<b>Chapter </b><b>676 </b>
The assistant waspletely dumbfounded by the man’s suave handling of the situation.
And with Arnold’s aloof demeanor, she truly believed he was just an ordinary customering to pick up hisundry.
“Darling, what are you staring at with such big eyes?<b>” </b>Mrs. Evert gave Eunice a sharp tug.
“Mom! Look at that man. He’s drop–dead gorgeous! I’ve never seen someone so magnificently handsome!” Eunice eximed with the excitement of a sheltered heiress.
“Enough. You’re high society, don’t act like you’ve never seen a good–looking man before. Even the handsomest of men have only two legs<b>, </b>don’t they?<b>” </b>Mrs. Evert chided her, though she couldn’t help but sneak a nce at Arnold from the corner of her eye.
She felt like she recognized him from somewhere.
Also, his gaze on them felt so cold and sinister it sent shivers down her spine.
? ?? ??? ?
As the assistant pondered how to shoo away these two pests, the sharp click–ck of high heels echoed down the spiral staircase.
“Have you two had your fill <b>of </b>drama yet?”
Arnold’s gaze shifted to the pale–faced Camille standing not too far off, his deep–set eyes narrowing slightly.
“Mom, that wench is here!” Eunice, seeing her half–sister, was filled with disdain and animosity.
Originally, Eunice was the sole, legitimate heiress of the Evert family.
But the arrival of her illegitimate sister had somewhat shaken her standing in her father’s heart. This so–called sister was just too formidable, being not only beautiful but also incredibly talented. Camille had excelled academically since childhood and had grown up to be one of the top fashion designers in the country!
If only she didn’t have the dead weight of a mother, if only her mother wasn’t a convicted murderer.
Now, how could her father’s attitude be so cold? Perhaps Eunice wouldn’t be the one marrying into the prestigious Ger family.
Every step Camille took towards them felt like she was walking with lead in her shoes.
She had juste downstairs when she saw Arnold sitting there<b>, </b>handsome, upright, and with features so striking that they could make her heart flutter time and time again.
<b>But </b>that was as far as it could go.
The appearance of the Evert family was like the chime of midnight bells.
<b>Brutally </b>reminding her that Cindere’s dream was over.
Because she really liked him, she hoped he could be with a better girl. At the <b>very </b>least, someone with a background, a family, <b>a </b>past not as disgraceful and messy as hers.
<b>Mrs. </b>Evert<b>, </b>seeing <b>this </b>remarkable illegitimate daughter<b>, </b>was filled with venomous spite.
<b>“</b>Mrs. <b>Evert</b><b>, </b><b>I </b>am currently working. <b>If </b>there’s something you need<b>, </b>it can wait until I’m done,” Camille said, her voice strained and
low<i>. </i>
Out <b>of </b><b>respect </b>for Arnold’s presence, she couldn’t afford a <b>full</b><b>–</b>blown confrontation. <b>If </b>their family scandal got <b>out</b><b>, </b>how could she face him<b>, </b><b>or </b>her <b>mentor</b><b>, </b><b>with </b>her <b>head </b><b>held </b><b>high</b><b>? </b>
She <b>had </b><b>struggled </b><b>through </b><b>the </b><b>mire </b><b>to </b>get <b>where </b><b>she </b><b>was </b>today, and she <b>did </b>not <b>want </b><b>to </b><b>be </b>brought <b>low </b><b>or </b><b>looked </b>down <b>upon</b>.
Arnold noticed <b>the </b>bleak look <b>in </b>Camille’s <b>eyes </b><b>but </b>remained impassive<b>, </b>
Mrs. <b>Evert</b><b>, </b><b>having </b><b>bottled </b><b>up </b>her fury<b>, </b>finally found <b>her outlet</b><b>, </b><b>releasing </b>a <b>toxic </b>st <b>of </b>resentment<b>. </b><b>“</b>Camille<b>, </b><b>you’ve </b>be a well–known designer now<b>, </b><b>haven’t </b><b>you</b><b>? </b>Your tone sure <b>is </b>grand, <b>and </b><b>your </b><b>temper </b>has grown along <b>with </b>it. Gone are the days <b>when </b>you and your mother would leech off <b>the </b>Evert <b>family</b><b>, </b>acting all meek and <b>eager </b><b>to </b><b>please us</b>.”
<b>“</b>Mrs. Evert<b>, </b>my assistant <b>didn’t </b>recognize you, and <b>there </b><b>may </b><b>have </b>been <b>some </b>neglect. But <b>here </b>we treat everyone equally; there was never <b>any </b>intention to make it difficult for you.”
Camille felt as if she had frozen over, <b>a </b>chill spreading to her very core. “Let’s discuss <b>this </b>in <b>my </b>office<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Mrs. Evert crossed her arms <b>and </b>spoke coldly, “I know you’ve grown independent <b>and </b>refuse <b>to </b>acknowledge your ties to the Evert family, but that is a part of your heritage you can’t erase. No matter how high you fly, you must always remember, it’s the Evert family’s nurturing that has allowed you to achieve what you have today”
<b>09:30 </b>
“Mom, you’re being so subtle. Does Camille even understand? Maybe I should trante for her.”
Eunice, seeing Arnold sitting there, felt a wicked sense of rivalry re up and stepped closer to Camille. “Camille, always remember your ce, as the Evert family’s illegitimate daughter.”
Arnold’s grip on his teacup tightened, the veins on his hand standing out as his heart twinged with pain.
Yet in that moment, considering Camille’s feelings, he quickly shifted his intense gaze away from her pale face, fearing that his attention might make her feel even more inferior, even more anguished.
“Go to your office? Why should we discuss things there? Are you ashamed of your status too?”
Seizing the opportunity, Eunice was determined to press the issue. “Wee to see you once in a blue moon, and you throw up every obstacle to avoid us. If we don’t make a scene, are we to let your guard dogs bite us willy–nilly?”
The assistant, insulted, was fuming yet held her tongue due to their rtionship with the boss.
Every insult was like a knife twisting in Camille’s heart,ying bare her most painful aspects in front of the man she cared for the
most.
Arnold remained silent.
Camille didn’t dare look his way, her heart aching to the point of stopping.
See, no one could ept her.
Not even Arnold, with a heart as bright as daylight and eyes as clear as water.
An oppressive silence hung in the air.
Camille took a deep breath and forced a smile, her eyes reddening. “Yes, I am the illegitimate daughter, the child of Spencer Evert’s mistress. Our family really should be a soap opera cast, a melodramatic family drama at its finest. Eunice, aren’t you about to get engaged to Mr. Almond? When the timees, I’ll be sure to give your future husband a thorough introduction to our Evert family’s situation, so you can all live together in harmony.”
Eunice and her mother were stunned into silence. The more Camilleughed, the more furious they became.
This little wretch, she’spletely throwing caution to the wind!
“Spill it, why summon your long–lost illegitimate daughter after all these years?”
Camille, who had been somewhat reserved up until now, threw caution to the wind. ncing at her watch, her slender eyes filled with icy disdain, “Make it quick, my time is worth a fortune.”
“Eunice is getting engaged, your father wants you to design a couple of dresses for her,” Mrs. Evert said through clenched teeth, trying to maintain herposure.
“Sorry<b>, </b>but I’m booked solid this month, next month, and the one after that. No openings.”
Mrs. Evert’s gaze turned frosty, “Camille, you would even defy your father’s orders?<b>” </b>
Camille met her gaze fearlessly, “What’s he to me? Even if the President himself asked, I’d refuse.”
Eunice’s chest tightened with anger, “You!”
<b>‘</b>Mrs. Evert<b>, </b>do you take me for <b>a </b>fool?”
Camille stood a head taller than the middle–aged woman, looking down on her, “You and your darling daughter yed me for a fool, humiliated me, and <b>now</b>, just secondster<b>, </b>you expect me to work for you? The government should study your faces for bulletproof materials!<b>” </b>
“<b>You </b><b>have </b>no respect. <b>You’re </b>utterly outrageous!”
This <b>time</b><b>, </b>Mrs. Evert couldn’t contain herself. <b>She </b>swung <b>her </b><b>arm</b>, aiming for <b>Camille’s </b>face with a p<b>! </b>
Camille’s pupils shrank, her fists clenched!
Suddenly<b>, </b>something flew their <b>way</b><b>, </b>cutting <b>through </b><b>the </b>tense air <b>with </b>a hiss.
SMACK<b>! </b>
<b>“</b>Ah! <b>It </b>hurts!”
Mrs. Evert screamed <b>in </b><b>pain</b>, her forehead <b>beading </b><b>with </b>sweat as she clutched her swollen wrist.
Then came the <b>sound </b><b>of </b>shattering porcin. A teacup had <b>fallen </b>to the floor<b>, </b>the very object <b>that </b><b>had </b>knocked the aggressive hand away
09:30
“Mom! Are you–Are you okay<i>?” </i>Eunice was pale with shock.
Mrs. Evert’s hand trembled with pain, “Who? Who did that?”
“It was me”
A voice, clear and resonant, rang out.
Camille suddenly looked up, her heart trembling, tears brimming in her eyes,
Arnold stepped forward without hesitation, his intense gaze focused on her pitifully red eyes.
No contempt, no distance, just pure concern and affection.
Eunice, watching the handsome man lock eyes with her nemesis, contorted her face with jealousy!
Weren’t they strangers?
But the way this man looked at Camille. Why was it so tender, almost melting?
“You hit me? What gives you the right?” Mrs. Evert’s voice shook with anger.
Though furious, she felt more fear than anything else when facing this imposing man.
“And what gave you the right to hit her?”
Arnold’s cold re met Mrs. Evert’s flushed face, his words sharp as des, “Is it because you’ve had your facelifts and Botox, turning yourself into some kind of stic monster?”