Camilla thought the worst day of her life was the day she was framed for cheating—and it only got worse when her contract husband, Lawrence, divorced her without giving her a chance to explain. But nothing could have prepared her for the final blow: walking in on Lawrence and her best friend tangled in bed. Betrayed, humiliated, and heartbroken, Camilla disappears from his life, vowing never to reveal the one secret that could tie them together forever—she's pregnant with his child. Years pass, and Camilla has rebuilt her life on her own terms. Now a respected surgeon, she's engaged to Raymond, a charming man who offers her stability and peace. But her carefully constructed world begins to crumble when Lawrence reappears—this time, as the powerful new owner of her hospital. He's no longer the man she remembers. And he wants her back. As buried truths resurface and past betrayals are unraveled, Camilla finds herself caught in a dangerous game of love, lies, and second chances. Lawrence’s love for her burns stronger than ever, but Raymond’s motives remain uncertain. When everything she thought she knew turns out to be a lie, Camilla must make an impossible choice: return to the man who shattered her, or risk everything on the one who’s never truly let her in.
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My fiancé hit me.
Three minutes ago, I had been daydreaming about how to decorate our ridiculously expensive penthouse apartment, where every corner looked like it belonged on the cover of a magazine.
Two minutes ago, I accidentally broke a mug.
Then, Rhys slapped me across the face—hard.
My cheek burned like it had been seared by fire. It took a full thirty seconds before my brain restarted, slowly piecing reality back together.
“Are you fucking insane?” I gritted my teeth, forcing the words through the cracks of my jaw.
Rhys’s lips were pressed into a cold, tight line, his expression dark and resolute. “It was just a mug with Katherine’s face on it,” he said, like my reaction was an overblown performance, not the result of something horrifying he had just done.
“You have got to be fucking kidding me.” I stared at him in disbelief, chest heaving as rage and humiliation churned violently inside me, ready to explode.
For half a second—just half—something like guilt flickered across his face. Then it vanished, consumed by a storm of fury.
“No, you’re the insane one!” he roared. “I already agreed to marry you—what more do you want? Katherine’s gone, but you still broke that mug on purpose!”
His voice trembled with anger. “She was your sister! She had to leave because of you! And now you're jealous of her? You won’t rest until every trace of her is erased, will you?”
The hatred in his eyes cut deeper than the slap.
My cheek throbbed. My hand was still bleeding. But nothing hurt more than my heart.
I forced myself to unclench my jaw and made one last attempt to explain. “It wasn’t me. I never asked her to leave.”
Technically speaking, I understood why someone might say that. Katherine had left behind a letter. In it, she said she’d seen my diary, realized I had a crush on Rhys, and decided to “let go,” to “let him be yours.”
I don’t think she ever understood that a diary meant privacy. I never meant for anyone to read it, but not only did she read it—she told everyone.
No one cared about the pain I felt when my secret was exposed. I was dragged out, nailed to a pillar of shame, forced to pay for her so-called noble sacrifice.
To my family, it was like I’d been bumped up to the starting lineup out of nowhere, replacing the golden girl—I should’ve been grateful. Even if Rhys had stabbed me in the gut, they’d still find a way to excuse it.
It was as if my parents had always hated me. No matter how much better I did than Katherine, they always saw me as bitter, as someone who couldn’t protect her fragile pride.
The searing pain on my cheek intensified.
My fingers clenched tightly around the engagement ring. A wave of heat—anger, humiliation, resentment—rose in my throat.
Hot tears welled in my eyes, blurring my vision. I blinked fast, wiping them away before they could fall.
I would not cry. I would never show weakness in front of him.
I took a heavy step toward the door, struggling to move. I had to get out of there, or I would completely fall apart. Whatever shred of dignity I had left—I couldn’t let it be destroyed in front of this man.
Rhys suddenly grabbed my wrist and yanked me back. “Clean it up.”
I looked up at him in disbelief, needing to confirm I’d heard him right.
“You broke the mug. You clean up the pieces.” His voice was icy, absolute.
He had to be insane.
“No.” I lifted my chin and spat the word without an ounce of compromise.
His face tightened, jaw clenched. “You sure you want to do this?”
“Yes. I said no.” My eyes were red, but they blazed with defiance as I stared him down without flinching.
If love meant I had to grind my self-respect into the dirt, then it was worthless to me.
The air between us was taut enough to snap. I could almost hear it crackling. The fury in his eyes was an uncontrollable blaze, threatening to consume me. And beneath that fire, I saw something else—disbelief. The once-docile little lamb had bared her fangs.
He took a step closer, menace radiating from him. “Last chance. If you don’t obey me, then we—”
“—are over,” I finished for him, cold and final.
Shock froze his face. For a moment, the air went still. He hadn’t expected me to actually say it.
While he was caught in that moment of confusion, I wrenched my arm free from his grip. The taste of freedom hadn’t yet bloomed in my chest when he snapped back to life, grabbing my arm again with brutal force.
Now.
I spun around without hesitation and raised my hand—Smack! A resounding slap landed hard across Rhys’s handsome, arrogant face.
The air froze again, thick with silence.
My palm tingled slightly, but it brought a rush of fierce, unprecedented satisfaction.
Rhys staggered back a few steps, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief—not from the pain, but from a world turned upside down. He never thought I would dare. After all, I had once loved him so deeply.
I lowered my hand, lifted my chin, and looked calmly at his stunned expression. I gave him a faint smile. “Now we’re even.”
Without waiting another moment, I dragged my feet away from that suffocating hell.
If I stayed even one more second, I would break down. I’d rather choke on my own tears than let him see them fall.
Then—thud—I fell.
High heels and emotional chaos are a terrible match.
Pain shot through my palms and knees as they scraped against the hard marble. Blood surged out instantly, but I barely felt it.
I got up, grabbed my purse, and kept walking.
Home. I just wanted to go home. Away from all of this. Away from him.
Like a woman fleeing the scene of a crime, I burst out of the building—only to slam into a wall of muscle and the intoxicating scent of expensive cologne.
I looked up—and saw sharp, sculpted features with an aura so commanding it could silence a room. He looked like the kind of man who, if you pissed him off, wouldn’t just ruin your life—he’d erase your entire existence.
Unfortunately, that only made him more attractive.
For a second, I wished he would throw me over his shoulder and carry me to his lair—my face flushed red instantly. If this were a porno, the camera angle would be an absolute disaster.
I snapped myself back to reality.
“Sorry,” I mumbled and rushed into the elevator of my apartment building.
Back upstairs, I rummaged through my bag. My heart sank.
No keys.
Of course. The universe had clearly declared today The End of Mira Day.
Frustration and helplessness surged in my chest. I kicked off my heels and shook the doorknob violently. It didn’t help—but I needed to let it out. Why did everyone always choose Katherine?! Hadn’t I done enough?
I collapsed against the wall, sliding down to the cold floor as sobs tore from my throat. The tears came in a flood, impossible to stop.
Just as I was nearly choking on my own cries, a voice—low, smooth, like black velvet—cut through the air behind me.
“Your key.”
Fury sparked in my veins. Why did someone always interrupt me just when I was about to get it all out?
Annoyed, I turned, ready to glare—only to freeze.
Through tear-blurred eyes, I saw him again. The man I had bumped into downstairs—the one who looked like he had stepped out of a Renaissance painting.
“Your key fell,” he said, raising an eyebrow as his gaze landed on the scattered contents of my purse. “That’s probably why you couldn’t find it.”
I stared at the key resting in his elegant hand, my face flushing so hot it could’ve lit a match. I snatched it from him and fumbled to unlock the door, stumbling inside without a word.
It wasn’t until my back hit the door that I realized—I hadn’t even thanked him.
Great job, Mira. You absolute idiot.
Hesitating, I crept toward the peephole. Through that tiny lens, I saw him calmly turn, unlock the door directly across the hall, and stroll inside.
He lived across from me?
He must’ve just moved in. With a face like that—and that aura—there’s no way I wouldn’t have noticed before.
Wait, Mira. What are you doing? You’re seriously letting a hot new neighbor make you forget the hell Rhys just put you through?
No. Absolutely not. All men are trash. Always.
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to steady my racing heartbeat, reminding myself not to be so stupid again. But no matter how hard I tried, that sculpted face kept flashing through my mind.
I needed ice—for my racing pulse, and more urgently, for the stinging pain on my cheek.
Just as I forced myself up to head to the kitchen, my phone rang, shrill and sharp.
One glance at the screen made my whole body go cold.
Mom.
I couldn’t ignore the call. If I did, she would destroy my career without hesitation. She was absolutely capable of it.
The moment I picked up, her voice sliced through the air—cold and merciless.
“Mira, you must be insane! How dare you do something so disgraceful to Rhys! You apologize to him right now or you’re no longer our daughter!”
I opened my mouth to explain, stunned—but she hung up before I could get a single word out.
I gripped my phone tightly. Why was it that no matter how hard I tried, I still couldn’t earn even a sliver of their love? And Katherine—she never had to do anything, yet she was their perfect, precious jewel.
Enough.
I thought if I worked hard enough, my family, my fiancé—they would love me.
But that’s never going to happen.
I have to reclaim the self-respect I lost long ago.
I have to break off this engagement with Rhys—no matter the consequences.
Writer's POV.One Year Later.Camilla stared at herself in the mirror.A lot has happened in the last five years.She had cried, smiled, and repeated the process again and again.Now here she was. She stood in front of the ornate mirror, her reflection framed by the delicate, carved wood.Her eyes were wide, taking in the image of herself in the pristine white gown that draped elegantly over her slender frame. The dress was simple yet stunning, with lace sleeves that clung to her arms, ending just above her wrists. A soft veil cascaded down from the crown of her head, its fine tulle blending seamlessly with her loose curls.Around her neck, she wore a single pearl on a thin gold chain, a gift that her Mom had given to her. "It was a gift from your Dad to me before our marriage. I thought it would look beautiful on you too," She had said to Camilla."Thank you, Mom," She said and hugged her before she left the dressing room.Her fingers lightly brushed the fabric at her waist, feel
Camilla's POV.Waiting was a lot harder than I thought.For two days I couldn't bring myself to leave the hospital. I would take turns switching from Lawrence to George's ward.Mom had to make Lucy and Bridget force me to go back home to shower and eat.When I got back the next day, I was told that Lawrence had woken up.I ran straight to his room, and there he was, seated in his bed, and Dr. Richard checking his vitals."Lawrence!" I cried out as I ran towards him.He winced as I hugged him."Sorry," I said as I broke free. For a minute I forgot he was still in pain."It seems like you missed me a lot," He said with a smirk on his face.I didn't know what to say to him. I couldn't find the words to express how I felt at the moment.I wrapped my hands around his shoulders as I kissed him.That was the only way I could express myself.He gave into the kiss as he wrapped his arms and pulled me closer.It felt like an eternity until Dr. Richard cleared his throat.I and Lawrence broke fr
Camilla's POV.I went to the changing room and took off the surgical attire I wore for the surgery.When I stepped out, Dr. Richard approached me."You did great, Miss Wilmer," He said with a smile on his face.I smiled back at him."Thank you, Doctor," I replied.He patted me on the back and was about to walk away when something came to my mind."Dr. Richard!" I called out to him.He turned to me."Yes, Miss Wilmer, do you need anything else?" He asked.I walked towards him."Is it possible for me to see Lawrence," I asked him.He smiled."Yes you can," He replied with his usual gaze and smile.I followed him quietly behind, as he led me to a ward that was just next to George's previous ward.I smiled the moment I realized what he had done."I knew you would want to have both of them close to you. I couldn't put him in George's ward because it wasn't big enough, but I hope having him next to it would be okay."Hearing his words, I couldn't help but chuckle."Thank you, Doctor. This i
Camilla's POV.The day was finally here. The day I have been waiting for for months.I stared at my shaking hands as I muttered the words, "The surgery would go well. Lawrence and George are going to be fine. My family is going to be whole again."I kept muttering the words, trying to build my confidence and reassure myself.Dr. Richard had tried to talk me out of doing the surgery myself."With everything that has happened, I don't think you are in the right mind to go into an Operating Room yet," He had said to me.He was right. So many things still weighed me down and tugged at my chest, but I wouldn't let anything make me back out."I'll be fine, Doctor, I can do it," I had replied.I was already dressed in my surgical attire. Now I just had to wait for Dr. Richard to come get me.Just then, I heard footsteps approaching.I turned to find Dr. Richard walking towards me. "Is it time?" I asked him enthusiastically.He smiled."Yes, Miss Wilmer, it's time," He said. He was about to
Camilla's POV.Last night, I made Lawrence take me home. I didn't even say goodbye to Mom and Bridget.I just didn't want to stay in the same building with Jane.Because of everything that happened, George's surgery was moved to the next day.I wasn't in the right state of mind to do the surgery, and I didn't want anyone else to do it for me."Are you still not going to the hospital today?" Lawrence asked me.I was speechless. I didn't know what to say.I still had to go and make sure that everything was ready for George's surgery, and also to check up on Frank.They finally found someone with his blood type. Also, they found out that he had internal bleeding.They'll have to perform surgery on him. Lawrence had asked me if I could be there since I was an amazing doctor, but I still wasn't sure what I wanted to do."I know you might be having issues with seeing Frank after everything Jane did, and...""Wait a minute, Lawrence," I said.I had to interrupt him.I know what he was think
Camilla's POV.I snickered.I can't believe she said that."What do you mean it was just for fun?" Lawrence asked.She looked at me."At first, all I wanted was for Raymond to play with her feelings. When I met him, we started working together and making money...""From scamming people?" I asked, interrupting her. "Or no, should I say from scamming your fellow women?"She bit her lower lip."I had no choice, Camilla," She said.I laughed."And what about when you hurt my kids, huh? Or what about...""And I'm truly sorry, Camilla."After what she said, I still found it hard to believe her now."And what about your son? What about how you made him eat nuts when he was allergic? Are you planning on apologizing to him too?!""I want to apologize to him, but I won't be able to if something bad happens to him!" She yelled and started sobbing. "Please help me out, Lawrence!"I felt my heart break in pieces as I watched her break into tears.She might be a horrible person, but she loved Frank
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