004

Camilla's POV:

"What's the meaning of this?" Patricia asked, her voice laced with irritation.

"I... I..." I stammered.

"Mum, you can't say I didn't warn you about letting her serve. She can't do anything right," Lily cut in.

"How did you even manage to date this kind of girl in the first place?" Her question was directed at Dandy, who remained silent.

"Alpha Enzo, I sincerely apologize," Patricia addressed the man, shocking me even more. 

The stranger I had a one-night stand with was Alpha Enzo, and he was also my mate. But why was he so stoic? I wondered how he could remain calm and collected in this situation. Wasn't he feeling the mate bond as I was? Why wasn't he shocked to see me? Didn't he remember me?

A sharp pain pierced my heart at the thought of him not remembering me at all. It hurt to know that the stranger I'd been thinking about didn't even recall our encounter. But looking on the bright side, it was actually good that he didn't remember me. At least it wouldn't be awkward around him.

As for the mate bond, I didn't know what to think. Clearly, he wasn't feeling it either, because if he were, he wouldn't be sitting there, not even sparing me a glance. This wasn't how meeting one's mate was supposed to be. I didn't understand why it hurt me that he didn't acknowledge me. Why did the Moon Goddess decide to complicate my life like this? Maybe I should just reject him in silence since I seemed to be the only one feeling the bond.

"I'm sorry," I murmured to no one in particular as I cleaned up the mess I had made with shaky hands.

"Where is my father?" he questioned.

"He is on a business trip," Patricia replied.

"I will be in my room then," he said, rising from his chair.

"Wait," Patricia called out, and he halted, staring at her with a frown etched on his face.

"Since you don't like people roaming around in your space, I have arranged for a maid to serve you personally," Patricia said, and his frown deepened.

Judging from his facial expressions, I could tell Patricia's plan wouldn't work, and the thought of him rejecting her offer made me happy. At least this mate bond wouldn't have a reason to torture me. Not being his personal maid would help me keep my distance from him.

"She will be your personal maid," Patricia said, pointing at me. Chills ran down my spine as his gaze fell on me again. There was something about this man; the way he stared at people could freeze anyone. I guessed the rumors I had heard about him being dangerous were true.

"I can change her if you do not want her. If you don't require a personal maid, that's fine. I'm simply looking out for you because you're like a son to me, and I want your..." 

"I expect you to have packed to my floor by morning. I despise clumsiness and dislike having to repeat myself. You have to be close to perfect," he interrupted Patricia, his attention fixated on me.

I gulped, keeping my gaze fixed on the ground and avoiding eye contact with him.

"Am I understood?"

"Yes, Alpha," I replied, and he turned away, leaving without another word.

"Big brother Enzo is so scary," Lily said with a sigh.

"So rude, he couldn't even say a simple thank you," Patricia mumbled under her breath as she turned to face me.

"Mum, what was that about? You didn't inform me of your plans to make Camilla Alpha Enzo's personal maid," Lily said, standing up from her chair with a smile.

"I thought you liked surprises, darling," Patricia replied.

"Well, I must say, this is one heck of a surprise," she responded.

"Hope you like it?" Patricia asked.

"I absolutely love it. You're the best mum," Lily said, kissing her mother on the cheek.

Watching the mother and daughter make fools of themselves, I couldn't help but wonder again how my mum became friends with Patricia and how I became friends with Lily. She was no different from her mother. How had I not seen this side of her?

"You've heard what Alpha Enzo said. Don't mess up. Remember, your mother is in the hospital," Patricia warned me.

"You don't have to remind me, madam. I will be the best maid you have ever employed," I said, and she turned to face Lily.

"My darling, I will see you around."

"Okay, mum," Lily replied.

After Patricia left, Lily walked toward me. "Oh, poor Camilla. I truly feel sorry for you. This is the perfect definition of 'out of the frying pan and into the fire.' I bet you won't last a day with big brother Enzo. Make sure you survive, though, because I want you to be my maid of honor on my wedding day with Dandy. You know you're my best friend, right?"

"Your true nature is so disgusting that I can't even look at you for more than ten seconds. You should look in the mirror and see how miserable you are right now. I truly pity you," I shot back, and she slapped my cheek.

"You should pity yourself instead. I am everything you wish to be," she replied, her face flushed with rage.

I let out a laugh. "Don't worry, I'll survive because I genuinely want to see where you end up with your filthy self."

"It's funny to see 'filthy' herself calling another person filthy," Dandy cut in immediately, his voice making me freeze. This was the first time he had spoken to me since the incident six months ago.

"Dandy… I…"

"Shut up, Camilla. I don't want to hear anything you have to say. I just want to let you know that you're the filthiest girl I have ever met. You have no right to talk to Lily that way, because Lily has been faithful to me ever since we started dating, unlike you, who has been going behind my back sleeping with every guy you encounter. I can't believe you still have the audacity to talk after everything that happened. You're so shameless." His words made tears stream down my cheeks.

It hurt so much that this was how the guy who loved me so much now thought of me. We have been in a relationship for six years. We began dating when I was just twelve years old only to break up before I even turned eighteen years old. We had a lot of plans for when we turned eighteen years old. Now, I've clocked eighteen and he is no longer by my side like we planned.

Even though he didn't want me anymore, I wanted to clear my name. I didn't want him to see me as a slut. I didn't want the good memories we once shared to be replaced by this bad memory.

"At least give me a chance to explain myself," I pleaded.

"You have nothing to explain," Lily cut in, and I glared at her. "Seeing you come out of a hotel room half-naked is enough explanation for Dandy. What else do you want to explain? Even if you concoct some believable lies, do you think Dandy would leave me and come back to you?"

"Not unless he knows you were the one who set me up to break up with me," I shot back.

"Come on, babe, let's go. This girl has finally lost it," she said, tugging on Dandy's arm.

"No, Lily, let's hear the lies she has to tell," Dandy replied, fixing his gaze on me.

Lily began tapping her feet continuously, clearly avoiding eye contact. I could tell her heart was racing now because she was about to be exposed.

"Now speak. I don't have all the time in the world," he said to me.

"Six months ago…" I began.