*A package will arrive in a few minutes. They are everything you'll need for the party. I'll have my driver come pick you up. That's if you change your mind, of course.*Camila rolled her eyes, shoving the phone face down on the nightstand. He just wouldn't give up. A party in Mexico was the last thing she wanted. She needed to leave, to put as much distance as possible between herself and this place, between herself and… him.But every hour, there's a new text message from Cole, persistent and irritating.Then, another vibration. She picked up her phone, expecting another message from Cole. But it wasn’t him this time. Just a time reminder. She looked at the time and realized she had been in the hotel room for an hour now. She had settled in for the day, planning to rest before her flight back to Australia.She sighed, running a hand through her hair. Right from the moment she checked into the hotel, Cole’s words had been a mantra, relentless in her head: "You're not over him, Camil
As the car came to a smooth stop, Camila stepped out onto the sleek, wooden dock. Before her, the majestic yacht rose from the water, its decks glowing with a mesmerizing display of lights. A little too dramatic for her liking. But it was something Cole would do—extravagant, attention-grabbing, and utterly over-the-top. It was a reflection of his personality, and Camila couldn't help but smile at the familiarity of it all. The evening air was alive with the soft hum of music and the gentle lapping of waves against the hull.Camila's gaze swept across the scene, and she couldn't deny the slight excitement. It all felt like a fairytale ball. Her dress, a stunning blue cocktail gown, sparkled with intricate, glittering details that caught the light as she moved. It hugged her curves perfectly, and she was beginning to wonder if Cole and Rachel had been keeping track of her measurements over the years.Classic Cole.As she made her way towards the entrance, she caught sight of Cole, deck
Camila's smile disappeared as she bit her lips, resisting the urge to retort. She took a slow, deliberate breath, reminding herself that she was in a public setting, and that she couldn't afford to lose control.She well knew what he was hinting at."Indeed," she said, her voice cool though edged with steel. "Some things never change."She didn't elaborate, leaving the statement hanging in the air, a subtle challenge to Antonio.She wanted to wipe that smug smile off his face.She turned to Cole, her smile returning, though it was now a brittle, almost artificial thing. "Cole, I'll—""Excuse me for a minute," Cole said, his eyes drifting somewhere else. "I need to go take care of something. You two have fun." He nodded at Antonio and Camila, his smile perfunctory, before turning and walking away.Camila's eyes narrowed, her gaze following Cole's retreating back, the silence between them now charged with a different kind of tension. Cole's sudden departure felt calculated, like a delib
"I made it clear to you, Emily. Stay away from me," Antonio hissed, his voice a low growl that echoed in the relative quiet of the outer deck. He couldn't believe she'd followed him, especially here, to Cole's party. "And I made it clear to you, Antonio, that I don't take orders." Emily stepped closer, her faces inches from his "You can't just ignore me.""This isn't the time or place, Emily." He glanced back at the bar, a flicker of unease in his eyes. He didn't want Camila or anyone to know about his complicated past with Emily. He didn't want to draw attention to himself, especially not tonight. Emily glance at bar and back at Antonio. "Or is it because you're with someone else? That woman at the bar..." she chuckle like she had just piece up the puzzle. "So she's my replacement....I get it now."Antonio inhaled sharply too exasperated to resort. But as he looked into Emily's eyes, he noticed something he hadn't seen before - fear, insecurity. She's slipping. Could he use this?
Before Camila could react, he leaned closer and pressed a soft kiss to her temple, just beside her ear.His eyes, however, never left Emily. He held her gaze like a silent challenge a subtle smirk playing on his lips. He could see the flicker of hurt and anger in Emily's eyes He knew he was pushing her buttons, but he couldn't stop now.She pushed him to ths point. Now he will have to fight fire with fire.Camila's quickly step back, creating some distance between them. "What was...that for.""Just a friendly greeting, Camila," he said, his voice low and smooth, but with an undercurrent of insincerity.Camila's search Antonio's face for a hidden meaning. She didn't buy his explanation. "Friendly?" She chuckled in disbelief. "You must be out of your mind."Antonio smirked. "You've been away from Mexico so long that you forgot that a kiss on the cheek is just a friendly greeting."Camila eyes him wearily and without a word she walked away. But she noticed--Antonio smirk has disappeared
"She's gone," Cole smiled. "She left the party a while ago."Antonio's gaze lingered on Cole's face, as if searching for more information. "Where did she... go?" Cole shrugged, his expression neutral. "Back to her hotel, I assume. She said she was tired."Antonio's eyes narrowed slightly. "Did she say anything else?" Cole went silent for a moment, then he stepped closer. "What's your interest in Camila, Antonio?"Antonio's smile was quick and easy. "Just making conversation, Cole. I'm just curious about the guest of honor."Cole's gaze lingered on Antonio's face as if trying to see through him. But all he saw was the same charming, polished exterior that Antonio always presented."I'll let you get back to your guests," Antonio said, with a quick glance at the room once more. Cole walked past him, but Antonio paused in the hallway, just enough to keep Cole within his peripheral vision. He watched as Cole moved through the remaining guests, his smile strained, his eyes distant.He re
Antonio took a sip of his drink, staring into space, replaying the events of the night. The risk he had taken with Camila, the plan... he couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement. He knew it was manipulative, even cruel. But Emily had pushed him too far. She had disrupted his life, making him lose his mind; now it had to stop. He swirled the remaining liquid in his glass, the ice clinking softly. He needed to be careful, strategic. He couldn't afford to make any mistakes. Emily was unpredictable, and Camila… well, that one was hard to read, probably keeping a big secret—one he'd like to explore. Just as he was about to pour himself another drink, his phone rang. He answered, hearing Bruno's voice on the other end. "Sir, I've found her... Camila Lopez is staying at your hotel." Antonio's eyes narrowed. "What about the background check?" "It's still in progress, sir," Bruno replied. "But I should have everything you need within the next few hours." Antonio nodded, his
"Can I take your order, ma'am?" the waitress asked, her pen poised over the notepad.Camila glanced at the menu, the vibrant pictures of Mexican dishes momentarily distracting her from the gnawing knot in her stomach. "I'll have the chicken enchiladas, please," she said, managing a small, polite smile. "And a large iced tea."It was noon, exactly fifteen hours since the party. Her phone lay face down on the table, a silent reminder of her usual loneliness, which now somehow felt suffocating. Probably because she was still in Mexico.She hadn't brought herself to call Cole yet about the change of plans. And Cole... well, Cole seemed to have vanished. No calls, no texts, nothing. It was as if she'd been completely erased from his radar.She watched the waitress walk away, a sigh escaping her lips. She felt miserable at the moment, and she couldn't explain why."Can I join you?"That voice. That annoyingly familiar voice.Camila's eyes shot up, and instantly her face turned sour."You. A
Silence hung for a breathless moment. Lawson's mind struggled to catch up with the sudden shift in power. One second he was the pursuer, the next he was pinned, interrogated by the very person he was trying to find.His eyes locked with Camila's. Gone was the carefree laughter he had witnessed earlier. If eyes could kill, he would have dropped dead by now."So what now? You're stalking me?" she spat, slipping her hand off the wall."Cami—""Not only did you choose the long, drawn-out way of divorce, but you're also stalking me. Or perhaps you're trying to provoke me into filing a lawsuit for—""You've got a lot of cash to spend on lawsuits, don't you?" Lawson cut her off suddenly, pushing himself off the wall.Camila didn't flinch, her feet tapping on the ground. Lawson noticed the sound, looked down, and then back up. He chuckled; he bet she wanted to strangle him right then."You haven't changed a bit. You're still the same short-tempered, emotional woman behind this," he pointed to
She was laughing... like really laughing.The other guy was saying something in her ear, and the way she flinched as his breath touched her skin, the way she leaned so close to him that there was a space between them, was all a punch to his gut.It wasn't just that she was with someone else; it was the easy intimacy, the unrestrained joy on her face, the comfortable closeness that felt so... exclusive.She acts like a saint, yet despite them still being married, she's having an affair? Then she is no better than he is.He tore his gaze away, a muscle twitching in his jaw. He focused on the woman still holding his arm, her smile now seeming almost mocking."Looks like she's having a good time," the woman commented. "Perhaps your grand entrance wasn't as impactful as you'd hoped?"Lawson frowned, but she didn't let him speak."Oh right, how do I know?" She chuckled, glancing at Camila again. "She's on my watch list, so I know everything about her.""You're stalking her?" Lawson's brow f
Antonio felt his thigh flinch; it was subtle but enough for him to register her threat.Instantly, he pulled back, the smirk disappearing from his face, replaced by a serious, almost dismissive expression."Speaking of personal space," he said coolly, "you're way too close. Shift, please." He then nodded curtly toward the staircase. "And go get dressed."He turned his gaze away from her, his attention fixed on something across the room, effectively ending the close confrontation.He could practically see the smug look on Camila's face as she climbed up the stairs with an air of confidence that came out of nowhere.She had officially become the only woman who could balance the power imbalance; even Emily, this deranged sometimes, wouldn't dare cross him using methods like that.Deflecting intimidation.A few minutes later, Camila descended the stairs, her hair curled and cascading down her back, a short cocktail gown clinging to her curves in all the right places, heels high enough to
It has been exactly four weeks since Camila paid a visit to the Millers, and exactly four weeks since she'd given Diane and her mother a warning.But of course, it's clear they didn't take her words seriously.They never did. They never ever thought she would be capable of standing up for herself because she had been too weak all these years enduring all the abuse from her Aunt Julie.Julie had been Cole and Camila's guardian since the devastating car accident that claimed their parents' lives when they were eight.Their parents, pillars within the family, had placed their trust in Julie, entrusting her and her brother with the care of their children and their wealth, to be managed until the twins reached eighteen.Camila couldn't understand how her parents' death, so sudden and awful, could have felt like something they knew was coming.That thought had haunted her for years until she finally let it go.Upon their eighteenth birthday, Julie's manipulations began. She insisted they we
Camila's phone buzzed – Mr. Hernández's name flashed on the screen. Camila answered, a familiar knot tightening in her stomach. "Ms. Lopez," the lawyer said, his voice carrying bad news, "Lawson. He refused to sign the divorce papers." Camila's breath caught, but she kept her voice steady. "So, what do we do now?" "It complicates things," he explained simply. "Without his signature, we'll have to file a petition with the court to start the divorce ourselves. He'll have a deadline to respond, and depending on that and the court's schedule, it could take several months." "A trial?" The word felt heavy. She'd hoped it wouldn't come to this, that Lawson would cooperate. Now, it seemed like a long road ahead. "A trial is possible later," he confirmed. "But first, we file that petition. Please gather any financial records, the separation agreement, and any communication with him we haven't discussed. We need to prepare our case." "Alright. I'll get those documents to you soon.
Lawson stared at the "DIVORCE AGREEMENT" in front of him. Cold papers. He scanned every font, but he wasn't reading a single word. Alive. Camila was alive. That's all that screamed in his head.And divorce? That was the first thing she thought of? After all this time?He knew he'd messed up before. Badly. Hurt her.But this... this felt like a punch after barely catching his breath.She was back. He'd imagined this moment a thousand times – tears, hugs, relief flooding him. Not this stark white paper. Not a lawyer's polite cough. Judgmental stares and annoying impatience.A lifetime of grief had lifted, replaced by a fragile, unbelievable joy. He didn't even get the chance to apologize, hold her, or even have a normal conversation.And now this. No time to even register she was safe. Just this demand. This ending. He shook his head slightly, a bitter laugh escaping him. It was almost cruel.The lawyer cleared his throat, bringing him back to reality."Mr. Miller, once you've reviewed
Antonio went wide.What? Was he surprised? Why?It's what he wanted, wasn't it?Camila kissed him harder, her fingers tangled in his hair.Antonio held her tight. His fingers dug into her waist. The kiss felt strong, too rough for a charade. His lips moved with hers. They breathed hard.This wasn't just acting. Camila felt something new. A hot feeling. A little scary, but it would go away the moment she pulled away. She was sure of that.His hand moved on her back. His scent filled her nose. The music went soft. Too soft for what it should have been. It felt just like them.Camila pulled back; her lips felt full. Her face was hot, her toes curling restlessly. Her heart pounded in her chest.Antonio's eyes were dark, his fingers still framing her chin.A quiet moment. They breathed fast, eyes locked.And then it snapped.Camila slid her fingers from his hair, shifted back a little, and flashed him a brief smile."Well," she said, her voice soft. "That was… something.""Something… good?
"Dress as sexy as yesterday. We are going to a party. I'll text you the address and time," Camila said, a sarcastic laugh in her voice."You do know I'm not a puppet you string, Antonio. If I'm going to be your girlfriend, you're going to give me an explanation. At least tell me where I'm going, whose party it is. So we won't have any problems."Antonio smirked, impressed. "What a threat." He intercepted a passing tray, snagging a glass of red wine and offering it to her. "Drink this and calm down. I like you better when you're not angry."Camila's eyes stayed on him for a moment. Without a word, she snatched the glass from his hand. "Yeah," she said, her voice cool, "it's definitely better for you when I'm calm."She gulped the drink all in one go.Antonio smiled at the sight and took the empty glass from her while offering his hand.Eyes narrowed. Jaw set. Charming like a gentleman."Wanna dance?" he asked.Camila laughed. To be honest, she was flattered. She had come here thinking
Antonio watched himself in the mirror, carefully fastening the buttons on his jacket. Simple and smooth, just as he liked the party to go. It’s Abuelo's birthday party orchestrated by the good daughter-in-law, Emily.So sweet, wasn't it? But he knew better. He knew the gears turning in her head while she planned this messed-up celebration. She always wanted to crawl back to him; well, today she'll know there's nothing to crawl back to anymore.He gave his reflection a little nod, liking what he saw. But then a familiar face appeared behind him in the mirror—Emily.Dark eyeliner, glossy lipstick, and a dress too daring for an old man's birthday. Cleavage on full display on her off-shoulder. She was a vision of calculated allure.Her arms circled his waist from behind. "Good afternoon or evening. Didn’t keep track of time," she whispered, her cheek soft against his back.Without a word, Antonio peeled her hands off; it was a struggle at first, but there’s an advantage to being a man.Sh