Chapter 7

Morgan's grip on Camelia's wrist tightened as he dragged her without giving her a chance to resist. He kicked open the glass door leading to the upper-floor balcony, pulling her outside into the strong afternoon wind. With one forceful shove, he slammed Camelia backward until her back struck the balcony's iron railing.

"You lied to me, Camelia!" Morgan shouted, his voice battling against the howling wind, pure fury burning in his chest. Gripping the railing on either side of her, he trapped her within an intimate yet dangerous distance. "You said this morning that you wouldn't tell Vivian about what happened last night. But you lied! You deliberately ruined my relationship!"

Camelia grabbed the collar of Morgan's shirt to steady herself, nearly losing her balance over the railing. Her breathing was ragged as she stared wide-eyed at Morgan's hardened, stubborn face.

"I swear, I never told Vivian anything, Morgan! Why would I expose something so humiliating to my own stepsister?!"

"Don't lie!" Morgan leaned closer, closing the gap until their frantic breaths collided. "If you didn't tell Vivian, then who else knows what happened in that room, huh?! We were the only two people there!"

Morgan pressed even closer, forcing Camelia back until their chests were tightly pressed together. They were so close that Camelia could feel Morgan's frantic heartbeat pounding beneath his expensive suit.

"Have you lost your mind?!" Camelia shouted, her face flushed crimson with both anger and the pressure of his physical intimidation. "Do you really think I'm that shameless? Do you think I'd tell anyone about that cursed night? I want to forget it for the rest of my life!"

"Yes, I have lost my mind!" Morgan's eyes blazed with pain as old wounds were violently ripped open again. "Think about it, Camelia! Your family caused my father's death in that tragic accident, and my mother has been bedridden with depression ever since! Do you honestly think I can simply forget everything you and your family have done to mine?!"

"Morgan, let me go! You're hurting me!" Camelia pushed against his broad chest, but Morgan remained as immovable as a rock. Instead, his hand tightened around her waist as though he intended to crush her bones.

"You want me to let you go?" Morgan scoffed, a cold, mocking smile spreading across his lips. "Stop pretending to be the victim, Camelia. Isn't this exactly what you've always wanted? You deliberately climbed into my bed so you could trap me into marrying you, didn't you?!"

"Morgan, enough! Stop insulting me!" Tears of frustration threatened to spill from the corners of Camelia's eyes. Her dignity was being mercilessly trampled by the man she hated just as deeply.

"Stop insulting you?" Morgan let out a bitter laugh, his voice cruel enough to cut through her. "You're the woman I hate more than anyone else in this world, Camelia! You and every drop of blood running through your veins are poison! So why shouldn't I insult you whenever I please?"

A blinding surge of anger overwhelmed Camelia's reason. Seizing the brief moment when Morgan's arm loosened slightly, she spun around with lightning speed. Her right arm swung through the air, putting every last ounce of strength she had left into the blow.

Smack!

Her palm landed squarely across Morgan's left cheek. The slap was so powerful that it snapped his head sharply to the side. Camelia panted heavily, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she glared at him with blazing defiance.

Morgan stood frozen for several seconds, one hand slowly rising to his burning cheek. Gradually, he turned his head back toward her. His eyes had darkened completely, a murderous aura radiating from his entire body.

"Camelia... do you have a death wish?!" Morgan growled through clenched teeth.

Consumed by rage, Morgan lunged forward and pulled Camelia into an incredibly tight embrace. He locked her against him, intending to overpower her physically until she surrendered and apologized.

But within that possessive, furious embrace, something suddenly felt wrong.

Camelia, who had been struggling violently only moments before, suddenly went completely limp. Her fingers slipped from his shirt and fell lifelessly to her side. Her head drooped weakly against Morgan's broad chest.

She had lost consciousness.

The exhaustion of her body, the relentless emotional strain, and the lingering effects of the aphrodisiac from the previous night had finally overwhelmed her.

The rage clouding Morgan's mind vanished in an instant.

An overwhelming, unfamiliar panic struck him the moment he realized that Camelia's entire weight was resting against him.

"Camelia? Hey, Camelia! What's wrong with you?!" Morgan's voice suddenly rose, no longer filled with cruelty but trembling with fear.

He loosened his embrace, supporting her body with both hands while gently patting her pale cheeks.

There was no response.

Camelia's eyes remained tightly shut. Her breathing had become frighteningly faint, and her face had turned deathly pale. The sight sent a wave of terror through Morgan unlike anything he had ever experienced before.

"Damn it!" Morgan cursed under his breath.

His hatred disappeared without a trace, replaced by an irrational fear of losing her.

Without wasting another second, Morgan slipped one arm beneath Camelia's knees and the other around her back, lifting her effortlessly into a bridal carry. Turning around, he kicked the balcony door open and hurried into the main corridor with urgent strides.

"Guards! Get the car ready right now!" Morgan's shout echoed throughout the building, his voice filled with unmistakable panic. "I'm taking Camelia to the hospital! Move, damn it!"