Chapter 191 Cruel and Unscrupulous
The breakup scene was cruel. Courtney knew she wasn’t that thick-skinned to watch the drama from the front row. Banking on her flexibility, she leaped out from the pavilion and escaped.
Before she left, the last thing she heard was spoken by Gale. He was a playboy that every woman in the city considered a pig. Yet, when he acted sad, even her heart pinched. He said, “Cameron Miller, let’s pretend that nothing happened in the past two days. We… can still go back to how we were before, right?”
This was something out of Courtney’s expectation. Gale is willing to give in. He’s even willing to return to square one and pretend like the marriage proposal and Cameron’s rejection never existed?
“No way. I’ve had enough, Gale,” answered Cameron.
So it seemed that gender really had nothing to do with being a scumbag.
The day was getting darker. Courtney drove Cameron back to her fashion studio.
“Actually, I’m fine. You didn’t have to send me all the way back.”
“Who cares if you’re fine.” Courtney threw Cameron a disgusted look. “I’m just craving for the roasted duck neck next to your studio.”
“Then, I’ll treat you.”
“Of course, you’re going to buy me that roasted duck neck. How dare you let a loafer like me pay for the food?”
Since leaving the hospital, Cameron had been down in the dumps. Afraid that she would bottle her feelings up and get herself sick, Courtney tried to talk to her like she was insulting her.
Under normal circumstances, Cameron would have flown into a rage and argued with her. But now, she was only leaning against the passenger seat in a sickly manner. After a moment, she sighed. “What a pity.”
“You think it’s a pity too?” Courtney gazed at her, thinking that she had regretted breaking up with Gale. “Such a rare sight.”
However, Cameron glanced at her faintly. “It was a pity that Gale and I were planning a trip with you and Alexander. We wanted to take this opportunity to mend the relationship between the two of you. But, I’ve already broken up with Gale, so I can’t help you anymore.”
Speaking of Alexander, Courtney’s comforting smile froze at the edges of her mouth. Her grip on the steering wheel tightened. “Who needs your help? Just mind your own business.”
Cameron’s fashion studio was located at East Melrose right next to the Ancient City. Because it was travel season, there was an endless stream of tourists strolling down the street.
Courtney and Cameron sat by the window as they gave vicious comments about the outfits and demeanors of the passing tourists. In the eyes of a fashion designer, their outfits were local products that were not up to Cameron’s standard.
Courtney rolled her eyes at her comments. “You’re one to talk! I should give you a mirror, so you can take a good look at yourself. You’re like a panda with your smudged mascara. And your mouth is so greasy. Your image is totally gone.”
Upon hearing her criticism, Cameron turned around and glanced at Courtney nonchalantly. She had a duck neck in one hand and a fried chicken wing in the other. With an emotionless face, Cameron retaliated, “Likewise!”
They were heartbroken because of men, and they stuffed themselves with food in order to shake off their gloomy feelings. Why should women be hard on each other?
“If you weren’t sick, you would have agreed to Gale’s proposal without hesitation, right?” Courtney asked.
However, Cameron casually took a bite from the chicken wing and said vaguely, “If it weren’t for this illness, I would have gotten married a long time ago. He wouldn’t even have stood a chance.”
She had survived because she lusted after the wonder of this world. Unwilling to become a burden to others, she was always alone. If her life was smooth and perfect, she would have lived the most ordinary life, married a man, and had children.
“Stop asking me about this. Let’s talk about your dad. I heard from the conversation between you and the doctor that your dad’s condition is quite stable now. Is he still going to stay at the nursing home?”
Frowning at the question, Courtney answered, “I’ve asked him before. He wants to go home.”
When Cameron heard that, her face sank. “What the hell! What’s wrong with this old man? You have been taking care of him for so long, yet he still wants to spend his life with that mistress after he gets better?”
Although Courtney was uncomfortable with Cameron’s harsh criticism, she pretended to relax her expression and said, “Forget it. After all, they have been with each other for most of their lives. He feels more comfortable around them compared to me. Besides, he’s getting older. He probably doesn’t want to live alone in the nursing home anymore.”
“This old man is cruel and unscrupulous.” Cameron did not hesitate to address Courtney’s father as an ‘old man’. She wasn’t trying to spare Courtney’s feelings at all. “In my opinion, you did your filial duty after he escaped from the jaws of death. Just leave him alone and live your own life.”
Yet, Courtney’s expression was blank. “I don’t think he needs me anyway.”
Recently, Susan and her daughter had been visiting the nursing home very often. They were the ones who suggested Lucian move back home. By the looks of it, the mother-daughter pair had genuine feelings for him.
“What about later? What are you going to do?”
“Huh?”
“I’m asking about your job.” While Cameron wiped her greasy hands, she asked, “Didn’t you say you had decided on what you’re going to do? You even said that it’s a secret. You can tell me now, right?”
“It’s not much of a secret actually.” Courtney let out a chuckle. “It was just that the procedure was not completed yet. It was only done yesterday.”
“What is it?”
Wiping her hands clean, Courtney took out a business card from her purse and handed it to Cameron.
“Citron Apparel Company Limited; General Manager, Courtney Hunter?” Cameron read out the words softly and lifted her head in surprise. “You started a company?”
“I’m not the one who started it. Citron Apparel was my mom’s company initially,” Courtney explained. “When my mom got married to my dad, my dad had just started his own business. Mom was the one who funded his business in the early stage. After that, she was pregnant with me and Dad’s company became stable. In the end, Citron Apparel was merged into Hunter Group. However, the company doesn’t really care about this small clothing company, so it isn’t doing very well now. That’s why I’m taking over.”
There was something else that Courtney had left out. Nonetheless, Cameron could figure out what had actually happened. Cecilia stopped working after she was pregnant with Courtney. Citron Apparel was acquired by Hunter Group and became an unremarkable subsidiary. Then, Susan got in between their marriage and Cecilia passed away during childbirth. Susan never treated her daughter well, much less her company. It had not been easy for such a small company to struggle and survive to this day.
“When I mentioned this to my dad, he didn’t say anything and agreed with me.”
“Of course he had to agree with you. This has belonged to you since the beginning. There’s nothing wrong with asking for your own things.”
Courtney laughed in response. “Okay, fine. I don’t care about the past, so you don’t have to get fed up. I have something important to ask you.”
“What is it?”
“Would you like to come and help me at Citron Apparel?”
Startled, Cameron furrowed her brows and said, “You want me to be a designer at your petty little company? Why?”
“You’re cheap.”
“Damn you! Do you know how much I’m worth in the market now?” Cameron’s eyes widened in an instant.
