The first thing that jarred Camila from her sleep was the insistent ping of her phone. Groggily, she reached for it on her nightstand, squinting at the bright screen. A voice message. From an unknown number. Frowning, she tapped play."Hello, Cami, it's Madison. Please don't ignore. I know you're probably still upset, and honestly, you have every right to be. What Cole did was awful, and seeing him probably feels like the last thing you want to do. But um... how do I put this? Okay, here it goes: we're having a bachelorette-bachelor party combined. Since we won't be having a wedding, I kinda forced him to have a small party with friends only, no family – you're an exception. My brother isn't invited, so even if it's just a few minutes, say hi to Cole and wish him well. He's a jerk, but he's still your brother. I promise to make it up to you someday, anyhow, but please attend."As the message ended, Camila tossed the phone onto her bed, a wave of conflicting emotions washing over
Camila's driver came just in time.The car felt safe, but her mind kept going back to Antonio's fast driving and her reaction to the fears. It had been two years, and yet the scar the accident left refuses to go away. Even when she thought she had recovered, her reaction minutes ago just proved she was terribly wrong.They arrived at the entrance, and there, just outside, was a car parked, blocking the gates.Camila almost rolled her eyes at the figure leaning against the car.Emily.Dressed in a vibrant, almost aggressively pink tracksuit, complete with chunky platform sneakers and oversized sunglasses perched precariously on her nose.Like, who wears sunglasses at night?Camila got out. All the while, Emily had that scrunched-up face, arms crossed like she was ready for a confrontation. But Camila had no time for drama.Camila didn't say anything; she just walked past, heading for the gate.But Emily grabbed her arm, a sharp edge to her voice. "Rude. You should have said hi."Camila
Antonio stood frozen, watching Camila walk away.Guilt gnawed at him.He hadn't thought he was driving that fast, just a little over the limit. He wanted to stop her, but he knew how stubborn she could be when upset.He clenched his jaw. He did have something more pressing he needed to deal with, something that couldn't wait. He should have explained, but in his haste and preoccupation, he hadn't considered her feelings, her reaction. Even though it kind of seemed like an overreaction to him—most people wouldn't have blown up like that over a little speeding—her reaction, while extreme in his mind, was clearly rooted in something deeper.He'd handle this urgent matter, and then he would find her. He owed her a real apology, one that acknowledged the fear he'd clearly caused, even if he didn't fully understand the intensity of it.With a heavy sigh, he got back into the car, driving toward a specific alley.As Antonio started the engine, he pulled out his phone and quickly dialed a nu
Antonio's eyes bored into Lawson. And right then and there, Lawson actually thought Antonio would lash out because the look in his eyes told him he was in no mood for nonsense. And he was ready for any outcome. There was silence for a split second before Antonio abruptly pulled Lawson's hand away from Camila, his stare still fixed on Lawson. "You can continue your argument another time," he stated flatly. "For now, I'm taking her home." With that he seized Camila's hand, leading her away. Lawson watched them go, a muscle twitching in his jaw. He wanted to say something, anything, but Antonio's intense gaze warned him against it. He didn't want to cause a scene as he knew how he got into the party in the first place. Raising suspicion or drawing unwanted attention was the last thing he needed. He let them leave, a cold fury settling in his chest. This wasn't over. Not by a long shot. He'd find Camila again. ~~~~~~ Camila glanced back at Lawson, his fist clenched, bu
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,"
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 enou
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.