Cammy shifted uncomfortably in the golf cart, her body restless beside Greg as they cruised back to the mansion. Every bump in the road made her squirm, her agitation growing with each passing second.
By the ti they reached the grand estate, her walk was stiff, awkward—so unnatural that Greg couldn’t pretend not to notice anymore.
He abruptly halted, tightening his grip on her hand, forcing her to stop as well. His sharp gaze locked onto hers. "What’s wrong?" he demanded, his voice low but firm.
Cammy exhaled sharply, rolling her eyes before crossing her arms over her chest. "I’m not used to walking without underwear, Greg. It’s uncomfortable. And airy." Her tone was filled with frustration as she shot him a withering glare.
"This is your fault! Who just tosses soone’s panties to the ground—dirty ground—without even thinking? It was so dusty in there."
Greg dragged a hand down his face, biting back a laugh. He knew better than to let it slip, but God, she looked so adorably flustered. Still, she was genuinely upset, and the last thing he wanted was to make it worse.
His hands found her arms, rubbing them gently, his voice laced with apology. "I swear, I didn’t know it hadn’t been cleaned in a while. I pay soone to take care of that, and I’m sure there’s a reason why it was overlooked. I’ll buy you a new pair."
Cammy’s eyes snapped shut as she inhaled deeply, barely restraining her irritation. "That’s not the point, Greg! I am walking through this mansion, in this dress, with absolutely nothing underneath!" Her breath shuddered as she let it out, frustration and embarrassnt warring inside her.
She shook her head, unwilling to argue any further. "You know what? Forget it. Let’s just get through this damn dinner and go ho."
Without another word, she strode toward the mansion, her back rigid, her movents tense. She didn’t wait for Greg. She couldn’t. Not when she was already burning from the inside out.
As soon as they stepped inside, the warmth of laughter and conversation spilled from the dining room, filling the grand space with an air of celebration. Just as they were about to enter, Aarya appeared, striding toward the sa destination with effortless grace.
"There you are," she said, her sharp gaze flickering between them. "I sent people to look for you since I don’t have any of your numbers, but they all ca back empty-handed. Where the hell did you two disappear to?"
Greg barely hesitated, his expression the perfect mask of innocence. "Oh, we spotted so rabbits in the woods and decided to follow them. Didn’t realize how far we’d gone until it was too late." His delivery was smooth—too smooth.
Aarya studied him for a mont, then simply nodded. "I see. Well, since you’re here, we can finally start dinner. Take a seat." With a graceful wave of her hand, she gestured toward the dining room before walking ahead.
As soon as her back was turned, Cammy leaned in, amusent dancing in her eyes. She barely held back a smirk as she whispered, "Rabbits, huh? A horny rabbit for sure."
Greg turned his head, biting his lip to stifle his laughter, but the way his shoulders shook betrayed him. He shot her a sideways glance, his lips twitching. "You really can’t help yourself, can you?"
Cammy just shrugged, mischief glinting in her gaze. "Nope."
With one last shared smirk, they stepped into the dining room, pretending to be the picture of innocence—while both knowing damn well they were anything but.
As they entered the dining room, the air buzzed with polite conversation, laughter, and the distinct clinking of wine glasses.
Richard Cross rose from his seat as Greg and Cammy stepped in. His sharp blue eyes, so similar to Greg’s, swept over them with calculated warmth. "Ah, finally. Welco, both of you," he announced, his deep voice commanding the room’s attention. "It’s good to have you here tonight."
Cammy swallowed. There was sothing unnerving about the way Richard looked at her, like he was studying her, searching for sothing beneath the surface.
"As you can see," Richard continued, gesturing toward the well-dressed n at the table, "we have so special guests tonight. Our esteed corporate lawyers and accountants—n who have helped build Cross Holdings into what it is today."
His words carried weight, as if every syllable was ant to remind Greg of the empire he was about to inherit.
Greg nodded, slipping into his role effortlessly. "Glad to et you all."
Dinner unfolded in a blur of business talk, occasional polite small talk directed at Cammy, and more of Richard’s watchful stares. The mont the plates were cleared, Greg was drawn into an in-depth discussion with the accountants and lawyers about his transition into the company.
Richard, seizing the opportunity, turned to Cammy with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Cammy, would you mind joining in my office for a mont? I’d like to have a word with you."
Sothing about the way he asked—not a request, but an expectation—made her pulse quicken. But she nodded, pushing back her chair as she followed him out of the dining room.
Richard’s office was a stark contrast to the lively dining room. It was monochromatic, heavy with the scent of aged black leather and old books.
The dim glow of a single desk lamp cast long shadows against the walls. He gestured for her to take a seat on the long sofa, then lowered himself into the chair opposite her.
Richard exhaled, steepling his fingers together. "Monica Watson. Your mother. She looked like you when she was younger, just with a different hair color."
Her breath hitched. "You knew my mother when she was young?"
A slow, almost lancholic smile curved his lips. "I didn’t just know her, Cammy. I loved her. We were in a long-term relationship before."
He leaned back, his gaze distant, as if he were looking not at her, but at a mory from long ago. "There was a ti when I thought she would be my wife. When Cross Holdings was nothing more than a struggling business, and I was just another ambitious man trying to build sothing great from the business that I inherited from my father. But back then, I couldn’t compete with Peter Watson."
Cammy’s hands gripped the arms of her chair. "My father?"
Richard nodded. "Your grandfather wanted Monica to marry Peter instead of . He had the money, the connections. And I was... well, just a man with dreams. And then sothing happened."
The air in the room shifted, thick with sothing unsaid.
"What happened?" Cammy asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Richard hesitated, then leaned forward, his gaze locking onto hers. "Monica and I... we had a complicated relationship. And I need you to understand that what I’m about to say, I don’t say lightly."
He took a slow breath, letting the silence stretch before finally speaking the words that sent a chill down Cammy’s spine.
"There’s a chance, Cammy, that you could be my daughter."
The room spun. The walls seed to close in on her, the weight of his revelation pressing against her chest like a crushing force.
"No," she breathed, shaking her head. "That’s not possible!"
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