. ¡°I¡­ I¡­ I can¡¯t keep up. You go ahead. I¡¯ll rest a bit and catch upter.¡± Bending over, hands on her hips, Cam was gasping for breath. Connor stopped and jogged in ce. ¡°Just a bit longer.¡± Exhausted, Cam waved her hand dismissively and slowly walked over to sit down on a row of bamboo chairs nearby. Connor was a practically asking for her life. Connor ran over and pulled her up from the chair. ¡°Didn¡¯t your coach ever teach you not to sit down immediately after running?¡± ¡°Mr. Connor, I really can¡¯t run anymore,¡± Cam panted heavily, reaching her limit. ¡°Finish thep, or no overtime pay.¡± Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Was that a threat? Cam¡¯s mind raced. Just a bit more effort and several hundred dors would be hers. If she didn¡¯t run, not only would she lose the money, but the sacrificed sleep would be in vain too. Biting her lip, she suddenly felt a surge of strength. ¡°Run slowly. Adjust your breathing,¡± Connor instructed. Cam trudged along, panting heavily. Connor jogged behind her, watching her frail yet stubborn figure, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. She really was a money¨Clover. Finally, after rounding the neighborhood twice, Cam, driven by the promise of overtime pay, finished the run, nearly copsing. Connor was barely sweating. He hardly looked like he had just been on a long run. ¡°Let¡¯s stretch here. I¡¯ll go buy some water.¡± Cam nodded weakly. After resting for a while, they slowly walked back, passing by Belleview Heights. ¡°Mr. Connor, I¡¯m going home to shower.¡± ¡°No rush, let¡¯s go back for some boxing.¡± Cam¡¯s eyes widened more than ever. She was nearly ready to drop dead on the spot. 72 72 Her face instantly turned into a frown. She hadn¡¯t expected Connor to be such a freak. It was like going through boot camp. Cam followed Connor with a gloomy expression. Returning to Cedarhill Estate, Cam realized there was a huge gym at home. All kinds of gym equipment were avable. ¡°Your treadmill will be delivered this aftemoon.¡± Cam forced a few smiles, seeing that he was serious. On her first day of training, Connor didn¡¯t push her too hard and taught her some basic exercises. By nine in the morning, Cam felt as if a century had passed. David saw the twoing out of the gym and was clearly astonished. ¡°Did you guys exercise this early?¡± Cam nodded miserably. ¡°I¡¯m going to shower. You start with breakfast,¡± Connor said. Cam moaned inwardly, ¡°I want to shower too! I¡¯m all sweaty and ufortable!¡± I¡¯m not eating. I want to go home to shower.¡± ¡°Eat before you go.¡± ¡°Cam, next time you can bring some clothes over to change,¡± David said with a slight smile. ¡°Let¡¯s do that,¡± Connor agreed with a nod. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Cam eximed, ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound proper.¡± There¡¯s a guest room with its own bathroom. Pick any you like,¡± Connor said before going to freshen up. David added, ¡°Pick a room you like, Cam, and I¡¯ll change the sheets for you.¡± Cam thought, Did I agree to this? These two were really taking liberties. A single woman showering in a man¡¯s house, what was that! And why changing the sheets? ¡°David, there¡¯s really no need.¡± Davidid out the breakfast, ¡°Just pick the first room. It has a nice view from the window.¡± Cam replied, ¡°I can easily go home. No trouble needed.¡± She thought to herself. ¡°Hello! Are you guys listening to me at all? Isn¡¯t this pushing it too far?¡± David questioned, ¡°Would a pink theme be too cute?¡± David obviously wasn¡¯t listening. Cam closed her eyes, rubbing her temples. ¡°Soft pink then.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll change it tomorrow.¡± Cam¡¯s mouth twitched, Did you hear that now? After breakfast, Connor hurried out of the house. Cam went home to shower and take a nap. After studying her slightly swollen face, she decided not to go back to her mother¡¯s to avoid worrying her. She just made a phone call. Erica and Lily decided toe over to her ce. *Cam, your boss is too good, offering such a nice ce for an employee to stay,¡± Lily was stunned on her first visit. ¡°Not only is her boss nice to her, but he¡¯s also handsome and wealthy,¡± Erica raised an eyebrow, lifting Cam¡¯s chin to inspect her. The swelling on your face has gone down a lot.¡± With a mischievous smile, she teased, ¡°Your complexion is quite rosy: Ehat did you dost night?¡± Lily, having heard about the previous night¡¯s events,ughed teasingly. Cam pressed her hand against her face and pushed her away. ¡°Connor dragged me out early in the morning for a workout, nearly two hours, and I almost died.¡± Erica and Lily exchanged meaningful nces, their lips curling into ambiguous smiles. *Working out?¡± Is it the kind I¡¯m thinking of? Two hours? Mr. Connor has good stamina.¡± Cam was speechless. ¡°Do you guys only think in dirty ways? We were running!¡± Erica let out a disappointed sigh, Mr. Connor really needs to step up his game¡­¡± Cam rolled her eyes, ¡°We have a purely professional rtionship. Remove whatever else you have in your minds.¡± 73 73 Erica wrapped her arms around Cam¡¯s shoulders,ughing. Cam pinched her nose. ¡°Stopughing! You and your mom left me at the police stationst night. I haven¡¯t even settled the score with you yet. That was just to give you guys a chance, but s, Connor is such a blockhead. He let you go even with such a perfect opportunityst night, Erica sighed. ¡°Stop making things up. He has no feelings for me.¡± ¡°No feelings? When he knew Marc pped you, he was furious. He even talked to the chief of police to have your dad detained for fifteen days.¡± Erica didn¡¯t believe in tonic rtionships between men and women. The identst night didn¡¯t require Connor¡¯s direct involvement, nor the need to involve the chief of police. If Connor didn¡¯t have feelings for Cam, she¡¯d eat her hat. ¡°With your ir for exaggeration, you should be writing novels, not wasting your talents as a fashion editor. We really are just boss and subordinate.¡± ¡°Which boss would go to the police station in the middle of the night to bail someone out? Cam, when will you see the light?¡± ¡°Alright, alright, if he ever pursues me, I¡¯ll tell you first thing,¡± Cam said helplessly. She felt that Connor¡¯s care for her stemmed from their reckless one¨Cnight stand. Perhaps it was more aboutpensation. Erica sighed. ¡°Believe it or not, if I called my supervisor, he¡¯d let me stay in there overnight. If I disturbed him and his boyfriend on a beautiful weekend, he¡¯d curse me to kingdome.¡± The three of them sat on the carpet,ughing heartily. ¡°Lily, why did you bring so much stuff?¡± Cam asked. ¡°I¡¯ve been learning nail arttely. Once I sell the house, I n to buy a small ce and open a nail salon.¡± ¡°So you n to use me as a guinea pig today?¡± ¡°Smart! Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve mastered the basic styles.¡± ¡°Fine, I volunteer as tribute for your nail art business,¡± Cam said as she stretched out her slender, fair hands, neatly manicured. ¡°I¡¯ll pick a nude color that suits your job.¡± Lily took out various nail art tools, focusing intently as she carefully filed and trimmed Cam¡¯s nails. It had been a long time since Cam had seen such a look of concentration on Lily¡¯s face. For years after her marriage, Lily had lived humbly, her days filled with endless chores, spending every penny under someone else¡¯s scrutiny. Gradually, she lost her sense of self¨Cworth. Fortunately, Lily had finally escaped that dreadful man and the wrong marriage, rediscovering herself. The Passos family estate was a ssic and grand building, covering 2.62 square kilometers. It¡¯s divided into six sections, the central main house and four winged pavilions. The main house was Ray¡¯s residence, the pavilions were the homes of Ray¡¯s four children, and another building housed the servants. The Passos family members always gathered at the main house for meals. Carson¡¯s family lived in Cloud Pavilion, including his daughter Pam and son¨Cinw Ss. Hugh¡¯s family resided in Moon Pavilion, with his sons Jaiden and Sam. Heart Pavilion was where Victoria, the third/child, lived. They usually returned only for holidays. River Pavilion was the residence of Connor¡¯s parents. ¡°Connor, it¡¯s been a long time since you¡¯ve been home, we all miss you. We¡¯re in the same city, why is it so hard to see you?¡± Madison embraced Connor warmly, her words filled with deep longing. Madison hailed from a prominent family in Harbor City. Though her face showed signs of age, her youthful elegance was still apparent. Grandma, I¡¯m back now,¡± Connor smiled. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Oh, look who it is, our Mr. Connor is back, no wonder Grandfather is in such a good mood today,¡± Carson¡¯s wife, Evelyn, said gracefully, twirling a pearl¨Cembellished scarf, smiling. 74 74 Connor greeted respectfully, ¡°Hello, Aunt Evelyn.¡± and one among the younger generation who moved away, and it¡¯s been Ga would be happy, but others might not be,¡± Connor chuckled. Evelyn¡¯s tone carried a hint of reproach, ¡°Connor, you¡¯re the only years. It¡¯s not right to make the elders worry like that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid that if I lived in the family home, Grand Evelyn scoffed after hearing this, ¡°What¡¯s that supposed Ray had built a trillion¨Cdor empire, yet the ses gaze carried a threat and a warning. had not been publicly announced. Connor¡¯s father had no interest in the power struggles, but amo ¡± the grandchildren, Connor was the most cherished. Not only had he received 1% of the shares of Passos Corporation from Ray, but his own startup, Future Inc., was also flourishing. This made others in the Passos family wary that he might join the fight for inheritance. ¡°Just joking, Connor nodded, not exposing the underlying tension. ¡°Ray is in the study. Go on up,¡± Ray¡¯s wife, Madison, said with a smile, patting Connor¡¯s hand. Connor smiled and nodded slightly, then took the elevator upstairs. ¡°Make sure the kitchen prepares some of Connor¡¯s favorite dishes tonight,¡± Madison said with a laugh. ¡°Sure. Let me help you upstairs to rest.¡± The study was neatly arranged with ssic and elegant furniture, and the walls were adorned with valuable paintings from around the world. The air was lightly scented with the fragrance of ink. Sunlight streamed through the window grilles onto the wooden floor, creating a dappled pattern of light and shadow. Ray, with his gray hair and benevolent face, had eyes as sharp as an eagle¡¯s. His fingers were tapping a chess piece lightly, producing a crisp sound. The door opened and Connor entered. Approaching Ray, he bowed respectfully, ¡°Grandpa.¡± ¡°Connor,e y a game of chess with me,¡± Ray said with a slight smile, looking vigorous. Connor took off his suit jacket, hung it on the coat rack, rolled up his sleeves, and sat opposite Ray. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Though young, Connor was the most favored in the family. He had learned chess from Ray and received his guidance, making his skills quite exceptional. Because of this, when he was younger, his cousins, especially the two from his uncle¡¯s side, often picked on him. ¡°Mr. Connor, your tea,¡± a servant entered, bringing in a cup of tea. ¡°Thank you.¡± The servant smiled, set down the and left the room. Now, it was just grandfath and grandson. Connor took a sip of tea, and the game began. Connor yed chess with a calm and collected demeanor, his eyes moving across the board, looking for a winning strategy. Ray, with his wealth of experience, yed strategically, leaving no openings for his grandson. ¡°I heard that you¡¯ve been getting up on your own without needing any prodding, and you¡¯ve been less grumpy in the mornings, Ray chuckled. ¡°It seems your new secretary, Cam, has really won your favor?¡± Connor paused, a chess piece dropping from his hand and ttering randomly on the board. ¡®No regrets in cing the pieces,¡± Ray smiled. ¡°Grandpa, did you do that on purpose?¡± Ray looked at his grandson, ¡°Connor, you are exceptionally intelligent and will surely achieve great things. The art of chess is not just about winning or losing, but also about mindset and cultivation.¡± ¡°She is just a secretary, yet she has disturbed yourposure. Remember, no matter the situation, always maintain your calm and rationality.¡± Ray¡¯s lips curved in a slight smile, but it was a smile that carried authority. Connor nodded, ¡°You¡¯re right, Grandpa. I¡¯ll keep your teachings in mind.¡± 75 75 Ray set down his chess piece and slowly began, ¡°You¡¯re 27 years old, Connor. It¡¯s time to think about settling down. I¡¯ve heard from many who are asking about youtely. Jordan¡¯s girl, Annabelle, for instance, seems like a fine match.¡± Jordan¡¯s Global Shipping, the world¡¯srgest maritime conglomerate, controlled 58 ports worldwide and was one of the top eight shipping magnates. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. Passos Corporation was one of the major shareholders and a pioneer in the maritime industry of Harbor City. Connor¡¯s heart tightened as he said, ¡°I heard my cousin is pursuing Annabelle.¡± Ray chuckled. ¡°Jordan isn¡¯t too fond of Chase. I¡¯ve met the girl. She resembles her mother¨Cgraceful and serene. She¡¯s young and beautiful, and she also possesses remarkable talents and educational qualifications, making her an ideal wife.¡± Connor frowned slightly and replied, ¡°Grandfather, I understand what you¡¯re implying. However, I believe our family is already strong enough and doesn¡¯t need to secure its position through marriage.¡± Ray smiled again, ¡°Marriage alliances are not only about cementing family status but also about strengthening cooperation between two families. Only through such alliances can we remain invincible in futurepetitions.¡± Connor remained silent, understanding his grandfather¡¯scerns and considerations. ¡°Do you have feelings for that girl named Cam?¡± Connor denied it. ¡°No, I just don¡¯t want my marriage to be a transaction.¡± Born into a wealthy family, he faced the tradition of business marriages. For these heirs, if they felt no love for each other, then the rest of their lives would be torture, often leading to a gloomy existence. How many parents truly overlook their children¡¯s feelings for the sake of greed? Binding two families¡® interests together involves massive assets, and divorce is not an option, leading to countless miserable unions. Ray pondered for a moment, ¡°As a descendant of Passos Corporation¡­¡± Ray suddenly smiled continue our game. ¡°Let¡¯s leave this discussion for another time. Perhaps your mind will change after meeting Annabelle. Let¡¯s Eventually, Ray won the game of chess. ¡°Let¡¯s go have dinner,¡± Ray patted his grandson¡¯s back, and they headed to the dining room where everyone was already seated. The seating at the table was meticulously arranged ording to seniority, reflecting the orderly hierarchy of the family. Ray took the head of the table. Connor, on the other hand, sat in the empty seat next to his parents. ¡°Connor, I heard your roboticspany is preparing to go public?¡± Uncle Hugh mentioned. ¡°It¡¯s undergoing share restructuring, not so soon,¡± Connor replied. ¡°You¡¯re the most promising of the younger generation, Connor¨Cintelligent, decisive, and with a keen insight into business,¡± Hugh said, ncing at his own sons without a trace of a smile. Connor sipped his soup and smiled. ¡°Uncle, your words might be misced. Jaiden is also making moves in the robotics sector. He¡¯s been poaching talenttely, even from mypany.¡± The attention subtly shifted towards Jaiden, who smiled slightly. He had indeed invested in a competitor of Future Inc., under a nominee agreement that kept his rtionship with thepany hidden. He wondered how Connor hade to know about it. Ray despised internal strife. The Passos family had an unwritten rule againstpeting in the same industry. Caught in the spotlight, Jaiden awkwardly chuckled. ¡°The robotics sector has a bright future, and I did invest a bit, just a small stake to make some pocket money. I don¡¯t get involved in management. I didn¡¯t expect them to go after yourpany, my bad. I should have notified the major shareholders. I¡¯ll make sure they stop this immediately.¡° 76 76 Connor waved his hand with a smile and said, ¡°No worries. If they can be poached, mypany doesn¡¯t really need them.¡± He raised his ss of red wine, smiling slightly, ¡°Here¡¯s to us making it big in the robotics industry.¡± Jaiden awkwardly lifted his ss and took a sip. Lauren elegantly ced a shrimp into his bowl. A cold re shot towards Jaiden as she mouthed the word ¡°useless.¡± Lauren was the heiress to a major media conglomerate, and she had been in a long¨Cterm rtionship with Gavin, the scion of a film productionpany. However, even the most intense love couldn¡¯t withstand the pressures of a business alliance. In her father¡¯s eyes, although Gavin was wealthy, he didn¡¯t hold as muchmercial value as Ray¡¯s grandson, Jaiden. Following a suggestion by Lauren¡¯s father, the two powerful families decided on a marriage alliance. Soon after, Lauren and Jaiden had avish wedding. Lauren was dressed stunningly, but her smile was clearly forced. The marriage was strained with little affection between them, primarily held together by the backing of the Addison and Passos families. ¡°Connor, so many of us wanted to invest in your roboticspany, but you wouldn¡¯t let us buy in, leaving us no part in your sess,¡± his cousin Pam remarked. ¡°Connor wanted to make it on his own, without tying it to Passos Corporation,¡± his mother Emily chuckled. ¡°Without shares in Passos Corporation, would he have had the funds to buy back his own shares?¡± Pam sneered. Her husband Ss squeezed her hand under the table, signaling her to stop. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Let¡¯s just eat. The food is getting cold,¡± Madison interjected, her eyes shing sharply. During dinner, even though everyone wore warm smiles, it only masked the underlying tensions. Beneath the peaceful facade, a storm of conflicts and disagreements had been brewing, full of hidden schemes and secret ns. After dinner, Connor went back to River Pavilion. He and his father sat in the garden, sipping water. ¡°Your grandfather intr r you to marry the heiress of the Mullins family. What do you think about that?¡± Jonah asked. Connor smiled, ¡°What think isn¡¯t really the issue. Do you know how many people this will unsettle.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Jonah¡¯s lips curled up slightly. ¡°Marrying the heiress of the Mullins would doubtlessly be the best ¡®insurance, but they will try every means to stop it.¡± ¡°One should marry for love.¡± Emily appeared behind Jonah, resting her hand gently on his shoulder, her brow furrowed. Jonah held her hand and looked up with augh, ¡°You know your son. Nothing forced on him ever works.¡± ¡°Are you thinking of marrying Cam? I will help you,¡± Emily said with a smile to her son. ¡°Here we go again, help, we¡¯re really not what you think.¡± Connor said exasperatedly. ¡°You really are stubborn. You¡¯re brilliant in business, a real pride for us, but you¡¯re clueless about love. It drives me mad. How could I have such a son,¡± Emily scolded, shaking her head in feigned disappointment. Connor didn¡¯t argue, just nodded helplessly. ¡°The day Cam gets married, you¡¯ll have nowhere to cry,¡± Emily left him with those words. 77 77 ¡°I get her a generous gift,¡± Connor said. ¡°You¡¯re just being stubbom.¡± Emily replied, her tone slightly irritated. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Jonah gently squeezed her hand, his eyes filled with adoration as he smiled and said, ¡°Let the young ones make their own luck. Don¡¯t tet it get to you. It¡¯s not worth your health.¡± After their chat, Connor drove back to Cedarhill Estate. At a red light, Connor tapped his fingers lightly on the steering wheel, his eyes clouded with confusion. Why did everyone keep saying he had feelings for Cam? Cam was just a secretary he found particrlypetent. His heart had always belonged to another. Now, she was engaged¡­ He pressed y on the music yer, and a familiar melody filled the car, as if she was there singing to him. The music continued, enveloping him in song as his thoughts swirled withplex emotions and a touch of regret. The following morning, Cam arrived at Cedarhill Estate on time, where her treadmill was already set up. They jogged on their respective machines. For some reason, Cam felt that Connor was unusually quiet today, more silent than usual. When teaching Taekwondo moves, he only gavemands, no extra words. Thinking he was in a bad mood, Cam didn¡¯tin of tiredness. ¡°That¡¯s enough for today. Go freshen up,¡± Connor said, wiping his sweat with a clean white towel before leaving the gym, leaving Cam alone. Cam copsed on the floor, breathing heavily after the grueling workout. She dragged herself into her room, amazed at how quickly David had transformed it. The room was refreshed with light pink bedding and new wallpaper. There were also severalrge stuffed animals, typical male taste. The bathroom was filled with bottles and jars of high¨Cend toiletries and skincare products. The toiletry bag in Cam¡¯s hand suddenly seemed redundant. After a refreshing st he washed her sportswear and undergarments, then felt a twinge of embarrassment. Drying her intimate apparel at a man¡¯s house seemed inappropriate. Taking them home to dry wasn¡¯t practical, so she reluctantly took them to theundry room. Cam came out with her hair dried, and David had already arrived. The table wasid out with breakfast. ¡°Good morning, David.¡± ¡°Cam, do you like the room? Let me know if you need anything.¡± ¡°It¡¯s wonderful. You¡¯ve been very thoughtful. Is the house always this spotless? Do you clean every day?¡± ¡°Housekeeperseter for cleaning. I¡¯m just here to bring breakfast.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Cam nodded, relieved that Connor wouldn¡¯t be doing any cleaning orundry, ensuring he wouldn¡¯t see her hanging clothes. Back at the office, Cam spent the morning reorganizing recent work details and syncing Connor¡¯s schedule with n. When all her work was done, it was nearly noon. Closing the files, Cam muttered, ¡°n, that was sneaky of you, telling Mr. Connor about my police station incident.¡± n shrugged innocently. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to. I was in a meeting with Mr. Connor and our international team when you called, and he overheard. Everything went smoothly, right?¡± ¡°Sure, if you count daily mixed martial arts practice, Cam said with a forced smile. Mixed martial arts?¡± n looked puzzled. ¡°Mr. Connor thought my failure to win the fight was embarrassing for thepany, so he¡¯s making me learn mixed martial arts,¡± Cam said, deted. 78 78 n bumped her shoulder lightly, ¡°Honestly, Mr. Connor is quite good at martial arts. He¡¯s a ck belt in Taekwondo, and he¡¯s also skilled in mixed martial arts and kickboxing. The local trainers can¡¯t compare to him. You should ask him for some tips if you have time.¡± Cam was speechless. It was indeed Mr. Connor who had been teaching her personally, and she was nearly worn out by the rigorous training. To prevent n from overthinking, Cam quickly changed the subject and went downstairs to grab some lunch. In the afternoon, Connor and n went out, and Cam stayed in the office to get some work done. As the end of the workday approached, Cam gathered all the documents that needed signing and brought them into Connor¡¯s office. Upon opening the door, she was greeted by the sight of all the blinds rolled up, with the evening sun casting a beautiful glow across the room. Cam paused for a moment before neatly cing the documents on Connor¡¯s desk. When she noticed a photo of Haylie on the desk, she picked it up to take a closer look. She couldn¡¯t help but admire it, ¡°Haylie is truly stunning. I can¡¯t believe Connor is into celebrities too. It¡¯s so unlike his usual style.¡± Just then, footsteps sounded at the door. Cam looked up to see Connor entering, an unlit cigarette between his fingers, which he flicked towards her hand. Cam held her breath slightly, feeling caught in the act, and quickly put down the photo. Connor moved closer, his scent tinged with a hint of tobo, a smell Cam hadn¡¯t noticed in a while. He nced at the photo on the desk, and asked in a low voice, ¡°Need something?¡± N?velDrama.Org (C) content. ¡°These are the documents that need your signature.¡± Cam¡¯s hand lightly touched the documents requiring attention. Connor gave her a brief look, ¡°Alright, I see. Finish up and you can head out.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Cam nodded. She then left the office, closing the door behind her. Connor quietly looked at the photo on the desk for a few seconds before casually sliding it into a drawer. He walked over to the window and lit the cigarette in his hand. After tidying up her space, Cam took her mug to the kitchen to wash it. Once done, she kn ¡°Come in,¡± on the door to Connor¡¯s office. Cam entered, and Connor, looking slightly surprised, walked over to the coffee table to stub out his cigarette. ¡°Anything else?¡± he asked. ¡°Mr. Connor, I was thinking of joining a local ss to practice Taekwondo and aim for at least a yellow belt.¡± Cam sensed that Connor was in a bad mood, probably tired from having to find time every morning to teach her Taekwondo. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m not as good as the local trainers?¡± Connor frowned. Cam quickly waved her hands in denial. ¡°No, no, it¡¯s just that you¡¯re so busy, and I don¡¯t want to take up more of your time.¡± ¡°It¡¯s no trouble. Be here at seven sharp tomorrow,¡± Connor said in a deep voice. ¡°Okay,¡± After leaving the office, Cam let out a deep breath. The next day at 6:45 AM. The first thing Cam did upon arriving at Cedarhill Estate was to go to theundry room to collect her hanging clothes. ¡°Empty? Where are my clothes?!¡± She eximed. She searched everywhere, including all the rooms except for one¨CConnor¡¯s. Oh no! A dreadful thought crossed her mind. It couldn¡¯t be, right? She only had that one set of sportswear. She surely couldn¡¯t go jogging in a blouse and skirt. Agh! She ruffled her hair in frustration and, with a sense of resigned determination, headed towards Connor¡¯s bedroom. At that moment, Connor was standing in front of his wardrobe, staring intently at a set of women¡¯s sportswear that definitely wasn¡¯t his, hanging among his clothes. 79 79 Knock, knock- ¡°Mr. Connor, are you up yet?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Cam pushed open the bedroom door, with a sheepish smile on her face, ¡°Mr. Connor, I might have identally left some of my clothes in your room.¡± ¡°This?¡± Connor held up a tracksuit that wasn¡¯t his. ¡°Yeah.¡± Cam reached out to take it. After taking it, she stood still, lips pursed, looking slightly troubled. ¡°What are you waiting for? Go change.¡± Cam¡¯s gaze drifted towards the drawer for personal clothes, and she muttered softly, ¡°There might be more.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Connor leaned forward slightly, not catching her words clearly. Cam took a deep breath, suddenly lifted her head, and blurted out, ¡°My underwear might also be in your room.¡± The two locked eyes, and the air around them instantly froze. One second, two seconds¡­ it felt as though half a century had passed. Connor coughed, turning his face away, his eyes darting around, unable to find a focal point. ¡°Find them yourself.¡± He casually pointed. ¡°Okay.¡± Cam responded quietly, pulling open the first drawer, where ck, white, and gray socks were neatly arranged..The pair of light purple socks was conspicuously upying one compartment. She quickly picked it up. When she opened the drawer for underwear, she found them all white, indistinguishable. Cam was perplexed. Her own were also white cotton, impossible to identify at a nce. This one then. She pulled out a pair, and as it unfolded, her brain seemed to freeze. They were boxer briefs,pletely different from women¡¯s underwear. Her nose wrinkled, and her lips slightly downturned. She used the index fingers and thumbs of both hands to pinch two corners of the underwear, neatly folded them together, and then ced them back in their original position. After pulling out several pairs that were not hers, she inwardly groaned. ¡°This is just my luck!¡± ¡°Thisyer as well.¡± Connor coughed, pointing to theyer above. ¡°Do you really need that manyyers for underwear! Can you even wear them all?¡± She thought to herself. Cam pulled open the upperyer. The difference of fabric between briefs and boxers smaller piece and breathed a sigh of relief. It was hers. avers The diet¡­ rs was noticeable. She pulled out a noticeably Finding the bra was straightforward. She quickly pulled open the remaining drawers, a white bra lying in an empty drawer. She quickly picked it up, covering the intimate apparel with the tracksuit. ¡°Found everything?¡± Connor asked. Yes.¡± Cam nodded. ¡°This won¡¯t happen a second time.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll go change now.¡± Cam, clutching the clothes, hurried out of the bedroom and ran back to her own pale pink room, closing the door behind her, Her head gently burnped against the door. Oh my God, how embarrassing. Back at the office, Cam sat down, her eyes immediately catching the time on the lower right of herputer. 20XX/8/2 Today was August 2nd, marked in the calendar as Logan¡¯s birthday. There would be a birthday party in the evening. Cam was busy with due diligence matters. When she finally looked up, it was already 7:30 PM. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. She organized tomorrow¡¯s documents as Connor walked out of his office, his jacket draped over his arm. Cam met his gaze and stood up. ¡°Mr. Connor.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go have dinner. His voice was deep, slightly weary. Cam paused, ¡°Today is Mr. Logan¡¯s birthday.¡± ¡°The gift has already been sent, don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Connor nced at her and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go eat.¡± Cam nodded, packed her things into her bag, and followed his steps into the elevator. Only the two of them were in the elevator, and it was very quiet. 80 80 Carrica stood behind him, stealing nce at his tall wheatg tore Marizes thepany¡¯s with respect then turned to a mod and a smile, positioning herself on the other side of It seemed that at some point Mi Connor¡¯s usual wesistant, n, was no longer apanying him. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. The elevator reached the ground floor Goodbye Mr Connor, goodbye, Carnita Bye Manssa Cam replied with a slight smile. They reached the basement where the driver was absent. Connor started the car himself, and Cam got into the passenger seat, bucking up her seatbelt two of them went to a renowned bistro known for its great ambiance and delicious food. ordering their meal, they exchanged a look. Im going to step out for a smoke, Connor said as he patted his suit jacket, only to he hadn¡¯t brought his cigarettes. He looked somewhat weary as he uttered, ¡°Never mind.¡± ¡°Mr. Connor, I have some, Cam said, retrieving from her purse the brand of cigarettes Connor, usually smoked, along with a lighter. Ever since that time they couldn¡¯t find his brand at the convenience store, Cam had kept a spare pack and a lighter in her bag. Connor paused for a moment, surprised, then took the cigarettes and lighter and walked out to the balcony, closing the door behind Standing alone, his back to Cam, he held a cigarette between his fingers. His cor was slightly open, one hand in his pocket, his brow carrying a hint of fatigue. He had worked until past five in the morning the previous night and had barely slept more than an hour. Severely sleep deprived, he took deep drag of the cigarette and slowly exhaled, the smoke swirling around him. Cam sat silently, watching him through the ss door. The ember of the cigarette flickered in the darkness, stark against his quietude Suddenly Connor turned around, cigarette mped in his mouth, and caught her eye. In that moment of eye contact, Cam¡¯s heart mexplicably started racing. She quickly looked away, focusing on the menu and took a deep breath. ter the water served the food, Cam kept her head down and ate obediently. They finished dinner around nine. Connor was driving when he received a call that seemed lengthy, ¡°Alright, I¡¯m on my way.¡± ¡°Are you tired? Do you need to go back and rest?¡± he asked Cam. She paused, realizing it must be work¨Crted, and replied, ¡°No, it¡¯s fine.¡± Soon, Connor pulled into the driveway of a European¨Cstyle mansion surrounded by luxury cars. The two got out and approached the vi As soon as they entered, theughter of men and women mixed together filled the air, the atmosphere buzzing with excitement. Connor led the way and someone spotted him, eximing, ¡°Mr. Connor is here!¡± Cam followed closely behind. A group of men and women turned their gaze toward her In the living room, the most conspicuous person looked up, his gaze passing over Connor to settle on Cam, smiling, ¡°You made it tool Come, have a beat¡± Carm realized it was Logan¡¯s birthday party. People on the sofa quickly shuffled to make room for two more. *Sit,¡± Connor told Cam As she sat down, Logan reached out his hand, smiling, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you¡¯de to my birthday. I¡¯m honored.¡± Cam returned the smile and was about to shake his hand when Connor suddenly pulled her arm down. Logan, his hand hanging mid¨Cair, nced at Connor and chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s just a handshake, man. Don¡¯t be so possessive. Around them, whispers began to circte, ¡°Is she Mr. Connor¡¯s girlfriend?¡± Connor ignored him. 81 81 Emerging from the bathroom, Rita spotted Cam and paused briefly before greeting her with a warm smile. ¡°Cam,e join us for poker.¡± Before Cam could reply, a deep voice from a man nearby interjected ¡°She doesn¡¯t know how.¡± Feeling slightly awkward among the group, and under their scrutinizing gazes, Cam felt uneasy. She asked quietly, ¡°May I just watch?¡± Connor nodded subtly, keeping hisposure, ¡°Go ahead.¡± With a smile. Cam stood up to join Rita. As Cam walked away, Derek beside Connor asked, ¡°Is she your¡­?¡± ¡°Secretary.¡± Derekughed, ¡°That secretary of yours is a bit too pretty, don¡¯t you think?¡± Conhor replied coolly, ¡°I only care about her work skills.¡± ¡°Seems she has some special skills. You even bring her to Logan¡¯s private birthday bash, someone smirked mischievously nearby. Connor gave him a nce, his eyes filled with a murderous intent. The man quicklyughed it off, lighting a cigar for himself. ¡°My bad, I¡¯ll take a penalty drink.¡± He downed a ss of bourbon in one gulp. Logan chuckled even harder. ¡°Looks like Connor¡¯s really serious this time. You guys better watch it and not mess with someone you shouldn¡¯t Connor shot him a look, took a puff of his cigarette and warned, ¡°Keep talking nonsense, and you might not see your next birthday.¡± A flicker of surprise crossed Logan¡¯s face as he feigned hurt, ¡°Are you really going to bump me off over a woman, Connor? I thought I was your favorite.¡± ¡°Cut the crap, or I turn on you,¡± Connor warned with a re. Derek mocked, ¡°Logan, go look in the mirror in the restroom. Do you really think your face can compete with a beauty?¡± Logan threw a pillow at him,ughing, ¡°Among men, I¡¯m only slightly less handsome than Connor. As for you guys, I¡¯d beat you in seconds¡± The guests at the birthday party were all familiar faces, each man confident in his looks, leading to a childish argument. ¡°Let¡¯s have a fight then. The winner is the handsomest.¡± Derek clenched his fist, showing off his muscles. Logan, tall with a gentle face, dismissed the idea, ¡°Aren¡¯t we too old for this? We¡¯re nearly thirty He pointed to his head, ¡°Some people are all brawn and no brains.¡± Derek had no interest in taking over the family business, and it wasn¡¯t his turn either. He happily lived off a vast annual trust fund. ¡°People only live for a few decades. I must have umted a lot of good karma in my past life to enjoy life this way now, I don¡¯t understand why you all bother so much. Our family wealth is enough to squander for generations.¡± ¡°Ha, my cousin lost eight hundred million after graduation, and his dad forbade him from starting any more businesses, told him just to spend the family money and consider it his contribution,Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. someoneughed, ¡°Among us, Connor¡¯s the real deal, running a roboticspany. Truly an inspiration.¡± Connor lounged on the sofa, puffing on his cigar, looking utterly detached. A breathtakingly beautiful woman slowly approached. She was a well¨Cknown socialite in the circle, having climbed the socialdder through her rtionships with wealthy men. She was invited to sing at Logan¡¯s party because of her beautiful voice. Tara approached with a smile, sitting on the armrest next to Logan. Logan turned to her, signaling with his eyes for her to sit next to the empty seat by Connor. 82 82 Tara¡¯s lips curled into a smile, her eyebrows slightly raised as she teased, ¡°I do know my ce. Ms. Cam is still here.¡± She discreetly observed Connor¡¯s expression. Most of the wealthy young people here looked to him for cues, and he was notoriously hard to please. She had barely interacted with him. However, he was a kind gentleman. She thought that by saying this, Connor would naturally invite her over. Unexpectedly, Connor picked up his phone without changing his expression and started pressing buttons. Tara pouted and pretended to be pitiful, ¡°It seems there¡¯s no ce for me.¡± Loganughed and said, ¡°It seems that seat is reserved for someone special. He nudged the person next to him, ¡°Move over, make room for thedy.¡± Cam was led by Rita into a room where a group was gathered around ying poker. She noticed several stacks of cash on the table, seemingly amounting to tens of thousands. Cam thought of the phrase ¡®drunk on wealth.¡® It wasn¡¯t surprising that such wealthy individuals enjoyed poker. It was said that on some asions when meeting the parents of wealthy families, the elders would set up a poker table and y a few rounds first. A person¡¯s character could often be reflected in their poker skills. Her grandmother and aunt also loved poker, sometimes ying all night. However, Cam had no interest in poker at all. When the group saw Rita leading a beautiful woman in, they scrutinized her closely ¡°This is my friend, Cam. She¡¯ll y for me. Rita said, pulling Cami to her vacant seat. ¡°No, no, no, I don¡¯t y poker, Cam quickly waved her hands. ¡°You don¡¯t y? Rita asked, surprised. ¡°I really don¡¯t,¡± Cam exined, smiling. ¡°You y. I¡¯ll just watch.¡± ¡°Alright then, you can help me with the cards. If we win, we split it. If we lose, it¡¯s on me¨Cno, if we lose, fill ask Connor for it,¡± Rita said. Everyone perked up at the mention of Connor¡¯s name, exchanging knowing looks. Someone curiously asked, ¡°What¡¯s the rtionship between this girl and Connor?¡± ¡°She¡¯s with Connor,¡± Rita dropped casually, indicating they shouldn¡¯t get any ideas. ¡°L¡± Cam gave an awkward smile, about to exin. ¡°Sit down,¡± Rita said, not giving her a chance to speak and pulling Cam down next to her. Cam sighed. Now it was even harder to rify. The cards were dealt, and Rita quickly arranged hers. Cam didn¡¯t understand any of it. ¡°Your turn to draw,¡± Rita prompted her. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Cam reluctantly reached out to draw a card, thinking that with her luck, Rita would give up soon. She ced the drawn card in front of Rita. ¡°Wow! You¡¯ve got a killer hand, Cam!¡± Rita eximed excitedly. Cam just smiled. She didn¡¯t understand, but she could see the excitement on Rita¡¯s face. ¡°Full house! Ritaughed, Soon after. ¡°I won! Hahaha!¡± ¡°Cam, you¡¯re really Rita¡¯s lucky star. She¡¯s been losing all night, someone nearbyughed. ¡°Forty thousand each, pay up.¡± Rita couldn¡¯t stop smiling. Cern looked shocked. The stakes were as high as her monthly sry, Rita¡¯s poker chip pocket was now quite full. ¡°I was thinking of using you to win some money from Connor, but it seems we don¡¯t need to now she said cheekily to Cam For over an hour, it was almost always Rita who won. Then, someone from the opposite side jumped¨Cup, eximing, ¡°Did Cam just touch a lucky charm before this? She¡¯s ruthless! Are you and your sister¨Cinw conspiring against us?¡± Cam was started by the term ister¨Cinw¡± 83 83 Rita looked at the pile of poker chips spilling out of her cup with satisfaction. ¡°Let¡¯s settle up, now¡± The poker table was stacked with chips as Connor walked in from outside. ¡°How did it go?¡± He expressionlessly walked up behind Rita. Cam and Rita turned around. ¡°Ha ha ha, tonight¡¯s winnings!¡± Rita pointed proudly at the high stack of chips in front of her, ¡°Cam is my lucky star!¡± A smile flickered in Connor¡¯s eyes. The person across sighed, ¡°Rita was almost out of chips, but once your friend here arrived, she started raking it in.¡± Connor just stood by, smiling nonchntly N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. won $128,000!¡± Rita beamed, ¡°Cam, you deserve half the credit. Give me your bank details, Il transfer you $64,000 Cam¡¯s jaw dropped in shock, realizing that to the wealthy, money seemed just like numbers. ¡°No, no, I didn¡¯t do anything, I can¡¯t ept it Cam waved her hands frantically. Just transfer it to my ount Connor said. ¡°No way, why should I give it to you?¡± Rita red at him, then turned to Cam, ¡°I buy you a gift instead. Let¡¯s go shopping this weekend¡± Cam smiled in response, ¡°That¡¯s really not necessary¡± ¡°It is necessary,¡± Connor said, giving Cam a meaningful look. ¡°You won it fair and square. Why not take it?¡± Cam nodded. Logan also joined them. ¡°It¡¯s almost midnight, my birthday¡¯s nearly over, and you¡¯re all still here dawdling. Do I have to invite you myself?¡± Everyoneughed and moved to the dining room. A nine¨Ctiered cake was rolled out. Dozens of people gathered around Logan, wishing him a happy birthday. Under the dazzling crystal chandelier, Logan stood in the middle as others lit the candles. The lights dimmed and the birthday song began. ¡°Happy birthday to you.¡± The candles flickered slowly with the music, like stars twinkling in the night sky Logan closed his eyes, brought his hands together, and silently made a wish. Then, he took a deep breath and blew out all the candles in one go. The lights brightened. Pop. pop, pop- Fireworks burst through the night sky. A dazzling spray of sparks fell over Logan, bursting like blooming flowers, spectacr and mesmerizing, painting the night sky with their glittering disy. Logan stood beside the cake, a satisfied and happy smile on his face. He raised his ss, addressing the guests, ¡°Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to join my birthday party. I¡¯m truly honored. Especially Connor, my best buddy, I couldn¡¯t Imagine this day without you.¡± Connor retorted, ¡°Cut the chit¨Cchat, just cut the cake¡± ¡°What¡¯s the rush, you¡¯re not eating anyway Logan teased. He smiled as he made the first cut, quickly want through the motions, and then handed it off to the servants. The first slice of the cake was handed to Connor Without turning his head, Connor passed the cake to Cam. Cam, as the first to receive the cake, felt a bit embarrassed and tried to pass it to the person next to her, who immediately waved her hands and stepped back, creating a clear boundary between them. She looked around in confusion, noticing that aside from Connor, everyone else had stepped far away. Didn¡¯t anyone like cake? She genuinely loved sweets, and since no one else wanted it, she wasn¡¯t going to hold back From the moment the cake was polled out, she had been eyeing it, certain it would be delicious. She happily ate the cake, and when she looked up again, the people who had earlier refused her offer were also happily enjoying their 84 84 She didn¡¯t understand why the person just now hadn¡¯t epted the cake she offered. ¡°Is it good?¡± Connor asked, tilting his head to look at her as he held a ss of wine. Cam looked up, their eyes meeting, and she instinctively shook her head, then nodded. Connor calmly said, ¡°If you like it, eat more. There¡¯s plenty.¡± Cam nodded. ¡°What are you whispering about?¡± Logan came over with another slice of cake and held it up to Connor. ¡°It is my birthday, so at lesst have a bite.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t eat cake.¡± Yet as Connor spoke, he took the cake and handed it to Cam beside him. ¡°You eat it for me.¡± Logan frowned and clicked his tongue. ¡°Thank you¡± Cam whispered her thanks and took the cake. She sat down and started eating quietly. Logan moved past Connor and sat next to Cam, lifting his wine ss. ¡°Cam, thank you for coming to my birthday party.¡± ¡°Happy Birthday,¡± Cam stood up, picked up a fresh ss of red wine from in front of her, and clinked sses with Logan. As she was about to drink, Connor grabbed her arm and took the wine ss from her hand. ¡°She can¡¯t drink alcohol.¡± Then, he downed the wine he had just taken from Cam. Logan looked surprised. ¡°You¡¯re too protective. It¡¯s just red wine.¡± Cam picked up a ss of juice and stood next to Connor, smiling, ¡°Happy Birthday, Mr. Logan. I¡¯ll toast you with juice instead of wine.¡± Logan nced at Connor out of theer of his eye. Seeing Connor¡¯s indifferent expression, Logan responded, ¡°Thank you.¡± Owned by N?velDrama.Org. They both finished their drinks. Someone came over with a ss, joking, ¡°This one¡¯s to Ms. Cam¡¯s golden touch, is Connor going to block this one too?¡± He had been the biggest winner at the card table until Cam showed up and he started losing quite a bit. The person gauged Connor¡¯s expression. ¡°Bring a ss of wine here.¡± Connor motioned with his hand, and a servant immediately handed him a ss of red wine. Connor smiled as he drank it Seeing an opportunity to tease him, several guests came over t to toast Cam. The party got boisterous, and Connor ended up drinking quite a bit. Cam stood by his side with an apologetic look, whispering, ¡°Mr. Connor, you¡¯ve had quite a lot to drink, shall I take over?¡± Connor tumed his head, whispering close to her ear, ¡°You know your own limits when ites to drinking¡± His warm breath, tinged with the scent of alcohol, brushed against her cheek. Cam stiffened Tara, who was good at reading the room, picked up the microphone, ¡°Let¡¯s not just drink, everyone. Let¡¯s sing a song. Il embarrass myself first¡± Her voice was enchanting, and everyone was momentarily mesmerized by her singing, pausing their toasts. After the song ended, Tara handed the microphone to Cam with a smile. ¡°Ms. Cam, how about a song from you?¡± Cam reluctantly took the microphone. ¡°I really can¡¯t.¡± Just sing anything, the crowd encouraged. The intro to the song began ying. ¡°Is this one okay?¡± Tara asked. Under the bright lights and expectant gazes of the crowd, Cam bravely started to sing. The crowd gasped. Her singing was unexpectedly off key, out of tune, and even a bit discordant. People at the party started whispering among themselves. Some tried to hide their surprise, others couldn¡¯t help butugh out loud. Cam continued, despite her embarrassment. Suddenly a deep,zy male voice joined her from another microphone. 85 85 Cam looked at Connor, her eyes filled with gratitude. Despite her less¨Cthan¨Cperfect singing voice, under Connor¡¯s guidance and their joint performance, their voices harmonized unexpectedly well. The audience quieted down, listening intently to their performance. After the song ended, the room erupted in enthusiastic apuse and cheers. ¡°Bravo!¡± Logan whistled, patting Connor on the shoulder with augh. ¡°It¡¯s been years since I heard you sing, but leave it to Cam to bring it out of you. This is truly the best birthday gift.¡± ¡°Beat it,¡± Connor shot him a sideways nce with a smirk. Suddenly, the lights dimmed, leaving only a spotlight shining on the center of the room. The crowd fell silent. Tara changed into a pair of dancing shoes and gracefully walked into the spotlight. She began to dance, each movement oozing allure. Her figure was lithe and supple, like a graceful fairy, bing more enchanting and seductive with the rhythm of the music, her gaze captivating Cam was mesmerized, and so were all the men in the room. Their gazes were unabashedly filled with desire. Cam instinctively looked towards Connor, only to find him busy replying to work emails. He didn¡¯t even nce up once. A beautiful woman was unting her sultry dance right in front of him, and he seemed utterly unmoved. Was he hiding his feelings, or was he really thatposed? Soon, Cam noticed Tara¡¯s gaze focusing on Logan, her eyes carrying an enticing lure. However, Cam caught sight of Rita from across the room, also intently watching Logan. The world of the wealthy was beyond herprehension. Many guests were smoking, and Cam felt a bit ufortable, so she stood up and walked to the balcony for some fresh air. It was nearly one in the morning, and Cam was feeling sleepy. Just as she was about to head back inside, she heard Logan¡¯s voice, ¡°I don¡¯t need help. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Suddenly, Rita hugged Logan from behind. Cam paused, inadvertently catching a juicy scene. It would be awkward for everyone if she walked out now, wouldn¡¯t it? She immediately stepped back onto the balcony. Logan stood his ground, forcefully prying Rita¡¯s hands off, his voice stern, ¡°Rita, don¡¯t demean yourself.¡± Rita¡¯s voice softened, ¡°Logan, just look at me, please?¡± Logan replied, ¡°Rita, we¡¯re not suited for each other.¡± ¡°Why not? After all these years, why can¡¯t you just look at me¡­ Logan fell silent for a moment. ¡°You¡¯re drunk, I¡¯ll have the driver take you home.¡± Cam crouched in aer of the balcony, not daring to emerge until she saw Connor leaning against the wall as he passed by. She quickly came out and steadied him. Connor, irritated, was about to shrug off the helping hand when he turned and saw it was Cam. He immediately rxed his grip. His voice deep and serious, he asked, ¡°What are you doing hiding out here and scaring people?¡± Cam was bewildered. ¡°I¡¯m just trying to help, and you treat me like a ghost?¡± She thought to herself. ¡°Mr. Connor, are you feeling alright?¡± ¡°No,¡± Connor said curtly, fighting to keep hisposure. He had barely slept the previous night, and after many sses of spirits and wine, he was struggling to maintain his calm. Cam, not heartless, felt guilty seeing him ufortable after he had helped her fend off so many drinks. ¡°Mr. Connor, let me help you to the restroom to wash your face¡± Connor¡¯s stomach churned, and he held back with great effort until they reached the restroom. As soon as they did, he rushed in, and the sounds of retching followed as both food and alcohol were violently expelled 86 86 After his stomach had settled, he finally began to recover. He unbuttoned his shirt and sshed his face with cold water to freshen up. ¡°Mr. Connor, are you feeling better?¡± Cam asked. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. A few secondster, Connor opened the bathroom door, his face still speckled with droplets of water. Cam pulled out a few tissues from her purse and carefully dabbed his face dry. ¡°Still feeling sick?¡± she asked softly. ¡°Much better.¡± Cam unwrapped a piece of candy and popped it into his mouth, exining, ¡°I know you don¡¯t like sweets, but your mouth must be filled with the bitter taste of alcohol. Although it won¡¯t sober you up. I¡¯ll make your mouth feel a bit better.¡± Connor held the candy in his mouth, leaning weakly against the wall. The orange vor slowly spread through his mouth, mingling with his saliva before he swallowed. ¡°Too sweet, he muttered, his brow furrowing slightly in difort. Seeing his docile demeanor, Cam couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Connor asked, slightly annoyed. ¡°Why don¡¯t you like sweets?¡± ¡°They¡¯re just too cloying and disgusting.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you ¡°No¡± eat candy as a a child?¡± They stood chatting by the bathroom door until the candy hadpletely dissolved in Connor¡¯s mouth. Retuming to the hall, Cam was shocked by the scene before them. The vi had been invaded by a bevy of scantily d women. Everywhere, there were embraces, kisses, and more explicit actions taking ce unabashedly in the presence of others. Some men had already disappeared, likely into one of the bedrooms. It was a real eye opener to the decadent world of the wealthy. ¡°You two disappeared for so long, finally decided to show up?¡± Seeing they emerged together Logan teased. Connor shot him a re Logan leaned in and whispered, ¡°I tried to get the property managementpany to terminate the supermarket contract, but Pam rejected it. She must have checked up on it¡® The Weiss family was a major shareholder in Passos Corporation, and had more authority than Connor, who was not employed by thepany. Connor frowned. ¡°Have the driver take her home,¡± Connor said sternly. Cam paused, puzzled by what Logan might have whispered, and why Connor chose not to leave. The scene around her was hard to ignore She smiled and said, ¡°Thank you for the hospitality, Mr. Logan. I won¡¯t disturb you any longer.¡± Before leaving, she nced once more at the various intimate acts around the sofa area, feeling a bit stifled. Connor said, ¡°I¡¯ll walk you out¡± Logan added, ¡°Together.¡± The two men escorted Cam out of the vi, Connor specifically instructing the driver to drive safely. ¡°Text me when you get home.¡± ¡°Will do Cam managed a strained smile. ¡°All men are the same. You got your fair share of girls and still pretend to care about me?¡± Cam thought to herself. ¡°Mr. Connor, Mr. Logan, good night,¡± she said as she got into the car, which slowly drove away from the vi. Connor stood under the porch, lighting a cigarette. Logan continued. ¡°Pam found out about the police station issue and rejected the termination using the excuse that the contract hadn¡¯t expired and that re¨Ctendering would cost. She doesn¡¯t want you interfering with Passos Corporation.¡± ¡°Also, I heard Haylie¡¯s back in town.¡± Connor smoked silently, expressionless. ¡°As your friend, I advise you to think about your feelings for her¨Care they guilt, gratitude, or something more.¡± Logan said earnestly. 87 87 Connor took a deep drag from his cigarette, his eyes wistful through the hare of smoke. ¡°She could have been a brilliant ballet dancer, you know. She had an offer from the Royal Ballet in hand, but she gave it all up because of me.¡± ¡°It was an ident. And I bet she doesn¡¯t regret stepping into the limelight of show business one bit. She even revels in the adoration,¡± Logan said with a scoff, his smile tinged with disdain. ¡°If she knew about your ties to Passos Corporation, do you think she¡¯d still choose that nobody from Capital Solutions?¡± ¡°Enough, I don¡¯t want to hear this from you anymore, Connor¡¯s face darkened. After finishing his cigarette, Connor headed back towards the mansion. Tve invited plenty of beauties over tonight. Why don¡¯t you find someone to keep youpany? Logan raised an eyebrow suggestively, ncing down at Connor¡¯s trousers. ¡°You keep bottling it up like this. I¡¯m worried you¡¯ll make yourself sick, my innocent little virgin.¡± Connor nced at him thoughtfully and saidzily, ¡°nning on celebrating your own funeral next year? With all this girls you¡¯ve invited, you¡¯ve turned a birthday party into a brothel.¡± Loganughed, ¡°A night¡¯s fling doesn¡¯t touch the heart, just the body. I¡¯ve saved a real gem for you¡± ¡°Keep her for yourself, Connor replied coolly 1 picked her out especially for you, an innocent college student,¡± Logan persisted, raising his eyebrow. ¡°Should I call Rita back then?¡± ¡°Damn, talk about returning a favor with a grudge Logan red at him, resignedly saying. ¡°She wants what I can¡¯t give.¡± ¡°You just wait to be proven wrong. Connor retorted. As they walked back to the main hall, most of the guests had already left. ¡°Still up for a drink?¡± Logan teased him. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s see who drops first, Connor challenged, looking up. Tara nudged the innocent¨Clooking college girl sitting in theer signaling her toe over. Already holding a dice cup and a bottle of liquor, Tara approached with a smile, ¡°Liar¡¯s dice or lucky dice?¡± Tara and the college student each took a seat beside them, pouring drinks. ¡°Liars dice.¡± Logan eyed Tara, ¡°Just a heads¨Cup, never y lucky dice with this guy. You¡¯ll lose everything, including your underwear. He¡¯s got the his grandpa¡¯s tricks up his sleeve. Tara smiled knowingly, while the college girl looked puzzled. Connor nced at his watch, then pulled out his phone to send a message. [Got home safe?) The reply came in a second. [Home now] No training tomorrow morning.]. [Okay! ¡°Come on Logan already had the dice ready, eyeing Connor, ¡°Alright,¡± Connor put away his phone, skillfully shaking the dice cup. At four in the morning, the mansion was still brightly lit ¡°You lost, Connor said, propping himself up/on the table, his eyes slightly unfocused. Logan lifted the ss before him and downed it in one go, the liquor burning bitter and spicy as it slid down his throat. Struggling to hold on, he finally slumped, gagging over a trash can ¡°Given up?¡± Connor asked, barely able to keep his eyes open. Holding the trash can, Logan staggered and raised his hand in surrender. Keep hugging that trash can. I¡¯m off Got work tomorrow¡± Connor nced at Tara, ¡°Take care of him.¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Tara nodded. Staggering up from the couch, Connor moved unsteadily. The college girl quickly caught on and went over to support Connor¡¯s arm, Mr. Connor be careful.¡± 88 88 Connor withdrew his arm abruptly, his volce deep as he said, ¡°I don¡¯t need help. The college girl paused for a second, then followed the unsteady Connor to the vi¡¯s front door. Connor got into the car, and the college girl squeezed in after him. In a soft voice, she said, ¡°Mr. Connor, let me stay with you.¡± Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. ¡°Tm not interested in you, find someone else.¡± ¡°I just want to be with you. Let me take care of you, please?¡± the pretty college student pleaded softly. It was her first time at such a party, and she had received $5.000 She was determined to make money at any cost, but when she firstid eyes on Connor, she became willing to do so wholeheartedly. Suddenly, Connor felt the alcohol rush to his head, his stomach churning, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing. He was silent for a moment. Seeing the movement in his throat, the college girl, confident in her beauty, believed no man could resist her when drunk. Finally, Connor fought off the drunkenness and opened his eyes. Suddenly, the college girl wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her face against his corbone, gazing up at him with affection. Connor, feeling as if touched by something filthy, disgustedly turned her face away. Coldly, he said, ¡°You have three seconds to disappear.¡± The college girl stared at him, her eyes shockingly cold. Three ¡°Two.¡± ¡°One¡± Terrified, the college girl trembled, unable to move. ¡°Get her out of here,¡± Connor told the driver. The driver immediately got out of the car and pulled the college girl from the back seat. The door shut. The college girl stood at the empty vi entrance, her hair slightly disheveled by the breeze. Connor rubbed his throbbing temples with one hand, the other reaching into his pocket to find a bulge. He pulled it out¨Cit was an orange¨Cvored candy. At the restroom door, Cami had slipped it into his pocket. He unwrapped the candy and tossed it into his mouth. A burst of orange vor quickly spread through his mouth. He smiled wryly. ¡°That¡¯s really awful¡± Leaning back in his seat, he closed his eyes, his tongue gently swirling the orange candy around his mouth As dawn began to break, Connot pushing through his exhaustion, returned to Cedarhill Estate, unbuttoned a few buttons of his shirt, and fell asleep on the couch. 9 25 22 2 0 At seven o¡¯clock, Camy in bed, her expression nk as she stared at the ceiling. She had returned home the previous night and hardly slept, just dozing off as daylight approached. After freshening up, she headed towards Cedarhill Estate, pausing at a convenience store along the way. Eventually, she entered. As his secretary, there were things she still had to do, even if she was unsure they were necessary. ¡°Could I have a ck coffee, please?¡± Cedarhill Estate. Cam walked into the living room to find a familiar figure lying on the couch¨Cit was Connor, still in last night¡¯s clothes. She approached and draped a nket over him. As she got closer, Cam¡¯s sharp eyes spotted a smudge of red on his shirt¨Ca lipstick mark. Images fromst night¡¯s thrilling scenes at the vi shed through her mind. Her heart sank. She threw the nket over Connor and went to open the curtains. Golden sunlight streamed into the room, breaking the stillness and gloom. Connor slowly opened his eyes, adjusting to the sudden light. He saw the nket tossed over him, rubbed his temples, and sat up. ¡°Mc. Connor would you like to go back to your room to sleep, or? Cam asked indifferently. ¡°I take a shower. If David arrives, start breakfast without me, Connor said, casting off the nket and heading to his bedroom. 89 89 It wasn¡¯t long before David arrived with breakfast. The table was set, but Camilo hadn¡¯t touched her fork yet. Ten minutester, Connor emerged from the bedroom, now dressed in a crisp suit, a faint scent of shower gel trailing behind him as he passed by Cam He took the head seat, with two pills and a cup of warm water ced in front of him. He asked, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Poison,¡± Cam said tly Connor paused for a moment, a slight smirk forming as he swallowed the pills before him. He began eating breakfast, eyes downcast A few secondster, he asked, ¡°No effect yet?¡± Cam tried to quickly swallow her food to respond, but it got stuck in her throat. Her face tumed red instantly as she continuously thumped her chest Realizing what was happening. Connor quickly handed her a ss of water and patted her back. After gulping down the water, Cam finally managed to swallow and cleared her throat a few times. Connor watched her anxiously, and only rxed when he was sure she was alright, gently rubbing her back. ¡°Did the poison I ate transfer to you?¡± he joked. Cami red at him, puffing her cheeks before taking a few more sips of water. She then realized the ss was the one Connor had drunk from, causing her to cough a few more times. Connor felt guilty and gently stroked her hair. ¡°Alright, no more teasing.¡± They finished breakfast in silence after that. When they arrived at the office building, Connor, looking tired, stepped onto the staircase. Just then, a young and pretty girl in a simple white dress blocked their path. Cam recognized her from the night before at the vi. The girl held out a lunch box with a smile towards Connor. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. He stopped, his expression cold as he looked at the girl. A few secondster, he continued walking, leaving the girl standing there dumbfounded, her eyes pleadingly tuming to Cam. Softly calling her ¡°Ms. Secretary,¡± the girl pushed the lunch box into Cam¡¯s hands. ¡°Please give this to Mr. Connor,¡± she said before running off. ¡°Hey.¡± Cam called out to the retreating girl, holding the lunch box. Reluctantly, she carried it towards the elevator. Connor nced at her. ¡°Mr. Connor¡­ Cam raised the lunch box helplessly. ¡°Throw it away.¡± Camplied. When the elevator reached her floor, she stepped out and tossed the lunch box into a nearby trash can. Back at her desk, a secretary came over, smiling conspiratorially. ¡°I heard a beauty brought Mr. Connor breakfast?¡± Cam paused, then nodded. News certainly travels fast in the office. The secretary clicked her tongue. ¡°Bold move, bringing it to the office. Is she Mr. Connor¡¯s new girlfriend?¡± Cam just smiled, saying nothing. It was professional not to pry into the CEO¡¯s private matters. Her colleague touched her nose and wisely returned to her own seat. Through the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows, Cam saw Connor still looked somewhat weary. She brewed a cup of coffee. After it was ready, she pushed open the door to Connor¡¯s office. She tiptoed in and gently ced the coffee on his desk Connor looked up, closing the file in his hand, and took a sip of the coffee. The Future Robot 3.0 has been manufactured. Come with me on a business trip tomorrow moming.¡°/ Cam nodded, ¡°Are we going to the factory?¡± ¡°Yes, be at my ce by seven after the workout, and we¡¯ll head out¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Cam smiled. 90 90 With a silent groan, she thought she could finally escape the grubling training. When work ended, the two took the elevator down to the lobby. ¡°Mr. Connor,¡± a soft voice called out. Connor paused and turned to see a woman approaching with a smile. Cam frowned slightly. Another one of Connor¡¯s fling had caught up to him. Cam stepped aside, quietly observing them. ¡°Mr. Connor finished for the day?¡± The woman stood with her hands behind her back, tilting her head as she spoke in a sweet and vibrant voice. Some say forward women are at a disadvantage, but she believed no lovees without taking initiative. Should she just wait at home for love to knock on her door? She couldn¡¯t miss the chance with such a catch. Blinking she spread her arms and smiled. ¡°Where¡¯s my lunchbox?¡± Connor looked at her coldly, ¡°Lost it¡± ¡°What? You owe me¡­¡± The woman boldly pouted. Connor mised an eyebrow slightly and looked at Cam ¡°Give her two hundred dors.¡± The woman froze, confused ¡°She threw it away, Connor said, ncing at the woman. Cam¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Why should I pay? You made me throw it away. And how do you know I have two hundred dors!¡± Cam inwardly cursed. ¡°Miss¡­ The woman stared at Cam with a mix of reproach and disdain as if to say, why should a mere secretary be responsible for throwing away my things. Feeling ufortable under her gaze, Cam clenched her teeth, quickly opened her phone case, and pulled out a neatly folded two hundred dors, handing it to the woman. ¡°Sorry about this.¡± The woman frowned and did not take it. Cam¡¯s hand hung in mid¨Cair looking towards Connor, who just walked away, leaving them with his back. A barely perceptible smile yed on Connor¡¯s face as he walked towards his car. The driver had already opened the door for him, and he got in. ¡°Sorry, Miss.¡± Cam gritted her teeth and stuffed the money into the woman¡¯s hand. She then immediately jogged to the car, getting into the backseat. ¡°You are the one who asked me to take care of that lunchbox, so why should I pay for it?¡± Cam fumed at Connor. ¡°It was you who threw it away. Connor saidzily, propping his face with his hand. ¡°Without your order, I wouldn¡¯t throw away someone¡¯s gift to you. Cam huffed and turned her face away. ¡°Fasten your seatbelt Connor chuckled. Without looking, Cam fumbled a few times before fastening her seatbelt. ¡°Are you swearing at me? Connor asked. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± Ding- Cam opened her phone, staring at the transfer record on her message, her eyes instantly lit up N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Oh my! Twenty thousand dors! Her lips began to curve upward, forming a beautiful smile, and her eyes twinkled with delight, as if hiding endlessughter. Soon, the smile spread from her lips, freely flowing across her face. She turned her head, her eyes brimming with mirth. Thank you. Mr. Connor.¡± ¡°Happy now?¡± Connor asked. ¡°Yes.¡± Cam nodded vigorously. ¡°Not mad at me anymore?¡± Connor snorted. *Just a little rant earlier Cam chuckled, gesturing tiny with her fingers. Connor watched her, a smile shing in his eyes. 91 91 After breakfast, Connor and n finished discussing their work, and the two set off for Oakville. Along the way, they picked up Bryan from the R&D department. The drive took about two and a half hours, during which Connor and Bryan discussed the products in the back seat. As they neared the factory, the car fell silent. The driver asked Cam, ¡°Cam, do you have a driver¡¯s license?¡± Connor rested his hand on the armrest, looking up at her. Cam nced at the steering wheel and sighed, ¡°I passed the driving test on my second try, but I¡¯ve been too scared to drive.¡± The driver chuckled, ¡°No worries, just practice more. You can ask me if you don¡¯t understand something.¡± Cam responded, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve already arranged with my driving school instructor to get some practice during my annual leave.¡± She turned to Connor and asked, ¡°Mr. Connor, does my annual leave start ruing from when I joined the subsidiary?¡± Future Inc.¡¯s policy was five days of annual leave upon joining, with an additional day added each year. Connor nced at her and hummed in affirmation. Cam smiled joyfully. ¡°Mr. Connor, you¡¯re exploiting Cam so much she can only learn to drive during her annual leave,¡± Bryan joked. Bryan was Connor¡¯s schoolmate in college, and they had a good personal rtionship, often joking with each other. Cam did some quick mental calctions. Connor upied most of her time. They spent over 12 hours together every day, including weekends. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. 2 The group arrived at the factory at noon. It was just lunchtime, and the factory manager hosted them in the factory¡¯s dining hall. Lunch was simple farmhouse dishes, the same as what the factory workers ate. Knowing Connor was particr about cleanliness, Cam conscientiously sterilized the utensils with boiling water. ¡°Cam is so thoughtful,¡± Bryan said, taking the utensils she offered. Cam just smiled. During the meal, they talked more about technology than they ate. Cam just quietly eating the dishes in front of her Connor picked up the serving utensil, and pushed aside the green onions on the fish to serve Cam a piece. Cam, who was nibbling on some greens, mumbled, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Connor.¡± Connor didn¡¯t respond, setting down the serving utensil and continuing to discuss matters with the factory manager as if nothing had happened. Bryan spoke up, ¡°Cam, this fish grew up in mountain spring water, it¡¯s wild¨Ccaught with tender and delicious meat, fresh and without any fishy smell. It¡¯s a local specialty. Even my kids love it when I bring them here.¡± Cam smiled and tried a bite. It was indeed delicious. Thus, every few minutes, Connor would help Cam have some different kinds of dishes, ensuring that by the end of the meal, Cam had a taste of every dish and was fully satisfied. After a brief rest, the factory manager took them to the showroom to disy the Future Robot 3.0, including a new product Cam wasn¡¯t aware of, Future Go and Future Go Pro. Future Go, a bionic intelligent robotic dog with a soul, would definitely turn heads when walked on the street. Capable of understanding human speech and interpreting emotions, it was endowed with consciousness and thought. Future Go Pro was a quadruped robot designed for firefighting and emergency rescue. It could enter potentially mmable, explosive, toxic, oxygen¨Cdeficient, or smoke¨Cfilled disaster sites in advance of human rescuers to conduct environmental reconnaissance, providing real¨Ctime feedback tomanders and assisting in making informed decisions. Its purpose was to reduce the risk of injury to rescuers and improve the efficiency of rescues. Cam looked at Connor with admiration. These innovations could revolutionize the rescue system and bring significant value and benefits to society. 92 92 ¡°Mr. Connor, I¡¯d like to discuss the technical issues further,¡± Bryan said. Connor nced at Cam and instructed, ¡°Why don¡¯t you head to the lounge to rx for a bit?¡± The factory manager directed someone to take Cam to the lounge, where some fresh fruit and tea had been prepared. After organizing her meeting notes in the lounge, Cam shrugged and yawned.She propped her head up to read the product manual, but the more she read, the sleepier she became, eventually dozing off on the desk. Connor and Bryan exited the meeting room. The factory manager inquired, ¡°Mr. Connor, I¡¯ve arranged a guest room for Cam.¡± ¡°Will I be in the usual room?¡± Bryan asked. ¡°Yes, you¡¯ll have your usual room, and Cam¡¯s is right next door,¡± the manager said, handing over the keys to both rooms. Connor thought for a moment and then said, ¡°There¡¯s no need to arrange a room for her.¡± The factory manager paused, then nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. ¡°Mr. Connor, you¡¯re not thinking of sending Cam home at this hour, are you?¡± Bryan nced at the clock, which showed 8 PM, and frowned. ¡°She can stay at my ce. It¡¯s not really appropriate for a woman to be staying in the men¡¯s lodging area,¡± Connor suggested. The factory manager looked puzzled. The men¡¯s lodging area? She would be in a separate guest room, wouldn¡¯t she? Had Mr. Connor misunderstood, thinking Cam¡¯s room was like the other housing with four workers each? He was about to rify, but Connor had already started walking away. ¡°Here¡¯s the key,¡± Bryan ced the other key on the table, stretching his neck tiredly. ¡°I¡¯m beat. I¡¯ll order some takeout, have a shower, and hit the sack. Bryan picked up the key from the table and nodded. Connor opened the door to the lounge and saw Cam asleep at the desk. He frowned slightly as he approached her. Her hands were folded under her head like a diligent student. Her face was turned to the side, her curled eyshes casting a soft shadow under the light, her nose small and perky. Connor watched her for a moment, then gentlyid his suit jacket over her. Cam was sleeping soundly, breathing softly. Connor moved to a sofa nearby, crossed his legs, and began reading a product inspection report. About ten minutester, his phone rang. The sound woke Cam up, and she lifted her head groggily. The suit jacket slipped from her shoulders as she looked around, bewildered by the disturbance. Connor nced at her and answered the phone, his tone slightly annoyed, ¡°What is it?¡± Cam sat up straight, smoothing her hair, and neatly folded the suit jacket. Connor tugged at his tie, discontentedly saying, ¡°Why are you calling my phone to speak to her?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have her number! And what¡¯s with your attitude? It¡¯s like I owe you money or something,¡± the person on the other end retorted, clearly irritated by Connor¡¯s inexplicable anger. Connor stood up, walked over to Cam, and handed her the phone. Cam¡¯s heartbeat quickened as she looked up into Connor¡¯s dark eyes. ¡°Here, it¡¯s for you,¡± he said. As Cam reached for the phone, her slender fingertips identally brushed against Connor¡¯s warm fingers, sending a jolt like electricity through both their fingertips, racing to their hearts. Her heart pounded rapidly, almost leaping out of her chest. Connor¡¯s fingers trembled slightly, and he quickly withdrew them. 93 93 ¡°Hello. Cam didn¡¯t know who was on the other end of the line but greeted politely anyway. ¡®Cam, it¡¯s me, Rita.¡± The voiceughed over the phone. ¡°I just realized I didn¡¯t have your number, so I asked Connor for it since you were together. Let¡¯s go shopping tomorrow!¡± ¡°I¡¯m on a business trip with Mr. Connor in Oakville. Tomorrow¡­¡± Cam nced up at Connor. Connor put down the documents he was holding and said, ¡°We still have two meetings tomorrow.¡± Rita clearly heard Connor¡¯s response and clicked her tongue. ¡°He really works you hard. He has you traveling on the weekend, too.¡± The voice on the other end was loud, and Cam chuckled awkwardly. ¡°How about Sunday?¡± ¡°I¡¯m off to Australia on Sunday to visit my grandparents. I won¡¯t be back for a month,¡± Rita pouted. Connor leaned in closer, the space between them so tight that his breath lightly brushed Cam¡¯s cheek. Cam stared at him, unsure if he was reaching for the phone or what. ¡°Take good care of the old folks,¡± Connor spoke into the phone, their mouths merely inches apart. Cam nervously pursed her lips. After Connor finished speaking, he stretched out his hand to take the phone from her ear, his long fingers darkening the screen as he ended the call. Cam was still in a daze. Do you want to go?¡± His deep voice sounded close to her ear: Cam shook her head, her expression serious. ¡°Work is important.¡± A small smile yed at theers of Connor¡¯s mouth. ¡°Still up for more?¡± She shook her head again. ¡°Pack up then. Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Right, Mr. Connor, should I make reservations at a hotel?¡± Cam responded. She had checked nearby hotels, finding no five¨Cstar or even four¨Cstar amodations close by. ¡°I have an apartment nearby,¡± Connor said. Cam was slightly stunned. With his hands in his pockets, Connor leanedzily against the door frame, waiting for her. Cam packed up the documents andptop into her bag, slung it over her shoulder, and followed him out, her hand brushing his suit jacket. Once in the parking lot, Connor slid into the driver¡¯s seat, and Cam opened the passenger door to join him. ¡°Where¡¯s the driver?¡± ¡°He lives nearby. There¡¯s staff housing here,¡± Connor said, steering the car forward. Bryan is staying around here, too?¡± ¡°Yeah.* ¡°Would it be inconvenient if I stayed at your ce? I could stay in the staff housing.¡± There¡¯s no ce for women there,¡± Connor said tly. ¡°But I¡¯ve seen female staff¡­¡± Cam began, puzzled. If there was staff housing, surely there would be amodations for women. Connor paused, then turned to look at her. ¡°Can you set the GPS to Pleasant View Residence?¡± Cam nodded and reached for the GPS. They arrived five minutester. Connor pressed his fingerprint to the door, and Cam followed him inside. The decor wasn¡¯t overly luxurious, clean like a showroom. The dining table had a vase of fresh flowers and a few bottles of water, indicating it was rarely lived in. The room at the end is mine. You can pick any of the other two,¡± Connor said, sitting on the sofa and opening a bottle of water from the coffee table Cam opened the first bedroom door, ced her luggage next to the wardrobe, and checked the time. It was already nine. She remembered Connor hadn¡¯t eaten much at lunch and opened a food delivery app to see what was avable nearby. After browsing, she realized she wasn¡¯t familiar with any of the local restaurants, and the ratings weren¡¯t great. She hesitated to order blindly She stepped out of the bedroom and esked, ¡®Mr. Connor, do you like McDonald¡¯s?¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Connor nced at the time and replied. Just order any burger for me.¡± 94 94 After ordering. Cam headed for a shower. She didn¡¯t change into pajamas but instead slipped into her usual work attire and walked out of the bedroom. Connor looked slightly bemused and teased, ¡°nning to go to work?¡± Cam hadn¡¯t anticipated fivi under the same roof as him. It felt awkward moving around in a nightgown, and since she hadn¡¯t brought any casual clothes, she opted for her work clothes instead. Suddenly, the doorbell rang, breaking the awkward silence. The delivery¡¯s here,¡± she said as she went to get the food. Camid out the food on the dining table: a burger, a c, fries, a cup of corn, and apple slices. She ced them at the main seat. She grabbed a box of chicken nuggets and a c for herself and sat down. ¡°Mr. Connor, dinner¡¯s ready.¡± Connor put down his phone, ncing at the sparse food in front of her. ¡°Is that all you¡¯re having?¡± he asked. Nibbling on her straw, Cam looked up and replied, ¡°I had a big lunch. I¡¯m not hungry at all.¡± Connor wasn¡¯t hungry either. He usually wouldn¡¯t eat at this hour if not for worrying she might be hungry. He looked at the hearty meal in front of him and pushed the cup of and apple slices towards her, saying, ¡°I don¡¯t eat these.¡± Cam found herself in a quandary. She had ordered them to ensure he had a bnced diet. Resigned not to waste food, she reluctantly ate while browsing on her phone. When she looked up again, she noticed that Connor had only eaten half the burger and had a few sips of c. So, he didn¡¯t like these after all. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Cam turned to n for advice on what to prepare for Mr. Connor¡¯s breakfast the next day. n sent her the details of a restaurant that was quite a distance away, and they didn¡¯t Without a car herself, Cam sighed and decided to take a taxi early in the morning. After cleaning the table, she said, ¡°Mr. ¡°Mm.¡± I¡¯m going to my room to rest.¡± Back in her room, Cam freshened up, changed into a nightgown, andy in bed with a stuffed animal, browsing on her phone. The moonlight spilled through the window, filling the quiet bedroom with only the sound of her gentle breathing. Awoken in the middle of the night by thirst, Cam barely opened her eves and nced at the rm clock¨Cit was three in the morning. Drowsily, she got out of bed, clutching the leg of her stuffed animal, and hazily opened the bedroom door. The harsh light immediately struck her eyes, causing her to squint. Connor was sitting on the sofa, working on hisptop with several documents around him. He heard her and looked up. Cam focused and realized Connor was staring right at her¨Cor, more precisely, at her chest. She followed his gaze down to her nightgown. Suddenly, she clutched the stuffed animal to her chest, her face filled with panic. She¡¯d taken off her bra before bed, and in her drowsy state, she felt as if she was in her own home¨C or rather, she hadn¡¯t expected him to be awake at this hour! Though the nightgown was loose, the contours of her body were still quite evident. Her ears turned bright red, and she snapped, flustered, ¡°Why are you still up thiste? What are you doing here!¡± Connor¡¯s lips curled slightly. ¡°I¡¯m working. What are you doing up at this hour?¡± ¡°Getting some water!¡± He continued to eye the stuffed animal in front of her chest and made a sound of acknowledgment. ¡°Stop looking! You pervert!¡± In embarrassment, Cam threw the stuffed animal at him, crossing her arms over her chest. ¡°I¡¯ve seen it all before,¡± Connor teased, catching the stuffed animal. ¡°You¡­ Pervert!¡± Cam¡¯s ears were hot from blushing, and she quickly ran back to her room. Click. That¡¯s the sound of the door locking. 95 95 ¡°Childish¡± Conner said with a chuckle, looking down at the stuffed bear in his hand. He got up to grab a bottle of water, ced it along with the bear at her bedroom door, knocked, and said, ¡°I¡¯ve left some water at your door. I¡¯m heading to my room now¡± He then turned off the living room lights and headed back to his bedroom. Cam was really thirsty. She pressed her ear against the door, listening for any sounds outside. Once she heard the door close, she quietly opened her bedroom door just a crack and peeked out. It was pitch dark Reaching out she felt her stuffed bear and a bottle of water, grabbed them, and quickly locked her door once back inside. Sitting on the floor, leaning against the door, she twisted open the bottle and tookrge quips of water. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Camile couldn¡¯t sleep for the rest of the night. Shey in bed until the sky began to brighten, then got up to freshen up. She took a cab to grab some breakfast and returned to Connor¡¯s cozy home by eight. Connor was still asleep, so she ced the breakfast on the table and knocked on his bedroom door ¡°Mr. Connor, are you up?¡± A response came from inside Cam went to her room to finish packing her things. When she came out, Connor was already seated at the head of the table, sipping his coffee He nced up at Cam and frowned slightly. ¡°You look like you were up to no goodst night.¡± Cam red at him resentfully, considering she had slept less than he had. She noticed the faint dark circles under her eyes that moming, but she hadn¡¯t brought any makeup except for lipstick, so she was stuck with a bare face. ¡°Did you go out to buy breakfast?¡± Connor asked. Obviously Did breakfast fly here by itself? Cam grunted affirmatively. Took a cab?¡± Obviously! Did I walk there on my feet?¡® Cam grunted again. ¡°Let¡¯s find some time, and I¡¯ll teach you to drive,¡± Connor said as he ate. ¡°It¡¯s alright, I¡¯ve already made arrangements with a driving instructor,¡± Cam replied curtly. ¡°Are you upset? You can¡¯t me me forst night,¡± Connor said softly, touching his brow innocently. Cemile munching on her sandwich, puffed up with anger. ¡°Just drop it and erase it from your mind.¡± Connor couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°I¡¯m not a robot. I can¡¯t just delete a program and forget.¡± Cam stuffed her mouth more and red at him. She looked somewhatical. Connor, holding backughter, pointed at his head and said, ¡°Alright, alright.¡± ¡°Click, deleted. Memory deleted,¡± he said in a mock robotic tone. Connor was dressed in a crisp navy blue suit and had the air of a refined gentleman engaging in uncharacteristic behavior, making Cam unable to suppress herughter. ¡°Childish.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s have breakfast, Connor sighed. After breakfast, Connor drove to the factory. The meetingsted from morning until three in the afternoon, with lunch hastily served in the conference room. The driver drove smoothly, and Carn dozed off in the seat. She woke up to find Connor¡¯s jacket covering her. Turning her head, she saw Connor engrossed in his iPad, checking emails. He was so focused that she chose not to disturb him. When they returned to Fairmount, the sun was setting. After getting out of the car, Cam handed Connor his jacket. ¡°Thanks.¡± Connor looked at her and said, ¡°Keep it on.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s head to the Seaview Restaurant/ he told the driver, then turned to Cam. ¡°We¡¯re going out to eat.¡± Half an hourter, they arrived at the restaurant. Connor stepped out with long strides. Cam followed him. Once seated, Cam quietly started to eat. She was really hungry, having barely eaten at noon. ¡°I¡¯ll take you for a driving lesson after our workout tomorrow,¡± Congor said. 96 96 Connor paused briefly before responding, ¡°Alright then. With permission granted, Cam was in high spirits. The next day, Cam slept until she woke naturally and dressed in casual wear before heading back to the old neighborhood in the city. It had been a while since she felt such a down¨Cto¨Cearth atmosphere. Street vendors hawked their snacks, and Cam bought a corn dog to munch on as she walked. As she approached Cole¡¯s fruit shop, Cam tossed the stick in the trash and wiped her mouth clean. ire had told her not to eat such things, and certainly, she couldn¡¯t let Cole find out. ¡°Hey Cole,¡± Cam greeted as she stood at the entrance of the fruit shop. Cole, busy weighing fruit for customers, waved back at her. Then she reached the diner. ¡°Mom.¡± ire was overjoyed to see her daughter, ¡°My dear, we live in the same city, but it¡¯s been so long since you¡¯ve visited.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been busy at the headquarters,¡± Cam said, yfully hugging her mom. She then turned and noticed the diner was empty. ¡°Why are there no customers at this time?¡± ire sighed helplessly, ¡°A new diner opened across the street, offering really cheap prices, and it¡¯s drawn our customers away.¡± ¡°Cheaper than ours?¡± Cam asked, surprised. Their diner¡¯s prices were already low, with daily fresh ingredients and minimal profit margins. ¡°Regr portion is for five dors andrge portion for seven,¡± ire exined. ¡°How are they even making a profit?¡± Cam was shocked. Such prices were rare even in smaller cities, let alone a major one, where rent and utility costs were high. Cole then came in and said, ¡°I asked around about thendlord. The person who rented that ce is a young woman named Tabitha.¡± ¡°Why would a young girl run a loss¨Cmaking business?¡± ire wondered. Cam stared at the bustling diner across the street, clenching her fists. ire didn¡¯t know, but Cam did. There was only one person who would go against them like this. To hurt the enemy at the cost of hurting oneself even more was stupid. Only the reckless Tabitha could do something like this. ¡°Mom, maybe we should close the diner. I now earn enough money. I can take care of you, and you can enjoy some peace,¡± Cam said earnestly. ire held Cam¡¯s hand, smiling. ¡°Sweetheart, I¡¯m proud of you, but I¡¯m still young and can work. Save your money. When I¡¯m too old to make ravioli, then you can take care of me.¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m serious.¡± ¡°I am too, dear. It doesn¡¯t make sense for me to rely on you while I¡¯m still capable. Although business isn¡¯t great, some loyal customers still prefer my ravioli. I can¡¯t bear to close down.¡± ¡°That diner won¡¯tst long. They are losing money every day. Once they raise their prices, no one will go there,¡± Cole added. ¡°Exactly, it¡¯s losing thousands a month. Surely, the owner isn¡¯t foolish,¡± ire chuckled. Cam sighed. The owner WAS foolish, and for Tabitha¡¯s family, a few thousand was just a trivial amount. That jerk had already broken her mother¡¯s heart. She didn¡¯t want her mother to suffer more because of his new family. ¡°Mom, promise me that if that diner is still open after three months, we¡¯ll close ours, and I¡¯ll take care of you,¡± Cam said. ¡°Okay, I promise you,¡± ire nodded. Cole, you¡¯re our witness!¡± Cam looked at Cole. Cole nodded in agreement. 97 97 ire carefully steamed the leftover ingredients from her ravioll shop and said, ¡°Cami, take these meat patties to the door and feed the stray cats and dogs. The ingredients at the ravioli shop were always purchased fresh daily and never kept overnight. Now, the daily leftovers were fed to the Stray animals. Sure. Cam packed the meat patties into disposable bowls and ced them at the doorway. Within seconds, several chubby cats came trotting over happily. Cam crouched by the door, quietly watching as the fat cats bowed their heads and eagerly ate. After their meal, they gathered around her feet, looking up with bright eyes and wagging their tails joyfully. Cam touched one particrly plump cat on the back and felt a warm sensation inside as it nuzzled her hand and purred soothingly. Suddenly, one of the cats squatted in a flowerpot, its face contorting as it exerted itself. ¡°Oh no, don¡¯t poop in the flowerpot!¡± Cam eximed. It was toote. The satisfied cat quickly scampered off after doing its business. Cam stood up, grabbed some paper towels, and carefully wrapped up the cat¡¯s droppings before throwing them in the trash outside. Afterward, she made a face as she washed her hands in the restroom, using plenty of soap until her hands smelled pleasantly clean. ¡°Cat poop stinks so bad,¡± Cam remarked. A child in the diner giggled, ¡°Miss Cam, poop is supposed to stink. It¡¯s not something you can eat.¡±Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Connor¡¯s face unexpectedly popped into Cam¡¯s mind, and sheughed like a lunatic. ¡°You¡¯d be surprised. Some people actually drink water infused with cat poop.¡± ¡°Ew! They are so weird! Don¡¯t hang out with them!¡± the child said, looking scared. ¡°Of course, Cam said, holding backughter as she nodded. Once the customers left, ire closed the ravioli diner and took Cam to the farmers¡® market. ¡°I¡¯ll make you some fish and pork ribs,¡± ire said with a smile. I¡¯m drooling already. It¡¯s been so long since I¡¯ve had those dishes you make,¡± Cam said, linking arms with her mom and yfully burying her head in her shoulder. ireughed and gently patted her head. ¡°You¡¯re in your twenties and still act like a little kid. You could be married by now.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not getting married. I want to stay with you forever,¡± Cam muttered. ¡°Your uncle finally paid back those money, and with my $15,000 in savings, we have enough for a down payment on a small apartment. Pick a time to go house hunting. I want to buy you a house,¡± ire said seriously. ¡°I can save up and buy a home myself. Keep your money.¡± ¡°With your current sry, it will take years to save for a down payment. Now that the housing prices have dropped, let¡¯s see if there¡¯s something suitable. You¡¯re also spending money on rent, so you might as well buy your own ce.¡± ¡°Thepany provides good benefits, including housing and meals, and I barely have any expenses.¡± ¡°How good canpany housing be? Living with several people isn¡¯t exactly freedom.¡± Cam nomittally watched her and smiled. ¡°Mom, why don¡¯t you visit where I¡¯m staying?¡± ¡°Sure! Then I¡¯ll buy more groceries and cook for your colleagues, too. How much food should I make? How many people will be eating?¡± ire was already nning how much to cook for everyone. Just cook enough for the two of us,¡± Cam said, smiling. ¡°You¡¯re working now. Do you understand how to navigate social obligations?¡± ire lightly pped her back, frowning slightly. ¡°You¡¯ll see when you get there,¡± Cam said with a mysterious smile, gging down a taxi. 98 98 Half an hourter, ire stood at the entrance of Cedarhill Estate, holding Cam¡¯s hand in disbelief. ¡°You live here?¡± Cam nodded, leading her mother into the neighborhood as the security guard at the gate smiled and nodded politely. ¡°Ms. Cam, you¡¯re back.¡± Cam smiled in response. Only then did ire truly believe that her daughter lived in such an upscalemunity, feeling a touch of unease. ¡°What does yourpany do? How can they afford to provide such nice amodations for employees?¡± Cam exined, ¡°This apartment belongs to my boss. He doesn¡¯t use it, so he let me stay here as company housing.¡± Once inside, ire seemed a bit uneasy and restless. Thevish decor and the sprawling apartment made it hard to believe it was just employee housing. ¡°How many people live here?¡± ¡°Just me.¡± Cam handed her mother a pair of new slippers. ¡°Just you?¡± ire¡¯s heart raced, unable to avoid thoughts of hidden motives. She trusted her daughter¡¯s character, but her mind couldn¡¯t help but wander. She opened the shoe cab, checking for any men¡¯s shoes. Finding none, she felt somewhat relieved. ¡°Yes,e in and have a look around.¡± Cam was oblivious to her mother¡¯s concerns. ¡°How much would rent be for a ce like this?¡± ire asked. ¡°A few thousand, I guess. I¡¯m not really sure.¡± Cam led her mother to see the bedrooms. ¡°I sleep in this one. The master bedroom is over there. I don¡¯t use it since it¡¯s someone else¡¯s property.¡± ire checked every bedroom for any signs of male belongings and finally rxed a bit. ¡°Cami, your boss doesn¡¯t have any other intentions, right?¡± ¡°Of course not!¡± Cam chuckled, ¡°My old ce was too far from work. I have to be there by seven or eight in the morning, and I often workte. So, my boss lent me this apartment.¡± ¡°How old is your boss?¡± ¡°27.¡± ire murmured, ¡°So young and already so sessful. He¡¯s from a different world than us.¡± Back in the day, ire and her ex¨Chusband were from two different worlds. After marrying into his family, she endured disdain and was ordered around despite her genuine efforts until she was ultimately abandoned. She didn¡¯t want her daughter to suffer the same fate. Camughed. Was her mother thinking she might have a romantic future with her boss? Well¡­ Admittedly, something did happen once, but it stayed like that ¨C just one night. ¡°Mom, what are you imagining? It¡¯s purely professional, nothing else.¡± ¡°I trust you. I just don¡¯t want you to make the same mistakes I did,¡± ire said, holding her daughter¡¯s hand tightly. ¡°I understand, Mom.¡± ire sighed. Cam hugged her mother,forting her, ¡°You¡¯ve given me so much love. That¡¯s my strength.¡± ¡°Cami, I have some photos to show you.¡± ire pulled Cam to the sofa with a serious expression. ¡°What photos?¡± Cam asked. ¡°An old client of mine has suggested some potential matches for you. See if you like any.¡± ire had asked a trusted client to help find suitors for her daughter. The locals knew, and many came forward with proposals, but ire wanted none of them. The locals, living off their parents¡® legacy with rental properties, were often arrogant, self¨Cimportant, and unambitious. ire didn¡¯t care about money but finding someone reliable, responsible, and loving. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°This one¡¯s a college professor, very dependable. This one¡¯s a colleague of Craig, and he¡¯s a traffic cop¡­¡± ire almost thrust her phone Into Cam¡¯s face. C 99 99 ¡°Mom, I really don¡¯t want to date right now..¡± Cam sighed deeply. ¡°Just meet him first, then decide,¡± ire replied, her brow furrowed. ¡°How about this university professor? I¡¯ve already sent your contact Info to the matchmaker¡± A few secondster. ¡°I¡¯ve sent it.¡± ¡°Mom, I¡¯m really swamped with work right now. I don¡¯t have time to meet anyone,¡± Cam said helplessly. ¡°Just don¡¯te to my ce this weekend. Go on that date. And no excuses. You can¡¯t be too busy for a simple dinner.¡± ire hoped that her daughter would soon have a family of her own, making up for the iplete one she could only provide and helping Cam forget the pain her biological father had inflicted. ¡°Fine, fine, I¡¯ll go on the date,¡± Cam replied nonchntly. Later, the two went grocery shopping at a nearby supermarket. After dinner, ire refused to let Cam drive her home, so Cam booked a cab for her instead. After ire left, Cam called Erica. ¡°Erica, you know everyone. Can you help me find Tabitha¡¯s number?¡± ¡°Why do you need to contact that crazydy?¡± Cam told her about Tabitha opening a ravioli restaurant, which infuriated Erica to the point of cursing vehemently. ¡°She¡¯s going to wish I hadn¡¯t found her! I¡¯ll definitely get her number for you!¡± ¡°Also, my mom is pushing me into this blind date. How can I tactfully refuse?¡± ¡°Why not ask Connor for help?¡± Erica said excitedly. ¡°Shut up.¡± Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. ¡°Trust me, I know all about dodging dates, so I¡¯ll teach you a few tricks¡­¡± Cam was impressed by her advice. They talked until midnight, and Erica said, ¡°You better get some sleep. You have to be at Connor¡¯s ce in seven hours.¡± After hanging up, Camy in bed, wishing she could clear her mind of all worries. The more she tried to sleep, the harder it seemed. ¡°Drinking coffee brewed from cat poop is so weird! Don¡¯t hang out with him.¡± The random memory of the child popped into her head, followed by an image of Connor drinking Kopi Luwak, making herugh out loud in bed. It took her a long time to finally drift off. Her rm went off promptly at 6:30 AM, its piercing sound/jolting her awake. Cam irritably turned it off, feeling as though an invisible force pinned her to the bed. It was Monday morning, and she was suffering her usual case of the Monday blues. After struggling for a while, she managed to sit up, her mind still foggy. She quickly freshened up and arrived at Connor¡¯s ce at 7:00 AM sharp. After a grueling workout session, Cam, freshly showered, opened the bedroom door to find a message from Erica containing Tabitha¡¯s phone number. She immediately sat back on her bed to reply. [Aren¡¯t you asleep yet?] [Tabitha really is a tough nut to crack. I had to ask so many people before I got her number. Just sent it now.] [Love you, get some sleep.] [Sleeping now.] Cam immediately dialed the number. At Tabitha¡¯s. Buzz, buzz, buzz¨Cthe vibrating phone on the nightstand. Tabitha groggily opened her eyes and picked up the phone, seeing an unfamiliar number. She answered, ¡°Are you insane? Calling this early in the morning!¡± ¡°It¡¯s Cam,¡± Cam said sternly. ¡°Who the¡­ Cam?¡± Tabitha sat up straighter, a smirk forming. ¡°How¡¯s your mom¡¯s restaurant doing?¡± Cam scoffed. ¡°There are so many idiots in the world, yet you excel among them.¡± ¡°Fuck, what do you mean by thaty Tabitha cursed. ¡°Literally,¡± Cam replied coolly. Tabitha, infuriated and itching for a confrontation, wished she could tear Cam apart right there and then. ¡°Mom, I really don¡¯t want to date right now..¡± Cam sighed deeply. *Just meet him first, then decide,¡± ire replied, her brow furrowed. ¡°How about this university professor? I¡¯ve already sent your contact info to the matchmaker.¡± A few secondster. Ive sent it.¡± ¡°Mom, I¡¯m really swamped with work right now. I don¡¯t have time to meet anyone,¡± Cam said helplessly. ¡°Just don¡¯te to my ce this weekend. Go on that date. And no excuses. You can¡¯t be too busy for a simple dinner.¡± ire hoped that her daughter would soon have a family of her own, making up for the iplete one she could only provide and helping Cam forget the pain her biological father had inflicted. ¡°Fine, fine, I¡¯ll go on the date,¡± Cam replied nonchntly. Later, the two went grocery shopping at a nearby supermarket. After dinner, ire refused to let Cam drive her home, so Cam booked a cab for her instead. After ire left, Cam called Erica. ¡°Erica, you know everyone. Can you help me find Tabitha¡¯s number?¡± ¡°Why do you need to contact that crazydy?¡± Cam told her about Tabitha opening a ravioli restaurant, which infuriated Erica to the point of cursing vehemently. ¡°She¡¯s going to wish I hadn¡¯t found her! I¡¯ll definitely get her number for you!¡°¨C *Also, my mom is pushing me into this blind date. How can I tactfully refuse?¡± ¡°Why not ask Connor for help?¡± Erica said excitedly. ¡°Shut up.¡± ¡°Trust me, I know all about dodging dates, so I¡¯ll teach you a few tricks¡­¡± Cam was impressed by her advice. They talked until midnight, and Erica said, ¡°You better get some sleep. You have to be at Connor¡¯s ce in seven hours.¡± After hanging up, Camy in bed, wishing she could clear her mind of all worries. The more she tried to sleep, the harder it seemed. ¡°Drinking coffee brewed from cat poop is so weird! Don¡¯t hang out with him.¡± The random memory of the child popped into her head, followed by an image of Connor drinking Kopi Luwak, making herugh out loud in bed. It took her a long time to finally drift off. Her rm went off promptly at 6:30 AM, its piercing sound/jolting her awake. Cam irritably turned it off, feeling as though an invisible force pinned her to the bed. It was Monday morning, and she was suffering her usual case of the Monday blues. After struggling for a while, she managed to sit up, her mind still foggy. She quickly freshened up and arrived at Connor¡¯s ce at 7:00 AM sharp. After a grueling workout session, Cam, freshly showered, opened the bedroom door to find a message from Erica containing Tabitha¡¯s phone number. She immediately sat back on her bed to reply. [Aren¡¯t you asleep yet?] [Tabitha really is a tough nut to crack. I had to ask so many people before I got her number. Just sent it now.] [Love you, get some sleep.] [Sleeping now.] Cam immediately dialed the number. At Tabitha¡¯s. Buzz, buzz, buzz¨Cthe vibrating phone on the nightstand. Tabitha groggily opened her eyes and picked up the phone, seeing an unfamiliar number. She answered, ¡°Are you insane? Calling this early in the morning!¡± ¡°It¡¯s Cam,¡± Cam said sternly. ¡°Who the¡­ Cam?¡± Tabitha sat up straighter, a smirk forming. ¡°How¡¯s your mom¡¯s restaurant doing?¡± Cam scoffed. ¡°There are so many idiots in the world, yet you excel among them.¡± ¡°Fuck, what do you mean by that! Tabitha cursed. ¡°Literally,¡± Cam replied coolly. Tabitha, infuriated and itching for a confrontation, wished she could tear Cam apart right there and then. 100 100 ¡°Cam, I wonder how long you can keep that smug look on your face. If you make my life miserable, I¡¯ll make sure you don¡¯t have it easy either!¡± *Tabitha, stop shaking your head. I can hear the water sloshing from here. Were you born without a brain? Can you only think of such foolish revenge? I don¡¯t care if you love running a diner and serving free meals to the neighbors; after all, we¡¯re just renting the ce, and closing it won¡¯t cause us any loss.¡± Cam said leisurely. The bedroom door was ajar, and Connor overheard everything clearly as he passed by, his brow furrowing slightly. Tabitha was at it again. He returned to his bedroom, pulled open a drawer, and neatlyid out a piece of paper, taking a photo of the address on it. When he returned to the dining room, Cam was already seated. ¡°Mr. Connor, breakfast is ready,¡± Cam said with a slight smile. Connor grunted in acknowledgment and took a sip of the coffee in front of him. ¡®People who drink coffee brewed from cat litter are weird! You shouldn¡¯t hang out with them.¡¯ N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Cam blurted out the thought again. She had to pursed her lips to stop herself fromughing, her hands trembling with the effort. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Connor asked. Cam struggled to contain herughter, looking up to reply, ¡°Just thought of something amusing.¡± ¡°What¡¯s it?¡± Connor looked puzzled, ncing at her. ¡°It¡¯s not amusing for you. Let¡¯s eat,¡± Cam said, lowering her head to her breakfast. Connor gave her a sharp look before taking another sip of his coffee. At noon, the business at Didi¡¯s Diner was booming. A man with tattooed arms was sitting by the window, a steaming bowl of chicken ravioli in front of him. He sneakily nced around, making sure no one was watching, then quickly pulled out a tiny bottle from his pocket. Carefully, he unscrewed the cap and gently shook his wrist, slowly pouring the contents of the bottle into the ravioli. The entire process was swift and covert, going unnoticed. Suddenly, the tattooed man yelled, ¡°Damn! There¡¯s a cockroach in the soup!¡± His shout made all the diners turn to look at him. The man scooped up the cockroach from his ravioli and loudly eximed, ¡°Look at this! Is this what you serve people? Are you trying to kill me?¡± The diners began inspecting their own bowls, creating a cacophony of spoons nging against bowls. The waiter, embarrassed, quickly apologized, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I¡¯ll get you another bowl right away.¡± ¡°Another? Why would I eat here again? It¡¯s all cooked in the same pot!¡± the tattooed man bellowed. The other diners hesitated to continue eating, shouting in unison, ¡°We want a refund!¡± The waiter approached the tattooed man, saying, ¡°Sir, let¡¯s talk. We¡¯ll find a satisfactory solution for you.¡± Other staff members tried to calm everyone down, ¡°Our kitchen is very clean. It must have been an ident.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s settle this here!¡± the tattooed man mmed the table, saying loudly. The waiter said softly with a smile, ¡°Since you didn¡¯t actually eat it, let¡¯s not make a big deal out of it, shall we?¡± ¡°What do you mean ¡®not make a big deal out of it?¡® I¡¯ve already had several bites of the ravioli, and now my stomach feels terrible!¡± the tattooed man addressed the other diners. ¡°Yes, yes! My stomach feels weird, too!¡± ¡°This is disgusting!¡± The waiter gave an awkward smile. ¡°A misunderstanding. It¡¯s just a misunderstanding.¡± ¡°Oh my God, there¡¯s a cockroach!¡± a woman screamed. As everyone watched, a cockroach scurried away. The tattooed man smirked, pleased with himself. 101 101 An employee quickly nced at the cockroach on the floor, then lunged forward and stomped down hard. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Crunch- The cockroach was dead under his foot. The diners¡® faces immediately showed expressions of disgust. Amid the chaos, the employee leaned toward a man, whispering, ¡°Sir, how about we handle this privately? I can offer you a $50 gift card aspensation.¡± The man became furious. ¡°Are you trying to solve this with money? This is an insult!¡± ¡°Really, is that how it is?¡± ¡°Are you trying to buy me off?¡± The crowd started murmuring. Under the tattooed man¡¯s resolute gaze, the employee said helplessly, ¡°We are truly very sorry.¡± After one of the employees called Tabitha, he approached the tattooed man and whispered, ¡°Our boss is willing to offer you $1,000 aspensation.¡± The employee smiled hopefully at the man. On the phone, Tabitha said that the man was clearly causing trouble by extorting money. $1,000 was just to get rid of a beggar, which she could afford. Later, they could even use him of ckmail. The tattooed man crossed his arms, smiling at the employee. ¡°Oh, $1,000 is supposed to be a lot?¡± The employee didn¡¯t expect him to call it out and panicked. ¡°A thousand dors?¡± eximed a diner. ¡°If it were me, I¡¯d take the money.¡± ¡°Right, why couldn¡¯t it be me?¡± ¡°Hahaha, I¡¯d love to make that money¡­¡± ¡°Sir, if I were you, I¡¯d take the money.¡± The tattooed man smirked coldly. ¡°I¡¯ll make it clear today. I don¡¯t want a penny.¡± He took the bowl of soup in front of him and made a call to the Health Department. ¡°You¡¯re here to stir trouble, aren¡¯t you?¡± a bold employee tried to snatch his phone, but the tattooed man¡¯s strong arm blocked him. He couldn¡¯t snatch it. The other employees spotted the man¡¯s tattoos and knew better than to provoke him. They held back the bold employee, telling him there was no need to go this far for a job. The tattooed man made two more calls to the Consumer Protection Agency. He guarded his soup until government officials arrived. They conducted a full inspection of the hygiene conditions and ordered an immediate business suspension for rectification. Tabitha was called over to sign the rectification notice. ire, in her own diner, was surprised to hear about the incident. Such events were rare in new establishments. ¡°ire, your shop is so clean and transparent, and we feel secure eating here.¡± ¡°Yeah, everyone wears masks and gloves while preparing food, and they clean whenever possible. I¡¯ll never go to that other diner again. I¡¯ll stick to your ce for ravioli.¡± ire nodded with a smile. She looked over at the sealed ravioli diner, and felt like the young owner looked somewhat familiar. Tabitha stared at her sealed shop, kicked it hard in anger, and immediately redialed the unknown number that called in the morning. Cam answered, ¡°Hello, what is it now?¡± Tabitha, unable to suppress her rage, clenched her teeth and said, ¡°Using such filthy tactics, you¡¯re really something!¡± ¡°Go be crazy somewhere else!¡± Cam was baffled. ¡°Someone wreaked havoc in my ravioli diner, and you are ying innocent here?¡± Tabitha clenched her fists angrily. ¡°Crazy!¡± Cam hung up and blocked the number. Tabitha¡¯s ravioli diner had an issue? Cam immediately called ire.. ¡°Yes, they say there was a cockroach in one customer¡¯s ravioli, and now the diner¡¯s been sealed for rectification,¡± ire exined. ¡°I got it. Remember to call me immediately if anything happens. Actually, call Cole. He¡¯s closer,¡± Cam instructed, worried that Tabitha¡¯s vengeful nature might target her mother, 102 102 Cam immediately called Erica to ask if she was behind the incident. Erica burst intoughter. ¡°Not me, but she totally deserved it! Haha, karma hits fast, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°If it wasn¡¯t you, then it must really be their own fault, Cam said. ¡°Exactly, it¡¯s karma! It¡¯s so satisfying. I¡¯d thank that tattooed guy in person if I met him. Can you believe he didn¡¯t even take the ten thousand bucks? What a hero!¡± Cam hummed in agreement, ¡°Under the Food Safety Act, they¡¯d only be liable for a thousand dors inpensation. Not taking ten thousand is really suspicious.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. Just consider it divine intervention sending down a vignte.¡± After hanging up, Cam called Cole. ¡°I know the owner of that diner. She opened it there just to spite me. I have no clue about the cockroach incident, but she¡¯ll definitely me me. I¡¯m worried she might retaliate against my mom. Please keep an eye out, Cole, and don¡¯t mention this to Mom. I don¡¯t want her to worry.¡± Cam exined the situation. After her mom, Cole was the most trustworthy person. ¡°So that¡¯s what was going on. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make sure your mom is safe,¡± Cole reassured her, patting his chest. Thanks, Cole.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s skip the formalities.¡± Rubbing her temples, Cam was genuinely worried that Tabitha might take vengeance on her mom. Indeed, Tabitha wasn¡¯t the type to let things slide after a setback. She immediately tried to orchestrate a simr food safety scandal for ire, but no one dared to take the job. A powerful figure had dered protection over ire¡¯s diner, warning others not to foolishly court death. Tabitha was furious at home, but Betty harshly pped her. ¡°Stop making trouble! Your father is still detained because of your antics, and we¡¯ve lost millions in contracts. How could I have given birth to someone as dull as you? I¡¯ve cut off all your credit cards. Don¡¯t expect another penny from me!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t just cut off my cards!¡± Tabitha held her cheek, tears welling in her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re useless! Marry someone soon, and stop embarrassing us!¡± Betty¡¯s finger nearly poked Tabitha¡¯s nose. ¡°I¡¯ve already epted a proposal from Griffin of Big Win Meats. You¡¯re getting married this year.¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. W Betty¡¯s words cut deep into Tabitha¡¯s heart. ¡°Mom, they are pork sellers! He¡¯s nearly fifty, divorced twice, and has three kids. You want me to be their stepmom? I¡¯m only twenty¨Ctwo!¡± ¡°So what if he sells pork? His family owns over a dozen ughterhouses, and their fresh products hold 20% of the market share at the Fairmount market. Once he¡¯s gone, all that money will be yours.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t marry him! Why are you doing this to me?¡± she screamed, her voice filled with despair and helplessness. She grabbed a vase nearby and smashed it on the floor. The ceramic shattered into countless pieces, mirroring her shattered state. Then, she picked up a family photo frame from the table and threw it against the wall, ss shards flying everywhere. ¡°Lock her in her room,¡± Betty instructed the servant. ¡°Once your dad is out, we¡¯ll arrange a meeting to set the wedding date!¡± 103 103 Scott, help me!¡± Tabitha pinned herst hopes on Scott. Scott sat on the couch, legs crossed, smoking a cigarette, and gave her a cool nce. ¡°Griffin hasn¡¯t settled this year¡¯s ounts yet. If you marry into his family, the debt will be wiped clean. It¡¯s time to do something for the family.¡± ¡°Dad would never agree! Tabitha screamed with thest of her strength, copsing into the arms of the maid, Scott stared at her an slowly exhaled a stream of smoke. ¡°It was Dad who negotiated with Griffin.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible¡­ He loves me so much¡­¡± Tabitha¡¯s eyes suddenly lost all their light, and she kept muttering to herself. ¡°Lock her up. Don¡¯t embarrass us here,¡± Betty said with a frown. At Future Inc. During the meeting. Cam¡¯s phone buzzed nonstop. She nced at it¨Cit was the number of the college professor she was set up with. She hung up directly. He persisted and continued to call, so Cam turned off her phone. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Connor nced at her. ¡°You can take it if it¡¯s important.¡± Cam shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Only after the meeting did Connor leave the room, and she turned her phone back on¨Cto find twelve missed calls. ¡°Why¡¯s he still calling after being hung up on? I¡¯m clearly busy,¡± she muttered¨Cunder her breath. ¡°Who is it?¡± asked Marissa, who was packing up the on equipment. ¡°A blind date,¡± Cam said reluctantly. Marissa looked surprised. ¡°I always thought you had a Cam shushed her. ¡°Bousand.¡± end.¡± Marissa chuckled, ¡°Got it. If the guys in the office found out definitely chase you.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t thepany forbid office romances?¡± Cam There are a few secret couples around. As long as it d you¡¯re single?¡± Cam nodded. public, no one will know,¡± Marissa said with a smile. ¡°Does Mr. Connor know Marissa closed the door of the meeting room and whispered to Cam. ¡°Keep your b he cares more about personal capabilities, the fact that you just arrived at headquarters and be misconstrued as not being fully dedicated to your job, which is a major faux x pas in the workce.¡± blind dating wraps from Mr. Connor. Although e already thinki about marriage might Thank you. I got it, Cam said with a slight smile. boyfriend, when you n to get pregnant, etc. I faced gender discrimination when job hunting. I was lucky to join Future Inc. I even got ¡°Women of a certain age can¡¯t escape the marriage and maternity thresholds in the workce. Usually, you¡¯ll be asked if you have a a generous bonus from thepany when I got married earlier this year,¡± Marissa shared. Cam nodded in agreement. The job market can be tough. Some employers with narrow views regarding marriage and maternity leave set up employment thresholds. Two of her schoolmates were let go because they had boyfriends. Monthster, they still couldn¡¯t find new jobs. But Cam wasn¡¯t keen on getting married, and agreeing to the blind date was just to her appease mom. After work, Cam finished her tasks at home before taking a shower. While in bed, scrolling through her phone, she noticed her mom had called around ten. Worried, she immediately called back. The phone was picked up quickly. ¡°Mom, why did you call sote? is everything ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just wanted to chat, ire said. okay?¡± Relieved there was no emergency, Camy back in bed, fiddling with a stuffed toy, and said, ¡°I was just taking a shower.¡± ire paused for a few seconds, then asked, ¡°How¡¯s it going with that college professor?¡± 104 104 Cam paused while ying with the doll, saying, ¡°We just text each other asionally, nothing much¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you meet him this Saturday?¡± Cam hesitated and replied, ¡°Mom, I have to work overtime on Saturday, and besides, I don¡¯t really connect with him¡­ I don¡¯t feel anything. ¡°He really likes you. You can¡¯t say you feel nothing without meeting him first. Just spend some time with him; feelings will develop. He¡¯s Mrs. Lyle¡¯s nephew and isn¡¯t aplete stranger, which makes me feel at ease.¡± Cam fell silent for a few seconds. ire continued, ¡°Meet him for lunch near your office on Saturday. It won¡¯t interfere with your work. I¡¯ll talk to Mrs. Lyle.¡± Cam sighed deeply, realizing avoidance was futile, and replied, ¡°Let¡¯s make it tomorrow then. No need to wait until Saturday.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my girl. If things work out, I¡¯ll get Mrs. Lyle some gifts,¡± ire said with augh. ¡°Alright, Mom, you should get some sleep. You have to open the diner early tomorrow.¡± ¡°Okay, you too. Get some good rest. Bye now.¡± Cam put down her phone and picked up the doll again. The next day, at noon, Cam brought lunch to Connor. ¡°Mr. Connor, I¡¯ll be stepping out for a bit during lunch, but I¡¯ll be back before work resumes.¡± ¡°Where to?¡± Connor asked. ¡°Having lunch with a friend.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Cam grabbed her small purse and headed downstairs. She chose a meeting ce next to the office building to save time. Cam could see the college professor waiting from afar at the entrance of the mall. She took a deep breath and walked over with a smile. ¡°Ms. Cam, you look even prettier than in your photos,¡± the professor said, his eyes lighting up as he stared intently at her. ¡°Thank you,¡± Cam politely responded. ¡°Shall we go?¡± Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. The two walked into the mall, and the professor nced at Cam, saying, ¡°Next time, don¡¯t wear something so short. Those long legs should only be for me to admire.¡± Cam rolled her eyes, almost audibly, and then chuckled. ¡°You don¡¯t like it? There¡¯s a clothing store right here. Let¡¯s go pick something you like right now.¡± Then, she headed into a luxury boutique. The professor had once mentioned his ex¨Cgirlfriend broke up with him because she thought he was too poor as a teacher, and he despised gold¨Cdiggers. Today, Cam was determined to y that part! Inside the luxury boutique, she casually picked up a long dress priced at $780 and smiled. ¡°Do you like this one?¡± ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± the professor nodded. ¡°Please wrap it up,¡± Cam told the sales associate. The sales associate quickly packaged the dress and, facing the professor standing five meters away, said, ¡°Sir, pleasee here to pay.¡± The professor looked troubled, his steps slow, clearly reluctant to pay. ¡°I can buy it myself. You don¡¯t make much as a teacher,¡± Cam said with a smile, deliberately provoking him. The professor forced a smile and replied, ¡°It¡¯s alright if you wear it.¡± Cam pursed her lips and smiled. After paying, the sales associate handed Cam the shopping bag, which she took. They exited the luxury boutique. The professor tried several times to hold Cam¡¯s hand, but she avoided him each time. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he finally insisted, spreading his hand, gesturing to hold hers. Cam ced the shopping bag in his hand and said with a smile, ¡°Thank you.¡± The professor paused, looking at the shopping bag in his hand, gripping the handle tightly, trying hard to maintain his smile. They then walked into a diner. 105 105 In the restaurant, Cam and the professor sat across from each other. Cam, we¡¯ve been talking for a few days now, and I think you have a good impression of me. I feel like we¡¯re a good match,¡± said the professor. you ord Cam yed with her ss of water, smiling slightly without a word. How could he feel that she had a good impression of him? He said he was busy on the first day, yet he bombarded her with calls and messages. Who would have a good impression of him? ¡°By the way, how fertile are you? We should go to the clinic this weekend to check,¡± the professor suggested. Cam¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, shocked that such words coulde from a university professor, from a man she was meeting for the first time on a blind date. ¡°What if we get married and then find out you can¡¯t have children?¡± Cam was utterly speechless and scoffed, ¡°You mean to say you¡¯ve already been checked and are healthy?¡± ¡°Hahaha, just kidding.¡± ¡°But I think what you said makes a lot of sense. Let¡¯s go check together this weekend! I¡¯ll get an abdominal ultrasound, and you can get a brain CT,¡± Cam said with augh. ¡°It was just a joke. Don¡¯t be mad,¡± the professor frowned. Cam smiled quietly. ¡°I heard from my aunt that you work as a secretary at a bigpany and have a good sry. She also said you have high standards when choosing a partner,¡± the professor said sarcastically. ¡°Maybe.¡± ¡°I think we should get married first and then get to know each other better. How about we pick a good day and go get the certificate?¡± Cam gracefully took a sip from her ss. ¡°Forgive me for being direct, but we¡¯ve only known each other for a few days, and you¡¯re talking about marriage and certificates the first time we meet. We¡¯re not suitable.¡°. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Blind dates are meant for marriage. Now you¡¯re telling me we¡¯re not suitable at this time? You¡¯re just wasting my time. Don¡¯t think you can mess with people just because you¡¯re pretty,¡± the professor said angrily. ¡°Sorry, this meal is on me.¡± Cam took out a bill and ced it on the table. ¡°The clothes can still be returned. I have to go now.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that!¡± Cam waved her hand and left the diner, feeling great. She went to a convenience store, bought some snacks, and sat inside to eat. At Future Inc. Two secretaries whispered in the break room. ¡°I always heard Cam had a boyfriend, so it¡¯s true.¡± ¡°But that guy doesn¡¯t look good. He seems like a bit of a loser and not worthy of Cam.¡± Connor passed by the break room, and heard everything clearly. His brow furrowed tightly. Back in his office, he felt a bit suffocated and tugged at his tie. His slender fingers tapped on the desk, each tap squeezing the difort in his heart. At the convenience store, Cam was casually eating her snacks when her phone buzzed. The screen showed ¡®Mr. Connor. She quickly swallowed her food and answered, ¡°Hello, Mr. Connor.¡± A deep voice came through, ¡°Cam, where¡¯s the report from this morning¡¯s meeting?¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°Ah?¡± Cam was confused. The meeting went on until nearly noon. How did he expect it to be ready so quickly? ¡°Mr. Connor, it¡¯s not ready yet. I¡¯m heading back now.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Connor¡¯s voice was low, and he hung up without another word. Cam nced at the barely touched shacks in her hand, regretfully threw it in the trash, and quickly walked back to thepany. Less than ten minutester, Cam sat at her desk, panting as she organized the meeting notes. A shadow loomed over her. Cam looked up, smiled professionally, and said, ¡°Mr. Connor, give me fifteen minutes, and I¡¯ll send you the summary.¡± 106 106 Fifteen minutester, Connor received the email from Cam right on time. Shortly after, Cam knocked and entered to report the aftemoon¡¯s schedule. ¡°Mr. Connor, the first batch of Future Go is loaded and will arrive at Mr. Logan¡¯spany by approximately 4:30 PM. At 3 PM, Mr. Howard is visiting, and it¡¯s scheduled in the reception room.¡± Connor nodded. Do need to followter?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Alright, I¡¯ll get back to work then.¡± ¡°Right Mr. Howard arrived ten minutes early, and Cam greeted him, leading him to the reception room. Howard was a local from Fairmount. He greatly profited from early redevelopment projects, which led him into the real estate business. In just over a decade, he rapidly expanded through acquisitions and holdings, branching into municipal projects, property development, construction, property management, and project supervision, thereby establishing the Fairmount Group. At just 35 years old, with assets reaching billions, he was a highly sought¨Cafter bachelor in the city. His Ivywood Mall was the secondrgest standalone retail building in Fairmount. Future Inc. was about to set¨Cup its official gship store there. Cam went to the break room to pour two cups of coffee, which she carried on a tray to the reception room. sunny day today. It¡¯s good to get some sunlight now and then.¡± a As Connor and Howard were chatting, Howard remarked, ¡°It¡¯s Hearing this, Cam stood up and raised the blinds. The sunlight streamed through the ts, casting a soft light on her face and highlighting her delicate features and soft contours. A glimpse of her slender waist caught the eyes of both men in the sofa area. Cam, standing sideways with her hair tied in a high ponytail, wore a fitted white blouse paired with a light blue pencil skirt. Under the ring afternoon sun, her impressive figure was unmistakably prominent. ** 2 = 8 2 2 8 2 1 2 3 5 2 3 3 3 2 2 3 2 8 Howard couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her. Cam felt Connor¡¯s gaze and slightly lowered her eyes. Connor gripped his coffee cup tightly. ¡°Cam, Mr. Logan needs our people to help with the inventory check. Go there now.¡± Cam paused, then disyed a professional smile. ¡°Alright.¡± As she left the reception room, Howard watched her departing figure until the door closed and then said with a chuckle, ¡°Your secretary is quite attractive.¡± Connor nced up briefly. ¡°Does she have a boyfriend?¡± Connor took a sip of his coffee and replied in a deep voice, ¡°Yes.¡± Howard thought to himself, ¡®What a pity.¡¯ When Cam arrived at Weiss Jewelry, the workers were unloading, and the factory manager was checking each item. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Why are you here?¡± the manager asked, surprised. ¡°Mr. Connor asked me to help with the inventory check,¡± Cam replied with a smile. The manager paused. He had checked two thousand items by himself in thest batch. This batch only had five hundred. Why did the check need two people? Why would the boss arrange this? Puzzled, he handed Cam a copy of the list. Within half an hour, both had finished the handover, and Cam returned to the office. The receptionists were discussing Howard. ¡°Although Mr. Howard isn¡¯t as handsome as Mr. Connor, he¡¯s still quite remarkable in the eyes of the public, don¡¯t you think, Cam?¡± Cam wasn¡¯t interested in their conversation and just smiled as she headed upstairs. 107 107 Let¡¯s go, Cam. Mr. Connor skipped lunch today, and it¡¯s rare for him to suggest dinner,¡± n said. Cam blinked in surprise. Mr. Connor hadn¡¯t eaten lunch? But she had seen him with a sandwich at noon. It was just embarrassing. Without supervision, he wouldn¡¯t eat, just like a child. Eventually, the three of them took the elevator downstairs. Inside the elevator, n gave Connor a half¨Csmiling look. Having worked beside Mr. Connor for years, n understood him well. He knew Connor had a soft spot for Cam, special attention he didn¡¯t even show to Haylie. Once they reached the restaurant, they ordered their meals. n nced at Connor and then turned to Cam, asking, ¡°Did you go on a date today?¡± Connor sneaked a quick look at n. ¡°A date?¡± Cam paused beforeughing, ¡°More like a blind date.¡± Connor raised an eyebrow and then furrowed it, his expressionplex. ¡°Cam, you¡¯re only 24, and your family is already setting you up?¡± Cam looked at n and nodded with a smile. ¡°Yeah, my mom is quite anxious.¡± n tilted his head slightly, asking, ¡°How did the blind date go today?¡± Connor nced at her again. Though he seemed easy¨Cgoing, his presence was imposing, strong enough that even without speaking, he could make one feel pressured. ¡°It was really just to appease my mom. The guy probably got quite a scare from me,¡± Cam chuckled. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. She quickly added loyally, ¡°Right now, work is my top priority.¡± Her voice was clear and firm. Noticing a small smile on Connor¡¯s lips, Cam felt her brown¨Cnosing had been acknowledged, and she breathed a sigh of relief. n chuckled, a hint of mncholy in his eyes. ¡°I turned thirty this year, anding home to an empty house feels lonely. I¡¯m thinking about settling down.¡± His words came from the heart. Having grown up in an orphanage, he longed for a family of his own. After graduating, he joined Passos Corporation andter came to work with Connor, working tirelessly all year round with no time to meet women. ¡°What kind of women do you like? I can ask my mom to keep an eye out for you,¡± Cam offered. ¡°Thanks! I like someone warm, considerate¡­¡± As they spoke, the food arrived, and Connor nced at n, tapping on the table. ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± The next day. The weather was scorching. Cam brewed a cup of herbal tea and just took a sip to soothe her throat. Then, footsteps approached, and Cam looked up to see Howard, dressed casually, walking in with a smile. ¡°Good morning, Cam.¡± Cam paused, as she didn¡¯t have him scheduled for today. ¡°Good morning, Mr. Howard. Are you looking for Mr. Connor?¡± ¡°No, I was out ying golf this morning and passed by, so I brought two cups of coffee, one for Mr. Connor and one for you,¡± Howard said with a smile. Cam, surprised that Howard had thought to bring her coffee, epted it with a smile, ¡°Thank you.¡± Connor emerged from his office, noticing the coffee in Cam¡¯s hand. His brow furrowed slightly. Cam looked at him and exined, ¡°Mr. Howard brought you coffee.¡± Connor nodded, then turned to Howard. ¡°I apologize. My schedule is packed today. I can¡¯t host you, I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Bring mest month¡¯s financial report,¡± he said to Cam, expressionless. ¡°Sure.¡± Cam set down her coffee, identally knocking Howard¡¯s car keys off the table. ¡°Sorry about that.¡± She bent down to pick them up. Dressed in a ribbon¨Ctied V¨Cneck blouse and a form¨Cfitting skirt, her slender waistline entuated her figure as she bent over, catching Howard¡¯s involuntary gaze. 108 108 Suddenly, Cam felt a presence almost looming over her. She had just picked up the car keys when she found Connor blocking her way, so she ced the keys on the desk. ¡°Mr. Howard, here are your keys.¡± After saying this, she turned to fetch the documents Connor needed. Howard nced at Cam, then turned to Connor and suggested, ¡°How about dinner tonight? Bring Cam along.¡± ¡°I have ns tonight, Connor declined. I see. Howard sighed in disappointment, ¡°Maybe next time.¡± ¡°Sult yourself. I must be going.¡± Connor turned and walked away, ¡°Cam,e to my office.¡± Howard watched Connor¡¯s retreating figure, his expression unreadable. Cam sensed some tension between Connor and Howard. Had their discussion yesterday not gone well? She nodded slightly to Howard and followed Connor into his office. Connor sat in his chair, sent a quick text, and then started reviewing the financial reports Cam had brought him, remaining silent for a long while. Cam tilted her head, staring at him, wondering why he had called her in, only to say nothing. The office was so quiet that only the sound of flipping papers could be heard. Feeling her gaze, Connor looked up. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Cam shook her head, hesitating before asking, ¡°Mr. Connor, did you need something from me?¡± Connor nced at Cam¡¯s desk and said, ¡°You can leave now.¡± Cam was puzzled. Was this some kind of joke? She gave a professional smile and replied, ¡°Alright.¡± Connor¡¯s eyes were deep, and he pressed his fingers to his temple. He took a cigarette from the pack, twirling it between his fingers until her silhouette had disappeared. Then he lit it and took a deep drag, exhaling slowly. Cam felt something was off but didn¡¯t dwell on it too much. She returned to her desk and noticed the two cups of coffee Howard had brought had vanished. Perhaps Connor¡¯s cold demeanor was why Howard had taken them when he left. After getting home, Cam showered and sat on the couch, drying her hair. Her phone rang¨Cit was her mother. She answered, ¡°Hi, mom.¡± ¡°Did you have dinner?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°How did your date go yesterday¡­¡± ¡°It didn¡¯t go well. He mentioned getting a marriage certificate right away.¡± There was a brief silence on the other end before her mother spoke. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t a college professor be more thoughtful? I¡¯ll talk to Mrs. Lyle. You should at least get to know each other for a while.¡± ¡°Mom, please don¡¯t bother Mrs. Lyle. I¡¯ve just been transferred to the headquarters, and my job isn¡¯t stable yet. I don¡¯t want people to think I¡¯m not focused on my work. Let¡¯s wait until I¡¯m more settled before you set me up.¡± ¡°Are you really willing to listen to me and properly date?¡± ¡°Yes, mom.¡± ¡°Alright, don¡¯t fool me, okay?¡± Her mother was still skeptical. Cam chuckled lightly, reassuring her with a few more promises. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Ding¨Cdong- ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°You have aelivery.¡± Cam checked through the peephole and saw a delivery person in uniform. ¡°Just leave it at the door, thanks.¡± ¡°Mom, I¡¯ve got to go. I have a delivery.¡± Alright, get some sleep soon.¡° ¡°Goodnight, Mom.¡± Cam hung up, waited for the delivery person to leave, and then opened the door. She unwrapped the package to find an invitation. As she sat on the couch with the invitation, Erica called. Cam answered while examining it. 109 109 A sharp shriek almost pierced Erica¡¯s eardruns through the phone, prompting her to hold the device at arm¡¯s length before she spoke a few secondster. ¡°Hey, Cam, Peter¡¯s got an art exhibition this weekend at the Fairmount Gallery, and I pulled some strings to get you a ticket, Erica said, excitement brimming in her voice. ¡°You owe me a fancy dinner when I get back from my business trip!¡± Cam could almost feel the joy bubbling up from the depths of her heart, the invitation in her hand seemingly carrying all her anticipation and excitement. Her fingers trembled lightly as if she could sense Peter¡¯s presence through the thin paper. ¡°I¡¯ll treat you to ten!¡± Cam responded with augh. She recalled glimpsing at a few of Peter¡¯s paintings at Connor¡¯s house. Cam felt her heart stir as if a string had been plucked, leaving her restless.. As the weekend arrived, Cam got up early and headed to Connor¡¯s ce. After a workout, she freshened up, applied light makeup, and dressed in an elegantly fitting outfit. She took out the invitation again, examining it carefully, her heart filled with anticipation. She rested for a moment and walked to the dining table, humming happily. The sunlight illuminated her making her look even more radiant. fair fac Connor caught a glimpse of Cam, a hint of surprise crossing his face. He noticed her outfit, a long dress simple in design but chic, its soft cream color dotted with tiny blue flowers, exuding an air of elegance, Seeing her made up was rare, and he couldn¡¯t help but take a longer ok.n noticing the undeniable joy on her face. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. ¡°Cam, you seem in a great mood today,¡± Davidmented with a slight smile. ¡°You look beautiful.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Cam replied with a gentle smile, acknowledging She expertly twirled her fork, enjoying her breakfast. Siment. Connor nced at Cam, his gaze thoughtful. ¡°After breakfast, I¡¯ll take you driving. Consider it overtime.¡± ¡°I have something important today,¡± Cam said firmly. Connor frowned slightly, asking, ¡°What¡¯s on for today?¡± ¡°Person¨¢l matters,¡± Cam replied, her eyes briefly flicking to Peter¡¯s painting on the wall, her smile light. Connor¡¯s brow furrowed deeper, a trace of displeasure in his eyes. *** The art exhibition was held at the Fairmount Art Gallery. By the time Cam arrived, there was already a line of people waiting. She presented her invitation and entered the gallery smoothly. The walls of the gallery were covered with Peter¡¯s artworks, each piece seeming to possess its own soul, exuding vibrant life and deep emotion. Cam was deeply captivated as she slowly moved through this ocean of art, her eyes lingering on each painting, her emotions surging. One painting in particr halted her steps, her gaze locking onto it. A voice that seemed toe from another world, pulled her back from the realm of the painting. Cam turned, slightly startled, toward the source of the sound. An elegant woman stood before her, nodding slightly with a warm smile on her face. Cam recognized her. It was Connor¡¯s mother. ¡°Ms. Emily, what a coincidence,¡± Cam eximed, a hint of surprise in her voice. ¡°Do you like Peter¡¯s paintings?¡± ¡°I love them,¡± Cam responded, her eyes still fixed on the painting that had captivated her. Emily smiled and moved closer, her gaze also drawn to the painting. ¡°Peter is a talented artist. His works always provoke thought. Which of his paintings is your favorite?¡± ¡°This one¡± Cam¡¯s eyes were resolute. 110 110 ¡°Oh? Why? Peter¡¯s portfolio is vast, includingndscapes, flora and fauna, portraits, and more. This piece isn¡¯t one of his famous worke Cam smiled as she exined, ¡°It might be because of the emotions in this painting. I feel a sense of joy and happiness ermanating from it¡± Upon hearing this, Emily chuckled softly, ¡°Can you tell that this is a baby¡¯s handprint?¡± Taking a closer look, Cam indeed spotted a baby¡¯s small handprint within the painting, its faint impression filled with joy and happiness. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Cam was so surprised she was momentarily lost for words. ¡°This was painted the year Peter¡¯s son tumed one.¡± Emily¡¯s eyes shimmered softly. ¡°While he was painting, his son was ying nearby and identally got paint on his hands, which ended up on the canvas.¡± ¡°So behind this painting lies such a warm story.¡± Cam gazed at the faint handprint, almost feeling the joy of new life and familial bliss. ¡°Since you like this painting so much, I¡¯ll gift it to you,¡± Emily said with a smile. Cam froze, then her lips parted slightly, her voice trembling. ¡°Such a precious gift, I can¡¯t ept it.¡± Emily¡¯s smile broadened, her eyes conveying sincere emotions. ¡°Consider it a token of the bond between us.¡± ¡°Ms. Emily, thank you for your kindness. I ept your sentiment, but I can¡¯t take this painting. It¡¯s just too valuable.¡± Cam firmly refused Emily¡¯s generosity. ¡°This is not just a painting. It¡¯s also a blessing and a sentiment,¡± Emily spoke gently, ¡°I believe you will cherish this connection.¡± Cam took a deep breath, looking earnestly at Emily. ¡°Ms. Emily, I appreciate your sentiment, but I really can¡¯t ept this painting. I will treasure it as a beautiful memory in my heart.¡± Seeing this, a sh of admiration crossed Emily¡¯s eyes. ¡°As long as you understand my intentions.¡± ???? ????????? ? ? ? ?? ?? ?? ??? ?? ? ?? ? ? ? ?? ? ??? T She patted Cam¡¯s hand lightly, and feigned annoyance.¡°This painting is part of Peter¡¯s private collection, and I feel you have a connection with it. If you refuse again, I will be upset.¡± Cam blinked, slightly taken aback. ¡°A connection?¡± ¡°Yes, indeed. After the exhibition, I¡¯ll send the painting to Connor¡¯spany, and you must not refuse,¡± Emily stated decisively. ¡°Alright, thank you, Ms. Emily.¡± Cam took a deep breath, speaking earnestly, ¡°I will treasure this painting.¡± Hearing this, Emily¡¯s face broke into a pleased smile. ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± She patted Cam¡¯s hand again, then suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. continue our tour together, shall we?¡± Cam nodded. Together, Cam and Emily roamed the art exhibition, each piece resonating deeply with them. Cam remarked, ¡°Art is an expression of emotion, and it touches the heart.¡± Emily nodded profoundly in agreement. After finishing their tour, Cam offered to take Emily out for a meal. ¡°You owe me this meal. Connor ising home for dinner today, and I need to head back,¡± Emily said with augh. ¡°Alright, Ms. Emily,e dine with me whenever you have time,¡± Cam said, smiling as she saw Emily off into her car. Emily smiled and nodded slightly. At the Passos Estate. ¡°You gave away ¡®The Legacy¡® painting?¡± Peter asked, puzzled. ¡°Indeed,¡± Emily replied, her smile tinged with mystery. 111 111 Sigh, I was saving this painting for the next generation. How could you just give it away?¡± Peter said with a hint of resignation in his Volce. 1 gave it to our future daughter¨Cin¨Clow,¡± Emily replied with a smile, her hand firmly sped in her husband¡¯s. ¡°Cam?¡± Peter asked, a touch of surprise in his voice. ¡°Who else could it be?¡± Emily winked yfully, exuding confidenc¨¦.. Peter shook his head, bemused. ¡°You always have to have your way, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about having my way. It¡¯s about fate.¡± Emily continued, ¡°I feel there¡¯s a strong bond between Cam and Connor. Out of all your paintings, she loved that one the most, and it happens to be the only one Connor helped create.¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± Peter patted Emily¡¯s hand gently, smiling. ¡°Hopefully, the painting will find its way back to our home.¡± ¡°What are you two talking about?¡± Connor entered from the main house, a light smile on his face. ¡°We¡¯re discussing whether my painting wille back to us,¡± Peter joked. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Connor looked puzzled. ¡°I ran into Cam at the art show today.¡± Emily nced at her son, her smile barely perceptible, as if hiding a secret. Connor paused, a slight frown crossing his brow, his demeanor slightly edgy. He went to pour himself a ss of water, took a sip, and asked nonchntly, ¡°Who was she with?¡± ¡°She was with¡­¡± Emily drew out her words, her smile widening. ¡°She was with¡­¡± Connor¡¯s grip on his water ss tightened, his gaze sharpening. ¡°She was alone.¡± Emily quickly added, noting her son¡¯s reaction. subject. Connor rxed, his expression smoothing out. ¡°Mom, how did you run into her?¡± Connor changed th kled. ¡°Besides, you should remember whose territory this is.¡± ¡°Oh, I just happened to spot her.¡± Emily Sheughed again. ¡°Cam is a fan of your dad¡¯s work.¡± Connor, taken aback, showed a flicker of surprise. ¡°Dad¡¯s fan?¡± ¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, she¡¯s very interested in your dad¡¯s artwork, so she specifically came to the show to admire it,¡± Emily exined. ¡°Oh.¡± A smile crept onto Connor¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m going to change. Dinner is ready.¡± 85 8 5 8 0 ? 8 F ? ? ? # 82 8 3 7 3 98 On Monday morning, after arranging her schedule, Cam went to Connor¡¯s office to report. ¡°Mr. Connor, I¡¯ve organized the itinerary for this afternoon.¡± Cam handed him a schedule listing the times and locations for each event. She continued, ¡°The official gship store at Ivywood Mall has been renovated. We can inspect it at two this afternoon.¡± Connor examined the schedule carefully. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. ¡°n and I will go this afternoon. Call me if you need anything,¡± Connor said, setting down the schedule. ¡°Alright.¡± After Cam left, Connor leaned back on the sofa and lit a cigarette. Later that afternoon, Connor, apanied by n, headed to Ivywood Mall. Howard was waiting at the entrance, his face brightening as he saw Connor¡¯s distinctive car arrive. The driver expertly parked, and n followed closely as Connor stepped out with ease. Howard looked around, but when he didn¡¯t see Cam, a tinge of disappointment crossed his face. 112 112 Howard quickly adjusted his mood and extended his hand with a smile. ¡°Wee¡± Connor shook his hand politely. ¡°Mr. Howard.¡± Howard and his assistant took Connor and his team to inspect the newly renovated gship store. It was located in the most prominent part of the mali and surrounded by numerous international trendy brands. After the inspection, the group headed to the reception. ¡°Actually, Passos Corporation¡¯s malls are located in even better spots. Why choose mine?¡± Howard asked curiously, smiling. ¡°It¡¯s a waste not to use one¡¯s own resources.¡± Connor smiled faintly. He didn¡¯t answer directly, but instead posed a question, ¡°Mr. Howard, why do you think we chose this ce?¡± ¡°Our mall is right in the city center, attracting a high footfall and strong consumer spending power, which can bring more business opportunities and customers your way,¡± Howard replied with a smile. ¡°Although Passos Corporation¡¯s malls are well¨Clocated, we are looking for a broader market and a younger demographic,¡± Connor exined. Howard nodded in agreement. ¡°Howe Cam didn¡¯te today?¡± he asked. ¡°She had other workmitments,¡± Connor replied, his expression unreadable. Howard tilted his head and asked, ¡°Does she really have a boyfriend?¡± Connor slightly narrowed his eyes, his tonezy, ¡°Probably.¡± ¡°Probably?¡± Howard frowned, ¡°You said she did before, and now it¡¯s probably?¡± ¡°Her colleagues in the secretarial pool saw her on a date a few days ago,¡± Connor responded in a deep voice. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Howard looked disappointed upon hearing this news and sighed. At that moment, their conversation seemed distant, as if each was lost in his own thoughts. ¡°As long as she¡¯s not married, I have a chance,¡± Howard stated boldly. Connor paused, his hand holding the mug, and looked up. After a moment of silence, he took out a cigarette pack and lit one. ¡°I know you¡¯re her boss, but you can¡¯t interfere with her freedom to date,¡± Howard said with a chuckle. ¡°I really like Cam,¡± Howard admitted openly. ¡°From the first time I met her, I knew she was the one for me. I don¡¯t want to miss this opportunity, so as long as she¡¯s not married, I¡¯ll keep pursuing her.¡± Connor tapped his cigarette ash into the ashtray. ¡°Matters of the heart flow naturally, like water. You can¡¯t force them.¡± He slightly lifted his gaze towards the window. Then, he nced at his watch and said to n, ¡°Have the car ready.¡± His tone carried an undeniable authority. ¡°Right away,¡± n responded quickly.. ¡°Leaving already?¡± Howard asked, puzzled. ¡°There¡¯s more to attend to at thepany. I¡¯ll visit another time,¡± Connor replied casually. *** Cam printed out the documents sent from the branch office and ced them in Connor¡¯s office. Connor¡¯s office was cleaned after work hours, so Cam neatly arranged the documents on his desk, noticing a few cigarette butts in the ashtray. She stared at them for a few seconds, then wrapped the cigarette butts in a tissue and tossed them in the trash. Previously there were only asionally one or two butts, but recently, for some reason, Connor seemed to be smoking more frequently, though he rarely smoked in front of her. After finishing up, she left the office, softly closing the door behind her. 113 113 The day after the art exhibition ended, Cam received the promised painting from Emily as a gift. Sitting at her desk, Cam¡¯s gaze remained fixed on the artwork, a troubled expression on her face. The painting was undoubtedly valuable, and she felt it was too generous a gift to ept. After much deliberation, she carefully cradled the painting and knocked on Connor¡¯s office door. ¡°Come in,¡± came Connor¡¯s voice from inside. Cam gently pushed open the door and entered. She approached Connor¡¯s desk and gently ced the painting on it, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°Mr. Connor.¡± Connor looked up, his eyes shing with surprise as he nced at the painting on his desk. How did this painting end up here? Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. This painting was a gift from Ms. Emily, and it¡¯s far too precious,¡± Cam exined. Connor¡¯s eyes lingered on the painting, his brow furrowing slightly. He remembered his father joking that this painting was a coborative effort between him and his son. It was cherished and meant to one day adorn Connor¡¯s child¡¯s room. Why would his mother give such an important painting to Cam? Once a gift was given, there was no taking it back. Connor was silent for a moment before looking up at Cam, his voice calm. ¡°Since she gave it to you, you should keep it.¡± Cam looked distressed. She loved the painting, but its value was more than she feltfortable epting. ¡°I can¡¯t, it¡¯s too valuable.¡± She took a deep breath and continued, ¡°I tried to decline Ms. Emily¡¯s generosity, but she insisted. Now that I have it, it really feels overwhelming.¡± ¡°Could you please exin to her? Tell her I¡¯m very grateful, but I just can¡¯t ept such an extravagant gift.¡± ¡°She might be upset if you return it.¡± Connor¡¯s voice was thoughtful, almost low. ¡°It was her kind gesture. Keep it.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s leave it at that for now. I¡¯ll help you take it back to your ce tonight.¡± Cam nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡± Returning to her desk, Cam felt her life was being pulled in directions she¡¯d never anticipated, from a humble neighborhood to now living in an upscale apartmentplex. The coincidences and opportunities, like meeting Rita, attending a birthday party held by the elite socialite, Logan, and now owning a painting worth millions, all seemed surreal. Just as she was lost in these thoughts, her phone rang, snapping her out of her reverie. ¡°Hey, girl! I¡¯m back from my business trip! Dinner tomorrow night?¡± Erica¡¯s voice brimmed with excitement. ¡°Of course! I¡¯ll treat you to a fancy dinner!¡± Cam replied with augh. After hanging up, Cam felt considerably lighter. She worked diligently until the end of the day. Time to go,¡± a man¡¯s voice announced. Cam looked up to see Connor standing by her desk with the painting, tapping on the desk. ¡°Alright.¡± Cam quickly gathered her things. They walked to the elevator, Connor carrying the painting somewhat carelessly, which made Cam frown with concern. ¡°Mr. Connor, let me hold it,¡± she offered, reaching for the painting. Connor shifted slightly, saying, ¡°I got it.¡± The elevator arrived. Connor stood in the corner as Cam pressed the button for their floor. As it was the end of the day, the elevator stopped frequently, filling up with more and more people in the confined space. 114 114 Instinctively, Cam stepped in front of Connor, nervously guarding the painting he was holding. She was worried that someone might identally bump into him and damage the precious artwork. They stood face to face. Their proximity was such that they could clearly feel each other¡¯s breath and heartbeat. Connor looked down at her. Feeling his gaze, Cam lifted her head and met his intense eyes. At that moment, it seemed as if the entire world had vanished, leaving only the two of them. The air seemed to stand shill, the surrounding noises fading away. Cam felt her blood rushing to her heart, which was pounding wildly. She blinked frantically, overwhelmed by this unfamiliar sensation. She quickly lowered her head, unable to meet his gaze any longer. The elevator ride down felt unbearably long, each second stretching like half a century. Finally, they reached the ground floor. As the bustling crowd flowed out of the elevator, Cam held the door open until Connor stepped out, and she sighed in relief. The drive home was unusually silent, filled only with the sound of soft music ying in the car. As usual, the driver dropped Cam off at Cedarhill Estate first. ¡°Mr. Connor, here we are,¡± Cam said, her head slightly bowed. Connor handed her the painting without a word, merely giving her a brief nce. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Connor. Goodbye,¡± Cam said cautiously as she took it. ¡°Uh¨Chuh,¡± Connor responded. 23 8 F 5 5 5 2 5 9 8 9 ¡ê 5 : After closing the car door, the vehicle slowly disappeared from Cam¡¯s view. She stood there, clutching the painting tightly, her mind in turmoil. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°Ms. Cam, heading home?¡± the passing security guard greeted her. Cam¡¯s thoughts were pulled back, and she nodded with a slight smile. ¡°Yeah.* ¡°Do you need help carrying that upstairs?¡± the guard asked, noticing the painting. Cam smiled and shook her head, ¡°No, thank you. I¡¯m heading up now. Bye.¡± ¡°Goodbye.¡± That night, Camy in bed, eyes closed, trying to clear her mind, but the more she tried, the more her thoughts raced. She touched her now calm heart, wondering if there was something wrong with it. ¡°I need to make a doctor¡¯s appointment this weekend!¡± She needed to make a lot of money to ensure her mother could enjoy herter years worry¨Cfree. ¡°My heart, you need to stay healthy, absolutely no getting sick!¡± Cam firmly told herself. She tossed and turned with her plushie bear. It took ages before she finally drifted off to sleep. The chirping of birds outside the window woke her abruptly, and she quickly grabbed her phone to check the time. It was 6:05 AM. Her rm hadn¡¯t even gone off. She pped her forehead andy back down. When the rm finally rang, Cam got up, got ready, and walked to Cedarhill Estate. It¡¯s workout time. As usual, Cam stepped onto the treadmill and began her daily routine. However, today, her demeanor was exceptionally serious, a stark contrast to her usual self. Her eyes sparkled with determination, silently telling herself, ¡°Cam, you need to be healthy.¡± Connor nced at Cam, surprised by her unusual seriousness today. Normally, Cam would be panting andining treadmill. But today, she seemed like a different person, not uttering a singleint and running with even more vigor¡­ 115 115 After breakfast, the driver took them to the office building. Cam unbuckled her seatbelt, ready to get out of the car. ¡°I won¡¯t be in Fairmount for the next couple of days, so call me if you need anything,¡± Connor¡¯s deep voice came from the back seat. Cam paused slightly, remembering that Connor¡¯s schedule was supposed to be clear. ¡°Okay,¡± she nodded. After getting out of the car, Cam stood still, watching as the vehicle slowly drove away until it vanished from her sight. Then she turned and entered the familiar skyscraper, taking the elevator up alone. The driver dropped Connor off at the airport, where he immediately saw Ray, Peter, and Emily. The airport had a separate area with a few private jets belonging to the Passos family. On this day, Connor was not at the office. Various departments submitted their documents to Cam, who carefully sorted and ced them on Connor¡¯s desk. As closing time approached, Erica¡¯s call came right on time. Her voice was cheerful as she said, ¡°I¡¯m already downstairs at your office.¡± Cam checked the time. It was exactly six o¡¯clock. She packed up her things and left work. When Cam stepped out of the building, Erica was already waiting by the roadside, smiling and waving at her. Cam walked towards her friend, the evening sun casting a warm glow on her, making her appear even more radiant. ¡°It¡¯s rare for you to finish work on time today,¡± Ericamented. ¡°My boss isn¡¯t in the office,¡± Cam replied with a proud smile. ¡°Where shall we eat? You decide,¡± she said, linking arms with Erica, her face full of smiles. ¡°Let¡¯s have hot stew!¡± Erica suggested with a grin. ¡°Trying to save me money?¡± Cam chuckled with warmth in her eyes. ¡°Didn¡¯t I promise to treat you to a fancy dinner?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been on a business trip in the big city these past few days, eating local delicacies¡­ I almost forgot what hot stew tastes like,¡± Erica said yfully, shaking her head. ¡°Tonight, we¡¯ll have a fiery hot stew to bring back your taste buds!¡± Cam suggested with augh. They chose a popr nearby restaurant. As they entered, the aroma of the hot stew wafted through the air, making Erica swallow in anticipation. ¡°This is the taste I¡¯ve been craving!¡± ¡°Eat your fill and order whatever you want,¡± Cam dered boldly. ¡°Alright, thanks, boss!¡± Erica didn¡¯t hold back and ordered a variety of ingredients, quickly filling the table. The boiling broth bubbled, releasing an enticing fragrance. ¡°I¡¯m so hungry. Let¡¯s start!¡± Erica dumped a whole te of beef into the pot. Once the beef was cooked, Erica quickly picked up a piece, dipped it in the sauce, and savored it with her eyes closed. ¡°This is so delicious!¡± she eximed, then added pitifully, ¡°I¡¯ve been starving in the big city these past few days. But it suits your taste. Almost every dish has sugar.¡± Camughed, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯d take your business trips if I could.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. As they enjoyed their hot stew, Cam mentioned that Emily had given her a painting by Peter. Erica was astonished, ¡°Wow, that¡¯s incredibly generous! How much is a painting by Peter worth? A seven¨Cfigure sum?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s very valuable. I¡¯ve hidden it in my closet, afraid of damaging it. I¡¯ll need to find a chance to give it back,¡± Cam said. ¡°Let me tell you, Connor must be interested in you. I mean, whose mother just gives a secretary a painting worth millions?¡± Erica raised an eyebrow. Cam frowned slightly, ¡°I don¡¯t think so. I apanied him to Mr. Logan¡¯s birthday party recently, and the next day, when I visited his house, he hadn¡¯t even changed his clothes, and there was a lipstick mark.¡± 116 116 Erica looked momentarily surprised upon hearing Cam¡¯s words, but she quickly regained her composure and asked, ¡°Jealous?¡± Cam let out a resignedugh. ¡°What I mean is that he¡¯s not into me because he shouldn¡¯t have let me see that lipstick mark.¡± Erica thought for a moment. ¡°Maybe he wanted you to see it? Perhaps he was just testing you and trying to get your reaction.¡± Cam was taken aback, amused, ¡°Testing me? Why?¡± Maybe he¡¯s interested in you and wants to see if you¡¯d get jealous or upset,¡± Erica suggested. Have you ever considered that he might actually be into you?¡± She pressed on. Cam fell silent. ¡°He and I are from different worlds. I don¡¯t want to think about it. Right now, I just want to focus on my job. Nothing else matters.¡± Erica shook her head. ¡°People who are self¨Cmade don¡¯t really hold onto ss notions. It¡¯s not like he¡¯s from some old¨Cmoney dynasty.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about him anymore. I¡¯m so full. Let¡¯s pay the bill and go for a walk,¡± Cam changed the subject, signaling the waiter for the check. Erica clicked her tongue. ¡°Alright, no mentioning that man.¡± The two left the restaurant and started walking towards the overpass. There weren¡¯t many people on the overpass, but there were a few stalls selling trinkets. One particrly noticeable old man stood out, with a crystal ballid out in front of him, draped in a dark robe, exuding a mysterious yet benevolent aura. He seemed to have poor vision and was wearing a pair of sunsses. While the old man was distracted, a scruffy little boy stealthily took some money from his open purse. The old man felt someone touch his purse, and, groping inside, he found it empty. He chuckled, seemingly not too bothered by it. Cam saw this and shouted angrily, ¡°Hey! Give the money back!¡± She chased after the boy, but unfortunately, her high heels slowed her down, and the boy vanished in no time. With her hands on her hips, Cam fumed as she watched the boy disappear from sight. If not for her shoes, she would have caught him. Her morning runs weren¡¯t for nothing. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Erica, panting, caught up to her and asked breathlessly, ¡°Did he get away?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Cam frowned. Cam held Erica¡¯s arm and walked back to the old man¡¯s stall. She asked softly, ¡°Sir, are you alright?¡± The old man looked up, smiled, and said, ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± He seemed to have seen through the trivial disturbances of the world and didn¡¯t mind such small matters. Cam nced at the old man¡¯s stall and sat down, saying, ¡°Sir, could you read my fortune?¡± The old man nodded with a smile, ¡°Give me your hand.¡± Cam extended her hand, and the old man gently touched her palm lines, withdrawing his hand after a moment. He spoke slowly, ¡°My dear, you are destined for great wealth and love, cherished by your parents, respected by your siblings¡­¡± Cam looked at Erica, who pursed her lips, holding back augh. The old man continued, ¡°The man meant for you appeared when you were seventeen, and you share a deep connection. He is talented. smart, witty, and capable. He ys a significant role in your life. But your journey together won¡¯t be smooth sailing. It will involve some twists and challenges. Only through these tests will your love grow stronger.¡± Cam nodded, taking out a hundred dors and cing it in the old man¡¯s purse, ¡°Thank you, sir. I wish you good health. I must be going Enca, linking arms with Cam, walked away before whispering with a chuckle, ¡°That didn¡¯t seem urate at all 117 117 Cam smiled gently, nodding in agreement. ¡°But that¡¯s a bit too far¨Cfetched. At least most fortune¨Ctellers make some sense,¡± Erica joked with a laugh. ¡°The funniest part is that your true love supposedly appeared at 17, when you were still in your senior year of high school, right? Let me think, who could that possibly be?¡± She pondered for a half¨Cminute, then shook her head.m¡°I can¡¯t think of anyone.¡± Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. ¡°I never really believed in fortune¨Ctelling to begin with. I just wanted to give the old man some compensation,¡± Cam said with a smile. They strolled leisurely to the fabric store.. ¡°Come help me pick out some fabrics,¡± Cam suggested: What do you need the fabric for?¡± Erica asked, puzzled. ¡°I want to make a shawl for Mr. Connor¡¯s mother,¡± Cam exined with a smile. When they entered the fabric store, Erica was dazzled by the variety of fabrics. Cam headed straight for the cashmere section, expertly picking out her choices. ¡°A camel¨Ccolored shawl would suit Mr. Connor¡¯s mother perfectly,¡± Cam exined. ¡°She has such a refined air about her, and this color is both ssy and versatile.¡± Erica nodded in agreement, always impressed by Cam¡¯s unique taste. ¡°It¡¯s a pity. You could have gone to fashion school, but you got sick right during your finals. If that hadn¡¯t happened, you might have be a brilliant¨Cfashion designer by now,¡± Erica said with a hint of regret. Camughed, self¨Cdeprecatingly. ¡°It¡¯s just my luck.¡± Tuming to Erica, she added, ¡°Things are pretty good now, though. I have a high¨Cpaying job with great benefits. I have nothing to regret, really. Erica looked at Cam, feeling deeply moved, ¡°Maybe this is all just fate.¡± Cam chuckled, looking down at her blouse. She raised an eyebrow at Erica and proudly said, ¡°Even though I¡¯m not a professional designer, making my own clothes is no big deal. Look, I sewed this blouse. Who could tell?¡± Erica nodded vigorously, her eyes shining. ¡°Exactly! Even without formal training, your design skills are on par with those big¨Cname designers!¡± Cam responded with augh, ¡°Hehe, right? If one day I lose my job, I¡¯ll just start an online shop and be my own boss! But before that, I need to do well at Mr. Connor¡¯spany to save up some capital.¡± Erica immediately became enthusiastic. ¡°Sure! And when I be the editor¨Cin¨Cchief one day, I¡¯ll give you several full pages to showcase your talent!¡± Cam grinned slyly, ¡°Haha, then I¡¯ll rely on my future editor¨Cin¨Cchief! Here¡¯s to your bright future and rapid rise!¡± Theyughed together. After returning home, Cam took a shower and changed into her pajamas. She took out her precious sewing machine from the box, gently caressing it, her eyes gleaming with d¨¦termination. She had saved up to buy this sewing machine while working part¨Ctime in college. Though it wasn¡¯t the most professional model, it was sufficient for her needs. She spread out the high¨Cquality cashmere fabric she bought from the fabric store, carefully measuring and calcting. She held a ruler In her hands, making light marks on the fabric with chalk. The gift she was making for Connor¡¯s mother had to be perfect. After much thought, she decided to hand¨Cmake a shawl. She believed that such a gift would not only show sincerity but also match Erica¡¯s elegant demeanor ing a deep breath, Cam began meticulously cutting the fabric. 118 118 Cam made every cut with cautious precision, striving for perfection. She folded the fabric neatly, then began to sew with the machine, her hands nimbly weaving through the threads, attending to every detail just right. 182 1825 Time quietly slipped by as she immersed herself fully in her creative work. Suddenly, her cellphone vibrated continuously on the table. Cam set down the fabric she was holding and stood up to answer the phone. She saw the caller ID disyed was ¡°Mr. Connor,¡± and her heart skipped a beat. She nced at the clock. It was already eleven at night, and there were work arrangements at this hour? Didn¡¯t she need a break? She frowned slightly in annoyance but still answered the call. ¡°Hello, Mr. Connor.¡± A deep voice came from the other end. ¡°Haven¡¯t gone to bed yet?¡± Not yet,¡± Cam replied. ¡°When I¡¯m not at the office, you need to report the day¡¯s work to me,¡± Connor stated. Cam paused, taken aback as she hadn¡¯t anticipated this. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ll remember that.¡± ¡°Good. Tomorrow, David will still bring breakfast to my ce. After your run, send me your treadmill record,¡± Connor continued. Cam took a deep breath. She thought she could skip running for a day, but it seemed there was no escape. ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Get some sleep, good night,¡± Connor instructed. ¡°Good night, Mr. Connor.¡± Connor grunted in acknowledgment and hung up. Cam sighed. She returned to her sewing machine and continued to finish the edges of the shawl, adding embroidery. When she was finally done, she inspected it, satisfied, and folded the shawl neatly and stretched lazily. ¨C It was three in the moming time to sleep. The next day, Cam woke up at her usual time and headed to Cedarhill Estate. After running and panting, she snapped a picture of her treadmill record and sent it to Connor. He quickly replied with a simple. [Okay.] A drizzle floated through the sky, the air slightly moist. Connor, dressed in a sleek ck suit, stood by the window. After quickly replying to the message, he ced his phone in his suit pocket and walked out of the bedroom. In the foyer, Emily was attentively spraying water on the lilies. She noticed her son descending the stairs and smiled. ¡°Good morning. I see there¡¯s no need to wake you up anymore.¡± Connor grunted, his gaze searching the foyer for others. ¡°Where are Grandpa and Dad?¡± In the city. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. ¡°They¡¯re in the study room getting ready,¡± Emily said, setting down the spray bottle filled with clean water and carefully hands. ping her She walked over to Connor, gently saying, ¡°Let¡¯s have breakfast in the dining room first. We¡¯ll leave shortly after.¡± After breakfast, Ray and Peter came out of the study room. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Ray said. The group walked out of the vi, bodyguards approaching them with ck umbres. The convoy slowly drove out of the driveway. through the damp streets, and finally stopped at the cemetery gate. With the bodyguards holding umbres and Connor carrying lilies, they walked towards the cemetery. Raindrops gently pattered the ground, creating a soft sound. Emily ced fruits and desserts in front of the tombstone, and Ray took the flowers from Connor¡¯s hands, gently setting them by the grave. With Peter¡¯s help, Ray kneeled, the rain soaking his knees. He gazed at the name engraved on the tombstone, a wave of bitterness surging through him. He took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the rain off the tombstone. ¡°Ruby¡­¡± ¡°Such hypocrisy!¡± An elderlydy, holding a bunch of lilies, spoke with a tint of disdain and dissatisfaction. Peter and Connor turned simultaneously. Aunt 119 119 Emily and Connor quickly went to greet her. ¡°Aunt Mary, the mountain paths are treacherous. Please be careful.¡± Emily softly reminded Mary, took the umbre from her hands, and gently held her arm. Mary patted Emily¡¯s hand, her eyes twinkling with a loving smile. ¡°Old as I may be, I¡¯m still quite sturdy.¡± Connor also smiled and joined in the conversation. ¡°Great¨Caunt, you look very well.¡± Mary watched him, affection evident in her eyes. ¡°Connor, you¡¯ve grown up so much.¡± She sighed sadly, ¡°If only Ruby could have seen you grow up. How wonderful that would have been¡­¡± Connor listened silently, aplex emotion welling up inside him. He turned to look at his father, whose eyes were slightly red. Ray¡¯s eyes were teary as he stared at the photograph on the gravestone, only moving aside when Mary approached to ce her own flowers. ¡°My poor little Ruby, I¡¯vee to see you.¡± Mary¡¯s eyes reddened as she sighed deeply, ¡°Next time, choose your man wisely. Don¡¯t be fooled so naively again.¡± ¡°Mary, Ray spoke up. ¡°Don¡¯t call me. You have no right!¡± Mary red at him, her tone cold and resentful. Ray stood quietly at the side, bearing Mary¡¯s reproach and resentment. His heart grew heavier, but he understood that this was the consequence he had to bear. Years ago, he hade to Hilltown to invest in mining and had fallen head over heels for Ruby, hiding the fact that he had a family back in Femwood Valley. He pursued her fiercely. They even had a wedding celebration in Hilltown and spent some wonderful time together. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. However, just as he was basking in happiness, Sydney from Fernwood Valley confronted him. She exposed Ray¡¯s lies, revealing the truth to Ruby. At that moment, Ruby¡¯s world copsed. Her heart was tormented, and her trust in Ray instantly turned to ashes. She couldn¡¯t ept this cruel reality, and her health deteriorated, eventually leading to her death from stomach cancer. That year, their son, Peter, had just turned five. Ray was heartbroken, filled with endless remorse, and it took all his effort to bring Peter back to the Passos family. Fairmount. Cam returned to the office and was about to sit down with a cup of coffee when she saw Howard approaching with a huge bouquet of roses. Howard smiled, ¡°Cam, I passed by the florist and thought these flowers suited you perfectly, so I got them for you.¡± Colleagues in the executive office pretended to be busy with their work, but their ears were all perked up. Go for it, Mr. Howard!¡± Say yes, Cam! He¡¯s a catch!¡® Cam was stunned. Could this be the legendary bouquet of 99 red roses? She paused for a few seconds and said, ¡°Thank you for the gesture, Mr. Howard, but I really¡­¡± Before she could finish, Howard cut her off. ¡°Cam, I don¡¯t want to hear a no for these flowers. It would make me very sad. Cam frowned. Why should she care about whether he¡¯s sad or not? Mr. Howard, perhaps there¡¯s someone else more suited to receive these flowers Howard chuckled. There¡¯s no one more suitable than you. I just want to give them to you jack to reality, Interrupting him. ¡°Mr. Howard, I truly appreciate your admiration, but I have a boyfriend, and eady to freally cant Inise, fer eyebrow, ¡°Maybe you¡¯t break up soon? 120 120 Cam¡¯s eyes widened in shock as she stared at him. ¡°I won¡¯t break up with my boyfriend,¡± she said firmly. Howard looked at her, a flicker of displeasure crossing his face. ¡°How do you know if you haven¡¯t tried?¡± Cam was bbergasted. What kind of logic was that? Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°Mr. Howard, you really shouldn¡¯t waste your time on me.¡± ¡°How do you know it¡¯s a waste of time? Maybe after we try being together, you¡¯ll realize I¡¯m better suited for you than he is.¡± Cam watched Howard, feeling even more helpless. This man seemedpletely unable to listen to her, and it was incredibly frustrating. ¡°I¡¯ll leave the flowers here, so do with them what you will.¡± Howard¡¯s eyes briefly darkened with a hard¨Cto¨Cdetect gloom but quickly masked his emotions. ¡°As for you, I won¡¯t give up.¡± With that, Howard waved his hand and left. Cam watched Howard¡¯s retreating figure, feeling a surge of inexplicable irritation. As his figure disappeared at the elevator, she turned around and, without hesitation, tossed the bouquet of roses into the trash. ¡°Ah, Cam, those flowers look so pitiful there.¡± A colleague remarked, looking at the roses in the trash can. Cam chuckled lightly, ¡°Since you feel sorry for them, you take them home.¡± Her colleague paused, thenughed, ¡°You know, Mr. Howard is quite impressive, owning a fortune at such a young age.¡± Cam caught the implication in her words and responded nonchntly, ¡°Are you suggesting I should consider him?¡± im too The colleague shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s not what I mean. It just seems like you dismissed him too quickly.¡± ¡°If you think he¡¯s so great, you can have him.¡± Cam frowned slightly, obviously not fond of this topic. The colleague sighed, ¡°Too bad he doesn¡¯t notice me. If he pursued me, I¡¯d ept in a heartbeat.¡± Cam didn¡¯t respond further and returned to her desk to sort through her documents. Within minutes, the entire office knew about Howard¡¯s pursuit of Cam. The 99 roses were quickly imed and divided by the female staff. Red roses were spread throughout the office. Cam was in the bathroom and was about to open the door. She heard the click¨Cck of high heels outside. ¡°Cam is quite pretty butes from a modest background, and her education isn¡¯t impressive. She¡¯s lucky to have gotten into thispany.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen many girls like her, who always want more than they have and are never satisfied.¡± ¡°Maybe she¡¯s just ying hard to get with Mr. Howard¨Csuch a schemer!¡± Cam¡¯s hand paused. She hadn¡¯t expected to hear gossip about herself, even in the restroom. She walked out, facing the two talking colleagues who immediately shut up, though their disdain and mockery were poorly concealed. Cam watched them, her gaze icy. ¡°If you have anyints orments, feel free to discuss them with me directly. There¡¯s no need to talk behind my back.¡± The two women were momentarily speechless. ¡°Nothing to say now?¡± Cam scoffed, giving them a nce. She turned to wash her hands at the sink. The two women exchanged looks and quickly left the restroom. Cam irritably turned off the tap. When Connor arrived, the receptionist immediately stood up. ¡°Mr. Connor.¡± Connor acknowledged her and took the elevator upstairs, the sight of scattered red roses visible through the ss elevator. 121 121 Cam was editing a message to Connor, reporting on the day¡¯s work. Ding- The elevator doors suddenly opened. She nced up unexpectedly and saw a familiar tall figure approaching her. Cam swiftly stood up, smiling. ¡°Hello, Mr. Connor.¡± Connor grunted in acknowledgment, stopping in front of her desk. Cam stood respectfully, waiting for him to speak. Connor just stared at her and was slow to say anything. ¡°Mr. Connor?¡± Cam broke the silence. Just as the elevator doors opened again, n approached them. Connor slightly nodded, saying, ¡°Which documents need priority signing? Have them sorted for me.¡± ¡°Already done, they¡¯re in your office with yellow sticky notes,¡± Cam replied. n had reached them. ¡°Bring in two cups of coffee,¡± Connor said, then turned and walked toward his office. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. ¡°Sure.¡± Connor sat in his spacious office, his gaze intense and piercing, as if he could see through all facades. He said, ¡°The corporation is considering acquiring Voss Tel and Ocean Chips. It seems the group is looking to transition from traditional industries to high¨Ctech.¡± n stood by, quickly handing Connor a detailed report. He calmly analyzed it, ¡°This news is like a bombshell, causing a major stir within thepany. Everyone is specting about who will ultimately take over the new division.¡± Connor nodded slightly. n continued, ¡°Your uncle has already started to make his move, clearly wanting to incorporate the new division under his control to further solidify his position within thepany. And your other uncle, of course, won¡¯t easily give up this lucrative opportunity.¡± Aplex emotion flickered in Connor¡¯s eyes. ¡°But, there¡¯s a rumor among the shareholders¡­¡± n hesitated, then continued, ¡°This acquisition of Voss Tel and Ocean Chips is actually a stepping stone Mr. Passosid out for your integration into thepany.¡± Connor did not respond immediately. He fell silent for a moment. ¡°They won¡¯t let me enter thepany smoothly. Keep a close eye on thepany¡¯s IPO. They might try to pull something.¡± ¡°I will,¡± said n. ¡°By the way, what¡¯s the asion? Why are there roses everywhere in the office?¡± Connor asked. n touched his nose, a slight grin on his face. ¡°Mr. Howard was here this afternoon.¡± Connor picked up a cigarette box from the desk. He held the unlit cigarette between his fingers as he yed with it, looking up at n. n¡¯s smile was sly and teasing as he continued, ¡°He brought Cam 99 roses.¡± Connor paused, a trace of an indefinable emotion crossing his face. A hint of impatience crept into his brow. Knock, knock- Cam stood at the door with coffee. ¡°Come in.¡± Carm heard the cold voice and pushed the door open. ¡°Mr. Connor, your coffee. She ced the coffee on the desk. Connor locked up at her, his expression neutral. ¡°Cam, I¡¯m allergic to pollen.¡± n, who was drinking his coffee, choked on hearing this, spraying it all over Connor¡¯s desk Cam quickly pulled out a tissue, frantically wiping the desk. Connor frowned, ncing at n. ¡°Sorry, it went down the wrong way, n said awkwardly. ¡°Let it be known that there will be no fresh flowers in the office, Connor said sternly, his voice brooking no argument 122 122 Cam was startled, her mouth twitching slightly. What is all this about? It would have been better if your office had no flowers at all. So domineering!¡® Her inner monologue was going wild, but outwardly, she maintained a professional smile and nodded. ¡°Of course, Mr. Connor. I will pass on the message.¡± Connor nodded in satisfaction, then turned to n. ¡°Anything else?¡± n gave an awkward smile. ¡°No, Mr. Connor, I¡¯ll head out now.¡± He sheepishly left the office, leaving Gam and Connor eyeing each other. ¡°Mr. Connor, I¡¯ll take my leave too,¡± Cam said. Connor acknowledged her, and after she left, he lit his cigarette, the smoke curling around his lips. When he looked up, Cam was chatting with another secretary. She had a bright red rose by her face, making her look even more charming than the flower. ¡°Ah? I didn¡¯t know Mr. Connor was allergic to pollen. I used to ce flowers here before.¡± Camughed helplessly. ¡°I just found out, too.¡± T¡¯ve sent a group email, asking them to dispose of the flowers,¡± the other secretary sighed. She hesitated for a few seconds, then took the roses out of the vase, ¡°Poor flowers, I guess the trash is their final destiny. Being thrown away twice must feel terrible¡­¡± Colleagues started tossing the flowers into the bin. n passed by, saw the bin full of red roses, and clicked his tongue. ¡°Should have kept my mouth shut, such beautiful flowers.¡± Cam saw him and asked, ¡°n, doesn¡¯t Mr. Connor also keep fresh flowers at home? Howe he¡¯s suddenly allergic to pollen?¡± n looked at her thoughtfully and smiled, ¡°He just developed the allergy.¡± Cam blinked, puzzled, as she watched n¡¯s retreating figure. *Just developed an allergy to pollen?¡± she murmured to herself. What did that even mean? Cam shook her head. She had alreadyplied with his request to clear out the flowers from the office anyway. She had just sat down at her desk when Connor came out of his office, a faint smell of tobo about him. He gave her a chilly nce as if in a bad mood. ¡°Time to leave.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± They got into the car, and the driver started the engine. Cam looked ahead at the traffic. The car was quiet for a moment. *Cam, what are your career ns?¡± Connor¡¯s voice was deep. Cam turned to look at him, puzzled. She wondered, ¡®Why is he suddenly interested in my career ns today? Could a promotion and a raise be on the horizon? With a burst of spirit, she formally responded, ¡°My career n is to do well in my current role, gain more experience and skills, and gradually work towards higher positions.¡± Is Howard pursuing you?¡± Connor suddenly changed the topic. Cam frowned slightly, nodding awkwardly. ¡°It seems so.¡± I think you should focus on your work at this stage.¡± Connor¡¯s tone was indifferent. Cam¡¯s heart sank. Doomed Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. After thest blind date and Mr. Howard¡¯s advances, Connor must think she was not focused on her work She adjusted her sitting posture, showing a more serious attitude and firmly assured him. ¡°Yes, for the next three no, five years, have? The ns for manage or romance eyebrow nodding in causfaction! 123 123 On Connor¡¯s face, the icy expression gradually melted away, reced by a gentle demeanor. Cam turned her head to look ahead, breathing a sigh of relief. The driver nced at Cam, then observed Connor¡¯s expression through the rearview mirror, his lips curving into a subtle smile. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. After a while, Connor broke the silence. ¡°Be at my ce on time tomorrow,¡± Connor spoke again. ¡°I¡¯ll teach you how to drive.¡± Cam frowned slightly. What was with her boss and his peculiar hobbies? Why did he have this keen interest in teaching her? Not only was he her self¨Cdefense coach, but now he wanted to teach her driving, too! If he loved teaching so much, why not be a teacher? She closed her eyes and exhaled before turning back with a professional smile on her face. ¡°Of course, thank you, Mr. Connor.¡± She had scheduled a health checkup for Sunday, so now she couldn¡¯t go home to be with her mother tomorrow. Ugh. Connor nodded in satisfaction. As Cam thought more about it, something seemed off. She turned to face him again. ¡°Mr. Connor, you¡¯re not going to deduct tuition fees from my sry, are you?¡± Connor paused for a moment. Looking up at her, he frowned and said, ¡°Do you think your sry canpensate for the time I spend teaching you?¡± Cam thought for a half second and nodded, realizing he might have a point. Then she gave a sly smile. ¡°Mr. Connor, do you think sry is a bit low?¡± Connor nced sideways at her. ¡°It¡¯s not low at all¡­ Please forget what I just said,¡± Cam chuckled sheepishly. She turned her head forward, sitting properly in the passenger seat. The driver struggled to hold back hisughter, his body trembling slightly. The car arrived at Cedarhill Estate, and the driver slowly pulled over. ¡°Thank you,¡± Cam said to the driver. She prepared to get out of the car and softly said, ¡°Bye, Mr. Connor. See you tomorrow¡­¡± Connor responded. my Cam closed the car door, and the vehicle sped away. She turned and patted her chest. She had almost upset the boss by mentioning a raise. The next day, after his exercise, Connor was dressed in casual wear, seeming more approachable than usual. He descended to the garage, and tossed a set of keys to Cam, pointing at the Bentley in front. ¡°Drive this one.¡± Cam¡¯s eyes widened in shock, nearly gasping at the sight of the multi¨Cmillion dor car designated as her training vehicle. The keys in her hand felt like a hot potato, and she quickly handed them back to Connor, shaking her head vigorously. ¡°No way, I can¡¯t drive this! Sir, are you under some misunderstanding about my driving skills? I failed my driving test twice!¡± Connor slightly furrowed his brow, stuffing the keys back into her hand. ¡°There¡¯s insurance. What are you afraid of? Get in.¡± Then, he sat in the passenger seat. Cam swallowed hard, steeling herself as she opened the driver¡¯s door and bent down to get in. Once inside, she looked around, clueless about what to do first. The car was adjusted to Connor¡¯s height, and Cam scoated forward, barely reaching the clutch. Adjust the seat, Connor nced over at her. Cam responded with an ¡°Oh, fumbling around cluelessly with the controls. She gave Connor a bewildered look, asking awkwardly, ¡°Where do I adjust it? Connor sighed, leaning over. His sudden proximity startled Cam, who dared not breathe. Connor breased a button, and the seat slowly moved forward, 124 124 Now, they were only a few inches apart. ¡°Is this okay?¡± Connor turned to look at her. Cam nodded vigorously, her body tensing and leaning back as her heart pounded like it was at a rave, the loud thumps chaotically bouncing inside her. Connor finally settled back into the passenger seat. Cam clutched at her heart, which felt like it was about to leap out of her chest. ¡°Oh my, what¡¯s gotten into you, little heart? I really need to get you checked out tomorrow!¡± ¡°Could you start the car and turn on the air conditioning?¡± Connor felt inexplicably stuffy inside the car. ¡°How do I do that? Where¡¯s the air conditioning?¡± Cam looked at Connor, bewildered. This car was nothing like the ones at the driving school! ¡°Here.¡± Connor pointed. ¡°Got it,¡± Cam nodded. Then, awkwardly, she asked, ¡°The gas pedal is the one on the far right, right?¡± Connor stared at her in shock, silently buckling his seatbelt. ¡°Yes.¡± He sighed and then started exining the car¡¯s features and some basic driving techniques to Cam. His tone was patient, and his instructions were detailed. ¡°Do you understand now?¡± Cam nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s drive out of the parking lot.¡± ¡°Drive¡­ out? Me?¡± Cam tumed sharply to look at Connor, her eyes wide. ¡°Yes.¡± Cam stiffly turned her head and saw the cars parked on either side. One was a Rolls¨CRoyce limousine, Connor¡¯s car. On the other side was a sports car of a brand she didn¡¯t recognize. It was obviously very expensive. She was almost in tears. ¡°Sir, look at the cars on both sides. If I scratch or hit them, even selling me wouldn¡¯t cover the costs!¡± Connor chuckled. ¡°If you hit them, I¡¯ll just have to sell you.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Cam eximed. ¡°The cars on both sides are mine. There will be no need to pay if you hit them,¡± Connor rified. This one too?¡± Cam pointed at the sports car. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Errr¡­ Cam looked at him, her hands sweating as she gripped the steering wheel. ¡°Give it a try. Connor gave her an encouraging look. Cam gritted her teeth and nced at the cars on both sides. This man really trusted her to drive! Cam carefully pressed the gas pedal, and the car slowly started moving. She gripped the steering wheel tightly, constantly aware of the vehicles around her. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Rx, take a deep breath, Connor instructed from the passenger seat. Okay okay, Cam took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. took half an hour, but they finally drove out of the parking lot. ¡°That went well, Connor remarked. ¡°Pull over. Il drive for a bit. We¡¯ll head to a rural area with less traffic, and then you can take over. Okay Cam breathed a sigh of relief, unbuckling her seatbelt to switch ces with Connor. Connor carefully exined the functions of the vehicle and driving techniques. The brake is here, and the gas pattel. Remember that?: Connor gaked. not much traffic here Conner void Cam hummed in acknowledgment. The car slowly started, and she focused intently on the road ahead. She couldn¡¯t afford to rx for even a moment. She wasn¡¯t alone in the car¨CConnor was there too. His life was worth far more than hers! The driving instructor had taken her through this route before. She noticed that the cars behind her were very far away, even further than when she drove the school¡¯s cars. Indeed, driving a luxury car meant other vehicles didn¡¯t dare get too close. 125 125 Cam¡¯s eyes were fixed on the road ahead when the traffic light flickered from green to yellow. She mmed on the brakes immediately. The sudden stop caused Connor to lurch forward, a slight frown forming on his face. ¡°It¡¯s just a yellow light, not a red one¡­¡± ¡°Sorry! I¡¯m just really nervous,¡± Cam apologized. ¡°It¡¯s fine, just rx,¡± Connor said, grabbing the handle. ¡°I am rxed,¡± Cam inhaled deeply, gripping the steering wheel tightly as she focused on the road ahead once more. Connor just smiled. He checked the GPS for a restaurant nearby. ¡°We¡¯ve been driving for a while. Let¡¯s grab some food.¡± Cam nodded in agreement. Following the directions, she drove them safely to their destination, albeit a bit slowly. As they entered the parking lot near the restaurant, Cam began searching for an open spot. It was lunchtime, and spaces were mostly filled. After circling around, they finally found one. However, the spot was quite narrow, and Cam felt unsure. ¡°Sir, this spot is too tight. I might not be able to fit,¡± she said to Connor, worry evident in her voice. Connor chuckled, ¡°What¡¯s there to worry about with me here?¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll give it a try, but if it doesn¡¯t work, you¡¯re taking over!¡± Cam took a deep breath and decided to give it a shot. She carefully maneuvered the car toward the space, trying to keep it steady. But the angle was slightly off, causing her to panic a bit. ¡°Just adjust the steering wheel a little,¡± Connor instructed gently. Cam followed Connor¡¯s guidance and adjusted the steering wheel, but the car still wasn¡¯t perfectly positioned. She tried to adjust again, seeming to always be just a bit off. ¡°No worries, just try again,¡± encouraged Connor. Taking another deep breath, Cam slowly adjusted the car until it was properly parked. ¡°Did I park it right?¡± she asked softly. ¡°You did great, see?¡± Connor¡¯s smile widened. ¡°Really!¡± Cam unbuckled her seatbelt, opened the door, and looked around. ¡°Perfectly aligned, nice job!¡± She got back into the car, her eyes sparkling as she yfully raised an eyebrow to Connor. ¡°Thanks to your expert guidance, Mr. Connor. Dinner¡¯s on me today as a token of my appreciation.¡± Connor saw the yful spark in her eyes, and his own eyes twinkled with amusement. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Cam waved her hand confidently and nodded. However¡­ When Cam looked at the menu in her hands, her heart began to hurt slightly. ¡°May we rmend the Global Summer Couples¡® Special?¡± the waiter said with a smile. Cam nced at the menu. The price tag read $900! Her mouth twitched slightly. ¡®Great rmendation indeed!¡® Connor took the menu, casually flipping through it. He nced at Cam, his smile teasing, ¡°Or is there something else you¡¯d prefer?¡± Cam forced a smile, shaking her head stiffly. The waiter soon brought their dishes. Though they were expensive, each was exquisitely prepared. After a moming filled with tension, Cam was famished. When the dessert was served, her eyes locked onto the tempting mini cakes, and she couldn¡¯t help but swallow. She sneaked a nce at Connor. ¡°Mr. Connor, you don¡¯t like sweets, right?¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Connor smiled gently, pushing the cake toward her. With a mischievous grin, Cam picked up her spoon. Then I won¡¯t hold back! annaxaremed busy, scrolling through his phone, replying to emails, and asionally sipping his coffee. 126 126 Cam finished off two mini cakes and said to Connor, ¡°I¡¯m going to the restroom.¡± Connor nodded in response. With her phone in hand, Cam walked over to the cashier. ¡°Hi, could I get the check, please?¡± The cashier paused, seemingly surprised that a woman was paying, but then smiled and printed out the receipt. Cam took the receipt, nced at it, and nearly gasped aloud. The bill read: ¡°Total $1,183.18, including a 15% service charge.¡± She clenched her teeth secretly, gave the cashier a polite yet awkward smile, and opened the payment app on her phone. With a soft ¡°b¨¦ep,¡± the payment went through. Cam felt as though her heart was being sliced open again. She took a deep breath, trying to appear nonchnt. ¡°Could you tell me where the restroom is?¡± ¡°Madam, turn left up ahead.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± After finishing up an email, Connor casually said to a nearby waiter, ¡°Check, please.¡± His voice was calm andposed as if this was the most ordinary thing. However, the waiter looked slightly bewildered and said, ¡°Thedy who was with you has already paid.¡± Connor was momentarily taken aback, not having expected Cam to pay. He frowned slightly. He hadn¡¯t really intended for her to pay. Cam returned from the restroom and sat back down. ¡°Are we ready to leave?¡± she asked softly. Connor nodded and pocketed his phone. ¡°Should I drive?¡± Cam asked. ¡°You drive back to Belleview Heights. I need to head back to the office this afternoon,¡± Connor replied. ¡°Then I¡¯ll drop you off at the office first,¡± Cam suggested. ¡°No need.¡± On the drive, Cam focused on the road. After practicing all morning, she had gotten quite familiar with the car and drove with increasing confidence. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Suddenly, she remembered something she needed to tell Connor. ¡°Mr. Connor, I need to go to the hospital for a check¨Cup tomorrow morning, so I won¡¯t be able toe over for the kickboxing practice.¡± Connor, who had been resting his eyes, opened them slightly at her words and frowned. He turned to look at Cam, concern in his eyes. ¡°Are you feeling alright? Why are you going to the hospital?¡± Cam felt a bit ufortable under his gaze and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s just a routine check¨Cup, nothing to worry about.¡± In truth, she was uncertain about her heart condition and wanted to wait for the test results. ¡°Alright. Soon, the car smoothly pulled up in front of Belleview Heights. Cam let out a sigh of relief before getting out of the car. She stood by the roadside, checking the pristine Bentley. There were no scratches or dents, which made her quite relieved. Connor adjusted his seat slightly after taking the driver¡¯s seat, and looked at Cam through the window. Cam smiled and waved at him. ¡°Mr. Connor, goodbye for now. Drive safely.¡± Connor nodded gently, started the car, and drove off. Through the rearview mirror, he saw Cam standing there, watching him drive away Once the car was far enough, Cam rubbed her slightly sore wrists. She felt she had done quite well. At least she hadn¡¯t scratched or bumped the car into anything. 127 127 ¡°Everything looks normal on your health report.¡± Dr. Carter¡¯s steady gaze met Cam¡¯s as he spoke. Cam furrowed her brows slightly, a hint of barely noticeable tension in her voice. ¡°Really? But why do I sometimes feel my heart racing? It¡¯s so intense it feels like it might burst out of my chest?¡± Dr. Carter reviewed the report again carefully, then looked up gently, ¡°My dear, I can assure you, there is nothing abnormal in this report.¡± He paused slightly, seemingly choosing his next words carefully. ¡°Have you ever been in love?¡± Cam hesitated. If her rtionship with Tucker counted, then yes. She nodded slightly. ¡°Did you feel something simr then?¡± Dr. Carter continued to probe. Cam shook her head firmly. Dr. Carter smiled, a glint of understanding in his eyes. ¡°Does this feeling only ur when a certain person is around?¡± Cam¡¯s brows knitted together. ¡°Doctor, are you suggesting that this feeling might be a physiological response to being infatuated?¡± Well, it seemed to happen mostly around Connor. Cam shivered involuntarily. No way. Did she have a crush on her boss? That wouldn¡¯t do. Her feelings should only be the kind reserved for a financial benefactor!Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Dr. Carter nodded gently. ¡°Exactly, my dear. The symptoms you¡¯ve described are likely natural responses to an attraction. When we encounter someone who draws us in, our body releases hormones like adrenaline and dopamine, causing our heart rate to speed up. We even feel a sense of inexplicable nervousness.¡± Cam managed a smile. ¡°I see, thank you. I¡¯m relieved the report is fine.¡± Dr. Carter returned the smile warmly. As Cam walked down the hospital corridor, images of Connor shed through her mind. He had a good physique paired with his impable looks. He was also young, handsome, and wealthy, undeniably the type many women would flock to. Cam tapped her forehead. He was her boss. She couldn¡¯t harbor inappropriate thoughts! The company had a strict no¨Cfraternization policy, and some of her predecessors had been fired for lesser transgressions. Her life goal was to make money to support her mother. She couldn¡¯t afford to lose her job! Besides, Connor didn¡¯t even like her. ¡®Snap out of it, Cam!¡® Her phone rang. It was Erica. ¡°Where are you? I¡¯ve bought some cupcake ingredients, and I¡¯m now headed to your ce.¡± up?¡± ¡°I¡¯m at Fairmount Hospital. Can you swing by to pick me up?¡± ¡°Hospital? Why are you at the hospital?¡± Erica¡¯s voice immediately tensed. ¡°What happened? Are you feeling alright?¡± Cam quickly exined, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m fine. Just went for a routine check¨Cup, and all indicators are normal. No need to panic.¡± Erica seemed to rx a bit, but her voice still carried a hint of urgency. ¡°Alright, stay put. I¡¯m on my way to get you. Don¡¯t wander around. Just wait there.¡± After hanging up, Cam slowly walked toward the hospital lobby. In less than half an hour, Erica arrived at the hospital entrance, and Cam bent down to get into the passenger seat. As soon as Erica saw Cam, her sharp eyes scanned her from head to toe, her face filled with concern. ¡°Cam, are you really okay?¡± Erica¡¯s voice was eager. ¡°You look a bit pale. Are you sure you¡¯re not feeling unwell?¡± ¡°I¡¯m really fine. It was just a check¨Cup. Look, here¡¯s the report.¡± Cam handed the health report to Erica. Erica took the report, carefully checking each indicator, her brows gradually smoothing, ¡°Hmm, indeed, there¡¯s nothing wrong. But what made you decide to get a check¨Cup all of a sudden?¡± 128 128 Cam sighed softly, finding it hard to speak, ¡°Erica, I think I might be falling for Connor¡­¡± She shared why she went to the hospital for a check¨Cup. Erica¡¯s eyes lit up immediately, and she burst intoughter, pping her thigh and taking a wrong turn. ¡°You silly goose, why didn¡¯t youe to me, your rtionship guru, instead of going to the hospital? Now look, Iughed so hard I took the wrong road!¡± Erica said, still chuckling. Cam felt a bit embarrassed by Erica¡¯s words. ¡°I just don¡¯t have much experience¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s okay. It¡¯s never toote to learn,¡± Ericaforted her. ¡°I actually think Connor is quite interested in you, too. Why don¡¯t you just let things flow naturally?¡± ¡°But it seems like he doesn¡¯t feel the same way about me¡­¡± Cam murmured in response. Erica looked at her seriously. ¡°He¡¯s stood up for you several times and even offered his apartment for you to stay in. Isn¡¯t that a sign?¡± Erica then gave a sly smirk. ¡°Want me to teach you a few tricks?¡± Cam managed a weak smile, but her thoughts were scattered like snowkes, and she was unable to focus. She admitted to herself that she was indeed developing feelings for Connor, a subtle yet intense emotion that was quietly taking root in her heart. However, her parents¡® failed marriage weighed on her like a heavy stone. She feared making the same mistakes, afraid of falling into the endless cycle of pain and struggle. Cam changed the subject. ¡°Are you still with that guy?¡± Erica scoffed, her face full of disdain. ¡°That guy doesn¡¯t want to work a day in his life. Ever since we got together, he quit his modeling job and just clings to me all the time. He spends my money on meals and shopping. I¡¯m so over it!¡± Camughed, counting on her fingers. ¡°You¡¯ve had more boyfriends than I can count on both hands.¡± Ericaughed heartily. ¡°Just nine, still countable.¡± ¡°I wonder if you¡¯ll settle down with the tenth.¡± Cam joked. Erica wagged her finger. ¡°No, no, no, I¡¯ll never settle down, I¡¯m an only child, and all my parents¡® wealth wille to me. I¡¯m rich and free. I¡¯m not about to bury myself in the grave of marriage.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t speak too soon,¡± Cam chuckled. The two continued their lively chat all the way home. Erica eagerly took out the cupcake ingredients and arranged them on the table. ¡°Wow, this custom mold is so gorgeous!¡± Cam picked up a mold engraved with the word ¡°Cam,¡± examining it closely. ¡°Of course!¡± Erica smiled proudly. ¡°By the way, Connor¡¯s mom invited me over tomorrow.¡± Cam suddenly remembered, ¡°It would be nice to bake some cupcakes for her.¡± ¡°Ooh, sounds like you¡¯re meeting the future mother¨Cinw,¡± Erica teased with a mischievous grin. ¡°She gave me such an expensive painting. I don¡¯t even know how to thank her.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°Then marry her son!¡± Erica continued teasing. Cam yfully rolled her eyes at her. 129 129 Cam carefully took out the baking tray, and the aromatic cupcakes filled the entire kitchen with their scent. Their tops were slightly golden brown, emitting an inviting aroma that was absolutely tantalizing. ¡°Wow!¡± Erica, drawn by the smell, widened her big, dewy eyes as she stared at the tray of freshly baked cupcakes. ¡°Did we really make these?¡± she asked excitedly. ¡°They look absolutely perfect!¡± Cam nodded with a smile. ¡°I just hope they taste as good.¡± Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Erica raised an eyebrow, brimming with confidence. ¡°They¡¯re going to be explosively delicious!¡± ¡°Try one and see.¡± Cam carefully picked up a cupcake, cut it into four pieces, and handed one to Erica. She took a bite herself, her face immediately showing satisfaction, her eyes sparkling, ¡°These are just as good as any you¡¯d buy in a bakery!¡± ¡°They¡¯re delicious!¡± Erica eximed excitedly. ¡°And they¡¯re even better because they were made by two beautifuldies¨Cdefinitely a bonus! Anyone who tries them would be blessed!¡± ¡°No one canpete with your vanity,¡± Camughed, shaking her head. ¡°It¡¯s hard to abandon natural beauty,¡± Erica quipped, winking. Amused yet resigned, Cam got another exquisite cupcake and carried it to the living room. She brewed a pot of strong coffee and joined Erica on thefy sofa. ¡°Are your parents going to be home for Thanksgiving?¡± Cam asked. ¡°No, they¡¯re hardly ever home,¡± Erica sighed. ¡°Go to my home for dinner then,¡± Cam offered. Erica smiled styly, was hoping you¡¯d say that.¡± After enjoying the delicious cupcakes, they decided to order takeout to keep dinner simple. After dinner, Erica went home. Cam busied herself in the kitchen, washing the used dishes. Her gaze asionally drifted to the packed cupcakes, her thoughts wandering. ¡°Connor doesn¡¯t like sweet treats¡­¡± she murmured softly, frowning slightly. She opened an app on her phone and started searching for recipes for savory dessert recipes. Various recipes appeared on the screen, and Cam¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°This looks good. I could give it a try.¡± She Said to herself. Then, she quickly went downstairs to the supermarket. After several hours of busy work in the kitchen, the oven timer went off again. Cam watched intently as the savory pie baked, her face full of anticipation. As time quietly passed, and when the oven timer rang, it was already 1 a.m. She gently opened the oven door, and a fragrant scent rushed out It¡¯s finally ready.¡± Cam said tiredly but contentedly. She carefully took out the pie and ced it on the tray to cool. The next day. Cam arrived on time at Cedarhill Estate, and as she entered, she saw Connor, in his loose pajamas, sleepily walking out of the bedroom. Ever since she acknowledged her feelings, she couldn¡¯t look straight into Connor¡¯s eyes. Good morning, Mr. Connor, the greeted, slightly turning her head. Connor responded, surveying her up and down. ¡°How did the medical checkup go?¡± he suddenly asked. An?: Cam was surprised and didn¡¯t expect him to remember this Cam remembered her misunderstanding, mistaking her heart flutter for a heart problem. She awkwardly smiled and said. All clea fed then turned back to his bedroom to freshen up 130 130 Upon returning to the office, Cam¡¯s eyes unconsciously drifted to the man in the room. Connor was engrossed in hisptop, his attractive features reflecting his intense focus. Secondster, Cam shifted her gaze back to her work, focused and determined. The productunch was set for Friday. Thepany was preparing to go public, making thisunch especially critical. There was no room for error. That day, Cam was so busy she barely had time to drink a ss of water. When she finally looked up, it was already six o¡¯clock, and she had dinner ns with Emily at seven. Soon after, Connor emerged from his office. ¡°Time to head out,¡± Connor said, standing in front of her with hisptop in hand. Cam met his gaze, whispering, ¡°I have ns tonight.¡± Connor¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly, clearly displeased. ¡°What ns?¡± His tone carried a hint of irritation. Cam forced a smile and whispered, ¡°I¡¯m having dinner with your mom.¡± ¡°Dinner with my mom?¡± Connor repeated, puzzled. Cam nodded, exining, ¡°Yes, we agreed to meet at the ¡®Old Charm Bistro.¡± Connor seemed surprised. After a moment of silence, he said, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go together.¡± ¡°Together?¡± Cam blinked in surprise. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to pack up?¡± Connor tapped on her desk. Promptly, Cam gathered her things. Soon, they arrived at Old Charm Bistro and walked into the restaurant together. She immediately spotted Emily, sitting by the window, gracefully sipping a cup of coffee. Cam approached, smiling, ¡°Hi, Ms. Emily.¡± Emily looked up, and upon seeing Connor, a surprised expression briefly crossed her face. But she quickly regained herposure and said with augh, ¡°It¡¯s supposed to be a girls¡® night out, and here you are crashing the party.¡± ¡°You chat. I¡¯ll eat,¡± Connor said, pulling out a chair to sit. Cam, feeling somewhat awkward, pulled out another chair and sat down. ¡°Well, thanks to Cam, you¡¯re here with us, so you¡¯re picking up the tab,¡± Emily joked. Connor nodded, grabbing the menu. ¡°Ms. Emily, this is for you,¡± Cam said, presenting a prepared gift. ¡°It¡¯s nothing expensive, but I hope you like it. Emily¡¯s face lit up as she took it. ¡°Thank you. It¡¯s the thought that counts.¡± She eagerly opened the gift box, pulled out the shawl, and lit up. She draped it over her shoulders and turned to Connor. ¡°Son, look, doesn¡¯t it look nice?¡± Connor nced and responded nonchntly, ¡°Yeah, it looks good.¡± ¡°Cam has great taste,¡± Emily turned back to Cam with praise. ¡°What brand is this?¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°Mom¡­ Connor nced at Emily, hinting that asking about the brand was a bit impolite. He knew Cam¡¯s sry couldn¡¯t cover high¨Cend brands. *Don¡¯t misunderstand me. I¡¯m just asking because my friends will definitely want one when they see how beautiful it is,¡± Emily exined. Cam, feeling a bit embarrassed, said, ¡°Ms/Emily, I made it myself. I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± Connor paused, looking at Carn. ¡°You made this yourself?¡± A glint of surprise appeared in Emily¡¯s eyes. ¡°This looks even better than anything I¡¯ve bought in stores. She raised an eyebrow at Connor, seemingly boasting. This is what my future daughter¨Cinw made by hand, jealous much?¡± Cam shyly replied, ¡°I¡¯m d you like it.¡± ¡°Of course, I absolutely adore it!¡± Emily¡¯s face was full of joy as she closely examined the shawl, ¡°Cam is truly talented.¡± Cam smiled awkwardly, feeling both pleased and a bit overwhelmed by the praise. 131 131 ¡°Wow, what¡¯s this treasure?¡± Emily asked curiously as she pulled out an exquisitely wrapped box. ¡°It¡¯s a homemade pumpkin pie,¡± Cam replied with a smile. ¡°Thanksgiving ising up, and I tried making it.¡± ¡°Wow, you can make pumpkin pie?¡± Emily eximed in surprise. ¡°That¡¯s really impressive!¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s my first attempt, so it might not be as perfect as the ones you buy at the store,¡± Cam said modestly. ¡°Nonsense!¡± Emily dismissed the thought. ¡°A homemade pie is healthier and cleaner. That¡¯s what really matters. Those store¨Cbought ones, with who knows how many additives, can¡¯tpare to what you¡¯ve made.¡± ¡°You¡¯re in for a treat!¡± Emily nudged Connor¡¯s arm with her elbow. ¡°Let¡¯s order,¡± Connor said, somewhat resignedly. At the dinner table, the two women chatted happily, and although Connor was focused on the emails on his phone, his attention never really left them. ¡°Ms. Emily, are you and Mr. Peter close? I saw the painting you gave me marked as ¡®not for sale¡® in the exhibition catalog,¡± Cam said. Emily paused for a moment, her smile turning mysterious. ¡°Peter and I¡­ yes, we¡¯re quite close.¡± Continuing with a smile, she said, ¡°I told Peter you are a fan, and since it¡¯s fate, he agreed to gift it to you. The painting didn¡¯t cost anything, so don¡¯t feel burdened.¡± Cam nodded, ¡°Thank you, Ms. Emily, and please extend my thanks to Mr. Peter as well.¡± ¡°You can thank him in person sometime,¡± Emily chuckled. ¡°In person?¡± Cam was surprised. ¡°Yes, Connor will arrange a meeting sometime.¡± Emily looked at her son with a mischievous expression. Connor raised an eyebrow at Emily, his smile tinged with resignation. ? ?? ? ?? ?? ? ?? ? ?? ?? ? ? ??? ?? ??? Cam, not quite catching Connor¡¯s expression, quickly waved her hands. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Just send him my regards. I¡¯ll thank him in person some other time.¡± Emily chuckled and used the serving tongs to ce arge piece of fish on Cam¡¯s te. ¡°Cam, try this fish. It¡¯s freshke bass and really tasty.¡± Cam smiled in thanks and then lowered her head to start tasting. Emily asked, ¡°Cam, have you encountered anything interesting recently? Tell me about it.¡± Putting down her chopsticks, Cam thought for a moment then began to recount some recent amusing incidents. Connor listened, asionally chiming in. As the conversation deepened, Emily began to inquire about Cam¡¯s family, work, and future ns. Cam answered everything openly, without hiding anything. Just then, Connor¡¯s phone suddenly rang. He nced at the caller ID, frowned slightly, and said, ¡°I need to take this call.¡± He got up and left the table to answer. Emily watched Connor¡¯s retreating back and her face showed a satisfied smile. She turned to Cam, ¡°What do you think of Connor?¡± Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Cam was taken aback but answered honestly, ¡°He¡¯s very capable and attentive.¡± Emilyughed, ¡°I think you two would be a good match.¡± Cam was startled and somewhat confused, ¡°Ms. Emily, you seem to have misunderstood. Mr. Connor and I are just in a boss¨Csubordinate rtionship.¡± Emily, looking at her son returning, smiled and said, ¡°Connor, you¡¯re just in time. Cam says you two are just boss and subordinate. What do you think?¡± Connor nced at Cam, his eyes carrying an unnoticeable emotion. Turning to Emily, he smiled resignedly, ¡°Mom, why do you start these jokes again? 132 132 ¡°I¡¯m not joking. You¡¯re not getting any younger, and you still haven¡¯t found a girlfriend to give me grandchildren,¡± Emily retorted, clearly frustrated. Connor looked slightly exasperated and nced at Cam. ¡°Don¡¯t mind my mom. She just loves to tease.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Cam felt a sudden pain in her heart. She gave an awkwardugh. ¡°I understand.¡± Emily shot her son a re, clearly unimpressed. She leaned closer to Connor and whispered, ¡°I¡¯m not joking. You are infuriating.¡± Connor frowned helplessly. Cam wasn¡¯t sure what they were talking about exactly, but she guessed it involved her. She saw a hint of displeasure on Connor¡¯s face, bowed her head, and quietly sipped her soup. When dinner ended, Emily stood up, smiling, ¡°Cam, you muste and visit again soon.¡± Cam looked at Connor, and seeing that he had no objection, she nodded, ¡°Sure, I¡¯d love to.¡± ¡°Take care,¡± the two said as they saw Emily off to her car. Suddenly, Connor¡¯s rxed demeanor changed, bing stern. He looked intently at Cam, his tone leaving no room for doubt. ¡°Back to the office.¡± Although surprised, Cam quickly adjusted her mood and responded, ¡°Okay.¡± The two left the restaurant. The driver saw them and immediately opened the car door. Connor and Cam got into the car, and they smoothly drove away from the restaurant. In the car, Connor adjusted his cor and said, ¡°Core Tech¡¯s productunch is this Thursday.¡± Cam¡¯s eyes widened. CoreTech and Future Inc. had always been rivals. Future Inc.¡¯s own product launch was scheduled for Friday! Most crucially, earlier in the year, CoreTech had poached several engineers from the tech department at Future Inc. They leaked to the media that their new product was a robotic dog, clearly stealing Future Go¡¯s concept. Even if their technology wasn¡¯t as advanced,unching first could give them the upper hand and sway public opinion, making Future Inc. look like the imitators. Connor looked at Cam and asked softly, ¡°What do you think?¡± Cam took a deep breath and answered seriously, ¡°Could we possibly move ourunch up?¡± Connor replied, ¡°The earliest we could reschedule is Wednesday, as the invitations have already been sent. It might be difficult for media personnel to attend on such short notice.¡± Cam suggested, ¡°We could do a simultaneous live stream, both online and in¨Cperson.¡± Connor nodded in agreement. Back at the office, the ce was abuzz with light and activity. The staff had already heard about CoreTech¡¯s forting productunch and were awaiting Connor¡¯s instructions with grave expressions. ¡°Executive meeting in 15 minutes,¡± Connor told Cam. ¡°Yes,¡± she replied immediately, getting to work on the meeting notices and relevant documents. n followed Connor into his office. He closed the door and said with a grave look, ¡°CoreTech intentionally released their productunch news today to catch us off guard.¡± Connor sat at his desk, tapping his fingers lightly on the surface, his gaze dark and thoughtful. After a moment, he looked up at n. ¡°Go on.¡± n took a deep breath. ¡°Jaiden officially pulled his investment from CoreTech and transferred his shares, but the new shareholder is just a front¡± ? ?? ? ¡°I found out that the new shareholder knows Lauren. Do we need Mr. Ray to intervene?¡± Connor pondered for a moment and replied, ¡°There¡¯s no need for my grandfather to step in. I¡¯ll handle it myself.¡± 133 133 At 9:30 PM, employees at thepany were still at their desks. Not a single one had left for home. A senior management meeting was in full swing in the conference room, with heads of departments gathered together, creating a tense atmosphere. Connor analyzed the current market situation and the movements ofpetitors sinctly and effectively. The department heads shared their opinions, voicing many constructivements and suggestions. Finally, a consensus was reached. Connor issued the instructions. ¡°Everyone prepare, we are going to hold the press conference earlier than scheduled. I have great Confidence in our product. Please coordinate the venue, live streaming equipment, and media rtions among your teams. Meeting adjourned.¡± The atmosphere in thepany instantly tightened, and the executives immediately sprang into action, coordinating the work across departments. Cam was responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of the press conference. She communicated with the media and industry leaders to ensure their attendance at the event or participation online. All evening, Cam was on her feet, bustling between departments, barely stopping for a moment. With time pressing and tasks piling up, she could not rx even for a second. The admin team prepared simple snacks like pizza and fruit for everyone. Cam had just a bite of fruit before she continued her hectic schedule. Some coordination tasks could only be done during the daytime, so employees gradually left the office until only the lights on Cam¡¯s floor remained on. Cam reviewed the progress of each department before finally resting her head on the desk to catch a moment of sleep. Theputer screen was still on, showing the time¨C4:36 AM. Connor left his office, and as he passed Cam¡¯s desk, he paused, quietly observing her sleeping face. Her bun was slightly disheveled, and a few strands of hair gently rested on her cheek, adding a touch of soft beauty. Unintentionally, Connor reached out, gently tucking those stray hairs behind her ear. Cam felt someone touching her hair, and in her half¨Csleep, reached out and instinctively grabbed that hand. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m thirsty¡­¡± Her voice was soft and groggy, like a kitten¡¯s purr. Her delicate hand was holding Connor¡¯s lean and long fingers. 132 8 8 8 5 5 89 35 1 82 85 32/28 At that moment, the air seemed to freeze. A tingling sensation spread from his fingertips throughout his body, and his heartbeat suddenly sped up. He stared at her intently, his heart burning with an unexpected warmth. Cam slowly opened her groggy eyes, realizing it was Conhor. Her pupils dted sharply, and she sat up abruptly, gripping his hand tightly. Cam found out she was holding Connor¡¯s hand and was now startled and fully awake. She let go as if scalded. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. She avoided his gaze, and her voice was filled with apology. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Connor, I¡­ I was confused.¡± Her voice was slightly nasal. Connor stared at his suddenly empty hand, feeling an inexplicable sense of loss. He clenched his now empty hand as if he could still feel the warmth of her palm. He adjusted his cuff, masking his inner turmoil. His voice was deep. ¡°The driver has gone home¡­¡± he nced at her. ¡°You can sleep in my rest lounge.¡± Connor¡¯s office included a separate room and bathroom, where he often stayed overnight when busy. Cam hesitated, then looked up at him. ¡°That¡¯s not necessary, I have a bed in the rest area.¡± 134 134 ¡°The bed isn¡¯t veryfortable,¡± Connor said, slightly frowning. ¡°Your voice is nasal. Don¡¯t catch a cold. It could dy our work,¡± he added, his tone serious and brooking no argument. Cam paused. Indeed, she felt a bit congested and dizzy. The next two days were crucial. She couldn¡¯t afford any dys. She nodded in agreement, and Connor led her into a small rest lounge in his office. Cam had always known about the door next to his bookcase, but this was her first time inside. The bedding was styled just like the one at his home. ¡°Mr. Connor, it¡¯s not proper for me to sleep here. I¡¯m feeling much better already. You should rest. I¡¯d feel guilty if you were to fall ill because of me,¡± Cam said, turning to leave. However, a strong arm blocked the doorframe. Connor looked down at her. ¡°In quite healthy,¡± he said in a deep voice. ¡°Now, go get some sleep.¡± ¡°Mr. Connor, you take this room. The sofa is also quitefortable. I can sleep there,¡± Cam nced at the sofa outside. The leather sofa was spacious andfy, far better than the bed. ¡°I¡¯ll take the sofa. You take the bed,¡± Connor stated firmly. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. They stood rigid for a few seconds. Suddenly, Connor¡¯s lips curved into a slight smile, as he whispered close to her ear, ¡°Or would you prefer we share?¡± They were so close, nearly feeling each other¡¯s body warmth and heartbeat. His breath brushed against her cheek, causing her to shiver slightly, her ears turning bright red. Cam stepped back abruptly, stammering, ¡°You¡­ get out. I need to sleep.¡± Connor chuckled softly. ¡°I¡¯ll have someone bring you some fresh clothes tomorrow; rest for now,¡± he said, then turned to leave but paused to look back at her once more. She was wearing a fitted blouse and a pencil skirt. Connor walked to the wardrobe, pulled out a set of silk men¡¯s pajamas, and tossed them to Cam. Cam caught them, her breath hitching as she looked down. ¡°Change into something loose to sleep,¡± Connor¡¯s voice was low. It¡¯s okay. I can sleep in these,¡± Cam¡¯s ears warmed, her eyes blinking rapidly. ¡°Are you sure you can sleepfortably in that?¡± Connor frowned, clearly displeased. ¡°If you dawdle any longer, it will be morning. Change and get to bed.¡± Cam numbly nodded, feeling almost breathless. Connor nodded in satisfaction and left. Once the door closed, Cam gasped for air and copsed on the bed.vShe slowly unbuttoned her blouse and changed into the pajamas. The men¡¯s pajamas were long, and she rolled up the trouser legs and sleeves. The scent of theundry detergent on the pajamas was the same as the scent on his clothes¨Ca light, woody fragrance that was quite pleasant. As shey in bed, her heart was still pounding, and everything around her seemed imbued with Connor¡¯s presence. His bed and his clothes all enveloped her. She nced at the clock ¨C it was past five. She tapped her cheek lightly, reminding herself of the important days ahead, and turned over with a pillow, drifting off to sleep. Outside the rest lounge. Connor stood by the window, lighting a cigarette and taking a deep drag, his gaze unfocused as the smoke drifted out with his thoughts. Dawn was breaking, and he stubbed out the cigarette. 135 135 Ring, ring, ring- Cam fumbled for her phone to turn off the rm, stretchedzily with her eyes closed, and then suddenly snapped them open. She wasn¡¯t at home but in Connor¡¯s rest lounge! She scrambled out of be trying to quickly make it look presentable again, and tiptoed to pull open the guest room door. The light in Connor¡¯s office was slightly brighter, casting a gentle glow across the couch. Connor was sleeping quietly, one hand resting gently on his forehead, the other hanging limply off the edge of the couch. Cam slipped off her heels and walked barefoot across the room, squatting beside the couch, her hands cupping her face as she quietly gazed at him. The morning sun streamed through the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows, highlighting his strong nose and casting a handsome silhouette. His body carried a faint scent of cigars, his chest rising and falling gently. Cam mused, ¡°No wonder I can¡¯t control my heart with you looking so handsome.¡± Suddenly, his eyes slowly opened, meeting her sparkling gaze. In that moment of eye contact, the initial grogginess of waking vanished. Time seemed to freeze, and the sound of their breathing magnified in the still air. Cam hadn¡¯t expected him to wake up so suddenly and blinked nervously. ¡°Good morning, Mr. Connor,¡± she murmured, her voice soft. Connor stared at her lips moving, unable to hear what she was saying. Right then, he felt an urge to kiss those rosy lips. ¡°Mr. Connor?¡± Cam¡¯s lips parted slightly as she called his name again. Connor cleared his throat and swallowed before slowly sitting up on the couch. Cam stood as well, but having crouched too long, her feet had gone numb. Suddenly, her legs gave way, and her body uncontrobly leaned forward. Instinctively, Connor reached out and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her steadily into his embrace. ¡°Ah!¡± Cam eximed, instinctively looking up to meet his deep gaze. They were so close she could feel his breath on her face, tickling her. This proximity was dangerously intimate! Cam¡¯s heart raced, her cheeks flushing red in an instant. Connor felt a strong impulse surge through him again. He wanted to kiss her. Cam froze, not daring to move, her heart pounding as if it would leap out of her chest. She felt the stiffness in her body, and Connor slowly loosened his grip. As he let go, Cam immediately stepped back to stand straight. ¡°Numb feet?¡± His deep voice echoed in the air. ¡°Yes, Cam replied softly, tilting her head away, unable to meet his eyes. A phone call broke the silence. Connor answered it, ncing down to see a pair of delicate bare feet on the shiny tile floor. He frowned slightly before responding affirmatively to the caller. He hung up. Cam cleared her throat and said, ¡°Mr. Connor, it¡¯s still early. Why don¡¯t you go back to the rest lounge and rest a bit longer?¡± ¡°Why aren¡¯t you wearing shoes?¡± Connor asked. ¡°Ah?¡± Cam looked down, suddenly realizing she was barefoot, her toes awkwardly scratched at the floor. ¡°The heels were too loud. I didn¡¯t want to wake you.¡± ¡°There are slippers in the bathroom. Go put them on,¡± Connor frowned, ¡°The driver has brought clothes and breakfast. I¡¯ll go down to get them.¡± Cam raised her hand, insisting, ¡°I¡¯ll get them.¡± How could she let her boss go down himself? Connor smiled, ¡°Do you see how you look? Like a little potato.¡± Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Cam was momentarily taken aback. Her ill¨Cfitting pants were dragging on the floor, so he was teasing her about her height! T¡¯m not a Intle potato! Connorughed, ¡°You¡¯ve met my mom. She¡¯s 57, my dad is 6, and I¡¯m 61 Who¡¯s the little potato now?¡± 136 136 ¡°Being tall isn¡¯t everything!¡± Cam huffed, hands on her hips. ¡°I¡¯m five foot eight in heels!¡± Her heels added a good three inches to her height, making them an integral part of her stature. ¡°Oh, Connor chuckled, a trace of indulgence barely noticeable in his eyes. He spoke softly, ¡°Go put on your shoes.¡± Cam responded and ttered off to the bathroom to slip on a pair of men¡¯s slippers. When she returned from the bathroom, she found the office empty. She sat on the couch, bored, swinging her legs¡­ Ten minutester, the office door swung open, and Connor walked in, carrying severalrge paper bags. Cam immediately ran up to help him. Connor handed her two of the bags. ¡°These contain some women¡¯s clothing and toiletries. Get changed, and after your shower join me for breakfast.¡± Cam nodded, taking the bags back to the rest lounge. One bag contained a professional outfit: trousers, a blouse, underwear, and toiletries. From another bag, she pulled out bras¡­ Bras of all sizes, A, B, C, D, E, F¡­G. Cam frowned. Why did he think these would fit me? I might manage a D. She took a D cup and other items into the bathroom. After her shower, she was about to change into fresh clothes, when her eyes widened at the tags. Designerbels! The blouse was $2,580! The trousers, $3,326! She nearly choked on her own spit. Thankfully, she hadn¡¯t worn them out yet.¨CThey could be returned. She changed back into her clothes from the day before and meticulously folded the designer clothes to return them. She exited the rest lounge. Connor had already set up breakfast and even brewed two cups of coffee. Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Seeing her in yesterday¡¯s attire, Connor frowned, ¡°Why are you still wearing that?¡± ¡°Sir¡­ I can¡¯t wear those clothes. Please give me the receipt so I can return them¡­¡± ¡°The manager went to the store early this morning to pick those out, and you just want to return them? What about my dignity?¡± Connor¡¯s tone held a hint of displeasure. ¡°Go change.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Cam hesitated. ¡°No buts, change, and let¡¯s have breakfast. We have a busy day ahead,¡± Connor said firmly. ¡°Okay,¡± sighed Cam. After breakfast, Cam folded Connor¡¯s pajamas and packed them in a bag. ¡°Mr. Connor, I¡¯ve washed and packed your pajamas.¡± Connor, who disliked wearing clothes others had worn, said, ¡°No need, just dispose of them.¡± ¡®Dispose of them? So he disliked them that much because 1 wore them!¡® Cam forced a smile, ¡°Then I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± Well! If he disliked them, she might as well cut them up for doll clothes! Connor simply nodded. Cam left the office and returned to her desk, focusing on her work. By 8:30 AM, colleagues began arriving. She handed over the organized media materials to a colleague, who looked surprised. ¡°Cam, I left at three AMst night, and you were still here. I thought I¡¯d be the first one in today, but you beat me to it,¡± the colleague remarked. She smiled awkwardly, ¡°Actually, I left shortly after you did. I live close to the office, so it¡¯s convenient.¡± If her colleagues knew she had spent the night in the boss¡® rest lounge, that news would spread through thepany in under half a minute. By tomorrow, rumors that she was the boss¡® wife would be flying everywhere. ¡°This year, they should give you the Employee of the Year award,¡± her colleague said teasingly. Cam simply smiled faintly, choosing not to continue the conversation. 137 137 The press conference was buzzing with tense yet organized preparations. Wednesday. Future Inc.¡¯s press conference was held ahead of schedule, capturing widespread attention. Through a live stream essible both online and offline, global media and audiences were witnesses to the event. The debut of Future Go and Future Go Pro was the highlight, with both products featuring advanced autonomy and innovative functionalities. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. At the venue, Connor¡¯s speech was both professional and passionate. He borately detailed the features and technological edges of Future Go and Future Go Pro, deepening the audience¡¯s understanding of these products. He also announced partnerships with several intemationally renownedpanies and institutions to jointly promote these products. After the conference, the media gave rave reviews. Major outlets reported the grand event, giving high praise to Future Inc.¡¯s products and technology. The audience¡¯s response to Future Go and Future Go Pro was enthusiastic. These products¡® innovative designs and powerful features met people¡¯s expectations for bionic robots. Future Inc.¡¯s press conference was a tremendous sess. Moreover, Connor¡¯s first public appearance immediately sparked intense discussion among the tabloid media. These outlets marveled at how today¡¯s CEOs were increasingly remarkable. They not only excelled in business acumen but also matched top¨Ctier celebrities in looks. Suddenly, Connor¡¯s name spread wildly on social media, attracting significant attention from netizens. [How can someone naturally radiate such noble charisma!] [My novel¡¯s protagonist finally has a real¨Clife reference!] [Why chase celebrities when you could be following Connor!] [Paparazzi, I want all the details on this man within a minute!] The professional paparazzi felt indignant. They had tried their best but could only find Connor¡¯s educational background and basicpany information. Media outlets were moring to interview Connor, to the point where the public rtions department¡¯s phones were nearly overloaded. Eventually, Connor agreed to an interview with a reputable mainstream media outlet. The interview was set in thepany¡¯s reception room. Cam was confirming the interview topics with the reporter, who couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Can I ask some personal questions?¡± Cam smiled and shook her head. The reporter sighed regretfully. ¡°Alright, could you double¨Ccheck the interview topics for me?¡± Cam carefully reviewed the topics, which were all industry¨Crted. The reporter chuckled and said, ¡°I¡¯ve noticed that Future Inc. has a good¨Clooking boss and even stunning secretaries. It feels like I¡¯m in a TV drama. Do you recruit based on looks?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all about capability,¡± Cam responded with augh. ¡°Everything looks good. Please wait a moment. Mr. Connor will be here shortly.¡± There were still fifteen minutes to go before the scheduled interview time. After finishing a meeting, Connor returned to his office, looking slightly weary. He loosened his tie and casually tossed it into the trash can: Cam happened to open the office door at that moment and caught sight of this, her expression slightly surprised. Connor looked up at her and exined, ¡°Just finished a meeting, and Bryan was talking to me with his pen uncapped. It got on my tie 138 138 Cam nodded, her steps light as she walked into the rest lounge and carefully selected a new tie. She emerged from the rest lounge and handed the tie to Connor. Connor took the tie and straightened his cor, when suddenly his phone rang. He picked it up effortlessly. Cam stood by his side. Suddenly, Connor looked at her, mouthing the words. ¡°Help me with the tie.¡± Cam paused for a moment, then stepped forward and took the tie from his hand. Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Connor slightly bowed his head, his gaze lowered. The sudden closeness made Cam¡¯s heart race. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She began to tie the tie for Connor, her fingers gently grasping one end of the tie, slowly wrapping it around his neck. She was so close that the faint scent of shampoo was emanating from her. Connor watched her quietly. Her features were delicate, the lipstick she wore today suited her well, and her skin smooth and refined. Cam, focused on tying the tie, didn¡¯t notice his gaze fixed on her face. During this process, she could clearly feel Connor¡¯s breath and body heat. His chest rose and fell gently. This close contact stirred a strange nervousness within Cam, her cheeks warming slightly. Finally, the tie was done. Cam gently adjusted the position of the tie. ¡°Mr. Connor, all set.¡± Connor hummed, withdrawing his gaze. Five minutester, he ended the call and headed to the reception room. Together, they appeared, and the reporters immediately stood The reporters observed Connor up close and couldn¡¯t help but understand the frenzy of admiration online from women. His demeanor was so unique, as if he carried a natural regal aura. The image of the CEO and his secretary together was particrly striking. One was handsome, the other was beautiful, and they had just the right height difference. The reporters couldn¡¯t help but take a few extra nces. Connor smiled at the reporters while Cam sat quietly by the side, ready to record the interview content. The interview officially began. The reporter threw one professional and insightful question after another, to which Connor responded. thoughtfully and concisely, demonstrating his exceptional thinking ability and deep industry experience. The interview went smoothly, and time flew by. When the interview ended, the reporter felt profoundly enriched, and his admiration for Connor deepened. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Connor, the interview was very pleasant. May I ask you one more question?¡± ¡°Please, go ahead.¡± What inspired you to create the ¡®Future Go¡® product?¡± Connor paused slightly. ¡°A very important friend.¡± Cam, sitting nearby. gently lifted her eyes to Connor, wondering why there was a hint of sadness in his gaze. After the reporter left, Carp returned to her station, her tense nerves finally rxing. A call came from the reception desk. ¡°Cam, there¡¯s someone here to see you. It looks like they¡¯re here to cause trouble¡­ Cam¡¯s brows furrowed. Trouble¡­ The receptionist sent a photo of that person. II¡¯ve informed security. Don¡¯te downstairs) Cam (I¡¯m heading down now.) 139 139 Cam picked up her cell phone and headed to the elevator. The elevator doors slowly opened, and she stepped inside. *Cam, are you heading down?¡± a colleague, clutching a package, asked with a hint of concern. Cam nodded slightly and responded with a smile. The elevator began its slow descent. At that moment, Connor emerged from his office and noticed Cam¡¯s spot was now empty. He was about to return to his office when he suddenly heard an employee¡¯s voice. ¡°Mr. Connor, are you looking for Cam?¡± asked the employee holding the package. ¡°Yes,¡± Connor said, his face expressionless. ¡°Mr. Connor, Cam said she was going to the reception because someone was looking for her, and that person¡­ seemed a bit intimidating,¡± the employee said, clearly worried. Connor¡¯s expression hardened slightly. ¡°She went down by herself?¡± The colleague nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± Connor¡¯s brow furrowed, and he quickly moved to the elevator, only to find the doors had already closed. He immediately pressed the down button, anxiously waiting. He nced at the nearby stairs and took long strides, quickly descending the staircase, taking several steps at a time.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°What are you doing here!¡± Cam approached the reception desk, her eyes revealing displeasure and wariness as she looked at Marc. Marc stood there, puffing on a cigarette, his eyes fiercely fixed on her as if he could devour her whole. ¡°Cam, you really think you¡¯re so clever!¡± he sneered. Cam thought he was here because of the detention issue. Her tone was cold. ¡°Mr. Marc, you brought thew down on yourself because of your own illegal actions. If you feel wronged, appeal it, but don¡¯t cause a scene here!¡± ¡°How dare you bring up the detention center! You made me end up in jail. You¡¯re gonna pay for it!¡± Marc said through gritted teeth, his fists clenched. 888 1 3 2 0 8 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 2 3 3 5 2 The receptionists looked on nervously at the two, concerned for Cam¡¯s safety. ¡°Has security not arrived yet? Hurry them up,¡± one of the receptionists whispered. ¡°They said they¡¯re on their way, stuck in the elevator,¡± another responded. ¡°Mr. Marc, are you leaving on your own, or do I need to have security throw you out?¡± Cam said coldly. ¡°Is it you who had the supplier push me for payment!¡± Marc suddenly mmed his hand on the desk, startling the receptionists. Several employees who heard the noise also approached the reception area. Cam was slightly taken aback, not understanding why Marc would suddenly say that. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± she replied calmly, ncing at the gathered employees. She decided to take the conversation outside with Marc, ring at him. ¡°Let¡¯s talk outside.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you afraid they¡¯ll find out what you did?¡± Marc shouted loudly to the people around. ¡°This woman, Cam, is evil! Shended her own father- me! ¨C in jail and sabotaged my business!¡± The colleagues exchanged nces, none speaking, their eyesmunicating as though asking, ¡®Is that man really Cam¡¯s father? Ls what he¡¯s saying true? Cam, suppressing her anger, took a deep breath and looked at the receptionist, softly asking, ¡°Is security here yet?¡± They¡¯ll be here any minute! You go ahead, the receptionist said. ¡°Cam, don¡¯t get tangled up with him, just go inside. Cam decided to end this pointless argument. ¡°Mr. Marc, if you have nothing else, I¡¯m not at your disposal. She said coldly, then turned and prepared to leave. 140 140 However, Marc suddenly grabbed her arm. ¡°Stop right there! This isn¡¯t over yet!¡± Cam felt a pang of pain and forcefully shook Marc¡¯s grip off. ¡°What are you doing!¡± At that moment, a stern voice cut through the crowd. ¡°Let her go! Marc, you think you can cause trouble on my turf?¡± Connor¡¯s deep voice resonated as he pushed through the surrounding people, standing defiantly in front of Marc, his wordsced with a threat. Upon seeing Connor, a flicker of panic crossed Marc¡¯s eyes as he released Cam¡¯s hand. But he quickly regained his arrogant demeanor. ¡°It¡¯s you again. This is none of your business!¡± Connor didn¡¯t reply and just stated coldly at Marc, his gaze carrying an air of undeniable authority. Security arrived shortly. ¡°Could you please escort him out? Thank you,¡± Cam said to the security.. ¡°Sir, pleasee with us,¡± two security guards approached Marc, their tone firm. ¡°Back off! Don¡¯t touch me!¡± Marc red at the guards, his eyes filled with fury, showing apletely uncooperative attitude. ¡°Let¡¯s talk outside,¡± Cam said coldly, looking at him. Marc nced around and noticed many employees had gathered. He knew continuing this scene would not be in his favor. He snorted, which was taken as acquiescence, and followed Cam and the guards out. Connor silently followed behind them. The guards led Marc to thepany¡¯s rooftop garden, a rtively quiet spot that wouldn¡¯t disturb others. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. ¡°Why are you so petty! Can¡¯t stand to see me seed, can you? You got all the vendors to press me for payments at the same time!¡± Marc used Cam arrogantly,pletely disregarding Connor. Cam sneered, ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about!¡± ¡°You still won¡¯t admit it!¡± Marc aggressively closed in on Cam, his eyes filled with scorn and rage. Connor immediately stepped in front of Cam, locking eyes firmly with Marc. ¡°I did it.¡± His voice was low and powerful. Cam was momentarily stunned, looking up at Connor, a ripple of emotion passing through her heart. ¡°So it was you!¡± Marc shouted furiously. ¡°What exactly did you do to those vendors to make them all press for payments at once? I have no quarrel with you, so why are you trying to ruin me?¡± Connor stared coldly at Marc, a mocking smile ying at the corners of his mouth. ¡°Simply because I don¡¯t like you.¡± Marc was infuriated by Connor¡¯s demeanor, and his facial muscles twisted as he lunged forward with his fist. ¡°Watch out!¡± Cam shouted, instinctively grabbing Connor¡¯s arm. Connor calmly stepped aside, grabbing Cam¡¯s arm tightly and smiling reassuringly at her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s all right.¡± ¡°Hey!¡± the security shouted loudly, pulling Marc back. Marc struggled angrily, his phone ringing incessantly. Irritated, he answered with a harsh tone, ¡°What is it!¡± The voice on the other end stopped him in his tracks, hisplexion turning pale instantly. Clutching his phone tightly, his eyes filled with unease and panic. ¡°Which hospital? I¡¯ll be right there!¡± After hanging up, he suddenly clutched his chest, bending over in pain. ¡°Take me to the Central Hospital immediately!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Cam noticed Marc¡¯s extremely pale face. She wondered if their confrontation had triggered a heart attack. 141 141 ¡°Scott¡­ Scott has been in a car ident and is at the hospital!¡± Marc said in agony, his voice trembling. Cam was stunned. A chill spread through her heart. So, this was the way Marc showed his love for his child. Central Hospital. Marc walked haltingly as if he had aged ten years in an instant. His face was pale, his eyes brimming with endless worry and anxiety as he frantically asked where his son¡¯s operating room was. Cam and Connor silently followed behind him. At the entrance to the operating room, Betty was already waiting there, her face etched with concern. Besides her, several police officers were present. Marc saw the officers, and his face changed. He realized that this situation might not be so simple. He nervously held Betty¡¯s hand, repeatedly murmuring, ¡°My son¡­¡± Cam scoffed at him. Turning to Connor, she said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± At that moment, Tabitha approached leisurely, arm in arm, with a middle¨Caged man. When she saw Cam, Tabitha¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, her tone carrying a hint of disdain, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Cam ignored her question, her gaze settling on the middle¨Caged man Tabitha was arm¨Cin¨Carm with. ¡°My dear son¨Cinw, please take a seat. Scott¡­ he¡¯s still in surgery,¡± Marc grasped Griffin¡¯s hand, his face full of sorrow. Griffin nodded, his gaze sweeping over everyone before he sat down on a nearby chair. His expression was mostly unreadable, yet it was clear he wasn¡¯t overly concerned about Scott¡¯s condition. Cam was taken aback. This man was about the same age as Marc and was¡­ Tabitha¡¯s husband! Connor was also surprised. He had researched Tabitha¡¯s family recently, and Tabitha was still single. ¡°I need to ask a favor,¡± Marc said pleadingly to Griffin. ¡°Could you talk to the other suppliers and ask them not to demand immediate payment from Sherrill Supermarket?¡± Griffin smiled slightly, his tone cool and detached. ¡°Mr. Marc, you know that in business, interests come first. I¡¯ve already considered the debt you owe me as a wedding gift. As for the rest, I¡¯m really powerless to help.¡± ¡°But, we¡¯re family. You can¡¯t just stand by and watch us fail,¡± Marc urged. ¡°I¡¯ve decided to stop supplying fresh produce to Sherrill Supermarket starting tomorrow,¡± Griffin replied with a nce. ¡°What do you mean by this? Why¡¯re you kicking us when we¡¯re down?¡± Marc eximed angrily, ring at Griffin. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. At that moment, Betty quietly pulled on Tabitha¡¯s sleeve, hinting for her to intervene. However, Tabitha just scoffed coldly, her tone indifferent. ¡°Mom, you know, I¡¯ve married Griffin. How could I harm his family¡¯s interests for the sake of the Sherrill family?¡± ¡°You! After all these years, I¡¯ve raised you, fed you, clothed you¨Chow can you say such things?¡± Marc erupted in anger, his face filled with disappointment as he red at Tabitha. Tabitha remained silent, merely giving him a cold nce. She knew what this meant¨Cif Griffin stopped supplying fresh produce, the supermarket¡¯s business would be greatly affected. Connor leaned close to Cam and whispered, ¡°Didn¡¯t expect to see such a spectacle.¡± Cam nodded with a smile. She might as well have been holding a bag of popcorn. Just then, a police officer approached, holding a forensic report, his expression very serious. ¡°Who is Scott¡¯s family member?¡± the officer asked, his voice cold. am his father,¡± Marc replied. The officer handed Marc the report. ¡°This is the alcohol content in Scott¡¯s blood, 316.9mg/100ml, which indicates drunk driving. The ident was caused by drunk driving, and the victim¡¯s condition is very critical.¡± 142 142 Hearing the news, Marc furrowed his brows deeply. ¡°I have money. I canpensate the injured! Don¡¯t let my son go to jail!¡± The traffic officer gave him a cold nce. ¡°Causing a traffic ident isn¡¯t something you can just pay off.¡± Cam had thought it was just a regr car ident, but to her dismay, it turned out that Scott had been driving under the influence. Anger welled up inside her. ¡°How is the injured party doing?¡± Marc couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°The victim is still in surgery, and the outlook isn¡¯t good,¡± the officer said gravely. Marc fell silent. This situation wouldn¡¯t be easy to resolve. He looked down at the medical report in his hand and suddenly shouted, ¡°No, this can¡¯t be right! How could Scott¡¯s blood type be AB! Both her mother and I are type A!¡± Tabitha abruptly looked up at Betty, whose face turned instantly pale. Her mind was a mess. She knew what this implied. Her palms began to sweat and her body trembled slightly. She knew she had to stay calm andposed. I am type B blood.¡± Tabitha watched Betty in shock. She knew clearly that Betty was type A, while she and Scott were both type AB. This meant¡­. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°You are type A. You had a testst year when you had surgery,¡± Marc said, his gaze bing sharp as he stared intensely at Betty. There must be some mistake! This report got to be wrong!¡± Betty¡¯s voice was agitated, ¡°There¡¯s definitely a mistake in these results.¡± The officer nced at her and said, ¡°We used thetest model of blood analysis machine. It doesn¡¯t make mistakes. The blood was drawn directly from Scott.¡± Marc, furious, crumpled the report in his hand, stormed up to Betty, and fiercely grabbed her by the cor, yelling, ¡°Tell me the damn truth!¡± Betty shed her previously fragile persona with a cold smirk, ¡°I never said Scott was your son.¡± Hearing this, Marc¡¯s expression turned extremely ugly. ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°I said, the son you¡¯ve been raising isn¡¯t yours by blood,¡± Betty stated bluntly, ¡°He has no gic ties to you.¡± Marc was stunned, unable to believe his ears. He stammered, ¡°How is this possible?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the truth,¡± Betty said coldly, ¡°The son you thought was yours is actually another man¡¯s child.¡± Marc turned pale, his body swayed, and he almost fell. ¡°How can this be¡­ How can this be¡­¡± he muttered to himself. ¡°Even Tabitha isn¡¯t your daughter either. I¡¯ve been on birth control the whole time we¡¯ve been together.¡± Betty forcefully freed herself from his grasp, her indifferent eyes carrying a hint of scorn. Hearing this, Marcpletely broke down. He felt as if his world had copsed; his beloved son was not his own. He staggered back a few steps, leaning weakly against the wall. At the same time, Cam and Connor exchanged shocked looks. ¡°Cam¡­ Cam¡­ Marc suddenly, like a madman, rushed towards Cam. Connor immediately stepped in front of Cam, his eyes sharp like des, warning Marc not to make any rash moves. ¡°Cam¡­ tell me¡­ what¡¯s your blood type. I need to take you for testing.¡± Marc¡¯s voice trembled, almost unable to control his emotions. His eyes were filled with anxiety and hope, as if searching for thest bit of hope, 143 143 Cam watched Marc, her heart a tumult of emotions. In that moment, he was no longer the dashing tycoon, but a frail old man, staggering under the weight of the truth. She spoke softly, ¡°My blood type is none of your business, and I won¡¯t be going for any tests with you. From the moment I was born, you abandoned my mother and me. You were heartless.¡± Her voice was calm, yet filled with resolve and indifference. Her gaze was icy as she nced at Tabitha and then at the brightly lit operating room. With a lightugh, she said, ¡°Mr. Marc, perhaps this is your ¡®just deserts¡°.¡± Cam¡¯s words pierced Marc¡¯s heart like a knife. He clutched his head in agony, staggering and leaning on a bench for support. He knew ire, and he knew the woman before him was his only daughter. He wanted to exin, to make amends, but he knew it was toote. Cam smiled faintly, a trace of relief in her eyes. She turned to Connor and said softly, ¡°Mr. Connor, let¡¯s go.¡± Connor nodded, gently guiding Cam away from the scene. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°Cam¡­ Cam¡­¡± Marc copsed powerlessly into the chair, staring nkly in the direction Cam had left, his heart swirling with indescribable regret and pain. Cam and Connor walked out of the hospital, and she looked up at the sky, taking a deep breath. In that moment, she felt an unprecedented sense of relief and freedom. She turned to Connor with a sweet smile and said, ¡°Mr. Connor, I¡¯ll treat you to ice cream.¡± Connor nced at her, a smile curling at his lips. He teasingly replied, ¡°Treating me to a dessert you know I don¡¯t like? Or is it actually you who wants it?¡± Cam winked andughed, ¡°Well, I¡¯m in a good mood and feel like having some ice cream.¡± Theirughter mingled. Let¡¯s go, Connor said, his eyes reflecting affection. They entered a renowned dessert parlor. Cam confidently walked up to the counter and ordered two scoops of ice cream and a drink. As the tempting scoops of ice cream were ced at their table, Cam scooped a spoonful into her mouth, closing her eyes as if savoring the sweet vor. Connor watched her content expression, reminded of the time she tasted an orange¨Cvored candy. Back then, her eyes sparkled with surprise, as if the whole world had turned sweeter. They sat by a window, the bustling street and passersby visible through the ss. Suddenly, Cam asked, ¡°Mr. Connor, are you sure you won¡¯t try some?¡± Connor smiled and shook his head, ¡°You enjoy it. Sweets aren¡¯t for me.¡± Cam frowned slightly, puzzled, ¡°Didn¡¯t you eat candy as a kid?¡± Connor just smiled, watching her quietly. ¡°Thanks, Mr. Connor,¡± Cam put down her spoon, her gaze sincere, ¡°Thank you for always protecting me, for standing up for me without hesitation whenever I was bullied.¡± Connor looked at her and smiled, ¡°As your supervisor, it¡¯s only natural to protect you. No thanks needed.¡± Camughed softly, ¡°I know, but I still want to say thank you, I always thought I was quite unlucky. Maybe all my luck was spent on meeting a great boss like you.¡± 144 144 ¡°Such a tterer,¡± Connor teased with augh, but the adoration in his eyes was undeniable. Cam responded with a radiant smile that lit up the entire dessert caf¨¦ like a burst of sunshine. Soon, she had finished her ice cream and nced at Connor¡¯s melting cup with a swallow. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to have that?¡± Connor shook his head with a smile. ¡°It would be a waste not to.¡± Cam said as she scooped his cup of ice cream towards herself. ¡°Eating all that ice cream?¡± Connor frowned slightly, his toneced with concern. ¡°It¡¯s fine once in a while, Cam chuckled, spooning another mouthful of ice cream. Connor shook his head helplessly. Back home, after days of insufficient sleep, Cam showered and fell asleep as soon as she hit the bed. But she had a restless night, waking up frequently. In her drowsy state, she realized her period had started. She washed up in the middle of the night and went back to bed, only to be awoken by unbearable stomach pains. Taking a painkiller, she drifted back to sleep. Merning came. Sunlight crept through the slits in the curtains, casting quiet shadows in the living room. Connor, having woken early and dressed in his joggers, checked the time¨Cit was 7:15 AM, and Cam was nowhere to be seen. Pacing the room with a furrowed brow, he checked the time again. Nearly 7:30 AM, and still no sign of her. With no other option, he tried calling her, but her phone was off. Worried, Connor left. Upon reaching her apartment, he rang the doorbell several times to no avail. He typed in the passcode. Beep- The door opened. He couldn¡¯t believe that the code hadn¡¯t been changed. He entered briskly and knocked on Cam¡¯s bedroom door but got no response. Pushing the door open, he found Cam lying on her side, clutching a pillow, her expression pained. Connor¡¯s face fell, a wave of anxiety washing over him. He approached the bed softly, sitting beside her and gently ced his hand on her forehead to check for fever, but there was none. He gently shook her arm. ¡°Cam.¡± Cam slowly opened her eyes, her vision blurring slightly at the sight of him. ¡°I have stomach pains.¡± she murmured, her voice weak and forlorn. Connor¡¯s brow tightened. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the hospital.¡± Cam grabbed his sleeve, shaking her head. ¡°It¡¯s just my period.¡± Connor paused, a flicker of embarrassment crossing his face. Could you get me a painkiller from that drawer?¡± Cam pointed at the wardrobe, her voice weak and weary. Connor followed her gesture, quickly found the medicine bottle, and fetched a ss of warm water from the kitchen. He carefully helped Cam sit up, ced the pill in her mouth, and gently helped her drink the water to swallow the medicine. Cam grimaced as she swallowed, and Connor gently helped her lie back down. ¡°Does it still hurt?¡± Cam smiled weakly and shook her head, her forehead sweaty and her hair disheveled. The medicine hasn¡¯t kicked in that fast.¡±Original content from N?velDrama.Org. 145 145 Connor fetched a towel from the bathroom, soaking it in warm water before wringing it out. Returning to the bedroom, he sat on the edge of the bed, gazing down at Cam¡¯s peaceful sleeping face as he gently wiped the sweat from her forehead. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± he asked, his voice low and soft. Cam, half¨Cawake, nodded slightly. ¡°Mmm.¡± ¡°Does it always hurt like this?¡± She shook her head, her voice as faint as a mosquito¡¯s, ¡°Maybe I ate too much ice cream yesterday.¡± ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have let you have two servings yesterday,¡± Connor frowned slightly, his eyes filled with regret and his voice soft and self¨Creproaching. He continued to tenderly wipe the sweat from her forehead, his movements so gentle as if afraid of hurting her further. ¡°Mr. Connor, I need to take a day off today,¡± Cam said, looking up at him. Connor nodded, ¡°You get some more rest.¡± As Cam closed her eyes, she felt the man beside her leave, likely heading back to work. She turned over and hugged a stuffed bear, Original content from N?velDrama.Org. falling asleep. Connor went to a nearby pharmacy. ¡°Hello, I was wondering¡­ for menstrual pain¡­ she¡¯s already taken painkillers. Is there anything else that can alleviate the pain?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the clerk led him to the counter, ¡°This heating waist belt can provide good relief from menstrual difort.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take this one.¡± Connor approached the counter to pay. This whole thing was out of his depth, so he asked, ¡°How do you use this?¡± The clerk exined, ¡°Tear open the package, ce the white heating side smoothly against the skin on the abdomen, and then secure it with the stic band.¡± Connor paid close attention. Upon returning to Cedarhill Estate, he confidently made his way to Cam¡¯s bedroom. He found her sleeping on her side, clutching the stuffed bear. ¡°Cam Connor began softly. Cam mumbled, her brow furrowing slightly as she hugged the bear tighter. Connor had no choice but to give up on the idea of letting her do it herself. He opened the package of the heating belt, gently lifted the nket, and after a moment¡¯s hesitation, lifted her nightgown. Her waistline was beautiful, with faint hints of toned muscles. Connor paused for a few seconds, mesmerized. He ced the heating belt on her abdomen, but with her lying on her side, it was difficult to position correctly. After several attempts, he gently took the toy from her arms and adjusted her to lie on her back. He carefully positioned the belt on her abdomen and softly lifted her waist to secure the stic band. He exhaled softly, feeling the heat, then pulling down her nightgown, he gently pulled the nket up. Before he could cover herpletely, Cam suddenly turned over, grabbing Connor¡¯s hand. Connor leaned forward, and his hand inadvertentlynded on Cam¡¯s chest. His eyes widened and his fingers stifferted, too shocked to move. Cam frowned slightly, her voice tinier than a mosquito¡¯s, ¡°Be, why are you so hard?¡± Connor swallowed hard, feeling unbearably hot. He looked at the toy he had just taken from her, named Be. Carefully, he reached with his free hand to retrieve ¡®Be¡®. Slowly, v very slowly, he withdrew his hand from her embrace and reced it with Be¡®. After quickly pulling the nket up, he almost ran out of the bedroom. Connor stood at the doorway, his mouth dry and his whole body incredibly overheated. He immediately went to the kitchen, pulled out two bottles of chilled mineral water from the fridge, and drank them down quickly. Soon, the table was empty of the two bottles of water, and Connor belched 146 146 He was breathing heavily, feeling still a bit hot, and decided to go home for a shower and a change of clothes. *** Cam slept until noon, groggily sitting up in bed. Her stomach felt warm, as if something was there. So she lifted her nightgown and Original content from N?velDrama.Org. looked down. She was taken aback. When had she put this thing on? Her mind raced. It wasn¡¯t her doing. Only Connor knew her apartment¡¯s code and he was the only one who had visited. He must have put the band on.. Cam¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she frantically grabbed the cellphone from the nightstand. It was turned off. She rolled over to plug in the charger, but it wouldn¡¯t charge. She then noticed the outlet was loose. After securing the charger, her phone turned on within half a minute. Connor had called her eight times and sent thirteen messages. Cam pped her forehead, burying her head into the pillow. She was still in her pajama pants, oh how embarrassing. She removed the waist patch, tied up her long hair casually, and grabbed some clothes to take a shower. As she opened the bedroom door and passed through the living room, Cam froze. ¡°You, you, you¡¯re still here?¡± she stammered, startled. Connor sat on the couch, aptop on hisp, surrounded by dozens of documents. Connor looked up, slightly stunned to see her. She was still in her nightgown, her curves clearly visible. Connor¡¯s eyes trembled slightly, then he quickly averted his gaze. That damn heat surged again. He frowned slightly, coughed softly, and took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. In a quiet voice, he said, ¡°I was worried you might pass away at home unnoticed.¡± Cam remembered she wasn¡¯t wearing a bra, so she silently shifted the clothes in her hands upward to cover her chest. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower.¡± With that, she quickly walked to the bathroom. As she turned, a piece of cloth fell. ¡°Hey.¡± Connor called out, but she had already slipped into the bathroom and shut the door. Connor moved hisptop to the couch and got up to pick up the fallen item. He paused slightly. It was her underwear. He awkwardly knocked on the bathroom door. ¡°What is it?¡± Cam asked from inside. ¡°You dropped something.¡± Cam quickly flipped through her clothes, her mind buzzing. ¡°Thanks.¡± She slightly opened the bathroom door, reaching out her hand without looking at him. Connor ced the underwear in her hand, and Cam quickly shut the door. He chuckled softly. Returning to the couch, he ced theptop back on hisp, but his thoughts drifted elsewhere. The image of her in that nightgown lingered in his mind. He shook his head and moved theptop away, fetching a bottle of chilled mineral water from the fridge. Cam came out of the bathroom and was instantly drawn by the aroma of cooked food. She saw the dining tableden with delicious, steaming dishes. ¡°Come have lunch, Connor said softly. Cam approached, a faint scent of body wash lingering on her. Connor handed her a fork. ¡°Thanks,¡± Cam took it. She was a bit hungry, so she sat down and began to eat. Connor nced at her once, then sat down opposite to eat as well. ¡°Does your stomach still hurt?¡± Cam shook her head, ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t.¡± After that, the two quietly ate their meal. After lunch, Connor returned to his work on the couch. Watching his focused figure, a warm feeling surged in Cam¡¯s heart. She began clearing the table. As she was about to do the dishes Connor seemed to notice her movements and looked up. ¡°Don¡¯t touch the cold water. I¡¯ll wash the dishes.¡± 147 147 Connor rose to his feet and approached her With a yful smile, Cam teased, ¡°You know how to wash dishes?¡± Connor slightly furrowed his brow at the question and sheepishly responded, ¡°Uh, yeah.¡± Unable to hold back, Cam burst intoughter. ¡°Mr. Connor, the faucet has hot water. I can handle the dishes.¡± Connor paused, taken aback. He rarely set foot in the kitchen, so he could only chuckle awkwardly, ¡°I see, I actually had no idea.¡± Watching him, Cam couldn¡¯t help butugh again. ¡°Mr. Connor, no need to pretend, let me do it.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Connor nodded, ¡°Alright then.¡± Cam slipped on some gloves, turned on the warm water, and began washing the dishes. Connor stood beside her, quietly watching. Cam¡¯s hair, not tied up after drying, fell across her eyes, and she pushed it back with her arm. Notcing this, Connor gently tucked her stray hair behind her ear. His touch was light, causing Cam to pause, her heart pounding rapidly as a blush crept onto her face. Connor noticed her reaction and immediately asked with concern, ¡°Are you feeling unwell again?¡± Cam shook her head, took a deep breath to calm herself, and continued washing the dishes. ¡°Do you have your passport?¡± Cam turned to him, a hint of confusion in her eyes, and nodded lightly, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Send your passport details to n. Prepare for a business trip after the Thanksgiving break.¡± Hearing this, Cam¡¯s lips curved into an excited smile. ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°Saudi Arabia.¡± A spark of excitement shed in Cam¡¯s eyes. Since she had gotten her passport, she had yet to travel abroad, and now her first business trip was to Saudi Arabia. This thrilling news filled her with excitement. ¡°Really? Can I really go?¡± she asked eagerly. Connor affirmed, ¡°Yes, we¡¯re discussing a partnership there.¡± Hearing this, Cam¡¯s excitement grew. She nodded, smiling, and began washing the dishes with even more care. Connor watched her enthusiastic expression and smiled softly. ¡°You might want to look up the dress code for women there.¡± Cam gave an okay sign andughed, ¡°I will.¡± Upon hearing the news, Cam¡¯s eyes lit up, and she could hardly believe her ears. She whispered, ¡°So does this mean I can skip the gym too?¡± Connor¡¯s brow furrowed slightly as he looked at her, then he nodded. Cam cheered, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Connor! You truly care about your employees.¡± She felt relieved to finally take a break, as the past few days at work had been tiring, and skipping the gym was an added bonus. Connor watched her excitement with a smile. Curious, Cam asked, ¡°How did CoreTech¡¯sunch event go?¡± Connor¡¯s lips curved into a smug smile. ¡°It was a flop.¡± Ugh, shameless! They steal our technology and try to beat us to the punch with aunch event? What skills do they even have?¡± Cam eaid indignantly. Connor chuckled softly, a hint of disdain crossing his face. ¡°The strong do not fear.¡± His voice was deep andmanding, as if carrying a persuasive power. In this fiercelypetitive business era, only the strong could truly stand undefeated. Cam looked at him, her eyes filled with admiration. She understood that Connor¡¯s confidence and authority weren¡¯t unfounded but were the results of their team¡¯s hard work and superior products. 148 148 In the afternoon, Connor went back to the office for a meeting. Cam was left alone at home. Sitting on the sofa, she suddenly felt an emptiness inside her. She headed to the storage room and dug out some boxed¨Cup books. It was time to pick up Arabic again, which she hadn¡¯t touched in two years. *** On her rare holiday, Cam visited her mother, ire.. ¡°Happy Thanksgiving, Godmom!¡± Erica, beaming with smiles, entered carrying bags full of health supplements. ¡°Erica, you really shouldn¡¯t bring so much every time youe. The house is nearly overflowing,¡± ire said, slightly furrowing her brows in a helpless tone. Erica chuckled and turned to Cole, teasing, ¡°With Cole here, we hardly need to buy fruits anymore.¡± Cole, embarrassed, scratched his head and gave an awkward smile. Cam couldn¡¯t help butugh quietly to herself. She looked at her mom and Cole, understanding that their rtionship was like a butterful in a cocoon, ready toe out and change at the next moment. Cam believed her mother had feelings for Cole. Her mom was always joyful when he came around, and her face would lighten up at the mention of his name, her tone filled with tenderness. However, ire always avoided discussing her rtionship with Cole. Whenever Cam tried to bring it up, ire would change the subject or find an excuse to leave. Cam knew that her mother was afraid of being hurt again, fearful that her heart would once more be let down by someone else. ¡°Where¡¯s Craig today? Haven¡¯t seen him,¡± Erica curiously asked. ¡°Craig had to work today, but he¡¯ll be joining us soon,¡± Cole replied. As ire was setting up the meals, she said with a smile, ¡°Craig¡¯s colleague will also join us. He¡¯s from out of town and spending the holiday alone seemed too lonely, so I asked Craig to bring him along.¡± Erica and Cam exchanged knowing nces, so ire was setting up a blind date for Cam. Cam nodded resignedly, thinking how genuinely well¨Cmeaning this was. Ding¨Cdong- Cam stood from the sofa to answer the door. Upon opening it, she was greeted by a familiar figure¨CCraig. ¡°Hey, Craig,¡± she greeted with a smile. Craig, tall and dressed casually in a T¨Cshirt and jeans, wore a friendly smile. ¡°This is my colleague, John, Craig introduced. Cam nodded at him, ¡°Hello, wee to our home.¡± John paused, his dark eyes shing with surprise; he hadn¡¯t expected the girl from the blind date to be so attractive. He¡¯d thought Craig was just boasting, but it turned out Craig wasn¡¯t lying at all. Shyly, John greeted Cam, ¡°Hello,¡± his voice trembling slightly with nerves. ¡°Come in, have a seat,¡± Cam said politely. ¡°Come on in, dinner¡¯s ready,¡± ire called out warmly, her smile forming a lovely curve. ire eyed John appreciatively, thinking, *What a good¨Clooking young man¨Che¡¯s quite pleasing to the eye.* Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°Ma¡¯am, I brought some pumpkin pies,¡± John replied nervously, clutching a beautifully wrapped gift box. ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t have to do that. Thank you for your thoughtfulness, I love it,¡± ireughed as she took the pumpkin pies, gesturing for John to sit down and turning to Cam, ¡°Make sure our guest feels wee.¡± 149 149 Cam replied and poured coffee for Craig and John. John has only been with ourpany for two years, but he¡¯s diligent and even the leadership praises him.¡± Craig¡¯s face lit up with approval as he added, ¡°Not only is he capable at work, but he also handles himself well socially. He¡¯s really a rising star in our department.¡± John smiled shyly. ire listened intently, nooding asionally, clearly impressed with John. Erica whispered to Cam, ¡°Looks like she is quite pleased, what do you think? Besides Mr. Connor, does anyone even catch your eye?¡± Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Cam nced at Erica and waned softly, ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense in front of my mom.¡± Erica grinned cheekily and said to ire, ¡°ire, seems like John has a bright future ahead.¡± ire nodded in satisfaction. Cam could only smile awkwardly and pinched Erica on the back sneakily. ¡°Yes, and John also has an impressive education. He¡¯s a graduate from a prestigious university,¡± Craig added. Erica sat beside them, grinning and teasing Craig, ¡°Dude, you¡¯re still single yourself, yet you¡¯re so enthusiastic about your colleague.¡± ire pped her thigh, shifting her focus to Erica. ¡°Erica dear, do you have a boyfriend yet?¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t,¡± Cam replied with augh. Erica looked shocked. Cam found the situation amusing and thought, ¡°Let¡¯s see some sparks fly.¡± Erica gave Cam a pleading look: I messed up, save me. Cam chuckled, interrupting her mother¡¯s inquiry and pulling her towards the kitchen, ¡°Mom, the soup¡¯s boiling over.¡± ire clicked her tongue. ¡°I was in the middle of talking, how rude. Well, let¡¯s taste if the soup needs more vor.¡± ¡°Mom, please stop ying matchmaker,¡± Camughed, serving a small bowl of soup. Cam carefully blew on the hot soup before handing it to ire. ¡°John seems nice,¡± ire said, taking the soup but examining Cam instead. ¡°Honey, tell mom honestly, do you already have someone you like?¡± Cam was taken aback, not expecting her mother to ask that. She quickly denied, ¡°No, mom, what made you think that?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t hide it from me. I can tell when you¡¯re troubled.¡± There¡¯s really no one,¡± Cam insisted. Then why are you reluctant to meet someone I introduce?¡± ire pressed. ¡°I¡¯m focusing on my career right now. I¡¯m not thinking about that yet,¡± Cam replied. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t push you for now,¡± ire sighed. ¡°I just worry about our family. I fear the day I¡¯m gone, you¡¯ll be alone.¡± Cam frowned, ¡°Mom, you¡¯re healthy, and I promise, when the right onees, I¡¯ll get married.¡± ire nodded and tasted the soup, ¡°Seems a bit nd,¡± she added a pinch of salt. At the Passos Estate. The Passos family took their traditions seriously, especially on Thanksgiving, when all family members were expected to gather and celebrate together. During dinner, Connor, along with Peter and Emily, entered the main house to dine with the elders. At that moment, Ray, Carson, Hugh, and Jordan were casually chatting over tea. Grandpa, Uncle Carson, Uncle Hugh, Mr Jordan, good evening,¡± Connor greeted them respectfully. Jordan looked pleased with Connor, ¡°I watched your press conference the other day, very impressive. You have a lot of your grandfather¡¯s spirit he said, then wayed to a girl nearby. 150 150 The girl was chatting with Madison and her friends when she saw Jordan¡¯s gesture. She smiled and said, ¡°Grandma, excuse me.¡± Madison smiled and nodded. As the girl turned, a sh of displeasure crossed her eyes but quickly returned to a smile. Evelyn couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Is Ray really nning to set Annabelle up with Connor? The Mullins family owns 3% of Passos Corporation.¡± Holly chimed in, ¡°Yeah, isn¡¯t Dad being a bit biased? Sam is also pursuing Annabelle.¡± Madison sighed lightly, ¡°Love can¡¯t be forced. I think Annabelle and Connor are quite a match; both kids are great.¡± Madison stood up and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go check on dinner,¡± then left the room. Evelyn scoffed, ¡°Only she would be so generous. If it were me, I wouldn¡¯t have the heart to agree to bring Peter back to the Passos family.¡± Holly gritted her teeth, ¡°Ray¡¯s favoritism towards Connor is no small matter. Despite Dad not giving Peter any shares in Passos, he gave Connor 1% of the shares. My two sons have been working in the group for so long and got nothing.¡± Evelyn nced at her, ¡°Just keep it down here. Don¡¯t let the wrong ears hear that.¡± Holly nodded. *** Annabelle, in a light purple dress, stood tall and elegant, her demeanor exuding a unique gentleness without being shy. She sat politely next to Jordan, her smile slight as she nodded gently to everyone. This simple gesture conveyed a sense of poise and confidence. Jordan looked at her affectionately and introduced her to Connor, ¡°This is my granddaughter Annabelle, just back from studying abroad.¡± Connor nodded slightly, greeting her politely, ¡°Ms. Annabelle, nice to meet you.¡± His voice was deep and charismatic, yet carried a subtle distance. Jordan, admiringly, said to Connor, ¡°Connor, you¡¯re so young yet so capable. I have high hopes for you.¡± Connor humbly replied, ¡°Mr. Jordan, you tter me. I still have much to learn from you.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Jordanughed, ¡°Ah, that¡¯s the spirit a young man should have.¡± Connor sat among the elders without any difort, naturally conversing with them. Madison came out of the kitchen, announcing, ¡°Dinner is ready, everyone please take your seats.¡± The group rose and followed Madison to the dining room. Avish dinner wasid out, a feast for the eyes. Once everyone was seated, the conversation between Connor and Annabelle became the focus of attention. Sam clenched his fork, almost losing his temper on the spot. His father pressed his thigh, signaling him not to upset Ray in such a setting. Emily, quite dissatisfied, whispered to Peter, ¡°Why did Ray set up a blind date for Connor?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not exactly a setup,¡± Peter exined. ¡°Mr. Jordan took Annabelle to inspect the harbor today and Dad happened to meet them, so he invited them over for dinner.¡± Emily sighed, ncing at Annabelle, ¡°Though Annabelle seems sweet, I think there¡¯s more to her than meets the eye.¡± ¡°Growing up in such a prominent family, how could she not be shrewd?¡± Peter, holding her hand, smiled, ¡°Connor isn¡¯t a pushover either. He won¡¯t just be manipted. Rx.¡± Chapter 151 Chapter 151 After dinner, Ray took the head of the sofa, while Annabelle sat opposite Connor. Ray smiled at Annabelle and said, ¡°I¡¯m an old man out of touch with today¡¯s world. I hardly know what to talk about with you young folks. Aren¡¯t you bored?¡± Annabelle replied with a demure smile, ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯re joking. I learn a lot from our conversations.¡± Ray chuckled at her response. ¡°Connor, why don¡¯t you take Annabelle out to the garden for a walk? Go enjoy the moonlight, don¡¯t just sit inside.¡± ¡°Of course, Grandpa,¡± Connor said with a nod. Connor and Annabelle left the main house and walked to the backyard garden. There was a beautifully designed lily pond there, where the water lilies were in full bloom, reflecting the moonlight in a breathtaking disy. Meanwhile, Ray and Jordan were chatting inside. Jordanmented, ¡°Connor is a remarkable young man. I¡¯m very pleased with him.¡± Ray nodded, ¡°With Annabelle by his side, his future looks even brighter.¡± Madison added, ¡°I hope they can support each other and grow together. After all, they are both talented individuals who deserve a bright future.¡± Holly and Hugh looked slightly displeased. They had always envisioned Annabelle as their future daughter-inw and were a bit resentful, but they managed to swallow their grievances and kept smiling. Peter, sitting on the side, just smiled without saying a word. *** Annabelle admired the lily pond and said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s beautiful here, isn¡¯t it?¡± Connor took out a cigarette and asked, ¡°Do you mind?¡± Annabelle shook her head gently and smiled, ¡°Go ahead.¡± Connor lit the cigarette, took a deep drag, and slowly exhaled the smoke. Just then, his phone vibrated. He saw a message from ''Cam'' that brought a slight smile to his face. [Mr. Connor, happy Thanksgiving! You¡¯re always so busy. Please take a moment tonight to enjoy the moonlight and rx.] Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Connorughed softly after reading it, and without replying, he put the phone back in his pocket. ¡°What kind of message puts you in such a good mood?¡± Annabelle asked with a light smile. ¡°Just a festive greeting from an employee,¡± Connor replied. Annabelle looked at Connor, the light casting a long shadow behind him. ¡°Honestly, I was never in favor of arranged dates, but after meeting you, I¡¯ve started to think they might not be so bad. How do you feel about it?¡± Connor paused, and took another drag from his cigarette, ¡°To be honest, I didn¡¯t know today¡¯s arrangement was meant to be a blind date, so I didn¡¯t have any particr feelings.¡± His tone was calm, revealing little emotion. Annabelle smiled lightly, ¡°And now, after getting to know me better, what do you think?¡± Connor looked into Annabelle''s eyes and continued, "Ms. Annabelle, your beauty is matched only by your intelligence and wit. Your distinguished lineage is apparent not just in your elegant demeanor, but also in the depth of your knowledge and your keen insights." Annabelle felt a surge of pleasure at his words, but then Connor¡¯s next words left her slightly disappointed. ¡°But I don¡¯t feel anything romantic.¡± Annabelle was stunned, not expecting Connor to be so straightforward about his feelings. She laughed lightly, ¡°Feelings are mysterious. They can develop over time. How many arranged marriages are based solely on feelings?¡± She looked at Connor, ¡°Don¡¯t you think?¡± She continued, ¡°My grandfather owns 3% of Passos Corp¡¯s shares. It¡¯s not a lot, but it''s crucial if you want to secure your position in thepany.¡± Connor smiled faintly, not directly addressing Annabelle¡¯s point, but instead changing the subject. Chapter 152 Chapter 152 "I have my own business, and Passos Corporation was Grandpa''s." Annabelle chuckled lightly, "Do you really think that if your other two uncles had taken over Passos Corporation, your littlepany would still have a chance?" Connor was silent for a moment. That was the truth. Annabelle smiled and said, "What I want is to have a closer rtionship with you. We can start as friends, get to know each other, and see if there''s a chance for something more intimate." Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Connor shook his head with a smile, "Sorry, I can''t give you what you want." Despite the tempting offer Annabelle had made, he had his own principles and boundaries; he wasn''t willing to sacrifice his emotions for the sake of benefits. Upon hearing Connor''s response, Annabelle''s expression slightly soured, but she quickly regained herposure, maintaining her smile, "Connor, you really don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you." Connor ignored Annabelle¡¯s sarcasm, nced at her and said, "Ms. Annabelle, it¡¯s gettingte. We should head back." Annabelle scoffed, "You''ll regret this." Connor didn¡¯t reply, just offered a slight smile, "Let''s go. Mr. Jordan will be worried if we don¡¯t return soon." Annabelle scoffed again but remained silent, although her eyes betrayed a hint of displeasure. Connor walked ahead out of the garden. After hesitating for a moment, Annabelle followed. The path back to the main house was eerily quiet, with only their footsteps echoing around them. They maintained a mutual distance, walking in silence, and soon arrived at the front door of the main house. Connor stopped, "Ms. Annabelle, I won''t apany you inside." Annabelle pinched her skirt, smiling and nodding in acknowledgment. After seeing Annabelle back to the main house, Connor returned to the River Pavilion. In the garden, Emily was arranging pies while chatting with Peter. Seeing her son return so quickly, she raised her eyebrows slightly. Teasingly, she said, "Back so soon, was the date not smooth?" Connor shrugged and pulled out a chair to sit. "What date?" Emily raised an eyebrow, "Miss Mullins is smart, beautiful, has the looks, the talent, and the family background. So many people are after her, why aren¡¯t you satisfied?" Connor felt a mixed emotions, "Mom, what are you trying to say?" Emily nced at her son, her lips curving into a sly smile. "I¡¯m saying, you rejected such a great girl, do you have someone else in mind... perhaps... Ca...?" Connor groaned, "Mom, please." During their conversation, Peter didn¡¯t interject, instead, he forked a piece of the pumpkin pie and took a bite, "This isn¡¯t from our usual ce, is it?" Emily winked yfully, smiling, "Yep, homemade pumpkin pie with love, can¡¯t find it anywhere else." "You made this?" Peter asked, surprised. Emilyughed, "I can only make soup." She raised her eyebrows at Connor with a teasing smile, "Cam made it." "She knows how to make this?" Peter said in surprise, picking up a differently shaped piece with a new fork, "What vor is this?" "Savory," Emily said, with a meaningful look at her son. Connor¡¯s lips curved up in a subtle smile, pretending to be casual as he picked up his phone, and while his parents weren''t paying attention, he snapped a photo of the tea table and the moon, and sent it off. Chapter 153 Chapter 153 On the balcony, Cam sat in afy chair, her eyes glued to her smartphone screen, a slight smile ying at the corners of her mouth as she immersed herself in her little world. Curiosity piqued, Erica sauntered over and, seizing the moment when Cam was distracted, snatched the phone from Cam¡¯s hands. "What''s got you so happy?" Erica teased. "Give it back!" Cam eximed, watching helplessly as her phone slipped from her grasp. With her back to Cam, Erica swiftly scrolled through the messages on the phone. When she spotted Connor''s name, a sly grin spread across her face. "Oh, it''s because of a certain someone''s message, huh?" Erica drawled dramatically. "Keep it down!" Cam hissed through clenched teeth. Their yful noise caught ire''s attention in the living room, making her chuckle. She shook her head in mild exasperation and called out to them, "How are you two still acting like kids? You¡¯re both in your twenties, time to settle down a bit." "It¡¯s your fault." Cam managed to retrieve her phone, shooting Erica a nce. Erica clicked her tongue in surprise, "You actually confessed your feelings?" Cam furrowed her brow, holding the phone up to Erica, her tone resolute, "Look carefully, I didn¡¯t." "Check this text," Erica pointed at the message that read, [The moon is beautiful tonight.] Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. "But the moon is beautiful," Cam replied, confused. How was that a confession? Erica took a deep breath, her face a mix of amusement and surprise, "Silly girl, don¡¯t you know what those words imply?" Cam frowned, shaking her head. "Oh my, that phrase means ''I love you''." Erica chuckled mischievously. Cam froze, her eyes widening as she stared at Erica, her mind going nk. Her hand unconsciously tightened around the cellphone, and she found herself at a loss for words. "I didn¡¯t know it had that meaning." Cam looked at her phone in despair and murmured, "Can''t take it back now..." Her heart sank, "What do I do..." Erica smiled gently, trying to calm Cam, "I think Connor might not know its meaning either." Cam looked at Erica, her voice trembling slightly, "Really? You¡¯re not just saying that tofort me, are you?" Erica nodded, "Even you¡¯re confused about it, how would he know?" Cam¡¯s face was the picture of distress as she patted her chest, "You scared me half to death. I broke out in a cold sweat." "I see his photo here, and that¡¯s not the kind of pie we make." Erica frowned. Cam blushed slightly and exined softly, "He doesn¡¯t like sweets, so I made some savory ones." Hearing this, Erica stared at Cam in shock, "Cam, you¡¯ve changed." Meanwhile, ire called from the living room, "You two,e in and have some pie!" Both responded in unison, "Okay." "These are the pies Erica and Cam made, quite tasty, take some home with youter," ire said to Cole and John. Cole picked up his cup of tea, smiling gently. "I¡¯ll have to try it then." Craig took a slice of the pie, biting into it, his eyes lighting up, "Mmm, really delicious!" Chapter 154 Chapter 154 Craig handed John a piece of pie, smiling, "Hey John, why don''t you give this a try?¡± ¡°Don''t mind if I do.¡± John grinned as he took the pie, and after tasting it, he couldn''t stop praising it to Cam, ¡°This is really delicious, thanks for the treat.¡± Craig could tell that John was quite fond of Cam and quickly chimed in, ¡°We''ve been talking for ages. Howe you haven''t exchanged numbers yet?¡± Then, Craig nudged John''s arm gently with his elbow, "Come on, mate, you''ve got to make the first move.¡± Craig watched them both, jokingly adding, ¡°Hey, this is a great chance to get to know each other better, don¡¯t miss out.¡± John got the hint immediately, wiped his hands, and quickly pulled out his phone, his eyes filled with anticipation. Cam forced a smile and took out her phone too, and they exchanged numbers. Erica sat to the side, covering her mouth to hide her giggles. ¡°Are you free tomorrow?¡± John asked, taking a deep breath to muster his courage. ¡°I have to go on a business trip tomorrow, not sure when I¡¯ll be back,¡± Cam responded, her tone cool yet polite. John¡¯s face fell slightly upon hearing this, but he gently said, ¡°Ah, well, let¡¯s catch up when you return.¡± Cam managed a polite smile. *** The next day. Cam took her packed suitcase and headed to Cedarhill Estate. Last night before bed, Connor had inquired about her health and had canceled their morning workout. After breakfast, she was set to head to the airport. Upon opening the door, she saw Connor in a ck shirt and trousers, sitting on the sofa working on hisptop, his slender fingers tapping on the keyboard. Cam watched him quietly. Affections might be concealed, but a racing heart cannot. Cam steadied her emotions and greeted with a smile, ¡°Good morning, Mr. Connor.¡± Her voice was soft and sweet, like a gentle breeze. As she spoke, Connor looked up at Cam. A beam of light fell on her, highlighting her beautiful features. Connor paused, feeling as if it had been ages since hest saw her. ¡°Morning.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go make some coffee. Need a wake-up,¡± Cam said, putting down her suitcase with a smile. Connor nodded slightly. Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Shortly after, Cam returned with a fragrant coffee, just as David arrived. ¡°Good morning, David.¡± Cam greeted warmly. David looked surprised, ncing between Connor and Cam, a mysterious smile ying on his lips. ¡°Mr. Connor¡¯s up early today.¡± Cam ced the coffee by Connor¡¯s seat, looking puzzled at David. David sneakily nced at Connor and whispered to Cam, ¡°Mr. Connor has been skipping breakfast and heading straight to work for several days now.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Cam was taken aback. Connor approached the dining table. Noticing their whispered conversation, his brow furrowed, ¡°What are you two talking about?¡± ¡°Nothing, nothing,¡± David quickly waved his hands, his face all smiles. Cam¡¯s phone vibrated. She picked it up to read. Erica: [Alone on a business trip with your boss, remember to take precautions.] Cam¡¯s face turned red instantly. She quickly clutched her phone to her chest, hoping Connor hadn¡¯t noticed. She took a deep breath and quickly typed a reply. [You¡¯re crazy! n and the trantor are with us too.] After sending the message, Cam breathed a sigh of relief and sneakily nced at Connor, who was focused on his breakfast, oblivious to her earlier fluster. Chapter 155 Chapter 155 After breakfast, the driver started the car. Upon reaching the airport, the driver got out and retrieved two suitcases from the trunk. Cam, quick on her feet, grabbed one in each hand. "Let me help." Connor reached over to take the suitcases from her hands and headed towards the airport. Cam paused momentarily. Watching him carry the suitcases, she quickly followed him into the airport. "Mr. Connor, I can take those," Cam said, reaching to take the suitcases back. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. As a secretary, it was her responsibility to handle such tasks, and it seemed inappropriate for Connor to carry the luggage. "I got it," Connor replied calmly. Inside the airport, Cam saw n and the interpreter. n quickly approached, took the suitcases from Connor, and said, "Mr. Connor, I''ll take these." Connor let go of the suitcases. n took them, and the group headed to the private check-inne to proceed with their formalities. "Mr. Connor, you go ahead to the lounge. I''ll handle the check-in," n said, nced at Cam hesitantly, and decided to keep theptop bags with him. Connor nodded and headed to the VIP lounge. "n, I can carry those," Cam said, seeing him with threeptop bags and immediately reaching out to take them. n looked at Connor, then back at Cam with a smile, "It wouldn¡¯t be gentlemanly to let ady carry heavy bags." "Thank you, but I can manage. It¡¯s not heavy," Cam insisted, reaching for the bags. "Cam," Connor nced back at Cam, motioning for her to keep up. "Right away," Cam responded. "Don¡¯t keep Mr. Connor waiting, hurry," n urged. "Thank you," Cam quickly followed Connor''s steps. n watched them walk away and sighed, "Ah, poor me." Hearing this, the interpreter immediately took a bag from him. They entered the lounge, and Connor sat down on a sofa. Cam asked, "Mr. Connor, would you like some coffee or tea?" Connor shook his head and closed his eyes to rest. The group boarded the first-ss cabin, with Connor¡¯s and Cam¡¯s seats next to each other. This was Cam¡¯s first trip abroad. She leaned against the window, excitedly watching the clouds. During the steady flight, Connor asked n for some documents and focused on reviewing them. Cam turned her face and quietly watched him for a few seconds. The man she liked was a genius, but also very hardworking. His good looks were just the least significant of his many qualities. She wished to stay by his side, to be closer to him, so she turned away and opened her laptop to review materials for the uing business meeting at the mall. Just then, a flight attendant approached Connor, knelt down, and asked what he wanted to drink, "Sir, what would you like to drink?" "Coffee," Connor replied indifferently, not even lifting his gaze. In the galley, the flight attendants had already been eagerly discussing the young and handsome wealthy man, vying to serve him. Finally, through a game of rock-paper-scissors, she won this opportunity. She was not satisfied with just a brief response. "Right away," the flight attendant said with a pleasant smile. "Is there anything else you need, sir?" "You''re interrupting my reading," Connor said, slightly frowning at the cheerful flight attendant. The flight attendant paused, surprised by his reaction. "I''m sorry." She rose awkwardly and immediately went to Cam, knelt down, and asked what she would like to drink. Cam requested a ss of water, then quietly turned to gaze at the man, her eyes filled with tenderness. Chapter 156 Chapter 156 After the flight attendant left, Connor''s peripheral vision caught Cam looking at him. He closed the folder he was holding and turned his head towards her, asking, "Why are you staring at me?" His voice was low and maic. Cam was slightly startled, feeling like she had been caught red-handed, and nervously blurted out, "I regret asking for a ss of water. I should have ordered a coffee like you, to stay alert." Connor''s eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze fixed on her lips as she spoke nonsense. Seeing that he didn''t respond, Cam added in a softer tone, "I¡¯m feeling a bit sleepy." Connor chuckled softly, "If you''re sleepy, you should sleep." Cam shook her head, determinedly saying, "No, I want to finish reading the materials." She turned her gaze back to herptop. Connor''s lips curved into a subtle smile. At that moment, the flight attendant returned with a tray, momentarily blocking Connor¡¯s view, causing him to frown slightly. The flight attendant bent down to ce a coffee on the table in front of Connor, smiling as she said, ¡°Sir, your coffee. Please enjoy.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Connor leaned back and said indifferently, ¡°Give it to thatdy.¡± The flight attendant paused, knowing without further exnation that he meant the onlydy in the first-ss cabin. She nodded with a smile, carrying the coffee over to Cam, and softly said, ¡°Ma¡¯am, your coffee and water.¡± Cam looked up, slightly confused, ¡°I didn¡¯t order any coffee.¡± ¡°It was yourpanion¡¯s request,¡± the flight attendant exined with a smile. Cam uttered ¡°I see,¡± and said, ¡°Thank you.¡± She looked at the coffee in front of her, then turned to look at Connor. He smiled gently, with a soft warmth in his eyes. Feeling touched, Cam took the coffee and softly said, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Connor.¡± The flight attendant returned to the galley, slumping into a chair with a dejected expression. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Did he ignore you?¡± the chief flight attendant teased. The flight attendant shook her head, grumbling, ¡°He probably has a girlfriend.¡± ¡°Is it that girl sitting next to him?¡± the chief flight attendant asked,ughing, ¡°Then you¡¯re not wrong to feel defeated.¡± ¡°Gosh, that hurt.¡± the flight attendant said, feeling unjust. ¡°Alright, alright,¡± the chief flight attendantughed, patting her on the shoulder, ¡°Just focus on doing your job, no need for any wishful thinking.¡± Before long, the flight attendant brought over a beautifully arranged meal. After eating, Cam found an Arabian movie on the screen. She wrapped herself in a nket, put on her headphones, and immersed herself in the world of the movie. Whether it was the mundane plot of the movie or the smooth flight, Cam¡¯s eyelids began to droop, and she soon dozed off. Connor turned his head, his gaze falling on Cam, who was now sleeping soundly, her body curled up with the nket snugly around her. He watched her for a few seconds, chuckling softly. He noticed she liked to sleep on her side, always needing to hold something. Connor straightened his sleeves, stood up, and gently draped his nket over Cam. He then carefully removed her headphones and set them aside. n, seated behind them, saw everything clearly. He had been with Connor for many years and knew his character well. He understood that Connor¡¯s care and attention towards Cam was something Haylie could never match. He sighed softly, pondering to himself when Mr. Connor would realize that he had already fallen deeply without knowing it. Chapter 157 Chapter 157 Cam woke up to find that the ne was preparing tond. She twisted her body and the nket she had been covered with slipped off. She paused for a moment, realizing she was still clutching the nket in her hands. "First-ss service is really something," she murmured, assuming a flight attendant had draped it over her to keep her warm. After tidying up the nket, she rubbed her eyes, removed her headphones, and looked out the window. Outside was an endless desert and rolling hills, glinting gold under the sunlight. As the ne approached the runway, the tires made a soft rustling sound as they touched the sandy ground. The aircraft trembled slightly beforeing to a slow stop. Cam stood up, and as she did, Connor passed by her seat, casually picking up herptop bag. Cam hesitated for a moment before quickly catching up to him. Exiting the airport, n was managing a cart full of luggage. The business partners had arranged for staff to wait outside the airport. Upon seeing them, the staff promptly helped load the luggage into a van. The trantor briefly conversed with the staff of the business partners. "Mr. Connor, they¡¯re taking us to the hotel to rest now, and the hotel has prepared a local specialty dinner for us," the trantor exined to Connor. "Alright," Connor responded sinctly. They checked in at the hotel. The partners had thoughtfully arranged for Connor to stay in the presidential suite, while Cam and n each got a standard suite. n brought the luggage to Cam''s room, "Cam, you rest up a bit. I''ll call you when it''s time to eat." Cam shook her head, "I''m not hungry." n frowned slightly, knowing if she didn¡¯t go, Mr. Connor might skip it too. He smiled and encouraged, "It''s all local delicacies, things we can''t get back home. Try to eat a little." Cam hesitated, then nodded. "Alright." "Here¡¯s a spare key card for Mr. Connor¡¯s room. I¡¯ll give you one and keep one myself," n handed her a card. After n left, Cam unpacked her luggage, neatly arranging her clothes in the wardrobe and cing a stuffed toy on the bed. She walked over to the window and gently pulled back the curtain. The view of distant dunes and the clear blue sky was breathtaking. She took out her phone to capture the beautiful scene and sent a message to her mom and Erica to check in. ire quickly replied, reminding her to stay safe. Erica responded, [How¡¯s Mr. Connor?] Cam smiled helplessly and texted back, [He¡¯s in the presidential suite, eight floors away from me.] Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Erica teased, [Wow, a presidential suite with so many rooms, the partners really don¡¯t know how to save, huh?] Just then, a message from n popped up, telling Cam it was time to eat and to call Connor downstairs. After replying to the message, Cam went up to the presidential suite and rang Connor¡¯s doorbell. "Come in," Connor¡¯s voice came from inside. Cam opened the door and entered, finding Connor standing by the window, holding his phone and checking something. "Mr. Connor, it¡¯s time to eat," Cam said softly. Connor nodded, put away his phone, and walked towards the door. Together, they went downstairs to the dining room where the table was already set with local specialties, the aroma filling the air. Despite not feeling hungry earlier, Cam couldn¡¯t help but eat a little more. After dinner, Cam returned to her room, changed into her pajamas after a shower, and prepared to rest due to jetg. Just then, her phone rang. Chapter 158 Chapter 158 "Mr. Connor," she cleared her throat. "Prepare the documents ande to my room," Connor instructed. "Okay," Cam responded. After hanging up, Cam grabbed the documents and herptop from the couch, threw on a coat, and left her room. Due to the local cultural differences, she didn¡¯t bring a nightgown. Instead, she wore pajama pants and afortable top. Cam rang the doorbell, and the door quickly opened. Connor nced at her, already fresh from a shower, "Did I interrupt your rest?" Cam shook her head, smiling brightly, "Not at all." Connor nodded and walked in. Cam closed the door and headed to the couch, cing the prepared documents on the table. The meeting was primarily about a coboration, specifically about opening their first global gship store in this mall, depending on the terms offered. Connor poured her a ss of warm water and sat on the couch, flipping through the documents. Cam sat on the carpet, herptop on the coffee table in front of her. She was diligently making spreadsheets,paring market demands, cultural backgrounds, and legal regtions of major cities around the world. After Connor finished reviewing the documents, he nced at the time and said to Cam, "I need to have a brief meeting with our team." Cam nodded in understanding. Half an hourter, while Connor was still in his study, Cam had finished organizing the documents. Still adjusting to the time difference, her eyelids grew heavy, and she dozed off hugging a throw pillow. Connor ended his meeting and walked out of the study, spotting Cam asleep on the couch. He tiptoed over and whispered, "Cam." Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Cam just frowned slightly in her sleep and murmured, shifting her position to continue sleeping. She was exhausted.Despite having four days off, the news of the business trip had her cramming language lessonste into the night. Connor called her name a few more times to no avail. He scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bedroom, cing her gently on the bed and pulling the covers over her. Cam turned over in bed, her hand unconsciously feeling for something next to her. Connor chuckled softly, tucking a pillow into her arms. Holding the pillow, Cam¡¯s breathing evened out, and she slept peacefully. Connor gazed down at her sleeping face, his eyes filled with tenderness. He watched her for a while before quietly exiting the bedroom and shutting the door softly. He then went to his own room to shower and sleep. The next morning, Cam turned over in her sleep and slowly opened her eyes. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and looked around. The realization hit her instantly. This wasn¡¯t her hotel room! She remembered organizing documents the night before, so how did she end up here so suddenly? Cam immediately got out of bed and yanked the door open. Just then, Connor emerged from another bedroom. He was dressed very formally today, in a blue pinstripe shirt with a ck vest and tie, exuding an aristocratic charm, like an elegant prince. Cam was momentarily stunned. She had never seen Connor dressed so formally. This version of him was breathtakingly handsome, almost overwhelmingly so. His appearance struck her heart, making it race uncontrobly. "Up already?" His voice was deep and maic. Cam numbly nodded. The sound of the door opening made them both turn their heads. n pushed the door open, locking eyes with both of them, his smile freezing instantly. Cam¡¯s hair was a bit messy, and she was obviously just out of bed in her pajamas. He shouldn¡¯t be here. Could he still make a quick exit?! Chapter 159 Chapter 159 Cam snapped fully awake. "n, it¡¯s not what you think!" she eximed urgently, pointing toward the door behind her, "I was sleeping in this room. I fell asleep herest night because I was too exhausted from sorting out the files." "I should head back first, Mr. Connor, n," she said, hurrying towards the front door in small, quick steps, nodding at n as she passed by. n grunted in acknowledgment. "Take care on your way," Connor said with a smile. "Mr. Connor... I..." n stood by the door, somewhat bewildered. "Come in." "The acquisition of the Stevens¡¯ hotel chain is almost finalized. Soon it will cease to exist," n reported. Cam had been harassed by Steven, and Connor seized the opportunity to reim his shares in Future Inc. from Steven''s grasp. In addition to Future Inc., Connor also held shares in another investment firm. This was one source of his wealth, as well as part of his ns for the future. Original content from N?velDrama.Org. He had taken over Steven¡¯s hotel chain in a swift and decisive move, as a punishment to him. n continued, "Additionally, Sherrill family''s supermarket chain announced the closure of several national branches." Connor nodded, "Alright, I''m up to date." *** After returning to her hotel room, Cam quickly freshened up, changed into her business attire, and applied light makeup before heading downstairs to join them for breakfast. She ate quietly, careful to avoid Connor and n''s gazes. After breakfast, the group made their way to the top-floor meeting room of the shopping center. As the door opened, several men dressed in business suits greeted them warmly, and Connor stepped forward to shake hands. While the interpreter tranted, Cam sat quietly on the side, taking notes. "Mr. Benrad has always shown a keen interest in the Future series of concept products, and he watched the online live stream of the new productunch," the interpreter ryed. "The products showcased left a profound impression on him, and his enthusiastic interest in the new products was evident. "Mr. Benrad is well aware that coborating on the Future series products will bring substantial commercial value to both parties, hence he is filled with anticipation and optimism for this coboration. He believes that with joint efforts, this partnership will undoubtedly be a sess." Cam listened quietly, understanding most of what Mr. Benrad said, and the conversation flowed smoothly. However, as the discussion delved into the specifics of the partnership, Cam began to sense something was off. Her brow furrowed, her eyes revealing a mix of confusion and caution. The negotiation hit an impasse, with neither side willing to budge. At that moment, the interpreter conveyed Mr. Benrad''s stance: "Mr. Benrad is very sincere about coborating with us. He owns the nation¡¯s top shopping malls, so although his terms are stringent, they are fair and reasonable." Cam''s frown deepened. She sharply sensed a significant discrepancy between the interpreter''s words and Mr. Benrad¡¯s actual intentions. Mr. Benrad¡¯s offered terms were even better than what they had initially proposed. She quickly sent a message to Connor and subtly tugged at his suit jacket to check his phone. Noticing Cam''s unusual behavior, Connor paused the negotiation and politely said to Mr. Benrad, "Excuse me, please give me a moment." He then took out his phone. Reading the message from Cam¡ª[The trantion is incorrect. Mr. Benrad¡¯s terms are not what was tranted.]¡ªConnor looked up at Cam, as if to confirm. Cam nodded affirmatively. Chapter 160 Chapter 160 Connor stood up and addressed Mr. Benrad, "I apologize, but there is an urgent matter with our domesticpany that needs to be handled. Mr. Benrad, could you please wait for a moment?" Mr. Benrad smiled and nodded, replying in Arabic. The interpreter promptly ryed, "Mr. Benrad says there is a lounge across the hall where you all can rest for a moment." "Thank you." Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. "Cam, n, could you step out for a moment?" Together with Connor, they entered the lounge. As the door closed, Connor asked, "Cam, do you understand Arabic?" Cam nodded, "I studied it. I can understand most of their conversation." n looked bewildered, feeling like an outsider. "Mr. Benrad has promised that settling in would be free of charge, and he is willing to keep the rent stable for five years. He''s even willing to offer us the prime location on the mall''s first floor without interfering with the decoration," Cam said confidently. "What?" n was shocked. "The interpreter told us he''s asking for a million-dor deposit, a 15% rent increase every year, and currently, we only have options on the third floor, with decoration to match their mall style." Connor turned to n, serious, "Check the background of this interpreter." "Right, I''ll contact the embassy now to arrange a new interpreter." n was about to make a call when Connor stopped him. "Can you trante?" Connor looked at Cam. Cam hesitated for a moment but then nodded firmly, "I can try." "Good." n protested, "Mr. Connor, this is not advisable. The business terms involved areplex, and Cam is not a professional interpreter." "Can you do it?" Connor ignored n and continued questioning Cam. Cam nodded vigorously. Since Connor trusted her, she couldn''t let him down. n was hesitant: "Mr. Connor..." "The contract will ultimately be signed in English, and I''ll have the final review," Connor stated. "Alright." n trusted that with Connor''s final review, there would be no issues, "I''ll take the interpreter out." "Okay." They then returned to the negotiation table. n took the interpreter away. Mr. Benrad smiled at them, sensing a change in the atmosphere. With arrangements redone, Cam, now acting as the interpreter, sat at the negotiation table with Connor. She listened intently to every word from Mr. Benrad, conveying his intentions urately to Connor. The negotiation resumed, and both parties delved deeper into the details of cooperation. Thanks to Cam''s precise trantions, they gradually reached a consensus. Mr. Benrad expressed his appreciation for Cam''s trantion skills, and the atmosphere of the negotiation became more harmonious. After several rounds of discussion, both parties finally signed the cooperation agreement. Mr. Benrad invited them to inspect the mall, with dozens of security personnel in ck suits lined up on either side. Connor and Benrad walked in the front. The Saudi weather was quite hot. Connor took off his suit jacket gracefully and naturally, handing it to Cam while he loosened his cor. This simple gesture exuded an indescribable charm. The crowd in the mall was considerable, and upon witnessing this scene, they couldn''t help but exim. Some domestic tourists recognized Connor, and quickly posted the captured moment online. Chapter 161 Chapter 161 Connor''s small gesture unexpectedly caused a sensation back home, instantly trending on social media. #Future Inc. Connor #Entrepreneur with the looks of a movie star #Charming Connor [He''s making our country proud! Way better than any celebrity!] [Why chase celebrities? Go for Mr. Connor.] [A true princely catch! Got material for my dreams tonight! LOL.] [Is Mr. Connor inspecting his businesses? LOL.] [LOL... Some folks are clueless. Do you even know who that Arab guy is? It¡¯s Benrad! Worth billions! Not someone your Mr. Connor can match.] [Enough already, the money Mr. Connor makes is enough for me to splurge, his face alone is worth billions. I¡¯m drooling...] [Seconded! Future Inc. is valued in billions, enough for me to spend for three lifetimes.] [Heard Mr. Connor is single! Single! Single!] Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. [Is Future Inc. hiring? Is it still okay to send my resume now?] [Did anyone notice how gorgeous his secretary is?] [I noticed. Absolutely stunning!] [Oh no, does Future Inc. prioritize looks when hiring?] ... In Saudi Arabia. After the inspection, Mr. Benrad was eager to invite Connor and his team for dinner to further deepen their friendship. "Thank you so much for your kind offer, Mr. Benrad, but we have othermitments and wouldn''t want to impose," Connor said with a smile, his tone effortlessly polite. Cam tranted by his side. "If that''s the case, I won''t insist," Mr. Benrad replied with a smile. "However, should Mr. Connor find some free time, feel free to visit for leisure, and I will ensure you are well taken care of." Connor nodded in thanks and shook hands with Mr. Benrad to bid farewell. Cam and Connor then walked out of the mall, the local temperature still high, but a gentle breeze made it feel somewhat cooler. "Mr. Connor, where to now?" Cam asked. "First time in Saudi?" Connor inquired. "Yes, my first time abroad," Cam said with a smile. Connor looked around. "Let¡¯s walk the streets and soak in the local culture," he suggested. "And maybe find some suitable gifts to take back home," Cam added excitedly, nodding. She walked with Connor through the bustling streets, immersed in the local customs. The unique architectural style of Saudi, the street vendors selling various specialty products, and the air filled with the aroma of barbecued meats and spices all excited Cam. She enjoyed browsing the market, asionally chatting with the vendors. She had exchanged some money back home and was worried she could only shop for souvenirs at the airport, but fortunately, Connor was considerate enough. "How much for this?" Cam picked up a delicate souvenir, curiously asking. After calcting the exchange rate, she found the price eptable. "Does this look good?" Cam asked. Connor smiled and nodded. "Then I''ll take a few of these," she decided on several items. Connor chuckled, "How much?" pulling out his wallet to pay. Cam gently stopped him, smiling, "I''ll pay. I''ve exchanged money." Connor couldn''t persuade her otherwise. They continued their walk to the old town. Cam gently touched the walls of the ancient city, feeling the rough, authentic texture under her fingertips. She looked up at the castle, which, thoughcking in borate decoration, exuded an ancient and mysterious aura. The sandy colors shone warmly under the sunlight, blending with the surrounding desert, as if narrating stories from a thousand years ago. Chapter 162 Chapter 162 Her heart filled with awe and curiosity. ¡°Mr. Connor, could you take a photo for me?¡± Cam suddenly turned to Connor, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. Connor gave a slight smile, nodded, and took the cellphone that Cam handed to him. Through the lens, he saw the ancient stone wall and the distant desert forming a stunning landscape. Cam stood amidst this picturesque scenery, her smile radiant, as if her joy brightened the world around her. Connor''s heart skipped a beat, and he zoomed in the lens. He became so engrossed that he forgot to take the photo. Suddenly, Cam gently called out, ¡°Did you take it?¡± Snapping back to reality, Connor quickly pressed the shutter button. Cam took her phone back, frowning slightly, ¡°Why did you only capture my face? You can''t see the background at all.¡± Connor chuckled awkwardly, ¡°Sorry about that.¡± He scratched his head. ¡°Let me take another one.¡± Cam nodded, ¡°Thanks.¡± She handed the phone back to Connor, then adjusted her clothes and hair. This time, Connor paid attention to the background, pulling the lens back to ensure it was clearly visible. He took the photo and handed the phone back to Cam. ¡°This should be better,¡± Connor said with a smile. Cam looked at the photo, ¡°Wow, this one is perfect! Thanks!¡± ¡°Shall I take a few more for you?¡± Cam offered. Connor gently shook his head, smiling at her. They continued their walk. As the sun began to set, the clouds turned a golden hue. ¡°Let¡¯s go have dinner,¡± Connor suggested. ¡°Sounds good.¡± They strolled down the cobblestone path and soon found a quaint restaurant. The decor was charmingly rustic, with traditional tapestries on the walls and a vintage gramophone in the corner ying soft music. Cam and Connor took a window seat. The waiter handed them menus, and Cam flipped through curiously, chatting asionally with the waiter. ¡°Mr. Connor, anything you¡¯d like to try?¡± Cam asked. ¡°You pick.¡± Cam nodded and ordered a few local specialties. As evening fell, streetlights cast warm and soft reflections on their faces. After dinner, the weather was quite warm, so Connor removed his vest, carrying it along with his jacket as they walked back to the hotel. Passing a jewelry shop, Cam was drawn to a pair of earrings in the disy window. She looked at Connor, ¡°Can we go in?¡± Connor nodded. Cam spoke with the shop owner, who took out the earrings for her to try. She put them on and turned to Connor, ¡°Do they suit me?¡± Connor smiled and nodded. After asking the price, Cam¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. ¡°How much?¡± Connor asked. ¡°It would be over three hundred in dors,¡± Cam said, then spoke again with the shop owner. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. After a string of words from the owner, Cam¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°What is it?¡± Connor asked. ¡°The owner said I¡¯m pretty and gave them to me for free,¡± Cam whispered gleefully. Hearing this, Connor¡¯s expression changed immediately. He quickly took out his wallet, ced two thousand on the counter, and firmly took Cam¡¯s arm, quickly leaving the shop. Chapter 163 Chapter 163 The shopkeeper was momentarily stunned, and by the time he collected himself, the two had already walked away. "Hey, wait up!" Cam called out, being pulled along by Connor. It wasn''t until Cam eximed in pain that Connor paused and immediately let go of her arm. "Why did you give him money when the shopkeeper was going to gift it to me?" Cam asked, furrowing her brow. Connor cleared his throat awkwardly, and with a hint of uncertainty, he said, "We can''t be seen as taking advantage of small benefits. If he thought that people from our country all like to exploit others, that wouldn''t be good." Cam listened, her brows knitted in confusion. "But why did you give him two thousand Riyal? That¡¯s way too much." Connor met Cam''s puzzled gaze. "Well..." He hesitated for a few seconds before finding a suitable excuse, "It''s about reciprocity, promoting friendly rtions between nations." He said with a firm and strong voice. Cam looked at Connor, clearly thinking he was making things up. Connor felt Cam''s scrutinizing gaze and awkwardly touched his nose again. "Let''s head back to the hotel. n has sorted out the trantion issue." Cam nodded, deciding not to pursue the matter further. The hotel wasn''t far, and they walked one behind the other. Suddenly, Cam felt a tingling on her scalp and looked up to see a swarm of locusts heading straight towards her. Her eyes widened, and she let out a sharp scream. To dodge the locusts, she twisted her body but suddenly lost her bnce and lunged towards Connor. Connor turned around just in time to see a terrified Cam plunging toward him. "Ah!" She screamed, crashing into Connor''s arms. In that instant, Connor felt as if his blood had been electrified, his body tingling all over, his heart pounding almost to the point of bursting. His zer slipped from his hand and fell to the ground. Cam was unaware of Connor''s difort. She clutched at his shirt, her heart racing with fear of all insects. She gripped Connor''s shirt and turned her head to look back, making sure the locusts had flown away. She sighed in relief, then let go of his shirt and stepped back. Connor was still frozen in ce, as if he had been struck. After her initial shock, Cam realized what she had done to Connor''s shirt. "I''m so sorry, I didn''t mean to!" she apologized as she tried to smooth out the wrinkles she had caused. Her gentle hands brushed over his chest, and Connor''s eyes widened, his mind momentarily crashing as Cam stood close. The wrinkles wouldn''t smooth out, and Cam apologetically said, "I''m really sorry. I''ll iron your shirt tonight." She forced a smile, looking remorseful. Connor was still buzzing in his head, giving no response. Cam felt awkward standing there and noticed his zer on the ground. She quickly bent down to pick it up and gently dusted it off. Connor watched her, at a loss for words. His heartbeat was still thundering, a fire seeming to burn within his chest. Cam looked up at Connor, concern in her eyes. "Are you okay?" Only then did Connor snap back to reality. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Chapter 164 Chapter 164 He watched Cam and shed a smile, "No worries, your scream just startled me a bit." With a sheepish grin, Cam replied, "Sorry, I was just so scared." Connor waved it off, "It''s okay. Let''s hurry up and get out of here before those locusts decide to come back." He made a conscious effort to keep his tone calm and natural. Cam nodded. Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Connor turned and started walking back to the hotel, with Cam following him. She nced around nervously, dreading the return of the locusts. Ding¡ª The hotel elevator doors opened on Cam''s floor. Hesitating a moment, she spoke up, "Mr. Connor, should I iron your shirt?" "No need, you go and rest," Connor said. "Goodnight, Mr.Connor," Cam said as she handed him back his suit jacket. Taking the jacket, Connor looked into Cam''s eyes and gently responded, "Goodnight." The elevator doors slowly closed, separating them. Back in her room, Cam took out the treasures she had collected that day and admired them once again. Suddenly, she got a call from ire. "Marc came to the shop today," ire said over the phone. "I heard he closed down many of his shops, his wife divorced him, took the money, and fled abroad, and Scott got detained for drunk driving." A smirk of disdain crossed ire¡¯s face, "Broke and desperate, hees crying and begging to recognize you again." "Mom, please don''t go soft on him." Cam couldn''t help but caution. "Don''t worry. I won''t," ire chuckled. "He didn''t make a scene, did he?" Cam still felt a bit anxious. "Cole drove him away. It seems he won''t dare toe back," ire said lightly. "Cole really takes good care of you," Cam remarked. Cam decided to have a serious talk with her mom. She hoped to help her mom resolve her emotional barriers, to bravely face her feelings, and to encourage her to find happiness with Cole. "Mom, I know you have feelings for Cole, and if you like him, you two should be together." Surprised, ire responded, "What are you talking about?" "I''m not making this up," Cam firmly said, "I can see how you feel about Cole. And he¡¯s a good man. He will treat you well." Cam continued, "Seeing you with Cole would make me very happy. I just want you to have a happy life." There was a pause on the other end of the line. ire sighed, "Alright, I''ll handle it." After hanging up, Cam stared out at the sparkling stars, her heart filled withplex emotions. She sincerely hoped her mother would pursue her own happiness. Should she also be brave and take a step towards Connor? In the Presidential Suite, Connor stared at his phone screen, his emotions tangled. He put down his phone, lit a cigarette, and sank into deep thought. The phone screen was still lit. [Connor, saw you trending today, you''re more famous than me now, a real celebrity *LOL*] [I''m back in the country. Mypany is throwing a wee party for me on the 10th next month. Invitation was sent to your office. Hope to see you there.] Chapter 165 Chapter 165 The next morning, Cam and Connor boarded their flight right on time, embarking on a nearly ten- hour long journey. Cam nced sideways at Connor and noticed that he seemed a bit down today. His gaze was troubled, his expression slightly tense, as if weighed down by heavy thoughts. The flight attendant gently reminded the passengers to fasten their seat belts. Cam snapped out of her reverie and securely fastened hers. The ne slowly moved away from the gate, elerating towards the end of the runway. As the airne finally ascended above the clouds, Cam looked out the window at the vast expanse of white clouds, which looked exceptionally beautiful under the sunlight. She turned her head to look at Connor, who was resting with his eyes closed. October 7th was his birthday. Should she confess her feelings then? Cam felt a mix of anticipation and slight anxiety. When they arrived in Fairmount, the driver was already waiting and first took Cam back to her ce. *** After carrying her luggage inside, Cam took a refreshing shower and then slept soundly. When she awoke, it was already six o''clock the next morning. She opened her eyes to the ceiling, feeling a bit lost; just yesterday at this time, she was in Saudi Arabia. After lying in bed for a while, she got up and freshened up. Today was a workday. As usual, she and Connor exercised together, had breakfast, and went to work. They walked into the elevator side by side, not speaking, but their understanding of each other was perfect. Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Whether it was the daily work environment or the repetitive daily chores, they had long been ustomed to each other. In the car, the driver and Cam chatted off and on. "Tomorrow''s a holiday, Cam, do you have any ns?¡± the driver asked curiously. Cam looked out at the swiftly passing scenery, lost in thought, "I n to go home and help out," she replied softly. In the rearview mirror, she caught a glimpse of Connor. He was looking down at his iPad, deeply focused. Cam turned her head and gently said to him, "Mr. Connor, I won''t be going to your ce during the holiday." Connor looked up at her briefly, his expression calm, and he responded with a simple acknowledgment. At that moment, the car radio began to y, with the host introducing, ¡°Next, we will y a touching song¡ª¡®No Regrets¡¯.¡± The radio host''s voice flowed smoothly, filled with a touch of tenderness and emotion. The driver nced at the rearview mirror and saw Connor pause, frowning slightly. He quickly switched the station. "Hey, that song was pretty nice, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Cam asked, puzzled. That song was from a TV series where Haylie had her first leading role, and she sang it herself. "Sorry, I''m not very fond of it," the driver replied, ncing at her and smiling. "I see," Cam nodded, not pursuing the topic further. Everyone has different tastes, and she understood that. Back at the office, Cam distributed the snacks and souvenirs she bought on her business trip to her colleagues. Her desk was cluttered with several days'' worth of paperwork, so she quickly organized the documents and took them to Connor''s office. As she entered, Connor saw her and instinctively put out his cigarette. "Mr. Connor, these documents need your signature," Cam said, cing a stack of neatly arranged papers on Connor''s desk. Her fingertips lightly tapped the document with a pink sticky note, ¡°This one needs priority attention.¡± Connor took off his suit jacket, and Cam immediately stepped forward, smoothly taking the jacket and carefully hanging it on the nearby rack. Connor sat down, unbuttoning his cuffs to reveal an expensive watch on his wrist, and began working through the documents. Chapter 166 Chapter 166 Cam stood quietly on the side, waiting patiently. She was nervous, unsure how to break the silence. Finally, she gathered her courage and softly called out, "Mr. Connor." Connor put down the pen he was holding and looked up at her, his gazes captivating and luminous. Cam''s heart raced. She hesitated for a moment before asking, "October 7th is your birthday. Do you have any ns?" "Why do you ask?" Connor replied. "To thank you for your care, tolerance, and trust over the time," Cam''s heart thudded loudly, "I was wondering if I could take you out for dinner." Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Connor looked at her silently for a few seconds. "Logan and the others have nned a party for me," he said, his voice still calm. A flicker of amusement seemed to pass through his eyes. "But after it ends, I could meet up with you, or..." He paused deliberately, his gaze lightly sweeping across Cam''s face, "I could also choose to stand them up." Cam paused, her heartbeat speeding up even more. She felt her cheeks beginning to warm and quickly waved her hands, "No, no, it¡¯s fine. We can meet after you finish." Her words revealed a slight panic and shyness. Connor chuckled and nodded. "I should get back to work." Cam said, her smile shy. "Alright." The day before the holiday, like a wild horse breaking free from its reins, anticipation filled the air for many employees. As soon as the clock struck six, eager workers began packing their belongings to leave, cramming the elevator. Cam was no exception. She quickly organized her workspace, filed away documents, and grabbed her backpack, nning to head straight home after work. She kept an eye on Connor¡¯s office door, hoping to leave with him. Finally, Connor appeared at the doorway and simply said, "Let''s go." She smiled and replied, "Sure, Mr. Connor," and they walked to the elevator together. As the elevator slowly descended, the reflective metallic doors mirrored their figures. Cam sneakily nced at Connor beside her, a ripple of emotion surfacing in her heart, but she quickly suppressed it. Eventually, the elevator reached the ground floor. The crowd surged out like a tide, and Cam and Connor followed. It was already getting dark outside. "Are you heading home tonight?" Connor asked. "Yes." "I¡¯ll give you a ride." Cam paused, her heart skipping a beat. She quickly replied. "Sure." Her voice carried a subtle joy. The driver waited at the door, but Connor said, "Give me the keys." Understanding Connor¡¯s style, the driver didn¡¯t ask further or linger. He handed over the keys and silently left. Connor opened the car door, slid into the driver¡¯s seat, and Cam followed, settling into the passenger seat. "Do you always go home during vacations?" Connor asked. "Yeah, my mom runs a bakery alone. It''s tough, and I want to spend more time with her." "What about other rtives? Are they also in Fairmount?" Cam smiled wryly, her voice slightly somber, "Although my grandmother and my uncle''s family live in Fairmount, we don''t see them much. Strictly speaking, my family... it¡¯s really just my mom." Her voice carried a hint of sadness. For some reason, at that moment, Connor felt a strong urge to hold her. Chapter 167 Chapter 167 Driving along the coastal road, Cam gazed out the window, her eyes reflecting the shimmering sea. Just as she excitedly turned to look at Connor, she noticed his hands trembling slightly, gripping the steering wheel tightly as if suppressing some intense emotion, hisplexion also turning pale. "Are you alright?" Cam, sensing Connor''s difort, asked worriedly. Connor shook his head, trying to muster a smile, "It''s nothing, just remembering some things from the past." His voice was deep and hoarse. He didn''t continue, but Cam could feel the heaviness and suppression emanating from him. They soon reached the entrance to the vige. "Parking here would be best," Cam pointed to the roadside. Connor slowed down, looking around the environment, and asked, "Are we here?" Cam shook her head, "Your car is too shy. The neighbors might talk if they see it." Connor nodded slightly, "Alright, I''ll listen to you." He responded gently and parked the car exactly where Cam had indicated. Cam unbuckled her seatbelt and said to him, "Mr. Connor, wait for me a moment." Connor nodded. Cam then jogged back to the diner. "Mom, cook a bowl of ravioli, and pack two boxes of ravioli for me, please," she said as she entered the shop. ire was busy. Hearing her daughter''s voice, she looked up with a warm smile. She quickly cooked the ravioli as Cam had requested and packed two portions, curiously asking, "What do you need these for?" Cam took the ravioli, exining with a smile, "A colleague gave me a ride back, and I thought I''d thank him with these." Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ire responded, "You should have invited your colleague here." "Parking here is tricky," Cam chuckled. "That''s true," ire quickly cooked up the ravioli and packed it. Cam walked briskly out of the shop. Back in the car, she handed the ravioli to Connor, saying with a smile, "Mr. Connor, the ravioli you likedst time." Connor raised an eyebrow as he took them. "Eat them while they''re hot," Cam handed over the other two boxes, "You can take these home to share with your family." "Sure." Connor, looking at the ravioli in his hands, smiled. Cam handed him a fork, which he took and tasted a delicious ravioli. "Delicious," Connor nodded. Cam, smiling, watched him eat. Soon, the bowl was empty, and Connor packed the empty bowl into a bag, wiping his mouth. Cam took the bag he had set aside, reminding him, "Drive safely." Connor looked at her, a tender smile flickering in his eyes, and nodded gently. *** During the holiday. Cam was helping out at the diner. That day, Craig and John arrived at the shop. "Ma¡¯am," John greeted politely, handing over some carefully selected supplements, with a gentle smile on his face. ire smiled back, "Thank you for your thoughtfulness, but there are too many supplements at home that we can''t finish. Take these back, and I''ll cook something for you." Cam looked at John, feeling somewhat helpless. She didn''t want John to invest too much in her, knowing that nothing could happen between them, but facing his warmth and politeness, she found it hard to send him away directly. Cam smiled and said, "Craig, please take care of Mr. John, I need to get back to work." Craig knew Cam wasn''t interested in his younger friend, but since John insisted oning, Craig had no choice but to apany him. Chapter 168 Chapter 168 He gently patted John on the shoulder, signaling him not to be too hard on himself, then turned to Cam and said, "We were just passing by and thought we''d drop in." Cam nodded in acknowledgment. As the store began to fill with customers, Cam quickly turned to attend to her duties. Craig and John also started helping out with the customers willingly. After a busy spell, ire pulled Craig aside and whispered, "Craig, didn''t you tell John about Cam..." "I did tell him, but John can be a bit stubborn¡ªus veterans tend to stick to our guns once we''ve made up our minds," Craig replied with a resigned smile. "John is really a good guy, very reliable, but unfortunately, Cam just doesn''t feel the same way about him," ire sighed, a hint of regret in her voice. In the days that followed, John continued to show up every day, diligently helping out in the diner. His hard work earned him unanimous praise from the customers. Taking advantage of a moment when ire was away, Cam said to him, "John, I actually have someone I like." John paused, his movements halting abruptly. He looked up at Cam, his face breaking into an awkward smile. "It''s okay, I know you don''t feel the same about me. I just didn''t have anywhere else to go during my time off, and I wanted to be helpful here." Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Despite their conversation, John kepting to the diner every day to help. His persistence made Cam feel quite helpless. *** October 7th is Connor''s birthday. Cam took an early ride back to Cedarhill Estate. With a nervous and excited heart, she searched online for a tutorial on how to bake a cake. She carefully read each step, afraid of missing any crucial details. On her first attempt, she didn¡¯t manage the oven temperature and timing well, resulting in several burnt cake bases. After an afternoon of effort, she finally baked a perfect cake base. She carefully spread the frosting evenly over the cake, then adorned it with fresh fruits as garnish. As shepleted the final step, she nced at the wall clock which pointed to seven. Just then, her phone buzzed lightly, a message from Connor appeared: [Expecting to arrive at eight.] Knowing that Connor wasn''t fond of sweets, she had specially prepared pasta for him. Once everything was ready, Cam sat on the sofa, anxiously waiting for Connor. Ding-dong¡ª The doorbell rang, making her heart race. She quickly stood up from the sofa, took a few deep breaths to ease her nerves, and then walked to the door. The moment she opened the door, a strong scent of alcohol hit her. Cam was stunned. Logan and a chauffeur were supporting a drunken Connor. His face flushed, eyes tightly closed, completely unconscious from intoxication. ¡°This guy tried to sneak away as soon as he arrived at his birthday party, but other guys wouldn¡¯t let him, and he ended up downing an entire bottle of whiskey,¡± Logan exined. He continued, ¡°He usually handles his liquor well, a bottle is no big deal, but today he drank too quickly.¡± Logan ced Connor on Cam¡¯s shoulder, ¡°I''ll leave him to you.¡± With that, he hurried off with the chauffeur, leaving Cam with the passed-out Connor. ¡°Hey.¡± Cam called out, but there was no response. Connor had lost consciousnesspletely, his body limply resting against Cam. Instinctively, she held him tighter to prevent him from falling. Suddenly, Cam distinctly felt soft lips press against her shoulder. In that moment, her heartbeat seemed to skip a beat. Chapter 169 Chapter 169 Cam felt a rush of panic and lowered her head. She took deep breaths, trying to stay calm, but the fluttering in her heart would not settle. It wasn''t until Connor slumped down like a sack of potatoes that Cam suddenly tightened her grip around him. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Their bodies pressed closely together, and Cam could distinctly feel the man''s breath and heartbeat. Her cheeks instantly felt as if they were scorched, burning hot. "Mr. Connor..." Cam whispered softly, her voice slightly husky. Connor seemed to hear someone calling him. He opened his mouth slightly, as if he wanted to say something. However, his speech was slurred from the alcohol, only a few muddled sybles escaping. "What?" Cam couldn''t make out what he was saying. She took a deep breath, intending to help Connor to the bedroom. But her strength was limited, and the weight of a drunken person felt heavier. She struggled just to move him a few steps. Unable to move him further, Cam shifted her efforts, managing to get him onto the sofa with difficulty. Thud¡ª Following Connor''s momentum, Cam fell onto the sofa with him, copsing into his arms. The closeness sent a wave of panic through Cam. She immediately scrambled up from Connor. Cam stood next to the sofa, taking deep breaths, fanning her face rapidly, but unable to cool the heat on her cheeks. She went to the bathroom to ssh cold water on her face, slightly easing the burning sensation, and dried off. She then fetched a fresh towel from the cupboard and dampened it. Back in the living room, she sat beside Connor, gently wiping his face with the towel. Connor''s breathing was deep and slow, his head tilted, eyes tightly shut, his perfect features outlined in the soft light. Cam watched him quietly. She lowered her head and gently ced a kiss on his cheek, which was faintly flushed from the alcohol. It seemed as if the scent of the liquor seeped from Connor''s cheek to Cam''s lips, slowly fermenting. Cam felt intoxicated, her soul drunk. "Connor, I like you." She murmured shyly, her voice almost drowned out by her breathing. Connor still had his eyes closed, his chest rising and falling lightly. He was clearly still in a deep sleep. Cam stood up to grab a nket, gently covering him before dimming the living room lights. She sat on one side of the sofa, picking up a book, asionally ncing at the sleeping man. Soon after, Connor suddenly frowned in his sleep. Following that, his body twitched slightly, and his breathing became erratic. He suddenly opened his eyes, but his gaze was blurry. He struggled to sit up, but his body seemed uncooperative, flopping back onto the sofa. Cam immediately put down her book and rushed over to help him, asking anxiously. "Mr. Connor, are you okay?" Connor''s face turned pale, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, looking like he might vomit. "I feel sick." Cam gasped, "Wait! Hold on!" The carpet was underneath, and it would be hard to clean. She turned and ran to fetch a trash can, cing it in front of him, gently patting his back. With a slightlymanding tone, she instructed, "Vomit in here." Connor struggled to swallow, trying to suppress the rising nausea. However, the difort intensified, and eventually, he couldn''t hold back and vomited violently. The scene was somewhat messy and distressing. Cam immediately handed Connor some tissues and continued to pat his back gently. Chapter 170 Chapter 170 After throwing up, Connor leaned against the sofa, his gaze blurry and his body reeking of alcohol. Cam immediately unscrewed a bottle of water and handed it to him. Connor took it and rinsed his mouth. Gently patting his back, Cam asked in a soft voice, "Are you feeling okay?" Connor¡¯s drunken eyes met Cam¡¯s gaze, he nodded slightly, his expression foggy yet oddly docile. "Do you feel like throwing up again?" Cam asked gently. Connor shook his head. "Sit tight for a bit. I¡¯ll get you some hangover relief." Cam helped him sit upright against the sofa, then took the trash can filled with vomit to the bathroom. She fetched the first aid kit, grabbed a hangover pill, and poured a ss of warm water. "Take this." Cam ced the pill in his palm, and Connor popped it into his mouth followed by a sip of warm water. "Sorry." he murmured, his voice slightly deep. Cam smiled tenderly, "It¡¯s okay. Are you feeling a bit better now?" Connor still felt dizzy and briefly closed his eyes, staggering to his feet. "I think I need to wash my face." "I¡¯ll help you." Cam supported him as they moved to the master bathroom. After Connor washed his face, he leaned heavily on the sink. Cam stood beside him, worry filling her eyes. Suddenly, Connor looked at her, his eyes still hazy. He blinked slowly and said. "I need to use the restroom." Cam paused, blushing as she realized, and quickly stepped out of the bathroom, closing the door behind her. From outside, she called, "Be careful." After a while, Connor steadied himself on the doorframe as he came out. Cam immediately assisted him. "Are you hungry?" she asked. At her question, Connor suddenly felt his hunger. Everything he had eaten at dinner had been thrown up, and his stomach was empty now. He nodded. "Rest on the sofa for a bit. I¡¯ll make you some soup." Cam said gently. She helped Connor to the sofa and carefully adjusted his position. Connor nodded obediently and closed his eyes, leaning back on the sofa. Cam got busy in the kitchen. She pulled out the ingredients she had prepared for pasta from the fridge. Sheid all the ingredients out on the table. She quickly cooked a te of pasta and brought it to the table. The aroma wafted over, and Connor couldn¡¯t help but slightly open his eyes. He saw Cam approaching with a te of pasta, her face wearing a warm smile. "Sir, your pasta is ready," Cam said softly. Connor slowly got up and moved towards the dining table. Cam smiled, "Mr. Connor, happy birthday." "Thank you!" Connor looked at the food in front of him, then back at Cam, suddenly moved. He slowly picked up a fork, twirled some pasta, and took a bite. This was definitely the best thing he had ever had in his life. *** Emily was about to go to bed when she suddenly sneezed. "What¡¯s the matter? Caught a cold?" Peter asked anxiously. Emily gently rubbed her nose and shook her head, "No." She asked, "Is Connor spending his birthday with Logan and the others again this year?" Peter gently held her hand and nodded. "Ah, spending every birthday with his buddies," Emily sighed, "I hope next year he has someone special to celebrate with him." Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. "Our son loves your cooking the most," Peter said with a smile. "That¡¯s true, he says my pasta is the best in the world," Emily dered proudly. 171 171 Cam hadn¡¯t eaten anything all evening, so the served herself a small bowl of spaghetti Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. She took a bite and slightly furrowed her brow¨Cthe spaghetti was overcooked. Connor must have been really hungry to find it delicious Connor quickly finished his bowl of spaghetti, looking utterly content. Cam nced at the clock and noted it was ten minutes to midnight, just ten minutes left until Connors birthday was over. ¡°Sir, just a moment¡± Cam said as she stood up swiftly, grabbing a cake from the fridge and lighting a candle on it. She brought over the cake, softly humming, ¡°Happy Birthday to you.. Happy Birthday to you¡­¡± Connor looked up, surprised at first, then his lips curled into a soft, tender smile as he gazed unwaveringly at Cam ¡°Make a wish¡± Cam sang, adding the line quickly before cing the cake in front of him. With a nod Connor closed his eyes, sped his hands together and made a devout wish. After making his wish, he gently blew out the ¡°Wow¡± Cam cheered. ¡°Happy Birthday!¡± ¡°Thank you¡± Connor said, his smile widening, touched by her gesture. ¡°know you don¡¯t eat cake, but it¡¯s all about the gesture,¡± Cam said as she handed him a cake knife. Connor nodded, cutting arge slice of the cake. ¡°Here you go,¡± he said softly. ¡°Thank you!¡± Cam took it eagerly and sat down. She had been craving it for a while. She took a bite, her eyes lit up immediately, and she eximed, ¡°Oh my, I am a genius. This is so delicious¡± Connor looked at the cake and chuckled, ¡°This cake looks a bit rough around the edges. Is it really that good?¡± Cam¡¯s hands trembled, nearly dropping her piece of cake. She squeezed out a smile, looking up and feigning calm, ¡°Is it that bad?¡± Connor crossed his arms, speaking lightly. ¡°Maybe we shouldn¡¯t get cakes from this ce next time.¡± Cam¡¯s brow furrowed lightly as she t took another bite of the cake, her words muffled, ¡°There won¡¯t be a next time, just today.¡± ¡°Why? Did they close down? Connor asked curiously. Cam nodded, her expression nk. ¡°Yeah, they closed down. Cam¡¯s Cake Shop.¡± Connor was stunned, at a loss for words. ¡°Did you make this?¡± He couldn¡¯t believe that Cam had made the cake herself. ¡°Yeah, it is my ¡®ugly¡® cake,¡± Cam replied nonchntly, Connor massaged his temples. Great, he seemed to have upset her. After a moment of silence, Connor finally broke the silence, ¡°Look¡­ I¡¯m sorry. I take back what I said earlier. His brows furrowed slightly, his face full of regret. Cam hummed softly. ¡°Your words are like spilled milk.¡± Connor quickly took action, cutting another slice of cake and stuffing a big spoonful into his mouth. He gave a thumbs up while mumbling, ¡°Delicious, really good.¡± I Cam watched him eat the cake and couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Alright, after your show of sincerity. I forgive you.¡± Connor¡¯s lips curved into a proud smile as he continued enjoying the cake. ¡°I mean, that¡¯s enough. You don¡¯t even like sweets,¡± Cam remarked, watching him savor it with relish. But Connor stubbornly shook his head ¡°No way, it¡¯s my birthday cake. How can I not eat it?¡± he said as he scooped another spoonful into his mouth. She watched his adorable demeanor and couldn¡¯t help but smile. At this moment, he was nothing like his usual serious and stern self, appearing more emotional and even stubbornly childlike. Was this behavior the result of unlocking another personality after one too many drinks? 172 172 After polishing off his slice of cake, Connor nced at the time and stood up. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. I should get some rest and head home.¡± ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re sober enough?¡± Cam asked, concerned. ¡°Let me drive you.¡± Connor chuckled softly. ¡°I¡¯m much better now A sly twinkle appeared in bis eye. ¡°If you drive me, I¡¯d worry about you walking home ale at night. Wouldn¡¯t that just bring us back to square one?¡± Cam nodded in agreement. ¡°Alright, just be safe, and text me when you get home.¡± ¡°Please pack the cake for me,¡± Connor suddenly said. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Cam looked at him, puzzled. ¡°Why do you want to take it with you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my birthday cake, so of course, I want to take it home,¡± Connor exined, ¡°But you don¡¯t even like sweets,¡± ¡°Who said that? I think it¡¯s delicious,¡± Connor replied earnestly. Cam couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll pack it up for you.¡± She ced the cake into a box and handed it to him. ¡°Sir, good night.¡± ¡°Good night¡± Connor said, his eyes softening. After Connor left, Cam began tidying up the table. Her face lit up with a sweet smile. It wasn¡¯t long before she received a message from Connor confirming he had gotten home safely. ¡°Those long legs do make a difference. He got home much faster than I would have,¡± Cam thought to herself. After washing up. Cam¡¯s mind was buzzing as shey in bed, tossing and turning. She recalled how she had sneakily kissed Connor. Her heartbeat quickened, and she shyly buried her face in her pillow. As the night deepened, she had no idea when she would calm down enough to fall asleep. The next day, Cam was busy with work and almost didn¡¯t notice it was nearly time to leave. She rubbed her neck tiredly. A call came from an unfamiliar number. ¡°Cam, it¡¯sme, Rita, I¡¯m back in the country!¡± Rita¡¯s voice came excitedly through the phone. Cam paused, remembering their ns to go shopping before Rita left for abroad. ¡°I got your number from Connor. I¡¯m actually downstairs at your office right now!¡± Rita¡¯s voice was filled with anticipation and excitement. ¡°Come down when you¡¯re off work, let¡¯s go shopping Cam hesitated, ¡°But Mr. Connor hasn¡¯t left work yet. I might need to wait a bit.¡± Rita seemed unconcemed. ¡°No worries, I¡¯ve already talked to him. Juste down when you¡¯re done.¡± Cam couldn¡¯t really refuse anymore. ¡°Okay, see you in a bit.¡± Cam knocked and entered Connor¡¯s office. ¡°Mr. Connor Rita¡¯s here for me¡­¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Connor responded. ¡°You can go ahead and leave.¡± ¡°Alright, Cam said before departing. Back at Cam¡¯s desk, her phone vibrated again. It was a call from Erica. ¡°Cami, I have some super exciting news!¡± Erica¡¯s voice carried a hint of mystery. ¡°What is it?¡± Cam asked curiously while packing up her things to leave. ¡°You¡¯ve always been a huge fan of Haylie, right?¡± Erica chuckled, then continued, ¡°She¡¯s having a wee¨Cback party the day after tomorrow, and the magazine gave me an invite!¡± Hearing this, Cam nearly jumped with excitement. ¡°Really? Can e?¡± ¡°Why do you think I¡¯m calling you?¡± Epicaughed proudly. Realization dawned on Cam. She shouted excitedly. ¡°Ah! Er, you¡¯re the best! I love you so much!¡± 173 173 After hanging up the phone, Cam was still buzzing with excitement. She nced at Connor in the office and remembered seeing a photo of Haylie on his desk. Could it be that Connor was also a fan of Haylie? She had missed her chance to confess her feelings yesterday because he had been too drunk. Would presenting him with an autographed photo of his idol make him more receptive to her feelings? Cam chuckled to herself. Her mood was buoyant as she quickly packed up her things and headed downstairs. As soon as she reached the lobby, she ran into Rita, who called out to her. ¡°Hey, long time no see!¡± Rita approached and hugged her. She startled Cam with her warmth, yet it feltforting. ¡°Let¡¯s grab some lunch and then go shopping.¡± Rita suggested, linking arms with her. ¡°Sounds great!¡± Cam agreed happily. They walked arm in arm to a nearby restaurant. Rita chatted enthusiastically about her adventures abroad. At the restaurant, they ordered some of their favorite dishes, catching up on each other¡¯s lives and work, asionally mentioning Connor. They enjoyed their conversation immensely. Cam liked Rita a lot, as shecked the aloofness often found in heiresses. After lunch, Rita pulled her into a luxury jewelry store. ¡°Pick anything you like, and I¡¯ll buy it for you,¡± Rita offered generously ¡°No, that¡¯s okay,¡± Cam waved her hands dismissively, ¡°Oh,e on,¡± Rita chided gently, ¡°You helped me win over a hundred thousand at poker!¡± ¡°It was just luck. You don¡¯t have to worry about it¡± Cam said, trying to refuse politely. ¡°No way, you have to ept it. It¡¯s rare for me to win at poker, and we should definitely celebrate this win!¡± Rita¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, her tone firm and non¨Cnegotiable. ¡°If you don¡¯t ept it, I¡¯ll really be upset.¡± Seeing Rita¡¯s serious expression, Camughed and said, ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll take it. Thank you! ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± Rita¡¯s face brightened with a smile. Cam scanned the store. Nothing in the luxury jewelry st store was cheap! Rita had already tried on several pieces of jewelry, and since Cam hadn¡¯t chosen yet, she approached and asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you like anything?¡± ¡°Nothing really caught my eye,¡± Cam replied with a smile, ¡°That¡¯s easy to fix Rita said confidently, then called out, ¡°Manager!¡± The manager hurried over, nodding respectfully. ¡°Miss Rita.¡± ¡°Bring out the most expensive piece of jewelry in the store,¡± Ritamanded, Cam was startled and quickly pointed to a bracelet in front of her. ¡°Actually, I quite like this one.¡± Rita followed Cam¡¯s pointing finger and frowned slightly. ¡°That¡¯s too in.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t really wear something too shy at work, and this will match well with many outfits. I really like it Cam exined. Hearing Cam¡¯s exnation, Ritaughed. ¡°Well, if you like it, that¡¯s what matters.¡± The clerk brought over the bracelet and tried it on Cam¡¯s wrist. The bracelet was simple yet elegant, with a delicate chain and a few embedded diamonds. Cam looked at the bracelet, nodding in approval Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°This bracelet really suits you, the clerk admired. ¡°It¡¯s simple and stylish and very versatile.¡± C 174 174 ¡°I think it¡¯s quite nice, too,¡± Cam said with a smile ¡°Wrap up a new one,¡± Rita told the clerk. The manager then emerged from the safe with an exquisite box, handing it to Rita. ¡°Miss Greta, this ne is a limited edition, the only one of its kind,¡± the manager exined. Rita took the box, opened it, and was greeted by the brilliant sparkle of the diamond ne inside. This ne is stunning!¡± she eximed ¡°It¡¯s called The One, symbolizing a unique love,¡± the manager borated ¡°Cam,¡± Rita called out and Cam leaned in to look. ¡°Try it on,¡± Rita suggested. ¡°Rita, this ne is too valuable Cam objected. But Rita dismissed Cam¡¯s concem with a smile. ¡°Oh Cam, it¡¯s just a trifle.¡± She carefully ced the ne around Cam¡¯s neck. ¡°How much is it? Rita asked casually. ¡°Two million one hundred eighty thousand dors,¡± the manager replied. Heanng the price, Cam¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She froze, afraid to move, worrying something might happen to the ne. Yet Rita, ever so generously, said, ¡°Wrap this one up too.¡± Cam¡¯s eyes widened in panic. She clutched Rita¡¯s arm, anxious about the ne and too afraid to move. ¡°I can¡¯t take this. I have no asion to wear it,¡± Cam hurriedly said. ¡°Besides, you only won just over a million at poker. This is too much.¡± Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Rita patted her hand,ughing, ¡°Ah, I just wanted to give you a gift. The poker money was just pocket change. Cam knew Rita genuinely wanted to send her a gift, but she insisted, ¡°I really can¡¯t ept it, and if you insist, I won¡¯t take the bracelet either.¡°. Rita sighed. ¡°Alright, let Connor buy it for you.¡± She carefully unsped the ne from Cam¡¯s neck. Cam visibly rxed, twisting her neck slightly. Rita handed the ne back to the manager. ¡°Tell Connor to buy it for you,¡± she said with a smile to Cam Cam blushed and smiled shyly. The next afternoon, Cam was reviewing Connor¡¯s schedule when she heard footsteps. She looked up to see Logan. She immediately stood up, greeting him politely with a smile, ¡°Mr. Logan, hello.¡± When Logan saw Cam, he raised an eyebrow. ¡°Hello, Cam. Connor¡¯s in his office, right?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Cam nodded and walked over to knock on the door. As Logan entered the office, Cam noticed he was carrying a box with the Weiss Jewelry logo¨Cthe same type of box that had held the two¨Cmillion¨Cdor ne she had tried on the day before. ¡°Mr. Logan, would you like coffee or tea? Cam asked. Logan didn¡¯t immediately answer. Instead, he walked over to the sofa area, ced the box on the table, and crossed his legs. ¡°Coffee,¡± he said with a smile. At that moment, Connor was reviewing documents but nced up at Logan. And for Mr. Connor? Cam asked. ¡°The same,¡± Connor said, turning to her. ¡°Alright¡± Cam left the office. ¡°I brought you the item you wanted Logan said, ncing at the box on the table, and I got you a discount, just $1.96 million.¡± Chapter 175H 175 175 Connor furrowed his brows and looked at Logan, a hint of exasperation in his voice. Do you take me for a fool? Logan chuckled, his sly pare umreadable. ¡°Oh you told me to pick any ne, so I just grabbed this one He feigned a hurt expression and added, ¡°I brought it all the way to your doorstep. Mr. Connor. No returns, okay?¡± ¡°Whatever¡± Connor replied with a sidelong nce itas Logan sent Connor the business ount details, smiling as he said, ¡°Make sure to note it as The One¡® in the transaction. Otherwise, our finance team will have a hard time reconciling¡± As Connor transferred the money, he paused at the name and frowned. ¡°The One really? That¡¯s so tacky¡± Logan grinned. ¡°I¡¯ll pass your feedback to the designer ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± Connor said tly. ¡°Thanks for contributing to mypany revenue this month Logan said with a proud smile Just then, Cam knocked and entered, cing a coffee on the coffee table. Before she left the office, she nced at the box on the table After Cam exited. Connor walked over to the coffee table and sat down, eyeing Logan. ¡°What about the other items I asked you to bring? Logan had just taken a sip of his coffee and replied with slight imitation, I¡¯ve barely sat down for a few minutes, and you¡¯re already putting me to work?¡± ¡°Stop dawdling¡± Connor shot him an impatient look ¡°Alight, looks like the client wants to personally supervise this,¡± Logan sighed, opening his briefcase to take out some paper and a pen He smiled and asked, ¡°So, what exactly would you like in the ne design?¡± Connor thought for a moment and said intermittently, ¡°Simple, yet elegant. It should be suitable for everyday wear at work. And make it look more appealing. For the material, let¡¯s go with rose gold. It complements her skin and enhances her elegance.¡± After listening intently, Loganined, ¡°Such a ne costs just a few thousand dors to make. How much do you think you can sell it for? You had a top designer like me visit in person for this..¡± ¡°Why are you always so talkative? Connor red at him. ¡°Id love to kick your ass right now¡± Logan muttered, starting to sketch on the design paper. Connor watched his initial draft. ¡°That C is too sharp. What if it pokes her neck?¡± h he frowned and pointed out. Logan rolled his eyes and gritted his teeth, ¡°Fine, fine, fine! Can¡¯t let your darling get hurt.¡± Connor cleared his throat and said calmly. ¡°Cam did a great job on her business trip. This ne is a reward for her.¡± ¡°Whatever you say¡± Logan huffed. ¡°You¡¯re more stubborn than a mule.¡±Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Just draw¡± Connor frowned, tapping on the table. ¡°Got it¡± Logan sighed Connor watched him draw constantly suggesting changes. He nearly took the pen to do it himself in the end After countless revisions, Logan couldn¡¯t even recall how many versions he had modified. This was an insult to his professional career ¡°Does this look okay to you?¡± Logan nced at him, picking up the now cold coffee for a second sip since he had entered. ¡°This is better¡± Connor nodded approvingly ¡°The letter C will be embellished with pave diamonds, Logan said, showing him a box of diamonds. 176 176 Connor scrutinized the item before him. ¡°It seems of overige quality¡± Logan scoffed, retorting. ¡°You think you know about this stuff? Connor shook his head. He recalled that his mother¡¯s diamonds had sparkled more than this. ¡°Standard quality for these gems,¡± Logan said, eyeing him. Connor was still not satisfied, no matter how he looked at it. ¡°Let¡¯s get the best quality raw diamonds and cut them. Would that satisfy you, Mr. Connor?¡± Logan sighed, ¡°That might work,¡± Connor agreed. Logan rolled his eyes. Cutting good raw stones into small diamonds seemed like a waste. Til select them at yourpany,¡± Connor stated. ¡°Alright¡± Logan¡¯s eyebrows twitched. Let¡¯s go, Connor said, shutting down hisputer on his desk. ¡°You mean now?¡± Logan asked incredulously. ¡°Yeah,¡± Connor replied nonchntly. ¡°Lucky me, having a friend like you,¡± Logan gritted his teeth.. ¡°Stop dawdling and get your stuff together,¡± Connor urged. ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Logan took a deep breath, clenching his fists. The two left the office together, Connor told Cam, have to step out and won¡¯t be back to the office. You can leave when it¡¯s time ¡°Alright,¡± Cam nodded. Logan gave Cam a meaningful look and forced a smile. ¡°Take care, Mr. Connor, Mr. Logan,¡± Cam might have been imagining it, but she thought Logan¡¯s look carried a hint of regret. Alter they left, Cam buried herself back in her work. Near the end of her shift, she carried the organized files into Connor¡¯s office She neatly ced them on his desk and, just before leaving, nced at the coffee table. A solitary jewelry boxy there. She frowned. How was such a valuable item left out in the open? She walked over and picked up the jewelry box to ce it in the safe. To look or not to look? Aller ent entering the safe code, she hesitated. After a long struggle, she opened the box. The moment the lid lifted, her blood froze. It was the ne she had tried on the night before. Rita¡¯s words echoed in her ears. ¡°Tell Connor to buy it for you¡± Her heart pounded wildly. Was it meant for her? The ne symbolized uniqueness¡­ Could it mean¡­ that Connor had feelings for her too? Cam¡¯s hands trembled slightly with nervousness as she closed the box and put it back in the safe. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. As she left Connor¡¯s office, she felt dazed. She walked slowly back to her desk, her cheeks slightly flushed, and she unconsciously smiled. ¡°Cam, Cam Curtis from the tech department waved his hand in front of her. ¡°Huh?¡± Cam snapped back to reality, looking at him nkly. ¡°What are you giggling about?¡± Curtis asked with a smile. Cam awkwardly adjusted her hair and forced a smile. ¡°Did you need me?¡± ¡°Yeah, could you get this document to Mr. Connor tomorrow? I need his signature, and it¡¯s quite urgent. Let me know once it¡¯s signed¡± Curtis instructed. ¡°Sure, no problem,¡± Cam responded. ¡°I¡¯m heading out¡± Curtis Bald with a smile. ¡°Okay¡± Cam smiled back. After Curtis left, Cam patted her face and took several deep breaths to fully regain herposure She texted Connor. [Mr. Connor, I¡¯ve ced the jewelry box from the coffee table and put it into the safety deposit box] [Okay] Connor replied briefly. Cam wondered. Does he know I¡¯ve seen it?¡® 177 177 October 10th Haylie¡¯s wee party Connor was out of the office in the aftemoon, and Cam left work on time to meet Erica. She changed into a dress at Erica¡¯s ce and applied her makeup meticulously. The party started at nine, so they had time to grab a quick meal beforehand. During dinner, Cam couldn¡¯t help but smile and asionally giggle. Watching her, Erica teased, ¡°Why do you look like a girl in love?¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± Cam replied shylys ¡°Come on, spill the beans!¡± They grew up together, so Erica knew Cami¡¯s moods and quirks all too well and could tell something was up. In a low voice, Cam confessed, ¡°I think¡­ Connor might like me.¡± ¡°You realize only now?¡± Ericaughed. Tm curious. How did you figure that out?¡± Cam then shared everything about Connor¡¯s birthday, including her bold move to steal a kiss from him. Erica scoffed, ¡°A stolen kiss? How timid of you!¡± Raising an eyebrow she continued, ¡°After he sobered up, you should¡¯ve made your move. You might have been expecting by now.¡± Cam¡¯s cheeks flushed as she red at Erica. Erica simply shrugged, ¡°Come on, you two¡­ have been close for a while, no need to be coy ¡°Oh, please, go on, Erica urged, her curiosity piqued. After a moment, Cam continued, ¡°The other day, while shopping with Rita, she wanted to buy me a ne worth two million, which shocked me. How could I ept such an expensive gift?¡± ¡°And then?¡± Erica asked eagerly. ¡°She suggested Connor should buy it for me.¡± Cam looked down, a sweet smile ying on her lips. ¡°Yesterday, I saw that ne in his office. It¡¯s a limited edition, called The one.¡± Erica chuckled, ¡°Wow, Connor¡¯s really generous.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Then she asked. ¡°So, do you still want Haylie¡¯s autographed photo?¡± ¡°Of course, the two aren¡¯t mutually exclusive,¡± Cam smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll definitely get you that autograph tonight, Erica winked, ¡°But remember, let Connor make the first move. Men don¡¯t cherish whates too easily.¡± Cam nodded, ¡°Til take your advice to heart.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s finish up and head over,¡± Erica urged. After dinner, Enca drove to an upscale neighborhood where many private vis had been converted into entertainment venues. Erica pulled up, parked the car, and noticed a line of luxury cars at the entrance. As they walked towards the vi, Cam remarked, ¡°Haylie really draws a crowd, all these fancy cars.¡± ¡°She¡¯s been in the industry for seven years and holds a respectable position. Tonight¡¯s her wee party, so there will likely be many big names, Erica said, ¡°I don¡¯t see what¡¯s so special about her. The entertainment industry is full of beautiful women, and many are quite cunning. I remember her fianc¨¦ is¡­¡± ¡°The CEO of Capital Solutions Cam chimed in. Right, Lily¡¯s ex¨Chusband¡¯spany.¡± ¡°My cousin works there, too. I¡¯ve always felt thatpany was a bit off¡­¡± They reached the vi¡¯s entrance. Erica handed their invitations to the staff. ¡°Please,¡± the staff member gestured them inside. 178 178 Cam nodded with a smile, following Erica Inside. Inside the banquet hall, Cam¡¯s eyes were searching for Haylie. ¡°Over there in the head of Silver Screen Studios, and that¡¯s the big shot from Starlight Entertainment¡­ It¡¯s a room full of celebrities,¡± Enca whispered behind her hand. Cam was uninterested in them and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Haylie?¡± ¡°The star of the show won¡¯t make an appearance so early. She¡¯s bound to make a grand entrancer Ericaughed. Cam nodded in agreement. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go sit over there or wander around a bit? I need to say hello to some colleagues, but I¡¯ll be back to keep youpany soon,¡± Erica suggested, pointing towards a set of sofas in the corner, ¡°Go ahead with your work. I¡¯ll be fine, Cam said with a smile. Wright, just entertain yourself for a bit, and don¡¯t drink any alcohol,¡± Erica Instructed. ¡°Got it go ahead¡± Cam said, chuckling resignedly. Cam walked over to the bar and grabbed a ss of juice. She overheard two women chatting and recalled that they were close friends from online interactions. Fair¨Cskinned beauty: ¡°Hey, darling, you¡¯ve lost a lot of weight!¡± Tall, slender beauty: ¡°Yeah, just finished filming with a top director 1 was suspended in hamesses every day, which was so exhPeterg But you¡¯re the lucky one. Your skin has gotten even fairer.¡± The fair¨Cskinned woman clenched her teeth. ¡°Really? I heard that the director¡¯s movies have been flopping these past few years.¡± The tall, slender woman nced at her and chuckled, ¡°Box office isn¡¯t something I can control. I only do my best in my role, which is certainly better than someone sitting at home like a couch potato, right?¡± The fair¨Cskinned woman scoffed and stormed off Cam sipped her juice, intrigued by the superficial friendships in the entertainment industry. Erica soon returned and found Cam at the bar, drinking juice. She linked arms with her and asked, ¡°Bored yet?¡± Cam shook her head. ¡°Just enjoying the show. It¡¯s quite interesting¡± A wealthy businessman walked by with a morous woman on his arm and was dazzled by the two beauties. ¡°Haven¡¯t seen you twodies before?¡± The woman on his arm stiffened her smile slightly and said, ¡°You¡¯re not from the showbiz world, are you?¡± Erica handled it smoothly. ¡°I¡¯m a magazine editor.¡± ¡°And her?¡± the businessman inquired, looking at Cam. ¡°She¡¯s not from this circle, Erica stepped in front of Cam, smiling politely, ¡°Sorry, we¡¯ve got work to do. Excuse us.¡± Erica led Cam towards the sofas. ¡°Looks like I need to be around you all the time in this ce full of big bad wolves.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a littlemb, you know. I¡¯ve had some training, Cam flexed yfully, showing off a hint of muscle. ¡°Yeah, Mr. Connor insisted on you taking those sses because he was worried about you running into trouble, Ericaughed. They settled down on a sofa. Soon after, a young man approached, visibly/tipsy. Original content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Excuse me,dies, just avoiding the bar he greeted, then sat down next to Cam and Erica. Cam smiled and nodded. The lounge wasn¡¯t big, and it wasn¡¯t like they could monopolize it forever. A waiter ced three sses of red wine on the coffee table as he passed by Suddenly- The lights dimmed. A spotlight focused on the spiral staircase. Haylie appeared, arm in arm with a young man, shimmering under the bright lights. They looked like a perfect match. Cam scanned the crowd, and her gaze lingered on the man¡¯s for a few seconds. Erico, surprised, asked, ¡°Connor knows Haylie?¡± 179 179 Cam shook her head nkly when Erica asked her question. Yes, they knew each other¡­. Connor was dressed entirely in ck, wearing a tailored ck shirt and suit that exuded an air of elegance and wealth Holding Connor¡¯s arm, Haylie descended the staircase with a radiant smile. Her movement was graceful, one hand slightly curved, waving to the crowd. She was like a noble swan. Cam¡¯s gaze remained fixed on Haylie, and she finally noticed the ne around her neck¨Cit was The One! Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. She shuddered violently, her face turning ghostly pale. It felt as though an invisible hand was tightly choking her. The air seemed to vanish Underneath the table, her hands clenched the fabric of her dress tightly. Her fingers had turned white, yet she felt no pain. She swallowed painfully ¡°Cami what¡¯s wrong?¡± Erica, noticing her pale face, asked anxiously. Cam turned to Erica, her voice trembling weakly. ¡°Haylie¡­ she¡¯s wearing The One¡­¡± Erica¡¯s pupils dted sharply as she turned to look at Haylie. By then, they had reached the lobby, greeting acquaintances. ¡°Haylie Connor she stuttered. The slightly tipsy man nced at Haylie and then back at the two women. He chuckled, ¡°You know Connor too? Seems like he¡¯s quite the celebrity now¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t Haylie engaged?¡± Erica suddenly turned to the man, her voice urgent. ¡°Yes, I remember it was on June 18th. I even attended the engagement party,¡± the tipsy man replied. June 18th Cam froze, her gaze nk as she stared at Connor That day¡­ It was the day at the bar¡­. ¡°Why isn¡¯t she standing next to her fianc¨¦?¡± Enica Erica furrowed her brows tightly, staring at the tipsy man. The man smiled, ¡°Who knows? Connor has always been fond of Haylie. Maybe she was moved by his feelings.¡± His words pierced Cam¡¯s heart like a sharp knife. It hurt so much, and a bittemess rose in her nose. Her eyes also turned tingled She turned away, tilting her head slightly and biting her lower lip hard. Her bright eyes were brimming with tears. Erica watched her sympathetically, holding her cold hand. The tipsy man continued. ¡°Do you know why Connor founded Future Inc.? Haylie likes dogs but is allergic to dog hair. Ah¡­¡± Cam stiffened. In an interview, he did mention that he designed Future Go because of a very important friend. Camughed mockingly at herself, tears now uncontrobly streaming down her cheeks. ¡°Cam..¡± Erica was very concerned. Cam picked up the ss of wine in front of her tilted her head back, and swallowed, the alcohol burning her throat. ¡°Cam¡­ Enca called softly Cam sniffled, wiping the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand, and managed a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s drink!¡± She picked up another ss of wine and clinked sses with Erica, gulping it down in one go. She drank too quickly and choked, coughing violently. Erica immediately pulled out a tissue to wipe her mouth, her voice full of concem, ¡°Slow down¡­¡± Seeing the empty ss, the waiter promptly refilled it ¡°You¡¯ve got a good tolerance. I¡¯ll drink with you the Lipsy man said, handing Cam another filled ss Cam looked up at Connor He was tumed away from her, seemingly talking to Haylie, who was smiling softly. Cam withdrew her gaze, met the tipsy man¡¯s smiling eyes, and ad her ss, ¡°Cheers!¡± ¦°¦§ 180 180 A man watched Cam at a distance as she sipped her wine, her charm and beauty captivating. Without much thought, he found himself seated in the lounge area, pouring more wine into Cam¡¯s ss. Cam had a tipsy sparkle in her eyes. She asked Erica with a soft volce, ¡°Erica, why aren¡¯t you drinking?¡± Erica nced at Cam and gently smiled, ¡°You drink. I¡¯ll watch over you.¡± Soon, Cam felt dizzy, rubbing her forehead but still feeling lightheaded. Her difort grew under the harsh lights, so she slowly stood up from the couch.¡± Erics immediately got up to support her toward the restroom. Connor caught a glimpse and paused, slightly stunned. He recognized that slender silhouette, her dress skimming over her legs. ¡°Excuse me for a moment,¡± he said, not waiting for Haylie to respond. He quickly walked in Cam¡¯s direction. ¡°Excuse me, please, he said as he made his way through the crowd. ¡°What¡¯s with him? Why the rush?¡± someone standing next to Haylie asked in surprise. Haylie just shook her head. Erica helped Cam to the dimly litidor. Leaning against the wall, Cam took deep breaths. She was too dizzy to walk further. ¡°Come on¡­ It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m here with you. Forget Connor; plenty more fish in the sea, Ericaforted her. Cam pursed her lips, her bright eyes brimming with tears as she tried to hold them back. ¡°Erica, I was just fooling myself¡­ she said, sadly mocking herself. Her head spun more and more, and she nearly lost consciousness. Suddenly, someone in the dark grabbed her arm. Cam was dazed and turned her head, only noticing that the man before her was Incredibly handsome as if he had appeared in her life before. Her eyes were teary as she quietly observed him, his scent of wine lingering Connor stared at her for a few seconds, then turned to Erica. ¡°Why did you let her drink!¡± he said sternly. Original content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°¡­¡± Erica swallowed her words, ring at Connor Ignoring her, Connor looked at Cam, who was drunk with tears in her misty eyes, her fair skin flushed red. ¡®Cam¡­ Connor called softly. She hummed in response, her voice soft and tender. Connor took off his jacket and draped it over her, saying quietly, ¡°Il take her home.¡± Erica clenched Connor¡¯s arm, her tone sharp. ¡°There¡¯s no need, Mr. Connor. I haven¡¯t been drinking.¡± Connor nced at Erica andmanded, ¡°Let go.¡± His anger was barely contained as he coldly stated, ¡°You can¡¯t carry her.¡± Then, he lifted Cam in his arms. ¡°Mr. Connor!¡± Erica frowned deeply. Down the long corridor, Connor carried Cam out. The sudden bright light made Cam feel ufortable. She closed her eyes and buried her face in his chest. She felt familiar and safe there. Those present were surprised to see Connor carrying a woman and stared nkly at the scene. When Connor and Haylie met face to face, Haylie was taken aback. ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± ¡°My employee, she¡¯s had too much to drink,¡± Connor said in a low tone, clearly in a bad mood. ¡°Let the security handle it. I¡¯ll arrange for someone to take her home,¡± Haylie suggested with a smile. ¡°I got it¡± Connor carried Cam out of the vi. Erica followed closely behind 181 181 The driver, lounging in the parking lot, watched the scene unfold and immediately drove up to the front of the vi, opening the rear passenger door. Connor carefully ced Cam onto the seat, meticulously fastening her seatbelt and adjusting her head to ensure she wasfortable. Then, he climbed into the car from the other side. Erica quickly opened the front passenger door and settled in, turning to walthed Cam with a face full of concern, ¡°You know she can¡¯t handle her liquor, yet you let her drink so much Connor said, his tone tinged with reproach as he stared at Erica. Erica felt a twinge of annoyance and took a deep breath. ¡°It¡¯s because.. You jerk! You always want the best of both worlds! ¡°Why?¡± Connor pressed. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about it Erica said, turning away and crossing her arms, The driver nced in the rearview mirror and asked, ¡°Mr. Connor, where to?¡± ¡°Willowbrook Estate.¡± ¡°Cedarhill Estate.¡± Both spoke at once. The driver, looking puzzled, checked the rearview mirror again, ¡°To. 7 ¡°Willowbrook Estate, Let¡¯s go to my ce. It¡¯ll be easier for me to take care of her tonight, Erica suggested. The driver looked up once more, meeting Connor¡¯s gaze in the rearview mirror. Connor nodded slightly. Connor quietly watched the sleeping Cam. Her hands clutched the corner of his suit jacket tightly. Her brows furrowed slightly, and the dried tears on her long eyshes were heart¨Cwrenching. Had something happened at the party? Erica stared into the rearview mirror. She saw tenderness and affection in Connor¡¯s eyes. But what about Haylie.. The car arrived at Willowbrook Estate. Connor stepped out and carefully lifted Cam from the car Erica led the way inside. ¡°Where¡¯s your bedroom?¡± Connor asked. ¡°Upstairs.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. p the st Conor camed Cam and followed Erica up stairs, who nervously made sure he didn¡¯t trip. Once they reached the bedroom, Connor gently ced Carh on the bed. He removed her high heels, adjusted her position, and covered her with a nket¨Call in one fluid motion. Enca leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching everything he did for Cam. She sighed softly. ¡°She¡¯ll take a day off tomorrow¡± Connor picked up a pen and paper from the bedside table and wrote down his phone number. ¡°Alright, call me if you need anything¡± Erica nced at the number and gestured for him to leave. ¡°Mr. Connor, please¡± Take good care of her Connor said, his voice low andmanding Enca nodded. After Connor left, she fetched a basin of water from the bathroom to remove Cami¡¯s makeup. Cam clutched the pillow, her brow still slightly furrowed. Erica sighed as she wiped off the makeup, murmuring to herself, ¡°Poor girl. You finally fall for someone and end up getting hurt. Connor does care about you. I can feel it..¡± Erica stayed by Cam¡¯s bedside, watching over her until she was sure everything was okay. Then, she closed her eyes to rest. **Half an hour before the party started** Knock, knock- Haylie¡¯s assistant paused for a few seconds as she opened the de ¡°Hello, I¡¯m here to see Haylie.¡± The man¡¯s voice was deep. Come in, the assistant said, smitten as she watched him enter Haylie heard the voice, emerged from the dressing room, and greeted him with a bright smile. ¡°Congor long time no see.¡± ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s been a while, Connor replied with a smile. ¡°I was quite disappointed you missed the engagement party,¡± Haylie pouted. was busy with stuff, Connor chuckled 182 182 ¡°Ah, everyone says they¡¯re busy. Logan is the same. Once you step into the real world, everyone has their own things to juggle,¡± Haylie sighed, walking over to the couch and gently patting the seat next to her. ¡°Please, have a seat.¡± Connor did as he was told, unbuttoning his suit jacket before sitting down on the plush sofa. ¡°I watched your onlineunch event. It was a big sess. I never imagined that the boy who used to love racing cars would transform into a business mogul, Haylie remarked. ¡°Thanks. You¡¯ve been quite sessful yourself, winning countless awards in just seven years,¡± Connor said, looking at her ¡°I have you to thank for that,¡± Haylie smiled.. Connor paused for a moment, then lowered his head slightly and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡± ¡°Seriously, I¡¯m not being sarcastic¡± Haylie chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s a bit of a pity, but then, who has a perfect life?¡± Connor took out a small box, smiling as he said, ¡°A bted engagement gift¡± Haylie gasped with delight as she took it, her eyes sparkling as she opened it ¡°Thank you, it¡¯s beautiful,¡± she said to her assistant. ¡°Help me put it on.¡± Her assistant promptly came over, removed the ne she was wearing, and reced it with the new one. Haylie took out her phone, switched to selfie mode, and checked out the ne through the camera, a small smile ying on her lips. ¡°You really have a good eye.¡± I¡¯m d you like it,¡± Connor smiled ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. I just came to give you this gift. I won¡¯t be attending the banquet, Connor said as he stood up. ¡°Would youe with me? My fianc¨¦ is still abroad checking a project¡± she looked at Connor hopefully. Connor buttoned his suit jacket and replied, ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be appropriate.¡± sther ankles. ¡°It doesn¡¯t affect my ¡°I have to walk down from the second floorter, and these high heels are quite high¡± she nced ath daily life, but wearing heels for too long still causes some pain¡± She watched Connor and pleaded, ¡°I don¡¯t want my first appearance in months to be me tripping and making a fool of myself.¡± Connor looked at her ankle, furrowing his brow slightly, and finally agreed The next day. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains onto Cam¡¯s face. She slowly opened her eyes, staring nkly at Erica¡¯s silhouette. Propping herself up in bed, she felt a wave of headache wash over her. She looked around and realized she was in Erica¡¯s bedroom She remembered drinking a lot, but how she got back was a blur. The events ofst night came flooding back. Haylie and Connor¡­ Her heart clenched painfully, and tears involuntarily slid down her cheeks. Beep beep beep Cam heard the rm on her phone and quickly got up to turn it off. ¡°Cami, you¡¯re awake already?¡± Erica, disturbed by the rm, yawned and sat up. With her back to her, Cam quickly wiped her tears and forced a smile before turning around. ¡°Just used to waking up early¡± Erica, noticing the tear stains around her eyes, said sympathetically. ¡°It¡¯s still early. Go back to sleep for a bit.¡± Cam shook her head. ¡°I need to get to work.¡± Tve already called in sick for you.¡± Cam froze. ¡°Called in sick? For who?? Me? You did?¡± ¡°Mhm,st night, Connor brought you home,¡± Erica exined Cam¡¯s mind buzzed, herplexion turning pale Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Erica pulled back the covers and reached for her hand, guiding her back to the bed. Cam sat on the edge of the bed, thoughts of Connor bringing a sour feeling to her heart. ¡°He¡­ ¡°He scolded me for letting you drink! Erica huffed. 183 183 Cam gave a bitter smile. ¡°Feeling dizzy?¡± Erica asked. Cam nodded. ¡°Hold on, I¡¯ll get you some hangover relief.¡± Erica climbed out of bed. She had stayed up with Cam all night and had barely slept herself, so she was feeling groggy. She even stumbled over her own slippers. ¡°Take it easy,¡± Cam said, watching Erica¡¯s staggering figure with concern. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. She rubbed her temples, suddenly remembering that there was an urgent document in the tech department that needed signing. She grabbed her phone, instinctively opened the top contact in her She took a deep breath, pushing down the bitterness in her heart. ges, and paused, her nose tingling with the onset of tears. Cam exited Connor¡¯s chat and opened n¡¯s chat instead. [Good morning. Sorry to disturb you so early. I¡¯m taking the day off. In my desk¡¯s second drawer, there¡¯s a document with a pink post¨Cit. It¡¯s urgent. The tech department needs Mr. Connor¡¯s signature. Could you please take it to Mr. Connor? Thanks.] Her desk drawers were all locked, and both n and Connor had the keys. n quickly replied. [No problem, take good rest.] Erica¡¯s footsteps approached, and Cam put down her phone. ¡°Here, take this pill, and your head will stop hurting,¡± Erio¡± said, bringing in a cup of ¡°Thank you, you¡¯re a lifesaver,¡± Cam forced a smile and ¡°No need to thank me,¡± Erica yawned after speaking. ¡°You should get some more sleep. It¡¯s not time to go work Erica smiled, ¡°It¡¯s alright. I took the day off, too. I¡¯m staying the medicine. warm water and medication. Cam pulled her to you today.¡± sit on the bed. ¡°Go to sleep. Your bags are practically down to your chin, I¡¯m fine,¡± Cam chuckled. ¡°I think I¡¯ll sleep a bit more.¡± Erica immediately agreed, as she was indeed very tired. She turned off the lights and drew the curtains close, plunging the bedroom into darkness. Cam hugged a pillow, closing her Once Erica noticed Cam was asleep, she closed her eyes, and soon, she was asleep too. When the sound of even breathing came from beside her, Cam opened her eyes, the darkness enveloping her. She got up quietly and walked to the balcony, sitting in the wicker chair and hugging her legs. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath of the fresh air, and calmed herself down. Future Inc. Nine o¡¯clock. n arrived at Cam¡¯s desk, retrieved the document, and knocked on Connor¡¯s door. ¡°Mr. Connor, this is an urgent document from the tech department. Cam asked me to bring it for your signature.¡± Connor paused, looked up, took the document, and flipped through it. ¡°When did Cam contact you?¡± he asked casually. *Just after six in the morning, n replied. Connor quickly scanned the document and signed it at the designated spot. After n left, Connor leaned back in his chair, flipping his phone in his hand. Why was she awake so early? He opened his messages and sent one to Cam. [Are you awake? How are you feeling?] After hearing the ping of his message, Cam took a deep breath before opening it. She typed a few words. [Thank you, sir, for your concern, I¡¯m-] She paused for half a second, then deleted and re¨Cedited. [Thank you, Mr. Connor, for your concern. I¡¯m much better] Connor received her message and replied. [Why did you drink?] Cam replied, [I apologize for the inconvenience, Mr. Connor. It went happen again.] Connor responded, [Have you had breakfast? I¡¯ll have David send you some coffee! 184 184 Cam stared at the message on her phone for a long time, her eyes slowly misting over with tears. [No need, I¡¯m going to rest.] Connor replied, [Okay, call me anytime if you need anything.] Cam responded, [Okay, thank you, Mr. Connor.] After cing her phone on the coffee table, Cam curled up in the wicker chair. Her head hung low as she let out subdued sobs. After some time, Erica awoke to find the spot beside her empty. She sat up abruptly, instantly alert. ¡°Cami!¡± she called out as she got out of bed. Erica slid open the patio door to see a frail figure enveloped in sadness. ¡°Cami, are you okay?¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± came a choked response, the remnants of tears roughening her voice. ¡°Don¡¯t do anything foolish! This is just the second floor. You won¡¯t die. You¡¯d just end up with broken limbs, and that would be awful.¡± Erica said, hurrying over and crouching in front of her. Cam gave a bitter smile. ¡°I¡¯m not that foolish.¡± It was Erica¡¯s first time seeing Cam like this, and it pained her deeply. She cursed, ¡°It¡¯s all that damn Connor¡¯s fault!¡± Cam turned to look at her, her eyes filled with sorrow. ¡°What did he do wrong¡­ he never¡­ liked me¡­¡± A single tear fell andnded on the wicker chair with a soft plop as she spoke. my poor baby, it¡¯s gonna be alright,¡± Erica said softly, gripping her shoulders. Cam let out a sigh. ¡°I was just fooling myself¡­ He¡¯s thepany¡¯s CEO, handsome and wealthy, with outstanding character and abilities. How could a man like that¡­ possibly like someone like me¡­¡± At that moment, her feelings of inadequacy surged. ¡°Cam, you are amazing! It¡¯s his loss!¡± Erica affirmed. Cam managed a smile. ¡°Thank you forforting me.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. She took a deep breath. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll get over it after a bit of grief. Just let She forced another smile. ¡°Tomorrow, you¡¯ll see me back to full strength.¡± nodded and nced at the clock on the coffee table. 3:10 PM. me vent for a day.¡± ¡°It¡¯s sote¨Cno wonder I¡¯m hungry. I¡¯ll make us something to eat,¡± Erica stood up. Cam held her hand. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry¡­¡± ¡°You have to eat something!¡± Erica frowned. ¡°Just get me candy from my bag. I feel like having something sweet.¡± Cam looked up at her, eyes reddening. **Okay.¡± Erica immediately went to the bedroom and fetched a few candies from Cam¡¯s bag. She unwrapped one and handed it to Cam. Cam tasted the candy and frowned slightly. ¡°It¡¯s so bitter¡­¡± Erica gave her a gentle hug. ¡°Call me if you need anything.¡± She left the patio to Cam, giving her some space to be alone. Cam closed her eyes. She regted her breathing, instinctively avoiding memories of her interactions with Connor. She had been working for several years, and this job had been the longest¨Cstanding and well¨Cpaying one with lots of perks. She lived in apany¨Cprovided apartment, atepany¨Cprovided meals, and was reimbursed for her expenses. Every month, after some basic spending, she saved a good amount of money. Her bank ount savings had grown to almost a hundred thousand dors, a sum she had never imagined before. She looked up, gazing at the bustling streets and towering skyscrapers, all speaking of the city¡¯s prosperity. Cam understood that her sense of security came from the money. The thought of leaving Future Inc. didn¡¯t appeal to her at all. As for Connor, she decided to consider it a dr 185 185 The next day, at 8:15 AM, Cam arrived at Connor¡¯s front door. She adjusted her mood, took a deep breath, and for a moment, she felt incredibly calm. When the door opened and she saw Connor, her breathing faltered for a few seconds. He was sitting on the sofa and stood up when he saw her. His eyes fixed on her intently, sensing a faint sadness about her that made him slightly concerned. He was about to ask about her well¨Cbeing when Cam spoke first. ¡°Good morning, Mr. Connor,¡± she said, bowing slightly, her professional smile in ce. Connor responded, but his gaze lingered on her face for a moment longer. He noticed her eyes were slightly swollen as if she had been crying. ¡°Cam, you¡¯re finally here. Come join us for breakfast,¡± David said with a smile. Connor frowned slightly, discreetly observing Cam¡¯s reaction. He pulled out a chair, gesturing for her to sit. Cam returned the smile and declined, ¡°Mr. Connor, I¡¯ve already had breakfast.¡± Then, to David, she added, ¡°David, you don¡¯t need to prepare breakfast for me in the future. I¡¯ll eat before Ie.¡± Connor was momentarily taken aback, his brow furrowing unconsciously. He felt an unusual air about Cam¡¯s behavior but couldn¡¯t quite pinpoint what it was. David asked, ¡°But wouldn¡¯t it be more convenient to eat here?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t trouble yourself,¡± Cam said, still smiling. Since she didn¡¯t borate further, David chose not to press the issue. Cam turned back to Connor, h¨¦r eyes carrying a hint of apology. ¡°Mr. Connor, I¡¯ve enrolled in some kickboxing sses recently. I apologize if it has disturbed your rest.¡± Connor paused, unsure why Cam was telling him this. He nced away and took a napkin to wipe his mouth, responding simply, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Mr. Connor, enjoy your meal. I¡¯ll wait over there,¡± Cam said politely, nodding and smiling before heading to the sofa. Connor watched Cam¡¯s retreating figure, and his frown deepened, a strange emotion stirring within him. David was puzzled and nced at Connor. In a low voice, he asked, ¡°Did you do something to upset Cam?¡± Connor shrugged, feigning indifference. drive to the office, Connor couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Cam, the other night¡­ why were you drinking? Did something happen?¡± Camma turned her head, her face bearing a polite smile. ¡°Sorry, that¡¯s my personal matter, and I¡¯d rather not share.¡± Connor was stunned. For some reason, just a day apart seemed to have changed everything. A subtle air of estrangement seemed to envelop her. He fell silent for a while, looking out the window, no longer prying. The driver sneaked a nce at Cam and also found her somewhat different today. *** Back at the office, Cam nodded slightly to Connor, then returned to her desk. Connor nodded back and retreated to his Once the door was closed, Cam took a deep breath. She settled into her chair and began working. office. Half an hourter, she picked up the schedule and some documents needing a signature and headed to Connor After knocking, she steadied her breathing and entered. Once she finished reporting the schedule, Connor looked up need immediate attention?¡± at Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. office. her. ¡°Cam, could you help organize my desk and pick out the files that ¡°Of course.¡± Cam¡¯s hands sifted through the documents, sorting and organizing therm efficiently. Chapter 186 Chapter 186 The only sound in the office was the flipping of papers. Connor slumped onto the couch, casually scrolling through his phone, while Cam''s figure busily moved in front of him. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ''Did you do something to upset her?'' David¡¯s words echoed in his ears. Connor thoughtfully opened Google. **How to cheer up an angry woman** Google suggested: Give her a small gift, cook her a meal, take her to a movie, etc. A gift? His slender fingers opened Messenger, finding Logan. [Is the ne ready?] Logan, who was in a meeting, saw Connor''s message pop up and sighed in resignation. A designer presented the new seasonal concepts and felt his heart skip a beat upon hearing Logan''s sigh. Logan replied with a few words. [Almost done.] Connor frowned, quickly replying, [Dragging your feet. No wonder Weiss Jewelry¡¯s sales are down by 3% this quarter.] "Fu..." Logan almost cursed out loud,pletely annoyed. ''I''m never designing for you again!'' The designer trembled, questioning if his presentation was really that bad. He nervously finished presenting the concept. Grinding his teeth, Logan typed, [I''ll bring it over this afternoon.] Connor didn¡¯t reply. He looked up, and his gazended on Cam. She was illuminated by the sunlight at his desk, appearing almost radiant. He called out, ¡°Cam.¡± When his deep voice reached her, Cam¡¯s fingers paused momentarily. Turning around, she met his gaze. Connor twirled his phone in his hand and asked, ¡°Is there anything particr you¡¯d like to eat?¡± His dark eyes locked intently on hers. Cam, trying to maintain herposure, met his stare and shook her head with a slight smile, ¡°No, thank you.¡± Connor scratched his neck, pondering about suggesting a movie. Just as he was about to speak, Cam took the initiative and said, ¡°Mr. Connor, I¡¯ve sorted the documents. I have some other tasks to attend to. I¡¯ll go handle them first.¡± Connor swallowed the words he was about to say, nodding. ¡°Go ahead.¡± Cam exited, closing the door behind her. Connor threw his phone carelessly onto the couch. What a useless thing Google was. He turned to pick up a cigarette from the coffee table, sandwiched it between his fingers, and lit it up. *** Back at her desk, Cam calmly drank some water. She quickly finished the ss, took a deep breath, and continued with her work. At noon, the driver delivered lunch to the office. Cam sighed softly upon seeing two lunch boxes on her desk. She picked up the boxes and walked to Connor¡¯s office. After cing the lunch on his desk, she returned to her own seat. Connor noticed through the panoramic window that the lunch boxes on Cam''s desk remained untouched, and furrowed his brow. He walked out of his office to Cam¡¯s desk, asking, ¡°Don¡¯t you like today¡¯s meal?¡± Cam looked up at Connor, a faint smile on her face. ¡°No, Mr. Connor. I¡¯m just not very hungry today, so I didn¡¯t eat.¡± Connor paused for a few seconds before saying evenly, ¡°Skipping meals will affect your sry.¡± Cam stared at him. Tears welled up in her eyes. ''Please stop caring about me.'' she thought. She quickly bowed her head, grabbed the lunch box, and opened it. ¡°Mr. Connor, I¡¯ll eat. Please go on with your work.¡± Connor said nothing more and turned back to his office. Cam lowered her head, a bitter smile on her lips. Why did he keep doing this even when he had someone else on his mind? Chapter 187 Chapter 187 Connor returned to his seat, his attention fixated on Cam''s progress with her meal. He noticed her lackluster effort, and he mused that the food must not be to her liking. It was time to ask the chef to switch up the vors. Cam looked at her te,pletelycking appetite, and set down her fork. She stood up and walked out. Connor massaged his temples and sighed. Just then, a notification popped up, and he opened the message. Logan: [The ne is ready. I''ll be at your office around 2 PM.] He nced at Cam and replied. [Bring a milkshake and a slice of cheesecake for Cam. Just say you picked it up on your way.] Logan stared at the chat, a smirk unwittingly forming on his lips. Damn! He, the CEO of the Weiss Corporation, was reduced to delivering takeout. They say, choose your friends wisely... *** Cam quietly washed her lunchbox, then entered the break room to make herself a cup of coffee. She returned to her desk, lifted the coffee, and took a sip. It was bitter. As lunch break ended, the office lights brightened. Cam took a deep breath and dove into her work, processing emails and documents. At that moment, Logan stepped out of the elevator, spotted Cam immediately, and waved with a smile. "Good afternoon, Cam." Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. She looked up, stood, and responded, "Mr. Logan, good afternoon." Logan approached her desk. He set a paper bag on her desk while ncing at Connor''s office, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "This is for you," Logan said softly. Cam was puzzled and opened the bag to find a milkshake and cheesecake. "Mr. Logan, this is?" "Just picked it up on my way," he whispered, covering his face slightly. "No share for your boss." "Thank you, Mr. Logan," Cam said with a smile. Logan nodded with a smile. "Is Connor inside?" "Yes," Cam replied. "I''ll head in then. Enjoy your snack." With that, Logan walked toward Connor¡¯s office and pushed the door open. He entered and announced, "Mission aplished!" Connor looked up with a pleased smile, "Thanks." "Why not tell her you got the stuff?" Logan casually flopped onto the couch, hands resting leisurely on the armrests, curiously probing. Connor sighed softly, a tone of helplessness in his voice. "I can¡¯t figure it out. She¡¯s been particrly cold to me today." He furrowed his brow, puzzled by her behavior. After a brief silence, he suddenly remembered something. His gaze sharpened as he turned to Logan. "Where¡¯s the ne?" Logan¡¯s face broke into a smug smile, and he pulled out a small, elegant box from his suit pocket. "Here, this is what you asked for." Connor strode over, took the box, and opened it. He nodded in satisfaction, carefully lifting the ne and examining it closely. "Thank you, it¡¯s beautiful." ¡°Well, of course. I designed it.¡± Logan raised an eyebrow proudly. "How much? I¡¯ll transfer it to you," Connor took out his phone. Logan pressed his hand down on the phone, shaking his head with augh. "No need for that. I¡¯m d to help." "What help?" Connor asked. Logan just chuckled meaningfully, not answering directly, "Figure it out yourself." He then sighed. ''So oblivious. How long will it be before Cam finally calls me her brother-inw?'' Connor returned to his desk and pressed the inte. "Pleasee in for a moment." Chapter 188 Chapter 188 Cam hung up the phone and took a deep breath to calm herself. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Knock, knock¡ª "Come in." Cam walked to his desk and nodded slightly. "Mr. Connor, what can I do for you?" Connor looked at her, his voice deep and maic. "Hold out your hand." Cam paused, her eyebrows furrowing slightly in confusion. After getting no response, Connor patiently repeated, "Extend your hand." Reluctantly, Cam stretched out her hand, her slender arm drawing an arc in the air. "Palm up." Connor stared at her hand, his Adam''s apple bobbing slightly, his voice a bit hoarse. With a puzzled expression, Cam turned her palm upward. Her soft, unprotected palm was now exposed to Connor''s gaze. Connor stood up, his eyes dark and intense as they met hers. He slowly ced a ne in her palm, "Your performance in the project was outstanding. This is your reward." Cam hesitated, then looked down at the sparkling ne in her hand. The coolness of the ne, mingled with the warmth of her palm, sent a slight chill through her. She looked up into Connor''s eyes, her heart fluttering uncontrobly. She tried to keep herposure, not letting her emotions show. "Mr. Connor, I was just doing my job; no reward is necessary," she said softly. "It''s well deserved," Connor stated unequivocally. Cam was silent for a moment, then smiled politely. "Thank you, Mr. Connor." "Put it on," Connor raised his eyebrows. Cam fiddled with the sp of the ne, struggling to fasten it. Connor moved closer, and Cam''s heart raced, a part of her wanting to flee. Unfortunately, her fingers were clumsy, making it even harder to sp. Connor softly offered, "Let me help." As he said this, he reached out to loop the ne around Cam''s neck. His movement brought him too close, unintentionally intimate. Cam was enveloped by his tall frame. His scent of faint tobo was mixed with the familiar smell of his cologne. Her heart pounded, her fingers trembling nervously as she held the ne. She panicked and instinctively stepped back. Connor paused, his hand still in mid-air, as Cam moved a meter away from him. He felt an inexplicable sense of loss at her sudden withdrawal. Cam struggled to control her thoughts, not wanting Connor to see her inner turmoil. She kept her voice steady and said, "Mr. Connor, I can manage." Connor cleared his throat awkwardly. He quickly retracted his hand and nodded. "Alright." Cam took a deep breath, trying to steady her emotions, and managed a calm smile. "Mr. Connor, I¡¯ll put it on in the restroom." Without waiting for a response, she hurried out, her high heels clicking sharply along the corridor. Connor watched her leave, his heart twisting slightly in difort. What was that about? The door closed softly behind her. Cam felt weak in the knees, the image from moments ago shing unexpectedly through her mind. She gripped the ne tightly, forcing herself to calm down. After adjusting her breathing, she walked to the restroom and stood in front of the mirror. Slowly, she managed to fasten the ne, which glittered attractively around her neck. She gently touched the ne, her gaze falling on the pendant engraved with the letter C. Was this supposed to be her initial? Chapter 189 Chapter 189 Logan watched Connor and Cam interact from the sidelines, detecting a subtle atmosphere between them¡ªboth flirtatious and distant. "What''s going on with you two?" he asked curiously. "Nothing," Connor shook his head. "She''s been acting strange all day." He couldn''t figure out why she was behaving unusually. Logan sighed, unable to stand Connor''s obtuseness any longer. "Have you ever considered that your feelings for her might go beyond just caring as a boss?" he suggested. Connor paused, then denied it, "No, I''m just concerned about her well-being as my employee." "You''re so stubborn you know," Logan said, shaking his head in frustration. Connor gave him a sideways nce. Logan looked back at him with a shake of his head. "Think it over tonight." After saying this, he nced at his watch and stood up. "My work here is done. I''m off." Connor nodded. Original content from N?velDrama.Org. *** Afterposing herself in the restroom, Cam returned to her desk to continue working. When the workday ended, Connor walked out of his office and noticed the ne he had given her around her pale neck, smiling slightly without his control. "Nice ne." Cam stood up, her face wearing a professional smile. "Thank you for your recognition and encouragement, Mr. Connor. I will always keep it in mind and strive to do my best," she said, her voice calm and steady. Connor suppressed a smile, nodded, and then asked, "Is everything set for the gship store opening on Monday?" "Everything''s arranged, and I''ve sent the schedule to your email," Cam replied. Howard was attending the opening, and Connor wasn¡¯t keen on them meeting, so he asked, "Would you like to attend?" Cam paused, thinking she was supposed to attend. "I¡¯ll go with your arrangement, Mr. Connor." "Go ahead, we''ll leave from my ce on Monday." "Alright," Cam nodded. Connor nodded, "It¡¯s time to pack up for the day." "Erica is picking me up," Cam said indifferently. Connor frowned, ''Not Erica again.'' He was silent for a moment, then couldn¡¯t help asking, "Did I do something to upset you?" Cam''s expression stiffened for a few seconds, and then she forced a smile. "Why would you think that?" "I just feel you''ve been a bit off today. You¡¯re suddenly... more formal with me?¡± Connor struggled to find the right words. Cam slowly started, "Isn¡¯t that how I should act as a secretary?" Connor was momentarily at a loss for words. He sensed a subtle change in the air between them. The natural closeness they once had seemed to have vanished. He spoke slowly, "You weren¡¯t like this before." Cam''s heart trembled, trying to keep her voice normal. She leaned slightly. "I must have overstepped before. I apologize." "I''m not ming you, just felt you were a bit off today," Connor said, frowning. "If work is tiring you, I can give you some time off." Cam shook her head. "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Connor. I¡¯m fine." She kept her smile, changing the subject. "Mr. Connor, Erica is here. I¡¯ll head out now, have a nice weekend." She quickly packed her things, grabbed her bag, and left. Connor stood still, watching her leave with a mix of confusion and irritation. He walked back to his office and lit a cigarette. *** Cam waited for Erica downstairs but instead ran into Connor¡¯s driver. He saw Cam, immediately got out of the car, and asked, "Where¡¯s Mr. Connor?" Chapter 190 Chapter 190 Cam replied, "He hasn''t left the office yet." A flicker of surprise crossed the driver¡¯s eyes. Ten minutes ago, Connor messaged him that he was off work. ¡°See you.¡± Cam nodded as she walked toward the curb. Original content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Hey, Cam, aren¡¯t you getting in?¡± the driver asked. Cam shook her head. ¡°I have ns with a friend.¡± The driver gave a meaningful grunt, looked up at the building, and sighed. It seemed Mr. Connor wasn¡¯ting out anytime soon. These past few months of leaving work early almost made him forget that before Cam arrived, the boss wouldn¡¯t leave until after ten at night. He returned to the driver¡¯s seat and pulled the car over to the side. *** Cam had been waiting at the curb for a while before Erica finally arrived. She bent down to sit in the passenger seat. ¡°Traffic on Fridays is just awful. Did you have to wait long?¡± Erica asked. Cam gave her a smile. ¡°I just came down.¡± Erica, with her keen eyes, noticed a new ne around her neck. ¡°Is that new?¡± Cam touched the ne, her expression somewhat distant. ¡°Connor gave it to me as a reward for my trantion work in Saudi Arabia.¡± Erica clicked her tongue. ¡°Not to sound materialistic, but they say a man¡¯s heart is where his money is. Haylie¡¯s was two million, and yours is, probably at most, twenty thousand.¡± Angrily, she added, ¡°Ugh, what a jerk!¡± Cam rolled down the window, resting her head against the side, her long hair blowing in the wind. Her eyes were dim and lifeless like a shattered porcin doll. Erica nced at Cam, her eyebrows furrowed. After she took a deep breath, her tone lightened. ¡°What do you feel like eating tonight? My treat, pick anything.¡± Cam rolled up the window. Forcing a smile, she looked at Erica. ¡°Let¡¯s go to my ce. I ordered some fondue.¡± ¡°Sounds perfect,fortable home dining,¡± Erica said with a small smile, gently pressing on the elerator. Soon, they arrived at Cam¡¯s apartment building and went upstairs together. They happened to meet the delivery guy in the elevator and took the fondue to the apartment. Ericaid out the fondue ingredients on the table, unpacking them one by one. Cam went to the kitchen, turned on the stove, and ced a pot on it, filling it with water. ¡°I¡¯ll go change into something morefortable, and I¡¯ll also get you something so you don¡¯t smell like food,¡± she said. Erica gave a thumbs-up and continued preparing the dips. Cam opened her wardrobe, and a set of men¡¯s pajamas she once wore in Connor¡¯s rest room unexpectedly caught her eye. She shook her head, pushing the thought away. She moved the men¡¯s pajamas out of sight, took out two sets of loungewear, changed, and handed one to Erica. ¡°Keep an eye on the broth while I change,¡± Erica said, taking the loungewear. Her eyes were still fixed on the fondue. Cam smiled, ¡°Go on, then we can eat.¡± Soon, Erica had changed and came back out. ¡°Here, have a drink first.¡± Cam handed Erica a soda, opened one for herself, and then lifted the lid of the pot. ¡°Wow, that smells amazing!¡± Erica eximed, her appetite stirred. Cam smiled, scooped up a meatball with a spoon, and ced it in Erica¡¯s bowl. Erica stabbed the meatball with her fork, took a bite, and the juice immediately squirted out, causing her to exim, ¡°Ouch! That¡¯s hot!¡± ¡°Slow down.¡± Cam ced the soda in front of her. ¡°Drink some soda. It¡¯ll help with the burn.¡± Erica hissed, then suddenly remembered something. ¡°On my way to pick you up, I ran into Craig and John doing a DUI checkpoint.¡± ¡°And?¡± Cam listened as she picked up a piece of tofu. ¡°Tomorrow, John ising with us to look at houses,¡± Erica said. Cam frowned slightly. Chapter 191 Chapter 191 "I think it''s safer to look for a house with a guy around," Erica said, setting down her fork and leaning forward earnestly. "Remember your first time renting? That shady broker still gives me the creeps." Cam thought back to her first rental experience. She was inexperienced and scanned the ads posted on the localmunity board. She called the number listed and met a burly man. He showed her two apartments, neither of which was suitable. Just as she was about to leave, he blocked her, demanding a $30 broker''s fee. "No pay, no leave," he said. She couldn''t overpower him or outpace him. After some haggling, she begrudgingly handed over $15 to get away. "I wanted to bring Dave, but he had to work," Erica exined, ncing at Cam. "Thank you," Cam nodded, grasping Erica''s hand, feeling deeply touched. Erica felt almost like family. "We''re too close to be polite!" Ericaughed. They continued their meal, enjoying a fondue that filled the room with its inviting aroma, mingling with theirughter and momentarily making Cam forget about that intimidating man. Erica stayed over. The next day. After freshening up, it was already 9:15 AM. They had nned to meet John at 9:30 AM in front of the real estate agency. They rushed out the door without breakfast. Cam still opted to rent a ce nearby despite the higher rent. The convenience for work and reducedmuting time made it worthwhile. From a distance, they saw John waiting at the real estate agency entrance, waving at them with a smile. "Sorry to keep you waiting," Cam apologized. "I just got here as well, and the area looks really nice," John observed, looking around. "Of course, it''s a high-end neighborhood," Erica chimed in. "I''ll go grab some water," said Cam. House-hunting was tiring work, especially with Fairmount still hot in October. They would definitely get thirsty. "Let¡¯s go together," John suggested, pointing to a convenience store across the street. Cam nodded. The three of them entered the store and grabbed a few bottles of water. As John was about to pay, Cam stopped him. "No way, you''re here to help. It doesn¡¯t make sense for you to pay," Cam insisted with a smile. "I don¡¯t have the habit of lettingdies pay," John persisted. Erica, unable to stand the back-and-forth any longer,ughed and said, "It¡¯s just a few dors. Let''s pay and go. We¡¯re blocking the way." John nodded apologetically to the people in line behind them. Cam scanned the payment code, and John carried the bags. "Aunt Martha told me that yourpany provides amodation, and it''s quite nice. Why would you want to rent your own ce?" John asked curiously. Cam was taken aback for a moment, then managed a smile. "It''s stillpany housing and not asfortable as having my own ce." John nodded in agreement. "True, sometimes living inpany housing isn¡¯t very convenient." They reached the front of the real estate agency, where an agent greeted them promptly. "Looking for a ce to live?" the agent asked with a smile. "We have many properties avable. Are you interested in renting or buying?" Original content from N?velDrama.Org. "Renting," Cam replied. "Our properties are verypetitively priced. Choosing us is the right decision. Come on in, take your time, and have a look," the agent urged them warmly into the office. Inside, the agent led them to a seating area and poured them some water. "What are your requirements for the apartment?" "A clean one-bedroom within a mile radius," Cam specified. Chapter 192 Chapter 192 The real estate agent had filtered some local listings ording to Cam''s preferences. The options all seemed promising, so they went to view the properties together. The first ce was in a nice neighborhood. Cam checked her GPS and noted it was just a half- hour walk from Connor''s Cedarhill Estate. Thendlord, a local, middle-aged woman with curly hair, had received several properties from a redevelopment project. She opened the door to reveal a studio-style apartment that seemed decent despite its old furniture and scratched walls. "The decor here is a bit dated, so the furniture and fixtures have seen better days," thendlord exined. "But the ce is clean, rest assured." Cam nodded, looking around. The natural light was quite good. "The rent is $1,000 a month. The first and second payments are required upfront. If you''re okay with it, we can go ahead and sign the lease," thendlord said, eyeing Cam. Noticing Cam''s hesitation, she added, "The previous tenant just moved out, and I''ve had several viewings booked today. This ce is in high demand. A quick paint job, and it''ll be ready to be moved into." Cam smiled and walked to the balcony, where she could clearly see Cedarhill Estate. "The luxury Cedarhill Estate is just ahead. The rent isn''t bad for this location," the agent whispered to Cam. "While living here, you might even bump into a millionaire." Camughed helplessly. She was quite pleased with the apartment, but the rent was over her budget. "I need to look around more andpare other ces." "That''s fine. I have plenty of listings," the agent reassured her. After chatting briefly with thendlord, the agent led them downstairs. Once outside, the agent asked, "Ms. Cam, how do you feel about this ce? I spoke with the owner, and there might be room to negotiate the rent, but not by more than $200 or $300." "It''s nice, just a bit pricey," Cam remarked. John nodded in agreement. The rent was nearly half of his monthly sry. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. "The better neighborhoods aren''t cheap. The next ce is even pricier. I''ll tell the owner we won''t be viewing it, just a moment," the agent said. After making a call, he continued, "I was going to show you a ce at Belleview Heights. It''s developed by the same group as Cedarhill Estate and managed by theirpany, but the rent there is steep." Cam paused. "How much is a one-bedroom there?" Erica asked curiously. "About $1,800," the agent replied with a raised eyebrow. "Wow, that''s expensive!" Erica eximed. "People living there are mostly industry leaders, CEOs, and even celebrities," the agent boasted. "And what about a four-bedroom?" Erica inquired further, curious about the rent for Connor''s apartment. "A four-bedroom?" the agent chuckled. "That''s a condo-style residence. The biggest they sold originally was a three-bedroom. I heard there are a few four-bedrooms that weren''t publicly listed, and I''m not sure who lives there." Cam remained silent, surprised. "Is that scumbag that rich?" Erica, not wanting to mention Connor by name in front of Cam, referred to him as ''scumbag.'' "I don''t know much about him," Cam admitted. Honestly, the more she learned about Connor, the more she doubted that hispany, Future Inc., made enough to support hisvish lifestyle. "Erica, he''s Rita''s brother, and hisst name is Passos. Could he be connected to the Passos Corporation?" Chapter 193 Chapter 193 Erica said, "I''m quite curious, too." After a moment of thought, she continued, "Ray''s public information only lists two sons and a daughter, and his grandkids can be found online. Even most of the extended family works at Passos Corporation." "That''s true," Cam nodded. The real estate agent scrolled through his phone and then said, "I have another property avable. It¡¯s in a twenty-year-old neighborhood, which can''t reallypare to these luxurious estates, but the condition inside the house is excellent, and it''s very good value for money at $500 a month. Would you like to see it?" "Let''s take a look. It might just be the right fit," Cam replied. It was a hot day, and as they walked, Cam''s forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat. John immediately unscrewed a bottle of water for her. "Have some water." "Thank you," Cam said, taking a sip. Original content from N?velDrama.Org. John passed the water to Erica and the agent before opening another bottle for himself. After drinking, he stuffed the shopping bag into his pocket. Ten minutester, they arrived at the neighborhood the agent had mentioned¡ªHarmony Grove. "This area seems a bit too old, doesn''t it? No elevator?" Erica frowned slightly. "Yes, no elevator. Although it''s an older neighborhood," the agent whispered, "this used to be housing allocated for teachers, so the residents here are all highly respectable people." "Let''s go in and take a look. It''s just a bit old, but it''s clean," Cam said, not letting her recent stint in a luxurious mansion cloud her judgment. "That''s right, and the property management is quite good. They require registration for all visitors," the agent added, and walked to the guard booth to check in. Soon after, the door was opened. "You cane in now," the agent beckoned them. Leading the way, they reached the fifth floor, where the apartment was located. Cam, who had been working out for months, found the stairs manageable. John followed calmly andposedly while Erica was panting. They reached the fifth floor. The agent rang the doorbell and exined, "The tenant is still living here. The ce will be avable at the beginning of next month." Cam nodded. The door soon opened, revealing a woman in her thirties with a pretty face and long ck hair casually tied into a low ponytail. "Hello, we''re here to see the apartment," the agent said. "Hello," the woman smiled warmly. "Wee." The agent handed out shoe covers, and once they had them on, they walked inside. Cam immediately liked it. It was a small space filled with creative design. Though the apartment wasn¡¯trge, every inch of space was cleverly used. The living room housed a vintage-style sofa, whichplemented the mural on the wall. Beneath the mural, a dark red carpet spread out, offering a cozy and warm ambiance. It was full of various flowers and green nts, with a wooden bench and a small coffee table in the corner. "I really like the design here," Cam openly expressed her admiration. "I''m a furniture designer, and most of the furniture here was made by me," the woman said proudly. "Is the apartment unfurnished, or does ite with furniture?" Cam asked the agent. "All these pieces are my creation. I''m going abroad to further my studies, and I can''t take the furniture and appliances with me. If you like them, it''s $300 for everything," the woman said with a slight smile, hoping her beloved furnishings would find a new owner who appreciated them as much as she did. Cam seemed like the right person. "It''s nice, but the stairs are a bit tiring," Erica finally managed to say after catching her breath. "Think of it as a workout," Cam chuckled. She looked at the woman and asked, "When can we move in?" Chapter 194 Chapter 194 "I still haven''t finished the paperwork that will enable me to move abroad, so probably around the beginning of next month, like the 3rd or 4th," the woman said with a smile. "Thendlord lives not far from here ¨C a really nice person. The rent here is $500 cheaper than simr ces in the neighborhood. It¡¯s a great deal." Cam thought it over. She was eager to move out of Connor¡¯s ce, but this neighborhood was the only one within her budget. "Why don''t you just move next month? It''s not that far," Erica understood her concerns. "I¡¯ll take this ce," Cam said to the agent with a smile. "No problem, I¡¯ll set up a meeting with thendlord right away. Just give me a moment," the agent replied, beaming. "Would you mind if I check the water and electricity?" John asked the woman. "Of course," she replied with a gentle smile. "Thanks," Cam said to John. She didn¡¯t know much about these things. She hadn''t done a proper inspection of herst rental and ended up facing a myriad of issues after moving in. John inspected everything and confirmed there were no issues. The agent was efficient and quickly arranged for thendlord toe to the real estate office to sign the contract. Thendlord was a woman in her fifties, graceful and always smiling, clearly easy to get along with. She brought the original property deed for them to inspect. "The lease is double deposit and one month''s rent in advance, starting from the 15th of next month. This gives you a few days to move." "Thank you," Cam said, signing the contract as soon as she verified it was okay. Cam held the rental contract after leaving the real estate office, feeling incredibly relieved. "Thanks for your effort. Let me treat you to dinner." "Darling, I''d love to, but I have to go back to the magazine," Erica said, looking regretful. "No worries, we''ll make another n. Your call," Cam chuckled. "I''ll drive myself back to your ce. You guys go ahead and have dinner." "Sure, drive safely." Erica waved goodbye. "Shall we go grab something to eat? What would you like?" Cam asked John. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. "I¡¯m easy. Anything¡¯s fine," John looked around and suggested, "How about that diner over there? It looks pretty good." Cam looked where he was pointing andughed, "Don¡¯t worry about the cost. Let¡¯s go for something fancier." "I think that ce is actually quite nice," John insisted. "Alright, my wallet thanks you," Cam chuckled. They entered the diner, and it was getting busier as it was almost lunchtime. They found a table by the window and ordered some rmended dishes. "Your new ce looks really nice," Johnmented as he sipped his tea. "Yeah, I love the balcony. It¡¯s filled with lots of green nts. I can just imagine how delightful it would be to sit there on a sunny afternoon, reading a book and sipping tea," Cam described the scenic view of the balcony, almost immersing herself in that pleasant scenario. "I remembered that you work at Future Inc.. You must be busy with work. Rxing on the balcony after work sounds really pleasant," John said. Cam nodded with a smile. The view might notpare to Belleview Heights, but she really loved it. It felt like home. "I remember Monday is the grand opening of your gship store. I''ve taken the day off to check it out," John added. He was a tech enthusiast and very interested in Future Go. Although it was currently beyond his budget, he still wanted to see this new tech product firsthand. Most importantly, Cam would be there, and he hoped to spend more time with her. "You¡¯re wee toe," Cam invited. A spark of anticipation shed in John''s eyes. "It''s a date then. See you Monday." Chapter 195 Chapter 195 Sunday, Passos Estate. "Ha!" With a shout, Emily pushed aside the cards in front of her, their crisp sound echoing through the room. Emily was on a winning streak today, having won several games in a row. "I lost again..." Ritamented as she closed her deck. "If we keep ying, I might end up leaving all my pocket money here this month." "Consider it a tribute to your aunt," Evelyn looked up and smiled at Rita. "I hear your bar is doing quite well. Rita¡¯s learning the ropes of business." "That bar of hers is just a hobby," Victoria said with a helpless smile from the side, "She roped Connor into investing, and who knows when they''ll break even." Mrs. Weiss tapped lightly on the table, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "What the son invests, the mother reims." "Ha ha ha ha!" Mrs. Kentughed in her uniquely husky voice from across. "Mom, you y." Rita pouted, pulling on Victoria¡¯s arm. "This round''s on you. I¡¯m going to find Connor." "You lose and dump it on me," Victoria rolled her eyes. Rita giggled twice and looked at Emily. "Aunt Emily, is Connor in the study?" "Yes, go find him," Emily said calmly as she arranged her cards. "He¡¯s been there since dinner." Rita pulled Victoria to her spot, resolutely stating, "Mom, it¡¯s all on you now!" Victoria shook her head in resignation. "What on earth did I give birth to." Rita patted her bottom and ran off. She reached the second-floor study and knocked before entering. Connor put down the document he was reading and looked up. "Weren¡¯t you ying cards? What are you doing here?" His face showed a knowing smile, "Lost money?" Rita huffed, "No, I remembered something important to discuss with you." "You and important business?" Connor looked down and continued with his documents, clearly uninterested. Rita smiled slyly, casually sitting on the sofa, turning her back to Connor, and tapping her fingers lightly on the armrest. "It¡¯s about Cam; not sure if that counts as important?" She suddenly raised her voice. Connor¡¯s ears twitched, and his pupils contracted. He closed the document in his hands, appearing indifferent. "Talk." Rita chuckled, her shoulders trembling slightly as she cleared her throat and turned around. "Last week, I went shopping with Cam,and we visited a boutique..." She rattled on. Connor nced at her sideways, gritting his teeth, "Get to the point." Rita waved her hand nonchntly. "The point ising." Connor narrowed his eyes, staring at her. Rita leaned back on the sofa, looking at Connor, and slowly said, "Then we went to the Weiss Jewelry. Cam tried on a ne she really liked but thought it was pricey and wouldn¡¯t let me gift it to her." Connor leaned back, "Buy it,.I¡¯ll pay." Ritaughed, "It¡¯s not too expensive, just over two million." Connor replied, "Alright." Rita looked at him, raising her eyebrows. "I¡¯ll contact the store manager now." "Mhm." Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Rita found the store manager¡¯s message and immediately sent her a message. The store manager quickly replied, regretfully informing her that the ne was sold the next day. Rita looked at Connor andughed awkwardly, "Sold out, there was only one, ha...ha ha..ha, unlucky." "Why did you dragst week¡¯s matter till now?" Connor¡¯s gaze swept over coldly, his voice slightly tense. Chapter 196 Chapter 196 Rita touched her nose and exined in a low voice, "I''ve just been busy since I got back..." Connor furrowed his brow, holding back the urge to explode. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and then let it go. "I''m busy now." That was his way of showing her the door. Rita pouted, "Go ahead with your work. I won''t bother you." She turned away and sighed softly, regretting not calling Connor right then and there. She aimlessly scrolled through her phone, opened Twitter, and frowned. Bad luck! The homepage had suggested Haylie''s tweet. #Haylie¡¯sDailyLifeBackHome Just as she was about to close it, a glimpse made her frown even tighter. She clicked on one of Haylie''s photos and zoomed in with a flick of her finger. Shit! Haylie actually bought the ne! "Hmph! Suddenly, that ne looks ugly." "Rita!" Connor''s voice rose sternly, tinged with impatience. "Okay, okay. I''ll shut up, I won''t talk." Rita turned around, apologetically waving her hand. The study regained its peace for a brief few seconds. "No! How could she have bought it!" Rita couldn¡¯t help but speak up, "It''s infuriating!" "If you keep yelling, you¡¯ll have to leave," Connor warned, his dark gaze flicking toward Rita. Rita snorted, "I''m angry! I just looked online and saw that woman unting the ne Cam likes. I can''t keep quiet at this moment!" "The one Cam likes?" Connor¡¯s expression softened a bit. He flipped through files casually and said as if offhandedly, "Contact Logan and see if he can make another one." Rita replied irritably, "That would be pointless, it¡¯s called ''The One.''" The One... Connor''s pupils contracted, and a chill ran down his spine. His features stiffened as he looked at Rita, swallowing hard. "You mean, the ne Cam likes is from Weiss Jewelry and is called ''The One?''" Rita nodded affirmatively. "Yeah." Connor paused, put his fingertips on his forehead, and slowly said, "That was the engagement gift I gave to Haylie." Rita suddenly stood up from the sofa, staring at Connor''s face. "Man, are you crazy! You gave her a ne called ''The One!''" Connor looked innocent. "I asked Logan to pick a ne for her. I didn''t realize Cam liked it too." Hearing this, Rita was livid. "Is Logan brain-dead? If he''s going to scam you, this isn¡¯t the way to do it!" Connor paused for a few seconds, and then it dawned on him. "So, the reason Cam has been distant these past few days is because of this ne!" Rita coldly sneered, "Probably because of something you did that upset her. Haylie only posted the photo today." Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Connor shook his head. "No, she attended Haylie''s wee party, and I... I was there, too." Rita¡¯s eyes widened, tilting her head to stare at him. "Haha..." she clicked her tongue. "No wonder Cam is ignoring you." "But Cam doesn¡¯t seem like the type to get upset just because I bought someone else a ne she likes..." Connor frowned slightly. Rita gave him a look, "She¡¯s jealous, obviously." Connor froze, his eyes suddenly widening as he realized. "Jealous? Because of me?" He walked quickly to Rita and grabbed her arms excitedly. "Are you saying Cam likes me?" Rita shook off his hands and scoffed a few times, "Whether Cam is jealous, I''m not sure, but what I am sure of is that you like her." Chapter 197 Chapter 197 Connor was struck by a sudden rush of joy, electrifying him from head to heart. Excitement sparkled in his eyes, and his lips curved into a broad smile as he repeatedly murmured. "Is Cam jealous? She saw me give a ne to someone else, and she got mad! So that''s it... Hahaha." Rita rolled her eyes at him, unamused. Was this the brother she had known for over twenty years? Right now, he seemed utterly foolish! "Are you even listening to me?" "Huh?" The excitement on Connor''s face was unmistakable as he turned to Rita in confusion. Rita sighed, pointing at his heart. "I guessed she might be jealous, but cover your heart and think clearly. What are your feelings towards Cam?" Connor clutched his racing heart, feeling his pulse quicken, a moment of rity washing over him. His eyes slightly reddened, and his hands sped tightly together. He couldn''t contain his desire to see her and wanted to rush to her side immediately. His longing was overwhelming. Rita couldn¡¯t help but smile at his expression, both outwardly and inwardly. Her emotionally oblivious brother had finally recognized his special feelings for Cam. Perhaps the two of them could soon be together. She scoffed at herself wistfully. Would she and Logan ever have their day? Her spirits dampened. "I''m going back. I can''t stand to see you acting so stupid anymore." Connor, in high spirits, didn¡¯t take it to heart, his smile unwavering. Rita left, and the more Connor thought about it in his study, the more thrilled he became. Grabbing his suit jacket, he strode out of the study, his steps quickening until he was almost running down the stairs. He nearly bumped into Emily. "What¡¯s the rush?" Emily frowned slightly. "Mom, I''m heading back." In his excitement, Connor hugged Emily tightly. Emily waspletely baffled, staring at his grinning face. "Weren¡¯t you staying the night and going back tomorrow?" Connor hugged Emily again, his grin reaching his ears. "I¡¯ll stay with you next time." Then, he sprinted toward the front door. Emily stood still, turning to a servant beside her. "Has he been possessed? He¡¯s acting so strangely." The servant nodded repeatedly. *** Humming a tune, Connor walked briskly along the road. The garden flowers swayed gently in the breeze. Each resembled Cam¡¯s radiant face as if smiling at him. The driver pulled the car up to the front. Connor settled into the car, trying to calm his excitement, and casually said, "To Belleview Heights." "Right away." The car started. As the scenery outside the window passed by, a wave of nervousness surged through Connor. As he approached Belleview Heights, his anticipation grew. He couldn¡¯t wait to see Cam, to hold her tightly in his arms. The next turn would take him there. At that moment, his heart was taut with tension. He nced at his watch. It was past eleven. Visiting her now might disturb her rest. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Connor cleared his throat and told the driver, "Back to Cedarhill Estate." His voice trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly. The driver nced in the rearview mirror, slightly surprised. Mr. Connor was in a great mood today. Something good must have happened on this trip back to the old family estate. Back at Cedarhill Estate, Connor didn¡¯t go straight to his room to rest but instead paced on the balcony. His emotions were still in a fervor as if a fire were burning inside his chest. Chapter 198 Chapter 198 It wasn''t until three in the morning when Connor finallyy down in bed. He tossed and turned. Sleep eluded him. Images of Cam¡ªher face, her voice¡ªkept surfacing in his mind. Her smile, her voice, and every subtle gesture lingered in his heart. Connor couldn''t help butugh. Only five more hours until he would see Cam again. Time seemed to crawl. The next day, sunlight peeked through the gaps in the curtains and spilled onto the bedside as Connor slowly opened his eyes. At the sight of the ring sunlight, his heart surged with excitement. He nced at his phone. It was only seven o''clock. "Just one more hour till I see her," Connor murmured to himself, a faint smile on his face. To ensure he was in his best form for Cam, Connor decided to take another shower. He quickly got out of bed, walked to the bathroom, and stood under the showerhead, unconsciously pressing the body wash dispenser a couple of extra times. After his shower, he stood in front of the mirror, carefully examining his face and shaving off the stubble that had sprouted overnight. Humming a cheerful tune, Connor walked into his dressing room in high spirits. He stood in front of the wardrobe, picking out the right outfit. After some deliberation, he chose a blush pink shirt. The color of the shirt matched his mood perfectly as if the air around him was filled with pink hearts. He couldn''t help but smile to himself. While choosing a tie, his fingers suddenly stopped on a tie box. Excitedly, he opened the box to find the tie Cam had given him. Connor picked up the tie, his lips curving into a wide smile. He put on the tie, adjusting its position. In front of the mirror, Connor carefully examined his attire and nodded in satisfaction. Once ready, he took a deep breath, feeling a mix of anticipation and nerves as he walked out of the bedroom. Cam hadn''t arrived yet, so Connor sat on the couch, his gaze constantly drifting the entrance, both expectant and anxious. Ding-dong¡ª The sound of the doorbell rang. Connor immediately stood up from the couch and quickly adjusted his tie. His face lit up with a brilliant smile. He turned around, ready to greet the person he''d been longing to see. ... Connor''s smile froze, and his lips slowly turned downwards. "Good morning, Mr. Connor," David greeted him with a smile. "Good morning, David," Connor responded, his voice subdued. His mood plummeted from a peak to a trough, a profound disappointment indescribable. "Mr. Connor, are you alright?" David, noticing his unusual expression, approached with concern. Connor snapped back to reality and shook his head with a smile. Just then, the doorbell rang again. Connor''s mood instantly shifted from disappointment to excitement. As Cam appeared from the entrance, Connor''s heart raced. He stared at Cam, feeling as if all his blood was surging towards his heart. "Good morning!" he couldn''t help but call out. Startled by his sudden enthusiasm, Cam paused for a half-second before regaining her composure and politely smiled. "Good morning, Mr. Connor." Connor sensed her aloofness, his heart sinking.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. He remembered that Cam was still upset and took a deep breath, trying to calm his emotions. Connor tried to keep his voice steady. "After the opening event, I¡¯ll take you to a ce tonight." Cam inadvertently nced at the tie he was wearing today, her heart skipping a beat. A few secondster, she regained herposure and nodded politely in response. "Sure." Chapter 199 Chapter 199 The grand opening of Ivywood Mall, a celebration of technology and modernity, was about to commence. The facade of the gship store seemed to be made of a gigantic LED screen, ying a promotional video for Future Inc.''s products, captivating the attention of countless onlookers. Arge crowd, including media and popr influencers, had already gathered at the entrance, broadcasting the event with their cameras and smartphones. Connor and Cam arrived at the venue one hour before the ribbon-cutting ceremony. A colleague from the nning department escorted them to the lounge. "Mr. Connor, you mentioned earlier that the flower baskets must be ced on the opposite side of the staircase and not this side. Is this distance okay for you?" Cam asked. Connor looked puzzled at her. Cam exined, "You''re allergic to pollen." Connor paused. He took a sip of water and slowly said, "I''m not as allergic as I used to be." Cam nodded, "That''s good to hear. I''ve brought medication, just in case. Let me know immediately if you feel ufortable." Connor took another sip of water and nodded. Cam nced outside at the stage. The previous day, she had coordinated with each department''s leader to ensure the smooth progression of the opening event. She had memorized the schedule thoroughly. "I''m going to check outside, Mr. Connor," she said. Connor nodded and softly added, "Be careful." "Will do," Cam replied, then joined her colleagues from the nning department at the event site. Once there, Cam and her team went through the event''s flow one more time, carefully checking each department. "Cam, you''ve really put in a lot of effort," a colleague remarked. "This was supposed to be our department''s responsibility, yet you seem even more concerned than us." Cam smiled in response. "We''re a team, and we''re working together to ensure the sess of this event." Her colleague smiled back. "I''ll go check on how the hostesses are doing with the preparations." "Alright," Cam said with a smile. She stood in a corner, observing the bustling crowd, the lively scene filling her with a sense of aplishment. "Hello, Cam," a man''s voice interrupted her thoughts. Cam turned around, meeting Howard''s gaze. She replied politely, "Hello, Mr. Howard." Howard looked at the thronging crowd and remarked, "It''s been a long time since Ivywood Mall was this lively." Cam nodded slightly. "Yes, the sess of today''s event is due to everyone''s collective effort." "There are more surprises toe today." Howard gestured towards another LED screen across the za, which was disying advertisements from other stores, his smile hinting at something deeper. Cam looked puzzled at him. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. "You might want to keep an eye on that LED screenter," Howard said mysteriously. Cam followed his gaze to the screen positioned diagonally opposite the gship store. "Cam!" a colleague from the nning department ran over, calling out urgently. "Mr. Howard, excuse me, I have another matter to attend to," Cam said to Howard with a nod. "Go ahead," Howard replied with a smile. Cam hurried over to her colleague, asking, "What''s going on?" "One of the hostesses suddenly has gastroenteritis. She''s still in the restroom, quite debilitated, and won''t be able to take the stage," her colleague reported anxiously, his forehead beaded with sweat. Cam''s expression shifted slightly upon hearing this. "I recall we have a backup hostess; let''s get her here quickly," she decided calmly. "She''s stuck in a traffic jam. It might take her about half an hour to arrive," her colleague replied anxiously. Chapter 200 Chapter 200 Cam took a deep breath, quickly thinking of a solution. "We have less than half an hour left until the ribbon-cutting ceremony." "Let''s go check on the sick hostess and see if there''s a way to help her hold on," Cam said decisively, turning toward the restroom. Her colleague from the event nning department followed closely, and they hurried into the restroom. They found the hostess pale and weak, leaning against the wall. "How are you feeling?" Cam asked with concern. "I don''t know. I just have a terrible stomach ache," the hostess replied, grimacing. "Can you hold on?" asked the colleague from the nning department. The hostess weakly shook her head, her face as pale as paper. "Get someone to take her to the hospital," Cam instructed. The colleague nodded and immediately went to find someone to handle it. After the hostess was taken away, the colleague suddenly turned to Cam, a spark of inspiration in his eyes, "Cam, you two are about the same size. Could you fill in for her?" Cam was stunned for a few seconds before responding decisively. "Alright, I''ll fill in." The colleague sighed in relief, gratefully looking at Cam. "Thank you, Cam. I''ll go get the necessary items ready." Cam nodded, then turned and walked toward the dressing room. She changed into the hostess'' outfit, and the makeup artist quickly helped her get ready. "Ma''am, your ne doesn''t quite match the dress. Let me take it off for you," the makeup artist said gently. Cam touched the ne, hesitated for a moment, then nodded. The makeup artist expertly unsped the ne and set it aside. "Could you find a box to put it in? It''s very important, thank you." Cam''s bag was not with her, and she was worried about where to keep the ne safe. The makeup artist nodded, "I''ll find a box for it after I finish your makeup and ce it on the vanity table. Don''t worry." "Thank you." Cam looked at the ne again. "Are we ready?" the colleague from the nning department asked, looking at his watch anxiously. "Yes, all set," the makeup artist quickly touched up Cam''s lipstick, muttering, "If it weren''t for this lady''s natural beauty, it would be a nightmare to get this makeup done in fifteen minutes." The colleague hurriedly took Cam by the hand, "We need to go now." Cam walked a few steps, then turned back to the makeup artist. "Thank you." The makeup artist nodded. *** The ribbon-cutting scene was already filled with many guests, buzzing with excitement. When Cam appeared as the hostess, the whole scene went quiet for a few seconds. Connor saw Cam. His eyes lit up, and he smiled slightly. When the event manager reported that Cam would fill in for one of the hostesses, he was quite looking forward to seeing a different side of her. Now, the host stepped onto the stage and announced the official start of the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Cam and the other hostesses stood in their designated spots behind Connor, each holding a tray. Connor nced over at Cam, nodding with satisfaction. "You look quite good in that dress." Cam smiled slightly in response. At that moment, John from the audience smiled and waved at Cam. She saw him, nodded in acknowledgment, and smiled slightly. Connor turned his head to nce at Cam, his brow furrowing subtly.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. Chapter 201 Chapter 201 The host, microphone in hand, stood on the ribbon-cutting stage. "Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, good morning! Today, we gather to witness an exciting moment. The grand opening of the Future gship store is an event we have all eagerly awaited!" A round of apuse and cheers erupted from the crowd. As the ribbon was cut, confetti cannons boomed, showering the air with colorful paper, and the atmosphere reached a climax. After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the host announced the official opening of the Future gship store. Suddenly, the LED screen diagonally opposite them, lit up with the name "Cam." Then, a message started scrolling across it, catching everyone''s eye. "I like you. Can you be my girlfriend? - Howard" This message scrolled repeatedly, and the entire square saw the deration on the big screen, causing a buzz of excitement. People nced around, searching for the ''lucky'' heroine of this high-profile love disy. "How romantic!" "Such a shy disy of romance!" A colleague grabbed Cam''s arm excitedly. "Cam, look!" Following her colleague''s gaze, Cam frowned deeply. Howard approached her slowly with a bouquet of flowers, a confident smile on his face. Connor also saw the scrolling message, his eyes darkening as he nced at Howard. His gaze was dark, like a bottomless cold pool, hiding turbulent emotions. Howard stopped in front of Cam, his eyes gleaming. "Do you like it?" Cam looked at Howard, her eyes emotionless, and she smiled slightly. "Mr. Howard, you are mistaken. I have a boyfriend." Howardughed loudly, presenting the flowers to Cam, his gaze steadfast, "I''ve checked, and it seems you''ve broken up." "I am her boyfriend." A male voice suddenly interrupted. The crowd quickly turned to see a man in casual clothes pushing through the crowd to stand beside Cam, facing Howard. Cam paused for a few seconds. Soon, she recovered, walked over to John''s side, and smiled. "Mr. Howard, this is my boyfriend, John." Howard''s face darkened, his brows furrowed, a sh of anger in his eyes. He stared at Cam, his tone hostile. "What do you mean?" Cam calmly met Howard''s gaze. "I already have a boyfriend. I hope you can respect my choice, Mr. Howard." Howard''s anger began to build. He red at Cam, his tone harsh. "You think I''ll believe that excuse?" Cam didn¡¯t want to continue the confrontation with Howard. She turned to John, and after exchanging a nce, they walked away from the crowd together. Connor stood outside the crowd, his gaze fixed on the retreating figures of Cam and John. His hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white. n couldn''t help but whisper in surprise, "Is that really Cam''s boyfriend?" Connor gave him a dark look, impatiently tugging at his cor. n immediately mped his mouth shut, silently chiding himself. *** Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Cam and John moved to a less crowded area. "John, thank you for helping me out," Cam said sincerely. John smiled and rubbed his neck. "I saw you looked quite upset, so I stepped in." Chapter 202 Chapter 202 Cam looked at John with gratitude. "Thank you so much. I had no idea Howard would push me like this." John chuckled, "We''re friends, so don''t mention it." Cam nodded, smiling. "Let me walk you to the bus." She didn''t want to go back to the office so soon. "Sure," John agreed with a nod. Together, they walked to the bus stop, and after a short wait, the bus arrived. "Thank you, John," Cam said again before boarding the bus. "No worries, call me if you need anything," John said with a smile, waving goodbye. *** "He''s her boyfriend now." The words echoed in Connor''s ears relentlessly. Those words pierced his heart like a curse, disrupting his peace and even making his breathing erratic. For the first time, Connor experienced an anxiety he had never felt before. His thoughts tangled like a knotted thread, growing more irritable the more he thought about it. He had always considered himself a rational person, not swayed by emotions, b ut now, he couldn''t control his thoughts. His mood was as unpredictable as a rollercoaster. He paced back and forth in the lounge, restless and uneasy. He tried to calm down, but the internal anxiety and agitation only grew stronger. After a long wait, there was still no sign of Cam. He decided to go look for her. He exited the lounge and rushed through the corridor. Reaching the makeup room, he clenched his fist, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open. The room was empty. He was about to leave when a glint of light caught his eye. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. His face turned pale, his heartbeat skipping a beat. He slowly bent down, reached out and picked up the ne he had given Cam. It was now lying on the carpet like discarded trash. His heart clenched painfully, almost leaving him breathless. Clutching the ne tightly, his eyes filled with indescribable sadness and anger. He felt his heart being torn apart, the pain more intense than ever. He remembered every detail that went into designing this ne. Cam had so carelessly mistreated his sentiment! A chill shed in Connor''s eyes, his mood turning exceedingly grim. Cam, after seeing John off, returned to the makeup room. Upon opening the door, a tall figure caught her eye first. Startled, Cam eximed, "Mr. Connor." Connor trembled slightly at her voice. He slowly turned around, his face pale, his eyes betraying a mix of pain and anger. Cam sensed something was off with his emotions. She hurried forward, asking anxiously, "You look pale. Could it be an allergy?" Connor didn''t respond. He just silently stared at her, his hand tightly holding the ne. "Cam, you''ve got a new boyfriend?" he suddenly asked, his voice trembling. Cam froze, avoiding Connor''s gaze. Her eyes began to well up. Taking a deep breath, she managed a stiff smile and firmly replied, "Yes." Hearing her answer, Connor felt as though his heart was being torn apart... Chapter 203 Chapter 203 "Cam, I remember you saying you had no ns for marriage." Connor''s voice was hoarse, and each word seemed to be squeezed out of his throat with difficulty. Cam slightly turned her head away, not letting him see her tear-filled eyes. "I''ve changed my mind," she whispered, her voice trembling. Connor''s throat felt as if it was being choked, and he was struggling for air. "So, is your recent aloofness towards me because you were afraid your boyfriend would misunderstand our rtionship?" He tried to make his voice sound as natural as possible. Cam held back the sourness in her nose, bit her lip, and firmly replied, "Yes." That single word seemed to use up all her strength. Connor gave a coldugh, "Fine, very well..." His gaze on Cam was chilling even in the hot weather. He stuffed the ne he had been clutching into his jeans pocket and walked away. Bang¡ª The moment the door closed. Cam copsed to the floor, tears uncontrobly streaming down, heavily hitting the carpet. She forcefully wiped her tears, slowly got up, and walked towards the dressing table, where the ne he had given her was. She hurried to the dressing table, her eyes frantically scanning the surface. There was no box and no trace of the ne! Her heart sank, a bad premonition sweeping over her. She frantically searched through everything on the table, her palms sweating, her mind in chaos. The ne seemed to vanish into thin air! She knelt on the floor and moved the table and chairs around, searching everywhere. She turned the entire dressing room inside out, sparing no corner, yet still, the ne was nowhere to be found. Her heart raced, her frantic emotions preventing her from thinking clearly. She felt a desperate pain as if her heart was being torn apart. At that moment, the makeup artist walked in through the door and saw Cam frantically searching on the floor. The artist spoke slowly, guilt in her voice, "Ma''am, I''m sorry. I went out to get a box, and when I came back, the ne was no longer on the table." Hearing the makeup artist''s apology, Cam felt even more panicked and desperate. She suddenly looked up, her eyes full of terror and helplessness. "When did this happen?" her voice trembled. The makeup artist, unsettled by Cam''s distraught state, replied, "I''m sorry, I took a call, then realized we needed a box. I went to find one, and when I returned, the ne was gone." Cam''s face turned pale, her gaze hollow as she stared at the makeup artist. The artist bit her lip, saying, "I canpensate you. I''m really sorry!" Cam weakly shook her head. "If only there were cameras in the dressing room..." the artist muttered. Cameras! Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. There were none in the dressing room, but there were some in the hallway. Cam quickly left the dressing room and headed toward the security office. A glimmer of hope ignited in her heart. Upon reaching the security office, she exined the situation to the staff and asked to view the hallway footage outside the dressing room. The staff nodded and started the yback. Cam watched the screen intently, her palms sweating. Time seemed to stretch, each second torturous for Cam. After the makeup artist left, a colleague carrying materials from a ribbon-cutting ceremony entered and quickly left. After that, it was just Connor and her. Cam quickly grabbed her phone, her hands shaking as she dialed her colleague''s number. "When you brought the materials into the dressing room, did you see a ne on the dressing table?" she asked urgently, unable to stop her trembling hands. The colleague paused, recalling, "I was carrying a lot of things and identally knocked a few lipsticks off the table. They all fell on the floor, and I picked them up." Chapter 204 Chapter 204 ¡°Could it have fallen somewhere? I¡¯m sorry, I was in a hurry and didn¡¯t check properly.¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡°Okay, thank you.¡± Cam hung up the phone, staring nkly ahead. She slowly stood up and walked out of the security room. Cam returned to the dressing room and found the cleaningdy''s information. ¡°If you happen to find my ne while cleaning, could you please give me a call?¡± Thedy agreed cheerfully. Cam sat quietly in the makeup chair, feeling a void in her heart. She touched her bare neck. With the loss of the ne, it was time to end this unrequited love and let go of these hopeless feelings. She sighed deeply, then gathered herself and changed back into her business attire. Despite the turmoil inside, she maintained a calm facade. She exited the dressing room and headed toward her workspace. The grand opening event was still underway, and everything was proceeding smoothly. She focused intently on every detail, ensuring everything went ording to n. She breathed a sigh of relief only when the store closed for the night. ¡°Cam, thank you for today,¡± a colleague from the nning department said appreciatively. ¡°I heard Mr. Connor left right after the ribbon-cutting,¡± her colleague added, observing Cam¡¯s expression tentatively. Cam nodded slightly, saying little. Her heart felt clogged. She was struggling to breathe. With the event over, Cam¡¯s work was temporarily paused. She quietly packed her things, preparing to leave. *** Connor sat alone in his dimly lit office, his gaze empty as he stared out into the night. Moonlight streamed through the window, casting a mncholy shadow on his somber face. His fingers trembled slightly, holding a cigarette. Wisps of smoke drifted from his mouth, slowly dispersing in the air. The ashtray before him was filled with cigarette butts, each seemingly carrying his anguish. He felt as if he were caught in an endless vortex of painful emotions. His thoughts couldn¡¯t stray from Cam, and he couldn¡¯t focus on his work at all. His eyes asionally flicked to Cam¡¯s empty desk. Connor¡¯s heart was filled with loss. His world suddenly felt empty and lonely. Cam had a boyfriend. She didn¡¯t even care about the ne he gave her and casually discarded it. He chuckled self-deprecatingly, a bitter taste rising in his throat. How could she be jealous? ''Connor, how foolish of you. You thought there was something special between you and Cam. She doesn¡¯t even like you.'' And with that, he got the ne in his pocket and threw it into the trash bin. At that moment, his heart also felt as if it were thrown away, mercilessly discarded. *** ¡°n, has Mr. Connor not signed yet?¡± a colleague asked. n shook his head gently. The colleagues looked at each other. Mr. Connor was always decisive and highly efficient at work, but today he was off. ¡°Should we remind Mr. Connor?¡± one suggested. n frowned slightly. ¡°Let¡¯s wait a bit.¡± He knew of Connor¡¯s feelings for Cam. Such feelings were unprecedented in his past experiences. Even when Haylie got engaged, Connor hadn¡¯t felt as tormented as he did now. He finally truly fell for someone, only to be a step toote. Chapter 205 Chapter 205 The next morning, Cam arrived on time at Cedarhill Estate. She stood before the familiar door, her heartbeat elerating uncontrobly. The tension from their unpleasant parting the day before was still fresh in her mind. How should she face him now? Cam had no answers. Taking a deep breath, she raised her hand to enter the code but hesitated. Just as she wavered, the door suddenly swung open. Startled, Cam instinctively looked up, only to see David holding a lunch box. "Cam," David said, holding the lunch box as he opened the door, puzzled. "Mr. Connor isn¡¯t home. He didn¡¯te backst night. Do you know where he might be?" Cam stared nkly at David, slowly shaking her head. He''s not here? "You don¡¯t know either?" David seemed surprised as he handed her the lunch box. "He might have stayed at the office. He¡¯s done that before. Ever since you''ve been here, Mr. Connor has beening home every night." She heard David¡¯s words and reached out to take the breakfast, but her hand paused mid-air. Was it because of her that Connor had beening home every night? Her heart pounded fiercely. Suddenly, a voice in her head whispered, ''Cam, don¡¯t be foolish. He has someone he likes, and it''s not you!'' "Cam?" David¡¯s voice brought her back to reality. Cam quickly shook her head, dismissing those unrealistic thoughts. "Are you alright? Do you feel unwell?" asked David. Cam forced a smile and shook her head as she took the breakfast. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. "I¡¯ll take this breakfast to the office." "That¡¯s strange," Davidmented, confused. "Why didn¡¯t Mr. Connor tell you he wouldn¡¯t be coming home? Didn¡¯t you go to work together yesterday?" Cam chuckled, "I was at the gship store yesterday, and I was not with him." David nodded, "Let¡¯s go together. I¡¯ll drive you to the office." "It¡¯s not necessary. I can just take a cab," said Cam. "It¡¯s no trouble. I¡¯m heading that way anyway. Come on!" With that, David turned and walked toward the elevator. Reluctantly, Cam followed. Once in the car, David nced at Cam, observing her subtle emotional changes. He was a thoughtful man who took meticulous care of Connor''s daily needs. He sensed the subtle dynamics between them. "Did you and Mr. Connor have a fight?" he asked. Cam squeezed out a smile and shook her head. "No." David smiled slightly as if seeing through her thoughts. "Do you think I¡¯m a nosy old man?" Cam hurriedly shook her head. "No, not at all." Davidughed, "Well, don''t be deceived by Mr. Connor¡¯s efficient demeanor. He''s quite oblivious when ites to emotions and isn¡¯t good atforting people." He looked at Cam and continued, "If there¡¯s something he isn¡¯t doing right, you should tell him directly. Don¡¯t keep it to yourself." "David, you misunderstand the situation," Cam gently shook her head. "You both know the truth. I won¡¯t say more," David sighed as he looked at Cam. The car smoothly stopped in front of the office building, and Cam thanked David before stepping out with a slightly uneasy heart and entering the elevator. She reached the office floor and stepped out to find the office still dimly lit, as it was quite early. Cam returned to her desk, cing her bag down. Her gaze unwittingly drifted toward Connor¡¯s office, which was dark and silent. Holding the breakfast, she took a deep breath. The moment she pushed open the door, a strong scent of tobo and alcohol hit her. Chapter 206 Chapter 206 Cam furrowed her brow slightly as her gaze fell onto the coffee table. It was cluttered with an ashtray filled like a miniature mountain and bottles of whiskey carelessly tipped over. Her heart sank. ¡°Mr. Connor?¡± she called out softly, her voice barely a whisper, but received no response. She nced toward the door of the lounge. Hesitating for a moment, she set the breakfast she had brought aside. She pushed open the lounge door and found Connor lying on the bed, his eyes closed and his complexion pale, a look of exhaustion etched across his features. Standing by the bedside, Cam felt a pang of sorrow seeing him like this. She gently nudged Connor¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Mr. Connor, it¡¯s time to wake up.¡± Connor didn¡¯t react, continuing to lie with his eyes shut. ¡°Mr. Connor,¡± Cam called again. Slowly, Connor opened his eyes, his gaze foggy as he stared at Cam. Her heart skipped a beat. She steadied her breathing and managed a small smile. ¡°Mr. Connor, David has prepared breakfast for you. Would you like to get up now, or do you wish to sleep a bit longer? It¡¯s 8:30 in the morning.¡± Connor remained silent, just silently observing her. Cam felt a flutter of panic under his intense gaze, unsure of what to do. Suddenly, Connor reached out and grasped Cam¡¯s wrist forcefully. Cam gasped, attempting to pull away, but Connor¡¯s grip was as tight as a vise. ¡°Mr. Connor!¡± Her voice trembled. Suddenly, with a strong pull, Connor drew Cam down onto the bed beside him. Cam cried out as she fell next to Connor. Her heartbeat raced, her mind swirling in confusion. Before she could gather her thoughts, Connor rolled over, propping himself on either side of her, his eyes narrowing as he stared at her intently. The room was dimly lit, and in the shadows, Connor¡¯s expression was fierce and predatory, filled with an intense aggressiveness. Cam felt frightened by his stare. She struggled to sit up, but Connor¡¯s hands held her shoulders down, immobilizing her. ¡°Connor, let me go!¡± Cam¡¯s voice shook, panic rising within her like never before. Connor didn¡¯t release her. Instead, he pressed down even more firmly. Suddenly, he leaned closer, his breath lightly brushing against Cam¡¯s skin. ¡°Connor!¡± she shouted, her whole body trembling. The frightened expression on her face and the tears in her eyes made Connor suddenly snap back to reality. He paused abruptly as if shocked by his own actions. After a moment of silence, he spoke in a hoarse voice, ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± ¡°Let me go,¡± Cam said, her eyes red and voice choked with tears. Connor released his grip. Cam immediately jumped off the bed and straightened her clothes. Connory back, his hand on his forehead. His brows furrowed in frustration, and his eyes tightly were shut. His thoughts were tangled like a knotted mess, uncertain of how to sort them out. He didn¡¯t understand why he had lost control. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Cam quietly adjusted her clothes, trying not to let her emotions affect her. She sniffled and steadied herself, heading toward the door. ¡°I¡¯ve left the breakfast on the table. Please, Mr. Connor,e out for breakfast after you¡¯ve freshened up,¡± Cam said, her voice still shaky but striving for calm. ¡°Okay¡­¡± Connor¡¯s voice was deep and subdued.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. Chapter 207 Chapter 207 Connory in bed, his heart filled with regret and confusion as he listened to Cam''s footsteps fading away. His gaze fell upon the messy sheets, still carrying traces of Cam''s scent. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. After a moment, he rose from the bed and walked over to the wardrobe. Opening it, he immediately spotted the tie and ne from the night before. He had intended to throw them away but had retrieved them from the trash can after his night of drinking. Holding the tie and ne, a mix of emotions flooded through him. He carefully folded the tie and ced it back in the wardrobe, sighing deeply. He then grabbed some clothes and stepped into the bathroom, turning on the cold shower and letting the icy water wash over his weary face and body. *** Cam closed the door of the lounge, trying to calm the turmoil inside her. She drank most of a bottle of mineral water, which helped her clear her head. The office was filled with the smell of smoke and alcohol, making her feel ufortable, so she opened the window and turned on the venttion system. She nced at the messy coffee table and knew the cleaning staff couldn''te in as long as he was there. She disposed of the cigarette butts in the trash and set the empty bottles aside. His ck matte lighter was on the coffee table, which she wiped clean and ced next to the cigarette box. After tidying up the coffee table, she went to make Connor a cup of coffee. She also poured a ss of warm water and some hangover medicine. She set them down near his breakfast on the coffee table. After freshening up, Connor opened the door of the lounge and immediately saw Cam bent over, arranging breakfast on the coffee table. Her expression was serious and focused. Sunlight fell on her, giving her a serene and gentle appearance. Connor found it hard to look away from her. After a moment, he walked over to her. The sound of his footsteps made Cam pause for a second. She took a deep breath and slowly turned around. Connor stood before her in a ck shirt and ck trousers. Cam straightened up, trying to keep her voice calm. "Mr. Connor, your breakfast and hangover remedy." "Have you had breakfast?" Connor''s voice was deep and rich, his eyes intensely focused on her. "Yes, Mr. Connor, please enjoy your meal," Cam replied sinctly. She wiped her hands and left the office. Back at her desk, Cam opened her messaging app to find thepany chat group lit up with over 99 notifications. She had been too busy to check messages the day before. Scrolling through the group chat, she noticed 659 unread messages from yesterday. The first was a picture of an LED screen Howard had used to woo her. The chat was buzzing with comments about Howard''s pursuit. [I thought Mr. Howard had given up after sending those flowersst time, but he''s still hopeful!] [Cam isn''t swayed by money, so admirable.] [With a fortune of hundreds of billions, Mr. Howard sure is persistent.] [It''s a bit embarrassing for Mr. Howard. His high-profile love gestures were turned down.] Someone had posted a photo of John in the chat. [Cam''s boyfriend looks average, nothing special...] [Choosing love over material wealth, how touching...] Cam quickly skipped over the discussions about her. [What''s up with Mr. Connor today? So many documents unsigned...] The employees privately created this group without anyone from management. [He seems in a really bad mood today.] [He looks terrible. Like he''s under a lot of pressure. Everyone''s keeping their distance.] [Cam,e back soon. He isn''t signing off, and finance won''t release funds. *crying*] Chapter 208 Chapter 208 Many of her colleagues had been tagging her. Cam nced through their chat messages, then looked up at Connor, who was leisurely enjoying his breakfast. Sure enough, as soon as the workday started, department heads began seeking out Cam. [Cam, could you please remind the boss to sign off on this?] [My contract, please, please¡­] Rubbing her temples, Cam reluctantly stood up and made her way to Connor''s office. She knocked softly. "Come in." Cam stepped into the office and immediately noticed him sitting at his desk, poring over documents. His cor was slightly open, and his tie was absent today. "Mr. Connor, there are a few urgent documents that need your signature," Cam said. "Alright." Connor looked up at her, his voice gentle. Cam rifled through the papers on his desk and handed them to him. "Here are the documents, Mr. Connor." Connor took the papers from her, quickly flipped through them, and signed them. "All done." "Thank you, Mr. Connor." Cam took the documents back. She nced at the coffee table where his breakfasty. "Mr. Connor, I''ll drop these off at the departments and thene back to clear the table." "Let the cleaning staff handle it," Connor said, his voice always so gentle. "Okay." Cam nodded, then turned and left. After leaving the office, she distributed the documents to the various departments. "Cam, what would I do without you? I can¡¯t thank you enough!" "That¡¯s great! n was too nervous to ask yesterday, but you always know how to handle things." Cam smiled wryly. "Mr. Connor has been processing documents today; yours were just ready, so I brought them right over." *** In the afternoon, Connor was once again trending on Twitter. The official website had posted about yesterday''s grand opening of the Future gship store. Influencers were all sharing it, and major news outlets were covering the event. The Future series wasunched to great acim. As the most valuable startup globally, Connor''s Future Inc. was making headlines as a tech sensation. [Congrattions to Future Inc., and Mr. Connor!] [A unicorn in the industry, amazing!] [Only five years into the business and already the most valuable startup globally. Wow!] [I used to scoff at CEO romance novels, but now I realize I missed so much!] [I¡¯m so enchanted by Mr. Connor, he¡¯s incredibly handsome!] [What kind of woman would be worthy of him?] [I just want to know if Mr. Connor has someone special?] Employees were leaving theirments before work started. [Hehe, that¡¯s my boss! As far as I know, he seems to be single.] Cam didn¡¯t know who this person was, but it was a female avatar. Netizens quickly responded to herment. [You''re working with such a handsome genius. Haven¡¯t you dreamed of being his wife!!] The girl replied, [Haha, everyone wants to be the CEO¡¯s wife.] [Lol, you¡¯re eyeing your boss. Does he know?] [Hey, I want to be your wife.] Gradually, thements grew more and more weird. Cam calmly scrolled through Twitter. Suddenly, a new trending topic surged. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. #HaylieConnor Haylie had shared the Future Inc. official website and tagged Connor''s personal Twitter: Congrattions! Chapter 209 Chapter 209 Cam''s heart suddenly clenched. A few secondster, she exited Twitter. She patted her cheeks and buried herself in work. Haylie''s tweet continued to climb in poprity, jumping to the second spot on the trending list. [Big Discovery! Turns out Haylie and Connor were college mates!] [What a perfect match!] [Beauty and brains¡ªthat''s them!] [What are you talking about? Stop shipping them! Our girl is engaged!] [Please, people get divorced these days. Being engaged means nothing!] [Apart from being richer than Mr. Connor, what does he have over him?] [Can''t the onlookers respect a happy couple?] Fans and neutrals even started arguing, and Haylie''s haters joined in. [LOL, Haylie never followed Mr. Connor on Twitter before he made it big. Now she''s all keen.] [You''re spilling the tea! She''s got a fianc¨¦ yet flirts around!] [She saw Mr. Connor''s potential future, huh? She''s just keeping her options open.] [Mr. Connor, if you end up with someone like Haylie, I''ll lose respect for you!] [Weren¡¯t they always unting their love? Why so few pictures togethertely? Did the tycoon dump her, haha?] [Thought she¡¯d retire after getting engaged. Why is she popping up again after a few months off?] Haylie''s fingers scrolled furiously through her phone, her eyes burning with anger at the negative comments. She grabbed her phone and immediately texted Connor. Original content from N?velDrama.Org. [Connor, I followed you on Twitter, follow back please. Otherwise, it''ll be embarrassing for me!] After sending the message, she constantly checked to see if Connor had followed her back. In the CEO''s office at Future Inc. After n finished his report, he hesitated before speaking, "Mr. Connor, you''re trending." Connor nodded. Having been in the public eye before, he was no longer easily shaken by such news. Seeing no reaction from him, n added, "There¡¯s a trending post about you and Haylie." Connor''s brow furrowed, "What does it say?" "Haylie retweeted the official news and tagged you, saying, ''congrattions,''" n exined. "Why would that trend?" Connor asked, not seeing anything amiss with the tweet. n pursed his lips, "Well, it shouldn¡¯t be a big deal, but somehow your fans have shipped you two, even starting a fan forum." Connor looked puzzled, "Shipping?" n paused, then exined, "It¡¯s like they enjoy the idea of you two together." He pulled out his phone and opened Twitter, scrolling to Haylie¡¯s tweet and thements below. "While Haylie¡¯s tweet was simple, it sparked a lot of attention and debate. Some people think you two are a match made in heaven. Others think it¡¯s just a publicity stunt. Some fans have even paired you up.''" Connor¡¯s frown deepened. "Get it off the trending list now!" His voice brooked no argument, clearly agitated. n nced at Connor. "Are you worried Cam might get the wrong idea?" he asked cautiously. Connor didn¡¯t answer. His fingers hovered between a cigarette packet and a lighter. He pulled out one, his fingers tensely gripping the cigarette. The tips turned white as if holding back a strong emotion. Chapter 210 Chapter 210 Connor''s eyes were dark, his gaze lingering on the cigarette in his hand. n watched him, silent. Connor took a lighter, lit the cigarette, and took a drag. "Avoid this kind of situation in the future. I don''t want simr issues affecting the normal operations of thepany," he said, his voice slightly hoarse. "Understood," n nodded. Despite the trending topic being pulled from the charts, the buzz about Haylie and Conner continued to ferment on social media. Haylie still hadn¡¯t received a follow-back from Connor. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. As closing time neared, Connor emerged from the conference room, looking exhausted. Cam, sitting at her desk, felt his gaze. She looked up, meeting his eyes. Those eyes seemed to harbor a touch of mncholy. "Cam, book a table at the Royal Bistro for 6:30. I¡¯ll be dining with Parker and the others," Connor''s voice was low and slightly raspy. Cam nodded, "Okay." Connor walked a few steps, his hand in his pocket, then turned back to look at her, "You are coming, too." Cam was stunned. It was usually n who entertained clients like Parker from the brokerage firm. Connor rarely attended. She watched Connor for a few seconds, then quietly agreed. Connor returned to the conference room. After booking the restaurant, Cam texted Connor the reservation details. She looked towards the conference room, puzzled. n was also there. A simple instruction would have sufficed. Why did he personallye out to ask her to book the restaurant? Ten minutester, the conference room door opened. The group headed toward the elevator, n gesturing for Cam to follow. She trailed behind them, entering the elevator. She then pressed the button and moved aside. Connor nced at her but said nothing. They arrived at the restaurant, While Cam and n were ordering, Parker pulled out a pack of cigarettes, offering one to Connor. "Mr. Connor, care for one?" Connor frowned slightly, his eyes ncing at Cam, who was ordering. His gaze lingered on Cam briefly, then his hand gently covered Parker''s pack, "Let''s not smoke during dinner." Parker paused, then chuckled awkwardly, "Right, we''re eating." Parker felt awkward and set the cigarettes and lighter aside. The waiter served soup, cing a bowl in front of each person. Cam bowed her head to sip her soup. Strands of hair fell across her cheek, and she brushed her nose. She tucked her hair behind her ear. Connor, holding a spoon, took a sip of soup, his eyes fixed on her. It wasn¡¯t until Parker spoke to him that he looked away. "Mr. Connor, I heard Passos Corporation is considering acquiring Voss Tel and Ocean Chips. What¡¯s your take?" Parker asked. Connor pondered for a moment, setting down his spoon, and looked at Parker. "I believe bothpanies hold great potential. Acquiring them would undoubtedly bring new growth opportunities and development prospects to Passos Corporation." "More importantly, with the continuous advancement of technology and market shifts, acquiring thesepanies not only allows Passos Corporation to quickly enter these high-growth sectors but also enhances its technological capabilities and market share." Parker nodded. The two delved deeper into the discussion, with Cam quietly listening on the side. Connor¡¯s phone beeped twice. It was from Haylie. He swiped open the message, read it, and without responding, turned off the phone. Chapter 211 Chapter 211 Dinner ended, and Cam sent Parker off in his car. The driver arrived promptly, b ut just as the driver was about to get in, Cam had already gracefully seated herself in the passenger seat. n looked at her helplessly before opening the door to the back seat. The ride was silent. Cam gazed out the window, lost in the rapidly passing scenery. Connor also quietly turned his head, his eyes following the samendscape that filled their views. The driver nced in the rearview mirror, meeting n''s gaze, both men shaking their heads in silent agreement. Upon arriving at Cedarhill Estate. Cam unbuckled her seatbelt and politely smiled at the three in the car, saying, "Good night." "Good night," n replied, ncing at Connor, who appeared to be resting with his eyes closed. As the car door closed, Connor slowly opened his eyes, his gaze lingering on Cam as she walked away, a hint of sorrow in his eyes. Connor instructed the driver, "Head to the boxing gym." The driver nodded, and the car started moving. They arrived at the gym. Connor and n entered one after another, immediately catching the gym owner''s attention. The owner saw Connor, and a spark of excitement shed in his eyes as he abandoned what he was doing. He greeted him warmly, "Mr. Connor, you''re here! Fancy a workout today?" His voice was booming and enthusiastic. Connor nodded slightly in response. His gaze cut through the crowd, fixating on the boxing ring. He strode towards it, long-legged and determined. Connor didn¡¯t change his attire. He took off his shoes and socks, unstrapped his watch, and tossed his suit jacket to n. He loosened a few buttons of his shirt, rolled up the sleeves, donned the boxing gloves, and stepped into the ring. "Set up a sparring match," n told the gym owner, knowing Connor was here to vent his frustrations. "Alright, Ted, you¡¯re up," the gym owner called out. Ted, bulky and clearly skilled, limbered up and climbed into the ring. The gym was busy with evening patrons. Men cheered as they watched their coach engage in realbat, while women clustered around the ring and ogled Connor¡¯s physique and handsome features. As the referee¡¯s whistle blew, the match began. Connorunched a fierce attack,nding a heavy punch on Ted¡¯s face. His punches were fast and powerful, quickly pushing Ted back several steps. The crowd gasped in awe at Connor¡¯s strength and... good looks. "Is he a professional?" someone asked. "I don¡¯t know, but it¡¯s thrilling!" "That guy in the shirt is so hot." Ted, initially thinking this was just a yful spar, quickly realized the seriousness of Connor¡¯s skills and adjusted his approach,unching a counterattack. Their fists collided mid-air with crisp impacts. Connor held his own, each punch heavy with the intent to vent. As the bout neared its end, Connor seemed to grow more exhrated with each punch he threw. In contrast, Ted was visibly struggling. His punches were apanied by heavy breaths. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Eventually, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the referee dered Connor the winner. He stood in the ring, his chest heaving dramatically and sweat cascading down his forehead, soaking his shirt and outlining his muscr torso. "Holy crap! The coach lost!" a student eximed in disbelief. Hearing this, the gym owner quickly exined, "Mr. Connor has been boxing for many years, so his skills areparable to a professional. Ted is also skilled, but facing someone like Mr. Connor and losing the match is reasonable." Chapter 212 Chapter 212 He spoke, subtly dabbing at the beads of sweat on his forehead, silently praying that the students wouldn¡¯t drop out because of the oue of the match. A female spectator excitedly shouted, ¡°That man is so handsome! His drenched hair and wet shirt really show off his chest muscles. So sexy!¡± Herment immediately resonated with the other female spectators, who began to buzz about Connor''s attractiveness and allure. Connor, however, didn¡¯t catch any of theirments. n grabbed a towel and a bottle of water and ran up to the boxing ring to hand them to him. He wiped his sweat and took severalrge gulps of water. ¡°Next!¡± he panted. The gym owner told an assistant nearby, ¡°Set it up right away.¡± Under n¡¯s rational and emotional persuasion, Connor finally put on his protective gear. He fought several bouts in a row. He was like an enraged beast, throwing punches wildly without any technique. Connor''s sparring partners couldn¡¯t withstand his reckless style; no matter how well they defended, they still took quite a few hits. Outside the ring, the gym owner wondered if Mr. Connor had been struck by some personal dilemma. n pondered and decided to make a call. *** Cam was sleeping soundly when the incessant ringing of the phone woke her. Annoyed by the shrill sound, she frowned slightly and reached for the phone on her nightstand. n¡¯s calm voice came through, ¡°Cam, sorry to disturb you.¡± His voice was like a ssh of cold water, making Cam instantly more alert. She rubbed her eyes, her tone tinged with anxiety. ¡°n, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Cane to the boxing gym?¡± n¡¯s voice carried a note of concern. Cam was startled, sitting up quickly in bed. ¡°What¡¯s happened?¡± ¡°Mr. Connor has been in the boxing ring for several hours now, and he refuses to step down. I¡¯m worried about his endurance,¡± n reported truthfully. A sense of urgency struck Cam. Without a second thought, she quickly got dressed in casual loungewear, tied her hair up simply, and hurried downstairs. The security guard at the door saw her rushing out sote and couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Ms. Cam, are you going out thiste?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s urgent,¡± Cam replied briefly, ncing at the time¡ªit was 1:18 AM. Her anxiety deepened. A few minutester, the driver arrived, and she immediately opened the car door and got in. Twenty minutester, she arrived at the boxing gym and ran upstairs. When she pushed open therge doors of the gym, she immediately saw Connor. He was in the boxing ring, exchanging blows with his opponent, looking exhausted. Sweat was dripping from his forehead, and his ck shirt was already soaked. Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Cam rushed to n¡¯s side, her eyes full of worry, and asked breathlessly, ¡°What happened to him?¡± n shook his head. Connor hadn¡¯t noticed Cam¡¯s arrival and was still immersed in his own world. He was visibly exhausted, having been hit several times already. ¡°Stop him from fighting,¡± Cam said urgently to the referee, who looked at her and then at n. n nodded in confirmation , and the referee blew the whistle. Connorpletely ignored the whistle and didn¡¯t stop at all. He was hit hard in the face by his opponent¡¯s punch. It was hard to tell if it was sweat or blood that sttered. Cam screamed in fright. ¡°Connor!¡± Chapter 213 Chapter 213 Cam''s voice seemed to hold a magical power, instantly pulling Connor back from his own world into reality. He looked at Cam and copsed weakly onto the boxing ring. Cam and n quickly ran up to the ring. After climbing onto the stage, n swiftly unfastened Connor¡¯s protective gear and wiped the sweat from his face. Cam knelt quietly across from him, her eyes filled with concern. Connor¡¯s dark and exhausted eyes locked onto Cam. He smiled weakly, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± However, n noticed a faint bruise on his face and blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. n¡¯s heart tightened, and he immediately pulled out his phone. ¡°Mr. Connor, I''ll call a doctor!¡± Connor waved his hand, indicating it wasn¡¯t necessary. He slowly sat up, leaning against the ring, and closed his eyes, taking deep breaths. After resting for ten minutes, Connor slowly opened his eyes, nced at Cam, and smiled faintly. ¡°I need a shower,¡± he said weakly. The driver brought a bag of clothes up, and n helped him slowly walk to the changing room. After the shower, Connor changed into clean clothes and walked out of the changing room. Hisplexion looked slightly better, but the scars on his face were still visible. ¡°It¡¯ste. I¡¯ll take you home,¡± Connor said, his eyes tired but fixed on Cam. They descended the empty streets. The streets at dawn were exceptionally quiet, with only the asional sound of distant barking dogs and chirping insects. The October night was cool, with a gentle breeze. The driver got out and opened the car door while n quickly took the passenger seat. Cam had no choice but to open the back seat door and sit next to Connor. ¡°Drive to Belleview Heights,¡± Connor said with his eyes closed. ¡°Drop Mr. Connor off first,¡± Cam told the driver. Connor remained silent. n smirked mischievously and nodded to the driver. Soon, the car arrived at Cedarhill Estate. n quickly got out of the car and then opened the door for Cam. ¡°Could you please help Mr. Connor upstairs?¡± he asked. Cam nodded. The three of them went upstairs together. Cam opened the door to Connor''s apartment. After only a few hours of sleepst night and several hours of intense activity today, Connor sat exhausted on the couch. Cam quickly poured a ss of warm water and handed it to Connor. He slowly opened his eyes, took the ss, and drank half of it. Then, n handed over a first aid kit. ¡°Cam, could you please help him with his wounds?¡± Cam hesitated but took the kit. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. n whispered, ¡°Please help. I have to go now.¡± Cam stared at him. ¡°It¡¯s reallyte. Why don¡¯t you stay here tonight?¡± n suggested. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t feelfortable knowing you¡¯re going back alone sote. Mr. Connor¡¯s got plenty of spare bedrooms, so you can stay the night and go back tomorrow.¡± After that, he quickly left. The room fell silent. Cam took a deep breath, sat down beside Connor with the first aid kit, and began to organize the cotton swabs, iodine, and ointment. ¡°Mr. Connor, I¡¯ll apply the ointment for you,¡± she said softly, trying to keep her voice steady. Connor slowly opened his eyes and looked directly at Cam. Feeling somewhat nervous under his gaze, Cam blinked several times, her longshes fluttering like butterfly wings. She quickly lowered her head to avoid his stare. Chapter 214 Chapter 214 She picked up a cotton swab dipped in antiseptic and moved closer to Connor, gently wiping at the corner of his mouth. Her fingers lightly brushed against Connor¡¯s cheek, carrying a slight chill. The proximity was close enough that they could feel each other''s breath, a flirtatious ambiance permeating the air. Cam¡¯s heartbeat involuntarily quickened. She tried to remainposed as she continued tending to Connor¡¯s wound, b ut the closeness made her senses unusually sharp. She could feel Connor¡¯s breath on the back of her hand, causing a ticklish sensation. Connor lowered his gaze, looking at her intently, his eyes soft and adoring. Cam was nervous, and inadvertently pressed harder. ¡°Ouch¡­¡± Cam looked up, meeting his eyes, her voice shaky with panic. ¡°Does it hurt? I¡¯ll be gentler.¡± Connor gazed at her, his eyes deep and tender, asking in a low voice. ¡°Does your heart hurt?¡± Cam swallowed. Did her heart hurt? Yes. After all, he was the one she cared for. Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Cam tried to mask her inner turmoil, calmly stating, ¡°Mr. Connor, with your current fame, being photographed with a facial injury could harm thepany¡¯s image.¡± Connor looked away, chuckling, then leaned back on the couch and closed his eyes. After applying the antiseptic, Cam gently smeared some ointment on the corner of his mouth. His cheek bruise was more pronounced than it was during the boxing match. She stood up to fetch an ice pack from the refrigerator and wrapped it in a towel. ¡°Mr. Connor, hold this against your face,¡± she nudged Connor¡¯s shoulder lightly with her elbow. Connor opened his eyes slightly, giving her a pitiful look. ¡°My hand is too weak.¡± Cam frowned, pressing the ice pack to his face, her movements far from gentle. The chill made Connor¡¯s face twitch slightly, b ut he didn¡¯t resist, tilting his head back and closing his eyes to enjoy Cam¡¯s care, a barely noticeable smile curling at his lips. Cam wrinkled her nose, intentionally pressing down harder with the ice pack. Connor slowly opened his eyes, their gazes locking, and Cam immediately panicked, quickly looking away. ¡°Thank you,¡± Connor said softly, his voice carrying a hint of warmth. ¡°It¡¯s just part of the job,¡± Cam responded coolly. After a few minutes, her hand holding the ice pack felt cold. To avoidpromising the effectiveness, she switched hands and continued applying it. Her other hand was slightly reddened. Connor noticed her reddened palm, his brow furrowing deeply. ¡°I can take it from here.¡± He immediately reached out to take the ice pack. Cam, caught off guard, just stared at Connor. When his hand touched her fingertips, their skin brushed together, sending a subtle tremor through her. It was like an electric current, spreading instantly throughout her body. Her heartbeat sped up, her cheeks flushing slightly. Connor felt the delicate touch, too, his heartbeat seemingly syncing with Cam¡¯s, also racing. In the confusion, Cam quickly withdrew her hand. For a moment, both were enveloped in silence. Connor stared at her, swallowing, his Adam''s apple bobbing. ¡°You should go rest in the bedroom,¡± his voice was low and husky. Cam numbly nodded, turning and almost running back to a bedroom. Chapter 215 Chapter 215 Cam closed the door behind her, leaning against it while catching her breath. Her recent encounter with Connor had caught her off guard, leaving a delicate sensation rippling through her heart. A blush crept up her ears as she could hear the thumping of her heart echoing around her. Connor set down the ice pack. He reached out and gently held the fingers she had touched earlier as if feeling her warmth and essence. That night, the two tossed and turned, struggling to find sleep. The next morning, Cam¡¯s rm clock went off. She turned it off, rolled over, and continued lying in bed, staring nkly at the ceiling. She blinked slowly before forcing herself to get up. In the bathroom, all her toiletries were still in ce. She looked at herself in the mirror, her eyes slightly weary. After freshening up, she jogged back to her ce, changed into her work clothes, and then returned to Cedarhill Estate. At the door, she took a deep breath topose herself before entering. There, s he saw David arranging breakfast on the dining table. He smiled and nodded in greeting. "Good morning, Cam." David¡¯s voice slightly eased her mood. "Good morning, David. I¡¯m going to make Mr. Connor some coffee," Cam replied with a smile. David nodded. Cam took the freshly made coffee to the dining table. At that moment, Connor came out of the bedroom. "Good morning, Mr. Connor," Cam said with a polite smile. Connor responded. Their eyes met, creating a slightly awkward atmosphere. David looked up, his eyebrows knitting together in concern. "Mr. Connor, your face...were you in a fight?" Connor sat down and shook his head. "No, just boxing." "Goodness, how did you manage to hurt yourself while boxing?" David expressed his concern. "I should call a doctor." "It¡¯s alright. I¡¯ve already applied some ointment," Connor said, ncing at Cam. Following his gaze, David looked at Cam and uttered a meaningful "Oh." Connor¡¯s eyes still lingered on Cam as he softly said, "Come have breakfast." N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Cam shook her head slightly. "Mr. Connor, I¡¯ve already eaten." Connor raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "You left here at 7:40 this morning to change clothes, and now it¡¯s just 8:10. How did you manage to find time for breakfast?" David paused with his utensils for a half-second, his ears perking up before he continued his meal. Cam was momentarily stunned. She forced a stiff smile and said nonchntly, "Yes, I grabbed something from a convenience store." "You must be tired afterst night. Convenience store food isn¡¯t very nutritious. Have something more substantial to build your strength," Connor continued, his expression turning sly as his lips curved slightly. Hearing this, David immediately shifted his gaze to Cam, his pupils narrowing slightly. Cam¡¯s cheeks flushed, and she red at Connor. Internally, she cursed, "What are you thinking? Such a random remark could lead David to all sorts of assumptions!" "Last night, Mr. Connor was boxingte, and n and I helped him get back home," she quickly turned to David to rify, emphasizing the name ''n.'' "Is that so?" David looked slightly disappointed but smiled. "Cam, are you sure you won¡¯t have some more food?" Cam shook her head slightly. Connor sipped his coffee, dropping the mischievous smile to adopt a more serious demeanor. Chapter 216 Chapter 216 "Have some breakfast. It''s been a busy morning." David quietly set the table for her, a perpetual smile gracing his features. As Cam watched this, she nodded reluctantly. "Okay." After breakfast, Cam and Connor headed back to the office. Back at her desk, Cam reviewed her tasks for the day. It didn¡¯t look too hectic, and she should be able to leave on time. She organized the documents needing signatures and knocked on Connor¡¯s office door. ¡°Mr. Connor, here¡¯s the proposal for the annual g. The budget has been increased by 30%,¡± Cam reported as she handed over the documents. Connor took them, flipped through a few pages, then closed the file and looked up at Cam. "You can make the decisions for the g. Your signature will suffice. You don¡¯t need to report back to me." Cam was momentarily stunned. "Me?" This was an event with a million-dor budget, and he trusted her this much? Connor nodded, adding, ¡°What, you don¡¯t feel confident?¡± Cam shook her head, straightening her back. ¡°Of course not. I''ll do my best.¡± Connor nodded in approval. Then, Cam began to report on other work matters in detail. After finishing, she returned to her desk. She opened the g nning file and carefully read through it, marking some issues or suggestions. This kept her busy until the afternoon. Erica called Cam. Pressing the phone between her shoulder and ear while typing, Cam answered, ¡°Hello,¡± completely unaware that Connor had stepped out of his office. "Cami, let¡¯s have dinner after work. I''lle find you after my interview." Checking the time, Cam realized she could finish her tasks before leaving and replied, ¡°Sure, I won''t have to workte today. Let''s have dinner together.¡± Connor heard Cam¡¯s conversation but he didn¡¯t know who was on the other end. He frowned slightly. ¡°I''lle find you after my interview," Erica said. ¡°Alright, I''ll wait for you.¡± Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Cam hung up and looked up to see Connor standing before her with a stern face. She quickly stood up and asked, ¡°Mr. Connor, did you need me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Connor uttered and returned to his office. Cam shrugged slightly and went back to work. At Weiss Jewelry, in the reception area. After the interview, Erica switched off her recorder. ¡°You really did your homework for this interview,¡± Logan said, pleased. Erica smiled confidently, ¡°Isn¡¯t that expected?¡± ¡°Which of our designs do you like best?¡± Logan inquired. After a moment, Erica replied with a smile, ¡°I like them all, but the one that stands out is ¡®The One.''¡± Logan''s eyes lit up. Though he wasn¡¯t fond of Haylie, her celebrity effect certainly boosted the jewelry¡¯s appeal. ¡°That so? Why is that?¡± he asked with interest. Erica replied earnestly, ¡°I think that ne is particrly ugly!¡± Logan was taken aback but couldn¡¯t helpughing. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure your feedback reaches the designers.¡± ¡°How about a drink tonight?¡± he asked, eyes locked on Erica, testing the waters. ¡°I''m sorry, Mr. Logan, I have ns with a friend tonight,¡± Erica said regretfully. Just then, a message came. [Erica, I have to workte tonight. Let''s n another day.] Chapter 217 Chapter 217 Erica chuckled, "Okay, my friend just stood me up." Logan looked at her, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "They seem quite sensible," he teased, then asked, "How about dinner and then some drinks tonight?" Erica smiled, "Sure." Logan looked at her again, a smile flickering in his eyes. "Shall we go together?" Erica smiled without responding, raising her eyebrows as she gathered the interview manuscripts from the table. *** Cam replied to Erica''s message and booted up her shut-downputer. She had finished her tasks for the day and had hoped to leave work on time to meet Erica for dinner. However, Connor''s call from the inte disrupted her ns. CEO¡¯s office. "Bring over the pending projects from SummitTrack Investments," Connor said, sitting behind his desk, his fingers tapping lightly on the surface. n paused. SummitTrack Investments was Connor''s private investment firm. He never dealt with its affairs at Future Inc. "Mr. Connor, do you need it now?" he couldn¡¯t help but ask. Connor affirmed. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. n didn¡¯t ask further, turned, and left the office. He quickly brought the project documents from SummitTrack Investments and ced them on Connor¡¯s desk. After n left, Connor pressed the inte, "Pleasee in for a moment." Cam sighed softly and knocked before entering. "Mr. Connor." "Organize these documents and bring them to my house after work. We''ll work overtime," Connor said indifferently, not looking up at her. Cam nodded, silently picking up a stack of files. Just as she was about to leave, Connor tapped on the desk again. "Wait." Cam stopped, looking at him. "Make sure these documents are kept confidential," Connor added sternly. "Of course," Cam responded. She left the office and ced the files in a cardboard box, ensuring no information would leak. After a while, Connor stepped out of his office and tapped lightly on Cam¡¯s desk. "Let¡¯s go." "Okay." Cam immediately slung her backpack over her shoulder and picked up the box containing the files. Connor reached out to take the box from her arms. "I¡¯ve got it," he said gravely. "Mr. Connor, I can carry it." Cam tried to take the box back, but Connor had already moved ahead. "Keep up," hemanded. Reluctantly, Cam followed him, and they both entered the elevator together. At Cedarhill Estate, Connor ced the box with the files on the coffee table. He nced at Cam, saying, "Let¡¯s get some dinner first." Cam followed Connor to the dining table, noticing it was already set with steaming dishes. "Eat," Connor said tly. "I¡¯m not hungry. I can start working right away." Cam preferred to get her work done and leave. "It well gives you strength to work overtime," Connor said as he pulled out a chair and sat down with a tone ofmand. Cam nced at the dishes on the table. They were all her favorites, and she reluctantly sat down to eat. After the meal, Connor opened the box and handed the documents to Cam. "I need a risk assessment report on thispany¡¯s financial status, management team, and industry trends," he instructed. Cam took the documents, somewhat confused. She opened the file and saw the logo on the first page. SummitTrack Investments. "Mr. Connor, these aren¡¯t ourpany¡¯s documents?" she asked, puzzled. Connor nodded, "Yes, this is my investment firm. Most people aren¡¯t aware that thispany belongs to me." Chapter 218 Chapter 218 Cam was taken aback. So, he owned an investment firm, too. No wonder his lifestyle was sovish. He was a true capitalist, exploiting her, the working bee. She frowned slightly and said, "Mr. Connor, thispany isn''t really part of my job description, is it?" N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Connor paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Indeed." "But... if you''re willing to handle SummitTrack Investments'' tasks in your off hours, we would offer you an additional sry. That means you could earn double." Cam''s eyes sparkled instantly, as if she had discovered a treasure. She quickly did the math in her head, realizing that her monthly earnings could soar to seventy thousand! She could hardly believe her ears, a surge of uncontroble joy welling up inside her. "I''ll do it!" She tried to contain her excitement, but the sparkle in her eyes and the upward curve of her lips betrayed her emotions. A hint of amusement shed across Connor''s eyes. He coughed lightly, masking his chuckle, and continued with a calm demeanor. "But remember, if you don''t perform well, it''s off the table." Cam nodded firmly. "Come to the study." Connor walked towards the study, with Cam clutching the documents close behind. It was Cam''s first time entering the study. It was spacious, decorated simply yet elegantly. Behind the desk was a wall-to-wall bookshelf neatly lined with books ranging from investment strategies to world history, covering a diverse array of subjects. Connor sat down at the desk and gestured to the guest chair. "Sit here." Cam quickly walked over, ced the documents on the desk, and took a seat in the guest chair. She adjusted her posture, aiming to appear more proper and professional. Connor pulled out aptop from a drawer and gently ced it in front of Cam. "Thisptop is for you to use," he said softly, adding, "The password is cp2580." Cam powered up theptop and entered the password. She paused for a moment. The desktop was filled with documents about SummitTrack Investments, including financial statements, project proposals, and market analysis reports. She looked up at Connor, hesitating slightly before asking, "Mr. Connor, the documents on this computer..." Connor smiled and replied, "Those are work-rted materials. You can check them anytime. But remember, do not modify or delete any files without permission." Cam was stunned. Such trust was overwhelming! "Start with the documents I''ve given you, and if you have any questions, ask me anytime," Connor instructed. "Alright." Cam began to diligently review the materials Connor had provided. These documents were more professional and detailed than anything she had encountered before, epassing a vast range of investment knowledge. As she read, she took notes, and whenever she encountered something unclear, she didn''t hesitate to consult Connor. Connor answered her queries patiently, sometimes providing additional materials and exnations. When his phone rang, he picked it up, saying, "I have a conference call. Take your time." Cam nodded, but her gaze lingered on Connor as he walked away. His figure, entuated by the study''s lighting, seemed somanding and alluring that she momentarily lost her focus. This man exuded an irresistible charm from any angle. The bittersweet tang of a secret crush mingled in her heart. Cam sighed, steadying her emotions before continuing with the documents. Chapter 219 Chapter 219 Erica and Logan stepped out of the restaurant, and the night breeze brushed past them, bringing a touch of coolness. Once they were in the car, Erica asked with a hint of barely hidden anticipation, "Mr. Logan, where are we heading for drinks?" Logan smiled mysteriously without giving a direct answer. Instead, he turned the steering wheel, and the car veered off into a quietne. The atmosphere inside the car shifted, filling with a sense of romance. "You''ll find out soon enough," Logan said, his smile charming and full of promise. "If I¡¯m not impressed with your choice, I might just get mad," Erica joked lightly. Logan nced at her, his eyes yful. "Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll love it." The car slowly pulled up in front of a private vineyard, making Erica''s eyes light up. As the car came to a stop, Logan got out and walked around to open the car door for Erica like a true gentleman. "Please," he offered his hand. Erica gracefully ced her hand in his. After stepping out, she withdrew her hand and quietly thanked him. Inside the vineyard, soft lighting bathed them in a warm, romantic glow. Logan selected a fine red wine for Erica, and they sat in a secluded corner. "This vineyard is really nice," Ericamented after tasting the wine. "I¡¯m d you like it," Logan responded with a gentleugh, his eyes twinkling with innuendo. Erica chuckled and took out her phone to snap a few selfies. "How about a picture together?" she suggested, turning to Logan. "Sure." Logan moved closer, and they both looked towards the camera. Just as the shutter clicked, Logan leaned in and whispered in Erica''s ear, "Your hair smells nice." Taken aback by hisment, Erica blushed and giggled, looking up at him. "I washed it just before our interview." She then showed him the photo on her phone. "Do you think it looks good?" Logan admired the photo, his eyes showing a trace of appreciation. "Your future boyfriend is really lucky." Erica caught the implication in his words, gave him a look, and smiled yfully. "Funny, I think so too." "Always keeping me on my toes with your games," Logan said with a lightugh. "Huh? What games?" Erica pretended to be confused. "Are you satisfied with today?" Logan changed the subject. "Barely impressed," Erica replied with a smile. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Hearing this, Logan raised an eyebrow yfully, "And what about me?" Erica didn''t answer immediately but took a sip of her wine instead. Her gaze lingered on Logan''s face for a moment before she smiled. "What do you think?" A flirtatious tension quietly grew between them. *** Cedarhill Estate. Connor''s conference call dragged on. Cam looked at the dry figures and began to feel drowsy. Last night''s insomnia had taken its toll, and despite her efforts to stay awake, fatigue slowly overcame her. After what seemed like an eternity, Cam''s eyelids began to fight the urge to close. She rested her head on the desk and slowly closed her eyes. Finally, Connor''s call ended. Exhausted, he hung up and nced at the time, frowning when he saw it was already one in the morning. He gently pushed open the door to the study. There, he found Cam quietly resting at the desk, her hair softly framing her face and a slight smile on her lips. Connor approached her and softly called, "Cam." Chapter 220 Chapter 220 Cam slightly furrowed her brow and shifted her position to continue sleeping. Connor couldn''t help but smile as he watched her closely. Her skin was soft and delicate, like porcin, wless. Her long eyshes cast a faint shadow under her eyelids, trembling slightly with each breath. Connor found himself irresistibly reaching out, wanting to touch her smooth cheek, b ut just as his fingers were about to touch Cam''s face, he stopped. He took a deep breath and withdrew his hand. After hesitating for a moment, he carefully picked up Cam. Her body was light and soft, stirring a strange heat within Connor. He took a deep breath. Gently, he carried Cam to the bedroom and carefullyid her down on the bed. Cam''s brow wrinkled slightly, seemingly ufortable in her sleep. Connor tenderly adjusted her pillow, then tucked another pillow into her arms before gently covering her with the nket. He sat by the bed, his gaze lingering on Cam''s face. He knew Cam had already upied his heart. He realized that he had fallen hopelessly in love with her. He was filled with regret and thought that if he had understood his feelings sooner, he could be holding her hand, embracing her... His heart was filled with turmoil and pain. Connor stood up and walked to the window. Outside, the city''s nightlife was still vibrant, the lights dazzling. He gently closed the bedroom door. He walked aimlessly into the living room, picked up a cigarette, lit it, and leaned back on the couch. [Come out for a drink.] he texted Logan. Logan quickly replied. [Sure, let''s go to the lounge.] Connor extinguished the cigarette, grabbed his car keys, and left. The roads were clear, and he drove quickly. He arrived at the lounge and went up to the private room on the upper floor. Logan was already there, sipping red wine. Connor sat on the couch, lifted the wine ss, and drained it in one go. The bitterness and sweetness of the wine mingled in his mouth, echoing his mood. Logan nced at him, "Why the sudden urge to drink?" "Because of Cam?" he teased. Connor downed another ss without denying it. Logan clicked his tongue and joked, "So you finally realized you like her?" He pped his hands. "It''s quite impressive that you only figured it out now." Connor said nothing, poured another ss of wine, and drank it. "Go after her, man. Why are you drinking gloomily with me in the middle of the night?" Logan scoffed. "She has a boyfriend now," Connor said with a self-mockingugh. Logan frowned slightly, "So, what do you n to do?" Connor was silent for a moment. "I don¡¯t know, but I don''t want to give up." Several rounds of empty sses sat between them. Logan finally spoke, "If you really like her, you should bravely pursue her." Connor paused, then gave a bitter smile. "Be the third wheel?" "Well, they haven''t been together long. The feelings can''t be that deep," Logan argued. "Besides, how do you know for sure that she''s happy with her boyfriend?" Connor was taken aback.Original content from N?velDrama.Org. "Honestly, I never thought you had feelings for Haylie." Logan teased, "But the whole world knows you''re into Cam, except you. You were thest to realize. If you like her, go for it, or she might get married someday if you keep dawdling." Connor nodded. Logan smiled, raising his ss, "Dude, here''s to you winning over Cam soon." Chapter 221 Chapter 221 When Connor got home, it was already four in the morning. He tiptoed into the bedroom and found Cam still sleeping peacefully. Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting a gentle glow on her soft features. Connor sat by the bed, quietly watching her, a slight smile curling at the corners of his mouth. Suddenly, Cam''s lips puckered slightly as if she were savoring a dreamy bite of chocte cheesecake. Connor couldn''t help but chuckle at her adorable expression. At that moment, he felt as though the whole world had be serene and beautiful. Carefully, Connor reached out and gently brushed a stray lock of hair from her cheek. Feeling something on her face in her sleep, Cam reached up to rub her cheek. Connor froze, barely daring to breathe. Fortunately, after rubbing her face, Cam snuggled deeper into her pillow. Connor moved to sit on the dressing chair in order not to wake her up. Leaning back in the chair, legs crossed, he quietly watched Cam. As the night faded, the first light of dawn began to appear. Slowly, Connor closed his eyes. Having not slept all night, he, too, gradually drifted off, a content smile on his face. Morning light streamed through the gaps in the curtains into the bedroom. Cam turned over and continued to sleep. In the study, Cam¡¯s phone began to vibrate, the rm sounding particrly jarring in the quiet space. However, the soundproofing in the bedroom was so effective that it didn''t reach her. The phone eventually ran out of battery, and the noise stopped. An hourter, suddenly, Connor¡¯s phone began to vibrate with an iing call. Startled, he sat up straight in the chair, reaching for his phone, trying to silence it. He was too slow, and the ringing broke the tranquility of the bedroom. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Cam woke up. She opened her eyes to see Connor frantically searching for his phone, aically panicked look on his face. Cam was sleepy and disoriented. She couldn¡¯t help butugh. A half-secondter, her brain kicked into gear. The smile vanished from her face, reced by a look of panic. Connor finally managed to silence the phone and immediately looked at Cam. Their gazes met. Time stood still for a second, two seconds... Cam suddenly sat up, flustered, running her fingers through her hair and quickly checking her clothes. All buttons fastened, she breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°I...I...¡± She looked around, realizing where she was, "You...you, why are you here!" ¡°I...¡± Connor stumbled over his words, his hands nervously unsure where to rest, eventually running them through his hair as he cleared his throat. ¡°You fell asleep in the studyst night. I was worried you¡¯d catch a cold, so... I carried you back to the bedroom.¡± ¡°You could have woken me up!¡± Cam frowned slightly. ¡°Right, I should have thought of that...¡± Connor said with an awkward smile. Cam got out of bed, suddenly remembering he hadn¡¯t answered her question. "Why are you in this bedroom?" Connor pointed to the nearby chair. ¡°I sat down and ended up falling asleep too.¡± Cam looked at him, skeptical. ¡°I¡¯m going to go take a shower in my room,¡± Connor said, standing up to leave. Just then, Cam remembered something urgently, calling out to him, ¡°Wait, where¡¯s my phone?¡± Connor had just opened the bedroom door and turned back to say, ¡°It should be in the study.¡± Cam acknowledged him and headed to the study to retrieve her phone. As she was about to step out of the bedroom, Connor suddenly stopped in the doorway. She didn¡¯t manage to stop in time and bumped into Connor¡¯s solid back. ¡°Why did you suddenly stop?¡± Cam touched her nose, slightly annoyed. Chapter 222 Chapter 222 Connor didn¡¯t respond, but politely greeted the person at the door, ¡°Morning, David.¡± Upon hearing Connor¡¯s voice, Cam quickly turned her head. David stood at the doorway, gaping at them with his mouth slightly open. ¡°Morning...¡± He scanned them and then found something unusual. Connor¡¯s clothes were slightly open, and there was this smallest smile on his lips. He clearly had enjoyed the juicy scene. Cam¡¯s heart tightened. She knew David must be brewing some thoughts seeing her and Connor together in the bedroom. She nervously clutched the hem of her shirt. Connor remainedposed as he headed to his room. ¡°I¡¯m off to take a shower.¡± ¡°Make sure to join us for breakfast after you freshen up,¡± David said with a teasing smile. ¡°I was workingte in the studyst night and fell asleep,¡± Cam exined with an embarrassed laugh. David suppressed a chuckle and nodded. Blushing, Cam hurried to the study, rifling through the desk before finding her phone. It was dead, and she couldn¡¯t find a charger on Connor¡¯s desk. Sighing, she decided to ask Connor to borrow his. She knocked on Connor¡¯s bedroom door. ¡°Mr. Connor, my phone¡¯s dead. Could I borrow your charger, please?¡± After a few seconds, the door opened. Connor stood there. His shirt was unbuttoned, revealing his chiseled chest and abs. He held a charger in his hand, with a hint of amusement in his eyes. ¡°Looking for this?¡± he asked, holding up the charger. Cam swallowed hard and nodded. Connor handed her the charger. ¡°Use this. I¡¯m going to shower.¡± He turned, paused, and looked back at Cam. ¡°I remember there¡¯s some workout clothes of yours here. Freshen up. If you go home to change, you¡¯ll bete for work.¡± Cam nodded. It was already past eight, so going home would indeed dy her. Reluctantly, she returned to the bedroom, fetched her workout gear and undergarments from the wardrobe. After showering, Cam joined Connor at the dining table, where he sat clean and refreshed. David smiled and waved, ¡°Cam, I¡¯ve made your favorite pancakes.¡± Her eyes lit up at the sight of the pancakes on the table. ¡°Thanks, David.¡± She turned to Connor. ¡°Mr. Connor, let me make you some coffee.¡± ¡°No need for that. Come sit down for breakfast,¡± Connor said, pulling out a chair beside him. Cam hesitated. This wasn¡¯t her usual seat. She nodded, pulled out the chair in front of her, and sat down. Connor, noticing she hadn¡¯t taken the seat beside him, felt a twinge of disappointment. ¡°Eat up,¡± he said. His voice was slightly subdued. They ate in silence until Connor¡¯s phone rang. He set down his cutlery and checked the caller ID ¡ª a number he didn¡¯t recognize. He frowned and declined the call. Secondster, the phone rang again, still the unknown number. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Connor looked at the screen, declined once more, but it rang yet again. Cam noticed Connor¡¯s distraction. ¡°Mr. Connor, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Connor shook his head. ¡°Just a random number, keeps calling.¡± He declined again, but the phone rang once more. This time, he answered. ¡°Hello?¡± His tone was cold. Cam saw his expression change dramatically as he listened to the voice on the other end. Chapter 223 Chapter 223 Connor abruptly stood up, with urgency in his voice. ¡°I need to go right now.¡± He quickly ended the call and turned to Cam. ¡°Cam, something urgent hase up. You take the driver¡¯s car to work.¡± Cam nodded. In a rush, Connor grabbed his keys and dashed out without even putting on his jacket. Watching his figure disappear at the door, Cam couldn¡¯t help but worry. Suddenly, she lost her appetite. She gathered her things and went to the office with the driver. All the way there, she wondered. What could have happened to make him so hurried? It wasn¡¯t until Cam was in the elevator that she overheard. ¡°Capital Solutions has crashed! Damn! My cousin lost tens of thousands - it¡¯s all gone! I could cry!¡± ¡°My God! Who would have thought such a big financial firm could go under!¡± ¡°What are we going to do now?¡± Cam¡¯s heart tightened, and she quickly pulled out her phone. Her fingers trembled as she started checking her messages one by one. [Capital Solutions is suspected of illegal fundraising and has been sealed. Investors should report to the authorities immediately.] When she saw this message, her heart sank. Her cousin Drew... She immediately called Drew, but was met with the chilling automated response, ¡°The number you¡¯ve dialed is switched off...¡± The elevator doors opened. Cam hurried out, crossed the bustling office area, and returned to her desk. She began to search for news about Capital Solutions. When she opened Twitter, the news of Capital Solutions¡¯ copse was dominating half of the trending topics list. #Hayliemitted suicide #Connor rushed Haylie to the hospital #Haylie¡¯s fiance¡¯spany crashes So, he rushed out because of Haylie... Cam shook her head; right now, her cousin¡¯s situation was the most pressing concern. She tried calling Drew again, but his phone was still switched off. She immediately called her uncle, but, her uncle¡¯s phone was also switched off. This only intensified her unease. Although her uncle and grandmother were not kind to her, her cousin had always been good to her. He would secretly save drumsticks for her, spending his allowance on orange-vored candies for her. She immediately called her mother. ire also sounded worried when she picked up. ¡°Cami, Drew is currently detained at the police station, and your uncle and the others are waiting outside for news. I¡¯m nning to go there.¡± ¡°I¡¯lle with you,¡± Cam said. After agreeing on a ce to meet, Cam immediately asked n for leave and set off for the police station. ... At the hospital, Connor stood outside the emergency room, and his expression was grave. ¡°Mr. Connor, will Haylie be alright?¡± Haylie¡¯s assistant Bee asked. Her voice was choked with tears. ¡°You found her early, so she should be okay,¡± Connor replied somberly. Bee wiped her tears. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. If I had been there sooner, this wouldn¡¯t have happened.¡± Connor remained silent. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. That morning, Haylie had called him while he was in Cam¡¯s bedroom. If he had taken the call, could she have been saved from attempting suicide... Just then, his phone rang, snapping Connor back to the present. Logan immediately asked, ¡°What happened with Haylie?¡± Connor took a deep breath. ¡°She attempted suicide by cutting her wrists.¡± Logan frowned, disbelievingly. ¡°Cutting her wrists... always so dramatic.¡± Connor didn¡¯t respond, but Logan continued, ¡°You¡¯ve been photographed, and now the inte is spinning stories about you two.¡± Connor frowned slightly. ¡°Innocence clears the guilty.¡± ¡°Are you crazy? Cam will see this too. What do you think she¡¯ll think?¡± Logan couldn¡¯t help but say. Connor was shaken, immediately opening Twitter. On the trending list, the topic [Connor&Haylie] topped the charts. Chapter 224 Chapter 224 He quickly scrolled through the relevant posts andments. Paparazzi clearly captured Connor pushing a wheelchair, with Haylie seated in it, her hand bandaged, oozing fresh blood. Bee was not in the photo. Multiple photos from different angles clearly showed Connor¡¯s face, leaving no room for doubt about their authenticity. Comments fromizens flooded in, filled with various spections and conjectures. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. [What is the rtionship between these two? Why was Connor at Haylie¡¯s house early in the morning?] [Is our darling Haylie okay??] [Do you guys think Haylie knows about the issues with Capital Solutions?] [Are you kidding me? She¡¯s York¡¯s fianc¨¦e. How could she not know!] [Haylie is also making a killing. Give me back my hard-earned money!] [No wonder York has been hiding abroad for months. Bring him back ASAP!] [I think Haylie definitely didn¡¯t know, otherwise why would shee back to the country?] [Haylie, you pay back what your fianc¨¦ owes!] [Haylie is such a schemer. She knows York is unreliable, so she came back to find a new sugar daddy.] [Mr. Connor, don¡¯t be fooled. Haylie will do anything to climb thedder.] [Haylie is not like that! She even attempted suicide! Do you want her dead to be satisfied?] [Haylie hasn¡¯t posted a picture with York for two months. Could they have broken up?] [Haylie, just break off your engagement and be with Mr. Connor!] [Let¡¯s root for the Haylie-Connor pairing!] Connor, looking at the sharpments on Twitter, furrowed his brows deeply. He immediately dialed Cam¡¯s number, wanting to exin everything to her. When Cam saw Connor¡¯s call, she took a deep breath. After picking up, she said, ¡°Mr. Connor, there¡¯s an emergency at home. I already asked n for leave.¡± Cam¡¯s voice sounded tense. Connor¡¯s heart tightened. ¡°What happened?¡± he asked urgently. ¡°It¡¯s a family matter, Mr. Connor. I¡¯m a bit busy right now. I¡¯ll talk to you when I¡¯m back at work. Gotta hang up now.¡± Cam¡¯s voice was hurried. The line went dead with a beep, leaving only the dial tone. Connor held his phone, and his emotions were mixed. He needed to act fast to prevent the public opinion from deteriorating further. Just as he was about to call the PR team, his phone rang. It was a call from his grandfather, Ray. Taking a deep breath, he answered the phone. ¡°People from the Passos family should not be seen in entertainment headlines!¡± Ray¡¯s voice came through the receiver, firm and authoritative. Connor gripped his phone tighter, feeling the anger in his grandfather¡¯s words. ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯ll handle it as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Our family has always been clean, never involved in the filthy air of the entertainment industry. But now look at you, not only getting involved with celebrities but also causing a media storm! I don¡¯t like this actress!¡± Ray¡¯s tone conveyed deep displeasure. ¡°She¡¯s just a friend,¡± Connor exined. ¡°That¡¯s good! The corporate PR team will contact you.¡± Ray¡¯s tone softened a bit. ¡°Thank you, Grandpa. I¡¯ll handle it quickly,¡± Connor promised. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about marrying that woman,¡± Ray said before hanging up. After ending the call, Connor immediately got in touch with the PR team. He requested them to swiftly develop aprehensive crisis management n. He discussed it with the PR team, and then a statement was released exining clearly his rtionship with Haylie. He emphasized that he and Haylie were just friends. Chapter 225 Chapter 225 After meeting with her mother, Cam arrived at the police station. The entrance to the station was crowded with many people, mostly family members, and a cacophony of crying and shouting filled the air. Cam took her mother¡¯s hand and squeezed through the crowd. She learned that early in the morning, the financial crimes unit had raided thepany and brought all the employees to the police station. No one knew the current situation. After looking around for a while, Cam finally found her grandmother and uncle. Upon seeing them, her grandmother was particrly emotional. ¡°What¡¯s going on? What happened to Drew?¡± Her grandmother¡¯s eyes were full of tears as she asked with a trembling voice. ire wrapped her arms around her shoulders,forting her, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry too much. We¡¯ll figure out what¡¯s going on.¡± Her grandmother¡¯s emotions grew more intense, and she even pointed at the entrance of the police station, cursing. ¡°This damn Capital Solutions! They scam me out of $2000,000, and now Drew has been detained. Why doesn¡¯t York get what he deserves!¡± Cam was stunned, asking, ¡°Two million? Didn¡¯t Drew get the money back?¡± Her grandmother suddenly copsed to the ground as her legs gave way. Cam, ire, and Riley hurriedly helped her grandmother to a nearby bench to rest. ¡°What exactly is going on!¡± Cam asked her uncle urgently. Riley stuttered, and his face was pale. ¡°I... we were tempted by high interest rates, receiving thousands every month. We couldn¡¯t give it up...¡± ¡°You wanted the interest, but he was after your principal!¡± Cam was both angry and speechless. ¡°Wait, what about the $700,000 Drew gave to mom?¡± ¡°Borrowed from thepany...¡± her uncle murmured quietly. ¡°Borrowed?¡± Cam was so angry she was lost for words. ¡°What were you all thinking!¡± N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. ¡°Thepany¡¯s gone under, so we don¡¯t have to pay it back, right?¡± her aunt chimed in. Cam, holding her forehead, said sternly, ¡°Don¡¯t you all have any sense of legal responsibility? Even if it¡¯s gone, your debts still exist!¡± Her grandmother and aunt looked at each other, and the tears began to flow. ¡°What are we going to do now...¡± Her uncle bowed his head in silence. A police officer came out from inside, and his expression was serious. He stepped to the center of the gate, surveyed the gathered families, and then began to announce the investigation results. ¡°After our preliminary investigation, the senior executives of thepany suspected of illegal fundraising have been detained, and the employees are being held temporarily. We are currently auditing thepany¡¯s finances to determine if there were any illegal activities.¡± The officer¡¯s voice echoed at the entrance of the police station, stirring up the crowd of family members. Cries broke out, and a barrage of voices surged towards the officer. ¡°My child didn¡¯t know anything. Can you let him go?¡± ¡°My daughter is just a receptionist, started less than a month ago. She¡¯s only 20 years old!¡± ¡°Officer, can I see my child, please?¡± The officer spoke loudly, ¡°We will rify everything. Some employees will be released after their statements are recorded.¡± Hearing the officer¡¯s words, the families waiting at the entrance felt slightly reassured. ¡°At least we know some employees will be released soon. That¡¯s somewhat good news,¡± ire said to her brother. Riley nodded. All the families continued to wait at the entrance for further updates from the police. Time seemed to stretch indefinitely. Chapter 226 Chapter 226 Everyone¡¯s eyes were glued to the main entrance. They were anxiously waiting for their loved ones to appear. ¡°Hurry up! Why is it taking so long?¡± someone shouted impatiently. ¡°Oh,e on. The officers need time to handle things,¡± another person soothed. ¡°Drew will be out soon,¡± ire said, gripping her mother¡¯s hand tightly, with a hint of resolve shing in her eyes. Finally, the first group of employees released from the police station emerged through the doors. Their faces were unable to hide the excitement and thrill, as if they had been given a new lease on life. ¡°Oh, thank goodness! They¡¯re finally out!¡± someone eximed joyfully. ¡°Look, there¡¯s my daughter!¡± a person pointed out one of the employees. The mother rushed forward to embrace her daughter tightly, wiping away tears. ¡°Thank god you¡¯re out.¡± As more and more employees were released, the crowd¡¯s mood lifted increasingly. Time passed, but there was still no sign of Drew among those being released. His family grew more anxious. ¡°Where is my son?¡± Riley started to fret. ¡°Officer, could you please tell us how much longer it will be?¡± someone asked the police. ¡°Please be patient, everyone. We are doing our best to process this quickly,¡± an officer reassured the crowd. Batch after batch of employees were released, and the crowd at the police station dwindled significantly. Just then, an officer suddenly announced, ¡°Family members of those not released, please follow me to the station.¡± The remaining families exchanged worried nces, sensing trouble. Riley, panic-stricken, grasped at an officer¡¯s arm, and his face was ashen. ¡°Why? Officer, my child hasn¡¯t done anything wrong. He doesn¡¯t know anything!¡± The officer firmly removed Riley¡¯s hand, saying sternly, ¡°Please cooperate with our investigation.Line up and follow me inside.¡± A few officers maintained order as the remaining families somberly lined up and followed them into the station. Cam caught a glimpse of Lily¡¯s former mother-inw also in line. She realized that since Julian was an executive and Capital Solutions was in trouble, he couldn¡¯t escape the situation. Fortunately, Lily had divorced him. Cam, her mother, uncle, and grandmother followed the police inside, and their hearts were heavy with unease. ¡°Line up and tell me the names of your family members.¡± After Riley reported Drew¡¯s name, the officer led them into an office, and his expressions were grave. ¡°After our investigation, Drew¡¯s situation is notplicated. He indeed wasn¡¯t aware of the company¡¯s operations. We can now arrange for his bail, but you must surrender all the profits he made during his employment, and any debts must be cleared,¡± the officer exined. The family was stunned. ¡°Officer, we really don¡¯t know the details,¡± Riley pleaded urgently. ¡°My son was just a regr employee. He never made any profits.¡± The officer frowned, his tone severe. ¡°Sries, bonuses, these are all ill-gotten gains!¡± Cam¡¯s heart tightened. ¡°Right now, the most important thing is to secure Drew¡¯s release.¡± The officer brought out a document, stating, ¡°After our investigation, Drew earned a total of $217,000 in sry and bonuses over eight months, and has a debt of $700,000, making a total of $917,000.¡± Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Everyone gasped! Chapter 227 Chapter 227 Hearing the staggering figure, Grandma suddenly screamed, and her face turned ghostly pale as she staggered, almost fainting. ire quickly steadied her. Cam was too shocked to speak. The officer continued, ¡°If you want to bail him out, you¡¯ll need to forfeit all illegal profits and settle the debts.¡± The figure was astronomical for them,pletely unaffordable. ¡°What are we going to do?¡± Despair filled Grandma¡¯s eyes. ¡°We don¡¯t have that kind of money!¡± Melinda suddenly gripped Cam¡¯s arm fiercely. ¡°It¡¯s all your fault! If you hadn¡¯t insisted on redeeming the money, Drew wouldn¡¯t have borrowed $700,000!¡± Cam¡¯s arm throbbed with pain. Facing Aunt¡¯s usation, Cam felt a chill in her heart. She had not expected her aunt to me her so unjustly at such a time. ¡°If you had listened to me, we wouldn¡¯t have lost $2 million and owed another $700,000!¡± ¡°Melinda, let go!¡± ire pried her hand away, angrily retorting, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for your own greed, none of this would have happened! Cami was just trying to help, but you treat her kindness like dirt, and now you¡¯re even turning it against her.¡± Riley hung his head. ¡°Now is not the time for quarreling.¡± The officer, whose head was buzzing from the day¡¯s family disputes, spoke up. ¡°Just go home and discuss this. When you can pay up the amount, then we can release him.¡± Hearing the officer¡¯s words, Cam and her family could only silently leave the police station. ¡°Let¡¯s discuss this at your house,¡± ire told her brother. ¡°No!¡± Riley reacted vehemently. ¡°Why?¡± ire was puzzled. ¡°A lot of our neighbors invested in Capital Solutions.¡± Riley exined, ¡°Now that Capital Solutions has crashed, everyone is demandingpensation from us, so we can¡¯t go back!¡± Cam was stunned. They were afraid of being pursued for debts, which was why they had turned off their phones. ¡°Let¡¯s go to my ce then,¡± ire said resignedly. Back at ire¡¯s house, they sat around the dining table, and their expressions were grave. Grandma and Riley exchanged nces. Then, Grandma held ire¡¯s hand. Her eyes were tearful as she slowly said, ¡°ire, Drew is the only boy in our family, so we can¡¯t let him stay in that ce. You have $700,000...¡± Cam frowned deeply. That $700,000 was all they had. ire was silent for a while, then looked up at Grandma. ¡°Mom, that $700,000 is for Cami¡¯s wedding.¡± When she heared this, Grandma¡¯s expression darkened instantly. She was shocked that ire would refuse. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡°ire, how could you be so heartless!¡± Grandma raised her voice, her anger evident. ¡°You are Drew¡¯s aunt. He needs your help now, so how could you just stand by and watch him suffer?¡± ¡°All this talk about wedding, it¡¯s just an excuse! Drew is locked up. How can you bear to see him suffer? You¡¯re his aunt!¡± ¡°You¡¯re his aunt, and it¡¯s only right for an aunt to save her nephew! How can you be so selfish!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t take this anymore!¡± Grandma pushed ire away, her emotions running high. ¡°I¡¯ll die right here for you to see! Let you live with a guilty conscience forever!¡± ¡°Mom...¡± ire cried. ¡°ire! You want to see our whole family die? You¡¯ll be happy?¡± Riley picked up a kitchen knife and pointed it at himself. ire looked at her frantic mother and brother, feeling utterly helpless. Knowing she could no longer provoke them, she bit her lip and reluctantly agreed, ¡°Alright, I''ll give you the $700,000.¡± Chapter 228 Chapter 228 ¡°Good, good, that¡¯s my good girl,¡± Grandma said contently, patting ire¡¯s hand. ire smiled faintly, but her heart was filled with bitterness. ¡°We¡¯re still short by over two hundred thousand,¡± Riley muttered under his breath, his face pale. He turned to Cam. ¡°Cami, haven¡¯t you been working for a few years now? You must have some savings, right?¡± Cam frowned. ¡°How much does your family have?¡± She had saved up a fair amount, enough to cover the shortfall. Although she disliked her uncle¡¯s family, she was willing to help out for Drew¡¯s sake. ¡°Fifty thousand...¡± Riley¡¯s voice grew even lower. ¡°Fifty thousand?¡± Cam was incredulous. ¡°Drew sends fifteen thousand home every month, plus you¡¯ve been earning interest for months. How can it only be fifty thousand?¡± Riley fell silent for a while before admitting, ¡°I bought a car.¡± ¡°Sell it!¡± Cam said decisively. ¡°Selling it now would mean a big loss!¡± Riley muttered, clearly reluctant. Camughed helplessly. ¡°So you were nning to just contribute fifty thousand, and leave the rest, over eight hundred thousand, for us to handle? Wow... you really know how to n ahead!¡± Riley and Melinda remained silent, clearly conceding. ¡°Fine, don¡¯t sell it then,¡± Cam said as she poured herself a ss of water and took a sip. Setting down the ss, she continued, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, your precious son can stay locked up.¡± Riley and Melinda¡¯s faces turned sour upon hearing this. Grandma immediately stood up. ¡°Let¡¯s sell the car, even if it¡¯s at a loss. The most important thing right now is to get Drew out.¡± Melinda chimed in, ¡°I can sell some of my old jewelry, so we might be able to scrape together another twenty thousand or so.¡± ¡°Grandma, what about the old family house back in our hometown? Could we get a loan against it?¡± Cam suddenly remembered the old house. Though it was somewhat rundown, it was still worth a significant amount. Grandma paused, taken aback by Cam¡¯s suggestion. She hadn¡¯t expected Cam to propose selling the old house. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. ¡°No, the house we live in now will soon be seized by the bank. That old house is all I have left!¡± Grandma spoke passionately, with tears welling in her eyes. Cam scoffed coldly, ¡°But that¡¯s your favorite grandson. Are you willing to let him go to jail?¡± After a moment of silence, Grandma red at Cam and gritted her teeth. ¡°I have thirty thousand saved. Take it all! But leave the old house alone!¡± ¡°We¡¯re still short by a hundred and seventeen thousand,¡± Riley noted. ¡°I¡¯ll contact a middle man,¡± Cam said. ¡°Let¡¯s sell the car first.¡± ... At the hospital, Haylie woke up. Connor stayed a while after she woke, then left. Once Connor was gone, Bee helped Haylie sit up. Haylie cautiously surveyed her surroundings, ensuring they were alone. She asked softly, ¡°What¡¯s the public opinion like outside?¡± Bee replied admiringly, ¡°You really know what you¡¯re doing, thinking of this way out. Despite the negative press, many online sympathize with you now. I believe the uproar will soon subside.¡± A sly smile curled at the corner of Haylie¡¯s mouth as she looked at the bandaged wound on her arm. ¡°This cut was worth it,¡± she said coldly. ¡°Haylie, I¡¯ve called Mr. Connor so many times but he hasn¡¯t answered. I was worried he wouldn¡¯t come.¡± Haylie nced at her ankle, smiling cunningly. ¡°He¡¯lle. Given that he¡¯s the reason I can never dance ballet again, I can hold that over him for life.¡± Chapter 229 Chapter 229 Haylie¡¯s voice carried a hint of malice, causing Bee to shiver involuntarily. Haylie, a seasoned actress in the entertainment industry, had won the hearts of many fans with her unique charm and superb acting skills. However, behind the glitz and mor, Bee knew all too well how calcting she could be. Bee vividly remembered the moment she learned that Capital Solutions had copsed. A sh of rage crossed Haylie¡¯s face, but she quicklyposed herself and began to devise a n. She arranged for familiar paparazzi to stake out her home and then posted the photos they captured online. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. This move quickly sparked media attention and sent the fans of the ¡°Haylie-Connor Couple¡± into wild spection about their rtionship. She chose to stage a suicide attempt, a frightening yet non-lethal method. Sessfully, this suicide incident created a media advantage for herself. She knew the rules of the entertainment game well and was adept at using every resource to achieve her goals. Whether it was a meticulously nned event or an impromptu performance, she could effortlessly control the situation. ... Cam called the dealership to schedule a time to view a car. That evening, the dealership¡¯s representative arrived at Cam¡¯s home on time. He carefully examined the car¡¯s exterior and interior. After a while, he looked up and said, ¡°The car is indeed in good condition. Based on the market, I¡¯d estimate its value between $75,000 and $80,000.¡± When he heared this price, her uncle¡¯s face showed a pained expression. ¡°That little? I bought this car for $110,000!¡± he eximed. The dealer smiled and exined, ¡°A new car depreciates the moment it¡¯s driven off the lot, and that¡¯s the rule of the used car market.¡± Riley pulled Cam aside and whispered, ¡°The depreciation is too much. I¡¯ve only had it for a few months!¡± Cam consoled him, ¡°I¡¯ve consulted several used car dealerships, and this one offers a rtively high price. We really need the money now, so let¡¯s just sell it.¡± Riley sighed and nodded. ¡°We agree to sell the car,¡± Cam told the dealer. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll need to take the car back for a more detailed inspection and evaluation. We¡¯ll tow the car now and make the payment within three days,¡± the dealer said. Cam¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. Her voice was firm. ¡°I need the money by tomorrow.¡± The dealer paused, then replied, ¡°Okay, you¡¯re a friend of Wesley¡¯s, so I¡¯ll make an exception and request it from thepany.¡± Cam nodded, ¡°Thank you.¡± Riley sighed deeply as he signed the paperwork. After signing, the dealer immediately contacted a towingpany to take the car away for inspection and evaluation. Back at home, Melinda asked, ¡°Has the car been towed?¡± Riley nodded, sighing. ¡°We¡¯re still short a few thousand.¡± Melinda¡¯s eyes rested on Cam. Cam sighed resignedly and nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll cover the rest.¡± ¡°Good, good, my dear granddaughter. Drew can finally be bailed out,¡± Grandma said, holding Cam¡¯s hand. Cam gave a faint smile and quietly withdrew her hand. ¡°What are we going to do now? We can¡¯t go back home for now,¡± Melinda sighed. Her face was full of worry. ¡°You can stay here tonight. It¡¯s small, but we¡¯ll make do,¡± ire suggested. ¡°It¡¯s too cramped here. Isn¡¯t there a hotel nearby?¡± Grandma frowned. Cam scoffed, ¡°If you think it¡¯s too small here, go stay in a hotel if you have the money.¡± Riley tugged at his mother¡¯s sleeve and shook his head. Faced with reality, they had no choice but to stay. The atmosphere at home was oppressively tense. ¡°Cami, you should head back. It¡¯s gettingte.¡± Chapter 230 Chapter 230 ire grabbed Cam¡¯s hand, picked up the keys, and said to the people in the house, ¡°I¡¯m off to pick up some groceries for us.¡± They down the stairs. Cam frowned, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Drew, I really wouldn¡¯t want to deal with them.¡± ire gently patted her daughter¡¯s hand. ¡°I know, but they are family after all.¡± Cam scoffed, ¡°Family? Mom, have you forgotten how Uncle treated us?¡± She said angrily, ¡°When he made money from his business, you asked him for a loan to open a diner, but did he care? Later, when he fell on hard times, he even had the nerve to ask you to help pay for his house.¡± ire sighed helplessly, and the bitterness in her heart was rising like a tide. She couldn¡¯t forget those past events either. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Cam spoke up, ¡°I¡¯ll go to the supermarket with you first.¡± When they walked past Cole¡¯s fruit stand, Cole hurried to the entrance, anxiously asking, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you open your shop today? Are you feeling unwell? I¡¯ve been trying to call you all day.¡± Seeing Cole¡¯s worried expression, Cam sneakily pinched ire¡¯s arm. ire blushed slightly and swatted Cam¡¯s hand, then looked up at Cole. ¡°My nephew had a bit of trouble.¡± ¡°Is it something serious? Do you need help?¡± Cole took off his apron, ready to leave with them. ire smiled, ¡°It¡¯s sorted. We¡¯re just heading out to get some supplies.¡± ¡°Be careful on the road,¡± Cole advised. ire nodded. ¡°Bye, Cole.¡± Cam waved smilingly at Cole. After shopping, they carried a big bag of groceries to their apartment building. ¡°You don¡¯t need toe up. It¡¯s gettingte.¡± ire took the shopping bag from Cam. ¡°I can take it up myself. Just text me when you get home.¡± Cam nodded. She caught a taxi back to her ce, and it was already past one in the morning. After taking off her sneakers, Cam massaged her calves. It was good that she had worn more casual clothes and sneakers. Standing outside the police station for seven hours had been physically and emotionally draining. After texting ire to inform her that she was at home now, she grabbed her pajamas and went to shower. Under the showerhead, the droplets fell on her skin. She closed her eyes, letting her thoughts drift with the flow of the water. Suddenly, the names Connor and Haylie popped into her mind. She opened her eyes, a bitter smile curling her lips. The water stopped, and Cam dried off and put on her pajamas. She walked over to her bed andy down. Her fingers gently caressed the phone screen; Connor had called her several times while she was at the police station, but she hadn¡¯t answered. She hesitated about whether to call Connor back. It was two o¡¯clock, so she put down the phone. Lying in bed, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Once more, she unlocked her phone and opened Twitter. [Connor¡¯s statement ims he and Haylie are just friends.] It was on the top trending. Cam¡¯s heart tightened, and she clicked on the hot search. The statement emphasized that he and Haylie were just friends. She opened thement section, where the messages fromizens varied widely, presenting all kinds of views. [Hope Haylie can step out of the shadows and start anew.] [What kind of friendship is this?] [Whether they¡¯re just friends or not, we only hope Haylie can be happy and joyful.] ... Her finger slid across the screen. [The statement is to protect Haylie!] Her finger stopped on thisment, a short sentence that stirred significant waves in her heart. Chapter 231 Chapter 231 The next day, Cam arrived early at Cedarhill Estate. She sorted through the belongings she had left in the bedroom and packed them all into shopping bags. As she stepped out of the bedroom, she ran straight into Connor. Cam nodded politely, ¡°Mr. Connor, good morning.¡± Connor noticed the shopping bags in her hand and paused slightly. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°These are some things I left here before.¡± Cam opened the shopping bag and said calmly, ¡°You¡¯re wee to check.¡± Connor frowned slightly as he looked at her face. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that. Why are you taking everything?¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t I take my things?¡± Cam countered. Connor became slightly flustered and quickly said, ¡°You might need to workte here, stay over if it gets toote.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. I can take my work from SummitTrack Investments home.¡± Cam smiled slightly, ¡°Of course, if Mr. Connor is uneasy, I can resign from SummitTrack Investments.¡± ¡°Do you really not want to be around me?¡± Connor grabbed her arm, his tone urgent. Cam politely withdrew her arm. ¡°Mr. Connor must be joking. As a female secretary staying overnight at her male boss¡¯ house, rumors could hurt both your reputation and mine.¡± Connor watched her, a subtle hint of loss in his eyes. ¡°Did you see the news?¡± His voice was hoarse. ¡°I did.¡± Cam nodded with a smile. Connor, anxious, continued, ¡°Yesterday, Haylie attempted suicide. She called me, and I didn¡¯t answer. You know, I was in your bedroom at the time.¡± Cam smiled, ¡°Mr. Connor, you don¡¯t need to exin to me. Handling public rtions isn¡¯t part of my job.¡± ¡°I am just friends with Haylie.¡± Connor looked intently into Cam¡¯s eyes, his tone firm. ¡°I saw the statement.¡± Cam looked at him. ¡°Mr. Connor, I still have some things to pack.¡± She bowed slightly and turned to head to the shoe cab, packing the high heels she had left there the previous day into her bag. Connor stood still, and his eyes followed her. He felt that Cam was drifting further away from him... The door opened, and David entered with breakfast. ¡°Good morning, David,¡± Cam greeted with a smile. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. ¡°Morning, Cam. Have some breakfast.¡± David ced the breakfast bag in the entryway and changed his shoes. Cam shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve already eaten.¡± She turned to look at Connor and smiled politely, ¡°Mr. Connor, I¡¯ll go make some coffee.¡± After saying that, Cam went to wash her hands, grind the beans, and brew the coffee. ¡°Mr. Connor, is Cam upset about the news with Ms. Haylie?¡± David whispered. ¡°I exined it to her.¡± Connor was enveloped in a gloom. Cam brought the coffee over to Connor, smiling slightly, ¡°Mr. Connor, please enjoy your coffee. I¡¯ll be waiting over by the couch.¡± Connor took the coffee but did not drink it, looking up at her with a hint of helplessness in his eyes. Cam sat down on the sofa, looking out the floor-to-ceiling window. ¡°Cheer her up,¡± David whispered. ¡°How?¡± Connor looked helpless. David smiled slightly, drawing on his years of life experience to advise Connor. ¡°Mr. Connor, women need to be pampered, especially when they are upset. Start by apologizing to Cam to show your sincerity, then try to show some concern, ask her how she¡¯s been doing, if she¡¯s facing any difficulties.¡± Connor furrowed his brows and thought for a moment. ¡°Would that really help?¡± David nodded, ¡°Of course. People respond to kindness. Treat her well, and she¡¯ll feel it. Sometimes, all a girl needs is some sweet talk to lift her spirits, especially when they¡¯re down.¡± Chapter 232 Chapter 232 Connor nodded, sipping his coffee. ¡°I¡¯ll skip breakfast.¡± ¡°Mr. Connor, you need to eat something!¡± David eximed, his eyes wide as he looked at him. ¡°Cam, let¡¯s go.¡± Connor stood up and addressed Cam. Cam rose from the couch, ncing at the breakfast table where the food remained untouched. ¡°Mr. Connor, you haven¡¯t had your breakfast.¡± ¡°No breakfast today,¡± Connor said, picking up his suit jacket. Cam frowned slightly, ¡°Mr. Connor, is the breakfast not to your liking? I can order something to be delivered to your office.¡± ¡°Look, Cam is upset,¡± David whispered. Connor paused, then set his jacket down and obediently sat back down. ¡°No need, I¡¯ll eat now.¡± David hung his head, a slight smile curling at the corners of his mouth. ¡°Alright.¡± Cam nodded and sat down. After breakfast, they set off for the office. Connor was silent for a while, then spoke, ¡°Cam, why did you take the day off yesterday?¡± Cam turned her head and replied, ¡°There was a family matter.¡± Connor wanted to move closer to her, to sit a bit forward, but the seatbelt restrained him. He leaned forward instead, asking softly, ¡°What happened? Can I help?¡± Cam shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s been resolved.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s anything, you can tell me. I can help sort it out.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Connor.¡± Cam nodded slightly. Back at the office, Cam went straight to her desk. Having taken the day off, she had a lot of work to catch up on. She diligently sorted through documents, preparing for the uing meeting. Soon, the intermediary transferred the payment for the car, eighty thousand dors. Cam consolidated all her money into her ount, adding up to thirty-seven thousand. Once she transferred the money to a government-designated ount, Drew would be released, which could finally resolve the matter. A call came from the reception desk. ¡°Cam, there¡¯s someone here for Mr. Connor.¡± Cam inquired, ¡°Do they have an appointment?¡± The receptionist replied they didn¡¯t. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Cam frowned slightly, ¡°Mr. Connor¡¯s schedule is fully booked today. Please ask him to make an appointment.¡± The receptionist, covering the phone, whispered mysteriously, ¡°Cam, you might want toe down and see.¡± Cam hung up the phone and headed downstairs. As she approached the reception, she saw a woman sitting on a couch in the distance. Cam stopped in her tracks. Even though the woman wore sunsses and a hat, Cam recognized her instantly as Haylie. Sheposed herself and approached the reception. ¡°Cam, she...¡± the receptionist whispered, pulling her aside. Cam nodded to her and moved towards the lounge area. She politely greeted, ¡°Ms. Haylie, hello.¡± Haylie nced at Cam, a smile ying on her lips. ¡°I¡¯m here for Connor.¡± Cam politely replied, ¡°You could contact him.¡± Haylie chuckled, ¡°I know Mr. Connor well.¡± She shook her phone. ¡°He must be busy, didn¡¯t pick up.¡± Haylie¡¯s presence was conspicuous, and gradually, colleagues found excuses to pass by the reception to check her out. ¡°Please go to the waiting room. I¡¯ll inform Mr. Connor,¡± Cam said. Haylie smiled and stood up, following Cam to the waiting room. In the conference room, Connor ended several calls. His expression was grim, and the atmosphere in the room was heavy. n, having received a message from Cam, looked puzzled. He turned to Connor and whispered, ¡°Haylie is in the waiting room.¡± ¡°What is she doing here!¡± Connor¡¯s brow furrowed, his tone tinged with anger. Chapter 233 Chapter 233 Cam received a message from n and brought Haylie up to the parlor. ¡°Ms. Haylie, would you like coffee or tea?¡± Cam asked politely. Haylie nced up at her with a cold tone. ¡°Coffee.¡± ¡°Please wait a moment.¡± Cam smiled slightly, then turned to leave. The door opened, and Connor appeared at the doorway. Connor stared intently at Cam, his eyesplex, but Cam remainedposed, subtly stepping aside to clear the path. Connor looked away and walked past her into the parlor. n followed him in. Cam gently closed the door and went to the break room to prepare the coffee. At that moment, a few colleagues from the secretarial office gathered around, and their faces were full of curiosity. ¡°Cam, is Mr. Connor in the parlor?¡± one colleague asked eagerly. Cam nodded, cing a cup under the coffee machine and pressing the button. ¡°Wow, this is big news!¡± another colleague eximed excitedly. ¡°Did you know? Haylie is rumored to be Mr. Connor¡¯s love interest, and they¡¯ve always been said to have a special rtionship.¡± Cam frowned slightly. ¡°I¡¯m not really sure.¡± ¡°Ohe on, Cam. Don¡¯t y coy,¡± one colleague teased with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re Mr. Connor¡¯s personal assistant. You must know some secrets.¡± Cam responded coolly, ¡°I don¡¯t know anything.¡± The coffee machine began to hum. Seeing this, the colleagues decided not to pry further and returned to their seats. Back in the parlor, Connor sat on the sofa across from Haylie. His tone was sharp. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Haylie removed her sunsses, revealing her pitiful, teary eyes. ¡°Connor, I just announced my breakup with York, and now the paparazzi are everywhere. I have nowhere to go...¡± Her voice trembled slightly, ¡°I¡¯m so scared.¡± Connor frowned, ¡°This is a workce, and there are many people around. Do you think hiding here is appropriate?¡± Tears fell from Haylie¡¯s eyes as she looked down and wiped them away. ¡°I understand. I¡¯m just... I¡¯m just too frightened. I don¡¯t know what to do.¡± Connor scoffed, ¡°How can you not find a ce to stay?¡± Haylie shook her head. Connor turned to n. ¡°Find a hotel for Ms. Haylie.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to stay at a hotel.¡± Haylie shook her head pitifully. ¡°I¡¯m scared. Can¡¯t you just let me stay with you...¡± Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Connor looked at her. ¡°I¡¯m seeing someone, and your being here could cause unnecessary misunderstandings.¡± Haylie¡¯s expression shifted slightly upon hearing Connor¡¯s reply, but she quickly regained her composure. ¡°Is it that secretary from earlier?¡± Connor remained silent, not denying it. ¡°Connor, I can exin to her. I really have nowhere else to go right now.¡± Haylie¡¯s voice carried a hint of distress. ¡°I just need a ce to hide for a while, and once this blows over, I¡¯ll leave.¡± ¡°You don;t have to say more. I¡¯ve done all I can for you,¡± Connor said emotionlessly. Haylie looked at Connor, feigning a helpless smile. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for my inability to dance anymore, I wouldn¡¯t have entered show business, and I wouldn¡¯t have met York...¡± ¡°You saved me from a car ident. I¡¯m sorry for the trouble, and I¡¯m grateful.¡± Connor¡¯s gaze hardened as he looked at her coldly. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean you can use me.¡± Chapter 234 Chapter 234 Haylie froze. ¡°Connor, what do you mean by that? How have I used you?¡± Her lips twitched slightly. Connor nced at her coldly, smiled, and said, ¡°Everything that happened yesterday was a y you directed yourself, using me to create a media frenzy and divert public attention.¡± He scoffed, ncing at her ankle. ¡°I¡¯llpensate you financially for your injury. Whether you choose to study abroad or continue in the entertainment industry, it¡¯s none of my business.¡± Haylie¡¯s face turned pale. She hadn¡¯t expected Connor to expose her true intentions so bluntly. ¡°Connor, I admit I had my own motives.¡± Her voice trembled slightly. ¡°But what could I do... Everyone was against me, and the only person I could turn to was you...¡± Haylie¡¯s smile was bitter. There was a knock at the door, and Cam walked in carrying coffee. She noticed the tense atmosphere in the lounge, quietly set down the coffee, and prepared to leave. ¡°Wait a minute,¡± Connor called out to her. Cam stopped in her tracks. ¡°Order some takeout for Ms. Haylie,¡± Connor said sternly. ¡°Sure.¡± Cam nodded and left, gently closing the door behind her. ¡°After you¡¯ve eaten, n will take you to the hotel.¡± After saying that, he no longer looked at Haylie and took a sip of his coffee. Haylie watched his indifferent demeanor and gritted her teeth. She knew Connor was setting boundaries.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. It was nearing lunchtime. Cam went downstairs to pick up the lunch delivered by the driver. She didn¡¯t order food for Haylie, instead bringing her own to the lounge. ¡°Ms. Haylie, here is your lunch.¡± Haylie didn¡¯t respond. She nced at Cam, a hint of resentment hidden behind her sunsses. Cam walked out of the lounge. She carried the lunch to Connor¡¯s office, ¡°Mr. Connor, lunch is ready. I¡¯ve also delivered Ms. Haylie¡¯s to the lounge.¡± Cam¡¯s voice was calm and detached, as if reporting a routine task. Connor nodded, and his voice was soft. ¡°Bring your lunch in here. I want to discuss SummitTrack Investments with you.¡± ¡°Sorry, Mr. Connor, I asked n for some time off. I have personal matters to attend to,¡± Cam replied. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± A flicker of concern crossed Connor¡¯s eyes. Cam nced at him briefly, her response cool. ¡°Family issues, but I have myptop with me. It won¡¯t affect work.¡± Connor looked worried but unsure how to express it. ¡°You can tell me. I¡¯m here to help.¡± Cam shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s all taken care of.¡± A shadow of disappointment crossed Connor¡¯s eyes. ¡°Alright, but let me know if you need anything. I¡¯m always here.¡± Cam nodded, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Connor.¡± Connor added, ¡°Actually, these tasks aren¡¯t urgent; you don¡¯t need to bring yourptop.¡± Cam paused, then nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± After Cam left, Connor sat alone in his office, deep in thought. He leaned back in his chair, looking up at the ceiling, and sighed softly. Cam always kept a certain distance from him, making it difficult for him to make a move. The door was knocked again, and n entered. ¡°Mr. Connor, everything is arranged,¡± he said. ¡°The hotel is ready. We can take Ms. Haylie there now.¡± Connor acknowledged with a nod, a flicker of disgust in his eyes. Chapter 235 Chapter 235 Connor caught a glimpse of the cleaner cleaning up the coffee table as he passed through the reception area. There, on the table, was a lunchbox just like his own, and his gaze instantly turned icy. ¡°Throw it away.¡± ¡°Throw away what?¡± The cleaner was confused and looked up at him nkly. Connor pointed at the lunchbox on the table, his tone impatient, ¡°The lunchbox.¡± The cleaner paused for a moment. ¡°Understood.¡± She immediately tossed the lunchbox into the trash bag. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Connor stood at the doorway, with his hands in his pockets. His face was stern, and his dark eyes wereplex with emotion. He pondered silently. Why did she give her lunch to that woman... Seeing Connor¡¯s displeased expression, the cleaner grew nervous, and her movements hastened. She carefully wiped down the coffee table, fearing to further upset the imposing boss. A thinyer of sweat appeared on her forehead as she thought to herself, ¡°Oh my, the big boss is watching me clean... does he have nothing better to do?¡± ¡°Mr. Connor, all the meeting participants have arrived,¡± n approached and informed him. Connor acknowledged and turned to leave. The cleaner finally breathed a sigh of relief, wiping the sweat from her forehead. ... Cam went to the bank, deposited the funds into the specified government ount, and took the receipt. Leaving the bank, Cam felt her spirits sink. As she looked up at the distant blue sky, she thought of her mother¡¯s life savings, now gone. When would she ever be able to give her mother a happy life? She took a deep breath and dialed ire¡¯s number. ¡°Mom, I¡¯ve made the payment. We can go pick up Drew now.¡± ... The family sat in the police station¡¯s waiting room. The atmosphere was heavy, and everyone was silent. Riley handed the receipt to the officer in charge, who after verifying it, signed the release paperwork. Soon, Drew was brought out. He looked pale, and his eyes were hollow. When he saw his family waiting, his tears involuntarily began to fall. He walked towards them, but suddenly his legs gave way, and he knelt on the floor. Drew knelt before them, sobbing uncontrobly. Melinda hurriedly came to his aid. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m sorry for worrying you,¡± Drew cried, with tears rolling down his cheeks. ¡°I''m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have made you and the family worry.¡± ¡°That damn York!¡± Melinda cursed. Her hands trembled as she stroked Drew¡¯s head. ¡°He ruined you, that bastard!¡± Drew hugged his mother tightly, crying loudly. All the pressure and torment of the past days were released in this moment. Riley stepped forward, helping Drew to stand. ¡°Grandma...¡± Drew looked at his grandmother, who tightly held his hand. ¡°My dear grandson, I even used all my savings for you.¡± Grandma choked up, ¡°From now on, you¡¯re all I have...¡± Drew¡¯s eyes were filled with tears. ¡°I know, Grandma. I¡¯ll work hard to give you a good life.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go. No need to stay here anymore,¡± ire said gently. ¡°Let¡¯s go home. Take a shower. Eat something...¡± The family quietly exited the police station. Riley nced back at the imposing building and couldn¡¯t help but spit towards the entrance, ¡°Such a cursed ce!¡± They hailed two taxis to go home. Drew and Cam were in one, and the atmosphere inside was heavy. ¡°Aunt ire, Cam...¡± Drew hung his head, speaking softly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry...¡± He fiddled with his trouser seam, sobbing uncontrobly. His shoulders shook as he said, ¡°I know... I got out because Aunt ire offered seven hundred thousand. I¡¯ve let you all down.¡± Chapter 236 Chapter 236 ¡°Drew, I want to help you,¡± ire said softly, patting his shoulder. Drew suddenly pped himself twice across the face. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault, all my fault...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Drew. It¡¯s not your fault.¡± ire grabbed his hand. Cam turned from the passenger seat, sighing. ¡°What¡¯s done is done. Crying won¡¯t bring the money back. Let¡¯s go home. Have a good meal. Get some sleep, and start fresh tomorrow.¡± Drew nodded, and his shoulders still trembled. When they arrived at ire¡¯s doorstep, Grandma came out of the house with an iron basin. Inside it were cedar wood, red beans, and cinnabar. She lit it with a match, and smoke began to rise from the basin. ¡°Drew, step over it,¡± Grandma said softly. Obediently, Drew lifted one foot and gently stepped over the basin. Grandma began to mutter, ¡°Step over the fire, ward off the bad luck, start anew, and good fortune wille.¡± After Drew entered the house, Grandma gave him a set of new clothes. ¡°Go take a shower,¡± she instructed. ¡°It dispels bad luck.¡± Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. As Drew went to take his bath, ire gathered the family in the living room, and her expression was grave. She started to speak, her voice slightly hoarse, ¡°Mom, Riley, as a daughter, as a sister, and as Drew¡¯s aunt...¡± She took a deep breath, her eyes rimmed with red, and continued, ¡°I think I¡¯ve done well.¡± Her mother, touched, squeezed ire¡¯s hand and nodded approvingly. ¡°Of course! I know you¡¯re a good daughter.¡± ire gave a bitter smile, and her eyes were brimming with tears. ¡°Mom, but I¡¯m not a good mother.¡± Cam¡¯s heart clenched. She knew her mother always med herself for not providing aplete home, a carefree childhood, a strong support. ¡°What do you mean by that!¡± Grandma suddenly demanded, letting go of ire¡¯s hand with a displeased look. ire felt a pang of pain, smiling weakly. ¡°If it were me in trouble today, would you sell the old house to save me?¡± ¡°Why bring this up now? You¡¯re making a mountain out of a molehill!¡± her mother said impatiently. ire looked at her mother, feeling deste. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t.¡± ¡°ire, talking about this now is pointless! You dide up with $700,000, but remember, Drew borrowed it because of you,¡± Melinda said disdainfully from the side. ire coldly looked at them. ¡°You always push the me onto others.¡± Cam couldn¡¯t listen anymore, she stood up and red at Melinda. ¡°Aunt Melinda, how could you say that? Didn¡¯t I say Capital Solutions was unreliable? Did you listen? You wouldn¡¯t let Drew quit his job. In the end, he was just a tool to satisfy your own vanity!¡± Melinda was enraged by Cam¡¯s words, and her face turned red. ¡°Shut up!¡± she yelled, pping Cam harshly across the face. ire immediately stood up, checking Cam¡¯s face with concern. She was utterly disappointed in her family. ¡°From now on, we¡¯ll go our separate ways...¡± Chapter 237 Chapter 237 Cam gently pushed ire aside and swung back, pping Melinda across the face. Smack! The sound was loud, louder than the p Melinda had given. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Cam had been practicing martial arts for a long time and her strength was not small. Melinda¡¯s face immediately swelled up. Melinda was stunned. So were the bystanders. ¡°Cam, how dare you strike your aunt!¡± Riley made a move as if to intervene. ¡°What are you gonna do!¡± ire immediately stepped in front of Cam, ring at Riley. Riley shook his hand off. ¡°You bitch, I¡¯ll tear you apart!¡± Melinda yelled loudly. ¡°Enough!¡± the old woman shouted. ¡°You speak without manners. What¡¯s wrong with an aunt pping her niece? How can you hit back!¡± She red at Cam usingly. ire looked at her mother, her eyes filled with sorrow. ¡°Just a p? Why should my beloved child be hit at all? What did she say that was wrong?¡± she countered. Grandma, whose face turned pale with rage, pointed at ire and scolded, ¡°How dare you speak to me like that now! You¡¯re so ungrateful!¡± ire gave a bitter smile, helplessly. ¡°I came to you with a newborn, seeking support from my family. What did you say? A married daughter is useless...¡± ¡°Have you ever thought of me for even a moment? Have you? You always favor my brother.¡± she challenged. ¡°How have I not!¡± Grandma shouted back. ¡°I found you a husband. It was your own fault for not being able to bear him a son, leading to your divorce!¡± ¡°Oh... All you cared about was the wedding gifts he offered, which you then gave to my brother for his business ventures. Did you give me any wedding gifts?¡± ire asked again. Grandma¡¯s eyes bulged, and her face was beet red with anger. ¡°Fine, so you¡¯ve always resented me. How could I have given birth to such a thankless child!¡± ire shook her head, speaking calmly. ¡°All these years, you demanded the little money I managed to save with cries and threats, asking me to give it all to you for buying a house. You gave birth to me, raised me for over a decade, and I should have repaid that by now.¡± Grandma pointed at her and cursed vehemently. ¡°You are so useless!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve gone too far!¡± Riley stepped up to ire, fists clenched. Drew, hearing the quarrel from the bathroom, rushed out, standing in front of ire, and shouted. ¡°Enough, Grandma! Mom and Dad! Enough!¡± ¡°They have been more than kind to us. What more do you want! It¡¯s all my fault. I should be the one to be punished!¡± ¡°This has nothing to do with you, kid. Move aside!¡± Melinda tried to pull him away, but couldn¡¯t budge him. Drew turned and bowed deeply to ire. With tears in his eyes, he said, ¡°Aunt ire, I¡¯m sorry.¡± ire helped him up. ¡°Drew, I¡¯ve never med you. It¡¯s just heartbreaking...¡± ¡°I know, I know all about it...¡± Drew pursed his lips, holding back his tears. He had always known how poorly his grandmother treated his aunt and cousin, and was aware of his parents¡¯ indifference and selfishness. ¡°Why bother talking to her! Let¡¯s go!¡± Riley pulled him away, pointing at ire. ¡°You want to cut ties, fine, but just remember, I¡¯ll make it big one day. Don¡¯t you daree asking for help then!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here. I can¡¯t stand this dump for another second!¡± Melinda cursed as they left, ¡°I even suspect that our family¡¯s bad luck started when we got involved with them!¡± ¡°Exactly! A discarded wife and an ungrateful girl,¡± Riley echoed. Chapter 238 Chapter 238 ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Drew was dragged to the door, then turned around to bow deeply. ¡°Also, thank you.¡± ire nodded at Drew with a relieved smile. After the three of them left, the house finally returned to its peaceful state. Immediately, ire cradled Cam¡¯s face to check for any harm. Her voice was tinged with regret. ¡°I didn¡¯t protect you well enough.¡± Cam sniffled and shook her head. ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt.¡± ire wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes, watched her daughter tenderly, and said, ¡°From now on, it¡¯s just going to be the two of us against the world.¡± Cam hugged her, gently patting her back tofort her, ¡°I¡¯ll always be with you. I¡¯ll make lots of money, and ahead of us are only good days.¡± ire stroked Cam¡¯s face, sobbing lightly, ¡°I feel so sorry for you.¡± Cam smiled and said seriously, ¡°Were you not feeding me enough or not letting me go to school? Besides, you even made me so beautiful that others are jealous.¡± ire couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Why are you so narcissistic?¡± They exchanged a smile, gradually the pain eased in their hearts. ire got some ointment for Cam, furious. ¡°I could never bring myself to hit you, my precious girl, and that bitch did.¡± Cam chuckled, ¡°Isn¡¯t it because I¡¯m well-behaved?¡± ¡°Enough with your joking. Tomorrow, your face will still show the marks. That Melinda has such a strong arm.¡± Cam embraced her. ¡°One p to set boundaries. I think it was worth it.¡± Sheughed again, showing off her arm muscles to ire. ¡°Her face will definitely be swollen like a pig¡¯s head tomorrow. I¡¯ve been training, you know.¡± After saying that, she paused for a moment. She lowered her eyes, taking a soft breath. All her skills were taught by Connor. ire pinched her arm, which was surprisingly muscr. ¡°You do have some muscle.¡± Cam looked up, smiling, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m hungry.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make us something to eat right now,¡± ire said as she touched her head. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. Ding-dong ¡ª The doorbell rang, and ire, after checking the peephole, opened the door. Cole saw ire¡¯s red eyes, and asked anxiously, ¡°Why have you been crying?¡± ire shook her head, smiling, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°I saw that your shop was closed today, so I got a bit worried, and came to check on you,¡± Cole said with concern. ¡°Hi Cole.¡± Cam greeted. ¡°Cami¡¯s here too,¡± noted Cole, hearing Cam¡¯s voice and ncing inside. He frowned and asked sharply, ¡°Cami, what happened to your face?¡± ¡°Some nasty woman hit me.¡± Cam said with a smile, ¡°I hit her back.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you call me? Who did this? I¡¯ll go sort it out!¡± Cole rolled up his sleeves, ready to stand up for them. ire closed the door and exined everything to him. ¡°Cami, does it hurt?¡± Cole stared at Cam¡¯s face anxiously. ¡°How could she hit you so hard? I should call Craig over.¡± ¡°Cole, I¡¯m really okay,¡± Cam reassured him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Mom and I are feeling great now.¡± ire headed to the kitchen, saying, ¡°I was just about to make dinner. If you¡¯re not busy, stay and eat with us.¡± ¡°Okay, awesome!¡± Cole¡¯s face lit up instantly. Cam smiled at him, ¡°Cole, you shoulde over for dinner more often.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Cole responded, turning his head towards the kitchen with a smile. Cam covered her mouth, giggling secretly. Chapter 239 Chapter 239 ¡°Where can we go now...¡± Drew mumbled. His head was hanging low, weighed down by his mood. ¡°Let¡¯s go grab some dinner!¡± Riley pointed toward a nearby luxury hotel. ¡°Let¡¯s treat ourselves to a big meal.¡± Drew¡¯s eyes widened in shock as he looked at him. ¡°Dad, that ce is expensive. We don¡¯t have the money!¡± ¡°Who says we don¡¯t? I still have thirty thousand dors, and your grandma has fifty thousand,¡± Riley said proudly. ¡°And at midnight, when no one is around, we can sneak back and grab some jewelry from home. That should get us another twenty or thirty thousand,¡± Melinda chimed in. Drew stopped walking, staring in disbelief at the silhouettes of his parents and grandmother. A wave of sorrow washed over him. ¡°You... you... you...¡± His face turned red, and he stuttered in anger, ¡°If we still have some money, why does Aunt ire have to pay for everything!¡± ¡°Oh, silly boy.¡± Grandma came over and took his hand, speaking earnestly. ¡°We need to keep some money on hand. How else are we supposed to live after helping you with all those money?¡± Drew felt a chill in his heart as he gazed at his selfish family, suddenly feeling all alone. He experienced a sense of disappointment and helplessness like never before. He thought of his aunt, who had always cared for them and spent all her savings on them. ¡°How can you do this to them...¡± Drew shook his head, his eyes brimming with tears. ¡°I¡¯d rather go to jail...¡± Grandma pped his back hard, annoyed. ¡°Stop talking nonsense! She still has her diner to sustain herself, and Cam earns money too. Just worry about us old folks!¡± Riley stepped in front of Drew, grabbing his cor and ring at him. ¡°I sold the car. What more do you want! Do you want us to end up sleeping on the streets before you¡¯d be happy?¡± Drew clenched his lips. There were tears spilling out and falling onto Riley¡¯s hand. ¡°The car was bought with my sry, and you forced me to take loans from thepany...¡± Riley, infuriated, pushed him hard to the ground. ¡°You ungrateful fool!¡± N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. ¡°Clear your head. Why are you caring so much about them! I¡¯m your mother!¡± Melinda stood in front of him, looking down disdainfully. Drew looked at them, feeling a coldness in his heart. He could no longer bear this selfish family. ¡°Ah!¡± He roared in anger and ran off. ¡°Hey! Where are you going!¡± Melinda called out, trying to chase after him. Riley held her back. ¡°Leave him. He has no money. He¡¯lle crawling back soon enough.¡± ¡°How could you raise such a foolish son,¡± Grandma scoffed at Melinda, then looked toward the street where Drew had run off. ¡°He has no money, but worstes to worst, he¡¯ll go to his aunt. Let¡¯s worry about ourselves.¡± ¡°Should we stick with the n and head back to our hometown tomorrow morning toy low?¡± Melinda asked. ¡°Of course. Do you want to be torn apart by those neighbors!¡± Grandma shot her a nce. Melinda nodded. ... Cam got off the bus after dinner and walked back to Cedarhill Estate. As the elevator doors opened, she saw Connor standing at the entrance. She paused, surprised. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Connor gave her a brief nce. ¡°Just checking on you.¡± His pupils suddenly dted as he stepped toward Cam, lowering his head. His eyes intensely focused on her face, brows furrowed. ¡°What happened to your face!¡± Cam suddenly remembered the bruise on her face and quickly covered it with her hand. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Chapter 240 Chapter 240 Connor gripped her wrist, pulling her hand away as he suppressed the fury in his heart. His voice was calm yet intense. ¡°Who did this to you?¡± He held Cam¡¯s hand tightly. Cam twisted her wrist, attempting to break free. ¡°It¡¯s really nothing. Please let go of me. It¡¯s my family.¡± Connor didn¡¯t loosen his grip, his eyes filled with both pain and anger. ¡°What was it about?¡± ¡°It¡¯s over now, and they¡¯re not my family anymore,¡± Cam replied indifferently. Connor fell silent for a moment. Then he released her wrist. ¡°I¡¯ve told you before. If there¡¯s anything troubling you, let me help.¡± Cam stood at the front door, facing Connor with a calm and polite tone. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Connor, but I need to rest now.¡± She didn¡¯t invite him inside, just expressed her thanks lightly, then turned to enter the house. Connor stood rooted to the spot, with aplex mix of emotions flickering in his eyes. He watched as Cam entered her home, keyed in the code, and closed the door. He stood silently, and his thoughts swirled like a tumultuous tide. After closing the door, Cam peered through the peephole and saw Connor stepping into the elevator. She sighed, grabbed her pajamas, and headed to the bathroom. The hot water washed over her, seeming to cleanse the fatigue and irritation. As she blow-dried her hair, the sound of the doorbell echoed. Frowning slightly, she stepped out of the bathroom. When she peered through the peephole again, she saw Connor standing at the door. Her heart skipped a beat. Hadn¡¯t he just left? ¡°Mr. Connor, do you need anything?¡± Cam asked cautiously. ¡°Open the door.¡± Connor¡¯s voice was deep. ¡°Just a moment.¡± Cam rushed back to her bedroom, quickly put on a nightgown, and then opened the door. Connor didn¡¯t wait for her to ask any questions. He walked straight in, headed to the coffee table, and ced a bag on it. Cam followed, and her eyes were full of confusion. She watched as Connor pulled out a tub of ice cream and a pack of ice from the bag, slightly stunned. ¡°Ice cream,¡± Connor announced, removing the items from the bag. This was the same ice cream they had once enjoyed together at a local shop. ¡°These are ice packs. Get a towel to wrap them in,¡± Connor exined as he tore open the ice pack. Handing her the ice pack, he pointed at her face. ¡°Applying this can help ease the pain.¡± Cam took the ice pack, looking at all Connor had prepared in a daze. ¡°What are you daydreaming about? Go get a towel.¡± Connor¡¯s voice was gentle. Cam nodded nkly, still not fully recovered from her earlier thoughts. She turned and walked to the bathroom, fetched a clean towel, and returned to the living room. Connor took the towel from her hands, wrapped the ice pack in it, and handed it back to her. He pulled Cam to sit beside him and handed her the ice cream. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Have some ice cream while I apply this to your face.¡± Connor¡¯s tone was very gentle, as if coaxing a child. Cam was startled. ¡°Its okay. I can do it myself.¡± She reached out to take the towel from Connor¡¯s hand. Connor pulled his hand back with a gentle smile. ¡°Do you have so many hands? The ice cream will melt if you don¡¯t eat it now.¡± Cam blinked, looking at him with confusion. His actions today were utterly perplexing. ¡°Mr. Connor, what are you doing?¡± Connor looked at her deeply, his eyes brimming with emotion. ¡°I¡¯m courting you. Can¡¯t you tell?¡± Chapter 241 Chapter 241 Cam froze, her heart racing. Connor watched her tenderly. ¡°You don¡¯t have to rush to give me an answer. I know you have a boyfriend.¡± A boyfriend? Cam¡¯s mind raced. He probably meant John. ¡°I...¡± She faltered, ncing at Connor in panic. Connor chuckled self-deprecatingly. ¡°I know it¡¯s wrong of me, but I can¡¯t help liking you...¡± He bowed his head, pausing for a few seconds. Suddenly, he looked up. His smile was gone, and his eyes were earnest and serious as he stared at Cam. ¡°I really hope you¡¯ll consider me. You¡¯re a wonderful girl, deserving of love and care.¡± Cam looked at him. Her mind was in turmoil. She didn¡¯t say anything. She admitted she still had feelings for Connor, but she wasn¡¯t sure if his confession was just a spur of the moment thing. He had shown up at the moment of Haylie¡¯s suicide. How much this woman meant to him? Cam couldn¡¯t tell. She was afraid of getting hurt. After having finally extracted herself, she didn¡¯t want to wade back into these troubled waters. ¡°Mr. Connor,¡± Cam took a deep breath, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t want to change what I have now.¡± A flicker of disappointment crossed Connor¡¯s eyes, but he quickly regained hisposure. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll still court you, and maybe one day you¡¯lle to like me.¡± Cam stared at him in silence. Connor stood up, gently touched her head. ¡°There, finish your ice cream, and remember to ice your face where it¡¯s bruised.¡± Connor turned to leave. His figure receded from Cam¡¯s view. She stood there quietly withplex emotions. She admitted she liked Connor, and the feelings were so strong that she even thought about confessing them herself. However, right now, all she wanted was to work hard and provide a better life for her mother. Having been under Connor¡¯s thoughtful guidance for nearly six months at thepany headquarters, her skills had greatly improved, and so had her sry. Her feelings for Connor were filled with uncertainty. How much did he really like her, and how long would itst? The day he grew tired of her, she would have to pack up and leave. The fairytale love of a domineering CEO falling in love at first sight with a poor girl and stepping into a lifelong marriage was something only found in TV dramas. After sorting out her thoughts, Cam tossed the melted ice cream and ice cubes into the trash. She pulled out herptop, ced the SummitTrack Investments files on the desk, and started typing. ... Back at home, Connor received a call from n. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡°Mr. Connor, I¡¯ve checked. Cam¡¯s cousin is an employee at Capital Solutions and was taken to the police station. After his family surrendered $917,000, he was bailed out this afternoon.¡± Connor frowned, annoyed again by Capital Solutions. n continued, ¡°Neighbors say Cam¡¯s grandmother wasn¡¯t kind to them. Cam¡¯s injuries might be rted to them.¡± ¡°Also, when her rtives left Cam¡¯s house this evening, they were cursing. Her aunt had bruises too. ¡°ording to neighbors, many locals, spurred on by Riley, invested a lot in Capital Solutions and now they¡¯re furious. ¡°Riley¡¯s family has booked a high-speed train to leave Fairmount tomorrow morning.¡± Connor¡¯s lips curled into a slight, cold smile. ¡°Since the neighbors want to find them, let¡¯s give them a hand.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± n replied. Connor hung up and continued to immerse himself in his documents. He needed to quickly finish his work so he could devote more time and energy to pursuing his girl. ... Downstairs at the magazine office. Logan opened the passenger door. His eyes were fixed on Erica, and there was a slight smile ying on his lips. ¡°You look beautiful today.¡± Erica chuckled softly, ¡°Thank you for thepliment.¡± She then bent down to get into the passenger seat. Logan smiled slightly, closed the car door, and got into the driver¡¯s seat. He started the car, and the atmosphere inside immediately became more intimate. ¡°Did you miss me?¡± he asked softly, his tone teasing. Chapter 242 Chapter 242 Erica gently shook her head, a shy smile spreading across her face. ¡°I didn¡¯t dare think about it. I was afraid you¡¯d be too busy. Did you miss me?¡± Logan, with his hand on the steering wheel, looked into her eyes and said in a low, seductive voice, ¡°I can¡¯t think about you too much, or you might end up sneezing nonstop.¡± Erica looked down, a faint smile ying at the corners of her mouth. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you show upst time I asked you out?¡± Logan asked, and his voice was deep. Erica looked up. Her eyes were wide with innocence. ¡°I was afraid that if I went out, I might never be able to go back.¡± Logan raised an eyebrow, chuckling lightly, ¡°So you think I¡¯m a bad guy?¡± Erica slowly blinked and hummed in affirmation. Logan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, and his voice lowered, ¡°Then why did you agree toe out this time?¡± Erica stared into his eyes. The smile on her lips deepened. ¡°Because... I¡¯m not exactly a good girl either.¡± A flicker of understanding passed through Logan¡¯s eyes as he nodded meaningfully. ¡°Why can¡¯t I adjust the seat?¡± Erica pretended to be busy. ¡°Right there.¡± Logan pointed to the seat adjustment button. ¡°I can¡¯t find it,¡± Erica said, giving Logan a puzzled look. Logan smiled slightly, unbuckled his seatbelt, and leaned closer to Erica. Their proximity was close enough to sense each other¡¯s breath, and an idental touch sent their heartbeats racing. Logan pressed the seat adjustment button and then looked up at Erica. ¡°Is that better?¡± Erica nodded, ¡°Thank you.¡± Logan smiled and settled back into his seat, fastening his seatbelt again. He chuckled softly, a yful glint in his eyes. ¡°What are youughing at?¡± Erica asked curiously, buckling up as well. Logan slowly lifted his head, and their gazes met in mid-air. He smiled softly, ¡°Nothing much. Just feels like the distance between us is getting closer.¡± When they arrived at the bar, Logan led Erica into the private room. As they entered, everyone began to cheer. Erica¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she softly acknowledged. Logan introduced her to everyone, ¡°This is Erica.¡± Everyone warmly weed her, handing her a ss of wine. ¡°Cheers!¡± Someone suggested ying a game of odds and evens, and Erica joined in. To her surprise, she won every round. One of the guys, slightly buzzed, challenged her to another round, ¡°Let¡¯s y again, beautiful.¡± N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. ¡°Sure,¡± Erica smiled and agreed. As the game went on, the guy kept losing. Frustrated, he went all in, ¡°Fifteen!¡± Erica spread both hands. The man showed one hand. ¡°You lost!¡± the man shouted joyfully. At that moment, Logan held Erica¡¯s hand, smiling, ¡°Only ten.¡± ¡°Damn! Logan, you¡¯re cheating,¡± the manined. Logan and Erica, however, looked into each other¡¯s eyes. There was an special air surrounding them as if they were the only two in the room. Ericaughed shyly. ¡°If you and your girlfriend are going to cheat like that, just tell me to drink up,¡± the man said mournfully. ¡°Drink up, buddy,¡± Logan replied with augh, still holding Erica¡¯s hand. Their hands were tightly sped, seemingly unwilling to part. The man downed his drink and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m done ying.¡± Logan gazed at Erica, asking deeply, ¡°Will you be my girlfriend?¡± Erica didn¡¯t speak, just smiled and nodded. ¡°From now on, wherever you go, you have to take me with you,¡± Logan said, pulling her hand to his lips and kissing the back of it gently. Erica smiled without a word. She had been interested in this man since the first time they met. Chapter 243 Chapter 243 At three in the morning, Connor¡¯sputer pinged with a notification for a new email. Rubbing his temples from fatigue, he clicked to open the message. His brow furrowed immediately upon seeing the contents. It was a work document from Cam, detailed and professional, but there she was working at this hour! He quickly replied to the email, simply writing, [Sleep.] After sending the email, Connor sighed deeply. Had he assigned her too much work? Cam was twisting her neck, when she was startled by Connor¡¯s email. He hadn¡¯t gone to bed yet? Connor rummaged through a pile of papers to find his phone and texted Cam. Cam closed herptop, and suddenly her phone buzzed twice. She opened it to find a message from Connor. [Don¡¯t rush the work. Get some sleep. Good night.] He seemed to often stay upte himself. Cam responded. [Thanks for your concern, Mr. Connor. Good night.] She paused, then deleted the words ¡°good night¡± before sending. Just as she sent the message, ire¡¯s call came through. A call in the dead of night startled Cam, who immediately answered. ¡°Mom, is everything alright?¡± ¡°Cami, haven¡¯t you slept yet?¡± ire¡¯s tired voice came through the phone. ¡°No, not yet. What¡¯s happened?¡± Cam asked anxiously. ire took a deep breath before speaking slowly, ¡°I just got a call from the police station... they said Riley and the others got into a fight and are detained now.¡± N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. Cam frowned, irritated. ¡°They really can stir up trouble. All of them together are centuries old and still brawling.¡± ¡°I know. I¡¯m fed up with them too,¡± sighed ire helplessly. ¡°They said they were packing to leave in the middle of the night and got caught by a neighbor. Many neighbors were talked into investing in Capital Solutions by Riley, and their money¡¯s gone. When they confronted him, it turned into a fight, and now they¡¯re all at the station.¡± ¡°What a mess,¡± sighed Cam. ¡°So what now?¡± ¡°Riley and his wife are detained for ten days because of the brawl, but Grandma was let go. She bought a train ticket back to her hometown, probably will leave by dawn,¡± ire exined. Cam was silent for a few seconds. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t be too soft-hearted anymore. Just stay out of their business from now on. It doesn¡¯t concern us anymore.¡± ¡°I understand. Don¡¯t worry,¡± ire said firmly. ¡°What about Drew?¡± Cam asked, worried. ¡°I don¡¯t know. He wasn¡¯t with them,¡± replied ire. Cam sighed, ¡°Drew is a good kid by nature. It¡¯s just bad luck he¡¯s got such parents. Luckily, he wasn¡¯t involved. He¡¯s still on bail, so it would have been troublesome if he ended up at the station too.¡± ¡°Cough... yes, I believe Drew will grow more sensible after these incidents,¡± ire coughed and said. Cam noticed something was off with her mother. ¡°Mom, why are you coughing?¡± ¡°Just a little under the weather these past few days,¡± ire replied. ¡°Get some sleep early, and if you still feel unwell tomorrow, go see a doctor. Don¡¯t just endure it,¡± Cam advised worriedly. ire agreed and turned to head to her bedroom, feeling indeed quite fatiguedtely. After hanging up, Cam quickly took a shower and went to bed. At just past seven in the morning, her rm rang, and she struggled to sit up in bed, rubbing her sleepy eyes. Yawning, she dragged her weary body to the bathroom. She mechanically went through her morning routine and got dressed, then noticed she was almost runningte, hurriedly slipping on her high heels. The moment she opened the door, Cam froze. There stood Connor, holding arge bouquet of flowers. The sunlight shone on him. He was enveloped in its glow. ¡°Good morning,¡± he smiled tenderly at Cam. His eyes were full of warmth. ¡°For you.¡± Stunned, Cam stared at the bouquet and then up at Connor. ¡°Aren¡¯t you allergic to pollen?¡± she blurted out. Connor¡¯s face briefly showed embarrassment. He coughed lightly, slightly awkwardly responding, ¡°Actually... I¡¯m not allergic to pollen.¡± ¡°What?¡± Cam¡¯s eyes widened, seemingly in disbelief. ¡°Butst time...¡± She was confused, looking at Connor. ¡°You had all the flowers removed from the office.¡± Connor held her gaze, and his voice was serious. ¡°I was jealous.¡± Cam¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Jealous? Jealous of Howard? ¡°I probably liked you a long time ago, just too dense to realize it,¡± Connor said regretfully. He took a deep breath, and his eyes reflected a touch of sadness. ¡°If I had realized sooner, maybe you wouldn¡¯t have gotten involved with that person...¡± Cam¡¯s mouth fell open. Her eyes blinked rapidly, and her heart pounded so hard. Connor held her gaze, and his expression was resolute. ¡°But it¡¯s okay. Like Howard said, as long as you¡¯re not married, I still have a chance.¡± He gently touched Cam¡¯s head. A surge of electricity ran through her from head to toe, leaving her mind nk. She stared at him incredulously. Connor spoke tenderly, ¡°I¡¯m not trying to pressure you. Even if you don¡¯t choose me in the end...¡± He paused, with his eyes intensely on Cam, assertively adding, ¡°I hope you choose me.¡± Cam, looking into his earnest eyes, felt her defenses crumbling. She gently closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. ¡°Bring the flowers inside,¡± Connor said softly, holding her wrist. Cam¡¯s eyes widened, staring at the bouquet wrapped in ck paper with a cute heart-shaped card attached. ¡°It¡¯s my first time giving someone flowers, so please don¡¯t reject them.¡± Connor gently shook Cam¡¯s arm, and his eyes were pleading yfully. Cam waspletely stunned. She had never seen Connor like this before, this expression, this tone. Was this still the calm, confident Connor? Chapter 244 Chapter 244 Connor noticed Cam hesitating and decided to change his strategy. He slightly furrowed his brow, putting on a pitiful look. ¡°I¡¯ve been standing here for half an hour, and my legs are getting sore.¡± Cam snapped out of her thoughts, nced at the flowers in his hand, and then at his slightly hurt face, feeling a twinge of sympathy. Seizing the moment, Connor thrust the flowers into Cam¡¯s arms. ¡°My hands are getting sore too.¡± Cam instinctively raised her hands to hold the flowers and nodded reluctantly, turning to ce the flowers on a table inside the house. Connor¡¯s gaze followed her figure. There was a triumphant smile curling up the corners of his mouth. After arranging the flowers on the table, Cam turned back to face Connor at the doorway. He was smiling warmly at her, his eyes brimming with affection. ¡°I know you like flowers. I¡¯ll buy them for you,¡± he said softly. Cam paused after arranging the flowers. Did he mean to keep sending them? Cam didn¡¯t respond but finished arranging the flowers and closed the door. ¡°It¡¯s still early; let¡¯s go for breakfast,¡± Connor suggested gently, heading towards the elevator. ¡°Aren¡¯t we going back to Cedarhill Estate?¡± Cam asked, surprised. ¡°No, just the two of us. I know a great breakfast spot nearby,¡± Connor said tenderly, pressing the elevator button. Cam didn¡¯t object, merely following him silently with her head down. The elevator doors slowly closed. In the confined space, they stood apart. After a few minutes¡¯ walk, they reached a restaurant. Cam didn¡¯t expect that this ce served breakfast. She thought it only opened at noon. Connor chose a table by the window. The morning sunlight streamed through the window, casting a vibrant glow on him. It was hard to believe that he had been workingte into the night and still appeared so energetic. ¡°What would you like to eat?¡± Connor asked. His gaze never left Cam¡¯s eyes. ¡°Anything is fine,¡± Cam replied, trying to appear casual. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Connor smiled and nodded, then turned to order from the waiter. Breakfast was served quickly. It was all her favorites. Cam took a sip of her milk and cut a piece of the honey and cream-covered pancakes into her mouth. The delicious food slightly eased her mood. Connor watched her and asked gently, ¡°Is it good?¡± Cam nodded. She looked around and whispered, ¡°Are we too early? There are no other customers?¡± Connor smiled slightly, ¡°They don¡¯t usually serve breakfast. I arranged with the owner to open early and prepare your favorite dishes.¡± Cam watched him, touched by his thoughtful arrangement. ¡°You...¡± she hesitated to speak. Connor put down his cutlery and looked at her earnestly. ¡°You don¡¯t need to feel pressured. I¡¯m just doing what I want to do.¡± Cam lowered her head, her thoughts in turmoil. ¡°I...¡± she began softly, suddenly unsure how to tell him she didn¡¯t have a boyfriend. ¡°I¡¯ll give you time,¡± Connor said gently. ¡°I will wait for your answer.¡± They continued their breakfast in silence, not touching on the topic of rtionships again. Suddenly, Cam¡¯s phone rang. ¡°Mr. Connor, I need to take this call.¡± Connor nodded. Cam answered the call, spoke a few words, and then said, ¡°Alright, I understand. I¡¯ll move over this weekend. Thank you.¡± Hearing the word ¡°move,¡± Connor paused, putting down his cutlery and looking at Cam. After hanging up the phone, she noticed Connor staring at her. The confusion was evident in his eyes. Connor looked intently at Cam. ¡°You¡¯re moving?¡± Chapter 245 Chapter 245 Cam nodded slightly. She gathered her thoughts and said, ¡°Mr. Connor, thank you for lending me your house these past few weeks. I¡¯ve found a ce and I¡¯ll be moving out on Sunday.¡± ¡°Why? I told you that you could stay as long as you needed,¡± Connor replied. His tone was tinged with confusion. Cam hesitated, unsure how to exin. ¡°I just don¡¯t think it¡¯s appropriate anymore, given that it¡¯s your house. I shouldn¡¯t impose indefinitely.¡± Connor frowned, ¡°What¡¯s inappropriate about it?¡± Cam shook her head gently. ¡°I just feel it¡¯s better this way. I¡¯ve already paid the rent for the new ce.¡± ¡°Did I make you feel too pressured?¡± Connor¡¯s eyes showed a hint of loss. ¡°I have rented the house earlier,¡± Cam said calmly. Connor was silent for a moment. ¡°If you¡¯re set on moving, I¡¯ll help you,¡± he offered, trying to keep his tone even. ¡°No need. I don¡¯t have much luggage and the new ce is close by,¡± Cam responded. Connor simply nodded, then fell silent. The breakfast before him suddenly seemed tasteless, and he couldn¡¯t eat a bite. The atmosphere between them grew awkward, and Cam didn¡¯t know what to say to break the silence. Time seemed to stand still, and no one spoke. Finally, Connor broke the silence, ¡°If you need help, contact me anytime.¡± His voice carried a mix of weariness and resignation. Cam nodded, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Connor.¡± Back at the office. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Connor was about to start an executive meeting, while Cam summarized the project timelines and printed them out for his office. Connor took the progress reports, nced at them, and with a tap of his slender fingers on the summary, said, ¡°Print me the details of this project.¡± Cam acknowledged and turned to print the documents. Connor¡¯s gaze unintentionally followed her. There was a barely perceptible hint of sorrow and bitterness in his eyes. He walked to the window. His figure appeared somewhat deste and lonely against the backdrop of the window. Lighting a cigarette, he exhaled slowly, watching the smoke dissipate in the air. The smoke gradually filled the air, and his gaze became distant. Cam, after printing the documents, knocked and entered the CEO¡¯s office. When he heard the knock, he stubbed out his cigarette. ¡°Come in.¡± ¡°Mr. Connor, it¡¯s time for the meeting,¡± Cam informed him. Connor acknowledged, took the documents from her hand as he walked past. As he passed by Cam, she caught a faint whiff of tobo from him. At lunchtime, Cam went downstairs to pick up Connor¡¯s lunch. She noticed that the lunchbox was different from before. ¡°Changed the lunchbox?¡± Cam asked. ¡°Mr. Connor seems to have thrown away yesterday¡¯s lunchbox,¡± the drivermented. ¡°Why?¡± Cam was momentarily puzzled. The driver shrugged, indicating he didn¡¯t know. Cam recalled that yesterday, she had given her own lunch to Haylie. Could that be why? She ced Connor¡¯s lunch in his office. Suddenly, Erica called. ¡°Cami, I¡¯m in love again.¡± Cam smiled, ¡°I hope this onests a bit longer.¡± Erica chuckled, ¡°If we¡¯re still together next month, I¡¯ll introduce him to you.¡± She then quickly changed the subject, ¡°Did you tell that jerk about moving out?¡± Cam hummed affirmatively. ¡°What was his reaction?¡± Erica asked curiously. Cam looked around, ensuring no one was near, and whispered, ¡°He¡¯s chasing me...¡± Chapter 246 Chapter 246 ¡°What!¡± Erica gasped. Her voice was tinged with excitement. ¡°What did I miss?¡± ¡°He suddenly said yesterday that he wanted to pursue me, which was quite unexpected,¡± Cam exined. ¡°Are you sure he¡¯s sincere about you?¡± Erica asked, with concerncing her tone. ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Cam admitted honestly. She paused for a half-second before continuing, ¡°He mentioned he¡¯s liked me for a while now. Remember when John pretended to be my boyfriend? I don¡¯t know how to exin that to him. Should I tell him I was just jealous and lied?¡± Erica fell silent for a moment, then suggested, ¡°Don¡¯t tell him.Keep him on his toes. If you want a lasting rtionship with him, don¡¯t y your cards about your feelings too soon. Some people stop appreciating what they have once they get it.¡± After chatting for a while longer, Cam hung up the phone. Connor was distracted all day, constantly thinking about Cam. As evening approached and work ended, he shut down hisputer, grabbed his suit jacket, and walked out of the office. Approaching Cam, he murmured, ¡°Work¡¯s over. Let me drive you home.¡± Today, Connor had not asked his driver toe. Thus, the two found themselves alone together in the confined space of the car once more. Noticing Cam seemed a bit tense, Connor yed some soft music. After a moment, he said, ¡°Have I been assigning you too much work recently? You look tired.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m tired. Partly because of work, and partly because of¡­¡± Cam trailed off. ¡°What¡¯s the other part?¡± ¡°Family issues.¡± ¡°Did you get it sorted?¡± Connor knew about the troubles at her home, but since she hadn¡¯t brought them up, he pretended to be unaware. Cam hummed in acknowledgment. She thought about the lunchbox from earlier and hesitated before looking up at Connor and asking, ¡°Why did you change the lunchbox?¡± Connor nced at her then back at the road, saying, ¡°I don¡¯t like others touching my things.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Cam asked, puzzled. Connor¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, and his voice deepened as he said, ¡°You gave the lunchbox to Haylie.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t give her yours, though,¡± Cam quickly rified. ¡°Yours... is also mine,¡± Connor stated firmly. Cam was taken aback. The atmosphere in the car shifted, bing subtly charged. Cam didn¡¯t know what to say and just silently watched out the window. Connor, too, said nothing more, focusing on driving. As they neared her home, Connor finally spoke, ¡°I¡¯m serious about you.¡± Cam nodded. The car stopped at the entrance of Cedarhill Estate. ¡°Thank you for the ride home,¡± she said as she unbuckled her seatbelt and prepared to get out. ¡°Cam,¡± Connor suddenly called out. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Turning her head, she looked at him. ¡°What is it?¡± Connor gazed deeply at her. ¡°Nothing, I just... wanted to call you.¡± Cam smiled, ¡°Then I¡¯ll head up.¡± Connor nodded. Back at home, Cam sat on the sofa, lost in thought for a long time. Thinking about all the interactions with Connor today, she realized she still really liked him. It made her uneasy, yet also somewhat hopeful. Buzz, buzz, buzz ¡ª Cam picked up her phone and saw ¡°Drew¡± on the disy. She immediately answered the call. Chapter 247 Chapter 247 The muffled sound of a voice came through the phone, apanied by loud music and the hubbub of a crowd. Cam could hardly make out what Drew was saying, only catching him repeatedly apologizing. ¡°Drew, are you drunk? Where are you right now?¡± Cam immediately asked, recognizing his condition. ¡°Cam, just listen to me.¡± Drew¡¯s voice suddenly became agitated. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry.¡± Drew¡¯s voice carried a hint of tears. Soon, someone else took the phone. ¡°Are you this guy¡¯s family? He¡¯s stered and won¡¯t leave. Come pick him up.¡± ¡°Okay, send me the address.¡± Cam responded promptly. After she hung up the phone, the address was sent to her. The address near Craig¡¯s workce, so she called him. ¡°Craig, my cousin¡¯s at a bar near your office and he¡¯s getting drunk. I¡¯m going to pick him up, and I might need some help.¡± Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. ¡°No problem. Just send me the address,¡± Craig immediately responded. ¡°Thanks.¡± Cam grabbed her bag and rushed out. When Cam arrived at the bar, Craig and John were already there. Drew was slumped over a table, surrounded by disarray. Cam hurried over and supported him. ¡°Drew, are you okay?¡± Drew looked up at her, a faint smile appearing on his lips. ¡°Cam...¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get him to my ce first,¡± Cam frowned. Craig and John helped Drew out of the bar and hailed a taxi. In the cab, Drew kept talking, and his words were slurred. Cam turned to look at him. Suddenly, Drew vomited, sttering Cam. She froze, staring down at the mess on her clothes. The driver, noticing the sound and the smell, looked in the rearview mirror and eximed, ¡°Don¡¯t throw up in my car! That¡¯s a $300 cleaning fee right there!¡± Craig and John quickly handed her some tissues. ¡°It¡¯s on me, not the car,¡± Cam said, on the verge of breaking down as she wiped herself clean with the tissues. The car arrived at Belleview Heights. Craig and John supported Drew while Cam, holding back nausea, led them upstairs. Upon reaching Cam¡¯s residence, Craig and John were stunned. The spacious living room, luxurious decor, and the cityscape visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows, all spoke of opulence. ¡°I had no idea you lived somewhere so nice,¡± Craig remarked. ¡°It¡¯s an apartment of thepany. Just staying here temporarily,¡± Cam exined. ¡°Can you guys help get Drew into this bedroom?¡± The three of them moved Drew into the room. Hey on the bed, still mumbling something. ¡°Cami, you should take a shower. You must feel ufortable,¡± Craig suggested as they watched over Drew. Cam nodded and headed to the bathroom to wash off the soiled clothes. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Craig, who was wiping Drew¡¯s face, looked up at John. ¡°John, can you get that?¡± John nodded, set down the ss of water he was holding, and went to open the door. As the door swung open, both sides were taken aback. Chapter 248 Chapter 248 Connor''s eyes darkened. His piercing gaze narrowed slightly with a dangerous glimmer, exuding a strong sense of aggression. John recognized the tall, imposing man in front of him as Cam¡¯s boss. With a slight furrow of his brows, he asked, ¡°Are you looking for Cam?¡± Connor did not speak for a long while.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. John''s eyelids twitched. He sensed the dangerous aura enveloping the man before him. The aura radiating from this man exerted an invisible pressure on him. He swallowed, tentatively asking. ¡°Cam is taking a shower. Would you like toe in? Connor''s pupils contracted, and his gaze turned exceptionally cold and piercing. After a few seconds of silence, he spoke in a deep voice, ¡°No, thank you.¡± He turned and left. As John watched his retreating figure, a chill rose from the depths of his heart, causing him to shudder involuntarily. He closed the door and returned inside. ¡°Who was it?¡± Craig asked. ¡®It was Cam¡¯s boss. Not sure what it was about. John replied, shivering again at the mention of Connor. ¡®I hear Cami¡¯s job is really demanding. She often has to workte into the night.¡± Craig sighed. ¡°The dining table¡¯s covered in documents. She really has it tough.¡± In the bathroom. Camthered her body with body wash, rinsing over and over again. It took a while before she felt the scent start to fade. She changed into clean clothes and went to the bedroom where Drew was sleeping. ¡°How''s he doing?¡± ¡°He¡¯s asleep. He''ll be fine after some rest,¡± Craig said. ¡°Thank you guys,¡± Cam said gratefully. ¡°Sorry for the trouble.¡± ¡°Don''t mention it.¡± Craig shook his head. ¡°We''re just a bit worried about you.¡± ¡°You guys go ahead. I''m fine here,¡± Cam said. ¡°Drew''s also asleep.¡± Cam smiled, ¡°Thanks for your help tonight. I really appreciate it. "No need for thanks,¡± Craig said, looking: at Cam. "You''re my sister after-all.¡± He then nced at Drew. ¡®And he¡¯s practically my brother.¡± Cam nodded with a smile. They all walked to the door, and John suddenly stopped, saying, ¡°Your boss came by earlier. You still have work at this hour?¡± Cam paused, and her smile faltered slightly. = ¡°Yeah, just some work-rted issues to handle.¡± ¡°We''ll head out then,¡± Craig said. ¡°Call us anytime if you need help.¡± Cam smiled as she saw them out and closed the door. She took a deep breath and went to Drew''s bedroom to tuck him in properly. The guests had left, and Cam changed back into her pajamas, starting to tidy up the living room This house was soon to be returned to Connor. She needed to make sure it was spotless and left no trace She plugged in the vacuum cleaner, which roared to life. Cam slowly pushed the vacuum across the carpet. sucking up the dust. She bent down, carefully wiping the surfaces of the tables and sofa with a damp cloth, leaving no corner untouched. After cleaning the living room, Cam moved into the bathroom. She turned on the tap, letting the water flow. Then, she fook out aundry basin, soaking the clothes soiled by Drew¡¯ S sickness The stains on the clothes made-her feel nauseous, but she persevered, scrubbing themo carefully. Content belongs.to NovelDrama.Org - No matter fow much she washed, . the smell¡¯still lingered. The clothes werebeyond saving, so with assigh, she threw them into the trash. After cleaning the bathroom and the clothes, Cam felt exhausted and just wanted to sit down and rest for a while. Chapter 249 Chapter 249 Ding-dong, ding-dong, ding-dong. The doorbell echoed relentlessly. Who could it be at thiste hour? Cam frowned, reluctantly rising from her bed to answer the door. Peering through the peephole, she saw Connor standing outside. With a sigh, she opened the door. As the door swung open, the unmistakable scent of smoke and liquor hit her. Connor swayed slightly at the threshold. His face flushed with inebriation, and his gaze was cloudy. Cam frowned, covering her mouth and nose. ¡°What''s happened to you? Why have you drunk so much?¡± Connor didn¡¯t reply but staggered into the apartment. Cam hurried after him. Suddenly, Connor turned around, extended his long arm, and pulled Cam into his embrace. His warm palms pressed against Cam''s back, tightening his hold. Their bodies pressed closely together. Cam¡¯s mind raced. Her gaze lifted to meet his, and her breath mingled with the scent of this man. Her soft body pressed against his firm frame. Heat rushed to Cam''s face as she met Connor''s wless features. Her heart nearly leaped from her chest. Connor fixed his gaze on her bright, sparkling eyes. Why couldn''t she be his? ¡°Connor, you''re drunk. Let go of me.¡± Cam tried to speak calmly, desperately struggling. Connor''s grip was too strong, holding her tightly. ¡°Why can¡¯t you fall for me His gaze dropped to her soft, inviting lips. His eyes darkened, and his throat tightened Atst, he couldn¡¯t help but lean down, capturing her tender lips urately. He started to kiss her. Cam¡¯s eyes widened dramatically, her gaze filled with shock. Her mind went nk. Her heartbeat thundered against her chest, rapid and forceful. Connor''s lips moved gently yet possessively over hers. In her dazed ragment, Connor''s tongue gently-entered through her lips, bringin with it the intoxicating scent of cohol and tobo. Hes explored deeply, dominating the? . territory, His arms wrapped tightly arayind her waist, as if trying to rf¨¦rge her into his body..Gontent belongs to Cami breathe, nor could she thin la coutdn¡¯ NK push seeme kcinstinctive him away, but h ed frozen, unab y she wanted to er body le to move. She court only let him plunder he? breat h, her soul. Con ent belongs to a al A tingling sensation shot through : her head; Sverwhelming her senses. Slowlyyshe closed her eyes, and her hands involuntarily climbed to ¡®his shoulders. The kisssted an eternity, as if spanning a century. Cam whimpered. Only then did Connor reluctantly break away from her lips. Both were breathless. His deep gaze was fixated on Cam''s face. Cam gasped for air. Her eyes were slightly unfocused, and her cheeks were flushed and hot. Her heart pounded like thunder. Caught off guard by this sudden intimacy, she instinctively pushed him away. Drunk as he was, Connor staggered back several steps. Cam was rmed and worried he might fall, and quickly reached out to grasp him. Just as she touched him, Connor leaned forward again. His body pressed against hers. nearly suffocating her. ¡°Cam...¡± he murmured. His voice wasden with drunkenness. His stomach churned, and he frowned, trying to control himself.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. But... ¡°Bleh ¡ª" It came up suddenly. The vomit spewed out, drenching the back of Cam''s shirt. Cam¡¯s eyes widened in horror. ¡°Ah!¡± she screamed in anger. Chapter 250 Chapter 250 ¡®I''m sorry...¡± Connor murmured. His body suddenly went limp. Hepletely passed out from too much drinking. Cam struggled to contain her anger, trying to free herself from his weight, but Connor''s body pinned her down, leaving her immovable. The romantic atmosphere that had just been there vanished, leaving only fury. ¡°This is just my luck! Thrown up on twice in a row!¡± She managed toy Connor down on the sofa, ensuring he was done vomiting. then quickly got up and rushed into the bathroom to wash off. After changing into clean clothes, she walked back to the sofa. Connory quietly on it, his face still marked with traces of vomit. She sighed, grabbing a damp towel from the bathroom, and gently wiped his face. She controlled her emotions, careful not to let her anger affect her actions. Once she finished, she took a deep breath, pulled Connor up from the sofa, had him lean on her shoulder, and tightly held his waist to support his unsteady body. She struggled to support him as they moved toward the bedroom where Drew was sleeping. ¡°The two drunkards can sleep together!¡± Cam muttered,ying Connor down on Drew''s bed and tucking them in. Exhausted, Cam sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the unconscious Connor.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. His breathing was deep, and his face showed a hint of satisfaction and bliss, as if he was in the middle of a pleasant dream. Cam sighed. Her gaze was fixed on him. and her anger slowly subsided, reced by aplex emotion She gently caressed his cheek. Her fingertips slid over his eyebrows, down his nose, and finally lingered on his lips Thinking of that overpowering kiss, the electrifying sensation it brought made her slightly panic. Her cheeks flushed, and her heartbeat suddenly quickened. Cam forcefully pped her cheeks, quickly turned off the light, and left the room, closing the door behind her. Morning came. Sunlight seeped through the gaps in the curtains, and Drew slowly opened his eyes. Feeling a bit . groggy, he couldn¡¯ immediately < recall waat had happened the pight before He stared confusedly- at the ceiling, stretching his arm, Ren realizing there was someene else in the bed next to him. Content belongs to NS His eyes widened, and he became fully alert. Turning his head, he saw a stranger lying there, sleeping soundly. Drew froze. Unable to contain his shock, he kicked the stranger beside him. ¡°Holy smokes! Who are you?¡± he shouted. At the same time, Connor was also. jolted awake. He opened his eyes groggi ly, seeing a stranger staring at himrin horror. Swnovel oS e too froze. He looked around, and the decorreminded hirn of Belleview eights¡¯s style. This realization.¡± snapped him fully awake. Hi Isgaze sharpened. - Connor stared at Drew. His voice was low and tense. ¡°Who are you? What are you doing here?¡± Drew, still a bit dazed, rubbed his head and replied irritably, ¡°Man, I have no idea where this is! Bang ¡ª The bedroom door was pushed open forcefully. Both men''s eyes immediately turned to Cam. noticing her pale expression. She stood with her arms akimbo, ring down at the two men on the bed. ¡°Cami...¡± Drew whispered. ¡°How did I end up here?¡± Drew looked towards Cam, squeezing out a smile. Chapter 251 Chapter 251 ¡°Do you not remember?¡± Cam asked, furrowing her brows. Drew shook his head. Cam sighed, ¡°You got drunkst night at a bar, called me, and Craig and I had to carry you back here.¡± ¡°Sorry, Cam...¡± Drew hung his head low, murmuring, ¡°I''ve caused you trouble again.¡± Connor, overhearing their conversation, gradually pieced together what had happened. A slight smile formed on his lips. Her boyfriend didn¡¯t stay the night. ¡°What about you?¡± Cam turned and red at Connor. Connor, caught off guard, found himself at a loss for words. He strained to recallst night''s events. He only remembered seeing her boyfriend here, drinking heavily at his ce, but why he ended up here was beyond him. He shook his head nkly, and his eyes were filled with innocence and confusion. Cam suppressed the anger bubbling inside her. Her mind was buzzing. She cursed inwardly, ¡°This jerk,pletely forgetting the mess he has made!¡±Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Is that your boyfriend?¡± Drew whispered quietly. Connor couldn''t help but smile more broadly, thinking Drew was really quite endearing ¡°Not yet,¡± he whispered back. ¡°So, he''s your future boyfriend?¡± Drew asked again. Connor''s eyes brightened, and his lips curved up slightly, secretly pleased. Drew gave a meaningful ¡°oh,¡± as if he figured something out Cam red at them. visibly annoyed. ¡°Disgusting! Go take a shower!¡± she ordered. ¡°There are new toiletries in the bathroom. Come out and have breakfast after you¡¯re done,¡± Cam told Drew. Drew nodded and quickly headed for the bathroom. ¡°You,e with me.¡± Cam nced at Connor. Her tone was harsh as she issued themand Connor immediately got out of bed and followed her. Cam led-him to her bedroom and closed the door. She turned to face Connor taking a deep breath. She guessed that he must have seen Johest night and misunderstood, drewning his sorrows in drink. ¡°How did you end up here?¡± Cam asked ¡°I don¡¯t know... I cked out... can¡¯t remember,¡± Connor said. His voice was timid, intimidated by Cam¡¯s anger. Cam sighed, massaging her temples. This guy! Even though Cedarhill Estate wasn¡¯t far, it was still dangerous to walk here drunkte at night! She couldn''t help but worry. She didn''t want him to get into any trouble. She took a deep breath. ¡°Did you see John yesterday?¡± At that name, Connor''s brow furrowed immediately. He was sensitive about this topic, and a flicker of displeasure crossed his eyes. He didn¡¯t answer, just stared silently at Cam. ¡°He''s not my boyfriend,¡± Cam stated tly. Connor''s h¨¦art skipped a beat, a nearly leabing out of his chest. Hee starediin ensely at Cam. Hise pupils ¡®trembled slightly, as if, he couldn''t believe his ears. Content belongs to NovelDrama.Org ~ Cam continued, ¡°He was just helping me get rid of Howard.¡± Her words were like a fresh spring, instantly clearing the clouds in Connor''s mind. He felt his facial¡± muscles rx involuntarily, and his lips curved into a smile. Content belongs to NovelDrama.Org ~ His mood exploded like fireworks, which were colorful and bright, illuminating his entire world. Connor rushed forward and embraced Cam. He blurted out, ¡°You, you... you don''t have a boyfriend!¡± The joy in his eyes and brows became even more evident. He was almost unable to control his excitement. "Now I can pursue you openly! Cam struggled in his embrace, muttering, ¡°Yeah, whatever.¡± Chapter 252 Chapter 252 ¡°Go take a shower. You smell like booze and smoke!¡± Cam frowned, slightly exasperated as she pushed Connor away. ¡°As you wish! Heading to the shower now!¡± Connor''s lips couldn¡¯t help but curl upwards. His smile was evident. He quickly turned and walked towards the master bedroom¡¯s bathroom, eager to wash off the unpleasant odors and reappear fresh in front of her. After his shower, Connor felt rejuvenated, clean, and fresh, with a faint scent of body wash lingering on him. The dining table was set with oatmeal and same side dishes. Cam was arranging the cutlery. Connor pulled out a chair and sat down. His eyes were locked on Cam. his lips curved into a mischievous smile. At that moment, Drew came out of the bathroom, towel in hand, drying his hair. Heined slightly, ¡°Cam, your body wash is all out, and there''s barely any shampoo left. When she heared this, Cam¡¯s grip on her cutlery tightened, and she gritted her teeth. "There was more than half a bottle of body wash left before yesterday!¡± Her tone was filled with dissatisfaction as she red at them. ¡°You''re using it up way too fast.¡± Drew said in surprise. Cam gritted her teeth, feigning a smile. ¡°Yeah, why am I using it so fast? She red at Drew. ¡°You threw up on me in the cab. Connor watched Drew in shock. His eyebrows furrowed, and his gaze turned cold. ¡°You dared to throw up on her!¡± Cursing inwardly, he felt a surge of anger. Drew scratched his head awkwardly. Realizing his drunken mishap had troubled Cam, he quickly apologized, "Cam, I''m sorry for the trouble.¡± Cam took a deep breath. She then red at Connor, saying through clenched teeth, ¡°And you threw up on me too.¡± Connor was dumbfounded. He hadn¡®t realized he too was at fault and quickly lowered his head. This was a disaster; she must be furious.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. He looked up at Cam. His eyes conveyed an apology, ¡°I''m sorry. I''ll definitely drink less from now on.¡± Cam digit respond but red at. him. However, with Connor''s embarrassed and remorseful expression, she sighed and decided not to hold it against him for now. ¡°Let''s have breakfast. Drew sat at the table, nced around to change the subject, and eximed, ¡°Cam, this house you¡¯re living in is huge!¡± ¡°It''s apany t. I¡¯m moving out tomorrow,¡± Cam said indifferently, serving him a bowl of catmeal ¡°You''re still nning to move?¡± Connor frowned Cam responded and served a bowl of oatmeal in front of him. Considering-his behavior the previous night, Connor decided to¡± behave-well to make up for his. = faults; He took the initiative topick up the cutlery and serve a bowl of oatmeal for Cam. Content belongs to¡°NovelDrama.Org < Cam stared at the oatmeal, instantly reminded ofst night''s vomit, and felt nauseated. Connor immediately handed her a tissue, looking at her sympathetically. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Cam waved her hand and managed a forced smile, gently pushing the oatmeal bowl away. ¡®I¡¯m not hungry. You guys go ahead. Drew took a spoonful of oatmeal and grimaced. ¡°Cam, why does this oatmeal taste burnt?" Cam alsotasted the oatmeal and her expression changed slightly. Indeed,the oatmeal tasted burt She said embarrassingly, ¡® ¡®Sorry, it¡¯ my ff first time cooking it. I''ll order some takeout for us.¡± Content b¨¦longs to NovelDrama.Org ~ Connor nced at Drew. He took a spoonful of oatmeal and praised, ¡°It''s delicious.¡± Cam felt a slight warmth in her heart, knowing Connor was trying tofort her. Chapter 253 Chapter 253 Drew shivered under Connor¡¯s intense gaze, feeling a chill down his spine, and could say another word. He immediately scooped up a spoonful of oatmeal and swallowed it down, trying his best not to show his displeasure at the nd taste. Cam couldn''t help but chuckle at their reactions. "Stop eating. I really didn¡¯t cook it well.¡± ¡°No, it''s delicious.¡± Connor didn¡¯t bother with any side dishes and polished off his bowl of oatmealpletely. Cam was surprised to see this scene. Connor, usually so picky, had cleaned up the failed oatmeal so thoroughly, which touched her somewhat. ¡®I''m done too!¡± Drew showed his empty bowl. Cam smiled. Her mood was instantly lifted, and she asked, ¡°Where are you staying these days? What are your ns?¡± Drew was silent for a moment before responding. ¡°I''ve been staying at a friend¡¯s ce. He got me a sales job that includes amodation but not meals, pays six thousand a month.¡± Cam looked at Drew seriously and advised, "Make sure you learn about thepany¡¯s background. Don¡¯t trust people too easily and learn to protect yourself.¡± Drew nodded firmly, ¡°I understand, Cam. I''ll start earning and pay you and aunt ire back.¡± He silently vowed to himself to work hard and not let Cam down. Connor spoke up. ¡°Give me your phone.¡± Drew paused but obediently handed his phone to Connor. Connor quickly typed in his own number and handed it back to Drew. ¡°This is my number. If you need help or if there¡¯s anything you need, feel free to contact me,¡± Connor said earnestly. Drew took his phone back, moved by Connor''s gesture. ¡°Thanks.¡± A smile yed on Connor¡¯s lips. He watched Drew earnestly and said, ¡°Remember, call me first if anythinges up. Whether it¡¯s troubles at work or life''s annoyances, you can always talk to me.¡± Drew nodded vigorously. Cam, observing their interaction, felt a sense of relief. Connor''s inclusive attitude warmed and moved her. As Cam began to clear the dishes, Drew quickly took them from her. ¡°You get some rest, Cam. I''ll wash up. ¡°Okay,¡± Cam nodded. Drew took the dishes to the kitchen, while Cam headed to the sofa to rest. She hadn''t slept well the night before and yawned Suddenly, she felt the sofa dip beside her. Looking up, she found Connor smiling at her, his gaze deep and affectionate. ¡°What''s up?¡± Cam asked, masking her nervousness. ¡°Just watching you,¡± Connor said softly. ¡°I really like this feeling. He moved closer to Cam, almost touching her. Connor''s lips passed before her eyes, triggering memories ofst night. The scene-fromst night resurfaced in her mind. That kiss seemed ¡®still to linger on her lips, making her heartbeat quicken and her ¡®cheeks blush. Content.belongs to 7 The body always tells the truth more than words. "You are annoying.¡± Cam pushed him slightly, only to be firmly I. grasped by his hand. She tried to wriggle free from Connor''s grip, but his ¡®strong hand held her tightly. Cam felt as if enveloped by a zing me. rendering her immobile. Connor''s gaze remained tenderly fixed on Cam as he spoke, ¡°Go back to sleep for a while. I''ll drive Drew back.¡± Cam raisecer hand that was being held, }soked at Connor with slightly furcowed brows and said, -> ¡°How can go back to the bedrooin if youd don''t let go?¡± Her voice carried a mixof frustration and ro helplessness. 4N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. Connor chuckled and released her hand. Chapter 254 Chapter 254 Connor was lounging on the sofa. His mood lifted as he watched Cam shyly retreat back to the bedroom. It was only when the bedroom door clicked shut that he stood up, took a deep breath, and calmed his fluttering heart. He strolled into the kitchen and said to Drew, ¡°All set? I''ll drive you home.¡± ¡°Yeah, all done.¡± Drew nodded, drying his hands on a towel. Drew followed Connor, and they left the apartment together. As they stepped into the elevator, Connor reached to press the button and suddenly realized he hadn¡¯t driven there. He chuckled awkwardly, ¡°Looks like I didn¡¯t bring my car.¡±Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Drew paused for a moment but quickly recovered, ¡°No worries. I can catch a bus from the station nearby.¡± ¡°It''s not far to my ce. We can walk there and drive from there,¡± Connor suggested. ¡°Sounds good,¡± Drew agreed. Exiting the elevator, Drew nced around before they reached the front door. He stopped dead when he saw the name of theplex. Belleview Heights. It was nestled in the heart of downtown, renowned for its luxury and high-end facilities, as well as the 24-hour tight security. Drew had never imagined his cousin lived in such an upscale residential area. ¡°This is Cedarhill Estate?¡± he asked in a low tone, staring at thevish homes in front of him. ¡°Yeah.¡± Connor nodded nonchntly. Drew fell silent for a moment then looked at Connor seriously. ¡°I suspect my cousin''s boss might have inappropriate intentions towards her. Connor nearly choked on his own spit. "Think abqut it," Drew analyzed. "She''s just an ordinary employeexyet she¡¯ siving alone in this luxury¡®ce. The intentions seem pretty:clear.¡± Connor nodded, acknowledging the point. ¡°Well, I think, she feels differently about you,¡± Drew said seriously. Connor chuckled. The young man¡¯s observational skills were indeed impressive. ¡°Do you know much about her family situation?¡± Drew inquired further. ¡°Very well,¡± Connor replied without hesitation Drew took a deep breath and added, ¡°You know, with her qualifications, there are many wealthy guys chasing after her.¡± Connor nodded, remaining silent. ¡®But she n¨¦ver epted any of them,¡± Drew said. His voice grew. passionate. ¡°She worked part- tire through college just to ease the financial burden on her family.¡± Connor knew all along that Cam was an independent and strong woman. ¡°So, if you really care about her, I support you guys being together,¡± Drew said earnestly, looking directly at Connor. ¡°She deserves the best.¡± ¡®I''ll treat her well. You have my word,¡± Conner assured him, patting Drew on the shoulder. Together, they walked up to the entrance of Cedarhill Estate. The security guard at the gate saluted them as the gates slowly opened: Drew stood rooted to the spot, his eyes wide with amazement. Cedarnill Estate was a drean? for many. ... - Drew stared bewilderedly at Connor. Chapter 255 Chapter 255 Connor nced at Drew with a faint smile. He knew Drew must have a lot of questions, but he didn¡¯t answer right away. Instead, he led Drew into Cedarhill Estate. Following Connor, Drew walked through the spacious lobby and entered the elevator. ¡°Do you live here?¡± Drew couldn''t help but ask ¡°Let me properly introduce myself. I''m Connor, Cam''s boss, and yes, I do have feelings for her,¡± Connor said with a chuckle. Drew hadn''t realized he was Cam¡¯s boss and was a bit taken aback. He awkwardly looked down, unsure of what to say next. ¡°I''m still trying to win Cam over. I really like her,¡± Connor said earnestly, observing Drew''s reaction. The elevator stopped at the garage, and Connor led the way out. Drew followed. His eyes widened at the sight of luxury cars, especially a stretch Rolls-Royce that stood out. ¡°Wow, this car is limited edition in the country, right?¡± he eximed, moving closer to take a better look. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s my car. I didn''t bring the keys, but I''ll take you for a spin next time.¡± Connor said, unlocking a nearby Bentley. Drew nodded, impressed by Connor¡¯s wealth. ¡°Get in. I''ll give you a ride home.¡± Connor said, turning to Drew. Once Drew was in the car, they slowly drove out of the garage. Since finding out Connor was Cam''s boss, Drew felt uneasy, as if a sudden invisible wall had sprung up between them. He became reserved, unsure of what to say, worried that any misstep might trouble his cousin ¡°You''re like a brother to me. It''s okay.¡± Connor said with a smile, looking ahead. "If you ever need help, just let me know.¡± Drew nodded seriously. "If you ever hurt her, no matter how big of a boss you are, I''ll fight for her.¡± ¡°That day will nevere,¡± Connor replied with a smile. ¡°I will cherish her. ¡°Make sure you do,¡± Drew emphasized. Finally. they reached Drew¡¯s ce. He got out of the car and thanked Connor. ¡°No problem. Don¡¯t make Cam worry too much,¡± Connor advised. Drew nodded. After leaving, Connor drove to a restaurant. He picked up tworge bags of food and returned to Belleview Heights. He hesitated at the door, not i wanting to disturb Cam¡¯s rest, but ultimately he keyed in the password and gently pushed open the door. He put ¡°all the food in the fridge> ¡°Content belongs to ~~ At that moment, n stood at the door, holding aptop, some documents, and a set of loungewear. He sent a message to Connor, wondering about their current rtionship status ¡ª were they together or not? Soon, Connor opened the door and saw n. ¡°Mr. Connor, here are the documents and clothes you asked for.¡± n handed over the items. ¡°Thank you.¡± Connor took them with a ned Before rcould say another word, the doar ¨¦losed. n stood there stunned, looking at the closed door, ands Sighed, ¡°Guess I''m really out of the loop now.¡± - He silently turned and left. Connor changed into his ~ comfortable loungewear, openedfis laptopsand started working onsome busi sides matters, waiting forCam to. wake up. 7Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 256 Chapter 256 Time had slipped by unnoticed for several hours. Cam woke up, sensing someone in the living room. As she entered, she saw Connor deeply immersed in his work. He sat on the couch. The light from hisptop screen reflected in his deep eyes, casting an aura of focused charm ¡°When did you get back?¡± Cam asked softly.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡°Not long ago.¡± Connor looked up. His eyes met Cam¡¯s, and a smile graced his lips. ¡°I picked up some food on my way back, it''s in the fridge now.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Cam responded gently. ¡°Yeah. I didn''t want to wake you, so I just let myself in with the code,¡± Connor exined. ¡°Just finished some work.¡± ¡°Why don''t you work from home office instead of the couch? It''s much morefortable.¡± Cam furrowed her brows slightly, and her tone wasced with concern. Connor set aside his work, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. He walked over to Cam, leaning in to whisper, ¡°I just wanted to be near you. Their eyes locked, and the air was charged with an unspoken romantic tension. Cam felt her heartbeat quicken, and Connor seemed to convey his feelings through his gaze. The romantic tension made her slightly nervous, so she changed the subject ¡°What did you buy?¡± She asked quietly, turning her head slightly to avoid Connor''s intense stare. Connor just smiled, not calling her out on her diversion. He led her to the fridge. ¡°Open it and see.¡± Cam did as told, and the fridge was filled with a variety of desserts. Her eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Wow, mille-feuille, fruit tarts, moltenva cake...¡± Connor watched her reaction, his eyes filled with tenderness and affection. ¡°I know you love sweets, so I went and packed some to bring back. hoping you''d like them. "You must-be hungry. You haven''t ? eaten anything this morning, right¡± He poirited to a takeout bag next to the fridge. ¡°There''s seafood pasta and risotto. Let''s eat together.¡± Cam nodded. She quickly heated the seafood pasta and risotto in the oven, while Connor prepared the tableware. Once everything was ready, they sat opposite each other. Cam took in the feast before her. salivating. ¡°How did you manage to prepare all this?¡± ¡°Did I lose a lot of pointsst night?¡± Connorughed awkwardly. He couldnt remember exactly what, he had done the previous night, but he knew being covered in vomit¡± wouild unsettle anyone. Content belongs to NovelDrama.Org - Cam, eating her dessert, didn¡¯t hesitate to respond, ¡°Major deduction.¡± Connor took a deep breath. ¡°Try to see it from my side. I came overst night and the moment I opened''the door, tsaw your so-called boyfriend. It''s hard not to feel upset. Can we deduct fewer points?¡± Content b¨¦longs to NovelDrama.Org ~ His words carried a hint of whining and pleading. Cam watched Conneor¡¯s somewhat childish demeanor and sighed softly, ¡°Don¡¯t drink so much in the future. ¡°Roger that!¡± Connor immediately nodded energetically, showing apliant and obedient side. ¡°Eat up. I need to pack my bagster.¡± Cam said softly, enjoying her dessert while nning her next moves. Connor was silent for a moment. ¡°If you''re set on moving. Ill help you.¡± Connor spoke slowly. After lunch, Cam started packing her things. Soon, all her luggage was ready. Cam carefully checked each box to ensure nothing was left behind Chapter 257 Chapter 257 ¡°Don''t bother packing everything. You might be moving back soon,¡± Connor muttered. Cam didn¡¯t respond, silently taking a painting from the wardrobe. ¡°This is Peter¡¯s painting. I''m notfortable having such a valuable item in the new house. Keep it at your ce. Connor stared at the painting titled ¡°Legacy,¡± and his mind suddenly sparked an idea. There was a sly smile ying on his lips. This could definitely earn him some brownie points! ¡°Alright, I''ll keep it in my bedroom for now.¡± ¡°You better take good care of it!¡± Cam instructed. ¡°Absolutely! This painting means a lot. I''ll take great care of it,¡± Connor promised earnestly, with a mischievous glint in his eyes. ¡°I''lle over tomorrow to help you move.¡± Cam shook her head gently, smiling as she declined. ¡°I''ve already called a movingpany, and Erica will be helping too. It¡¯s not a lot of stuff, and the two of us can handle it, so don¡¯t bothering over. When he heared this, Connor¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, and his tone carried an almost imperceptible hint of displeasure. ¡°Why is Erica always involved?¡± Cam chuckled, finding Connor''s somewhat childish demeanor both adorable and amusing. Connor knew he shouldn''t be so petty, but every time he saw Erica around her, he couldn''t help but feel a pang of jealousy. The next morning. At the hotel. ¡®I''m leaving soon. I''m going to see my bestie.¡± Erica said casually while applying makeup. ¡®I¡¯ming too,¡± Logan said as he got out of bed and leaned on Erica''s shoulder, whining. ¡°She''s moving today.¡± Erica turned to look at Lagan. Her brow furrowed¡± slightly-and her tone was ~ dismissive. ¡°You can¡¯t ift a finger or shoutder a load. You''d be nohelp there.¡± . wal strong desire surge within Logan-He held her hand tightly, and his gaze wasdntense and passionate ¡°Erica, ditch your bestie for me.¡± Content belongs to ~ Feeling the¡¯strong masculine aura emanating } from Logan, Erica was¡± momentarily distracted and > flustered. She red at Logan: ¡°Get Os Youe after my bestle in priarities. Be sensible.¡± Content b¨¦longs to ~ Logan chuckled helplessly, gently pinching Erica¡¯s cheek. ¡°I have to meet this amazing friend of yours. Why does she rank higher than me?¡± Ericaughed at Logan''sment. She gently patted his hand. ¡°Alright, but you promise not to cause any trouble.¡± ¡°Yes, my queen. I promise no mischief, just obedience.¡± Lagan stood straight. and his tone was earnest. Erica nodded in satisfaction, nced at the time, and urged him. ¡°Hurry up and get dressed. We need to leave soon. I¡¯m only giving you ten minutes to get ready.¡± Logan immediately sprang into action. He quickly dressed and finished grooming. Walking over to Erica, he wrapped his arms around her, and lightly kissed her forehead. ¡°Let''s go,¡± Erica said with a smile. Chapter 258 Chapter 258 Logan drove out of the hotel parking lot slowly, turning his head to look at Erica in the passenger seat and asked, "The address?¡± Erica quickly typed the address into the car''s GPS and then leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes, intending to take a short nap. Logan nced at the GPS screen and couldn''t help but raise an eyebrow when he saw the destination was Belleview Heights. ¡°Your bestie¡¯s loaded, huh? Living in a ce like Belleview Heights. Hearing Logan¡¯sment, Erica didn¡¯t even bother to lift her eyelids. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a nap; just focus on driving.¡± Logan didn''t get upset. Instead. he found it somewhat amusing. He shook his head and concentrated on driving towards Belleview Heights. When they arrived, Logan gently woke Erica, who opened her eyes. yawned, stretchedzily, and unbuckled her seatbelt Logan watched her charming,zy demeanor and regretted letting her leave the house. This was a time for staying in bed, not moving houses. After getting out of the car, he gently wrapped his arm around Erica''s waist and asked softly, ¡°Which building?¡± ¡°Building A.¡± Erica pointed ahead. The security at Cedarhill Estate was very tight, and entering Building A required strict identity verification. Cam had already notified the property management in advance. They entered smoothly and arrived at the elevator. Erica pressed the elevator button, and Logan inexplicably felt this floor was familiar. Inside the elevator, Erica leaned on Logan''s shoulder and closed her eyes to continue her nap The elevator quickly reached their floor. As they stepped out, Logan paused. This was.. Erica was already ahead, pressing the doorbell Inside the apartment, Cam was busy directinty the movers, while Connor casually watched, C asionally offering some advice. The atmosphere between them was harmonious, filled with an urgspoken understanding. Content belongs ite) NovelDrama.Org 6 ~ Suddenly, the doorbell rang. ¡°It must be Erica. Go apen the door,¡± Cam told Connor. Connor obeyed and went to open the door. As the door opened, their eyes met. Erica frowned. and Connor''s expression wasn¡¯t much better. Suddenly, Logan peeked out from behind Erica, grinning at Connor, ¡°Surprise!¡± ¡°What are you doing here! ¡°You know each other?¡± Connor and Erica eximed in surprise simultaneously. Seeing theirastonished faces, Logan couldn''t help butugh. He moved" next to-Erica, wrapping his armc> around her shoulders, and exined, aes) Erica''s boyfriend, here. to help out.¡± Connor''s eyes widened as he stared at Erica and Logan as if he had seen something unbelievable. Meanwhile, Erica gently pulled away from Logan''s embrace. ¡°You guys know each other?¡± ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s my friend,¡± Logan chuckled. ¡°So that¡¯s why this floor looked familiar. Turns out it¡¯s where Cam lives. He looked at Connor, teasing, ¡°What''s up? She¡¯s moving out to avoid you, huh?" Connor touched his nose. ¡°Not at all. Hearing thts; Logan burst into ~ laughter,pping Connor on thes~ shoulder. ¡°Bro, you really can''t cut it, huh2You did not won her over, /and she''s s even moving out.¡± Content belongs to NovelDrama.Org ~N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Connor took a deep breath. ¡°If you¡¯re not helping, just leave.¡± ¡®I''m here as Erica''s boyfriend to help.¡± Logan raised an eyebrow at Connor. ¡°And you, what right do you have to tell me to leave? Cam¡¯s boss? Hahaha!¡± Chapter 259 Chapter 259 Connor watched Logan with a flicker of anger in his eyes but fought to keep his emotions in check. Erica nced at Logan, who immediately toned down his smile. Worried about upsetting his girlfriend, he stopped joking and said seriously, ¡°Alright, no more jokes. I really am here to help. ¡°Come on in,¡± Connor said, taking a deep breath to steady his voice. Cam, having not seen Connore in for a while, walked out of the bedroom. She paused when she saw Logan. Why did Connor bring him along? Thy didn''t need for so many people. Logan, acting as if nothing was unusual, greeted her with a smile, ¡°Hello, Cam, long time no see.¡± Cam snapped out of her daze and managed an awkward smile, asking, ¡°Mr. Logan, what brings you here?¡± Logan¡¯s smile grew even brighter. He wrapped an arm around Erica¡¯s shoulders, boasting proudly, ¡°I''m Erica¡¯s boyfriend. Heard you were moving. so of course, I had toe and help. Cam froze, turning to look at Erica. She hadn''t expected Erica¡¯s new boyfriend to be Logan. Erica smiled helplessly, ¡°Yeah, I didn¡¯t expect him and Connor to be friends either.¡± Cam nodded slowly, and the initial shock subsided. She couldn¡¯t help marveling at the strange twists of fate. ¡°Everything''s almost sorted. Have a seat for now, and we''ll all have dinner together after the move,¡± Connor said, taking charge. Logan happily agreed to Connor''s suggestion, leading Erica by the hand and swaggering to the couch, acting all lovey-dovey. He nced at Connor and smirked, ¡°Jealous, aren''t you?¡±Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Connor choked on his words, gave him a re, and turned to walk into the bedroam to find Cam. Logan watched Connor''s frustrated, exit andyaised an eyebrow SS triuraphantly, saying to Erica, "He''s in theong road to winning a girl, huh?" Erica scoffed, "No wonder you''re friends, both of you are jerks.¡± Logan immediatelyughed and tried to distance himself. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t me me.¡± He paused, then seriously defended Connor, ¡°He''s is not a jerk. He truly likes Cam. I can vouch for that.¡± Erica snorted, ¡°What about that Haylie situation?¡± ¡°Connor never liked Haylie. He¡¯s just clueless when ites to romance,¡± Logan exined. Erica frowned, half-believing. ¡°Really?¡± Logan smiled, ¡°We grew up together. I know him better than he knows himself.¡± In the bedroom. ¡°Lcan''t believe Erica''s boyfriend is - Mr. Logan,¡± Cam said. Her voice carried-a tinge ofplexity. she turned to Connor, and her eyes were qu¨¦stioning, ¡°What about Rita?¡± ¡°You know?¡± Connor asked, surprised. Cam nodded, "I identally overheard their conversation at Mr. Logan¡¯s birthdayst time.¡± ¡®Actually, there was never anything. possible. Setween them. Logan has always-seen Rita as a sister, ant? Rita Rnows it too, but she jushcan''t let. 90," Connor exined.. Content belongs to NovelDrama.Org ~~ Cam sighed softly after hearing this. Chapter 260 Chapter 260 Connor frowned in silence. Compared to Cam¡¯s concem for Rita, Connor''s worries went deeper. He knew Logan, a carefree wanderer whose romances neversted long. If Logan and Erica¡¯s rtionship developed a rift, it could inevitably affect him and Cam. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Cam asked softly, noticing his troubled expression. Connor snapped back to reality, and turned to look at her. His eyes were filled with tenderness. ¡°Nothing, just random thoughts.¡± Just then, the movingpany knocked on the door. Cam quickly opened the bedroom door. ¡°Ms. Cam, all your items are packed,¡± said the mover, pointing to a pile of boxes behind him. ¡°We''re ready to move these items downstairs now." ¡°Thank you. I appreciate it.¡± Cam quickly responded. Erica, standing aside, surveyed the packed boxes and couldn''t help but remark, ¡°That was fast. I didn¡¯t even need to lift a finger. ¡°We should go down with the movers to see if they need any help,¡± suggested Logan, reaching naturally for Erica''s hand ¡°Sure,¡± Cam agreed The two followed the movers downstairs. Cam watched as the boxes were carried away, feeling a bit empty inside. Connor quietly came up beside her. ¡°The code to this apartment will never change. You can move back anytime.¡± His voice was low and gentle, like a spring breeze over ake, causing ripples to spread. Cam¡¯s eyes moistened slightly as she turned to look at Connor. At this new beginning, her gratitude and attachment to Connor grew clearer in her heart, When thest box was moved out, they came to Cam¡¯s new home. As soon as Logan stepped in, he comined without holding back, ¡°Wow; this ce is really tiny!¡¯ His voice echoed in the empty-room. Erica immediately red at him and pinched Logan''s waist hard. ¡°Ouch ouch ouch! Are you trying to murder your own boyfriend?¡± Logan exaggeratedly cried out, making everyoneugh. Cam wasn''t embarrassed by Logan''s overreaction. Instead, sheughed, ¡°It¡¯s just right for me to live alone.¡± Cam started unpacking the boxes, and Erica helped her settle in. Logan, observing Cam busy at work, quietly teased Connor. ¡°Cam didn¡¯t consider you at all.¡± His voice was low but clear enough for everyone present to hear. Connor, feeling like he had been hit where it hurt, red at Logan When Connor learned that Cam was moving ¡ê0 this new ce, his first instincWwas to try everything toN?velDrama.Org ? 2024. N ¡ã buy the apartment or persuade the landloresto break the lease and not rentitto Cam. He feared losing theainique connection he hadi with Gam, which might distance her from him. Content belongs ite) NovelDrama.Org However, thendlord was an obstinate olddy, who refused SS Connor''s high offers to sell the apartment or break the lease. oS Hours passed. Finally, the setup and organizing at the new home werepleted. ¡°Thanks, everyone, for the hard work. I bet everyone¡¯s hungry now. Let''s go eat, my treat!¡± Cam announced Erica immediately cheered, ¡°Wow, I''m actually quite hungry!¡± Logan alsoughed, ¡°Alright then, I won''t hold back. I''ll pick the most expensive dish! Chapter 261 Chapter 261 Connor gazed at Cam with adoration and tenderness in his eyes. ¡°Alright, where would you like to eat?¡± ¡°Anything¡¯s fine. Let''s see what everyone wants.¡± Cam replied with a gentle smile. She turned to Erica and asked, ¡°What would you like to eat?¡± After thinking for a moment, Erica said, ¡°How about we try that new seafood restaurant that just opened? I heard it has a great atmosphere and the dishes are excellent. Logan, holding her hand, agreed, ¡°Then let''s head to the seafood restaurant.¡± ¡°Great, I''ll book a private room,¡± Cam said with a smile. The four of them drove in two cars to the newly opened seafood restaurant. Upon entering their reserved private room, they were greeted by arge round table that seemed to set a boundary like the Rubicon The food was served quickly, and Connor asionally helped Cam with her servings. Logan and Erica sat on one side, and their interaction was especially sweet. Erica took a bite of a meatball and slightly frowned. ¡°Not my taste. Here, you have it,¡± she said, yfully tossing the meatball into Logan''s bowl with a mischievous grin. Logan stared at the meatball in his bowl and smiled indulgently. He picked up the bitten meatball without hesitation and popped it into his mouth. Connor, sitting across from them, caught this moment. When he saw their affectionate disy, a wave of envy washed over him. Suddenly, Connor felt an urge to hold Cam¡¯s hand, to feel the warmth and softness of her palm. He hesitated for a moment but ultimatelydidn¡¯t muster the courage. instead; he picked up a napkin from the table, carefully cleaned his? hands, and then took a shringp, meticulously peeling it. Content b¨¦longs to NovelDrama.Org 7 After he finished, he gently ced it in Cam''s bowl.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Cam watched Connor with a touch of surprise and gratitude in her eyes. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said. She took a bit&of the shrimp and gave Connor sweet smile. That NN smile seemed to have a magical => effect. Connor''s heart raced. He felt his heart fill with Cam¡¯s smile, and the satisfaction and joy almgst overwhelmed him. Content belongs to NovelDrama.Org 4 Noticing Cam¡¯s content expression, Connor couldn''t help but peel another shrimp for her. Erica watched all this with a sly and yful look. She turned to Logan and cooed, ¡°You should take a lesson from Mr. Connor. Cami doesn¡¯t even have to peel her own shrimp.¡± Cam, suddenly the center of attention, blushed and looked down, smiling shyly but feeling a bit of sweetness inside. Logan felt a surge ofpetitiveness. He provocatively stared at Connor and smiled confidently. ¡°Let''s see who can peel shrimp better and faster! ¡°Sure, loser pays the bill,¡± Connor replied casually, as if he was sure of winning And so, the two men began a fierce shrimp peeling contest. They peeled the shrimp briskly under the soft, ttering light that added a mysterious allure to their focused expressions. Erica, supporting her cheeks with_ her hands; looked towards Cam¡± with arausement in her eyes. Her gaze y was full of teasing and . mockery towards thepetition between Logan and Connaf: Content b¨¦longs to NovelDrama.Org ~ ¡°No wonder they''re like brothers, both so childish. Cam couldn''t help butugh and nodded in agreement. Chapter 262 Chapter 262 As time passed, thepetition heated up. Logan and Connor''s shrimp peeling became faster and faster, and their bowls filled up rapidly with the peeled shrimp. With thest shrimp skillfully peeled by Connor, the contest came to an end Connor grinned triumphantly, casting a provocative nce at Logan. ¡°Looks like I¡¯m the winner today.¡± Logan nced at the heap of shrimp in Connor''s bowl, and said with a touch of frustration in his voice, ¡°I let you win, you know. Just to give you some points in front of Cam.¡± ¡°Ouch, that''s some sweet talk right there,¡± Ericaughed out loud. Connor ced his bowl full of shrimp in front of Cam, saying softly, ¡°For you.¡± Cam took the bowl. Her lips curved into a slight smile as she looked at the tender shrimp. She looked up at Connor with a sweet smile. ¡°Thank you.¡± Turning to Logan, a yful and teasing glint in her eyes, she joked, ¡°Thanks for the treat, Mr. Logan. The seafood feast was really delicious today. Logan, feeling slightly aggrieved, sighed, ¡°Well. I''m d that you all enjoy this.¡± Cam stood up, whispering to Connor, ¡°I''m going to the restroom. Connor nodded Silently, Cam walked over to the cashier. Logan had lost the contest, but they had alle to help her move today. Therefore, she felt it inappropriate to let someone else pay, secretly settling the bill herself. Back in the private dining room, Erica shook her head. ¡°You''re such a hopeless guy.¡± Connor, still smug, teased Logan, ¡°Did you hear that? Even Erica thinks less of you.¡± Logan nced at Connor with a sly grin. Suddenly, he leaned towards Erica and kissed her cheek, then looked defiantly at Connor, his eyes full of challenge. Clearly, he meant to say: I have a girlfriend.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. Erica was caught off guard by Logan¡¯s affectionate gesture. She red at him. chiding, ¡°What are you doing? Logan burst intoughter, pulling Erica into his embrace. Connor''s smug smile froze instantly. When Cam returned to the room after paying. Connor''s gaze was locked on her. His eyes betrayed a hint of unspoken hurt. Cam missed the scene that had just unfolded, just looked puzzled at Connor. ¡°Waiter, the check please,¡± Logan called out. ¡°Mr. Logan, I¡¯ve already paid.¡± Cam said Logan looked at her, surprised. "I thought I was paying today. Why did you take care of it?¡± ¡®Next time You guys helped me > move today. I couldn''t let you pay;* Camexined, smiling at ? everyone. ¡°Thanks for all the hard work!¡± . ~ Connor frowned, regretful. Cam secretly payitig was not a first-time urrence, He wondered why he => neve learned his lesson. The meal was quite expensive, and she had just ented a new ce, whigh: wasn ¡®t easy. 6 ¡°Let¡¯s go. I still need to unpack at home.¡± said Cam. Erica linked arms with Cam as they walked to the exit, chatting. ¡°I¡¯m going to Fashion Week next week. I''ll bring you back a gift.¡± ¡°Sounds great,¡± Cam responded cheerfully. As Connor walked Cam to her doorstep, he suddenly said, ¡°I feel terrible. Cam¡¯s heart tightened, and she quickly asked, ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡± Connor shook his head. ¡°It''s my heart that feels unwell. It''s hard for me seeing you move away, and¡± today, seeing Logan and Erica made it even harder.¡± - ¡°Why?¡± Cam asked, puzzled why seeing Logan would upset him Chapter 263 Chapter 263 ¡°Can youfort my heart?¡± Conner tentatively asked Cam furrowed her brows,pletely unsure of what Connor was attempting With a yful whine, Connor said, ¡°Can I have a hug, just tofort me?¡± ¡°No hugs.¡± Cam was actually quite nervous, and her heart already pounded as if it was about to leap out of her chest No sooner had she spoken than Connor had already wrapped his arms around her from behind. Cam felt his head buried in her neck. His breath and scent swirled around her ear, sending a sensitive shiver through her, causing her to stiffen Connor spoke up. ¡°I know you haven''t agreed to be my girlfriend yet, but I couldn''t help myself. Just let me hold you for a moment. Cam didn¡¯t respond, letting Connor hold her. After a moment, Connor finally let her go and whispered in her ear, ¡°Goodnight.¡± Cam lifted her head, looking into Connor''s passionate eyes, and replied, ¡°Goodnight.¡± before turning and walking into her house. Back home, Cam closed the door and leaned weakly against it. Her heartbeat was still rapid and strong. After resting for a while, she slowly got up to tidy up the house. As she was preparing for bed, Erica called her. ¡°Logan said that Connor and Haylie were never together. He''s never dated anyone before...¡± She ryed all the gossip she had gathered from Logan about Connor to Cam. ¡°I think, since he¡¯s not a yboy, you might seriously consider him.¡± Erica joked, ¡°After all, you two have already had a ¡®moment.¡¯ so why not make it official?¡± Cam gave a wry smile, remembering that night. They met on the day Haylie got engaged. She wasn''t sure how much Haylie weighed on his heart. Her feelings were conflicted: she was greedy for his undivided attention ¡°Enough about me. How did you end up with Logan? He''s...¡± Cam hesitated. unsure how to mention his colorful past.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Erica burst outughing, ¡°I know what you''re worried about. He hac x . . Ni plenty of ex-girlfriends. Haven''t I had my ¡®fair share of ex-boyfriends?¡± ¡°Oh, Cami, don''t overthink it. We''re jus having fu n.¡± Her tone shifted, ~ and she chuckled mischievously: "Live I in ¡®the moment. It seems ike Conor keeps in shape. He must be impressive in certain respects.¡± ¡°What are you saying? I¡¯m going to sleep,¡± Cam said. Her face heated up slightly. ¡°Alright... I''ll leave it at that. You know what I mean.¡± Erica¡¯sughter came through the phone, teasing. The next day, Cam was punctual as usual at Cedarhill Estate. Connor¡¯s eyes almost clung to her, who awkwardly avoided his gaze. David, sharp-eyed, noticed an undefinable, ambiguous tension < between the two. It seemed that the rtionship between these tw io had indeed progressed. Contentbelongs t6 NovelDrama.Org - David smiled contentedly. Back at thepany, Connor usually had lots of meetings on Monday. Cam came to report her work in the afternoon, and she sinctly presented Connor''s schedule for the week and project updates. Connor was a man who kept his personal and professional lives separate, which gave Cam a sense of security. After Connor finished his approval, he asked, ¡°You''re free tonight? Cam thought he meant workingte and shook her head. ¡°Have the branch send overst month''s customer feedback before closing,¡± said Connor. Cam acknowledged and when she saw that Connor¡¯s phone was ringing, she quietly left. gently closing the office door behind her. Chapter 264 Chapter 264 As the workday drew to a close, Connor stepped out of his office and spoke softly. ¡°Come on. I''ll take you somewhere special Cam nodded, quickly packed her things, and left with him.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. The elevator went straight to the parking garage. Curious, Cam asked, ¡°Isn''t Younging?¡± Connor gave a slight smile and shook his head. ¡°I''m driving.¡± He walked over to his familiar Bentley, opened the passenger door, and ced a hand on the car frame to prevent Cam from hitting her head Cam bent down to get in, buckled her seatbelt, and turned to him. Her eyes were full of curiosity. ¡°Where are we going?¡± Connor started the car and slowly drove out of the parking lot. His lips curled into a mysterious smile. ¡°A ce that will surprise you,¡± he teased, revealing no more Cam stared into his eyes, her curiosity deepened. Eventually, the car stopped in front of a upscale restaurant. Connor parked the car, walked around to open the door for Cam. As they approached the entrance of the restaurant, the maitre d¡¯ immediately came to greet them, ¡°Mr. Connor, your private dining room is ready. Please follow me.¡± Connor nodded slightly, indicating for him to lead the way. He turned to Cam and said softly, ¡°Let''s go.¡± They followed the maitre d'' to the reserved private dining room. The door to the dining room was gently pushed open, and the maitre d¡¯ made a weing gesture, ¡°Please.¡± A faint scent wafted through the air. Cam instinctively looked up, only to see a familiar figure within her line of sight. She froze, and her pupils dted. ¡°Peter?¡± Her voice trembled with incredulous joy. Her eyes were glued to the person in the dining room, as if afraid that he would disappear if she blinked Peter stood up with a smile, looking at Cam with a hint of admiration and warmth. ¡°Miss Cam, it''s a pleasure to finally meet you.¡± Cam feltas if she were in a a dream. Atthis moment, all her words Seemed pale and weak. She had fever imagined meeting her favourite artist in such a setting. ¡°Peter... I... I''m honored to meet you.¡± She struggled to keep her voice steady, but the tremor at the end betrayed her excitement. Her eyes brimmed with tears ¡ª tears of joy and admiration for her idol. Just then, Emily¡¯s slightly jealous voice broke the brief silence. ¡°Am I invisible here?¡± she joked. Only then did Cam realize she had overlooked Emily''s presence. She quicklywiped her tears and turned to Emily. ¡®Im sorry, Emily. got a bit carried away. I¡¯m just 60. thrilled to meet Peter.¡± Her voice was full of apology and gratitude. Emily burgtintoughter. She NN understood the excitement and jay of a fan meeting their idol and shook her head with a smile. ¡°It''s okay. I understand.¡± - ¡°Let¡¯s sit down.¡± Connor interjected timely. His tone was full of tenderness and consideration for Cam. He extended his hand, leading Cam to her seat. his eyes filled with affection. Cam took a deep breath, still somewhat in a daze, her heart still overflowing with joy and awe With Connor by her side, Cam slowly sat down. Chapter 265 Chapter 265 ¡°Thank you, ma¡¯am,¡± Cam said, knowing that Peter was Emily''s friend. Meeting him teday must have been Emily''s doing. Emily smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t thank me, thank him.¡± She nced at Connor with a yful look. "He said he lost some points and dragged us out here to earn some back." Following Emily¡¯s gaze, Cam turned to Connor and softly said, ¡°Thank you,¡± her eyes filled with gratitude. Connor watched her with tender eyes and a slight smile on his lips. Cam''s happiness was his greatest satisfaction ¡°Let''s order. We''re all hungry.¡± Emily reminded them with a smile. Cam snapped back to reality. Her cheeks blushed as she quickly picked up the menu to hide her fluster. Connor watched her. His eyes were brimming with amusement. After dinner, Cam asked cautiously, ¡°Peter, could you please sign an autograph for me?¡± ¡°How about we take a picture together instead?¡± Emily suggested with augh. Cam looked up excitedly, hopeful. ¡°Could we? ¡°Of course,¡± Peter replied with a warm smile. ¡°Could you take a picture for us, please?¡± Emily asked the waiter. The waiter quickly took the phone, searching for the best angle. ¡°Come on, everyone, squeeze in a bit,¡± the waiter said with a smile, guiding them to stand closer together. Cam and Connor stood behind Peter and Emily. All four smiled at the camera. After the photo, the waiter N respectfully handed them the pharie to chek the photo. Cam eagerly took:the phone, thrilled at theymage On. ¡®the screen. - Emily nodded in approval. ¡°This is a great shot, almost like an early family portrait.¡± ¡°What?¡± Cam was stunned. Emily smiled at Cam. ¡°He''s Connor¡¯s father, my husband.¡± Emily''s words exploded like thunder in Cam¡¯s ears, leaving her dazed. Cam turned to Connor. Her shock and disbelief were evident. She could fever have imagined that. her favourite artist would turn outto be Connor''s father. It was all tad¡¯ sudden for her, feeling as if her world had been turned upside down. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. Connor gently took Cam''s hand, whispering, ¡°I''m sorry. I didn''t tell you earlier.¡± ¡°I... 1...¡± Cam stuttered, at a loss for words. Her emotions were aplex mix of surprise, shock, and a bit of confusion. Emily couldn''t help butugh at Cam¡¯ sfeaction. She walked over to Cam and gently patted her> shoulder. '' ¡®Don¡¯t be nervous, Cam. If Cennor arranged this meeting, it means he¡¯s serious about you.¡± C¨¦ntent belongs to Cam looked at Connor, and her heart pounded uncontrobly, ¡°Did it scare you?¡± Connor watched Cam¡¯s shocked and mixed expressions, feeling a pang of guilt. Cam numbly nodded, then shook her head. She waspletely unable to articte the turmoil inside. This news was too sudden; she needed some time to process it all Connor gently held her hand, guiltily saying, ¡°I''m sorry. I rushed things.¡± Chapter 266 Chapter 266 ¡°I think I''ve made a mess of things.¡± Emily whispered to Peter with a hint of self-reproach. "I scared my future daughter-inw. ¡°It was supposed to be a simple fan meet, but suddenly it turned into meeting the parents. Anyone would need time to digest that. Peter watched her with eyes full of tolerance and understanding, grasping her hand gently tofort her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I trust Connor will handle it well. Emily sighed and nodded Peter gently patted the back of her hand, murmuring, ¡°Let''s head out and give the young couple some space.¡± They stood up in unison. Approaching Connor, Peter pped him on the shoulder. ¡°Your mom and I are going to head home now. You two have a good chat.¡± Connor looked up at his father, nodding in agreement. Cam, catching their conversation, looked up with a mix of apology and unease. ¡°Bye, Emily... Peter.¡± Emily smiled and nodded. Her affection for Cam was evident in her eyes. Cam watched them leave. feeling a mix of emotions. After a moment, Connor spoke softly, "I''ll drive you home.¡± Cam nodded, remaining silent. As Connor drove Cam home and she was about to get out of the car, he spoke with a self-deprecating tone, ¡°I was hoping my dad could help me score some points, but it seems I just made things worse.¡± Cam found Connor''s frustrated expression somewhat endearing. Her initial shock gradually subsided during the drive. She shook her head, smiling. ¡°Thank you. I really enjoyed meeting him Connor looked at her sincere smile and asked, ¡°Really?¡± Cam nodded, smiling back. ¡°Truly grateful.¡±N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Connor pondered for a moment and pushed his luck. "Since you¡¯re thankful, how about making it tangible?¡± Confused, Cam stared at him. Connor grinned, leaned in closer, and whispered, ¡°A kiss isn¡¯t too much, right?¡± A blush crept across Cam¡¯s face as she put her hand up to block his face. ¡°In your dreams.¡± Her cool hand touched Connor''s warm cheek. When he felt the softness of her palm, a surge of excitement filled Connor, but he managed to control himself. After calming his breath, he watched her tenderly. ¡°I''ll walk you to your door.¡± As they aseended the stairs together,Gonnor''s emotions i fluc uated. He couldn''t help but steal nces at Cam. Her clear eyes wereshining like the brightest stars inthe night sky. - Suddenly, Connor felt a profound sense of peace. He wanted her by his side forever. At her frontdoor, Connor said, ¡° know youthave reservations about me. Please trust me, give me some time, and I''ll prove that I''m notlike Wesley. I won''t let you followin your mather¡¯s footsteps.¡± Content b¨¦longs to ~ His gaze was fixed intently on Cam Hearing his words, Cam was taken aback by how well he understood her fears and insecurities. ¡°Okay,¡± she finally conceded softly, unable to resist her feelings for him. In the following days, both Connor and Cam were busy. Connor hated seeing her tired, but Xu Cam didn¡¯ t want any special treatment. She was fully aware of her responsibilities and eagento prove her worth at work. Content belongs to ~~ Thus, they often stayedte at the office, even having their dinner there. After a long day at work, as Connor dropped Cam off at her apartment. he said, ¡°I ate too much tonight. Care to join me for a walk?¡± Chapter 267 Chapter 267 Cam smiled gently, nodding her agreement, ¡°Okay.¡± Outside in the tree-lined streets of the neighborhood, the avenue was deserted, leaving only them to walk slowly along the path. The streetlights elongated their shadows, as if to blend them into the silent hues of the night. In November¡¯s Fairmount, the night air was already cool. The breeze rustled through the leaves with a whispering sound. Connor slipped off his suit jacket and draped it gently over Cam¡¯s shoulders. ¡°It''s a bit chilly tonight. Don''t catch a cold,¡± Connor said softly. ¡°Mhm.¡± Cam tightened the jacket around her, instantly enveloped by Connor''s warm scent. Connor spoke up. ¡°Truthfully, I''m quite a dull person. My biggest hobby used to be racing.¡± ¡°Racing?¡± Cam asked, surprised. She never imagined that thisposed and reserved CEO before her could have such a fervent passion. Connor nodded. ¡°Yeah, motorcycles,¡± he said with a smile, adding, ¡°Unexpected, right?¡± Cam nodded. "I''ve never seen you ride a motorcycle.¡± ¡°I had an ident once, got quite shaken up, and never rode again,¡± Connor said. His tone was slightly somber. He sighed lightly, managing a smile, ¡°That¡¯s all in the past for me now.¡± A trace of sadness flickered in Cam¡¯s eyes. She wanted to ask about the ident, but as the words reached her lips. she hesitated. She didn¡¯t want to make Connor relive those unhappy memories or to salt his wounds. Connor seemed to notice Cam''s hesitation and conflict. He smiled lightly, breezily saying, ¡°I was in the hospital for half a year, but I''ve fully recovered.¡± Cam¡¯s eyes slightly lowered, and a surge of indescribable empathy rose within her. A half-year in the hospital was no minor issue. Suddenly, Connor¡¯s voice was close to her ear. ¡°Feeling sorry for me?¡± He leaned in, smiling slightly. ¡°That''s all behind me now,¡± he said, wrapping an arm around Cam¡¯s shoulders seriously. Cam watched him, and her empathy deepened.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Just then, a phone rang, breaking the warm atmosphere between them. Cam blinked, then answered the call. ¡°Craig, I''m just near home, alright...¡± she responded. When he heared the name ¡°Craig,¡± a flicker of alertness passed through Connor''s eyes. This wasnPthe first time that name hadeup. That man seemedito have be¨¦n around the night Drew got drunk. A hard-to-describe feeling of jeelousy began to spreadiike wild grass in his heart. Content belongs to¡°NovelDrama.Org - Cam was his, and no one could take her away! After Cam hung up the phone, Connor-said close to her ear, his Voice tinged with a hint of jealousy. ¡®Craig... who is he?" Content belongs fo NovelDrama.Org o o> Cam paused, then mischievously blinked at Connor. ¡°Craig? He¡¯s someone very important.¡± This answer caught Connor off-guard, nearly driving him mad. Cam recalled a funny past event, so her smile grew wider. "He could be considered your rival...¡¯s son.¡± Connor froze, and a rush of confusion filled his mind. What did she mean? He had a rival of that age? ¡°Aren''t you trying to be my dad?¡± Cam teased. ¡°Craig¡¯s dad is pursuing my mom. It took a moment for Connor to grasp theSituation, and his jealousy and tension dissipated after a few seconds, Heughed awkwardly, scratching his head. ¡°Oh, sofe''s sort of-my brother-inw then Cam couldn''t help but burst intoughter. ¡°I need to go back now. Craig brought me something.¡± A hint of reluctance shed in Connor¡¯s eyes. "I''ll walk you home.¡± Chapter 268 Chapter 268 When they reached Cam''s apartment building. Craig was already there, holding an elegantly wrapped paper bag. Seeing Cam draped in a men¡¯s suit jacket, Craig paused slightly. There was a flicker of realization crossing his face: John had definitely lost his chance. However, he masked his emotions and greeted her with a smile. ¡°Have you been waiting long. Craig?¡± Cam asked. Connor nodded slightly in greeting. ¡°Just got here,¡± Craig replied. His gaze briefly swept over Connor. He mentally noted: This guy does look quite handsome. No wonder Cam isn''t interested in John He nodded at Connor and then turned his attention back to Cam, saying, ¡°John knew how much you love chocte, so he sent some over. I brought them along on my way here. A spark of delight shed in Cam''s eyes as she took the bag, giving Craig a grateful look. ¡°Wow, thank you!¡± ¡°While visiting your mom today, I noticed she was coughing quite a bit. My dad suggested she should see a doctor, but she just said she''d already taken some medicine.¡± Craig shared, with a trace of worry in his eyes. Cam frowned upon hearing this. ¡°She''s been coughing sincest week and won''t listen to anyone about seeing a doctor.¡± Craig sighed. His expression wasplex. ¡°It sounds serious, but she insists she¡¯s fine. Dad¡¯s worried. He wants you to talk to her.¡± ¡°But she never listens,¡± Cam remarked, turning to Connor. "Mr. Connor, I''d like to take a day off tomorrow to take my mom to the hospital ¡®I''lle with you,¡± Connor offered. Cam shook her head, a slight smile on her face. ¡°No need. You have a meeting tomorrow morning. I can manage on my own. Don''t worry about me.¡± ¡®lll arrange my work ande with you.¡± insisted Connor. Cam held his arm gently, smiling softly, ¡°Really, it''s okay. It would be more trouble if you came.¡± How was she supposed to intreduce Connor to her mom? As her boss? What kind of boss takes his employee¡¯s mather to the hospital? Seeing her furrowed brow, Connor guessed her thoughts. ¡°I''ll have the driver take you both tomorrow morning,¡± he said softly. ¡°Alright,¡± Cam responded with a smile. Observing their interaction, Craig felt more assured about their rtionship. ¡°If you can go back, dad will feel relieved.¡± he said with a smile. Before parting~Craig reiterated his concerns toCam, then turned and disappeared into the night. Connor watched''eluctantly as Cam ¡ª headed u upstairs. He gently grasped Cam¡¯s wrist. ¡°If you need any help, jusFlet me know.¡± Content belongs to¡¯NovelDrama.Org o Cam nodded. The next day, Young arrived early at Cam''s ce. A stretched Rolls-Royce was conspicuously parked at the entrance of the modest neighborhood, drawing looks from the neighbors. Cam was taken aback as she hurried into the car, half amused, half embarrassed. ¡°Young, this car is too conspicuous.¡± ¡°Sorry about that,¡± Young apologized. ¡°Mr. Connor asked me to pick you up. I thought it was for a trip to the office.¡±Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Checking the time, Cam realized:it was gettingte. Going back to switchcars would dy them ¡é further, and she had an appaintment at. ine which she might miss. After a moment''s thought, she sighed, ¡°It''s fine. We''re short on time. Let''s just go.¡± Young nodded and started the car. As the Rolls-Royce smoothly exited, the neighborhood, it turned quite few heads, especially in the old-area where such luxury was a rare sight. Chapter 269 Chapter 269 The scene around was buzzing with excitement and curiosity. ¡°Wow, look, isn¡¯t that a Rolls-Royce?¡± a young man eximed, pointing at the car in awe. ¡°Absolutely, and it¡¯s a stretch limo too. How much do you think that costs?¡± another bystander chimed in with envy. Inside the car, Cam sat enveloped in tranquility, an oasis of calm contrasting sharply with the noisy world outside, oblivious to the discussions happening around her. Young handed her a sandwich and a ss of milk. ¡°Cam, you haven''t had breakfast yet, right? Mr. Connor specifically asked me to bring you some,¡± he said ¡°Thank you,¡± Cam responded, pleasantly surprised by the gesture. Connor was always so thoughtful, even considering her breakfast. It was still early, before the morning rush, so the streets were rtively clear, allowing for a smooth drive. Soon, the car reached the outskirts of the vige. ¡°Young, please pull over somewhere around here,¡± Cam instructed. The car was too conspicuous, and she was concerned it might attract unnecessary attention and gossip in the vige. She wasn¡¯t bothered for herself, but her mother was a sensitive soul, and she didn''t want to cause her any distress. Young nodded and slowly pulled over to the side of the road. Cam got out of the car and headed straight for her home. As she approached the entrance of her building. she was surprised to find Cole standing there. He was dressed in a crisp shirt, hands sively folded behind his back, looking somewhat nervous. When he saw Cam, a smile of relief spread across his face. "Cami, good morning,¡± greeted Cole warmly. Cam looked at him in surprise. "Cole, what brings you here so early? Were you waiting for my mom?¡± Cole nodded. "Yes, I was a bit worried and wanted to go to the hospital with you both.¡± Cam acknowledged him, and they walked upstairs together.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Reaching the front door, Cam pulled out her keys, unlocked it, and both entered. ¡°Mom, I''m back,¡± Cam called out softly. ¡°Have you had breakfast yet?¡± ire''s voice was weak, and her face was pale and mostly concealed by a mask, except for her tired eyes. A pang of concern hit Cam. She quickly went over to her mother, grasping her cold hands. ¡°Mom, you look so pale. Are you alright? ire managed a weak smile, a shakingvier head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just a bit tired. You''re making too much of it. ¡®ir be fine after some rest¡± Cole also approached, looking worriedly at ire. ¡°You look worse. ¡®Let''s not be stubborn. We should go to the hospital. I''ve already made.an appointment for you. We should¡± have the doctor check you thoroughly.¡± Content belongs ite) NovelDrama.Org Cam grabbed a coat and draped it over her mother, leading her outside. ire nodded, allowing Cam to guide her out. ¡®I''ll call a cab,¡± Cole said, pulling out his phone as they descended the stairs. Cam turned to him. "No need for a cab. I borrowed thepany car and driver. It''s parked at the vige entrance. Cole nodded, putting away his phone. ¡°Oh dear, borrowing thepany car, isn''t that a bit inappropriate?¡± ire frowned slightly. Cam gently held her mother''s _ hand, smiling reassuringly. ¡°Mong don''t werry. Our boss is very ~ understanding. He knew about the family emergency and specifically artanged the transport to help us." C¨¦ntent belongs to NovelDrama.Org ¡°Oh, your boss really is a good man,¡± ire praised. Chapter 270 Chapter 270 The trio approached the edge of the vige. Cole and ire were surprised to see neighbors clustered around a car, chattering animatedly. Cam¡¯s brow furrowed instantly. ¡°Wow, whose car is this? It¡¯s so luxurious!¡± a middle-aged woman couldn''t help but exim. ¡°Yeah, I''ve never seen such a fancy car before!¡± a young man nearby chimed in. ¡°This car must be worth a fortune, right? When did such a wealthy persone to our vige?¡± another neighbor spected curiously. ¡°It''s more than just expensive!¡± Someone added, ¡°It''s a stretched Rolls-Royce! Look at that license te. It''s a goodbo!¡± Cole nced at the luxury car, looked around, and asked, "Cami, where''s yourpany car? Cam gave an awkward smile and pointed at the only car in front. ¡°This...¡± Cole and ire exchanged nces. ire hadn''t expected her daughter to have borrowed such a luxurious car. Young, spotting Cam from outside the crowd, immediately got out and opened the car door. ¡°Mom, Cole, let''s go,¡± Cam said. The three of them got into the car under the watchful eyes of everyone. ¡°ire, this car... it''s incredible!¡± a familiar neighbor approached and asked. ire smiled slightly and exined, ¡°It''s not ours. It belongs to my daughter¡¯spany. She just borrowed it.¡± ¡°Oh, I see. I thought some big shot had moved to our vige.¡± the neighbor said, realizing the situation ¡°Sorry, we have to go,¡± Cam said. People stepped aside, and Young started the engine. As the Rolls-Royce roared softly and pulled away, it left behind a trail of envious and amazed gazes from the neighbors. The car pulled up at the hospital entrance, and Young politely opened the door for them Cam, ire, and Cole stepped out one after the other. ¡°Mom, watch your step.¡± Cam said softly, holding her mother''s hand. Together, they entered the hospital lobby and waited for their turn at the respiratory clinic. Before long, ire¡¯s name appeared on the screen ¡°It''s our turn,¡± Cam said softly, holding her mother¡¯s hand. They walked into the consultation room. ¡°Given the current symptoms, I rmend a chest CT and blood tests to more urately assess the condition,¡± the doctor said seriously. ¡°Alright, we''ll do those right away.¡± Cam responded immediately. Cam apanied her mother through a series of tests including X-rays, CT scans, and blood work. Finally, the-results werein. The doctor, elding the report, lookedat them seriously. ¡®Mrs. ire has¡± pneumonia and needs to beo hospitalized. "Content bngs to ¡°What? Pneumonia?¡± Cam and Cole asked in surprise. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you bring her in earlier?¡± the doctor inquired.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Cam guiltily lowered her head. She had been negligent. ¡°Let''s start treatment. We''ll devise an appropriate n to control the condition as soon as possible,¡± the doctor reassured. ire, noticing the worried looks on her daughter''s and Cole¡¯s faces, gently held their hands. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I''ll be fine.¡± The hospital admission process was quick, and ire was settled into a clean,fortable room. The doctor outlined a detailed treatment n and informed her of the precautions she needed to take. ¡°Cami, go back to work. I''ll be fine here.¡± ire told her daughter. She knew her daughter was busy at work, and she didn''t want Cam to fall behind because of her illness ¡°No, Mom. I can''t leave you like this.¡± Cam firmly shook her head. ¡®I''m really Okay. I can move around, and there are plenty of doctors and nurses Shere. You don¡¯t need to worry,¡± ire tried to reassure her. ¡®But the doctors and nurses aren''t ~ with youall the time. What if your lV runs out or something unexpect¨¦d happens?¡± Cam expressedher coricerns. Chapter 271 Chapter 271 Just then, Cole spoke up, ¡°Cami, you just head back and rest easy. I''ll stay here and keep an eye on things.¡± He turned slightly, whispering to Cam, ¡°You''ve got to give me a chance to show off a bit. Cam paused, then nodded in understanding. ¡°Alright, I really appreciate it, Cole. Knowing you''re with Mom puts my mind at ease.¡± ire overheard their conversation and frowned slightly, saying, ¡°Cole, you should head back too. I¡¯m okay here. Cole shook his head with a smile. "ire, stop trying to send me away. Business at the shop has been slowtely anyway, so I might as well stay here with you and take a break.¡± ire no longer insisted, just sighed softly, ¡°Alright then. Stay if you must.¡± Cole gave Cam a triumphant smile. ¡°Thank you, Cole. Call me if you need anything.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Cole responded. Cam adjusted the nket over her mother, ced a ss of water by the bed, and after confirming with the doctor that her mother¡¯s condition was stable, she finally left the hospital with peace of mind As she stepped out of the hospital, the sight in front of her made her pause. That familiar figure was standing quietly at the hospital entrance. Somewhat surprised, Cam walked up to him. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Connor''s face broke into a gentle smile. "I was worried about you. How''s your mom doing?¡¯ ¡°The doctor said her condition is stable now. She should be able to leave the hospital in a few days,¡± Cam replied. Connor nodded. ¡°That''s good to hear.¡± Cam lowered her gaze, with guilt swirling insid¨¦:her. Choking up, she said, ¡°I was¡®sd caught up with . Drew''s igsues recently. Mom has 3S been coughing then, but I didn¡¯tthink too much of it. If only I had tak¨¦n her to th¨¦ doctor sooner, it wouldn''t have led to such a severe pneumonia.¡± NS Compassion welled up in Connor. He gentlypatted her shoulder, <> soothingly saying, ¡°You can''t me yourself. Getting sick is . unpredictable, so don''t be tao hard onyourself.¡± - He reached out, gently pulling Cam into his embrace, letting her lean on his shoulder. His embrace was warm and solid. as if he could hold up the sky for her. "You''ve hadha long day. Let me take you hometo rest,¡± Connor i whispered. ¡°If you get sick, how-will you take care of your mom? So, you needto take good care of yourself first . Leaning on his shoulder, with Connor by her side, Cam felt incredibly secure and grounded The hospital lobby was bustling, with curious nces thrown their way now and then. Slightly ufortable, Cam subtly shifted, trying to wriggle out of Connor¡¯s embrace. Feeling her movement, Conner looked down at her with a hint of amusement in his eyes and let her go. They returned to the car. Connor started the engine and from the small cooler in the back seat, he handed Cam a strawberry smoothie. ¡°Have something sweet,¡± Connor said with an easy tone, as if their intimate gesture was the most natural thing in the world. Taking the drink, Cam looked up at Connor, feeling a warm glow inside. ¡°Thank you.¡± Connor dropped her off at her front door, gently holding Cam¡¯s hand. ¡°Get some good rest. I''m giving you the day off tomorrow.¡± Cam shook her head, smiling as she bid him goodbye.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. After freshening up, Camy in bed ready to rest when her phone suddenly rang. She saw it was Cole calling, and her heart tightened with concern. Chapter 272 Chapter 272 ¡®ire''s condition suddenly worsened...¡± came Cole¡¯s heavy voice over the phone. ¡°She¡¯s been rushed to the ICU.¡± Cam froze. The shock exploded in her ears and spread to every cell in her body. Tears uncontrobly streamed down her face, and her hands trembled so much that she could hardly hold her phone. ¡°She was fine during the day... How could this happen...¡± She hung up the phone, hurriedly dressed, and dashed out the door. When she arrived at the hospital, it was already deep into the night. She rushed towards the ICU. The hallway outside the ward was brightly lit, but her heart was engulfed in darkness. ¡°Cami...¡± Cole called out to Cam with a hoarse voice as he saw her. He sat on a bench nearby, looking exhausted, and his eyes were red with strain. Craig leaned silently against the wall, not saying a word. Through the ss window of the ward, Cam saw her mother lying on the bed. Her body was connected to various tubes and machines. Herplexion was as pale as paper, and her eyes were tightly shut. as if she had lost all vitality. Cam¡¯s heart clenched instantly, and tears slid uncontrobly down her cheeks. She quickly approached the doctor, anxiously asking. ¡°Doctor, what exactly is going on with my mom?¡± The doctor looked at Cam, then at Cole, and sighed, ¡°She has severe pneumonia. Her condition deteriorated very quickly, leading to respiratory difficulties and unconsciousness...¡± His voice trailed off, growing deeper. It felt like a sledgehammer had struck Cam''s heart; she felt dizzy. She tightly grasped the doctor''s hand, and her voice was trembling. ¡°Please, you must save my mom. No matter the cost, whatever it takes, I''m willing! The doctor looked at her with a mix of sympathy and helplessness in his eyes. ¡°Right now, she''s having a very hard time breathing and can only rely on a venttor. We''ll do our best Cam nodded. She moved to the window of the ward, looking at her mother lying there quietly, then copsed to the floor. Craig quickly went over to help her . up. "Youneed to be strong, Cam¡± he said softly. ¡°Your mom needs you ¡®You can''t fall now.¡± Content belongs to NovelDrama.Org - ¡®I know. I can¡¯t fall.¡± Cam¡¯s voice trembled. At that moment, a nurse approached, asking, ¡°Who is the family member? Pleasee over for the payment process.¡± m,¡± Cam responded. "Ms, irehas severe pneumonia, ~~ respiratory failure, and cardiac hypoxia, and can only survive with the help of a venttor,¡± the doctor exined. Content belongs. ¡®to NovelDrama.Org -N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. He paused, thea continued, ¡°The daily treatment costs are between $4,000 and 84,500, and the = treatment will cost tens of ~ thousands in total. You need tebe prepared and start ga heringfunds qui¨¦kly.¡± Content belongs t¡é to 4 swnovel.ne 4 ¡®I have money! Please, use the best medications for my mom, no matter the cost!¡± Cam asserted firmly. The doctor nodded, ¡°We''ll do our best. Cam approached the payment desk. ¡°Please deposit $22,000 for the treatment upfront. I''ll cover the rest.¡± It was all her savings. Just six months ago, she couldn''t even afford a day¡¯s treatment Craig also took out his phone. ¡°I have $11,000 in my ount. Let''s use it too.¡± Cam turned to Craig, knowing that this amount was significant for him. With tears in her eyes, she murmured, ¡°Thank you.¡± Craig gently patted her shoulder, signaling that no thanks were necessary. Chapter 273 Chapter 273 After settling the payment, they returned to the front of the ICU Cole slowly stood up from the bench and said to Craig, ¡°Take care of Cami. I¡¯m heading home for a bit.¡± Craig nodded in agreement. The hospital was eerily quiet in the dead of night, broken only asionally by the hum of machines and the hurried footsteps of nurses. Cam and Craig sat outside the ICU on a bench. Their figures were lonely under the dim lighting Dawn broke. Cole appeared at the end of the corridor, hurrying towards them. He thrust a bank card into Cam¡¯s hand ¡°Cami, here¡¯s $200,000. You can cover your mom''s expenses with it. Cam stared at him. ¡°Cole...¡± Craig also wondered where his father had gotten so much money. ¡°I don''t have much savings,¡± Cole said, scratching his head with a goofy smile. ¡°Recently, a young guy wanted to buy my grocery store. Surprisingly, he was quite decisive and came over to sign the contract early this morning.¡± Hearing this, Cam was deeply moved. The grocery store had been hisbor of love for many years and his only source of ie. Now, to pay for her mother¡¯s treatment, he had sold it. ¡°Cole... you shouldn''t have sold the store. What about your future...¡± Cam tried to give the bank card back to Cole. ¡°Don''t worry about the money. You''ve met my mom¡¯s goddaughter, Erica. She¡¯s wealthy, but she¡¯s abroad right now. I can borrow from her when she returns.¡± ¡°I could also ask for an advance on my sry. Please get the store back,¡± Cam urged anxiously. Cole shook his head firmly. ¡®Cami, listem to me. I can find other. work if the grocery store is gone. Or, once your mom gets better, I''ll work at her diner. There''ll always be food On. the table,¡± he reassured. fer. Cam opened her mouth to respond but Cole waved her off. "Enough now. Go and pay for your mom¡¯s treatment. ¡°Cole, Craig, I''ll pay you back slowly.¡± Cam knew further discussion was futile, so she reluctantly took the bank card and headed to the payment office. After settling the bills, Cam returned to the ICU. Craig had gone back to work. At that moment, the doctor came out of the werd, removing his mask. His expression was serious as he =~ looked atCam. ¡°Your mother''s condition i is more severe than we initially thought, Rest assured. ¡°We wilFdevise the best treatment n.¡± A wave of immense panic and helplessness swept over Cam. She fought back tears, her voice trembling. ¡°Doctor, can I see my mam now?¡± The doctor gently shook his head. ¡°Not right now. The patient needs to rest quietly. Visiting hours are from 3:00 to 3:30 PM. You can see her then.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡®ire is strong. She''ll be alright.¡± Cole said firmly, holding Cam¡¯s shoulder. Cam sniffleth She turned to look at Cole. Her-tired but determined eyes weredilled with endless = gratitude-"Cole, please stay with hy mom here. I need to go back tathe office@and apply for an extended leave to hand over my work¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Cole nodded. His voice was deep and resolute. ¡°Go on.¡± Chapter 274 Chapter 274 In the morning, Cam had already hurriedly asked Connor for a short leave, but the current situation forced her to extend her time off. She needed to properly hand over her tasks at work to avoid causing any trouble for thepany. Immediately, she took a taxi to the office. When she returned, Connor was still in a meeting. Cam didn¡¯t inform him of her arrival, choosing instead to coordinate with n first to hand over her ongoing projects.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. In less than an hour, she hadpleted all her handovers. Just as she was packing her things to leave the office, the door to the meeting room swung open. Connor hurried out. Cam¡¯s heart sank at the sight of him, and her eyes instantly were filled with tears. She bit her lower lip, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill, her voice trembling slightly. "My mom... she''s been moved to the ICU. I need to take an extended leave. ¡°I know. She''ll be okay.¡± Connor said, looking at the vulnerable girl in front of him He took her cold hands in his, saying with empathy, ¡°Your mom will be fine. I''ll drive you to the hospital. Cam pursed her lips and nodded gently. ¡®I''lle see your mom too.¡± Logan¡¯s voice chimed in, ¡°I spoke with Erica this morning. She¡¯s already booked her flight back. Cam sniffed and looked at him, managing a weak ¡°Okay. The three of them took the elevator down together. The atmosphere was heavy with concern. Connor held Cam¡¯s hand tightly the whole time. They walked out of the building. The driver had already pulled the car up to the front, waiting for them. The three hurried into the car, and the driver started the engine Throughout the drive, Cam was visibly distressed. Connor kept holding her hand,forting her. During the ride, Connor''s phone rang. He nced at the caller ID and quickly answered. After a brief conversation, he hung up and tut to Cam, speaking softly, * Don''t worry. The = world- rehowned pulmonologist D: Tom (ras justnded. He''s on his wayto the hospital now. Your mom wifFbe okay.¡± 4 Cam looked at Connor, unable to hold back her tears anymore. ¡°Dr. Tom?¡± Connor nodded Cam had researched yesterday. Dr. Tom, a gldpally respected authority in respiratory diseases, => was thet director of the respiratory researoh institute at Passos = Hossital He was abroad at a coriference. 4 She had contacted the hospital, but they had told her Dr. Tom wouldn''t be back for another week. She hadn''t expected Connor to be able to bring him back so soon Cam was somewhat thrilled. The driver continuously adjusted the GPS. His brow furrowed in frustration. ¡°I don''t know if there''s been an ident up ahead, but the road is completely blocked.¡± Cam, Connor, and Logan all looked atthe GPS screen. It show¨¦d a sprawling red congestion symbol, looking like blood-red snakes * stretvhing endlessly, a dishea eartening sight. ¡°Can we turn around and take another route?¡± Logan asked, staring at the GPS The driver shook his head reluctantly, pointing at several routes on the GPS. ¡°These roads are all blocked too.¡± Just then, Cole¡¯s call came through. ¡°Cami, you need toe back!¡± Cam¡¯s heart clenched, and her voice was trembling. ¡°Is it my mom?¡± ¡°The doctor... has issued a critical condition notice,¡± Cole said. His voice was breaking with emotion. Cam¡¯s face turned pale. Her whole heart was shaking. The sensation was traveling to her fingertips as she trembled uncontrobly. The phone slipped from her hands onto the seat. Her nails dug into her palm, yet she felt no pain. Connor, seeing her blood-drained face, stiffened. His voice was filled with panic. ¡°What''s happened?¡± Chapter 275 Chapter 275 ¡°Critical condition...¡± Cam turned her head like a puppet, muttering under her breath Connor''s heart clenched. He gripped her hand tightly. ¡°It¡¯s going to be okay. Dr. Tom will be here soon.¡± ¡°We need to get out and walk to a clearer area to catch a cab!¡± Connor said with determination. ¡°Okay.¡± Connor couldn''t tell if Cam was nodding or just shivering.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Logan was anxiously checking the GPS, constantly zooming in on the map. ¡°It''s jammed for about a mile or two,¡± he said, frowning helplessly. Connor couldn''t wait any longer. He swiftly opened the car door, circled the car, and came to Cam''s side. Gently, he helped her out of the car, letting her lean on him. Cam¡¯s legs were weak, and only with Connor''s support could she barely stand. Logan followed them out of the car, looking around worriedly. There were no shortcuts nearby. Vroom, vroom, vroom ¡ª The sound of a vehicle approached from afar. Connor turned around and saw a motorcycle skillfully weaving through the traffic, bypassing the jammed cars and heading in their direction. A glimmer of hope shed in Connor¡¯s eyes. He quickly stepped into the middle of the road, waving to signal the motorcyclist to stop. Slowing down, the motorcyclist pulled up in front of Connor. ¡°Bro, can you help out? Lend me your bike!¡± Connor pleaded urgently. ¡°We need to get to the hospital!¡± Logan looked at Connor in astonishment. hardly believing his ears. Ever since that ident, Connor had developed a deep fear and aversion to motorcycles. He hadn¡¯t ridden one since, nor did he even like to mention them. The motoreyclist sized up Conner, who wasdressed sharply in his suit, and scoffed. "Dude, are you kidding? Do your ¡°know how much my bike costs? Not just anyone can de this.¡± - ~ - ¡°Kawasaki Ninja H2. I''ll pay double the price for it!¡± Connor dered. The motoreyclist¡¯s eyes widened. He was tempted by the offer. ¡°Double?¡± he hesitated. ¡°There''s no more time. I''ll pay right now!¡± Connor insisted. After a few seconds of silence, the motorcyclist nodded ¡°Alright, transfer the money first!¡± he said, clutching the keys tightly in his hand. ¡°Give me your ount details!¡± Connor said without hesitation. The motorcyclist quickly ryed his ount information, and in less than a minute, a bank message confirmed a transfer of $100,000. ¡°Dude, the bike is yours! Leave your number for the paperwork,¡± the motorcyclist said, beaming as he tossed the keys to Connor and took off his helmet. Connor caught the keys and helmet. nced at Logan, and told the motorcyclist. ¡°Handle the paperwork with him.¡± Connor put the helmet on Cam¡¯s head, mounted the motorcycle, and reached out to her. ¡°Get on.¡± Cam¡¯s mind was a blur, mechanically following Connor''s instructions Connor inserted the key and started the bike. ¡°Hey! Are you out of your mind?¡± the motorcye¨¦list eximed, quickly 2¡± pulling the key out, afraid Connor would-speed off without . precautions. ¡°Are you crazy2You! re notwearing a helmet!¡± Content b¨¦longs to ~ Cam suddenly snapped back to reality, staring in horror at Connor''s unprotected head. ¡®I have her one in my bag,¡± the. motorcyclist muttered, pulling out another helmet from his bag. ¡°Crazy! The paperwork isn''t even done yet. what if something happens? Connor took the helmet and put it on, then looked back at Cam, softly saying, "Hold onto my waist tightly. Chapter 276 Chapter 276 Cam wrapped her arms tightly around Connor''s waist, pressing herself against his back ¡ª a back that represented endlessfort and solid support for her. In that fleeting moment. all her fears and anxieties vanished, leaving only trust and reliance on Connor. Connor gripped the motorcycle¡¯s handlebars. Cam''s arms around his waist ignited a me within him, dispelling any shadows of fear. As the engine roared to life, the motorcycle shot forward like an arrow released fram its bow. Logan stood by the roadside. His eyes were fixed on the receding figures. He marveled at the power of love, capable of helping Connor ovee years of inner fears, which deeply touched him. Connor maneuvered the motorcycle through the traffic with agility. Each turn and eleration was performed with ease.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. His figure weaving through the cars attracted envious nces from those stuck in their vehicles. Soon, they arrived at the hospital. Connor steadied the motorcycle and quickly tumed around to help Cam off the back seat. They both sprinted to the ICU entrance. Upon seeing Cam, Cole stumbled up from the bench. His steps were shaky as he almost fell before her. "Cami, it¡¯s my fault. I didn¡¯t keep a closer eye on ire.¡± he choked out. Cam immediately helped him up, shaking her head slightly. ¡°What''s the situation now?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. The doctors are still trying to save her.¡± Cole''s face was lined with wrinkles that seemed to deepen at that moment, aging him a decade. Rushed footsteps approached, and an elderly doctor in a white coat hurried over followed by several medical staff. ¡°Dr. Tom is here. Your mom will be alright.¡± Connor gently squeezed Cam''s shoulder. Cam turned to see Dr. Tom rushing over. His presence brought a hint of hope to the heavy atmosphere. ¡°Dr. Tom, thank you so much!¡± Connor extended his hand in gratitude. ¡®Mr. Conner, your call had me flying. Xu over ten Hours to get here. We''ll, settle eur ounts after the rescue,¡± Dr. Tom said before turning to enter the ward. Content belongs. to Cam, Connor, and Cole stood outside the ICU, anxiously waiting. ¡°Cami, should we notify... some people?¡± Cole asked. Cam lowered her head, clutching her phone. After a deep breath, she made the call The phone was answered, and her grandmother''s impatient voice came through. "Why are you calling now? Haven''t we made things clear? Cam took a deep breath and said, ¡°Mom... she¡¯s in the hospital, severe pneumonia... the hospital issued a critical condition notice.¡± There was a long silence on the other end, as if time had stopped Finally, her grandmother''s voice came again, cold and evasive. ¡°I don''t have any money! Don¡¯t ask me for money!¡± Cam felt a chill. She felt unprecedented disappointment and anger. She had thought that even if her grandmother was biased, facing her mother¡¯s critical condition would stir some emotion. However, reality cruelly shattered that illusion. Cam scoffed, her voice weak. ¡°Your own daughte is being resuscitated i in the hospital, but your first worts are not concern for her! You think that I might ask you { for money? You really are a great mother to my mother!¡± Content belongs to ? The other end remained silent. Cam continued, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then let''s cutziespletely. My mother haswiothing to do with you. anymorecand whatever happens t te you in the future, whether you I live or die, ithas nothing to do with us. Whether we live in poverty ot wealth, iewill nothing to do with yeu or the Mallory family.¡± Chapter 277 Chapter 277 After she finished speaking, she hung up the phone. Connor gently wrapped his arms around her. Cam rested her head on his shoulder. Her eyes were tightly shut as she fought to suppress the pain in her heart. It wasn''t long before Craig arrived. Drew also rushed to the hospital. ¡°Cam...¡± Drew''s voice was choked with tears as he stared intently at Cam. Tears streamed down his cheeks. He sobbed, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me Aunt ire was in the hospital? If Craig hadn''t called me. I''d still be in the dark...¡± Cam didn¡¯t say a word, just silently stared at him. Drew pulled out a debit card fram his pocket and ced it in Cam''s hand, saying. ¡°I got an advance on six months¡¯ sry from my boss. It¡¯s not much, but take it for now. I''ll figure something else out. A hint offort tinged Cam¡¯s eyes atthe determination on Drew¡¯s face. ¡°You don''t need to worry about the money,¡± Connor said, holding Cam¡¯s hand tightly. Cam looked up at him, nodding her head in gratitude. ¡°With you here, Aunt ire will definitely be okay,¡± Drew dered confidently. Time ticked by, second after second. Several hourster, the door to the hospital room opened. Dr. Tom, looking exhausted but relieved, came out from the ICU and told Connor and Cam. ¡°She''s made it through the critical period. Now, she needs further observation and treatment.¡± Upon hearing this, Connor and Cam were overwhelmed with emotion, and their eyes were brimming with tears of joy. Everyone felt a tremendous sense of relief. Craig clutched his father¡¯s shoulder tightly, and Cole wept quietly. Cam stood up and gave Dr. Tom a deep bow. Her voice trembled with gratitude. ¡°Thank you, Dr. Tom! Thank you!¡± Dr. Tom spoke seriously, "Let''s arrange a transfer to Passos Hospital. They have more advanced equipment andprehensive facilities, and I can treat your mother more effectively there ¡°Absolutely!¡± Cam agreed eagerly. They immediately proceeded with the transfer. Once at Passos Hospital, Connor arranged a VIP room for Cam¡¯s mother.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. ¡®This roam...¡± Cole looked worriedly at the luxurious VIP room. Their funds were insufficient. Connor naticed Cole¡¯s concern and. patted him softly on the shoulder. * ¡®Cole, don¡¯ t worry about the o treatment costs. I''ve got it- covered.¡± n arrived at the hospital with food containers and said to Connor, ¡°Mr. Conner, I''ve prepared the hotel rooms. Connor told Cole, ¡°Cole, I¡¯ve booked rooms at the nearby hotel. You need to get some rest. We''ll keep watch here. Cole shook his head. His voice was weary but his eyes were resolute. ¡°I¡¯m not tired.¡± ¡°Cole, you haven''t slept in a while. Don¡¯t copse after mom gets better.¡± Cam said with a smile. "Yeah, dad; you need to be in good .. shape toctake care of Cami¡¯s monn. Camis here, and her mom is s past the tritical period,¡± Craig also said. ¡°Craig, go with Cole to the hotel to rest,¡± Cam instructed. ¡°Dad...¡± Craig frowned as he called out. Cole nodded, agreeing to rest for a while. Connor instructed n to take them to eat and then back to the hotel. ¡®Drew, you-go back too. You have ? work tamorrow, "Cam said, <> handing ¡®Drew back the debit card he had given her. ¡°Return the advance to. thepany.¡± Content Lbelongs to NovelDrama.Org ¡°Cam, keep the money. I know it¡¯s not much,¡± Drew insisted. ¡°It''s not about how much. It¡¯s your thought that counts, and I''ll always remember that,¡± Cam said, holding his hand. Drew was the only one in the Mallory family who truly cared about her mother. Chapter 278 Chapter 278 After everyone had left, only Connor and Cam remained in the VIP hospital room¡¯s lounge. They sat together on the couch. There was a palpable tension hanging in the air. Cam pressed her lips tightly together, and her face still showed signs of worry and unease. Connor understood her anxiety. He believed that sometimes, crying was the best way to release sorrow. If she let it out, she probably would feel better. Connor moved closer to her, wrapping his arms around her, inviting her to lean on his shoulder. ¡°Just cry,¡± he whispered. Feeling Connor''s warmth, Cam instinctively moved closer to him. Her tears fell silently, like pearls slipping off a string, dampening Connor¡¯s shirt. She clutched the corner of his shirt tightly, as if finding a safe harbor in his embrace. Connor gently stroked her hair. His voice was low and steady. ¡°Your mom will be alright.¡± With him by her side, Cam felt a great sense offort. She unconsciously sought more warmth, burying her face in his neck. Before long, she drifted off to sleep on Connor¡¯s shoulder. After she was sound asleep, Connor gently carried her to bed, tucked her in, and softly brushed away the tear stains on her cheeks and the slight furrow in her brow. He looked at her tenderly, bending down to nt a soft kiss on her forehead. ¡°Everything will be okay,¡± he murmured as if whispering to her dreams. The night deepened, and the room was filled only with Connor''s vignt figure and Cam''s peaceful sleeping face. Dawn was breakingN?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡°Mom!¡± Cam suddenly woke up, sitting bolt upright in bed. Her face was stricken with panic. Connor immediately went to her, embracing her and gently stroking her head, soothing her, ¡°It''s okay. Your mom is fine.¡± Still on edge, Cam clung tightly to Connor, drawingfort from his presence. "I''m so scared... Connor held her close. whispering in her ear, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I''m here. You don''t have to be scared. Gradually, under Connor''sfort, Cam''s emotions stabilized, and she nestled against him. ¡°Do you want to sleep a bit more?¡± Connor murmured softly. Cam shook her head. ¡°How about we get something to eat then?¡± Connor suggested Cam looked up at him, feeling guilty. ¡°Have you not eaten since yesterday? Pretending to be pitiful, Connor nodded slightly. ¡°Will you join me for a bit to eat? Cam nodded, "I''ll check on my mom first, then freshen up.¡± Connor smiled and patted her head. Cam peeked through the ss door, reassured to see her mom. sleeping peacefully on the hospital bed; then went to freshen up. When Cam returned from the restroom, the table wasden with food. Connor served a bowl of steaming soup to Cam. ¡°My mom made this. She said you like her soups.¡± Cam smiled and nodded, taking a. sip from.the bowl. It was hot, and~ instantly she felt a warm flow o comforting her heart. Content belongs to - These weren''t the food boxes n had brought. This food was freshly delivered. ¡°This soup... Connor asked anxiously. ¡°Is it too hot?¡± Cam smiled gently. ¡°It¡¯s delicious. You should try it.¡± Connor did>and as he tasted the ~ soup, afaint smile formed on hiss lips. H¨¦.was relieved that Cam enjoyed his mother''s traditional soup. . Chapter 279 Chapter 279 ¡°You haven''t eaten in a while, so I''ve got some easy-to-digest foods for you, and there''s a slice of cake too, but you can have it only after you finish your meal,¡± Connor said. Cam nodded with a smile and forked a piece of sweet potato into his bowl. ¡°You should eat too. Don''t just fuss over me.¡± ¡®I''m eating.¡± Connor¡¯s smile widened as he took a bite of the sweet potato. Why had he never noticed how delicious sweet potatoes were before? After finishing their breakfast, Cam went to check on her mother. At that moment, Cole arrived with a stic bag that seemed slightly out of ce in the upscale hospital setting. Sheepishly, he began, ¡°Cami, I brought you some bagels and milk...¡± ¡°It''s my favorite, bagels with milk. Thanks, Cole, but I just had a full meal. I''ll eat itter,¡± Cam gratefully epted and said with a smile ¡°No worries. I was just concerned you might not have eaten,¡± Cole replied. ¡°How could I not eat it? I''ll devour it in a bit," Cam chuckled.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. Cole looked at Cam with affection in his eyes. ¡°Il just hope you''ll like it.¡± When it was time for rounds, Dr. Tom and a few doctors dressed in sterile attire entered ire''s room to examine her. Cam and the others watched nervously from outside. Connor gently held her hand, assuring her, ¡°With Dr. Tom here, there''s nothing to worry about.¡± ¡°Yesterday, Craig did some research on this doctor for me. He¡¯s really remarkable, capable of tacklingplicated cases. ire will be safe,¡± Cole asserted confidently. Cam watched the doctors bustling about in the room and nodded affirmatively, ¡°Definitely. ot long after, Dr. Tom came out, changing back into his regr clothes, and Spoke to Cam and ~ others. ¡°Erdm the current i assessment, her condition has¡° noticeably improved. The inrnmation markers for her severe prreumonia have decreased, and her breathing is much more Stable now." ¡°That''s wonderful news. Thank you, Dr. Tom,¡± Cole said, shaking Tom¡¯s hand vigorously, visibly moved. Cam felt a bit more relieved and eagerly asked, "Dr. Tom, does that mean my mom will recover soon?¡± Dr. Tom nedded, adding, ¡°The recovery from severe pneumoniatis a process, and the patient''s overall physical condition also affects the speed! of recovery. We will continue to-monitor and treat her closely.¡± ¡°Thank you. I understand,¡± Cam said, nodding earnestly with pursed lips. After the doctors had left the room, Cole stood aside, giving Connor a thorough once-over. His thoughts had been preupied with ire the day before, so he hadn''t had the chance to really observe the man who had been by Cam¡¯s side. Connor¡¯s tall, bright figure, handsome features, and the gentleness.and consideration ne => exuded. 1 i-every action impressed- Cole. He thought to himself that this marNindeed matched well with Caifi. 4 So, he approached Cam and asked softly, "Cami, is this your boyfriend?¡± His voice was low, but in the quiet of the hospital room, it sounded especially clear. Before Cam could respond, Connor chuckled and spoke first, "I''m still trying to win her over. Cole gave an understanding ned and whispered to Cam, ¡°I think he¡¯s quite alright.¡± Cam nced at Connor and shyly nodded in agreement. Chapter 280 Chapter 280 When Cam noticed the bags under Connor''s eyes and the stubble on his chin. her heart tightened involuntarily. Last night. he had stayed by her bedside, hardly closing his eyes, so seeing him like this both moved and pained her. ¡°You should get some rest,¡± she softly told Connor. Connor slightly shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m fine, not tired.¡± His voice was slightly raspy. Cam sighed lightly, frowning, ¡°Don''t y the tough guy. Look at yourself. You''re worn out.¡± ¡°Worn out?¡± Connor instinctively touched his face, then immediately checked his reflection in the ss ¡°A bit rough-looking,¡± Cam managed to keep a straight face as she spoke. Connor stiffened. ¡°Are you kidding? Cole,e on, back me up here.¡± Cole, observing their exchange, turned his face away, chuckling softly, choosing not to interfere in their yful banter. ¡°You better go rest, or you might actually start looking rough,¡± Cam said with a yful gleam in her eyes. Connor was about to respond when a distant voice interrupted him. ¡°Cami...¡± Erica approached with a cry in her voice, running from afar. Logan, carrying bags big and small, followed her like a loyal assistant. When Erica reached Cam, she hugged her tightly. ¡°You didn''t even tell me your mom was hospitalized!¡± Her voice was full of reproach and concern. Cam gently patted her back, soothingly saying, ¡°You were working abroad, so I didn''t want to worry you.¡± Logan quietly came over, set down the bags, and pped Connor on the shoulder, giving him a look of silent support and encouragement. ¡®I¡¯m upset, really upset.¡± Erica continued to hug Cam, pouting. ¡®I''m sorry,¡± Cam apologized. Erica snorted softly, then let go. "How is your mom doing? Cam exhaled softly. Her tone was slightly reassuring. ¡°She''s past the critical phase now. much more stable.¡± I was terrified. Right off the ne, . Logan told me the hospital had ~ issued a critical notice this morning,¡± Erica said, still shaken. Content belongs to NovelDrama.Org - She nced at Connor with . gratitude e@"Mr. Connor, thank youfor finding the doctor for her, and for taking care of Cami.¡± Content belongs to NovelDrama.Org >" Connor smiled faintly, nodding in acknowledgment. ¡°It¡¯s the least I could do.¡± ¡°With Erica here, you can rest easy.¡± Cam turned to Connor, her voice tender. She then looked at Logan. ¡°Mr. Logan, could you please take him to rest? He hasn''t slept all night.¡± Logan nodded, stepping forward and pping Connor on the shoulder. ¡°Come on, let''s get some rest.¡± Connor looked at Cam, hesitating for a moment. Finally, he nodded, ¡°Alright, I''ll rest for a bit. But you have to promise me, eat well and take care of yourself.¡± ¡°I will,¡± Cam responded. ¡°Erica, please take good care of her,¡± Connor said to Erica.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Erica gave a thumbs-up. After Connor and Logan left, Erica . pulled Cam to sit down, saying,~ ¡®It¡¯s good that Connor was here. He''s really reliable.¡± Content belongs to NovelDrama.Org _ Cam nodded in agreement. ¡°Yes, without him, mom and I really might not have made it. ¡°With such a good son-inw, your mom is sure to be fine,¡± Erica stated firmly. Chapter 281 Chapter 281 Cam smiled and patted Erica¡¯s thigh. ¡°What time did you get here?¡± ¡°Got here at 1 AMst night. I wanted toe straight over, but Connor wouldn''t let me. He said you''d finally fallen asleep and didn''t want me disturbing you." When Erica mentioned this. a look of helplessness mixed with understanding appeared on her face. ¡°He is really thoughtful and caring,¡± Cam chuckled softly. Her eyes were filled with tenderness. She thought about everything Connor had done for her, and it still moved her deeply.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. The two sat on the sofa, chatting happily. Time quietly passed, and before they knew it, it was noon Cole was about to get up and go downstairs to get some food for them, but then he saw Young walking in with two big grocery bags. ¡°Mrs. Emily prepared lunch for you,¡± Young said with a smile, handing over the bags. Cam and Erica were surprised and exchanged nces, both showing delighted expressions. They hadn¡¯t expected Connor''s mother to be so considerate as to specially prepare lunch for them. ¡°Looks like Connor''s mom really likes you, treating you like family already,¡± Erica joked. ¡°She''s wonderful.¡± Cam replied with a smile, sending Emily a thank-you text. She put away her phone and said to Cole. ¡°Cole, join us for lunch.¡± ¡®I''ll just grab something downstairs,¡± Cole shook his head. ¡°Come on, join us. Mrs. Emily prepared something for you too.¡± Cam insisted, opening up the grocery bag and cing it in front of him. Cole initially hesitated, but with Cam''s enthusiasm and remembering it was Mrs. Emily¡¯s kind gesture, he nodded, ¡°Okay, thank you then.¡± Cam had reheated the bagels and milk Cole had brought over that morning and ced them on the dining table "We''ve got-fresh food, so no need far these,¡± Cole said, touched yet slightlyembarrassed as his simple offerings contrasted with thefeast On. ¡®the table. Content belongs ite) siwnovel - ¡°I want the milk and bagels,¡± Cam insisted with a smile. Cole chuckled and nodded repeatedly, ¡°If you like them, I''ll bring them for you anytime.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Cam beamed brightly. After her mother¡¯s illness, she had trulye to see Cole as a father figure. Just after theyfinished unch, Connor pushed the door open and walked insGam watched him surprisedty. Her brow slightly furrowed. "Why are you here s@ early? Couldn''t you have rested a bit longer?¡± ~~ Xu NS ¡°I had enough sleep,¡± Connor replied, having gotten up and freshened up at home before rushing back, unable to wait. He gently tousled Cam¡¯s hair. His eyes were full of love. ¡°I got enough rest. wanted to see you earlier.¡± He paused, then asked, ¡°Have you had lunch?¡± ¡°Yes, your mom brought us food, and it was delicious.¡± Cam looked up at him. Her face was glowing with happiness. ¡®I didn¡¯t ey¨¦n know she brought you. food. Seeins like she doesn''t care about Her son anymore now that she has 2 @ daughter-inw,¡± Connor teaed, . - ¡°What are you talking about...¡± Cam lowered her head, murmuring softly, Erica sighed lightly, "I feel like a third wheel here.¡± She turned to Connor. ¡°I''ll leave you two alone. I need to catch up on some sleep.¡± ¡°Sure. Go get some rest,¡± Cam said, holding her hand. After Erica left. the room returned to its peaceful state. Chapter 282 Chapter 282 Cam asked Connor softly, ¡°Haven''t you eaten yet?¡± ¡°Mmm-hmm,¡± Connor replied with a pitiful look. ¡°My mom knew I was home resting but didn''t think to bring me any food.¡± ¡°She probably thought you were sleeping,¡± Cam chuckled, picking up her phone to order some food. ¡°I''ll get us some delivery.¡± Connor grabbed her phone. ¡°I''m hungry.¡± ¡°You have to eat,¡± Cam insisted, retrieving her phone from his grasp. ¡°Anything in particr you feel like having?¡± ¡°Whatever you order is fine by me,¡± Connor said, sitting down beside her, quietly waiting. Cam gently tapped Connor''s forehead, then seriously began to choose from the delivery options The lunch arrived quickly, and Connor ate earnestly, continuously praising the food Cam had ordered. Then it was visiting time. Cam changed into a sterile suit and pushed the door open to enter. The hospital room was so quiet that only the ticking of the machinery could be heard, and the air was filled with an indefinable sense of oppression Cam walked over to her mother¡¯s side, quietly observing her calm and pallid sleeping features, which looked much improved from before. She held her mother¡¯s hand and whispered, "Mom, you need to get better soon.¡± She sniffled, managing a smile. ¡°Mom, you know what? Connor has been really good to me, taking care of me. You don''t need to worry about me. Just get better, and we''ll all be fine. From now on, it¡¯s going to be good days ahead After a brief visit, Cam saw Cole looking eagerly from outside the door and smiled. ¡°Mom¡¯s condition has improved a lot. She¡¯ll be out of here in no time.¡± Cole nodded vigorously, quickly wiping his eyes. ¡°She''ll get through this.¡± In the following days, Connor didn''t return to the office. The lounge had be his workspace Naturally, Cam also canceled her nned leave, working alongside Connor in the lounge. That day, ire finally opened her eyes, awakening from hera. ¡°Mom, you''re awake!¡± Cam eximed, gripping her mother¡¯s hand, with tears swirling in her eyes. She had waited so long for this moment, and the joy of seeing her mother awake was indescribable. ¡°Are you feeling okay anywhere?¡± Cole asked excitedly, unsure where to put his hands. ire gently shook her head, smiling at them, ¡°I¡¯m fine, sorry to have worried you.¡± Her voice was weak. She looked at the unfamiliar man by the bed and asked softly, ¡°And who is this? Connor stepped forward, smiling and nodding at ire. "Hi, I''m Connor, Cam¡¯s friend.¡± ¡°It''s thanks to Mr. Connor here that you received such good treatment,¡± Cole said, gratefully patting Connor¡¯s shoulder. Connor modestly smiled, ¡°I just did what needed to be done.¡± ¡°The person I worry about most is Cami. I fear that after I''m gone, there''ll bend one to look after my precious@irl.¡± Tears welled in - ire''s eyes as she looked at <> Cong¨¦r and Cam. Her voice choked. ¡°It¡¯s wonderful. lyCami Had found a man.¡± Content belongs to NovelDrama.OrgOriginal content from N?velDrama.Org. Cam tightened her grip on her mother''s hand, nodding. ¡°From now on, OUF ¡°days will be good dayssand your reed to stay healthy!" Gontent belongs to NovelDrama.Org >" ire gradually recovered. The breathing machine was removed, ~ and after half a month in the_ o hospital, she was finally discharged. As Cam handled the discharge procedures, she felt a bit anxious. After settling thest hospital bill, she had fifty thousand left, unsure if it would be enough Chapter 283 Chapter 283 ¡°You''re all set to be discharged,¡± the nurse said, ncing at the paperwork. ¡°What about the bill?¡± Cam asked ¡®It''s been taken care of,¡± the nurse replied. Cam immediately thought that Connor must have settled the bill. ¡°Could you please print a copy of the bill for me?¡± The nurse nodded and quickly operated theputer, printing out several pages of the detailed bill. Taking the papers, Cam flipped through them, and her heart sank more with each page. When she reached thest page showing the total amount. her hand trembled violently, and she felt a wave of dizziness at the sight of the figures. It was $310,000! The bulk of it was from the VIP suite charges At that moment, Connor approached. Seeing her pale face, he asked with concern, ¡°Is everything okay? Are you feeling unwell?¡± Cam shook her head and whispered, ¡°It''s so expensive. I only have fifty thousand.¡± Connorughed, relieved she wasn''t feeling ill. There was a mischievous twinkle in his eye. ¡°What will we do then? I guess I''ll just have to take you as payment. ¡°You can deduct it from my sry. I''ll pay you back over time,¡± Cam said firmly. She calcted quickly. She could clear the debt in three years. Connor looked at her serious little face and couldn''t help but tease her by flicking her nose. "Silly girl.¡± ¡®I''m serious,¡± Cam insisted. ¡°So am I,¡± Connor said gravely. They had been inseparable these days, appearing to everyone as boyfriend and girlfriend. He still needed an official status. ¡°Don''t worry about the money. I¡¯m loaded, so to me, these medical bills are just numbers,¡± Connor said, taking her hand. ¡®But your (Honey didn''t just fall from. the sky!" Cam frowned. She knew how much effort Connor had put into.hispany, and that his¡± wealth was hard-earned. Content belongs to ~ Connor thought about it. He owned shares in Passos Corporation, which paid dividends annually without him lifting a finger, so it was indeed like windfall. ¡°True, arge part of itis as if blown in by the wind,¡± he chuckled. ¡°If you mention money again, I''ll be upset!¡± Cannor said as they walked back tqthe room. His tone was brooking no argument. ¡°Don¡¯t bring it up again. It makes things awkward between us.¡± - Cam hesitated but finally sighed and agreed. Connor''s smile returned, and he gently massaged her neck, softly saying, ¡°Good girl.¡± Finally. ire was discharged from the hospital in good health. After dropping them off at home, Connor spent the day researching online. The next evening. as the sunset cast a warm glow over the chilly season, Connor called Cam. ¡°Cam, I''m near your ce. Can youe out to meet?¡± Without suspicion, Cam put on a thick coat and jeans, wrapped a scarf around her neck, and stepped outside. The weather in Fairmount had turned chilly, and a breeze brushed her cheeks, bringing a hint of cold Cam tucked her neck into the scarf, covering mast of her face and quickened her pace. Connor had-asked to meet at a nearby amusement park. Unexpectedly, when Cam reached the entrance, a security guard stopped her, saying, ¡°The park is sed for a private event today.¡± ie,Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°What?¡± Cam eximed in surprise. She was about to call Connor when she pulled down her scarf, revealing her delicate face. The guard hesitated, then quickly said, ¡°You can go in. I was just kidding.¡± Confused, Cam looked at the guard, guessing Connor must have arranged the private event. With a sense of anticipation, she slowly walked into the amusement park... Chapter 284 Chapter 284 Cam walked into the amusement park, instantly stunned by the scene before her. The familiar park seemed transformed, with colorful lights interwoven together, creating a dreamscape like something out of a fairy tale. The cobblestone path was covered with a mix of discarded petals and fresh flowers, forming a unique carpet with adorable patterns that released a faint fragrance. She followed this floral path. Each step she tooknded on petals, making her feel both nervous and excited. As she reached the center of the amusement park, she saw a huge heart-shaped light instation that made her heartbeat race. The lights spelled out, [Cam, I like you. Will you be my girlfriend?] They were like dazzling stars lighting up her entire world. She stood there, somewhat overwhelmed but mostly filled with surprise and joy.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Just then, a figure emerged slowly from behind the heart-shaped light instation. Connor, dressed in a crisp suit and tie, looked exceptionally formal. He walked towards Cam, holding a bouquet of flowers in his hand Cam couldn''t hold back her tears, which fell like pearls off a string. A few tasted sweet as they slipped to her lips. Connor approached her, took a deep breath, and offered the flowers. ¡°Cam, when the whole world was telling me that I like you, I was stubborn about admitting it. but the moment I was sure of my feelings, I realized I¡¯m hopelessly in love with you. Taking another deep breath, he continued, ¡°Thank you for being in my life. Every day with you, I feel like the luckiest man on earth. I can¡¯t imagine a future without you.¡± ¡®I''m serious about this. You¡¯re the most important and special to me. I''m not usually a tender person, but for you, I¡¯ve done all the gentle things. You are the only one in my life.¡± Finally. gathering his courage, he looked into Cam¡¯s eyes and asked sincerely, ¡°Cam, will you be my girlfriend? Will you join me through every spring, summer, autumn, and winter, through every joy and sorrow?¡± Hearing Connor''s confession, Cam felt an overwhelming sense of happiness, and her tears continued to fall. Connor watched nervously for her response. Moved by the earnestness in his eyes and his passionate gaze, Cam finally nodded Connor''s Joy was too profound for ~ words. His body reacted ~ instinctively. He hugged Cam¡± tightly, as If to meld her into¡ã himself. Leaning down, he kissed her lips deeply. Cam made a soft sound, instinctively grasping his muscr arms. Connor¡¯s kiss, like long-suppressed. emotions finding release, was SS fervent. His tongue gently pried open Cam¡¯ s lips, greedily iming her. She was dizzy with the intensity of the kiss. Cam¡¯s body softened, and her arms reached up around his neck. In the silent, deserted amusement park, at the center of the open space, only the couple kissing existed The kiss deepened, growing more passionate. Cam''s breath faltered. She felt dizzy, and then a moan escaped her lips. Connor released her, then couldn''t. resist kissing the corner of her mouthsagain. He stared at her c> closed eyes still wet with tears, and kis8ed her again. - ¡°I love you,¡± he murmured. His voice was deep and filled with desire. Cam¡¯s eyshes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes to look at the man before her. "I love you too.¡± Chapter 285 Chapter 285 Her voice was soft and utterly enticing. Connor captured her lips again. There was a smile ying at the corners of his mouth as he continued to kiss her. Their breaths mingled, as if bing one. The sky had begun to darken, and the lights of the amusement park came to life around them. Stars twinkled above, casting a gentle glow over them After a long while, Connor reluctantly pulled away from her lips and held her tightly in his arms. Both were slightly out of breath. Taking her hand, Connor led her to a bench in the amusement park, setting aside the cumbersome bouquet of roses. He wrapped his arms around her. His smile was uncontroble. ¡°I''ll call you Cami from now on, okay?¡± he said Cam¡¯s face was still warm as she nodded in agreement. Connor tightened his embrace. His smile broadened. ¡°Today is our anniversary.¡± Cam looked up at him. Her lips were slightly swollen from their kisses. ¡°Connor, I''m a bit jealous,¡± she admitted. Connor raised an eyebrow, puzzled, as he looked at the girl in his arms. Clearing her throat, Cam mentioned, ¡°About Haylie.¡± Connor paused, thenughed. ¡°There''s no need to worry about anything. I only love you.¡± He kissed her forehead gently and continued softly. ¡°In college, during a talent show, she was in the center of the stage, dancing ballet. Perhaps she was too striking, so I thought I liked her.¡± ¡°Butter on, I realized I didn''t even really like her.¡± Cam looked at him, puzzled, blinking slowly. Connor held her closer, looking into her eyes. ¡°I''ve never broken my principles for her. Remember I told you about the car ident I had?" Cam nodded. ¡®l was driving her when the ident happened. She fractured her ankle and couldwn¨¦ver dance ballet again: spent sitmonths abroad for ~~ treatroent, and by the time] ?: returtied, she had entered show business. swnovel. 4 ¡°When she-first started inshow business;it was tough without <> connestions. She was recedtight before shooting started for Tv shows, several times. Content belongs to ~ ¡°I could have kelped her. Rita¡¯s mother owns-thergest talent agency inthe country. I never spoke up for h¨¦f, even though just one = word from me could have giver her endless opportunities. I believed that struggling was a necessary(part of th¨¦ industry, so I didn''t pity her.¡± He looked into Cam¡¯s eyes and said, ¡°But I do pity you.¡±Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°If you skip meals, I would do everything to make you eat. ¡°When you were nearly assaulted, I was furious. I took care of the perpetrator, and the chain of hotels owned by his family vanished. ¡°If your living ce wasn¡¯t safe, I got worried and got you a new house. ¡°When you were in trouble at the police station, I called my uncle, an officer, to help because I couldn''t stand to see you suffer. ¡°When you were worried about your mother¡¯s diner , I had some thugs stir up trouble there. ¡°When your biological father mistreated you, I made sure he went bankrupt. ¡°When you were bullied by rtives, I exposed their deeds and had the neighbors hassle them.¡± Cam stared at him, astounded. She had been unaware of many of these actions. He had always been silently resolving her problems. ¡°Are you scared? I''m not a kind person. I''m vengeful,¡± Connor said, staring into her eyes Cam shook her head and met Connor''s gaze confidently. ¡°Actually, I realized a while ago that I like you too.¡± Chapter 286 Chapter 286 A flicker of surprise passed through Connor''s eyes. "I was just about to confess to you..." Cam said with an embarrassed smile. The look of astonishment on Connor''s face was unmistakable, and he was so excited he could barely speak. His mouth slightly open, he finally managed to blurt out, "When? Why didn''t you do it?" His eyes were filled with anticipation. Cam pursed her lips, somewhat helplessly. "I was going to confess to you on your birthday. but you were drunk." Connor''s eyes widened, and he pped his forehead regretfully. "Why did I do that! It''s all because Logan set up that round of shots!" "And another time..." Cam''s eyes fell, and she hesitated to continue. Feeling the shift in her mood, Connor watched her anxiously. Cam looked up at him, her eyes sad as she sniffed. ¡°It was the day you showed up at Haylie''s party." Connor froze, and it was a long while before he spoke. "Were you upset that day because I was at her party?¡± Cam nodded, then shook her head. "It was because of that ne she was wearing,¡± her voice muffled. Connor pped his forehead, "I only found outter that you liked that ne too...¡± Cam frowned, annoyed. "It''s not about whether I like the ne! It''s what the ne signifies! ¡®The only one¡¯!" Connor''s pupils dted, as if struck by lightning. He held his head in his hands, shaking it innocently as he hurriedly exined. "I just wanted to give her an engagement gift, Logan picked out the ne! I just paid for it!" Suddenly, Connor jumped up. "Damn it!" He paced back and forth, agitated. Remembering everything that had happened with Camter, he wished he could chop Logan up to vent his frustration. He suppressed the anger in his heart, took a deep breath, and gently held Cam''s shoulders, "Let me take you home first." "Are you going to see Mr. Logan?" Cam asked, her brows slightly furrowed. "Yeah..." Conner nodded. "Could you not go?¡± Cam said worriedly. "I''ll be careful.¡± Knowing Connor''s temper, Cam sighed, ¡°Just give him a piece of your mind.¡± ¡®I know.¡± Connor took Cam''s hand and they slowly walked out of the amusement park, and he drove her home Then, he floored the ? elerator and drove to wh¨¦re Logan was. < Cam feltuneasy. She was worried that Connor might act impulsively and Logan would suffer, and) c¡ã immediately called Erica and told herabout the ne incident. Erica clenched her teeth and said, "He deserves it!" After hanging up, she opened an app on her phone and ced an order. In the bar''s private room... Bang¡ª The door was pushed open forcefully, the loud noise instantly breaking the room''s mor. Everyone looked in astonishment toward the door, curious to see who dared to make such a scene during their party.From N?velDrama.Org. Connor stood at the doorway, his -~ presencedominating, his sharp gaze quicklyscanning the room for Logan, his expression ominausly dark. ...* - Recognizing Connor, everyone immediately put on a smile and greeted him "Mr. Connor! What brings you here?" "Joining us for a drink?¡± Ignoring their cordiality, Connor spoke coldly, "Where¡¯s Logan?¡± A murderous aura radiated from him. Intimidated by Connor''s demeanor, everyone immediately pointed towards the restroom. Chapter 287 Chapter 287 When Logan stepped out of the restroom, the first thing he saw was Connor waiting for him. The dim lighting of the private room didn''t allow him to clearly see Connor''s expression, but he could feel an overwhelming sense of pressure Puzzled, he asked, ¡°Connor, what are you doing here? Weren''t you supposed to meet Cam?¡± Without a word, Connor charged forward andnded a fierce punch on Logan¡¯s face. Caught off guard, Logan stumbled backward and fell heavily to the floor. "Damn it! Are you crazy?" he eximed, clutching his face. The room fell silent, everyone was stunned by Connor''s actions, yet no one dared to intervene. Standing his ground, Connor breathed heavily, his chest heaving with emotion. He red coldly at Logan, who was now lying on the ground, his voice icy with anger, "What the hell was that crappy ne you picked out for me!" Struggling to his feet, Logan, still holding his aching cheek, stared at Connor bewilderedly. "What do you mean?" "Cam has been cold to metely, all because of that lousy ne you chose! Do you know that?" Connor fumed. "What?" Logan was even more confused Trying to control his temper, Conner pulled him aside and exined the whole situation about the ne. Logan¡¯s mouth fell open in surprise, his eyes blinked several times in quick session. "It could have been smooth sailing with Cam if it weren''t for you!" Connor growled, grabbing Logan by the cor. Logan gave an awkward smile and said guiltily, "My fault, my fault, it¡¯s all on me. I deserved that punch." He pulled Connor''s hands off his cor. "I''ll cover the cost of your wedding rings. I''m sorry,¡± Logan said, patting him on the shoulder with a gentle sigh.From N?velDrama.Org. Connor gave him a re and walked away. As he left, everyone crowded around Logan, tense. "What happened between you two? A fallout?" someone whispered. ¡®Not really,¡°Logan rubbed his cheek, still feeling the punch. He knew Connof just needed to vent. Over twenty years of brotherhood, couldn''t be. broken j ust like that. Coritent belongs to ~ "No more drinks for me tonight. I need somefort.¡± he said, waving his hand dismissively. Logan returned to the house he shared with Erica. As he opened the door, he was greeted by the strong aroma of onions. Seeing two of his favorite onions on the floor, his mood slightly lifted. "Erica, did you buy these for me?¡± Erica sat on the sofa, arms crossed, and let out a coldugh, "Yeah, pick one." Logan chase the smaller one, but as he picked it up, the sharp smell S pricked him. "You have no idea how rough my day has been.¡± Content belongs to = "I know,¡± Erica said coldly, her gaze fixed on him. ¡°That''s why I got you onions.¡± "You''re the-best to me. Look at my face, Conor did this," Logan said, moving closer to show Erica the¡± bruise on his face, looking utterly pitiful . * "Take the onion you chose," Erica nced up at him, "and cut it up.¡± Logan stared at her, frozen. unsure if he heard her correctly. "What?" Chapter 288 Chapter 288 Erica stared coldly at Logan and said, "After all the heartache you''ve caused my friend, don¡¯t you think you deserve a beating? Don''t you think you should get some punishment?" ¡°It was an honest mistake," Logan replied, looking aggrieved. "Are you going to cut the onion or not?¡± Erica red at him. Logan sighed, ¡°Alright, I get it. I''m at the bottom of the food chain.¡± He ced the onion properly. took a deep breath, and then, cut it up. "Woah!" He couldn''t help but cry out softly, feeling a sharp pain in his eyes. Erica took out her phone and quickly snapped a photo of Logan in his embarrassing predicament. ¡°Alright, get up," her tone was still cold, but it carried a hint of sympathy. Logan stood up with relief, moving his stiff legs. He watched Erica with a pitiful and aggrieved expression. "Come here, let me see," Erica finally softened, beckoning Logan over. Logan knew Erica felt sorry for him and scurried over to hug her, burying his face in her embrace.Original content from N?velDrama.Org. "Look at my face..." He lifted his head. showing Erica the side of his face that had been punched by Connor, ¡°It hurts.¡± Erica gently rubbed it. sighing, "Look what you''ve done.¡± "Who knew a ne could cause such a big misunderstanding?¡± Logan muttered, feeling wronged. Erica''s angerpletely evaporated. She reached out and gently pinched his cheek, "Remember this lesson well.¡± Logan nodded repeatedly, promising, "I got it. I won''t do this again." Then, he helgged Erica tightly, NN ¡®Considering Connor''s been single for 28 years and is finally about to get married, soon no longer a bachelor, I won''t hold it against him." Erica suppressed a smile, giving Logan a meaningful look. "It seems you brothers have some secrets after all," she said proudly. "What do you mean?" Logan looked puzzled at Erica ¡°Nothing,¡± Erica said smugly. raising an eyebrow. After a pause, she added, "I think Connor is a decent man.¡± Logan frowned, "What do you mean?¡± Erica shook her head and remained silent. At the dinner table, Cam was zoning out with her fork in hand. "What''s going on? Did you argue with Connor?¡± ire noticed her distraction and served her some meat, asking softly. "No," Cam shook her head. She was worried about Connor and Logan and also concerned about going back to work and not being able to take care of her mother. ¡®Are you worried about your mom?" Cole, carrying a bowl of soup from the kitchen, also noticed Cam¡¯s demeanor. He set down the soup bowl and asked with concen. Cam looked up at Cole and nodded slightly, "Both," she said in a subdued voice. ¡°Don''t worry about me. The doctor said I just need to rest well for a while to fully recover,¡± ire reassured her. Cole echoed, "Yeah, ire is right. I''m free now, so I can take care of her.¡± Hearing Cole''s words, ire couldn''t help but smile, teasingly looking at Camawith a chuckle. ¡°Yeah, at~ least, ole can cook for me. If you takecare of me, I might get food poisoning.¡¯ - Chapter 289 Chapter 289 Cam chuckled at ire¡¯s words. ¡°Mom, how can you say that about me?¡± Cam pouted, pretending to be upset. ¡°At worst. the food might just not taste good.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, I misspoke,¡± ire said with augh. waving her hand dismissively. "I know you''re capable, darling, but you should focus on your job right now. You''re working to support me, aren''t you? Cam nodded, her lips curling into a faint smile. After dinner, ire helped her pack her luggage. Cam nced at the clock. Connor had been gone for over two hours, and she was getting worried Soon, her phone rang. She saw it was Connor calling and quickly answered, ¡°Hello? ¡°I¡¯m at your front door,¡± Connor said. ¡°Mom, Connor¡¯s here to pick me up,¡± Cam hung up and hurried to the door. When she opened it, there stood Conner, smiling at her tenderly and affectionately. Cam frowned, her eyes scanning him anxiously for any injuries. Only when she was satisfied he was unharmed did she rx slightly. ¡°Did you get into a fight?¡± she couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°I gave him a punch,¡± Connor said nonchntly. ¡°Don''t do that again.¡± Cam whispered. Connor nodded ¡°Connor,e in for a cup of tea,¡± Cole called out fram the doorway. Connor looked at Cole and shook his head with a smile. ¡°No thank you. I''m here to take Cam home, and it¡¯s gettingte.¡± ire pushed Cam¡¯s suitcase out, and Cole immediately stepped forward to take it, pulling it easily to the door. ¡®ire, I''lle visit another day,¡± Connor said respectfully. ire nodded with a smile, ¡°You better get going. It''s over an hour''s drive. Take care on the road,¡± she advised. Cam hugged ire tightly, ¡°Take good care of yourself. Call me if you need anything.¡± ire gently patted Cam¡¯s back, ¡°You take care too. After saying goodbye, Connor gently took Cami¡¯s hand, the other hand holding her luggage firmly as they walked down the stairs. Content belongs to NovelDrama.Org > Once downstairs, Connor opened the car door and carefully ced the luggage in the trunk. Then, like a true gentleman, he opened the passenger door for Cam, watching her head to ensure she didn''t bump it. Connor walked around to the driver''s side and got I in. He didn''t start thes car right away but instead took ? Cam¡¯ s hand first. Content? belongs to NovelDrama.Org ~ He watched her with intense affection, a smile dancing on his lips, ¡°My girlfriend.¡±Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Then he slowly turned the back of her hand toward him and gently kissed it. ¡°Let''s go.¡± Cam withdrew her hand, her cheeks slightly flushed, and whispered, ¡°Just drive,¡± her voice barely audible. ¡°At yourmand!¡± Connor smiled as he started the car and slowly drove away from Cam¡¯s home. As they neared their destination, Cam received a text from Erica It''s a photo of Logan cutting an onion. [Cami, I gave this guy a lesson too!] Not only dic his face bear visible bruises, but he was also cutting aly onion; Jooking utterly miserable. Cam felt a bit sorry for Logan. Chapter 290 Chapter 290 Cam looked at Connor and asked, ¡°You and Logan...¡± ¡°Us?¡± Connor chuckled lightly. ¡°Buddies for over twenty years, we¡¯ve been through a lot together. He won¡¯t hold that punch against me.¡± His tone was casual and rxed Cam nodded, ¡°That''s good then.¡± She smiled softly, her expressionplex, "He seemed a bit pitiful today.¡± Connor frowned slightly, puzzled as he looked at Cam. ¡°Why are you feeling sorry for him now?¡¯ Cam bit her lip, hesitating. ¡°I''ll show you a photo when we stop at a red light.¡± She finally said. Connor''s curiosity was piqued, but unfortunately, the lights were all green without interruption It wasn''t until they arrived at the base of Cam''s apartment building that she showed him the photo. Connor looked at the photo, his eyes widened, and he teased with a smirk, "Cutting an onion, huh! Send me the photo. I have to tease him about this.¡± ¡°No way, Erica sent this to me. We should spare him some dignity.¡± After Cam put away her phone, she snorted coldly, ¡°I should learn this trick too. If you ever make me angry, I''ll make you do that as well!¡± Connor took Cam¡¯s hand seriously and said, ¡°I can''t promise I won''t identally make you angry in the future, but whatever punishment you choose is fine by me, just don''t talk about breaking up.¡± Cam pursed her lips and gently ced her hand over his heart. looking up into his eyes, ¡°I''ve told you, I''m a jealous person. I want your whole heart. and if you can¡¯t give me that, I won''t hesitate to break up.¡± Connor held her hand tightly, gazing intensely into her eyes. ¡°This heart is only for you.¡± Cam sighed softly. ¡°About those flings before we were together, I can''t control that...¡± She hadn''t finished her sentence when Connor, afraid of any misunderstanding, quickly said, ¡°What flings?¡± ¡°I once found lipstick marks on your cor, but that was before we were together, so let''s turn that page,¡± Cam said with augh, ¡°Looks like I was jealous back then.¡± Connor racked his brain but couldn''t remember any physical contact with another woman! Confused, he asked, ¡°When was this?¡± Cam pursed her lips, ¡°On Mr. Logan¡¯s birthday, you sent me away and had the driver take me home first. The next day, there was a lipstick mark on your shirt.¡± Hearing this, Connor remembered that nightand immediately i exined, ¡®Sending you away was because Logan and I needed to diseuss something about your father. As for the lipstick mark...¡± He tried hard to recall and finally remembered, ¡°It was that woman who breught me lunch. She wanted to ridein my car, but I asked her to get. out Maybe that¡¯s when i hampened!¡± He immediately pulled out his phone, ¡°I''ll call Logan. That driver can vouch for me.¡± Camughed, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I believe you. Connor breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°You scarechine. d I''ve always been faithful "He gently teased => Cam''s snose, softly saying, ¡°What else ig pothering you? Don''t keep it nse Tell me, and we''ll IN it g¨¦ther.¡± Prove 6 Cam hesitated for a moment but decided to ask, ¡°About Future Inc., in an interview, you mentioned it was founded because of a very important friend. Was that person... Haylie?" Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Chapter 291 Chapter 291 Connor looked bewildered, asking in surprise, ¡°Why would you think that?¡± Cam cast her eyes downward, fidgeting with her sleeve, and said softly. ¡°Your old school friend told me you started Future Inc. because Haylie is allergic to deg hair...¡± ¡°That''s nonsense!¡± Connor eximed passionately. ¡°I didn''t even know she was allergic to dogs!¡± Cam looked up, blinking, ¡°Really?¡±Original content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Of course not.¡± Connor gently ruffled her hair, looking into her eyes as he spoke slowly. ¡°Besides Logan. we had another friend who grew up with us. His name was Victor.¡± ¡°Fifteen years ago, there was a severe poisoning ident at the chemical nt owned by his family, which resulted in 37 deaths and 136 injuries. Victor''s father died in that ident, and overnight. their family¡¯s life turned from heaven to hell. ¡°The tragedy was too much. Victor¡¯s mother couldn''t face reality andmitted suicide by jumping off a building right in front of him. Victor was just a teenager then and subsequently diagnosed with severe depression.¡± Connor furrowed his brows and took a deep breath. ¡°Later, Victor himself jumped from a hospital building, ending his life at the age of 13. ¡°A hydrogen sulfide leak urred, and firefighters couldn''t enter the scene in time due to the harsh conditions, making it difficult to determine the source of the leak promptly. That''s why the ident spread uncontrobly. ¡°So I started thepany, to design the Future series for firefighters and people suffering from depression.¡± Cam could feel his sorrow, a deep, hidden agony seemed to surface at that moment. She gently wrapped her arms around him, burying her head in the crook of his neck, her voice slightly trembling. ¡°I''m sorry for bringing up these memories.¡± Connor held her tightly, as if trying to merge her into his very bones. He took a deep breath. trying to stabilize his emotions, ¡°It''s all in the past.¡± They hugged for a long while in the car, and then Connor suddenly smiled, asking. ¡°Anything else you want to know?¡± Cam shook-her head, letting go of Connor, ancktried to move back to her seat. However, having been > leaning Over for so long, she felt numbrress in her waist. She held her waist-a pained expression om her face. S oy ~ Connor immediately became anxious, asking, ¡°What''s wrong with your waist?¡± Cam gave a wry smile, pointing to her waist, ¡°It''s just numb.¡± Connor reached out, gently massaging her waist, ¡°I''m sorry, I should have noticed.¡± Cam smiled at him, ¡°It''s just a bit numb. It''ll pass in a moment.¡± ¡®lll help you inside. Don¡¯t move.¡± Connor got out of the car, opened the passenger door, ready to carry her. Camughed and protested, ¡°I really fin¨¦. You don''t have to cary me. itd be embarrassing if others see ¡°us!¡± Swnovel i Connor helped her up the stairs and back into the apartment, where Cam¡¯s numbness had subsided. Suddenly she remembered, eximing, ¡°Have you not eaten yet?¡± She looked at Connor with concern. Connor, touched by her worry, nodded with a smile, ¡°It seems so.¡± Cam immediately stood up, ¡°Wait here. I''ll make you some food.¡± She hurried to the kitchen. Connor followed and stood quietly in the kitchen for a while, savoring this ordinary yet genuine happiness.> Finally;he couldn''t resist wrapping his atms around Cam frond bekind. - His chin resting on the top of her head, his voice was deep and tender, ¡°Cami, thank you for everything.¡± Chapter 292 Chapter 292 Cam smiled, continuing her task in the kitchen while her face beamed with joy. "Making pasta is no trouble at all. It''ll be ready in a moment. Why don¡¯t you wait at the dining table?" Connor held her tighter, resting his chin gently on top of her head. "I just want to hold you like this. It feels like bliss."Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Setting down the tongs, Cam turned around and wrapped her arms around his waist. She looked up at him, her eyes clear, a sweet smile on her lips. Connor gazed at her smiling face and gently lowered his head to kiss her forehead. His lips slowly moved down to her nose, and finally, his gaze fixed on her soft, pink lips. He gently closed his eyes and kissed her, his movements tender. Cam closed her eyes, tilting her head back to meet his kiss. Connor''s lips curled into a smile, his gentle kiss turning passionate. It was only when Cam felt a strain in her neck and stepped back that Connor stopped, nting a soft kiss on the corner of her mouth before slowly letting her go. He took in her flushed lips and her slightly breathless appearance. finding her incredibly beautiful. "I love you.¡± he said, his voice deep and husky. The sound of boiling water had been audible for a while. Cam lowered her head, shyly avoiding his desirous gaze, her cheeks tinting with a blush as she murmured an acknowledgment. Gently pushing him away, she turned and said softly, "The pasta''s going to burn.¡± She carefully lifted the pasta from the pot and ced them into a bowl. Connor, with a smile still ying on his lips, wrapped his arms around her waist again. "Stop it," Cam chided lightly. That gentle reproach sent a thrill through Conner. He reached out and tenderly pinched her cheek. "The pasta is ready. Let''s eat." Cam said as she wriggled out of his embrace. Laughing, Connor let her go, finding her slightly annoyed expression particrly endearing He picked up the bowl and headed to the dining table, with Cam following him out of the kitchen "Eat up. I''ll go sort out the clothes," she said and then pulled her suitcase back to the bedroom to organize her wardrobe. Connor responded and watched her leave with a sense of longing. When Camita returned from the bedroomwith her luggage unpacked, Connor was already ¡ª halfway through his bowl of pasta, his gaze following her everymove, a soft smile on his face. Cont¨¦nt b¨¦longs to NovelDrama.Org ~ Xu ~ "Is it good?" she asked. Connor nodded, saying, "It''s delicious." Cam frawned slightly, looking at . the limp.pasta I in the bowl, feeling twinge of guilt. She knew this. couldn''t possibly be delightful. "Let me try." Connor picked up some noodles, blew on them, and carefully tucked her hair behind her ear before bringing the noodles to her mouth. Cam chewed thoughtfully, her brow furrowing. The pasta was as she expected, limp and quite nd. Suddenly, she eximed, "Ah! I forgot to add salt!" Frowning, she med him, "It¡¯s all because of you distracting me." ¡°Salt? I think it tastes great as is!" Connor paused, genuinely finding them ptable Cam looked at him, puzzled and concerned. "You haven''t lost your sense of taste, have you?" Connor opened the jar of hot sauce. that was¡®on the table, added some to his Sowl, and tried it again, C¡ã shaking his head. "Nope, thisis spidy.¡± Content belongs 1a. NovelDrama.Org Chapter 293 Chapter 293 Cam grimaced, feeling a bit guilty as she admitted, ¡°Sorry, it seems I really have no talent for cooking Connor took her hand, lifting his head to gaze into her eyes with a small smile ying at his lips ¡°That''s because god knew you wouldn''t need to cook once you married me, so he didn¡¯t waste that talent on you.¡± Cam¡¯s face heated up, and she turned away with a shy smile, her voice as faint as a mosquito''s, ¡°Who says I¡¯m marrying you?" Connor pulled Cam into his arms, seating her on hisp, and gently pinched her nose. "You can¡¯t marry anyone else besides me.¡± ¡°That''s hard to say. Maybe my Mr. Right isn''t you,¡± Cam whispered softly. Connor frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure in his voice. He yfully squeezed Cam¡¯s waist. his tone slightly domineering: ¡°Your Mr. Right can only be me. Looking into his determined eyes, Cam felt a warmth in her heart. She patted his shoulder, smiling. ¡°Alright, my Mr. Right, it¡¯ste, you should head home.¡± Connor hugged her tighter, shaking his head, his voice carrying a trace of grievance. "I don¡¯t want to leave...¡± he murmured softly. Cam gently stroked his hair, speaking softly, ¡°You need to get up early for work tomorrow." Connor sighed reluctantly, not wanting to part with Cam for even a minute. How quickly time passed, he thought, trying to find an excuse to stay longer. Before he could think of one, Cam had already gotten off hisp and stood up, pulling him to his feet. He stood up, wrapping his arms around her. Cam gently struggled,ughing. ¡°Hurry up. I¡¯m sleepy. See you tomorrow. Reluctantly, Connor let her go, giving her a final look before slowly walking towards the door. Cam followed behind him, her lips pursed. ¡®I''m really leaving now...¡± Connor said reluctantly. ¡°Mhm,¡± Cam nodded She escorted Connor to the door, her heartbeat quickening slightly. As she turned to close the door, she suddenly tiptoed and quickly kissed Connor''s cheek Pop¡ªa soft sound, and Cam''s cheeks instantly turned crimson. ¡°Good night,¡± she said quickly, shutting the door. Connor stood frozen, feeling the gentle touch on his cheek, as if 2 Cam¡®s warmth still lingered thre. He ouched the spot she had kissed, a Si Wy" smile curling up at thecvorners of-his mouth. - Connor stood at the doorway, staring at the closed door for a long while before slowly walking downstairs. When he reached the ground floor,-~ he moved to a spot where he could see Cam¡¯ s house and stopped: He stood there, his gaze fixed orthe wiridow. Content belongs: to - A deep longing surged in his heart. As the night deepened and the surrounding lights gradually went out, Connor still stood there, like a statue. After what felt like an eternity, the light in that window finally went out. He took a deep breath, then turned and left. Connor got back into his car and lit a cigarette. Revisiting the intimate moments ~ with Cam in his mind¡ªthe gentle touch fer shy blush, the soft. ? goodnight¡ª everything stirredhis emotions. Content belongs. to swnovel. He took a deep drag of the cigarette, trying to calm his excitement. The smoke billowed, as if speaking of his longing. Once the cigarette was finished, he took a deep breath, started the car, and drove away. From N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 294 Chapter 294 The next day. Cam had just finished washing up when the doorbell rang. She frowned slightly, wondering which neighborhood kid was messing with the doorbell again. Deciding to ignore it, she walked to her bedroom to change clothes She had just taken off her pajamas when the doorbell rang again. Cam sighed with resignation. She wondered which child was being such a nuisance. This had happened before, but usually, it was just once. Reluctantly, she slipped her pajamas back on and went to the door, peering through the peephole. Her expression softened when she saw whe it was. There stood Connor, bathed in sunlight, looking even more handsome and dashing than usual. Cam quickly opened the door, surprised. ¡°What brings you here?" she asked Connor smiled gently, his eyes warm. ¡°David will be bringing breakfast over soon, and from now on, I''ll be the one to pick you up for work." Instead of the smile Connor was hoping for, Cam''s expression turned serious. A wave of anxiety rushed over him. He worried she might have changed her mind overnight. With a heavy sigh, Cam said, "We need to talk. Come in.¡± They sat down on the sofa, and she patted the space beside her. Cannor sat, his face filled with nervous anticipation Cam watched him sternly. "I''m your secretary. It''s my job to pick you up for work. You''re turning things upside down." Connor breathed a sigh of relief. She wasn''t regretting their rtionship. "I just wanted you to get some extra sleep," he murmured. "I know you care about me,¡± Cam said, pursing her lips. "But let''s get one thing straight. At work, you''re my supervisor, and I''m your secretary. I want no confusion about that.¡± Connor frowned slightly, eager to shout from the rooftops that Cam was his girlfriend. He sighed, "I understand. At work, I''ll maintain the proper distance and role." Then, he grasped her hand yfully. "But it''s not work time right now, so I''m your boyfriend, right?" Cam nodded, touched by his gestures, her lips curving into a gentle smile. "Yeah, boyfriend.¡± At the word ¡°boyfriend,¡± Connor''s face lit up, and he pulled her into a warm embrace. After a moment, Cam gently pushed him away, saying softly, "I need to change." ¡°Just one more minute.¡± Connor murmured. Cam pinched his waist yfully, "David will be here soon, and I''m still in my pajamas..." Realizing that, Connor quickly let her go, knowing that vision was just for him.Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Cam smited and went to change. Feeling good today, she decided 146 put ona ¡°simple makeup look, ? applying some blush and her favorite shade of lipstick. Content belongs to NovelDrama.Org ~ She smiled at her reflection in the mirror. The doorbetl''rang; it was David. Cam walked out of the bedrgom to see Connor opening the door for him. David smiled warmly at her, his expression revealing that he knew the rtionship had progressed. ¡°Good morning, David. Thank you for this,¡± Cam said as she took the breakfast box from him. ¡°It''s no trouble at all," David chuckled, "I''m so happy to see you two together!" Cam blushed slightly, muttering a shy "Thank you." "I didn''t tell David anything!" Connor quickly interjected. Cam rolled her eyes at him, half ~ amused, half exasperated. After all, Connor had made himself quite ¡®at hame, and David was no fadl. Chapter 295 Chapter 295 Connor smiled and took his seat at the breakfast table. After breakfast, Young drove to Cam''s apartment building "You didn''t drive? Did you walk here?" Cam asked, surprised. "Yeah," Connor replied Naturally, Cam sat in the passenger seat, while Conner, with a touch to his nose, resigned himself to the back seat Cam turned to him and asked, "You''re not wearing a tie today. Did you forget it?" "l''ll put it on at the office," Connor replied with a secretive smile Cam was puzzled. Connor was usually meticulous about his appearance. Why would he wait to wear his tie at the office? It wasn''t until they were in Connor''s lounge at work, and she saw the tie she had given him, that she finally got it. "Help me with my tie,¡± Connor said softly, cing the tie in her hands. Cam smiled, and her heart rate picked up slightly. She stood in front of him, slightly tilting her head back to look up at him. Connor stood straight, his gaze lowered to her as his Adam''s apple moved slightly. Her slender, pale hands adjusted his shirt at the chest, then gently wrapped the tie around his neck, threading one end through the loop. She then gently pulled on both ends of the tie, adjusting its length and tightness. Connor instinctively wrapped his arms around her waist. Cam jumped, her heart tightening, and she unwittingly tightened her grip on the tie With her pull, Connor leaned forward slightly, his gaze falling on her red lips, his eyes darkened as he captured the back of her head and couldn''t resist kissing her.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. "Mmm..." Cam¡¯s hands still tightly clutched his tie. She¡¯s afraid that someone mighte in, her heart racing even as she was lost in the moment. Connor savored her sweetness as if he wanted to devour herpletely. His kiss \ was gentle yet passionate, making Cam''s heart race and her breathing quicken. Content. ¡®belongs to NovelDrama.Org - After a while, he broke away from her lips with a smirk. Cam, breathing heavily, yfully hit him and scolded, "You scared me to death. What if someone hade in?¡± Connor leaned in and kissed her lips lightly, chuckling, "This is my lounge. Who else coulde in but you?" Cam¡¯s cheeks bumed as if on fire, her cool cupping her face as she red at him, pretending to be angry as she turned her face away. Suddenly, Cam noticed something shimmering under the warm light in the wardrobe. She picked up the sparkling ne, slightly stunned. She turned slightly, confused, ¡°How did this ne end up here? Connor scoffed, visibly annoyed, "You ungrateful thing, you just threw away the ne I gave you." "Throw it away? Cam eximed, frowning, was missing. I even checked the¡± surveince footage, only tox find out your rhad taken it." Content ¡®belongs ike) NovelDrama.Org "I found it on the ground," Connor exined, "I thought you had deliberately thrown it away." ¡®How coule do that! That day I was. wearing a ¡°gown, and my makeup artist said the ne didn¡¯t match, SO I took it off, and then it was gone," Cain said, her voice filled¡¯ with Hurt. Connor''s mood lifted. His warm fingers took the ne from her palm, whispering, "Let me put it on for you.¡± He carefully wrapped the ne around her neck and gently fastened the sp. Cam touched the pendant, her eyes smiling. She looked up at the man before her, ced her hands on his shoulders, and gently kissed his lips, "Thank you.¡± Connor cupped her cheeks, turning passive into dominant, and kissed her forcefully. Knock, knock, knock¡ª Chapter 296 Chapter 296 The sound of knocking startled Cam. She opened her eyes and pushed Connor away. a shy blush spreading across her cheeks. Lowering her head, she quickly walked to the office door, took a deep breath. and opened it. "Oh, Cam, you''re here,¡± n said Cam¡¯s heart was still racing. She kept her head down, too shy to look at n, and replied softly, "I¡¯ve finished reporting my work," before hurriedly leaving the office. Connor walked to his desk, his gaze darkening as he looked at n. His eyes were dark and cold, seeming even colder than the weather outside, causing n to shiver. n sneaked a nce at Connor and thought, Bad timing! He shouldn''t havee now! He nervously continued with his work report, while Connor didn¡¯t even look up. flipping through documents.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. As n finished, he pulled out a couple of tissues and handed them to Connor, saying, "Mr. Connor, you might want to use these." Connor slowly looked up. slightly furrowing his brows. n cleared his throat and added, "You''ve got some lipstick... on you." Connor paused, then took the tissues and wiped his mouth. Seeing the red stain on the tissue, he couldn''t help but chuckle softly. "Mr. Connor, so you and Cam..." n began to ask. Mentioning Cam softened Connor''s expression considerably. He nodded and said. ¡°Keep it under wraps." "Understood. Next time just let me know if Cam is in your office, so I won''t barge in like this,¡± n joked "Get out," Connor red at him. nughed, leaving with the documents, and thought to himself how hard it was for the two to finally get together. Hearing the door open, Cam immediately lowered her head and started typing. n chuckled and returned to his own office. Once he left, Cam let out a long ~~ sigh of relief. She stood up and went to the break room to pour a cup of water. ¡°As she did, a colleague efrom the Secretarial office came in. Cam smiled and greeted her. "Oh, Cam, why did you wipe off your lipstick?" Cam paused, remembering the kiss with Connor in the lounge that had smudged her lipstick. She felt her face heat up and gave an awkward smile. "I liked the color and was about to ask you about the brand and shade." her colleague said. "¡®ll send you the linkter,¡± Cam smiled ¡°Thanks, I was hoping you would," her colleague said while filling her¡± cup. "Yeu were on leave these past days, and Mr. Connor wasn''t at the offige either. Do you know where he went?¡± .> - Cam was embarrassed and replied awkwardly, "Well, I was on leave. How would I know?" "That''s true," her colleague nodded. "It¡¯s quite unusual for Mr. Connor to be away from the office for half a month.¡± "Is it?¡± "Some are guessing whether Mr. Connor might have gone on a trip with Ms. Haylie," her colleague whispered Cam just smiled lightly. "I better get going." Returning to fer desk, she took out a small mirrorand carefully checked her lips. Sure enough, the once vivich lipstick tad been mostly kissed away She gently wiped off thee remamns with a tissue and reapplied her makeup. 4 After touching up, Cam took a deep breath and refocused on her work. Around noon, the driver delivered lunch boxes. As usual, Cam ced Connor¡¯s portion in his office. However, just as she was about to leave, Connor suddenly appeared at the door, blocking her way. "Let''s eat together.¡± Chapter 297 Chapter 297 Cam gently shook her head. "Before we were together, you used toe and have lunch in my office too," Connor said, holding her hand, not wanting to let her ga. The events of the morning were still fresh in her mind, and Cam wasn''t sure they could eat without ending up kissingOriginal content from N?velDrama.Org. With a sweet smile, Cam said, "Mr. Connor, please enjoy your meal. I''ll step out for a while.¡± Connor sighed in resignation and let go of her hand. Cam returned to her desk, opened her lunch box, nced at Connor in his office, and sent him a message. [Babe, lunchtime!] When Connor received the message. his gloomy mood instantly lifted. He took his lunch box to his desk, watching Cam through the ss door. With a slight smile, he opened his lunch box. Whatever dish Cam picked, he would pick the same. After finishing their meal, Cam picked up her phone and typed away. Predictably, Connor immediately checked his phone¡ªit was indeed a message from her. [Babe, I''m off to take a nap.] Connor looked down, smiling, and replied, [Okay!] Cam left her desk, leaving Connor feeling a bit empty. He picked up the cigarettes on his desk, but then remembered Cam disliked the smell. Taking the cigarette pack and lighter, he got up and walked out of the office, heading to the rooftop garden. Standing on the rooftop, Connor lit a cigarette. He took a deep breath, the smoke swirling around him There was a bench on the other side of the roof, so he walked over, cigarette between his fingers Suddenly, he heard whispers andughter. He saw a young couple embracing each other, their faces filled with happiness and sweet smiles. Recognizing them as employees from the tech and operations departments, Connor paused. Just then, the couple noticed him. They jumped up. hurriedly fixing their clothes and hair. Connor watched their awkward, tense expressions and couldn''t help but smile slightly. The man spoke first, his voice trembling slightly, "Mr. Connor..." His eyes were filled with fear and concern. The woman looked down, too scared to meet Connor¡¯s eyes, her hands tightly sped together. "Sorry to interrupt. You guys carry on," Connor said calmly. He turned to leave, giving them some privacy. However, the man immediately spoke up. "Mr. Connor, it was me who pursued her. If you have to fire someone, let it be me.¡± The womarr quickly tugged at his ~~. coat, whispering anxiously, ¡®Are you crazy?You''ve been at thepany longer than me, and you earmmore. anyone should leave, it stiould be rie." Connor, reminded of his own office romance with Cam, chuckled softly. t''s okay, I-was just passing by." ~~ Connor. 150k another drag of his cigarette, stubbed it out in the C¡± shtray of the trash can, and.teft the rooftop. - mM The couple looked at each other in confusion. "What did Mr. Connor mean by that?" the woman asked. The man just shook his head. After the break, Connor called the administrative manager to his office The woman walked nervously to the CEO''s office, hesitating at the elevator. Seeing her troubled face, Cam approached and asked, "What''s wrong? You look upset.¡± Upon seeing Cam, the woman grabbed I her hand, looking towards Connor¡¯ office with a tearful voice, ¡®cam, what should I do? Mr Condor found out about meand Jase.¡¯ . ~ ¡° Chapter 298 Mr. Connor called Marissa to his office, and I just know they''re talking about us. Can you do me a huge favor and speak to Mr. Connor? Ask him to let me go instead of Jase. Thepany is about to go public, and Jase has stock options. It''d be such a blow if he got fired," the woman pleaded. "Dating isn''t a fireable offense... is it?" Cam said. "You haven''t been here long, Cam, so you might not know this, but thepany has fired a couple before!" The woman clutched Cam''s arm, her eyes welling up with tears, looking truly pitiful. A colleague from the secretarial pool came over, gently cing a hand on the woman''s shoulder. "Mr. Connor isn''t heartless. I know the inside story. Thepany was already being kind by not suing them," she exined. "Did they harm thepany''s interests?" Cam asked. Her colleague nodded. "One was a finance manager, the other in procurement..." Understanding dawned on Cam, and she reassured the woman, "As long as you haven''t harmed thepany''s interests, you shouldn''t worry too much." "But... but Mr. Connor called Marissa to his office..." the woman shook her head, her voice trembling. "Thepany has a policy against office romances." While they were talking, the door to the CEO''s office opened. Marissa walked out and, seeing the woman near the elevator, approached her. "I was just looking for you. Let''s talk in my office," Marissa said with a slight smile. The woman took a deep breath and nodded. What muste, cannot be avoided; she followed Marissa into the elevator, and they descended together. After watching the two leave, Cam exchanged a knowing look with her colleague from the secretarial pool, both smiling slightly before returning to their desks. Cam walked back to her own station, thought for a moment, then turned and knocked on Mr. Connor''s office door. Seeing her, Connor smiled. "Uh..." Cam approached his desk and asked softly, "About the couple, what do you n to do?" Connor raised an eyebrow, smiling softly. "What do you think I should do?" Cam pondered for a moment, then smiled. "I think Mr. Connor is a reasonable and forgiving person." "Are you trying to butter me up?" Connor gazed at her, his eyes fulhet affection, and beckoned her closer, whispering, "Come here." Cam frowned slightly, ncing at the busy figures visible through the clear ss walls. Suddenly, with a whoosh, they were all obscured. Connor pressed a remote control, stood up, and walked over to Cam, sitting on the edge of his desk. He gently took her hand. "I''ve instructed the HR manager to remove that rule." Cam''s mouth curved into a bright smile. "Really?"From N?velDrama.Org. "Mr. Connor, you really are understanding. I believe that under your leadership, thepany will be more harmonious and united, and the staff will work even harder. en.swhovels Connor pulled her closer, yfully flicking her nose. "You, tterer." Cam blinked yfully, seriously adding, "A bit of ttery at the right time can be good for one''s career." Connorughed, released her hand, and then wrapped his arms around her waist. Cam patted his hands nervously. "What are you doing? What if someonees in?" "The outside can''t see in now, and n wouldn''t be so unobservant toe in at this time," Connor chuckled. "If he''s that clueless, he shouldn''t be an assistant anymore." en.swhovels Cam stammered in surprise, "Then, does he know about us?" Chapter 299 "He''s my right-hand man; no need to worry," Connor said with a grin. Cam''s cheeks warmed up instantly. From now on, whenever she wasn''t around and Connor had the blinds drawn in his ss-walled office, wouldn''t that just scream they were up to some "naughty business"? The thought made her feel a bit exposed. "Let me go," she yfully protested. "Hold still, just need a hug," Connor replied, pulling her closer. "Gotta recharge." Cam sighed, unable to break free. How did this guy get so clingy after they started dating? She just let it be, allowing him to hold her. "Why did you remove that rule?" she asked softly. Connor stroked her back, his gaze softening as he looked into her eyes. "Can''t let the mayor light fires and forbid the townsfolk from lighting candles, can I?" Cam paused, touched by his intent to protect her. If their rtionship ever got out, Connor as the boss wouldn''t face much scrutiny, but she might be the talk of the office. Her heart felt warm. "What took you up to the rooftop?" she asked curiously. "I wanted a smoke, but you hate the smell, and I didn''t want to leave any trace in the office," Connor exined. A flicker of emotion passed through Cam as she cupped his face, yfully scolding, "I really do hate the smell of smoke. So, Mr. Connor, could you smoke less, or even quit, for me?" She lowered her gaze, adding softly, "Smoking isn''t good for you." Connor was silent for a moment, his eyes intensely locked on hers, his voice low and husky. "Help me quit," he said. Cam nodded, earnestly replying, "I know some methods like nicotine cookies or having sweets when the urge hits." She then looked troubled and added softly, "But, those aren''t things you like to eat." "I have an idea," Connor said, a mischievous smile ying on his lips. Cam looked at him questioningly. Connor eyed Cam''s rosy lips, his Adam''s apple bobbing involget "Whenever I feel like smoking, I just you." evels A blush spread across Cam''s face instantly, and she red at Connor, "Can you ever be serious!" Connor released her, then stood straight, his voice deep and serious, "Cami, I feel like smoking." Before Cam could react, he gently lifted her chin, leaned down, and kissed her. Cam gasped, her head tilting back as Connor gripped her slender waist, holding her steady. Lost in the kiss and slightly dazed, Cam''s hands instinctively climbed up his shoulders. After a moment, Connor broke t kiss, he lifted her onto the offic yehands gripping her as Cam looked up at him, her eyes glistening,shes fluttering. They gazed at each other for a few seconds, both panting softly. Connor ced a hand behind her head pressed close, his legset hers, one hand still on her waist. He dipped his head to capture her lips again, prying open her teeth, their lips and tongues intertwining. He pressed against her, deepening the kiss. Cam''s soft moans escaped, her sweet sounds stirring Connor''s deeper desires. He suddenly felt his blood rushing to his lower body. Cam could clearly feel something pressing against her. Her hands tensely gripped the edge of the desk. Connor suddenly broke off the kiss, looking deeply into her eyes.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Cam opened her eyes, filled with a misty desire, staring back into his lust-filled gaze. Chapter 300 Connor watched Cam, her cheeks glowing with a rosy blush, her eyes sparkling with a certain allure. He swallowed hard, feeling his throat tighten. A voice in his head practically shouted, *Stop staring or you''re gonna lose it.* He cleared his throat and took a deep breath. "I''m gonna go take a shower," he said, his voiceing out rough. Cam snapped back to reality, tugging on his jacket. Connor paused. Her face was bright red, and she warned, "Don''t change your clothes." If he did, people might start gossiping about things that would make her want to bury herself in embarrassment. Connor raised an eyebrow, a yful smile forming as he kissed her glossy lips lightly, "Alright." Not trusting himself to stay any longer, he quickly headed to the lounge. Cam sat on her desk, letting out a soft sigh, trying to calm her racing heart. Once her cheeks cooled down, she got off the desk, straightened her clothes, and grabbed a random folder from his bookshelf, pretending to be busy as she walked out of his office. Back at her seat, she pulled out a small mirror. Her cheeks were still a bit pink, and her lipstick had beenpletely kissed off. She reapplied it, sighing to herself, *Dating really uses up a lot of lipstick!* Once she wasposed, she opened a file and dove back into her work. Erica texted her abouting over for a barbecue tonight, mentioning Logan would be there too. Cam checked Connor''s schedule; no social engagements, but he had a meeting at four. She texted Erica back, [I''m good, but Connor has a meeting; he might bete.] Erica replied, [OK] Not long after, the ss walls of Connor''s office turned clear again. Cam identally met his gaze through the ss, her cheeks heating up all over again. She quickly looked away, bowing her head. Patting her cheeks, she took a deep breath and focused on her work. Cam printed out the meeting agenda and brought it into his office. She stood close to the door, always ready to bolt if Connor stood up. Connor found her behavior both adorable and amusing. Cam said, "Erica and Mr. Logan areing over to my ce for a barbecue tonight. I''ll head home after work, and you cane after your meeting?" "Sure, I''ll try to get there early." "Mr. Connor, if there''s nothing else, I''ll head out." Connor held back augh and nodded. Cam left his office and continued with her tasks. *** In the conference room. Bryan stifled a yawn behind his hand. Connor nced at his watch and scanned the executives with a sharp look. He frowned and signaled the presenting executive to stop. "Get to the point," he cut off the lengthy exnation. The executive paused, a bit embarrassed, and quickly streamlined his thoughts to deliver the key information. After that, every executive reported more briskly. When all had finished, Connor stood up. "Meeting adjourned." Bryan and the other executives exchanged puzzled looks. Why had today''s meeting ended in just ny minutes? Near the end of the day, the HR department issued a notice abolishing the rule against office romances, advising employees rtionships to maintain professionalism and not let it affect their work. Thepany''s group chat exploded! Jase was the first toment, [Mr. Connor is truly a visionary leader!] He boasted with another [Thank office ances don''t have to s swoo Sneak around!] [LOL, should''ve captured your scared face this afternoon!] [Hooray~ Long live Mr. Connor!] Marissa chimed in, [Pum first, romance second. I keep a bnce and don''t let impact work efficiency.] belongs to NovelDrama.OrgBelongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 301 [Thepany''s decision this time was really smart. A few couples in our department used to sneak around, but now they can finally be open about their rtionships.] [Haha, I can finally bring breakfast to my partner without hiding it!] [Wishing everyone both love and sess at work!] Some took the chance to confess their feelings. [Jen, you can''t use that excuse to turn me down anymore! Thepany policy is gone!] [Go for it! @Tina] The group chat was buzzing. Cam smiled and put down her phone. Connor slipped into his slippers as if he owned the ce. He headed to the kitchen, poured two sses of water, handing one to Cam and taking a sip from the other. He sat on the couch, and Cam snuggled up next to him. "I thought your meeting today was going tost until eight or nine," Cam said softly. Connor smiled slightly and took her hand, "I might be busier from now on, spending less time at the office and not getting involved in as many details." Cam paused, then asked, "Why?" Connor looked at her, his eyes full of tenderness. He gently held her hand and said with a smile, "It''s not certain yet, I''ll tell you as soon as it is." Cam nodded, looking at Connor with trust. The doorbell rang, and Cam stood up from the couch, "That must be the delivery." On her way home from work, she had ordered some desserts online. "I''ll get it, you stay seated," Connor said, holding her hand. Cam obediently sat back down. Connor opened the door to find Erica and Logan. "Hello, Mr. Connor," Erica greeted with a smile, then naturally entered and changed her shoes. Logan was carrying several bags of food and exchanged a knowing smile with Connor. Connor helped him with one of the bags. "We ran into the delivery guy in the - 11 and just brought up the desserts with us," Erica ex the she changed into slippers, s with us," Eners, met "Thanks,e sit down," Cam said, standing up from the couch to warmly wee them. "I''m going to have a smoke," Logan said, heading to the balcony. Connor also turned towards the balcony. Seeing this Cam softly told Erica, Lotte to the balcony to chat. t the groceries sorted On the balcony. Logan pulled out a cigarette pack, lit one, and then offered the pack to Connor. Connor shook his head, politely declining, "Cam doesn''t like the smell of smoke, I''m nning to quit." Hearing this, Logan was briefly surprised, thenughed. He patted Connor on the shoulder, teasing, "Brother, keep it up! Quitting for love, I admire that." Then he extinguished the cigarette, "I won''t tempt you to smoke then." "Thanks," Connor smiled. "It''s really cold today," Logan shivered.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. "Yeah, this ce doesn''t have heating, it gets pretty cold in the winter, Connor sighed. "I need to figure out how to get her to move in with me." "You and Erica moved in together?" he asked enviously. Logan nodded with a smile, a hint of happiness and satisfaction in his eyes: "Been a while now." "Looks like you''re serious," Connor smiled genuinely, happy for him. After all these years, it was the first time he had seen him somitted to a girl. Logan shrugged, somewhat self-deprecating, "Looks like I''mpletely fallen for her." "Did you tell Cam about your connection with the Passos family?" he suddenly asked. Connor paused, then shook his head. Chapter 302 Cam and Erica spread out all the prepped ingredients on the table, showcasing an array of fresh meats, veggies, and sauces. They couldn''t help but stare at the feastid out before them, and almost onFrom N?velDrama.Org. cue, their stomachs growled, signaling their hunger. "Everything''s ready, let''s get the guys in here!" Erica said, her excitement bubbling over. "I got it." Cam put down the utensils and walked over to the patio door, giving it a gentle knock. Connor and Logan turned their heads simultaneously. "Time to fire up the grill," Cam called out from inside. Connor gave a soft nod and opened the patio door. "Thanks for setting all this up, Cami," Connor said, naturally slipping his arm around Cam''s waist, his eyes filled with warmth and affection. He looked down at her and whispered, "I''ll handle the grilling." "You sure you know how?" Cam quirked an eyebrow. "How hard can it be?" Connor replied with a confident smile. Logan, standing behind them, couldn''t help but grin at their sweet exchange. Once everyone settled into their seats, Logan teased, "Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Connor has volunteered to man the grill!" "That''s awesome," Erica''s eyes lit up. "Cami and I are hopeless when ites to grilling. We were just fretting about it." "Just watch!" Connor dered, rolling up his sleeves with an air of bravado. He picked up the tongs and did a little wrist rotation, as if warming up for the big event. Cam and the others watched him with bated breath. Erica cranked the grill up to high heat. Connor ced a steak on the grill, and it immediately began to sizzle and sear. Cam frowned slightly. Even though she wasn''t a grilling expert, something seemed off. "Don''t we need to oil the grill first?" she asked softly. Connor froze for a second; it was his first time grilling, and he was more ustomed to having meals served to him. He chuckled awkwardly, "Nah, it''s fine." Trying to mimic what he''d seen others do, he confidently flipped the steak. But the steak stuck to the grill, and a burnt smell started to rise. He fumbled with the tongs, trying to save the steak, but the more he panicked, the worse it got. "Haha, know could connor, you sure you you''re doing?" Erica, t hold back herughteel watching his bumbling his bumbling attempts. Connor scratched his head, a bit red-faced, and ced the steak onto a clean te. "Let me give it another shot." Logan shook his head with a smirk, leaning in to whisper to Erica, "My bro has never set foot in a kitchen." Erica''s eyes widened with a mix of surprise and mild irritation, "Seriously, you should''ve stopped me from suggesting a barbecue!" Her voice was quiet but filled with yful annoyance. Loganughed at Erica''s puffed-up cheeks, "Hey, you wanted a barbecue, didn''t you?" Erica''s face turned a deeper shade of red as she red at Logan. "Don''t worry, I got this!" Logan said, oozing confidence. Meanwhile, Cam stayed focused on Connor, ignoring Erica and Logan. "You should really add some oil," Cam advised, and Connor nodded. This time, he carefully brushed oil onto the grill before cing another steak on. But just as he was getting the hang of it, oil sttered everywhere, creating a sizzling mess. Chapter 303 Connor ducked quickly, but a few drops of hot oil still sshed onto his arm, making him wince in pain. "Watch out!" Cam eximed, grabbing a damp towel and handing it to Connor, her eyes full of concern. "Where did the oil hit you?" "Stand back a bit, keep clear of the oil," Connor advised, holding the towel between them. Logan couldn''t help but chuckle and shake his head. "Stop trying to be a hero; let me take over." Connor gave a sheepish smile and set down the barbecue tongs. Logan took the tongs from Connor and confidently ced the pork belly on the grill. Cam used kitchen scissors to cut a piece from the pork Connor had been grilling, blew on it to cool it down, and took a bite. Her face lit up with satisfaction, and she smiled, saying, "It''s a bit charred, but it tastes pretty good!" Seeing Cam''s content expression, a wave of guilt and frustration washed over Connor. He gently stroked Cam''s hair and said softly, "It''s burnt; you don''t have to eat it." Cam smiled warmly, "Anything you cook makes me happy." Connor looked at her, his eyes full of emotion, and he smiled, gently holding her hand, "You''re such a sweetheart." As they were enjoying their moment, a sudden argument broke the peace. Connor and Cam turned to see Logan and Erica standing in front of the grill, their faces red with frustration. "You said you knew how to do this! What is this mess?" Erica grumbled, clearly disappointed. Logan had turned the pork belly into a charred disaster. But Logan was quick to defend himself, "How is this my fault? It''s got to be the grill''s fault!" "The grill''s fault? Seriously? You''re ming the grill now?" Erica couldn''t help butugh at his excuse. Seeing herugh, Logan seized the opportunity, "Really, Erica, you gotta believe me." Erica rolled her eyes, "Look at this masy burnt mess. Even I know too ¨¤ grill." Content betet is a problem, and I don''t Logan scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed, "Well, it''s my first time grilling by myself." "First time? And you had the nerve to make fun of Connor?" Erica wouldn''t let it go. Logan quickly waved his hands, "Come Erica, you can''t me me for this. It must''ve been the oile Connor left on the grill." Ericaughed, "Logan, you''re both in the same boat; no one should be mocking anyone." Amidst their argument, Cam gently tugged on Connor''s sleeve and whispered. if "Let''s stop grilling; we''re just wasting good food. I''ll make some instant noodles for everyone." Connor turned to look at Cam and smiled softly, "Sounds good. I''ll help you." Cam nodded, "Grab the tray with the beef and pork belly slices." Connor stood up, took Cam by the hand, and they headed to the kitchen. He called back to Logan and Erica, "No moroneFrom N?velDrama.Org. we''re having instant noodles. Clean up there " Content dinner will be ready soon. belongs to NovelDrama.Org Once in the kitchen, Cam started boiling water, which soon began to bubble vigorously. Connor passed her the noodle cakes and casually asked, "Cami, have you ever been to Fernwood Valley?" Chapter 304 "Fernwood Valley?" Cam turned to Connor, a nostalgic smile tugging at her lips. "I went therest year with Erica. We lost $500 at the arcade." Connor brushed a hand through her hair, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Let''s get a pass, and I''ll take you there this weekend." Cam hesitated for a moment. "I want to go home this weekend to spend some time with Mom." She then nodded, "How about I go home after work on Friday to see Mom, and we head out on Saturday?" Connor looked at her tenderly, "Alright, I''ll drop you off at home on Friday and pick you up on Saturday afternoon." Cam shed him a sweet smile and nodded in agreement.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. As the pot began to boil, Cam started to add slices of ribeye steak into it. She carefully adjusted the heat, letting the steak slowly cook in the bubbling water. Soon, the bright red meat turned a tender pink, filling the air with an enticing aroma. Cam used a spoon to gently skim off the froth on the surface, ensuring the broth remained clear and inviting. She sprinkled in the seasoning packet that came with the noodles, stirring it well with chopsticks to ensure every strand was evenly coated with the rich vors, instantly making the kitchen smell heavenly. Connor moved closer, resting his head on Cam''s shoulder, taking a deep breath of the aroma. "It smells so good-looks delicious too." Camughed shyly, "It''s all thanks to the seasoning." After turning off the stove, she told Connor, "You handle the noodles; I''ll grab the bowls." Connor nodded, lifting the steaming pot of noodles and walking out of the kitchen. Cam''s eyes followed him, her heart swelling with sweetness and happiness, a content smile spreading across her face. Connor ced the noodles on the table, and Cam followed with the bowls. The table was already neatly set, and Erica''s eyes were locked on the pot of noodles Connor was carrying. "It smells so good, I''m starving," Erica said dramatically, rubbing her stomach and looking eagerly at the food. "My cooking skills are limited, so let''s just make do," Cam chuckled. Loganughed mischievously, pulling out a chair and cheekily said to Connor, "Well, I won''t be shy then." He raised an eyebrow and added, "But honestly, these noodles do look more reliable than our barbecuest time." Connor grinned proudly, "Of course, my girlfriend made it, so you''re in for a treat.'' Logan teased, "Oh, having a girlfriend sure makes a difference, huh?" He paused, then chuckled. proudly, Luckily, I have one too, so no need to be jealous." With that, Logan pecked Erica on the cheek, grinning smugly. Erica, who was dishing out the noodles, jumped at his sudden action, red at him, and put down her bowl, wiping her cheek with a napkin. "That''s no way to show appreciation," Loganined. Connor and Cam watched them bicker, unable to suppress theirughter. I''m ignoring you," Erica huffed, but naturally ced the bowl of noodles in front of Logan. Seeing this, Logan''s grin widened even more. . The four friends sat together, enjoying a simple yet delicious dinner. In the cold of winter, a bowl of simple noodles,ughter, and conversation mingled in the warmth of their friendship and happiness. *** At the Charity Auction, the venue buzzed with excitement. The brilliantly lit hall was filled with celebrities and wealthy socialites et Emily mingled with a group of affluent women in the auction''s lounge, exchanging fashion tips and recent anecdotes. Chapter 305 "Emily, that shawl is gorgeous! Who''s the designer? I haven''t seen anything like it before," Kristina remarked, lightly touching the fabric, her eyes full of admiration and curiosity. Emily smiled, her face glowing with pride. "It''s handcrafted by my future daughter-inw." Kristina paused for a moment, then regained herposure and nodded, smiling. "That''s really impressive." Nearby, Annabelle''s eyes flickered with barely concealed envy and dissatisfaction. She forced a smile, ncing at Emily''s shawl now and then, gripping her mother''s hand a bit too tightly. Kristina gently squeezed Annabelle''s hand, smiling. "Connor''s in a rtionship, huh? I wonder who the lucky girl is. I haven''t heard anything about her." Emily chuckled, her eyes shining with admiration. "She''s not from our social circles, but she''s truly a wonderful girl." At that moment, a wealthydy chimed in with augh, "Is it that celebrity girl?" With a hint of disdain, she recalled how she had once tried to introduce her daughter to Connor, but Emily had politely declined, a decision that still seemed to irk her. Emilyughed, covering her mouth, and shook her head. "No, it''s not her. Connor and she are just ssmates."Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Hearing this, the other wealthydies expressed their curiosity and surprise, specting about who this mysterious fianc¨¦e could be and how she had won Connor''s heart. Meanwhile, Annabelle remained silent, her jealousy simmering. "Seen any jewelry you like tonight?" one of thedies asked. Emily smiled softly and shook her head. "Actually, I haven''t set my sights on any particr piece tonight. But Connor has taken a liking to a bracelet and ns to gift it to his girlfriend. I guess I''m ying the middleman'' tonight." Thediesughed, and one teased, "Connor must really care about her; it looks like the Passos family will have a celebration soon." Emilyughed and replied, "I''ll definitely invite everyone when the timees." Just then, the auctioneer''s voice filled the room, and Emily, along with the otherdies, took their seats. The auctioneer, holding a gavel, enthusiastically introduced each item up for bid, while Emily sat in the front row of the VIP section, listening attentively. Her gaze shifted calmly between the auction items and the bidders. Suddenly, the auctioneer presented a magnificent jadeitevender bracelet, announcing, "This is a precious bracelet from the ancient East, featuring rarevender jadeite, a gift from nature itself. The bidding starts at five and a half million; please begin." As soon as he finished speaking, Emily raised her bidding paddle and calmly said, "Six million." The bidding instantly became lively, with other participants quickly raising the price to eight million six hundred thousand. "Nine million," Emily raised her paddle again. At that moment, Annabelle suddenly lifted her paddle, her voice clear and determined: "Ten million!" Emily turned, slightly startled, and looked at Annabelle, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. The other bidders stopped, and the atmosphere in the room tensed up. Chapter 306 "Eleven million." Emily smiled as she raised her paddle. Annabelle was about to bid too, but her mother gently pressed her hand and shook her head. Kristina''s eyes were a mix of helplessness and a silent warning. She understood her daughter''s feelings, her reluctance and struggle. But it wasn''t worth offending the Passos family over this. Annabelle bit her lip, feeling a bit defiant. In the end, the bracelet went to Emily for eleven million. Friday. The bracelet arrived at Connor''s office, delivered by a special courier. He took the elegant box, opened it with anticipation, and the mysterious violet hue immediately caught his eye. Connor gazed at the bracelet, his joy obvious as he pictured Cam wearing it. A small smile tugged at his lips as he pressed the inte. Before long, Cam entered his office. Connor smiled warmly as he approached her, whispering, "Let''s go to the lounge." Cam''s cheeks turned a faint pink, and she frowned slightly. "Mr. Connor, I still have work to finish. I should go." Ever since their rtionship began, Connor often used work as an excuse to call her into his office for some affectionate moments. Every time Cam walked in, he would frost the ss walls, making their privacy a ticking clock before someone noticed. Cam had forbidden him from frosting the walls anymore. Noticing her serious expression, a yful glint appeared in Connor''s eyes. "I just wanted to give you a gift, are you overthinking it?" Cam''s blush deepened, and she shot him a slightly annoyed look. Connor watched her pout, his heart fluttering. He chuckled softly, "It''s lunchtime, no one''s around. Giving you a gift here should be fine, right?" Cam nced outside at the dark and quiet workspace. She pursed her lips and turned towards the lounge. Connor followed her, amused by her slightly shy manner. He picked up the elegant box from his desk and walked behind her to the lounge. Inside, Connor gently closed the door. He handed the box to Cam, "A gift, I hope you like it." Cam opened the box and saw the violet jade bracelet. Her eyes lit up with surprise and emotion as she carefully picked up the bracelet, examining it closely. "This Sok color.it''s so unique." She o at Connor with a brigh "Thank you, I really " Seeing Cam''s radiant smile, Connor felt a surge of happiness. He gently offered, "Let me put it on for you." Cam nodded softly and extended her hand. Connor picked up the bracelet and gently ced it on Cam''s wrist. The bracelet fit perfectly, snug against Cam''s skin. The violet stood out strikingly against her pale wrist, like a blooming flower, beautiful and elegant.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. "Does it look good?" Cam asked, smiling. "Beautiful, it suits you perfectly." Connor nodded, gently holding Cam''s hand. As their hands touched, the bracelet and his watch clinked together, making a crisp, pleasant sound. This sound made Cam a bit nervous. She immediately clutched the bracelet on her wrist, worry flickering in her "Is this bracelet expensive?" Content belopvel? Her hand suddenly hesitated to move freely, fearing it might get knocked. Connor say her nervous demeanor and couldn''t help butugh, shaking his head, "It''s not too expensive, just over a thousand. If it breaks, you another one." get Chapter 307 Cam''s face rxed when she heard the price, letting out a sigh of relief. She brightened up, a yful grin spreading across her face. "Phew, I was so worried! If that bracelet had cost thousands, I''d be too scared to wear it. I''d be heartbroken if I scratched it."This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Connor watched her mischievous expression and couldn''t resist giving her nose a gentle pinch, chuckling. "Silly girl, it''s just jewelry. Nothing is worth more than you." Cam nodded, her face glowing with a sweet smile. Connor gazed at her for a few moments. "Can I get a hug?" he asked, arms open wide, yfully whining, "I need to recharge." Camughed, shaking her head. Connor raised an eyebrow, stretched out his arms, and pulled her into a warm embrace, lowering his head to softly kiss her neck. Cam felt a tingling sensation shoot through her body. She pushed lightly against Connor, surprised, her cheeks turning pink. "Connor!" He didn''t stop, leaving a visible mark on her neck before he finally pulled away, looking satisfied. Cam red at him, slightly annoyed. "What are you doing?" Connor released her, a triumphant smile spreading across his face. He found her slightly angry expression utterly adorable. Cam shot him a look and headed to the bathroom. In front of the mirror, she saw the mark on her neck left by Connor. She felt a mix of annoyance and a strange sweetness. When Cam came out of the bathroom, Connor was leaning against the wall, looking smug. Cam opened her mouth to scold him but sighed instead. Connor was acting like a lovestruck teenager. She wrinkled her nose. "I''m heading out." She opened the lounge door, covering the mark on her neck with her hand, and returned to her desk. Without concealer to hide the mark, she wrapped a scarf around her neck several times. She checked herself in a mirror to make sure the mark waspletely covered, then finally rxed. Lunchtime flew by. Wearing her scarf while typing at her keyboard, a colleague from finance walked over with some documents and asked in surprise. "Cam, the office is pretty warm with the heating on. Why are you still wearing a scarf?" Cam touched the scarf, smiling awkwardly. "Really? I just feel a bit chilly." "You might be a bit run-down; you need to take care of yourself," the colleague said, concern in his eyes. "I have a great recipe for a nourishing dish. I''ll bring it next week for you to try." Cam quickly waved her hands. "Thanks, but there''s no need. I''m not great at cooking. I think soaking my feet in hot water will help." "Oh, soaking your feet is a good idea too," her colleague nodded, then handed her the documents. "Could you please get Mr. Connor to sign these?" Cam took the documents with a smile. Entering Congor''s office, she handed him the documents. Connor looked up at Cam, his gaze lingering on her scarf for a moment before he continged reading the document, a yful smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Cam red at him. After reviewing the document, Connor signed his name and handed it back to Cam. "I''ve reviewed the document, everything looks fine," he said softly. Then, he smiled. "It''s Friday, and traffic might be bad. Let''s grab a casual dinner at the mall downstairs before I take you home." "Okay," Cam answered, taking the documents and leaving the office. Chapter 308 **After Work** As the office emptied out, Cam stepped into Connor''s office. "I''m heading downstairs to grab a few things." "What are you getting?" Connor asked, curious. Cam frowned and shot him a look, clearly annoyed. "Concealer." Connor paused for a moment before chuckling softly. "Doesn''t Auntie know we''re together? A hickey''s pretty normal, right?" Cam yfully raised her hand as if to thump him on the head but stopped herself. Her cheeks flushed slightly. "I''m just shy, okay?" Connor felt a wave of affection wash over him at her bashfulness. He stood up, grabbed his coat from the rack, and said tenderly, "I''lle with you." They left the office together and headed to the mall. In the cosmetics section, Cam was busy picking out a concealer. Connor stood nearby, his eyes wandering over the myriad of makeup products, clearly uninterested. "I''ll wander around over there," he said casually. Cam nced up at him, guessing he might be bored. She smiled gently. "Alright, I''ll call you when I''m done." Connor nodded and strolled off towards another counter. With the sales associate''s enthusiastic help, Cam tried a bit of concealer on her neck. Standing in front of the mirror, she carefully examined her neck to make sure the marks were perfectly hidden. Satisfied, she nodded and decided to buy it. After paying, she pulled out her phone and called Connor. "Did you get it? How''s the concealer?" Connor''s concerned voice came through the line. Cam smiled softly. "It works great,pletely covered. Where are you?" "I''m heading over to you now. Just wait there," Connor replied as he finished up his own purchase. When they met up, Cam had already taken off her scarf, revealing her slender, fair neck. Connor inspected it closely and, seeing the marks were indeedpletely hidden, he admired, "Wow, you really can''t tell at all." Cam grinned proudly. "Of course." Hand in hand, they wandered through the mall, looking for a ce to eat. Eventually, they found a shabu-shabu restaurant with no line. Cam picked up the menu and after a moment, frowned. She looked up at Connor andughed, "Now I see why there''s no line." "Why?" Connor asked, intrigued. She pointed at the high prices on the menu. "Because of this."This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Connor chuckled and ruffled her hair. After their meal, Connor checked the time. "Traffic should be light now. I''ll drive you home." Cam nodded, and they walked hand in hand back to thepany parking lot. Connor naturally opened the passenger door for her. Once Conf off his coat and pulled out box. "This is for you," he said, smiling as he handed it to her. Cam took the lipstick, surprised. "Is this... what you bought earlier?" Connor nodded. "The sales associate said this shade is really trendy right now. Try it and see if you like it." Cam''s face lit up with joy. She looked at Connor, her eyes sparkling. "Thank you. You''re so thoughtful." Connor smiled tenderly and gently pinched her nose. She beamed, opened the car''s vanity mirror, turned on the light. Twisting lips. The vibrant tangerine red shade made herplexion glow. lipstick she applied it to ho the She examined her lips in the mirror and nodded in satisfaction. Chapter 309 "Does it look good?" she asked, turning to Connor with a yful smile. Connor couldn''t take his eyes off her,pletely entranced by her charm at that moment. Cam''s heart pounded in her chest. Just as she was about to say something, Connor leaned in and kissed her deeply, pressing her back against the seat. His strong hands gripped her slender waist tightly. Cam closed her eyes, her hands sliding up to his shoulders, surrendering to the moment. Their lips and tongues danced together in a passionate embrace.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. The car was otherwise silent, the only sound being the soft, intimate noises of their kisses echoing inside. Connor paused, pulling back just slightly, their lips still brushing against each other as they both caught their breath, their chests heaving. His eyes were intense, hers shimmering with unshed tears. "This is a gift that needs to be repaid, a little bit every day," Connor murmured, his voice deep and rich, as he gazed into her eyes. Cam slowly opened her eyes, giving him a gentle kiss and a soft smile. "Thank you for your lipstick. I''m willing to repay you a little every day. So, boyfriend, would you like to share in this repayment with me, every day, forever?" Connor''s lips curved into a tender smile. "I''d love to." He kissed her again, deeply, tenderly, their kisses full of longing and promise. Cam closed her eyes, losing herself in the depth of his affection. When the kiss finally ended, Connor gently stroked her cheek and nted a soft kiss on the tip of her nose. Looking deeply into her bright eyes, he said with heartfelt emotion, "I love you, forever." Cam''s heart swelled with joy, her eyes sparkling with happiness. She kissed his lips gently, whispering firmly, "Me too." Connor gazed at her with eyes full of love and gently caressed her face, then pulled her onto hisp. They held each other close until Cam''s phone rang. She gently pushm''s Connor away, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Mr. Connor, it''s almost ten o''clock. When are you nning to take me home?" Connor tightened his hold on her, his voice deep and full of affection. "I don''t want to let you go." Cam smiled, pulling her phone out of her bag and ncing at the screen. "It''s probably my mom calling." Reluctantly, Connor let her go as she answered the call. On the other end, ire''s concerned voice asked why she hadn''t arrived home yet and if everything was alright. Cam reassured her softly, promising she''d be home soon. After hanging up, Cam tilted her head towards Connor, her eyes yful. "Boyfriend, can you take me home now?" Connor chuckled, lightly tapping her nose. Then, he started the car. Soon, they arrived at the base of Cam''s apartment building. Connor unbuckled his seatbelt, ready to walk her up, but Cam shook her head, whispering, "Just go back. I''lDtext you when I''m home." Connor looked at her, his eyes full of reluctant affection. As she was about to step out of the car, she leaned forward, kissed his cheek, and said with a smile, "Goodnight." Connor''s lips curved into a smile as he gently ruffled her hair. "Goodnight. I''ll wait for your message." Cam opened the car door and stepped out, turning back to wave at him before heading towards the entrance. Connor sat in the car, watching her until she disappeared into the stairwell. Soon, his phone buzzed with a message from Cam. [Home safe-Drive carefully and text me when you get home- [Will do. Connor replied, adding a heart just like she did before reluctantly starting the car and driving away. Chapter 310 As soon as Cam walked through the door, ire immediately set aside her knitting and got up from the couch, a gentle smile spreading across her face. "Mom, why are you still up?" Cam asked, a hint of guilt in her eyes. ire shook her head softly and said warmly, "I''m not tired, just keeping busy with my knitting." She then poured a ss of warm water and handed it to Cam. Taking a sip, Cam realized just how thirsty she was. Setting down the ss, she asked with concern, "How have you been feeling these past few days?" "Better than ever," ire replied with a smile. "Let me get you some soup before you take your shower."Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Cam, not wanting to overburden her mother, said gently, "You didn''t have to make soup. The doctor said you need to rest more." ire chuckled and shook her head. "Cole prepared the ingredients; I just threw them in the pot. Have some to warm up before your shower." She turned and headed to the kitchen,ing back with a steaming bowl of soup. ire ced it in front of Cam, who sat down, lifted the bowl, and gently blew on the steam before sipping slowly. The soup was delicious andforting, warming her from the inside out. ire''s lips parted as if to speak, but then closed again, hesitating. Noticing her mother''s hesitation, Cam put down her spoon and asked, "Is something wrong?" ire shook her head, looking a bit embarrassed. In a low voice, she said, "Cole and I... we''re nning to get married." Her face then lit up with excitement and joy. "Really? That''s wonderful!" Cam eximed happily. ire watched her daughter''s reaction, feeling relieved but still a little worried. She knew Cam always supported her, but she couldn''t help but fear her daughter might not fully understand onmight have concerns. Cam noticed her mother''s worries and took her hand, saying earnestly, "Mom, I truly support your decision. Cole is a very kind and responsible man. I''ve seen how much he cares for you, especially when you were sick, and how he and Craig hesitate to help with the expenses. I''m sure he''s a reliable man, and I Wan''t believe you will be happy." ire nodded, her heart warming, tears of happiness sparkling in her eyes. After chatting for a while longer, Cam went to take her shower. Later, as shey in bed, her phone rang. Picking it up, she saw it was Connor calling. She answered excitedly, her voice brimming with joy. "Connor, guess how I''m feeling right now?" "Really happy, because you got my call?" Connor guessed,ughing. Camughed, shaking her head. "No, no, I''ve got some great news-my mom is getting married to Cole!" Connor felt genuinely happy for ire upon hearing this. He knew the struggles ire had faced over the years, and now she had found someone dependable, which made him sincerely happy for her. "That''s fantastic! Cole is a good man; I believe they''ll be very happy together." After a pause, Connor sighed softly, then said, "Cami, when will you marry me?" Cam''s face lit up with a sweet smile. She shyly fiddled with the corner of her pajamas and murmured, "Cole chased my mom for over a decade. How long have we been together?" Connor chuckled softly, his self-deprecating thoughts spreading like a faint mist. He realized his urgency stemmed from a deep-seated fear of losing Cam. "Cami, let''s promise never to break up, no matter what," he pleaded, his voice filled with earnestness. Chapter 311 Cam paused for a moment. Then, in a soft yet unwavering voice, she said, "If you stay true to me, I''ll dly join you on this journey." Her voice, like a gentle night breeze, was both tender and firm. Connor chuckled, his tone filled with warmth and determination. "I promise, I''ll never let you down." They continued chatting, their hearts connecting through the phone line, binding them closer together. Eventually, Cam''s voice grew faint, and Connor realized she had fallen asleep. He held onto the phone, listening to her soft breathing, feeling a deep sense of peace and contentment. The next morning, Cam woke up, stretchedzily, and reached for her phone, only to find it had died. She frowned slightly, trying to recall her conversation with Connor but couldn''t remember when she had dozed off.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. After plugging her phone in to charge, she walked out of her bedroom to find Cole already there, having breakfast with her mom. "Cami, you''re up? Come and join us for breakfast," Cole said with a smile. "Morning, Cole," Cam replied, returning the smile. "Let me freshen up first." After breakfast, Cole suggested, with a hint of mystery, that they all head over to his ce. Cam''s curiosity was piqued as she followed him and her mother. Cole''s house was just a few buildings away, a property he had bought years ago. Cam had been there a few times before. But stepping inside this time, it was like stepping into apletely different home. The once simple decor was now vibrant with lush green nts in every corner, adding a touch of nature and freshness. The furniture had been reced with new, stylish pieces, making the ce feel entirely rejuvenated. "Cole, when did you redecorate?" Cam asked, eyes wide as she took in all the changes. Cole scratched his head, grinning. "I didn''t do much, really. Just repainted the walls and got some new furniture. I thought it would make things morefortable, especially for ire-she loves cozy furnishings." ire smiled, her eyes sparkling with happiness. She knew that Cofe + had done all this for her, creatie Cos "Cole, you''re so thoughtful," Cam remarked, "This ce looks amazing." "Cami,e check out your room," Cole said, leading her to a bedroom with a smile. "This is your space." "My room?" Cam''s eyes widened in surprise. She looked around and saw afy queen-sized bed with several cute dolls on the headboard. "Where are Craig and Ben staying?" she asked, remembering the ce was a three-bedroom. Cole smiled and pointed to the room next door. "They''re sharing a room. I talked it over with them, and they agreed to give you this one. Ben works in France, and Craig has a dorm at his job, so it''s no problem for them to share." Hearing this, Cam felt a wave of emotion. She realized that Cole had gone out of his way to make her feel at home. Craig and Ben''s §Ö thoughtfulness only added to the warmth she felt. "Cole, thank you so much..." Cam said, her voice choking up. "Cami, this is your home," Cole said gently, as if making a lifelong promise. Cam nodded, knowing that this home and her family would always be her safe haven. Just then, her phone buzzed. It was Connor; he was waiting at the vige entrance. They had ns to visit Fernwood Valley today. Chapter 312 After hanging up the phone, Cam turned to her mom, ire. "Mom, Connor''s picking me up to go to Fernwood Valley. I''m just going to pack a few things." ire nodded with a warm smile. "Go enjoy yourself, sweetheart. Just be safe." Cam hugged her tightly. "I will, don''t worry." ire returned the hug, a rush of emotions washing over her. Cam had grown from a naive little girl into a confident, mature woman. Her boyfriend was a great guy, which filled ire with immense pride and relief. Cam headed home and quickly packed some casual clothes. On her way out, she swung by the pharmacy and grabbed a box of motion sickness pills. At the edge of the vige, Connor''s car was already waiting. As soon as he saw her, he got out and walked over. Taking her backpack, he gently put an arm around her and helped her into the passenger seat. His actions were smooth and natural, like they were a couple who had been together for years. "Got your ID?" Connor asked with a hint of concern as he started the car. Cam nodded, her excitement bubbling over. "All set." As they drove away from the vige, Cam nced at the road and suddenly blurted out, "Are you sure we''re going the right way?" Connor just smiled and shook his head. "No boat this time." Cam looked puzzled. "No boat? Then how are we getting to Fernwood Valley?" Connor grinned, a twinkle in his eye. "You''ll see."From N?velDrama.Org. A few momentster, he pulled over into a clearing. Cam looked around curiously and then gasped There, gleaming in the sunlight, was a helicopter, its white body looking like a majestic eagle ready to take flight. "This...," Cam stammered, eyes wide in surprise. Connor nodded, smiling. "Yep, this is our ride today." Cam knew it took about fifteen minutes to fly from the downtown airport to Fernwood Valley, but they weren''t at an airport! Still in shock, she barely moved as Connor took her hand and led her to the helicopter. The pilot stepped out and opened the cabin door for them. "Mr. Connor, please," he said, bowing slightly. Cam was still dazed, her mind racing with questions. By the pet she snapped out of it, Connor had already buckled her in and was smiling at her. ¨¦n.swnovels He gently took Cam''s hand. "Ready for takeoff?" Cam nodded, gripping his hand tightly. In that moment, he was her anchor. As the helicopter lifted off, Cam''s heart raced. She watched the ground shrink away, her emotions a mix of awe and confusion. As they climbed higher, her feelings began to settle. She turned to Connor, still in disbelief. "This is a private helicopter?" Connor nodded. "Family''s." A realization hit Cam. She had thought Connor was a self-made entrepreneur. But discovering that his father was Peter, she now understood Connor was a wealthy heir. The luxury of the private helicopter far exceeded her expectations, leaving her feeling uneasy and overwhelmed. She turned to look out the window, the luxurious helicopter soaring against the backdrop of the blue sky and fluffy white clouds. Chapter 313 Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. She couldn''t help but think about the vast gap between herself and Connor, which left her feeling a bit lost. Just as she was getting lost in her thoughts, Connor''s gentle voice broke through. "Cami, if you''re feeling nervous, just hold my hand. I''ll always be here for you." She nodded lightly, her smile returning. Feeling Connor''s warmth and resolve calmed her spirit a bit. Before she had a chance to take in the view, the ne began its slow descent over Fernwood Valley. Looking out the window, she was awestruck by the bustling city below. The nended smoothly on the tarmac. Connor gently took Cam''s hand, and they walked off the ne together. Afterpleting the formalities, Connor whispered softly, "Let''s head to the hotel to rest a bit. Later, I''ll take you out for dinner and a stroll."Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Cam nodded, her earlier gloom gradually lifting, reced by a hint of anticipation. They rode in a luxury sedan to the hotel''s presidential suite floor. Waiting at the door was a butler, dressed in a crisp uniform and wearing a polite smile. "Mr. Connor, Ms. Cam, wee." Cam nodded and smiled. Connor gave a slight nod, holding Cam''s hand as he led her into the suite. The room was elegantly decorated, with every detail exuding luxury. The panoramic city view from the floor-to-ceiling windows was breathtaking. Connor gently opened a door and turned to Cam. "You can stay in this room," he said softly, pointing to the master bedroom. "Okay," Cam responded with a smile. Connor smiled back, leaned in, and kissed her forehead lightly. "I''ll be in the room next door." Then, with a mischievous grin, he whispered in her ear, "If you''re ufortable with me sleeping in the next room, you could invite me to join you in the master bedroom." Cam''s cheeks flushed a brilliant dawn pink. She stole a nce at Connor, then quickly looked away, afraid he might see her shyness. "The master bedroom is yours; I''ll take this one." Connor wrapped his arms around her waist, chuckling softly. "Just kidding." Hisughter was deep and maic, making Cam''s heart race uncontrobly. "I need to change," she suddenly said, grabbing her bag and quickly retreating into the master bedroom, closing the door behind her. Behind the door, she leaned against it and took a deep breath to calm her pounding heart. Connor, looking at the closed door, touched his nose and sighed softly. After a short rest, Connor took u Cam to the famous Fernwood Arch. Thisndmark was a ma for tourists in Fernwood Valley, drawing countless visitors. They strolled under the arch, enjoying the surrounding views. Cam stood in front of the arch with a faint smile on her face. The sunlight filtered through the gaps, casting golden halo around her silhouette, making her even more beautiful. Just as Connor was about to press the camera button, Cam suddenly remembered something. "Don''t we need a picture together?" she said with a smile, waving Connor over. "Come here, let''s take a selfie!" Connor paused briefly, then put down his phone, smiled, and walked over to Cam, gently wrapping his arm around her shoulder. Chapter 314 "I brought a selfie stick," Cam announced, pulling it out of her bag and setting up her phone. She adjusted the angle, ready to snap a picture. "Ready? Three..." Suddenly, she turned her head and quickly nted a kiss on Connor''s cheek, then turned back and pressed the capture button. It all happened so fast that Connor didn''t have time to react. When the photo appeared on the screen, Connor finally snapped back to reality. He saw himself with a look of surprise, while Cam grinned like a fox who had just pulled a fast one. "Sneak attack!" Connor said, but he couldn''t help smiling. Cam proudly showed off her phone. "This is our first photo together; no way we''re deleting it!" Connor watched Cam''s triumphant expression and couldn''t help butugh. He reached out and gently pinched her cheek. Camughed even more, leaning on his shoulder, looking at the photo of them with a light smile ying on her lips. Her smile was like a gentle spring breeze, warm and tranquil, making him feel joyful too. Connor gazed at her, his eyes full of affection. He loved seeing Cam smile; herughter washed away all his fatigue and worries, filling him with immense happiness. Suddenly, Cam pointed to a nearby snack bar. "That ce has amazing almond cookies and pulled pork sliders. Let''s give it a try." Connor smiled and nodded, taking her hand as they walked toward the snack bar. The ce was bustling with people, and the aroma was tantalizing. They approached the counter, dazzled by the array of snacks. Cam picked up an almond cookie, took a bite, and the sweet vor immediately burst in her mouth. Her eyes lit up, and she looked at Connor with surprise. "Wow, this is really good!" "Try it," she said, holding up the partially eaten cookie to Connor''s mouth. Connor leaned down and took a bite. "It really is delicious," he agreed, nodding. "Right?" Cam''s eyes sparkled as she finished off the rest of the cookie and spoke to the owner. "Sir, I''ll take ten boxes, and make it a deal." "No problem, absolutely a deal. Here in Fernwood Valley, our almond cookies are number one. You''ll definitely be back for more," the owner assured them. After paying, Connor carried the heavy bags out of the snack bar. "All this, can we finish it?" he asked. Cam counted on her fingers, "One for your family, one for mine, Erica, David, Young-two boxes each. I think we bought too little." Connor looked at her serious expression and couldn''t help butugh. He gently teased her nose, saying indulgently, "Fernwood Valley isn''t far, I can bring you here anytime."Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Cam''s smile grew even brighter, her eyes curving into crescents. She knew that whatever she desired, Connor would make it happen. Passing by a pulled pork shop, Cam enjoyed the treats immensely and bought plenty Along the way, they walked and nibbled, from street corners, alleyways, sampling various snacks and local delights of Fernwood Valley. As the sunset faded and night enveloped the city, they walked hand in hand back to the hotel, their faces still brimming with satisfaction and happiness. Upon entering the room, Cam copsed onto the sofa, exhausted from the day''s adventures. Chapter 315 She melted into the rare tranquility andfort, letting herself fully rx. Connor watched her, his heart aching with tenderness at how tired she looked. He moved closer, crouching gently beside her and gazing at her with warmth in his eyes. Feeling his presence, Cam slowly opened her eyes and met his. "Feeling worn out?" Connor asked softly, concern evident in his voice. Cam nodded slightly. She barely parted her lips when Connor''s gently pressed against them. The kiss was soft yet profound, brimming with all the love and tenderness he held for her. Cam''s heart raced, and she closed her eyes, losing herself in the moment. Just as she was getting swept away by the kiss, Connor pulled back and sat up on the couch, looking down at her. Cam''s eyshes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes. Connor took in the sight of her sprawled on the couch, her hair cascading around her, her eyes sparkling like morning stars, misty and incredibly alluring. After a moment of silence, he swallowed hard, feeling a surge of uncontroble longing. "I need a shower," he murmured, his voice husky with restrained desire. Cam nodded, her cheeks flushing. She noticed... Feeling flustered, she fanned her heated face, but it didn''t help. Taking a deep breath, she stood up and opened the balcony door. The cold wind hit her face, tousling her long hair and dress, bringing her back to reality. She stood there for a while until she shivered from the cold and finally closed the balcony door to return inside. Connor emerged from the bathroom, water droplets clinging to his hair, making his sharp features even more striking. Drying his hair with a towel, he walked over to the couch and saw Cam nestled there, scrolling through her phone with a faint smile on her face. "How about we hit the arcade for a bit?" he suggested. Cam looked up, a spark of excitement lighting up her eyes. She put down her phone, sat up, and nodded, "Sure, but let''s keep it to fifty bucks." Connor chuckled softly and nodded. Hand in hand, they made their way down to the arcade. As soon as they stepped in, Cam was awestruck by the dazzling, glittering sc¨¨ne. Towering chandelier''s, exquisite murals, and shimmering decorations made it feel like they had stepped into a grand pce. "It''s like a pce here," she marveled, ncing around curiously. Connor smiled and gently ruffled her hair. "Mr. Connor, long time no see! Up for a few rounds in the VIP room?" the arcade manager greeted Connor warmly. Connor smiled and shook his head. "No thanks, just showing my girlfriend around, soaking in the vibe. Appreciate it." He said this while tightening his grip on Cam''s gaming guiding her towards and, area. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. IMS The manager nodded with a smile, "Alright, let me know if you need anything." After the manager left, Cam frowned slightly and looked up at Connor. "Do youe here often? The manager seemed to know you pretty well." Connor looked at her, amused by her concern, and shook his head with a smile. Wrapping his arm around her shoulder he whispered, "Don''t worry, your boyfriend''s not a gambler know better than anyone that the house always wins. Later, back in our room, I''ll exin why brought you to Fernwood Valley." Chapter 316 Connor expertly guided Cam through the bustling casino floor, exining the different games and their rules along the way. "Have you yed anything before?" he asked. "I think it was called Three Man, but I don''t really know the rules. I yed a few rounds and lost; luck''s never really been on my side," Cam replied with augh. Connor smiled and gently ruffled her hair. "I''ll help you win it back." Cam shook her head, still smiling. "I don''t believe it. Promise me, win or lose, we stop after five hundred." "Deal," Connor agreed with a grin. They stopped in front of a slot machine, and Connor pointed at it. "Want to give this a try?" Cam looked at the machine, a bit puzzled. "I have no idea how to y." "It''s simple. Put in money, press the button, and if the same symbols line up, you win," Connor exined, cing some coins in her hand. Cam inserted the coins and pressed the button. The symbols on the slot machine began to spin rapidly. Her eyes were glued to the screen, her heartbeat syncing with the spinning reels. Suddenly, the symbols stopped, and a row of matching icons appeared. Cam was stunned. She quickly looked up at Connor, eyes wide with excitement and disbelief. "Did I win?" she eximed.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Connor smiled at her, the joy of the moment reflecting in his own expression. He reached out and gently ruffled her hair again. "Looks like you''re pretty lucky after all." Soon, the machine spat out a cash voucher. Cam grabbed it, her eyes widening at the amount disyed: $1228.50! "Ten bucks won this much?" she asked in amazement. Connor nodded, still smiling. "Yep." "Do you want to keep ying?" he asked. Cam shook her head, still smiling. "Nope, I''ve hit my target!" "Alright then, let''s walk around a bit more and then head back to the room." "Sounds good." Hand in hand, Connor and Cam strolled through the casino, with Cam curiously observing the gamblers at the tables. Suddenly, her gaze fixed on a familiar figure. en.swhovels "Isn''t that Mr. Steven?" she whispered to Connor. "Which Mr. Steven?" Connor followed her gaze, his brow furrowing slightly. Was Steven still gambling? Steven sat tensely at a table, his stack of chips growing steadily. His eyes were fixed on the dealer''s hand, and as thest card was turned over, the hope in his eyes shattered instantly, his whole demeanor deting. Connor called over the manager and asked, "Has Steven not lost everything yet?" The manager replied quietly, "He was in the VIP room before, lost about 700 million. Heard he sold his house and car, and has been ying here for six days straight, allosses. He''s nearly lost everything. Connor''s lips twitched slightly. Hearing their conversation, Cam frowned slightly. Stevening to gamble in Fernwood Valley was likely Connor''s doing. Once the manager left, Connor turned to face Cam directly, not avoiding her gaze, and openly admitted his actions. "I had someone encourage him toe and gamble," he confessed without hesitation. Chapter 317 "Is it because he was harassing me?" Cam asked softly. Connor nodded slightly, confirming her suspicion. "I took him to Vegas for a few days. At first, he won millions, but then he got hooked on gambling," Connor said nonchntly, as if he were recounting a story that didn''t concern him. His tone had a hint of indifference. He added, "As for losing his entire fortune, that''s on him." Cam felt a mix of emotions. She knew everything Connor did was for her, and Steven didn''t deserve any sympathy. But she was worried about the drastic steps Connor had taken. "I''m worried about you. What if he finds out and tries to get back at you?" Connor chuckled softly, his gaze tender as he looked at her. "They''re just small-time yers, not worth worrying about. I''m fine." "Do you want to keep walking around?" Cam took a deep breath, linked her arm through his, and shook her head. "Let''s go." They left the bustling casino and returned to their hotel room. "Are you hungry?" Connor asked as he poured Cam a ss of water. "Not really, I had a big lunch," Cam said. She was tired from the day''s activities and sat motionless on the sofa. Connor noticed her weary look, walked over, and gently sat beside her, drawing her into his arms. "Been a long day, hasn''t it?" he whispered. Cam nodded, leaning on his shoulder. "Why did you bring me to Fernwood Valley?" she asked softly. Connor was silent for a moment, then gently took her hand, his deep gaze locking onto hers. "Do you know Ray?" he asked quietly, a barely noticeable tension in his voice. Cam lifted her head, nodding slightly, waiting for him to continue.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Connor took a deep breath and began slowly, "He''s my grandfather, my biological grandfather." The air seemed to freeze around them, so still that only their heartbeats were audible. Cam felt as though she was suddenly transported to a frigid snowyndscape, cold from head to toe. Her expression stiffened, her eyes staring nkly ahead as her mind became a tangled mess of thoughts. She had thought Connor was merely the his stately uneasy. a famous artist; even status as a wealthy heir had made her She was just a poor girl, clueless about the world of high society, never having thought to step into it. Now, Connor was telling her not only was he a wealthy heir but also a t of a traditional, top-t aristocratic family. Content Belongs The kind she had only heard about in TV shows and novels, never having encountered in real life. Cam felt dizzy, as if she were living a bizarre dream. She couldn''t imagine the vast difference between her and Connor, a gap fear that filled her with Co and unease. She didn''t know how to face this reality or manage their rtionship. She wanted to escape, to flee from this overwhelmingly oppressive truth. Connor saw the look on Cam''s face, feeling a sharp pain in his heart. He knew this news was too shocking for her, and he tightly gripped her hand. "Cami, listen to me..." Cam stared at Connor, her eyes filled with aplex mix of shock, unease, and confusion. She slowly withdrew her hand, her voice trembling slightly, "I want to go home..." Chapter 318 Cam''s voice was soft, but it felt like an invisible wall between them. Connor''s heart tightened painfully, his fists clenching as he fought the urge to pull her into his arms. Taking a deep breath, he pleaded, "Cami, I know this is sudden for you, and I didn''t mean to keep it from you..."Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Cam shook her head gently, her eyes brimming with confusion and helplessness. She didn''t know how to face Connor right now. "I just want to go home," she murmured, her voice t and nearly devoid of emotion. Her gaze drifted off into the distance, as if trying to find a way back home. "It''ste, just go back to your room and rest. The flight''s booked for tomorrow," Connor tried to soothe her, hoping she would calm down. But Cam shook her head, "I''ll take the ferry back." Though her voice was weak, it was resolute. "There are no ferries at this hour." "I''ll wait at the harbor for the first one in the morning." A pang of heartache shed through Connor''s eyes. He took another deep breath and dialed his phone, "Request an emergency flight n. We''re heading back to Fairmount now." After hanging up, he turned to Cam, his voice soft, "I''ll take you." While waiting for air traffic control to respond, Cam returned to her room. She sat on the edge of the bed, hugging her knees, her gaze nkly staring out the window. Her heart was in turmoil, emotions tangled and twisted. At this moment, she felt incredibly weary and lost. Connor stepped out onto the balcony, inhaling the crisp air. The sky had started to drizzle, and the fine mist hitting his face brought a slight chill, The cold wind was piercing, as if it could reach deep into his soul. He had the hotel manager bring him a cigarette; right now, he needed something to quell the storm inside him. Lighting the cigarette, he took a deep drag and watched the smoke rise and dissipate into the cold air. When air traffic control finally responded, Connor took another deep breath, stubbing out the cigarette in the ashtray. He went back to his room to change clothes and freshen up; Cam disliked the smell of smoke. On their way to the airport, thendscape outside the car window was blurred and vague through the rain. Inside the car, silence reigned Connor wanted to speak several times but couldn''t find the right sbut words. He stole nces at Cam, who was looking out the window with an expressionless face. His heart was heavy with guilt and helplessness; he knew he was to me. Back in Fairmount, at Cam''s apartment building, Connor got out of the car and opened an umbre for Cam. They walked in silence, his heart full of bitterness. At her doorstep, he whispered, "Good night." Cam nodded, said nothing, and turned to close the door. Connor stood beneath her apartment, his gaze fixed on the window lit with light. The rain grew heavier, soaking him, the icy wind cutting deep, but he seemed impervious to the cold. He understood that Cam was rational; herck of confidence in a rtionship with such disparity in status was understandable. How could he make her see that he was just an ordinary person, longing for love? Longing to spend every ordinary yet cozy day with her? The rain poured down like a deluge, enveloping the world in a vast curtain of white. Cam stood by the window, about to close it. Just as she was about to shut it, her gaze inadvertently swept downstairs. There he stood, in the rain, his posture upright, his gaze steadfastly fixed on her. Chapter 319 Their eyes locked, and she could almost hear her own heartbeat echoing louder and louder, as if it was about to leap out of her chest. Her heart clenched painfully, a mix of remorse, guilt, and above all, love. She couldn''t stand the torment any longer. Grabbing an umbre, she dashed downstairs. At the door, her chest heaving, she opened the umbre and walked slowly towards Connor. His gaze never left her. When she reached him, she saw his clothes were drenched, clinging to him, his hair sticking wetly to his face. Her heart ached even more. She held the umbre over him and gently brushed his wet hair back, revealing his deep, expressive eyes. Her voice shook slightly, "Why are you still here?" Connor smiled softly, a tender light in his eyes, "I wanted to be with you." "Idiot," Cam choked out. She couldn''t run from her feelings anymore; she loved this man standing before her, regardless of any social differences. She wanted him! Taking a deep breath, she reached out to embrace him without hesitation. Connor gently pushed her away, his voice tender yet firm, "I''m soaked and cold; I don''t want you to get sick." "If you don''t hug me now, we''re done!" Cam pouted. Seeing the determination in her eyes and her tear-streaked face, Connor''s heart melted. He pulled her into a tight embrace, as if trying to fuse her into his very being. The rain continued its downpour, but their hearts were glowing with warmth. Hand in hand, they walked back to Cam''s ce, sshing through the puddles. Once home, Cam carefully dried Connor''s hair and body, then handed him a cup of hot tea, her voice full of concern, "Go take a hot shower, don''t catch a cold." Connor sipped the warming tea. Cam emerged from the bedroom, pressing a set of pajamas into his hands. Connor''s eyes lit up, a goofy grin spreading across his face. "These are the pajamas I wore in your lounge once. If it bothers you, just forget it." Connor''s smile turned yful, "You''ve been keeping my pajamas, huh?" Cam rolled her eyes, "Don''t get any ideas. I kept them because they''re too nice to throw away thought about making doll clothes with them, but I''ve been too busy." en.swhovels She urged him, "Go take a hot shower and change into dry clothes."Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Connor headed to the bathroom and shut the door. Turning on the shower, the warm water began to thaw his chilled body. He stood there for a moment, deep in thought, then resolutely turned the water cold. Connor gritted his teeth, enduring the icy st, and shivered. Heughed at himself, amused by his own childish antics, all for the sake of getting Cam to fuss over him. When he stepped out of the bathroom, Cam frowned slightly, "Why do you look even paler after the shower?" She touched his forehead gently, immediately noticing his unusually low body temperature. Her brow furrowed with worry, "Why are you still so cold? Wasn''t the water hot enough?" "I don''t know," Connor replied, trying to sound sincere. "Here, drink this cold remedy," Cam said, leading him to the couch and handing him the prepared drink. Chapter 320 Connor sank into the couch, the lingering chill from his shower making him sneeze. Hearing the sound, Cam immediately set aside what she was doing. "Here, take this medicine," she said, grabbing a throw nket and gently draping it over Connor''s shoulders. She frowned slightly, giving him a reproachful look. "You had an umbre, but you thought standing in the rain was cool, huh?" Wrapped in the nket, Connor shook his head, looking pitiful. "I wasn''t trying to be cool. I just... I didn''t know what to do. I was scared you wouldn''t want me anymore." Cam red at him, both annoyed and concerned. "If I hadn''t seen you from the window, were you nning to stay out there until morning?" Connor nodded. "Are you crazy?" Cam said, her voice a mix of affection and frustration. Connor took her hand and gently pulled her onto hisp, wrapping his arms around her and resting his head on her shoulder, his voice filled with self-deprecation. "I think my brain stopped working. I can''t even believe I did that." Cam sighed softly, feeling deeply moved. She understood that Connor truly loved her, which was why he had made such a foolish gesture. In that moment, all the hesitation and conflict about their social status melted away in Cam''s heart. "Actually, because of Rita, I thought maybe you were a distant rtive of Ray''s family," Cam said, her head bowed, letting out a sigh. "I just didn''t expect you to be her cousin." Connor held her even tighter. "My dad''s real name is Austin, and he''s the fourth child." Cam turned to look at him, puzzled. "I remember Ray... Mr. Passos, only has three acknowledged children. That''s why I never thought you were his direct grandson." Connor smiled, aplex emotion flickering in his eyes. "My dad wasn''t born to his first wife, and he was only brought into the Passos family when he was five." He paused, reminiscing about the past, then slowly recounted the older generation''s story.From N?velDrama.Org. "So, only people in your circle know about your existence?" Cam asked in surprise. Connor nodded. "My father has no inheritance rights, nor shares in the corporation, so very few media outlets know of my dad''s existence." Cam listened, feeling sad. She imagined Connor and his father living almost invisibly within this vast family. Without power, without status, and even without the respect they deserved. That''s why he chose to start his own business, to earn the respect and recognitio earn others. of Seeing the sadness in her eyes, Connor chuckled lightly. "Do you think we had a hard life?" Cam, slightly startled, nodded. Connor''s lips curved into a small smile, shaking his head. "My grandfather dotes on me the most. I''m the only one among the grandchildren who has shares." He smiled wryly. "That''s why my cousins see me as a thorn in their side. The corporation recently acquired twopanies, and Grandpa wants me to take a position in the family business." "That also means Grandpa is thinking of grooming me, which will undoubtedly stir up a storm. My uncles won''t miss any opportunity toe after me." Cam was somewhat stunned, thenmented, "Your kind of wealthy family drama is reallyplicated." Connor looked at her, his eyes conveying a deep plea. "Yeah, so, you''ll stay by my side, right?¡± Cam tightly held his hand, her eyes firm and tender, carrying all et their trust and promises. "No matter what happens in the future, I'' always be by your side." "Thank you. I really need you." Connor held her tightly, as if trying to merge her into his very being. Chapter 321 Cam felt a little breathless from Connor''s tight hug, but sheughed as she protested. "Connor, you''re squeezing the life out of me!" she yfully scolded. Connor immediately loosened his grip, concern etched on his face. "Did I hurt you?" "Not at all, but I haven''t finished making the fruit sd. You need some vitamins," Cam said, getting up and heading to the kitchen. Connor watched her move, his eyes filled with a contented smile. Before long, Cam returned from the kitchen, carrying a te of mixed fruits. "Have some fruit," she said softly, bringing a piece to Connor''s mouth. Connor opened his mouth and ate the fruit she fed him.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Sitting down on the couch, Cam ate some fruit too and then noted, "It''s gettingte, you should head home." Connor, resting his head on herp, coughed twice and feigned weakness. "But it''s pouring rain outside. I can''t possibly make it home now." Camughed, "Your ce is just a short walk away. How can you not make it?" "What if I, a poor sick man, faint on the way?" he said, his voice growing weaker as if he might copse at any moment. Cam couldn''t help butugh. "That serious, huh? Maybe I should drive you to the emergency room." "No need, a good night''s rest will do," Connor said, cuddling closer to her. "My ce doesn''t have a spare bedroom, there''s no ce for you to sleep," Cam gently pushed him. Connor looked into Cam''s eyes, his own twinkling mischievously, showing no signs of leaving. "I can sleep on the couch." Cam frowned slightly, looking at Connor''s tall frame. "My couch is pretty small; it won''t fit your long legs." Connor quickly tucked his legs onto the couch. "It''s enough." Cam sighed, "You won''t befortable like this." "Or maybe, I could just sleep in the bed with you?" Connor suggested cheekily. Cam''s face turned a shade of red, and she red at him. "Don''t even think about it." Seeing his stubborn look, she knew she couldn''t persuade him to leave. She walked into the bedroom and came back with a thick nket, gently covering Connor with it. "Try to get some rest," she whispered. Connor watched her, a hint of triumph in his eyes as he softly grabbed the edge of her shirt. "Goodnight." In the middle of the night, Cam woke up with a start, feeling uneasy. She tiptoed to the living room where Connor was curled up on the She gently touched his for Couch he had a fever. "Connor, Connor, you have a fever," she called his name worriedly. Connor half-opened his eyes, seeing the anxious look on Cam''s face, he tried to smile. "It''s nothing." "Stay put, I''m going to get the thermometer." Cam quickly fetched the thermometer, and it read 102.2 degrees - definitely a fever. She hurried to the kitchen, poured ss of warm water, and then carefully helped Connor take som fever-reducing medicine. After taking the medicine, Connor leaned back on the couch and closed his eyes to rest. Seeing his exhausted appearance, Cam felt a pang of sympathy. "You should sleep in the bed, I''ll take the couch." Connor held her hand, shook his head pitifully, "The couch isn''tfortable, you go back to your bed." Cam''s defenses slowly crumbled. Seeing how weak Connor looked, she gently nodded, "Alright, let''s go back to the bedroom together, but you have to promise not to try anything funny." Connor''s spirits immediately lifted, and he quickly promised, "I swear!" Realizing he sounded too energetic, he feigned weakness again. "I''m sick, even if I wanted to, I couldn''t." Chapter 322 Connor climbed into bed. "Move over to the inside," Cam directed. Following her lead, Connor shuffled to the side closer to the wall. As soon as hey down, he turned his back to Cam, facing the wall, signaling with his actions that he wouldn''t do anything, letting her know she could sleep peacefully. He closed his eyes, a slight smile curling at the corners of his mouth. Cam turned off themp, and the room plunged into darkness. She gently lifted the covers and nervouslyy down on the narrow bed. She carefully adjusted her position, trying not to touch Connor beside her. Even though she was facing away from him, she could feel his presence clearly-aforting sensation that came from deep within, their heartbeats and breaths intertwining in the darkness. "Goodnight," Cam whispered softly. Connor murmured a response and then fell silent. Time passed, but Connor still couldn''t sleep, his emotions churning. He stealthily turned over, opened his eyes, and the woman''s silhouette in the moonlight gradually became clear. He gently stroked Cam''s hair. Suddenly, Cam, half-asleep, turned over, her habit of hugging a pillow in her sleep leading her hand to reach out. When it touched a warm body, her arm instinctively wrapped around, gently embracing Connor''s waist. Connor froze, his heartbeat echoing in his ears. Feeling the softness of her body and the faint scent of her body wash, he involuntarily swallowed. He dared not move, afraid to wake her. This giant "doll" made Cam feel secure; she moved closer, burying her face in the broad expanse of his chest. Through the thin pajamas, she could feel the strong heartbeat and solid muscles, lost in the warmth of his embrace. Connor felt Cam''s breath and body heat, his heart ignited with an indescribable excitement. He looked down at her closed eyes, struggling to control his impulses. He kept adjusting his breathing, to little avail. Swallowing again, unable to resist the temptation, he slowly leaned down and gently kissed Cam''s forehead. This simple action, like a spark meeting gasoline, instantly ignited the desires within him. His heartbeat quickened, his breathing grew rapid. Throwing wind, he reached out,tion to the pulling the woman tightly into his arms. Her softness pressed against his body, he lowered his head to her neck, kissing lightly, greedily drawing in her scent. As dawn broke, Connor felt the woman in his arms stir, so he quickly closed his eyes and pretended to sleep. Cam slowly opened her eyes, fixing her gaze on the firm chest before her, blinking. Thinking of how they had shared a bedst night made her cheeks flush. She lifted her head her hand gently caressing the man''s throat and chin. Unable to pretend any longer, Connor opened his eyes, staring at her slightly blushed face. "Good morning," his voice was husky. "Weren''tOriginal content from N?velDrama.Org. supposed to sleep back-to-backst night?" Camcet voice was soft and mellow, It and mellow, sending ripples through Connor''s heart He chuckled, gently pinching her nose, "Last night... it was you who came to hug me." "Nonsense!" Cam frowned, her face puffing up as she gripped his shoulders, trying to look him in the eye. "Ah," the man groaned huskily, his voice revealing an indescribable desire and excitement. Chapter 323 Cam froze. She immediately realized what it was and blushed furiously. She tried to shift away, but the man groaned again. Cam''s ears were so red they practically glowed. Her hand was still on his shoulder, feeling the heat. She couldn''t tell if it was from a fever or his desire. Her mind was a whirlwind, and she stiffened, not daring to move. "You''re supposed to be sick! How can you still react like this?" "I''m sick, but it''s not," Connor said in a husky voice. He gently tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, his deep eyes smoldering as he whispered. "With a beauty in my arms, it''d be worrying if there was no reaction. That might spell trouble for our future happiness..." His low voice sent shivers through Cam, making her ears burn even hotter. Connor kissed her bright red ear and chuckled softly, "Let''s just hold each other for a bit. I remember what I promisedst night." Cam was held tightly against him, and that certain something showed no signs of going away. Her heart was racing; she was sure Connor could feel it, making her blush even more. "Let me hold you a little longer. A cold shower will fix this," he murmured. "No, you''re still sick!" Cam protested, looking up at him. "Then will you help me?" His dark eyes were filled with desire. "No!" Cam turned away. She knew she couldn''t stay on that bed it was too dangerous! She threw off the nket, "You rest some more; I''ll go make us something to eat." Connor stayed silent, his eyes still burning with intensity. Cam quickly left the bedroom and dashed to the bathroom to ssh her face with cold water, breathing heavily. Suddenly, she noticed a prominent love bite on her neck. Her face heated up again. That man! She was so annoyed she felt like biting him back. The concealer was in the bedroom; she couldn''t cover it up immediately. After calming down a bib, she headed to the kitchen to cook some oatmeal. From N?velDrama.Org. This time, she managed not to burn it. She tiptoed back into the bedroom, finding Connor already asleep. Cam took out an ear thermometer and gently ced near his ear. The numbers flickered before settling at 101.3 degrees Fahrenheit. She frowned slightly. Although his fever had gone down, he was still sick. Not wanting to wake him, she decided to let him continue resting. She gently pulled the nket over Connor''s body and sat quietly by the bed, watching him sleep peacefully. Looking at his lips, she thought about the love bite he had left on her neck the night before. She got up and sat at the vanity to apply some concealer. Suddenly, Connor''s voice came from behind her. Cam turned around and red at him. "Look at what you didst night!" Cam pointed to her pale neck, where the almost purple love bite was clearly visible. "Even concealer can''t cover this!" Connor paused, taken aback by hisck of control the previous night. He touched her neck gently, "Does it hurt?" Cam frowned and shook her head. Connor apologized, "I''ll be more careful next time." Still annoyed, Cam brushed his hand away. "There won''t be a next time!" "Cami, move in with me, will you?" Connor rested his head on her shoulder, speaking softly. Chapter 324 "No way, I''m perfectly fine here," Cam said firmly, ncing at Connor through the vanity mirror. Connor looked at her, trying to convince her. "It''s freezing here, and the space is cramped. You can''t befortable. Come back to the apartment; it''s warm and spacious." Cam turned to face him. "Sure, it''s small, but I''ve got everything I need, and I''mfortable. Winter''s short, just a few cold days." Connor sighed, gently cing his hands on her shoulders. "Alright, I won''t push you." "I made some oatmeal," Cam said with a smile, gently holding his hand. "We''ll have it, and then you can take some fever medicine." Connor nodded and went to the bathroom to freshen up. A littleter, Connor came back and sat at the dining table. Cam handed him a bowl of oatmeal. "Careful, it''s hot." Connor took a sip and found it surprisingly delicious. "Did it turn out well this time?" Cam asked. Connor shook his head, finishing most of the bowl. "It''s fantastic, just likest time." Remembering thest time she made oatmeal, Cam frowned slightly and shot him a sideways nce. Connor paused, touched his nose, and with an apologetic smile said, "To make up forst time, how about we go shoppingter? I''ll buy you lots of new clothes and your favorite desserts." Cam shook her head softly. "You''re still sick. Take your medicine and get some rest first." Connor yfully held her hand. "Stay with me for a bit." Cam frowned, recalling the morning''s events. He was nearly fever-free now, but it was hard to ensure nothing spontaneous would happen. "You haven''t fully recovered yet; you need rest," she coaxed softly, like talking to a child, ''ll sit by your side until you fall asleep, then I can do my own thing, okay?" Connor nodded softly. "Mhm."From N?velDrama.Org. After taking his medicine and checking his temperature, which was only slightly elevated, Cam sat by the bed, gently tucked him in, and held his hand. Connor, having been excited all night, was indeed tired. With Cam''s soothing presence, he quickly fell asleep. Seeing his breathing steady, Cam gently withdrew her hand from his and quietly left the bedroom. She nned to wash Connor''s clothes from the previous night, still marked with traces of rain, muttering, "Such a fool!" Coats and suits couldn''t be machine. washed. As she sorted through the clothes, she found a pair of underwear inside. No wonder that area looked particrly bulging; her face gradually turned red. After calming down, she soaked the clothes in warm water, patiently hand-washing them. Once done, she hung them on the balcony, watching them flutter gently in the breeze. She suddenly felt this was what living together felt like. When Cam returned to the bedroom, Connor seemed to sense her presence. His eyes slowly opened, gaze tender and hazy. Cam sat by the bed and softly asked, "Awake?" Meanwhile, she reached for the ear thermometer to check his temperature. Connor stretched out his arms, embracing Cam''s waist, his voice slightly hoarse, "What time is it?" Chapter 325 Cam nced at the green light on the digital thermometer and smiled, "It''s almost 6 PM." She set the thermometer back on the nightstand. "Your fever''s gone." Connor sighed in relief. "Great, let''s go shopping." "All your clothes are washed, but we don''t have a dryer, so you don''t have anything to wear." Connor paused, a bit taken aback. All his life, his clothes had always been taken care of by servants. He never thought the woman he loved would wash them by hand. A wave of warmth washed over him. He gently took Cam''s hand, feeling its slight chill, and a surge of tenderness filled his heart. He tucked her hand under the covers and whispered, "Thank you for doing this. Don''t bother next time; it breaks my heart." Cam chuckled and teased, "I could''ve just used the washing machine, but your clothes are too fancy for that." "I''ll wash your clothes from now on," Connor said earnestly. He picked up his phone from the nightstand,y back on Cam''s legs, and quickly sent a message. Then, looking up at her with a gentle expression, he said, "I''ve got some clothes on the way. Let''s go out for a nice dinner and buy you some beautiful clothes and jewelry." Cam thought for a moment, then shook her head. "Let''s go see a movie instead."Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Connor''s eyes lit up with excitement. "Sure, which one do you want to see? I''ll rent out the whole theater." Cam frowned slightly, "I know you''ve got money, but there''s no need to go overboard. Why rent out the whole theater for just us?" Connorughed. He gently tapped her nose and said, "Alright, we''ll do it your way." "I''ll go change," Cam said, motioning for him to get up while she ruffled his hair. Connor obediently sat up and walked to the balcony, where he saw his underwear hanging on the clothes rack. He felt a deep sense of othes belonging, like he was the rightful man of the house. The bathroom door opened, and Cam stepped out. She had changed into a long dress, its hem swaying like ripples in a pond, stunningly beautiful. Connor looked at Cam, a sh of amazement in his eyes. He gently wrapped his arms around her waist and chuckled, "Your boyfriend is really lucky." "I think so too," Cam smiled back. Connor picked up a coat and draped it over her shoulders. "It''s cold out, wear this." Cam slipped on the coat and said, "I''m going to put on some makeup. You go lie down on the bed. It''s chilly and you''re just wearing silk pajamas." "I''m not cold," Connor said as he held her hands in his warm palms. Cam frowned and gently pushed him onto the bed. "You just got over a fever, stay under the covers." She turned and walked to the vanity to start applying makeup. Connory back, hands behind his head, his gaze tenderly following each of Cam''s movements. For him, watching her do her makeup was a joy in itself. After she finished, Cam walked to the bed and looked down at Connor. She cupped his face in her hands and smiled, "Had enough yet?" Connor smiled softly, his eyes full of love, "Never enough." Ding-dong- "Your clothes have arrived," Cam said, letting go of his face. "I''ll go get them." Connor grabbed her hand, "I''ll go." Cam nced at his lower half and sighed, "Just stay put." Chapter 326 Cam squinted through the peephole, checking out who was on the other side of the door. It wasn''t anyone she recognized-neither Young nor n. "Can I help you?" she asked, her voice cautious. "Hi, are you Ms. Cam? My name''s Henry Hoover. My mom told me some tiles on your balcony wall wereing loose, so she sent me to take a look," the guy outside replied. Cam remembered she had indeed called thendy a few days ago about the loose tiles on the balcony. Thendy had promised to send someone over to check it out. So, she opened the door. "Sorry for the trouble," she said politely. The moment Henry saw her, he was taken aback by her beauty. His mom wasn''t kidding; not only was this tenant strikingly beautiful, but she also had a gentle and polite demeanor. It made him understand his mother''s intentions even more clearly. "Come on in," Cam invited. Henry snapped back to reality and walked in with a warm smile. His eyes naturally drifted towards the balcony wall, ready to inspect the tiles. But then, his peripheral vision caught sight of clothes drying on a rack, and he paused. At the same time, Connor, who was in the bedroom, overheard the conversation. A frown creased his brow as a wave of unease washed over him. He quickly got out of bed and headed towards the balcony. As he walked out of the bedroom and saw Henry standing next to Cam, his eyes immediately became wary. Henry turned around and saw a tall, muscr, and handsome young man staring at him with a guarded look. Feeling a chill, Connor moved next to Cam and casually wrapped his arm around her waist, gently pulling her closer. He smiled slightly at Henry, "Thanks foring out to check the tiles on a weekend." The emphasis on "our home" was hard to miss. Henry nodded, trying to stayposed. "Yeah, this property is pretty old; it''s bound to have some issues." He stressed the words "this property." The tension between the two men was palpable. Connor chuckled lightly. "Yeah, this ce is small and old, not exactlyfortable." Henry shot him a disdainful smirk. "True, it can''tpare to the mansions around here. But it''s in a prime location, convenient transportation, and a top-notch school district. The market value of this ce is about $100,000 per square meter-out of reach for many working-ss folks." His words were dripping with superiority. Connor looked at him with scorn andughed coldly. "Indeed, it can''t match the nearby mansions." He nced towards Cedarhill Estate. "How much do you think a ce there goes for?" Henry rolled his eyes. "The most expensive in the city, at least a hundred million each, I suppose." He chuckled provocatively. "That''s my goal." Connor shook his head with a mocking smile. "Who sets their goals that low? You?" Henry paused, confused by Connor''sment. Connor continued, "The top-floor suite in Cedarhill Estate? That''s mine." Henry was stunned! This guy actually owned a property in Cedarhill Estate! A sense of pressure and defeat washed over him. Then he decided Connor must be bluffing. With a disdainful tone, he said, "Oh really? Then why are you living in this small ce?" Connor nced at Cam with a tender look. "My girlfriend and I hadFrom N?velDrama.Org. a fight. She moved out of our ce in Cedarhill Estate to this little apartment. I''m just here trying to win her back." Chapter 327 Hudson shot a disdainful look at Connor and scoffed, "Oh wow, what a tall tale!" To him, the idea that this young guy could own a top-tier mansion like Cedarhill Estate was pure fantasy. Impossible.Original content from N?velDrama.Org. He nced towards the balcony just in time to see a Rolls-Royce limousine glide through themunity gate. With a smirk, he said, "Oh really? I had no idea this gentleman was so loaded. My bad." Pointing to the car below, he chuckled, "I suppose you own that luxury ride too?" Following Hudson''s gaze, Connor broke into a grin. "Funny enough, that is my car." Hudsonughed and shook his head. He had seen people bluff, but this was on another level. Just then, Young stepped out of the car, carrying a bag of clothes into the building. Pointing at Young in his sharp suit, Hudson joked, "That wouldn''t be your driver, would it?" "Good eye, Mr. Hudson," Connor replied with a sly smile. Hudson paused, waving a finger at Connor andughing almost hysterically. How could someone be so shameless? Ding-dong- The doorbell rang. Connor nted a quick kiss on Cam''s forehead. "Hang on, babe." Cam smiled helplessly; her man could be so childish. Connor walked to the door and opened it. Hudson''s eyes followed, freezing when he saw the man at the door was the same one from the car! "Mr. Connor, here are your clothes and car keys," Young said politely. Connor took them, smiling. "Thanks a lot." Their conversation echoed through the small house, every word reaching Hudson''s ears. Watching Connor interact so calmly with his driver, Hudson''s skepticism melted into astonishment and then horror. Connor shut the door and strolled back to Cam. He turned to Hudson, a glint of mockery in his eyes. "So, Mr. Hudson, how about my car and my driver? Impressed?" Hudson was left speechless, unable to muster a response. He had thought of himself as somewhat sessful in this city, with wealth and status to boot. But standing next to this man, he realized he was just a small fry. The sheer disparity filled him with a new level of shame and defeat. All he could do was force a smile. "Truly impressive." "Since this house is pretty old and the balcony tiles don''t need fixing, thanks for stopping by today," Connor said. He smiled and added, "I''m off on a date with my girlfriend now, if you''ll excuse us." Hudson could only nod awkwardly, turning on his heel and leaving without looking back. As the door clicked shut, Cam looked at Connor, amusement dancing in her eyes. She shook her head teasingly. "Connor, you really are a bit childish, aren''t you?" Connor defended himself. "He het shouldn''t have looked at you like that, trying to feel superior in front of me without even knowing his own worth." Cam burst outughing. She took Connor''s hand and pulled him towards the bathroom. "Come on, change your clothes. You''ve been on the balcony too long you might catch a cold." Connor changed quickly in the bathroom and nced at the sink, pondering for a moment. He stuffed the drain with a stopper. and then d two wet wipes downt hed on the faucet, ready to head out for their evening, belongs to FindNovel Chapter 328 "Are you ready yet?" Cam called from outside the bathroom door. "Just a minute!" Connor turned down the faucet to a trickle to keep the noise down. He stepped out of the bathroom, trying to appear casual, and smiled at Cam as he wrapped his arm around her waist and guided her out. "Let''s go." Cam had booked tickets for an 8 p.m. movie, and after a quick dinner at the mall''s food court, they headed to the multiplex on the fifth floor. Passos Estate had its own private cinema, so Connor rarely visited public theaters. To him, the cinema lobby was always a chaotic mess, a stark contrast to the quiet exclusivity he was used to. Cam, well-versed in the routine, expertly navigated the ticket kiosk and quickly retrieved their tickets. Connor stood by her side, his eyes never leaving her, always on guard in case someone bumped into her, positioning himself like a protective barrier. They sat in the lounge waiting for the movie to start when Cam''s eyes wandered to the concession stand, where the smell of popcorn filled the air. She sniffed and unconsciously swallowed. Connor chuckled and patted her head, well aware of her love for that scent. "Want some? I''ll go get it. You wait here." "Sure." Cam nodded, her face lighting up with a radiant smile. Connor joined the line, waiting patiently. Normally, he hated queues, but today, he felt an unusual satisfaction, knowing he was about to bring back Cam''s favorite snack, which made all the annoyance disappear. Soon, Connor returned with popcorn and drinks. He carefully held the popcorn bucket, afraid to spill even a single kernel. Back at Cam''s side, he handed her the popcorn. After cleaning her hands with a wet wipe, Cam eagerly popped a piece into her mouth. The crisp texture and sweet taste burst forth, lighting up her eyes. "So delicious!" she eximed joyfully, her face beaming with childlike innocence. She took a piece and offered it to Connor, who just smiled and shook his head. Cam raised an eyebrow, "How many earthly delights have you missed out on?" Just as she was about to eat another piece, Connor leaned down. Smack! He kissed her on the lips. It was like a breeze skimming across ake leaving behind gentle ripples. After the quick kiss, he sat back upas if nothing had happened. "Missing out on you would have been the greatest loss of my life," Connor said with a slight smile. Cam, stunned by the sudden kiss and deration, gaped at him, her heartbeat racing. She red at him, "What are you doing? There are so many people here!" Connor chuckled at her bashful expression. "Nobody''s paying attention to us. Look, that couple over there is far bolder," he said, nodding towards a corner. Cam looked and saw a couple passionately kissing. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she quickly averted her gaze, shyly lowering her head. She pinched Connor''s thigh hard, "Stop looking!" Connor wrapped his arms around Cam,ughing. Just then, Cam''s phone rang. "Why is thendy calling me?" Connor frowned slightly, ncing at his watch with a sigh, "Didn''t think the water was left on that high. How could it flood so quickly?" Cam answered the phone with a puzzled look. Thendy''s anxious voice came through, "Ms. Cam, it''s terrible! just received a call from the property management, saying there''s a leak in your apartment, and now the whole hallway is flooded!" Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 329 Upon hearing the news, Cam instantly panicked, "What? A leak? I''ll be right back!" Connor sighed, their movie ns dashed. "Connor, there''s a leak at my ce, I need to head back now!" Cam eximed, practically dragging a reluctant Connor along. They hurried back to Cam''s apartment, only to find the hallway a chaotic mess, water cascading down the stairs, and curious neighbors gathered around, gossiping. Cam anxiously pushed her door open and gasped. Her apartment looked like a smallke, with furniture and floorspletely soaked. "What...what happened here?" Cam frowned, surveying the scene. While Cam discussed the leak with the building manager andndlord in the living room, Connor quietly slipped into the bathroom. The faucet was dry, indicating the water had been shut off. He quickly turned off the tap, unplugged the sink, and kicked the wet towels to one side. The water immediately began to drain, and the standing water in the bathroom started to recede rapidly. "Oh dear, the floor ispletely soaked!" Thendlord''s wife frowned, clearly upset and frustrated. She had taken quite a liking to Cam, even considering setting her up with her son, as Cam was such a quiet and pretty girl. As sheined, thendlord''s wife looked around at the water-damaged floors, her expression one of distress. She remembered when Cam had rented the apartment, assuring her she was single. Yet, it hadn''t been long before Cam had brought a boyfriend home, and now her property was in shambles. Thendlord''s wife''s mood worsened.Original content from N?velDrama.Org. She looked at Cam, her expression growingplex. Cam nodded apologetically. "We''ve checked everything, there''s no leak!" The building manager announced after a thorough inspection that revealed no leak. "That means it''s not my fault," thendlord''s wife sighed in relief upon hearing that the leak wasn''t due to aging infrastructure. She tried to soften her tone, "Ms. Cam, as you can see, the floor ispletely ruined and it will be costly to repair. You will need to address this." Connor stepped forward, addressing thendlord''s wife, "We will take full responsibility for the damages, regardless of the cause of the leak. We will handle it promptly and cover all expenses." Thendlord''s wife''s expression eased slightly. "Alright then, make sure you clean up the ce properly and prevent any further issues." After thendlord''s wife and the building manager left, Cam started tidying up from the living room. She squatted down to move the waterlogged furniture and mop up the standing water, her hands quickly turning red from the cold. Connor watched, filled with distress, guilt, and self-me. He gently took Cam''s hand, "Let me do it." "You don''t know how, let me handle it." Cam pulled her hand away, eager to dry the floor. "I''ll call someone professional; stop worrying about it." Connor made a phone call. Soon, a team of professionals arrived, adeptly handling various tools and quickly clearing the water and damaged furniture. "The floor itself is quite old and the water damage is severe; it needs to bepletely reced," one of the workers concluded after inspecting the floor. "But with the continuous raintely and high humidity, we''ll need to wait for better weather to ensure everything is dry before recing the floor." Connor''s lips twitched into a brief smile before he regained hisposure and turned to Cam. "Cami, you can''t stay here for now. Pack some essentials and move into my ce for the time being." Chapter 330 Cam furrowed her brow, her eyes darting around the room with a flicker of hesitation. Looking at the damp apartment, it was clear it was unlivable. Reluctantly, she nodded. She didn''t want to move, but there was no other choice. She started packing her things. Connor was right beside her, helping to organize essential clothes, toiletries, and important documents into suitcases. Once everything was packed, Cam asked, "Are we moving to Cedarhill Estate?" Connor''s eyes shifted away as he responded softly, not giving much detail. Soon, the luggage was loaded into the car, and Connor drove out of the neighborhood. Suddenly, Cam noticed they weren''t heading toward Cedarhill Estate. Her brow furrowed in confusion as she looked out the car window. "Hey, you missed it!" she eximed. Connor didn''t respond, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. After a while, he finally broke the silence. "The ce is being renovated." "That''s impossible!" Cam said, disbelief and suspicion growing inside her. Connor remained silent for a moment, and the tension in the car grew thicker. They soon pulled into the parking lot of Cedarhill Estate. Connor got out, walked around to Cam''s side, and gently opened her door. "Let''s get out," he said softly. Cam didn''t move, ring at him coldly. "Connor, what are you up to?" she asked, her voice tinged with anger. Connor paused before taking her hand gently. "There''s a bedroom here for you, everything''s ready. Cedarhill Estate still needs cleaning, and it''ste. The cleaning crew is off," he exined softly. Cam stayed silent. Connor unbuckled her seatbelt with care, and together they took the luggage from the trunk.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. As the elevator ascended, the atmosphere became increasingly oppressive. Cam remembered how Connor had spent a long time alone in the bathroom before they left the rental. She didn''t want to suspect him, but the property inspection had O confirmed there was no leak. She looked up at Connor, her eyes filled with confusion and anger. "Why would you do this?" Connor felt the chill from Cam''s hand; he knew she was upset. He took a deep breath. "Cami... I''ll exin everything." Cam red at him, her anger clear. "Exin what? That you deliberately left the faucet choice but to move in wit flood the apartment so I had mo you?" Seeing the anger in Cam''s eyes hurt Connor deeply. He knew it was wrong to force her to move this way. "Cami, I''m sorry. he move like this," he said, hou to know it was wrong to force you to her hand and sincerely apologizing. Ding- The elevator door opened. The hallway was softly lit, but it couldn''t chase away the gloom in Connor''s heart. He led Cam inside, one hand holding hers, the other pulling the suitcase. "Let''s go inside, it''s a bit chilly out here," he whispered. Cam didn''t refuse, silently following Connor into the apartment. She sat on the sofa. "Connor, we need to talk." Connor nodded, sitting beside her and tightly holding her hand. "Cami, I''m sorry. I apologize," he said earnestly. Cam gently pulled her hand away, her voice cold. "Connor, do you realize how disrespectful this was? Do you think you can just manipte someone''s life like this?" Connor met her angry gaze and apologized sincerely. "I know what I did was wrong. I''m truly sorry. I promise nothing like this will happen again." Chapter 331 Cam didn''t say a word, just stared at him with icy eyes. After a brief silence, she finally spoke. "I''m going back to my room. I don''t want to talk right now," she said, her voice as cold as a winter night. With that, she turned and walked towards the bedroom, leaving Connor standing alone in the living room. Connor watched her retreat, a wave of helplessness washing over him. Standing in front of the tightly closed door, he felt a pang of loneliness and regret like never before. She was really mad this time. Cam sat on the edge of her bed, fuming, trying to calm down by herself. She reyed every moment of her rtionship with Connor in her mind, and slowly, her anger began to fade. Recing it was a deep sense of confusion.... The next morning, Cam walked out of her bedroom to find Connor still on the couch, wearing the same clothes from the day before. Clearly, he hadn''t gone back to his room all night. "Morning," Connor said, trying to muster some energy as he saw Came out. His voice was hoarse, his eyes tired. Seeing his haggard face, a ripple of emotion stirred in Cam''s heart. She felt a pang of pity but also thought that Connor was using self-pity as a way to apologize and make amends. She couldn''t allow him to believe that this tactic would always win her forgiveness. "Mr. Connor, that trick doesn''t work on me anymore," Cam said coolly, turning her face away. The formal address ''Mr. Connor'' cut deep; Connor realized she was genuinely upset and disappointed. After a moment of silence, Connor spoke slowly, "Cami, I really know I was wrong. I hope you can give me another chance." Cam ignored him and walked straight to the kitchen to make some coffee. Just then, David walked in with breakfast and immediately sensed the tension in the air. He frowned in concern. "Mr. Connor, did you mess up again?" David asked, his tone a mix of reprimand and resignation. Connor nodded. Seeing Connor''s remorseful expression, David shook his head helplessly. "Mr. Connor, I can''t say much about the issues between you and Ms. Cam. But I know you care for her deeply. Trust and Pavels understanding are crucial in a rtionship. Sometimes your stubbornness can really hurt thoseBelongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. around you," David advised, his voice carrying a hint of world-weariness. Connor nodded softly, "I know I was wrong, David. I''ll work on my ws and learn to respect and understand." After speaking, he got up and went to the bedroom to shower. Cam ced the freshly brewed coffee at Connor''s usual spot-a small gesture that showed she still cared. "Mr. Connor has never been in a rtionship before; he can be a bit thoughtless," David whispered to Cam. During breakfast, Cam still didn''t speak to Connor. She quietly ate her meal. The tension and silence continued all the way to the office. Upon arriving, Cam immediately immersed herself in work. She organized documents, grabbed the schedule, and knocked on Connor''s office door. "Come in," Connor''s voice called from inside. Cam pushed the door open and entered. Her demeanor was strictly professional as she handed over the schedule and began to report on her work. swnov Connor had to attend a meeting and passed by Cam''s desk, ncing back at her with a sense of bitterness. Chapter 332 ire called. "Cami, Cole and I checked the calendar and today seemed perfect, so we decided to go get our marriage license." Cam''s face lit up with joy. "What? That''s so sudden! Why didn''t you tell me earlier? I would''ve taken the day off toe back." "We wanted to keep it low-key, no big fuss," ire exined. "We''re nning a small family dinner tonight to celebrate. You should bring Connor along." Cam held her phone, her expression clouded with worry. She knew tonight was significant for her mother, but... "Mom, he has a meeting tonight. He can''t make it." She tried to sound casual, not wanting her mom to know about their rough patch. There was a brief pause on the other end before ire spoke again, "That''s okay, workes first. It''s our fault for not giving you a heads up about the license. Can youe tonight?" "Yeah, I''ll head over right after work!" Cam replied with a smile. "Great! I''ll call Erica and invite her too," ire said happily. After hanging up, Cam dove back into work mode. Herputer screen was cluttered with data and documents. She was constantly tweaking ns and optimizing figures, racing to finish her tasks as quickly as possible. During lunch, Cam brought Connor his meal. "Cami..." Connor called out gently. Cam kept her distance, replying coolly, "Mr. Connor, what do you need?" Connor stood up and slowly walked over, softly asking, "Join me for lunch, please?" Cam''s heart fluttered as if touched by a feather, sending ripples through her emotions. But she steeled herself. "Mr. Connor, I have a lot of work to do. Please, enjoy your meal." Connor''s voice was filled with plea, "Cami, what can I do to make you forgive me? I really know I messed up." He reached out and gently wiggled 81.9 her pinky finger. This small gesture made Cam''s defenses start crumble. She almost forgave him right then and there! She gently pulled away from his touch, looking up at him. "I need time to reassess our rtionship." Connor, seeing the determination in her eyes, understood that this novel.ne wouldn''t be resolved quickly. He had spent the entire previous night reflecting on why Cam was upset. "I really know I was wrong. I''ll change, I promise. Just give me one more chance," he said, his voice tinged with sadness. Cam sighed, seeing the sincerity in his eyes. "I need to reflect on my own issues too. Let''s give each other some space and time, okay?" "How long do you need?" Connor asked softly. They''d been in a cold war for twelve hours, which felt like an eternity to him. Cam frowned slightly, feeling a bit helpless at his urgency. "Give me some time, alright?" Connor gently stroked her hair and said softly, "Okay, I''ll give you time. But promise me you''ll take care of yourself and eat properly." Cam knew he genuinely cared, and she nodded lightly, "You too." Leaving the office, Cam quickly ate her lunch and then headed to the mall downstairs to buy a set of jewelry as a wedding gift for her mother. In a corner of the mall, she passed by a tailor shop specializing in suits. Her eyes were caught by a pair of exquisite cufflinks on disy. She stopped, carefully examining them. The design was simple, and the golden sheen shimmered under the light. She stepped into the shop and asked the clerk for more details about the cufflinks.Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 333 The salesperson eagerly introduced the cufflinks to her, exining that they were crafted from tinum and sapphire, each pair meticulously hand-carved to be one-of-a-kind. The more Cam looked at them, the more she felt they were perfect for Connor. She bit her lip, making up her mind to buy them. She carefully picked out a beautiful gift box and gently ced the cufflinks inside. After paying, Cam felt a mix of satisfaction and a bit of financial guilt. The shopping trip for gifts for her mother and Connor had set her back quite a bit, but it was worth it for the most important people in her life. ***Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. As the workday drew to a close, Cam knocked on Connor''s office door. "I need to go home for a bit." Connor, hearing this, immediately looked worried. He quickly stood up and walked over to her. "Home? Which home?" "To my mom''s," Cam replied softly. Connor''s brows knitted together as he urgently asked, "Why? How long will you be gone? When will you be back?" His barrage of questions was fueled by the fear that Cam might be trying to avoid him. Seeing his anxious expression, Cam reassured him gently, "I should be back tonight." Hearing that she would return that evening, Connor visibly rxed. "Then let me drive you," he offered. Cam shook her head with a smile. "No need, you have a meeting tonight. Erica will pick me up." After a moment''s thought, Connor said, "Alright, then I''lle get you after my meeting." Cam nodded slightly. Seeing her nod, Connor breathed a sigh of relief. He knew she woulde home that evening and had agreed to let him pick her up. This small assurance filled him with immense satisfaction. When Erica arrived at the base of Cam''s office building, she called Cam, who quickly gathered her things and met her downstairs. As soon as Cam got into the car, Erica couldn''t wait to ask, "Why didn''t Mr. Connore with you? Did you guys have a fight?" Her tone was teasing. Camughed and shook her head, then recounted the recent events to Erica. Erica was so shocked by the news that Connor was actually the grandson of the prominent billionaire Ray that she nearly lost control of the car. She turned the wheel and pulled over. "What! He''s Ray''s grandson, the major billionaire!" she eximed, too surprised to continue driving. Cam just shook her head in resignation, "Yeah, who would have thought." "My goodness, that''s just unbelievable!" Erica was still in disbelief. After calming down, she became more rational. "His parents really like you, but...the most important person in the Passos family..." Cam chuckled lightly. Seeing the worry in her eyes, Erica felt a pang of sympathy. Cam and her approach to rtionships were different. Erica never thought about being with Logan long-term, even though his family was wealthy and influential; it didn''t affect their romance She tightly grasped Cam''s hand. "Don''t worry, you are the best. No matter what Ray thinks, what''s most important is Connor''s attitude. He loves you, that''s undeniable. And he doesn''t seem like someone who would let his family control him." Cam nodded. Suddenly, Erica burst intoughter. "I just can''t believe he tried to get you to move in by flooding the house, haha!" Cam shook her head helplessly,ining, "The most annoying part is, whenever I get mad, he resorts to self-punishment to ask for forgiveness!" Erica''sughter continued, her eyes filled with both sympathy and understanding for Connor. "He''s never been in a rtionship before, doesn''t know how to make a girl happy, so he uses these silly methods." Chapter 334 Erica''sughter slowly faded, her emotions settling like the calm after a storm. She flicked on the blinker and merged back onto the main road, the streetlights casting a patchwork of shadows through the car windows. "Cami, you know what?" Erica suddenly said, her voice tinged with a bit of reflection. "Logan once told me that guys like Connor don''t fall in love easily, but when they do, they go all in." "Yeah, I know," Cam murmured, her eyshes dipping as she spoke. Erica sighed. They both took this rtionship seriously, and she didn''t want to see Cam get hurt. When they arrived at the restaurant, they walked in arm in arm. The entrance was decked out with a bright red ''Congrattions'' banner, and the tables were covered in red cloths, a lush bouquet of roses at the center, filling the dining room with a festive vibe. ire, Cole, and Craig were already seated, their faces lit up with happiness. ire''s smile widened even more when she saw Cam and Ericae in. They all stood up to greet them. ire looked stunning in an elegant red dress, and Cole was dapper in a sharp suit, looking more polished than usual. "We''ve been waiting! Congrattions, Mom!" Cam eximed as she wrapped her mom in a hug, her face glowing with joy. ire gently patted Cam''s back, tears of happiness glistening in her eyes. Cam nced up at Cole, her lips moving as if searching for the right words. She had never called him "Dad" before, and now the word seemed stuck in her throat. Cole saw her hesitation and awkwardness. He gave her a warm smile and extended his hand, saying, "It''s okay, it''s all the same."Original content from N?velDrama.Org. "Congrattions, Godmother!" Erica chimed in, hugging ire. "Erica,e sit down," ire said warmly, linking her arm with Erica''s. Erica nodded with a smile and took a seat at the table. "Mom, this room looks amazing! It really feels like a wedding!" Cam said, genuinely impressed as she looked around. "Yes, Cole arranged it all. He wanted to surprise us," ire replied, her smile radiating happiness. "I didn''t know Cole had such a romantic side," Erica added, genuinely surprised. Cole smiled and shook his head, "As long as ire is happy, that''s all that matters." Suddenly, Craig lifted his phone. "Dad, Auntie, Ben''s calling on video." Cole and ire''s faces lit up with excitement. "Quick, let''s see!" ire urged, pulling Cole over to the phone. When the video connected, Ben''s handsome face filled the screen, his smile bright and infectious. "Congrats, Mom and Dad!" he eximed. Hearing him call her "Mom," ire''s eyes immediately welled up, and she grasped Cole''s hand tightly. "Ben, we miss you so much," she said softly, trying to keep her emotions in check. "I miss you too. Seeing you this happy Ben''sakes me happy as was tinged with emotion. "I finally have a ther Cole''s wife had left them when Ben was very young, and he barely remembered her. But in his memories, ire had always been there, caring for him like a mother, showering him with endless tove and warmth. After the video call ended, ire''s tears of joy couldn''t be held back any longer. Cole gently held her close. Erica, her eyes also misty, turned to Cam, "Cami, Cole''s family is toing. Your godmother is going to be so happy." Cam nodded, her eyes glistening with tears. "Yeah, I''ve got a new family now too." Chapter 335 Suddenly, Erica''s face lit up with excitement as she turned to Cam, her eyes practically dancing with enthusiasm. "Hey, remember that fortune teller by the bridge?" Cam paused for a moment and then nodded slightly. "He said your parents love you dearly, and you''ve got such respectful brothers-seems like he nailed it!" Erica eximed, clearly surprised. Cam felt a jolt of surprise herself, thinking back to the fortune teller''s words. Just then, the door to the private room swung open. Connor stepped in, catching everyone off guard, especially Cam. She looked up at him, her eyes flickering with a mix of surprise and emotion. Connor walked over to ire and Cole, handing them a gift. "Here''s to a lifetime of happiness and unity for you both." "Connor, Cami said you were tied up with work, I didn''t think you''d make it!" ire said, thrilled to see him. Cole smiled and patted Connor on the back, "Connor, thanks for making the effort to be here." "What''s more important than celebrating my future inws'' wedding?" Connor replied with a grin, casually resting his hand on Cam''s shoulder. "Come on, let''s sit down, dinner''s ready," Cole said with a nod. Connor pulled out the chair next to Cam and sat down. "How did you manage toe? Didn''t you have a meeting?" Cam whispered. Connor grunted softly, gave her nose a yful tweak, and whispered into her ear, "You kept this big event from me; I''m miffed." "I just found out this morning too, and you did have that important meeting," Cam defended herself. "Or is it because we had a fight?" Connor cut straight to the point,This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. hint of displeasure in his voice get though his hand under the table quietly reached for hers. Cam tried to pull her hand away, but Connor held it tighter, and she let him. Connor''s lips curved into a meaningful smile. "It''s been 24 hours; can we make up now?" he asked softly, gently shaking her hand. Cam lowered her gaze, and after a moment, she spoke softly, "Do you even know what really upset me..." Connor looked at her seriously, "I''ve thought long and hard, and I''ve Cam''s eyes widened in surprise. He was really reflecting... Connor held her hand tightly, "I know I''ve been selfish and childish, not considering your feelings. I promise, from now on, I will respect you more, understand you better, and never make you sad again." Each of his words struck a chord in Cam''s heart, stirring up strong emotions. Cam looked at him, tears welling up in her eyes, but her lips curled into a smile. "If you mess up again, I''ll never speak to you again." "Absolutely!" Connor replied with a goofy smile. If it weren''t for all the people around, he would have hugged her tightly and kissed her right then and there. Erica sat on the side, her gaze shifting between Connor and Cam. She felt like an observer, quietly watching their interaction. The fortune teller''s words echoed in her mind, haunting her like a spell. If the fortune teller was right, then Connor wasn''t the one destined for Cam! This thought made Erica''s feelingsplicated, and she couldn''t help but worry about Cam''s future. She looked at Cam''s happy smile with concern. Chapter 336 Cole stood up, holding his champagne ss high. "To all my dear family here tonight, I''ve waited for this moment for so long..." His voice quivered, tears welled up in his eyes. He raised his hand, gently wiped away the tears, and then broke into a beaming smile. When he dered, "Today, I finally married ire!" the room erupted in cheers. ire looked at Cole, tears of joy streaming down her face. Cam discreetly wiped away a tear, overjoyed that her mom had finally found happiness. Connor pulled out a tissue and gently dabbed at Cam''s eyes. They exchanged nces, each seeing theughter in the other''s eyes. "Cheers!" Cole raised his ss, toasting with everyone. "It''s a big day, so I''ll have a bit," Connor whispered to Cam. Cam smiled and nodded. Erica couldn''t help but chime in, "Seriously, Mr. Connor? Do you need permission to drink now?" Connor raised an eyebrow, a rxed grin spreading across his face. After the dinner, their driver arrived to pick them up. Once in the car, Connor buckled his seatbelt, his eyes never leaving Cam. A slight tipsiness added depth to his gaze. "Feeling alright?" Cam opened a bottle of water and handed it to him. Connor shook his head, his gaze locked on Cam''s lips. "Cami, I feel like having a cigarette," he murmured. The car was eerily quiet; the driver, hearing the request, rolled down the window, letting the cold air in. Cam didn''t seem to notice the chill; her face flushed as she shot Connor a shy nce, then looked at the driver. Connor sighed inwardly, regretting the decision to remove the car''s privacy screen. Minutes passed, and the driver, puzzled by theck of smoke, nced in the rearview mirror. He saw the two of them holding hands, eyes closed, resting. No smoking after all? He closed the window quietly, leaving them to their peace. Back at Cedarhill Estate, as soon as the door closed, Connor couldn''t wait to wrap his arms around Cam''s waist, pulling her close, resting his head on her shoulder. "Cami, it feels like forever since I held you," he murmured. Cam chuckled softly, patting his hand. "I need to change my shoes," she said, wriggling out of his embrace. She walked to the shoe rack and slipped into her slippers. Connor followed, changing his shoes, eyeing their mismatched house slippers with a slight frown.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Suddenly, Cam grabbed his hand and tiptoed up to kiss him. Connor, enchanted by her initiative, let his hands wander from her waist upwards, feeling the warmth of her skin. UM Cam tensed up, her body stiffening. Connor sensed her unease, his brow furrowing slightly. He mentally reminded himself: hold back! Don''t lose control! Respect! Instead, he slowly intertwined his fingers with hers, giving her a soft peck before leading her to the sofa. They sat down, and he looked deeply into her eyes. "Cami, if we ever have a disagreement, can we promise to resolve it the same day?" he asked. Cam nodded, resting her head on his broad chest, feeling his strong heartbeat. Looking up at him, she asked, "How did you know my mom and Cole got married?" Connor let out a soft snort, gently pinching her cheek. "Logan posted on social media that Erica didn''t take him to the wedding. I was about to tease him, but then I found out Erica went to your mom''s wedding, and I ended up being the one teased." Chapter 337 Cam burst outughing. "Serves you right-" "I almost missed my future inws'' wedding reception. How are you going to make it up to me?" Connor whispered, gently nibbling on Cam''s earlobe. Cam squirmed, trying to escape his ticklish hold, but he held her firmly in ce. Feeling breathless and flustered, she remembered Connor had been up all night. Now wasn''t the time to jump on him. She pursed her lips and turned her head away, her cheeks flushing. Connor chuckled softly, nuzzling her neck. "I got you a gift." "Really?" Connor''s eyes lit up, stopping his teasing to look at her expectantly. Cam suddenly felt brilliant for buying those cufflinks at lunch! She grabbed her purse, pulled out a small, elegant box, and handed it to Connor. "Here, for you." Connor took the box, carefully opening it. As he saw the cufflinks inside, a satisfied smile spread across his face. He quickly unfastened the cufflinks on his shirt and casually tossed them onto the coffee table. "Help me put these on." Connor ced the cufflinks in her palm. Cam fastened the new cufflinks onto his shirt. Connor admired his new essories and asked softly, "Cami, do you know what giving cufflinks means?" Cam shook her head; she had only picked them because they looked nice. "In some cultures, cufflinks are a token ofmitment, meant for someone you want to spend your life with." Cam stuttered shyly, "I... I didn''t know that~" Connorughed softly and kissed her forehead. *** Early in the morning, in the cold winter, the sky was still shrouded in a gray mist. Lazily, Cam climbed out of the warm bed, slightly sleepy as she walked out of the bedroom. She noticed the light was on in the home gym and quietly opened the door to find Connor working out vigorously inside. Dressed in a tight ck sports shirt, his lean muscles stood out, sculpted to perfection. Sweat dripped down his cheeks, adding to his masculine allure. Leaning against the door frame, with + watched him intently, herdips g up slightly, her eyes erdips filled fascination. The strong visual impact made her swallow involuntarily. Such a handsome man, and he''s mine- Noticing her gaze from the doorway, Connor turned his head, caught Cam watching him, and smiled slightly. He stopped what he was doing, grabbed a towel nearby, and wiped the sweat from his forehead. He walked over to Cam, looked down at her, and teased, "What? Am I that mesmerizing?" Caught off guard, Cam nced at him, took the towel from his hand, and gently wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Vain-" Connor smiled, lowering his head to let her wipe his forehead. "Why are you working out so early?" Cam asked. "Can''t help it, I have too much energy to burn-" Connor murmured in her ear. His warm breath around her ear made her cheeks turn red, and she gently pushed him, "Can you be serious for once?" "Is it your mind that''s wandering?" Connor lightly flicked her forehead. Rubbing her forehead, Cam red at him indignantly. Clearly, he was the one being frivolous. "Go take a shower! You''re all sweaty Feeling a bit flustered,This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. she threw the towel at him and turned back to the bedroom. Catching the towel, Connor watched her jog back, his lips curving into a smile. Chapter 338 **Conference Room**Original content from N?velDrama.Org. The execs trickled into the room, trading anxious nces that mirrored their shared unease. Yesterday''s meeting had cast a long shadow; Connor''s expression had been so stormy that his cold gaze seemed to leave invisible scars on everyone present. The tension still lingered, making it hard for them to sit still. "Today''s meeting is about thepany going public. Maybe Mr. Connor''s mood will be better?" one executive ventured, trying to lighten the atmosphere as he nervously adjusted his water ss. Bryan chuckled, "Hard to say. Last month, sales doubled, and he still looked like he''d sucked on a lemon." "Man, only you would dare say that about Mr. Connor," another executive replied, shaking his head with a wry smile. They all knew Bryan''s longstanding friendship with Connor, one of thepany''s founding members, gave him the leeway to speak so frankly. Amid their nervous chatter, the conference room door swung open. Connor, n, and Cam walked in together. The execs immediately stood up and greeted Connor with respect. To their surprise, Connor''s face bore a slight smile, and his demeanor was unexpectedly rxed. This came as a bit of a shock, and the executives exchanged curious looks, their initial tension easing somewhat. Connor took his seat at the head of the table, handed his suit jacket to Cam, and adjusted his cufflinks. The delicate, subtly shimmering cufflinks caught everyone''s eye. The execs nced at each other, puzzled. Connor was usually so low-key; it was unlike him to show off personal items. Bryan noticed and chuckled to himself, thinking, "Is he really showing off his cufflinks?" So Bryan spoke up, "Mr. Connor, those are some sharp cufflinks. Where''d you get them?" Connor smirked and lifted his wrist slightly, "Gift from my girlfriend." The room buzzed with murmurs of surprise. Cam''s hand twitched, nearly dropping the documents she held. She looked up at Connor''s smug smile and felt the urge to ne smack him with the files. n, noticing everything, stifled augh. "Boss, how eager are you to spill the beans about yourdy, huh?" The executives exchanged incredulous looks, stunned by their boss''s sudden revtion about having a girlfriend and unting her gift so openly. "Alright, I''ve gathered you all here to discuss the crucial matter of ourpany going public in three days," Connor said softly. The execs quicklyposed themselves, adopting serious, attentive expressions. The meeting tto concluded, Connor was the first leave, with Cam following, carrying his suit jacket. As they left, the door to the conference room slowly closed, and the executives began whispering among themselves. "n, when did Mr. Connor start dating?" one exec asked curiously. n smiled slightly, "It''s been a while." "Is it that Haylie? Saw her at the office once," another exec chimed in. n shook his head. Chapter 339 "Can''t believe it''s not her! So, who is it then?" The executives'' curiosity was fully ignited as they spected about the identity of Connor''s girlfriend. Connor had always been a mysterious, low-key figure, rarely discussing his private life. But now, he had suddenly showcased the cufflinks his girlfriend had given him during a meeting, making everyone intensely curious about who she might be. "But seriously, Mr. Connor''s girlfriend is one luckydy. Connor''s got the looks, the body, and the money-finding someone like him is like finding a unicorn!" one female executive eximed. "Too bad for you, though," another executive teased. "Give it a rest, I''m happily married!" she retorted, rolling her eyes. *** Back in his office, Cam followed Connor inside and shut the door behind them. Cam threw her zer at Connor, her teeth clenched. "Why didn''t you just say your girlfriend is me?" Connor caught the zer, a hint of joy on his face despite Cam''s angry look. "Could I?" he asked tentatively. "Are you kidding me?!" Cam shot him an annoyed look. "We agreed to keep it private!" Connor murmured, looking a bit hurt. "They asked where the cufflinks came from, and I just answered honestly that I had a girlfriend. That doesn''t break our agreement, does it?" Cam nced at him. "With that proud look on your face, it was obvious you were just waiting for someone to ask! Connor, you''re practically shouting it from the rooftops!" "Oh, I just got carried away for a moment," Connor admitted, touching his nose. He stepped closer, looking at her intently. "When will you ever acknowledge our rtionship publicly? We can''t keep hiding it forever, can we?" Seeing Connor''s pitiful yet hopeful eyes, Cam couldn''t help butugh. She shook her head gently. "We''ll see how things go, but not now." "I''ll keep trying to earn that acknowledgment," Connor responded with a resigned smile. Cam frowned slightly, cing a document on his desk. "This list is for the employees allocated initial shares." Connor quickly scanned the document and asked seriously, "You''re not on this list. Doesn''t that bother you?" "I haven''t been with thepany long enough to qualify, so it''s normal for me not to be included," Cam replied calmly. Connor gently took Cam''s hand. "Those initial shares aren''t worth much, and besides, I''m yours.. Compared to those shares, I''m much more valuable." en.sw Cam nodded, a sweet smile curling at the corner of her mouth. l.ne Connor pulled out a bank card from his suit jacket and ced it in Cam''s palm. "This card is for you. I''ve changed the PIN to your birthday." He continued, "All my money is in this card. I''ve used quite a bit recently for buying back shares, so there isn''t much left. But I promise, I''ll work hard to make a lot more, so you can always look at the bnce andugh with joy." Holding the bank card in her palm, Cam joked, "This isn''t just an empty card, is it?"Original content from N?velDrama.Org. "Of course not." Connorughed. "There''s still a couple hundred million on it." Cam nearly choked, hastily pushing the card back to him. Chapter 340 "Just keep it," Connor said, slipping the card into her pocket. "You''re something else..." Cam could feel the card''s weight like a ton of bricks. She quickly tried to hand it back, her voice firm, "I really don''t need it. My sry covers everything." Connor watched her with a slight frown. He gently took her hand, looking into her eyes with a soft gaze. "Cami, this isn''t about giving or charity. I just want to show you mymitment, my intention to be with you forever." "I get it, really," Cam said with a small smile. "I have enough for myself. If I ever need extra, I promise I''ll ask, okay?" Connor gazed deeply at her, understanding her pride and independence. He knew pushing the card on her would only make things awkward. So, he relented and nodded gently.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. After a moment of thought, Cam winked yfully. "I was thinking about grabbing some essentials at the supermarket after work. Think my boyfriend might cover it?" Connor''s face lit up. With a grand gesture, he waved his hand. "Of course, get whatever you want. I''d buy the whole supermarket for you if I could!" Cam burst outughing at his enthusiasm. "Then I won''t hold back!" *** After work, they strolled hand in hand to the supermarket. Cam grabbed a cart at the entrance, but Connor quickly took over. "I''ll push. You just focus on picking out what you like and toss it in." Connor hadn''t been to a supermarket in ages, but doing it with someone he loved felt fresh and wonderful. He watched Cam''s expressions, noting the items she chose, savoring the simple joy of it all. Cam stood in front of the shelves, picking out snacks with the focus of a kid. Chips, chocte, juice-she tossed them all into the cart. During this time, she hadn''t nced at Connor even once, and the cart was filled with nothing but junk food, none of which Connor liked. She suddenly turned to him. "You don''t seem to like snacks much, except for sweets, huh?" Connor nodded quietly. "How about sitting in the cart while I push you around?" he joked, pointing at the cart. Cam burst intoughter, her eyes twinkling. "Have you been watching old roms? That''s such a clich¨¦!" Connor turned slightly, rubbing his nose in embarrassment. He had actually looked up popr supermarket date ideas and found that lifting a girlfriend into the cart was a top choice. He even looked up pictures for reference. Cam hooked her arm through his,ughing. "I don''t need fairy-tale moments. I just like walking around with you." "Yeah, that does seem a bit childish. This is perfect," Connor said, holding her hand with a smile. "What else do we need?" "Let''s check out the household goods section. I want to pick up a pair of cotton slippers," Cam pointed out. Hand in hand, they walked to the household section. Cam pickedet out a pair of pale yellow cottone slippers, and Connor added, "Grab a pair of size 12 in a Chapter 341 "Don''t you have slippers?" Cam asked, puzzled. "Not matching ones," Connor replied with a straight face. A sweet smile crept across Cam''s face, lighting up her eyes. From that moment on, it was like a switch had flipped in Connor. Every time they walked down an aisle, he''d spot something meant for couples and toss it into the cart without hesitation-electric toothbrushes, towels, mugs... The cart filled up in no time. As they lined up to check out, Connor had a sudden thought. While Cam wasn''t looking, he quickly grabbed a few boxes of ''protection'' from the shelf near the cashier and tossed them into the cart. Cam didn''t notice a thing. But as the cashier scanned each item, those unfamiliar boxes popped up on the screen, making her face turn bright red. She widened her eyes at the items, then shot a nce at Connor, who was acting all nonchnt, as if he had nothing to do with it. After paying, Connor carried their tworge bags and walked out of the store. "What... what was that about?" Cam finally blurted out. Connor turned around, his eyes twinkling mischievously as he looked at Cam''s flushed cheeks. "Which one?" "I don''t know, they just appeared!" Cam pretended to rummage through the shopping bags. Connor quickly hid the bags behind him, leaned in close to Cam''s ear, and whispered, "Those are essentials for our future..." Cam gave him a look, her cheeks turning a deeper shade of red, and shyly turned her head away. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a familiar face. "Isn''t that York''s friend? Why is he wearing a delivery uniform?" Cam eximed in surprise. Connor followed her gaze. At the supermarket entrance, a young man was waiting to pick up a delivery. "I''ll go check," Cam said, feeling a sudden wave of unease. Connor followed her as they approached the young man. "Hi, do you remember me? I''m Drew''s sister," Cam said politely. The man looked startled, then his expression turned panicky. He lifted his head to look at Cam, unease clear in his eyes. "Yeah... I remember," he stammered. "York told us you got him a job too, delivering?" Cam pressed. The man lowered his head, silent for a moment, then slowly nodded. "Yeah." Cam was stunned. "York lied to us..." She turned to voice. int of bitterness in here e you been to whe he wontent lives? I need to see him." belongs to NovelDrama.Org Connor nodded. "York..." back, he had an ident delivering on a rainy day. He slipped and broke hizome man hesitated, "a while . He''s still in the hos broke Cam''s mind reeled. So that''s why Drew hadn''t attended their mother''s wedding-it wasn''t because he was busy with work, but because he was in the hospital. And during their mother''s illness, he had somehow brought thirty thousand dors. Where did that moneye from? Connor gently took Cam''s hand,forting her, "Don''t worry, let''s go see him at the hospital now." They hurriedly drove to the hospital.Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 342 Cam pushed open the hospital room door and walked in. She saw Drew lying on the bed, his face pale, with his right leg in a cast. Seeing Cam and Connor enter, York''s face showed a flicker of embarrassment. "Sis, bro... how did you..." Cam walked over and gently sat on the edge of the bed. "York, why did you lie to us?" Drew lowered his head, tears welling up in his eyes. "I didn''t want you to worry. I''m okay, really. I''ll look for a job once my leg heals." "How''s your leg?" Cam asked. "Do Mom and Dad know?"This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Drew nodded. "They''re noting to take care of you?" Cam was surprised, considering Drew was their only son. Drew''s expression darkened. "They know, but... we had a falling out. They act like I don''t exist anymore..." He didn''t want to dwell on it. He lifted his head, eyes slightly reddened, and managed a small smile. "Sis, don''t worry, it''s not serious. Just a minor fracture. The doctor said it''ll heal quickly." At that moment, a young girl walked into the room carrying a basin of water. She looked quite young and had a delicate face. "Drew, how are you feeling?" The girl asked softly as she approached the bed. Her gaze lingered on Drew''s face for a moment before turning to Cam. "Hello, I''m Drew''s friend, Tiffany." Tiffany introduced herself with a smile, her voice gentle and sweet, irresistibly endearing. "Hello, I''m Drew''s sister, Cam." Cam nodded slightly. "Nice to meet you," Tiffany said softly, tilting her head slightly, showing Cam a gentle smile. Cam and Connor exchanged nces, understanding the subtle rtionship between the two. "I''ll step out for a moment," Connor said quietly. Cam acknowledged and turned to look at Tiffany. "Have you been taking care of York all this time?" she asked softly, her voice filled with gratitude. Tiffany nodded slightly, her gaze resting on Drew''s face briefly before returning to Cam. "Yes, sister. Drew is my friend, and of course, I had to take care of him when he got injured." "Thank you for your efforts," Cam expressed her gratitude. Cam was genuinely happy for Drew. Finding someone like Tiffany who sincerely cared for him during his lowest moments was undoubtedly a rare stroke of luck. en.swhovels They chatted in the room for a while. Before long, Connor returned and spoke to Drew, "York, don''t worry about work. You''re in sales, and once you''re discharged, you work at the branch office." belongs to NovelDrama.Org Drew looked at Connor, a flicker of gratitude in his eyes. "Bro, thank you." As they were leaving, Connor handed Drew a thick envelope. "Get well soon." Drew looked at the envelope, hesitant. "Bro, I can''t ept this," he said, trying to return the envelope. Cam gently stroked Drew''s head, "Just take it. We hope you recover soon. have to go on a business trip tomorrow, but I''ll visit you again when I return." Drew nodded and epted the envelope. "Thank you, sis. Thank you, bro." "Tiffany, thank you for taking care of York," Cam said gently, looking at Tiffany. Tiffany smiled softly. Connor took Cam''s hand as they left the hospital room. Cam looked up at Connor, "Did you just go to withdraw money?" Connor nodded with a smile, "Yeah, you can''t hide anything from me. I withdrew five thousand dors." "Thank you," Cam said softly. Connor gently teased her nose, as tender as a spring breeze. "Silly, there''s no need for thanks between us. Your concerns are mine, and so are Drew''s." Chapter 343 After speaking, he grinned, "As a brother-inw, giving my brother-inw some pocket money and helping him find a job, isn''t that what I''m supposed to do?" Cam gently squeezed his hand, her eyes sparkling. "Thank you for taking care of my family," she said softly. Connor kissed her forehead. "Isn''t that what I should do?" Cam looked blissful. She knew she''d found a man who not only loved her but was also ready to support her family. *** Back home, Connor crouched down and immediately dug through the shopping bag, pulling out a pair of matching slippers. He unwrapped them and slipped them onto Cam''s feet. Seeing his eagerness, Cam couldn''t help but smile, her eyes twinkling with joy. She kicked off her high heels and steadied herself by holding onto his shoulders. Connor carefully fit the slippers onto Cam''s feet, as if he were cing ss slippers on a princess. Once the slippers were snug on her feet, he grinned with satisfaction. Then, he quickly changed into his pair, the matching slippers gleaming under the light. "Look how well we match," Connor said, yfully wiggling his feet and tapping his slippers against Cam''s. "You''re so silly," Camughed, standing on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "But I love it." Encouraged, Connor, like an excited kid, hurriedly opened the shopping bag, pulling out various matching items one by one. From matching toothbrushes to towels and even mugs, he busily arranged them. Camughed while sorting the snacks from the bag into the snack cab. As she arranged all the snacks and looked up, she suddenly realized she had also ced several boxes of condoms in the snack cab. Her face instantly turned red as if scorched, and she hurriedly stuffed the boxes back into the shopping bag. Still engrossed in sorting the couple''s items, Connor found the shopping bag suddenly thrust at him by Cam, who pretended to be stern. "Take care of your own stuff." Connor, puzzled by her sudden action, was left scratching his head. After speaking, Cam turned and dashed toward the bedroom, mming the door behind her. Connor opened the shopping bag in his hands and saw the condoms. Ah, indeed, he had bought them, and chuckled softly.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. He set down the bag and walked to Cam''s bedroom door, trying the handle. Locked? He paused, a knowing smile spreading across his face. He gently knocked on the door, hearing Cam''s slightly embarrassed voice from inside. "Pack your bags properly, and remember, we have an 8AM flight tomorrow. Don''t bete." Connor couldn''t help butugh. Knowing Cam was feeling shy and awkward, he tenderly replied, "Of course, my love!" Connor turned and went to his room to start packing for the trip. He opened his wardrobe, chose several appropriate outfits, and neatly arranged them in his suitcase. Then, he pulled out some daily essentials and documents from a drawer, carefully cing them into the suitcase. Just as he was about to close the suitcase, something urred to him. He walked back to the living room, his gazending on the shopping bag. He took out the boxes of condoms, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth. He tucked them into a hiddenpartment of his suitcase. Satisfied, he closed the suitcase, a smug smile on his face. Chapter 344 The following day. The car pulled up at the airport, and Cam and Connor got out. Cam made her way to the trunk. But before she could get there, n darted in front of her and took over the task of grabbing their suitcases. With a quick, efficient motion, he pulled the luggage out of the trunk and smiled, "You guys go ahead. I''ll deal with these." Connor nodded, leading the way with a brisk stride, Cam following close behind, and n trailing with all three suitcases. Bryan and the other executives were already waiting for them in the VIP lounge at the airport. The group breezed through the VIP channel, quickly handled the check-in, and made their way into the lounge. Cam stepped out to take a phone call. She stood by therge floor-to-ceiling windows of the terminal, the winter sunlight streaming through and casting a glow on her delicate, fair skin. She had on a wool coat, the cor slightly open to reveal a crisp white shirt underneath. Turning around, she found herself staring into Connor''s deep, bright eyes. Hanging up the call, she walked over to him with a slight smile, "What are you doing out here?" "Looking for you," Connor replied naturally, wrapping an arm around her waist and nting a gentle kiss on her forehead. Cam was taken aback. Panic set in a bit; thepany''s executives were just about ten meters away in the lounge. Such a public disy of affection could be incredibly awkward if seen. Cam locked eyes with him, mildly scolding, "The whole office is inside." Connor whispered in her ear, "Rx, they can''t see us." He then leaned in and kissed her lips. n came out looking for Connor and stopped short at the lounge door, opting not to intrude and quickly turning away. Just then, an executive stepped out of the lounge and called, "n." n instantly stood up straight, his tall frame perfectly blocking the executive''s view. "Have you seen Mr. Connor? I''m looking for him." n, his Connor will be Sh Paling a bit anxious, b sang a bit anxious, blocked ent Why don''t you The executive nodded, not suspecting anything, and went back into the lounge. n let out a sigh of relief, silently congratting himself on the narrow escape. He turned to leave, giving the couple some privacy. Just then, Cam caught sight of n''s flu treating back, her face flushing slightly. Shed Cont swnooThis content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. away. Connor, momentarily puzzled, followed her gaze and then smirked. "n''s practically family." Cam shot him a look, "You go back to the lounge; I need to touch up my lipstick." With that, she turned and quickly walked towards the restroom. Connor watched her retreating figure, shaking his head with a resigned smile. A littleter, Cam, having freshened up, returned to the lounge. Connor was deep in a conversation with a few executives about work. Cam sat next to n and whispered, "n, I want to switch seats with you on the ne." n looked at her, a bit puzzled. Cam exined, "I''m worried your boss do something dramatic." somoght get a sudden urge t belongs to en.swnove Ex n couldn''t help butugh. He nodded, "Alright, we''ll switch seats on the ne." When it was time to board, everyone got on the ne. They followed the instructions on their boarding passes to first ss and found their seats. Connor, as calm as ever, reached his seat and found that the person next to him was now n. Chapter 345 His piercing gaze swept over to n, clearly displeased. Seeing this, n quickly forced a smile and shuffled over to Connor''s side, whispering, "Cam asked me to switch seats. I mean, I had to listen to the bossdy, right?" The term ''bossdy'' worked like a charm. Connor''s expression softened considerably, even a hint of a smile ying at his lips. He nodded, signaling n to sit down. Relieved, n quickly settled into his seat.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. "Cam, can you pass me the documents?" Connor said, turning to the seat behind him. Cam paused, Seriously? What documents? She took a deep breath, rummaged through her bag, and found a takeout receipt, pretending it was something important as she walked over to Connor. Through gritted teeth, she said, "Mr. Connor, is this what you''re looking for?" Connor struggled to suppress a grin, lightly touching her fingers, "Yes, thank you for the trouble." Cam withdrew her hand, lowering her voice, "Connor, are you being childish?" "Who told you to sit so far from me? Now I have to go hours without seeing you," Connor said with exaggerated innocence, pouting. Looking around, Cam noticed everyone was busy with their own tasks. She quickly pressed a vivid lipstick mark into the palm of her hand and then gently pressed it onto the back of Connor''s hand. "Mr. Connor, I''ll head back to my seat," she said softly, taking the takeout receipt and returning to her seat. Connor savored the warm touch on his hand and the faint imprint of lipstick, a slight smile ying on his lips. He was in a good mood. Three hourster. The nended at Angelhaven Point. A car was waiting to take them to the hotel. Upon arrival, n efficiently handled the check-in for everyone and distributed the room keys. "Mr. Connor, your room is on the 45th floor," n handed the room key with the number 8888 to Connor. He continued handing out the keys, "Everyone else is on the 40th floor, Cam and I are on the 41st." Cam took her key. Room 8888? Wasn''t that the Presidential Suite number? Just as she was about to ask n if there was a mix-up, he gave her a meaningful smile, as if to say, all is correct! When the elevator reached the 40th floor, the other executives stepped out. The elevator doors slowly closed and soon reached the 41st floor. n stood at the elevator doors, blocking Cam''s way with a mischievous grin. "There are plenty of rooms in the Presidential Suite, and in keeping et booked one on the 41st flood o with our spirit of frugality, we only Winking, n added, "Cam, you''ll be in charge of looking after Mr. Connor''s needs. You guys can squeeze into one room." With that, he grabbed his luggage and swiftly exited the elevator, leaving Cam and Connor facing each other. Cam, resigned, watched the closing elevator doors, then turned to Connor. Connor looked at her innocently, as if to say it was all n''s doing. He wrapped an arm around Cam''s shoulders, earnestly saying, "nis right, we shouldn''t be wasteful You''t just have to put up with squeezing in with me tonight." Cam scoffed, ncing at him. "Tomorrow''s important, you better clear your head, we''re sleeping separately tonight." Connor frowned, "I was nning on sleeping separately anyway." He whispered close to her ear, "It''s your mind that needs clearing." With that, he pulled their suitcases and strode out of the elevator. "Connor, you''re done for!" Chapter 346 Cam trailed behind Connor into the presidential suite, clearly fuming. If it hadn''t been for the butler standing by the door, she might have just taken a bite out of him in her frustration. The butler gave a courteous rundown of the suite''s amenities. Once he was done, he smiled and left, leaving Cam and Connor alone. Connor pointed to thergest bedroom, saying, "You can take this one." "Okay, Mr. Connor," Cam replied with a forced politeness, pulling her luggage into the room. Connor chuckled softly, wrapping his arms around her from behind, his voice low and tender, "Get settled in, and I''ll take you to try the best local food around here." Hearing the word "food," Cam''s mood lifted instantly, and her earlier anger vanished. A small smile yed on her lips. She turned around, pretending to be reluctantly agreeing, "Alright" Seeing her yful expression, Connor couldn''t help butugh. After changing her clothes, Cam emerged. When Connor tried to hold her hand, she pulled away. "There are colleagues from thepany here," she whispered. Connor sighed and pretended to hold the air instead. Once they were in the car, Cam reached for Connor''s hand, blinking and smiling, "Now it''s okay." Connor smiled contentedly, intertwining their fingers, and gently kissed the back of her hand. The restaurant was in a ssical building in the city center. As they stepped in, a rich aroma of food greeted them.Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Connor expertly led Cam to a table by the window, where the bustling street outside contrasted with the restaurant''s quaint elegance. The waiter handed them the menu with enthusiasm, and Connor ordered several ssic dishes: braised pork, sweet and sour fish, smoked fish, and a mixed vegetable stew. Cam''s eyes sparkled as she listened to the names of the dishes, as if she could already see the delicious food beckoning her. After Connor finished ordering, Cam added, "Let''s also get some crab pasta and greens." "You seem to have a good appetite today; let''s get them," Connor said warmly. Cam smiled sweetly, "I ordered for you, you''re not a fan of sweets." Connor chuckled softly. They had be so familiar with each. other''s tastes that they chose dishes for each other without a second thought. wanit He reached out and gently held Cam''s hand. Soon, dish after dish was served. Connor served Cam a piece of the braised pork. She tasted it, her eyes lighting up with amazement, "The sauce is perfect, sweet but not too much, with a savory touch As they sampled each dish, Cam''s praises grew, and seeing her satisfaction, Connor felt a deep sense of happiness. After dinner, Cam returned to the hotel to meet with n, and they headed to the stock exchange. They had a thorough meeting with the staff at the exchange, double checking every element and detail to ensure that tomorrow''s ceremony would go off without a hitch. After the meeting, they returned to the hotel. In the hotel''s spacious conference room, the executives gathered to finalize the ns for tomorrow''s bell-ringing ceremony. They went through the agenda once more, making sure every step was clear. After the meeting, Cam and Connor returned to their presidential suite. "Tired?" Connor asked softly, pouring Cam a cup of hot tea. Cam shook her head, "Not tired, just a bit excited." As she turned her head, their kiss came passionately. They kissed fervently on the sofa, Connor gently lifting the hem of her shirt as he held her waist. Chapter 347 As soon as Cam felt the touch on her skin, she jolted and quickly pulled away, whispering, "Connor... we need to get up early tomorrow..." Connor, nuzzling against her ear, murmured, "Cami..." His husky voice was both restrained and enticing. Cam felt herself melting, barely managing to whisper with thest of her rationality, "Tomorrow''s thepany IPO, there will be lots of media there. You need to look fresh and energetic." Connor brushed his lips against her neck, his voice muffled as heined, "You always have an excuse..." Cam was nearly overwhelmed. On one hand, the bell-ringing ceremony tomorrow was indeed crucial; on the other, she felt a bit scared, remembering how intense it wasst time. Connor gently kissed her. If they kept this up, things might get out of hand... Taking the initiative, Cam kissed his cheek and whispered, "Goodnight." Struggling to her feet, she trotted to the bedroom door, a mischievous smile ying on her lips, "Mr. Connor, staying upte might affect your performance. You should sleep early." Connor''s eyelids flickered, and he sighed softly, "Does it matter? It''s not like it''s being used anyway...'' Cam''s smile turned sheepish as she quietly responded, "Just because it''s not used now, doesn''t mean..." Her words trailed off as her face heated up, and with a bang, the door closed. Connor sat back on the couch, calling out, "When, exactly?" *** The next day. The overcast weather at Angelhaven Point finally cleared, reced by a clear, sunlit sky that seemed to celebrate the uing grand event. The team arrived at the stock exchange, faces filled with excitement and anticipation. Investors, media reporters, and celebrities from various fields were all present. Connor exchanged greetings before entering the grand hall. Camera shes twinkled nonstop. The media presence was overwhelming, their cameras snapping pictures furiously. Cam and the executives were dazzled by the barrage of shing lights, while Connor walked ahead withposed ease. Finally, it was time for the bell-ringing. Connor rang the bell calmly. This marked the official listing of Future Inc. on the main board. An executive quietly calcted, e2 moved to say, "Future Inc. now has a market value of billions. It feels like I''m dreaming to think I''m now worth billions myself..." Another couldn''t hide his excitement, "I never thought the was just painting a pretty picture, I never imagined this..." "Yes, we''re all billionaires now!" With thepany going public, the executives and employees with stock options each calcted their shares'' worth, feeling both thrilled and a bit surreal. It was hard to believe that they had be millionaires and billionaires overnight. Although Cam didn''t have stock options, she was incredibly excited! Finally, her resume wouldn''t just showpanies that had closed down, but now included a sessfully listedpany. Among those present, Connor was the mostposed. As the protagonist of the IPO, holding the majority shares of Future Inc. his worth had soared to billions. "Mr. Connor, congrattions! You''re sure to make it on the Forbes list this year!" People around congratted Connor. Connor smiled slightly, knowing thatpared to giants like Passos Corporation, Future Inc. was still in its infancy. "Let''s celebrate properly tonight." "Indeed, a celebration is in order!" Everyone agreed, buzzing with excitement and anticipation. The Novel will be updated first on this website. 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