CHAPTER TWO: I’m calling off this engagement.

Camilla’s pov

I ran blindly through the narrow corridor, my dress tangling around my legs, the beautiful fabric now feeling like chains. My heels clicked sharply against the polished floor. Tears burned in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Not yet. Not here.

“Camila! Wait!”

Alex’s voice echoed behind me. Heavy footsteps pounded closer. Before I could reach the stairs leading back to the main deck, his hand closed around my wrist, yanking me to a stop.

“Let me go!” I hissed, twisting violently in his grip. “Don’t you ever touch me again, you crazy bastard!”

His grip loosened, but he didn’t let go.

I stared at him in disbelief.

“Out of all the women in the world,” I spat, voice cracking, “why my sister? On our engagement night? On my yacht?”

Alex exhaled sharply, glancing over his shoulder as if worried someone might hear. No apology. No shame. Just annoyance flickering across his handsome features.

“Camila, you’re overreacting.”

I stared at him, dumbfounded. The words landed like a physical blow.

“Overreacting?” I said, my voice trembling with disbelief. I literally caught you sleeping with my sister, Alex. And you're telling me I'm overreacting? I’m reacting exactly the way any woman with a shred of self-respect should!”

He looked down, running a hand through his hair. For a second, he almost seemed sorry—not for what he’d done, but for having been caught.

"That's... it's not what you think."

"Not what I think?" I laughed, the sound hollow and broken. "I saw you inside her, Alex. Inside. My. Sister."

He exhaled sharply. "She and I... Vivian and I have known each other. Before you. Before any of this."

My stomach twisted.

“What?”

"When our fathers first talked about merging the families through marriage..." He paused, jaw tightening. "I thought it was going to be her. She was the one I wanted. But they chose you instead. Business is business. I couldn’t go against my father. You know how this world works.”

Each word carved deeper into me. The hallway lights suddenly felt too bright, the gentle rocking of the yacht suddenly felt nauseating.

I just stared at him.

“You couldn’t go against your father?”

Alex sighed.

“You know how these things work.”

“So I’m the safe choice,” I whispered, echoing Vivian’s cruel words from the private room. “Just like she said. The boring, reliable Stones daughter who would never cause trouble.”

“No, that’s not what I meant.” Alex started, reaching for me again.

I jerked back.

"Then what did you mean?" My voice rose. "Do you want me to feel sorry for you? Oh, poor Alex, you fell in love with my sister before you met me, so of course it's okay for you to cheat on me even after you knew you weren't going to marry her?"

His silence was the only answer I needed.

I straightened my spine, tears burning behind my eyes. "I'm calling off this engagement."

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Alex's face hardened. "You're taking this too far."

Something inside me snapped.

But before I could reply to him, another voice cut through the corridor.

Vivian stepped from the private suite, her red dress finally straightened, her hair tousled in a way that made my stomach turn. She walked toward us like she hadn't just destroyed my entire world.

"Sister." Her voice was sweet. Poison-sweet. “Please don’t do this.”

I stared at her.

"Do you know how angry Mom is going to be?" Vivian continued, tilting her head like she was explaining something to a child. "Let's just settle this among ourselves. You know this is business."

Business.

"That's all this has ever been to you people."

Vivian's smile didn't waver. "If you don't marry Alex, the partnership could fall apart. Dad and Mom will be devastated." She stepped closer, lowering her voice like we were sharing a secret. "Do you want to embarrass them in front of everyone? Remember what Mom told you earlier. Don't embarrass us."

That was the final snap.

Everything I had swallowed for years—the cold comments, the constant comparisons, the feeling of never being enough—ignited inside me.

My hand flew before I could stop it.

The slap cracked across Vivian's face like a gunshot. She stumbled back, one hand flying to her cheek, her eyes wide with shock. For the first time all night, she looked speechless.

Alex immediately stepped between us.

“Are you insane?”

He shoved me back. Hard. My heels skidded on the polished floor and I nearly fell, catching myself against the wall.

“Don’t you ever dare lay your hand on her again,” he growled, protective fire in his eyes as he looked at Vivian.

Tears I had been holding back finally spilled over, hot and furious down my cheeks. I was the one who had been cheated on. Humiliated. Yet here I was—the villain for daring to react.

I wiped my face with the back of my hand, my chest heaving.

"Fine," I whispered. "I won't touch her again. But this engagement? It’s over. I’m calling it off.”

Then I turned and started walking.

"Camila—" Alex called.

I didn’t stop. I kept walking.

Behind me, I heard footsteps. Both of them following now.

I walked faster.

The main deck came into view. The guests. The champagne. The string quartet playing some soft melody like nothing had happened. Like my whole life hadn't just collapsed.

I walked straight toward the stage, legs shaking but steps determined. My father was still near the podium, speaking with a group of investors. I climbed the few steps, grabbed the microphone from its stand, and tapped it.

"Excuse me," I said into the mic. My voice echoed across the deck. "Excuse me. Everyone."

The music faltered. Conversations died. Every head turned toward me.

Cameras lifted. Reporters perked up.

I saw my mother's eyes go wide. My father's jaw dropped. Alex's father froze mid-sip of his whiskey.

And then I spotted them—Alex pushing through the crowd, Vivian right behind him, her cheek still pink from my slap.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming tonight. However, I regret to inform you that I am calling off this engagement."

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Cameras flashed wildly.

"I, Camila Stones, will not be marrying Alexander Laurent."

My mother looked ready to faint. My father’s face turned a dangerous shade of red. Alex finally reached the edge of the stage, his expression a mix of panic and anger. Vivian stood beside him, playing the part of the shocked, innocent sister.

For a moment, our eyes met—mine, Alex’s, and Vivian’s. The three of us locked in this ugly, public triangle.

"Camila, don't—" Alex whispered.

I didn't stop.

"You want to know why?" I continued.

The deck was dead silent now. Even the water seemed to hold its breath.

I looked directly at the reporters. At the cameras. At the flashing lights that would carry my face across every news outlet by morning.

"Because I just caught him having sex with my sister."