Female Novel
Chapter 764: Sweetness
"Why not?" Ayan squinted his eyes and looked out the window, his handsome face showing a cold
expression. He said, "Releasing Sean and letting him go back to Preston would be better. Preston
knows that Sean is in my hands, but if Sean can return intact after a few days, do you think Preston
wouldn't suspect anything?"
Even if Sean goes back now, he won't worry about Preston using him again. After all, they have a
family relationship and Elijah is involved in the middle of it. Some things cannot be avoided even with
precautions.
It's better to release Sean since there's no use keeping him in hand anyway.
Originally, Ayan planned to let Preston find Sean on his own so that he could reveal himself and Ayan
wouldn't have to put in as much effort. But so far there has been no movement from Preston and he
doesn't want to waste any more time.
Kian nodded understandingly and asked, "Mr. Simpson, should I contact the bodyguards later to send
him back?"
"No rush," Ayan said. "There are too many people during the day, which makes it conspicuous.
Remember to tell whoever sends Sean back to take extra precautions just in case he finds out where
they're taking him."
Back at Simpson Group CEO office.
Ayan sat at his desk with a gloomy expression because of something on his mind for quite some time
before finally picking up his phone and dialing Camille's number.
When she answered, his expression softened into one only reserved for Camille. With a warm tone, he
asked softly: "What are you doing?"
Camille had just finished her meeting at the museum where the interior design was already half
completed; they were going through construction plans soon but hadn't set an exact date yet, so she
needed to visit here frequently for adjustments or coordination purposes between architects and
builders.
So naturally Camille was tired from work already. She had eaten lunch hastily.
"Just finished my meeting," replied Camille wearily.
"Have you eaten?" asked Ayan gently.
"Yeah... just grabbed something quick."
"Are you tired?"
"A little bit," admitted Camille frankly, while both continued their conversation casually, without any
sense of boredom or awkwardness between them whatsoever despite its simplicity.
"Why did you suddenly call me? Aren't you busy?" queried Camille curiously.
"I can't give myself some rest? Otherwise what's the point of hiring all these employees?" teased Ayan
playfully.
Camille began to mock him: "Yes, you are the president of Simpson Group. You don't need to do
anything and people will work for you. But I can't do that. I have to work to support my humble
business."
He asked smoothly, "How about this? I acquire your company and let the employees of Simpson Group
work hard to support your company in the future. That way, you won't have to work so hard anymore,
hmm?"
"So is this Mr. Simpson's way of pursuing someone?" Camille couldn't help laughing as she teased
Ayan with every word.
He showed no anger at all, his voice still gentle as he said, "Can you feel my thoughts for you through
this?"
"Okay, I will try to feel it!"
"It seems like I still have to keep working hard," Ayan continued, "If I transfer the ownership directly to
you, will you be able to fully understand my intentions?"
"I think it's okay, so do you want to give it a try?"
"No better day than another. Would I have the honor of having Miss Armstrong with me for dinner
tonight? And then we can talk in detail?" This was his ultimate aim, and since he had been courting
Camille, everything had been said casually and without the slightest hint of hypocrisy.
Camille couldn't help but laugh, her beautiful face filled with happiness. However, her laughter was so
piercing that it seemed to penetrate one's soul. Completely immersed in her conversation with Ayan,
Camille was unaware of the tall figure standing near the emergency exit.
Those deep, dark eyes stared at her without blinking, watching her every word and action. The sweet
smile and her gentle voice did not belong to him.
The man's face was filled with a solemn stiffness and coldness that lingers for a long time.
Camille had arranged to have dinner with Ayan and only ended the call after that. She put her phone
back in her pocket, still wearing a smile on her face that hadn't completely faded. She raised her hand
and lightly covered her face until the smile disappeared entirely before turning around to head back to
the meeting room.
At this moment, a man's voice suddenly came from behind: "Cami!"
Camille turned around and saw that Preston had been standing there, towering over her, for who
knows how long. She was a bit startled and a look of surprise crossed her face. There was also a hint
of displeasure in her eyes, as if she wasn't too happy with Preston's behavior.
Before Camille could calm down, he had already lifted his foot and walked towards her, finally stopping
a few steps away from her.
"No," Camille denied flatly. She asked, "What are you doing here?"
"Just finished talking with Jenson and the museum manager about the work, came out for a smoke," he
replied, his gaze fixed on Camille without blinking, as if trying to read something from her eyes.
Camille didn't respond to his answer because she couldn't refute it. After all, they were on the same
floor. Although their meeting room was at the end of the hallway, it was only a few dozen meters away
from here. It wasn't strange that he could come over for a smoke.
Camille just pursed her lips and remained silent, which made Preston's face stiffen slightly.
Preston asked, "Cami, why aren't you saying anything? Do you think I'm eavesdropping on your phone
call deliberately? Is that what you're thinking?"
Camille frowned slightly and looked at Preston with a relaxed expression before responding slowly:
"You're overthinking it; I'm not."
"Really?" Preston challenged her response. "Or are you just too afraid to admit it?" novelbin
"It's really nothing; don't think too much about it," Camille replied calmly.
Their responses were both very stiff and different from their usual peaceful interactions.
There was less friendliness between them now and more awkwardness like strangers who had just met
each other for the first time.
Preston continued staring at Camille as he spoke in a low voice: "Cami... do we still have any chance
of going back to how things used to be between us?"
Camille hesitated briefly before meeting his gaze squarely as she said: "There hasn't been much
difference between then and now actually. Haven't we always been like this before? As long as our
hearts haven't changed yet everything else will remain unchanged too."
Naturally, Preston did not respond or agree with her words.
"Cami... You've clearly changed towards me," said Preston regretfully after some silence passed by
"Do you know that I regretted letting you come to Hance City in the first place without stopping you?"
He paused briefly before continuing "I even regretted coming along with you because I thought that
once things went wrong for you, then maybe we would turn back, but I was wrong… You're someone
who only moves forward."
His words made Camille think of everything that had happened back then. It was true that Preston had
accompanied her through the toughest times, and she was grateful for his help and companionship.
But she always thought it was just mutual support between friends. She never thought that Preston had
other motives in accompanying her to Hance City. If she had known what he really wanted from the
beginning, she would never have let him come with her.
But those things were already in the past, and nothing could change them now.
Camille looked up at Preston and said, "Preston, I'm not refusing to look back. I'm just moving forward
like everyone else. Nobody stays in the same place forever. You're not me, so you don't know how
much effort I've put in or how many concessions I've made. As long as we can live up to ourselves,
that's all that matters."
"So you're determined to be with Ayan for the rest of your life? Just because he's been a little nicer to
you lately and given you a taste of sweetness? And now you want to give him your heart again?"
Preston pressed on with displeasure flashing in his eyes.