Billionaire and His Scheming Beauty novel Chapter 17

Camille greeted Fleur when she got back. She was particularly hospitable towards the young woman, given the latter had given her five times the price of the bangle on market prior.

"Is there anything you'd like to eat for lunch, miss? I bought many local delicacies."

Fleur bloomed a faint smile. "Anything is fine."

"I'll whip something up then."

"Okay." Fleur nodded and made to go to her room. Her waist ached all the while. When she reached the stairs, Lulu saw her, ran down, and crouched in preparation to jump.

Lulu's fat weight landed into Fleur's arms, jolting her waist.

Fleur winced in pain but said nothing.

"Miss Leroy, this is Samuel from the Muller family, the one you asked me to look for." Just then, Camille came by, handing her a photograph.

Fleur took it.

The man in the photo stood beneath a tree, a youthful, charming smile on his face. He carried a warmth about him, like a reliable cypress.

Fleur's fingers clutching the photo turned white.

"Master Samuel really was a wonderful man. He was our Master's friend as well as Miss Lopez's. When Miss Lopez heard he was the number one bachelor every girl in Y City wished to marry, she was determined to marry him. Alas, he passed away a year and a half ago. People said it was suicide." Camille sighed. "Even I don't understand why a good man like him would do that."

"There were others who said he was killed, though no killer was ever found. It really is a pity, if he was still alive he might have married Miss Lopez, and our Master would not have to suffer so..."

"Meow! Meow!" Lulu yowled loudly, trying to claw away.

Camille looked and saw Fleur had dug her hands deep into the cat's fur, gripping its neck hard. 

Camille then saw how frozen Miss Leroy's face was, as if too shocked to speak or react. Before Camille could really try and read her expression, Fleur released her grip on the cat and held it gently to her chest, not letting go no matter how much it struggled.