Chapter 7\
Katie crossed her arms tightly against her chest, her lips pulled into a pout as she glared at her father across the living room.
“You gave her the summer house?” she demanded, her voice high–pitched with disbelief. “Come on, Dad! That was supposed to be mine!“N
Her father, seated lazily on the armchair, barely looked up from his tablet. “That was the condition she asked for when she agreed to marry that paralyzed guy from the Reid family in your place,” he said, his tone sharp with impatience. “I didn’t have a choice. Would you rather be the one marrying him?“}
Katie recoiled in horror. “Of course not!” she snapped.”
“Exactly.” He tossed the tablet onto the coffee table with a heavy thud. “So stop complaining. It doesn’t matter now anyway. Lily’s left.”
Katie’s frown deepened. “Left? Where?“>
Her father smirked. “She even left Cameron with you. Said she won’t be needing her personal chef anymore since she asked for a new one anyway. Didn’t you say you liked his food? It’s good, then. He’s yours now.“}
Katie blinked, stunned.
“Wait… you mean… she left her chef–Cameron–with me?“}
There was something strange twisting in her chest. She had always known Lily had feelings for Cameron. That was part of the reason Katie had made a game out of stealing his attention. She liked the way Lily’s eyes darkened every time Cameron hovered around her.
But now… Lily had just given him up?}
Just like that? Before she could say anything more, a sharp clatter echoed from the hallway.
Both turned toward the noise.
dameron stood there, frozen, a small white paper bag crushed in his hand–the pastries he had bought for Katie spilling out onto the floor.
He stared at them blankly, his jaw tightening.}
“What’s happening?” Cameron asked, his voice low and rough.
Katie tilted her head innocently. “Oh,” she said airily, “we were just talking about Lily.“}
Cameron’s brows furrowed. “What about her? She said she was just going on a trip.””
Katie laughed lightly, stepping closer to him, twirling a strand of her hair. “She lied,” she said sweetly. “She’s not coming back. She’s getting married, you know.“}
Cameron’s heart gave a painful, unexpected jolt. “What…?” he said hoarsely. “No, that’s not possible. She didn’t say anything about that-” “She didn’t care about you enough to say goodbye properly,” Katie interrupted with a little shrug. “Now she’s marrying into a wealthy family -though, ugh, to a paralyzed man–but still… she left you behind.“}
Cameron couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe.
Memories flashed behind his eyes. Lily’s shy smiles. Her stubborn determination. The nights she waited for him to bring her food, trusting him to take care of her even when she said nothing.
In the beginning, it was easy. Pretending. Faking it for Katie’s sake.}
But somewhere along the way… Somewhere he couldn’t even pinpoint… It had stopped feeling like an act.
He pulled out his phone hastily, hands shaking slightly.
Dialed Lily’s number.>
Blocked.”
He tried again. And again.
Nothing.”
A hollow ache settled heavily in his chest, something he couldn’t name. Something he didn’t want to name.
Katie’s voice broke through his spiraling thoughts.
“Why are you acting like this?” she pouted, reaching out to tug at his sleeve. “Isn’t this what you wanted? Me?“} Cameron opened his mouth–Instinctively, the word no burned on his tongue. But he swallowed it down.
He forced a smile.
“Yeah,” he said, the lie tasting like ash. “Of course. I want to be with you.”
Katie beamed, her face lighting up with triumph.>>
“Great!” she chirped. “Then from now on, you’re not just my personal chef–you’re my bodyguard too! You know some defense stuff, right? I want you with me everywhere!”}
Cameron nodded numbly.”
Katie grabbed his arm and tugged him toward the door. “Come on,” she said brightly. “Let’s go shopping! I want to look pretty when I meet Young Master Brown someday!”
He followed her silently, but his mind wasn’t there.”
WHE
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