" So, if I don't agree to divorce you, you're prepared to kill me? Like what happened to Craig?" Although Craig didn't die, he was as good as dead.Cade added, "Don't worry, even if I were to die, I'd bring you with me. Not only that, I'll have us buried next to each other."His smile was obvious, making it seem like he said it on purpose. "If you keep saying things that make me upset, I'll get people to place our ashes together. Dream on if you want to leave me."Following a loud splash, cold water dripped down from Cade's hair along his cheeks, flowing down to his sharply defined jawline. Cameron threw the empty mineral water bottle aside and said, "Being so obsessed is a kind of mental illness. You should go and get it checked." Cade was speechless.Cameron pushed him aside. "If you're sobered up, then move aside."Cade shivered from the cold and shot Cameron a fierce glare. "Cameron, did you just splash cold water on me?"Cameron shot him a disdainful look and pushed past h
The man had never met Cameron before, but he remembered her name. It was the woman who asked to meet up two days ago. He thought it was another one of his romantic entanglements, but he never expected her to be Cade's wife. What surprised him more was how beautiful she was.Gale straightened his body and distanced himself from Cameron. His eyes were still lingering with awe as he asked, "What's the matter, Mrs. Carter?"Gale no longer looked unruly and was now sitting properly and straight. He was afraid of Cade, so he would never do anything out of line even if he found Cameron attractive.Cameron's pink lips curled into a smile. "I would like to meet your esteemed father."Gale paused for a second while drinking his wine and his expression shifted slightly. Wanting to meet his father was far different from wanting to meet himself. The matters discussed would also be on a totally different level.Moreover, Gale grew up with his grandparents. He only met his father once or twice
Gale looked at the person who just entered and was shocked to his core. He hiccuped in surprise and stuttered, "M-Mr. Carter?"At that moment, he was glad that he hadn't done anything to Cameron, otherwise his father would've ended him.Didn't the rumors say that they weren't close? He had heard that Mr. Carter would frown even at the mention of his wife. So, why did it look different from what the rumors say?Cameron looked at the man sitting beside him and asked, "What are you doing?"The matter she and Gale were discussing was confidential, even more so for Cade since he was on the Ackerman family's side.Cade smiled slightly when he saw Cameron's annoyed expression. "Didn't I tell you? I'm here to pick you up."Cameron was speechless. She'd seen Cade at the Luminary Lounge before, but every time they met, he would walk past her without even glancing at her. It was the first time he had approached her directly.Cameron sighed and said, "I still have some matters to discuss wi
Without waiting for Cameron's reply, someone had already gone forward to describe what happened in detail. In her descriptions, Emily was being kind while Cameron was the rogue one who yanked her head into the sink.Emily was sobbing heavily as she complained, "Mr. Carter, I know Cameron hates me because of Miranda, but she shouldn't have yanked my head into the sink. That water…"She retched as she spoke. It wasn't all an act though. She truly felt disgusted and wronged. After living for so long, no one had ever done such a disgraceful thing to her. No one would even dare to yank her head into the sink.Cade pinched his nose bridge and sighed. Cameron was incredibly lucky that she was fine after doing such a thing.Others acted arrogant because they had the means to do so, but Cameron? She had nothing. Nevertheless, she dared to provoke anyone, and she even dared to use her fists to do it.Cameron didn't respond as usual. She stood aside quietly, watching these people speak.Cad
The word "disgusting" kept lingering in Cade's mind. Because of that, he did not speak another word to Cameron until they reached Carter Mansion.The car stopped in front of the gates, and the driver said, "Mr. Carter, Madam, there seems to be someone waiting for you outside."Cade was still upset from earlier and snapped, "Ignore them. Just head inside." Since they weren't let in, that meant they weren't anyone important.The driver squinted as he tried to get a good look at the person. "It's Madam's brother."Cade's instinctively thought that Andy was looking for him. Though Andy and Cameron were siblings, they had a rough relationship. They would usually ignore each other in their family, so it was unlikely that he'd come looking for her.Cade was about to open the door when Andy said, "Come down, Cameron. I need to ask you something."Cameron was awake, so she heard everything. But she didn't plan to respond. Now that she'd been called, she slowly got up and opened her eyes.
Diane went to make a phone call. After a while, Cameron heard footsteps approaching her. The footsteps were soft, muffled by the chilly weather and the carpet underfoot. Cameron immediately told the person about her condition without checking who it was. "My shoulder blades and neck hurt, and I'm feeling a bit dizzy."After saying that, she felt a hand on her back. Cameron instantly sensed something was off. The hand resting on her shoulder was unmistakably a man's—large palm, slender fingers. Though she already had a good idea of who it was, she still turned around to confirm.Cade was sitting on the couch sideways. He came to ask Cameron something and wasn't prepared to give her a massage. When he met Cameron's cold gaze, he instinctively started kneading her shoulder blades.Although Cade never studied massage techniques, he'd done it often enough to know the basics, such as where to press and how to make it feel good.Cameron didn't know what had gotten into Cade, but she a
Nerissa was furious. She remembered all the resentment and disdain she had to endure these days and couldn't help but lash out without accounting for the setting they were in.They were at a high-end restaurant, where guests were required to wear formal attire. This meant people were also particular about other people's behaviors. Nerissa's outburst instantly drew a lot of attention and contempt.Mirabelle felt embarrassed, so she pushed Nerissa away and said, "You should leave. I'll come find you tonight. I have an appointment right now."Cameron followed a waitress to a table that wasn't too far from theirs. Seeing that Nerissa was about to give in to Mirabelle's lies, she couldn't help but sneer. "What a fool."Mirabelle and Nerissa immediately turned around when they heard Cameron's voice. When they saw Cameron, they both frowned and asked at the same time, "What are you doing here?"Cameron looked at Nerissa, who seemed like she was going to shred her to pieces, and said mock
Cade's comment was about material and visual satisfaction. But to others, it could easily be interpreted differently.Mirabelle was close by and particularly attentive to their conversation. Although she didn't hear everything, she understood the gist of it.Mirabelle had known Cade since childhood, and even during their awkward teenage years, she had never heard him ask such a childish and thoughtless question. She was also unaware that he would compare himself to others.Cameron clenched her jaw and tightened her grip on her cutlery. "Shut up, Cade.""Shut up? Didn't you call me here to get on Mirabelle's nerves?" Cade sneered and said, "You're not doing it right."Cameron was silent. She thought that Cade had been driven mad. Otherwise, why would he act so abnormally?"Have you seen how other women assert their claim?"Cade was provoked to his limit. He spoke without thinking, and he felt a sudden urge surge within him that was hard to suppress. As he asked the question, he h
Cameron tucked her hands into her sleeves, her face unreadable as she watched Mirabelle stagger toward her. "I went through so much trouble to put on this grand finale," she said coolly. "How could I miss the ending?"Mirabelle's eyes were bloodshot, her voice shrill with disbelief. "It really was you, Cameron! You set everything up!" She fumbled for her phone. "I'm calling the police. You framed my father—he's innocent!""Framed?" Cameron let out a cold laugh. "And where exactly do you think the money came from for all those years you lived like a queen overseas?"Mirabelle froze mid-dial. Cameron's words cut deep. She stood there, stunned, then muttered, "Cade… I'll tell Cade everything you did. He'll stop you. I'll call Cade.""Are you sure you want to do that?"Mirabelle lowered her phone and burst out laughing. "I won't call. But what does it matter? You lost. You pulled all the strings, but in the end, I'm still standing. You can't touch me."She lifted her head, her eyes s
Cade turned, frowning in confusion. Mirabelle had just stumbled into the café, unkempt, disheveled, and utterly unlike her usual self. The grace and poise she once wore like armor were gone. Her hair was tangled, her outfit wrinkled, and one of her heels had snapped clean off.But it was clear—she hadn't come for him. The instant her eyes found his, she froze. Then, almost frantically, she adjusted her clothes and ran trembling fingers through her hair.She walked over, chin lifted, as if her heel wasn't broken, as if she hadn't just staggered in like a ghost of herself."Cade," she said, summoning the haughtiness of an Ackerman heiress. "Are you really willing to throw away everything between our families for Cameron?"She had begged nearly everyone she knew that day—men and women who owed her family countless favors. All of them had turned their backs. She finally understood what it meant to be on a sinking ship, swarmed by rats scurrying for safety.Mirabelle knew she should be
Fabian said, "Mr. Ackerman was taken away by the Office of Inspector General this morning. Madam Cameron and the Bark family are reportedly the ones responsible."The Carter Group hadn't broken any laws, nor had they been financially entangled with the Ackermans for over a decade. Still, the long-standing ties between the two families ran deep. If Victor Ackerman had skeletons in his closet, Cade would have a hard time avoiding the fallout.Cade propped his hand against his cheek. "What about my wife?""Madam Cameron…" Fabian had to steel himself to answer Cade. "Madam Cameron left the country. She applied for a long-term visa."Even with reporters hounding him, that sentence rang loud and clear in Cade's ears.A long silence stretched before he let out a quiet, bitter laugh.He had never realized how much Cameron had orchestrated behind his back. The Ackermans or the media could trip him up for now, but her betrayal cut deeper. Every move had been calculated.And the most absur
Cade crossed the room as Cameron, already seated, leaned her cheek against her hand, skimming the menu. "Want a drink?" she asked casually.His heart skipped a beat.Cameron's appearance radiated deliberate perfection. From her flawlessly styled hair and expertly applied makeup to her impeccable outfit and carefully chosen accessories, every detail was considered. Even her expensive "Allure" perfume hinted at a desire to captivate.A private dining room meant for couples with only spouses in each other's company…Given the setup, sharing a drink seemed like an implicit invitation.Cade pressed his lips into a line, trying to ignore the rising curve of a smile. "Sure," he replied, his tone deceptively even. "We'll start with two bottles of Magnolia's Pulpit," Cameron said.Cade choked on his water, coughing as he asked, "Seriously?"Who would start a date with such a strong distilled spirit? With two bottles, no less.Cameron propped up her chin and raised an eyebrow. "Is that
Cameron stared at her screen, where Gale had just sent a single word. "Ready." Her lips curled up involuntarily.Cade noticed the smile. He didn't know who she was messaging, but it irritated him for some reason. After a long pause, he exhaled slowly and asked, "What if the Ackermans refuse to settle?"Cameron didn't bother to answer. She knew Violet and Victor would soon be in hot water, so she hadn't considered the aftermath. However, to Cade, her silence only confirmed his assumptions—she was reckless, unprepared, and acting purely on emotion. He clenched his jaw and finally stopped holding his breath. Then, suddenly, he pulled the car over with a sharp twist of the wheel. "Did you think it through before turning yourself in? What if the psych evaluation comes back clean, and the Ackermans insist on pressing charges? What then? You hurt Mirabelle badly. You think you'll have it easy in prison with the way they dote on her?" In contrast to Cade's exasperation, Cameron remaine
With Cade covering Cameron's mouth, there was no chance for her pointed words to offend anyone in the room. His palm was cool to the touch. It was a sensation she disliked. So, she couldn't help but tilt her head.When Cade noticed her movements, he gently stroked her cheek as if he were calming a child who was throwing a tantrum.Victor spent years in a position of authority, giving him an air of unspoken authority. His gaze hardened, and his lips pressed into a firm line as he watched Cade. "Cade, don't jeopardize the long-standing relationship between our families over a woman.""If that's how you see it." Cade glanced at the door. "Aren't you doing the same for a woman?"Victor snorted contemptuously. "How can a cheap girl who was merely adopted be worth anything compared to Mirabelle?""How is my daughter, a Yorksworth, worth any less than yours?" Blaire stood at the doorway as she took in the occupants of the home with her sharp gaze. She had been feeling restless ever sin
Mirabelle frowned. "Excuse me?"As soon as she finished speaking, Cameron walked up to her, grabbed her by her hair, and forcefully bent her over.Cameron held up the guest list Monica had sent her and shoved it in Mirabelle's face. "Call them. Tell them to be there by 3:00 p.m., or else…"She tightened her grip threateningly. "You can kiss this head of hair goodbye."Mirabelle pressed down on her scalp where it had been pulled, her voice distorted with pain when she spoke."Let go, Cameron! Are you out of your mind?""Didn't I tell you not to involve anyone else in our feud?""Can't take it anymore?"Mirabelle endured the pain of turning her head to flash a disdainful sneer at Cameron."This is just the appetizer. If you go against me, you'll eventually crawl out of Capeton with your tail between your legs. I'll call your business partner right now and pin the catastrophic failure of this event on you…"Seeing Mirabelle's condescending expression brought Cameron back to the
The kiss lifted the dark cloud that hung over Cade's mood over the past few days.The next day, as Fabian brought in documents for him to sign, Cade asked, "When is Cameron's show?"Fabian was taken aback for a split second but quickly replied. Fortunately, he was well-prepared and kept track of Cameron's events for the year in advance."Has the invitation been delivered?"Fabian swallowed, almost wanting to laugh to mock Cade. Given Cade's strained relationship with his wife, Cameron would sooner invite a dog than have him around. However, all Fabian could do was revel in Cade's misery in his mind while keeping a businesslike facade."It was probably already delivered. The front desk brought in a stack of mail yesterday. I haven't sorted it out yet."He had already sorted out the mail this morning. Everything had gone straight to the trash."Clear my schedule for the day. Make reservations at a restaurant for a celebratory dinner.""Yes, sir."On the day of the show, Monica
That was obviously an excuse to get Cade out of the picture. Knowing what Mirabelle had done to Cameron in the past, leaving the two of them alone was out of the question. Besides, it wasn't convenient for him to move the car, so he refused without a second thought."Get the attendant—"However, Cameron cut him off before he could finish."Ms. Ackerman is a guest. You should fulfill her requests if she has any."Cade cast her a cold glance. "Shut up." Why should he dance to Mirabelle's tune?Cameron stared at him. "Run along."He gritted his teeth as rage crossed his face. After a brief pause, he sneered and turned to leave. As soon as the door shut behind him, Mirabelle's calm expression slipped. "Did you make me come here just to show off how much you two love each other?""You call that love? I think we have different definitions of what 'love' is then. He's nothing more than…" Cameron's fingers lightly traced the cup's rim as she smirked and said, "A lap dog.""You fu