Chapter 97
By the time Camila realized what was happening, she was already burning with anger and humiliation.
11
She fought back with all her strength, shoving William with both hands, but he only held her tighter, as if trying to fuse her into himself.
Feeling suffocated, Camila’s fury and sense of disgrace hit their breaking point. Without hesitation, she bit down hard on William’s lips.
William flinched in pain and let her go. Blood trickled from his lips, but before he could say a word, Camila’s hand struck his face with a sharp slap.
Panting heavily, Camila wiped her lips with force, her eyes blazing with disgust and humiliation. “William, you’re absolutely shameless. You make me sick.”
William froze at her words, feeling as though a knife had been driven straight into his chest.
All he did was kiss her, and yet she found him revolting. He had loved her for eight years–eight long years. Even when she was in prison, he never cared.
He had waited all this time for her release, dreaming of marrying her. He had never touched another woman, saving even his first kiss for her. And yet, all she felt was disgust.
The sting of her rejection was a brutal blow to William’s pride as a man.
Camila turned away coldly, opened the door, and walked out. As soon as she stepped out, she saw Andy and Agnes fighting over Majestic Bloom.
With a ripping sound, the needle work tore apart. Andy froze, stunned.
A flash of smugness crossed Agnes’s face, but she quickly masked it with an innocent expression, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at Camila.
“Camila, I didn’t mean for this to happen,” Agnes said. “He was trying to grab it, and I just wanted to keep it safe for you. That’s why I didn’t hand it over. I never thought he’d tear it apart. I’m so sorry…”
Camila stared at the ruined needle work she had painstakingly completed, her vision swimming.
She tried to suppress her emotions, but the sight of Agnes’s fake, pitiful expression made her fury explode.
This was the birthday gift Giovani had spent 7 million dollars on for Lindsey. Now that it was destroyed, Camila had no idea how to explain it to Giovani and Lindsey.
And today was Lindsey’s eightieth birthday.
Camila’s gaze turned murderous as she looked at Agnes. Without hesitation, she grabbed Agnes’s hair and slammed her head against the wall.
“Go to hell, Agnes!” she shouted.
Agnes screamed as blood trickled down her forehead.
Andy stood frozen, staring at the scene in disbelief. He never imagined Camila could be so violent when enraged.
Hearing Agnes’s scream, William rushed out. His eyes widened in shock as he saw Camila, wild and unhinged, slamming Agnes’s head against the wall. Snapping out of his daze, he stepped forward and forcefully pushed Camila away.
元
1/3
99%1
(+45)
Chapter 97
“Camila, haven’t you had enough of this?” William’s tone was laced with frustration.
Camila’s eyes burned with anger. “Enough? You think I’m the one making a scene?
“Wasn’t it Agnes who yanked out my hair first? Wasn’t it you who, without even asking what happened, demanded I apologize to her? Wasn’t it Agnes who shredded my belongings?
“I never wanted to mess with either of you. It’s always been you coming after me. And now, when I stand up for myself, I’m the one being unreasonable? Am I just supposed to sit back and take it because I deserve to be bullied?”
William froze, momentarily at a loss for words.
Camila bent down and picked up the torn needle work, her heart aching as if it were bleeding.
She shoved the ruined piece in front of William’s face. “Tell me, William, is this what you’mean? That I deserve to be bullied? That I should just stay quiet and let it happen? That standing up for myself makes me the one causing trouble?”
William felt a suffocating tightness in his chest. “Camila, that’s not what I meant. What I’m saying is… no matter what, you shouldn’t resort to violence. Agnes already said it wasn’t intentional. Why can’t you just let it go?”
Agnes looked at Camila with teary eyes, her voice trembling as she said, “Camila, I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to. I’ll compensate you. Just name your price, and I’ll pay it.”
William immediately chimed in, “See, Camila? I told you Agnes is considerate. She’s already offered to compensate you, so why keep holding onto this grudge?”
He paused briefly before adding, “It’s just a piece of needle work. It’s not worth much anyway.”
Agnes’s face lit up with a seemingly innocent smile, but her words dripped with smugness. “Camila, I get 300 thousand dollars a month as pocket money. I’ll give it all to you if that’s what you want. Would that make you happy?
“If that’s not enough, I can always ask Mom, Dad, or Harry. They adore me and would definitely give me more money.”
William nodded in agreement. “300 thousand dollars is more than enough, Camila. You should let this go. After all, you and Agnes are family. Why make such a big deal out of something so trivial? People will laugh at you.”
The two of them played off each other seamlessly, their words outwardly urging Camila to forgive but in reality accusing her of being petty.
Andy, who had been silently observing, couldn’t hold back any longer. He let out a loud, derisive snort. “Keep your dirty money! You really think 300 thousand dollars is enough?
“Giovani spent 7 million dollars on this Majestic Bloom at an auction as a birthday gift for Lindsey.”
Agnes’s smug smile froze mid–air, as if someone had poured a bucket of ice water over her. She couldn’t believe that a piece of needle work could be worth 7 million dollars.
And worse, she had no idea why Camila would have something that belonged to Giovani. She wondered when Camila had even gotten close to Giovani.
The idea that Camila had caught Giovani’s eye long ago made Agnes’s blood boil with jealousy.
William’s face darkened. He had come here today with one goal in mind: to discuss the Eastville project with Giovani.
If this needle work really was a gift Giovani had prepared for Lindsey, William would be doomed. Not only would he lose a major business deal, but he might also completely offend Giovani.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: They Beg For My Return (Camila Jackson)