"The choice is yours. Or do you prefer me to play around with Caleya?"

"Don't touch my sister," Camellia said with emphasis.

The impudent man in front of her only laughed dismissively. "What’s the guarantee?"

Immediately, Camellia thought hard, trying to hold back her tears. "I will do whatever you want. I will become your mistress."

And now, just look at how that bastard Luke is laughing with satisfaction.

The girl with milk tea-colored hair rubbed her aching head. Thinking about that day's events almost made her head explode.

At that moment, her phone rang. Let’s see who’s calling now.

"What is it?" Camellia said lazily.

"Is that how you speak to your lover?" came the voice on the phone.

In her heart, Camellia sneered. She really wanted to spit in that man's face right then and there. But once again, she tried to control her anger.

The girl with her hair tied up high forced a smile. "Alright, my lover, whom I don't know where you found, what do you want?"

A few seconds later, Camellia could hear laughter from the other end. She snorted and gently rubbed her head.

It seemed that rubbing her head like this would become a new habit.

"Meet me at Interrence Mall right now. I'll be there."

"And so what if you're there? Why should I go there too?"

"To marry you, of course."

The nonchalant statement made Camellia widen her eyes and yell. "What?!"

Really, Camellia felt like she was going crazy.

"You are my mistress, so don’t ask too many questions and just follow my orders."

A part of her heart ached at the words 'mistress'. After all, Camellia was a woman with a heart as soft as cotton.

But for Caleya’s sake, she had to do all this. Even risking her career, her life, and her future.

"I know, don’t remind me of my position," Camellia replied coldly.

"Then get going now."

"Now? I’m at work. Please don’t treat me like a robot."

Believe it or not, this was the first time Camellia had asked for help from someone. She was an independent girl with high pride.

But now, see how just one man could shatter her ego. Or more precisely, crush her self-esteem.

"I don’t care. Either you come, or the agreement is off."

"Hey, I—"

Tut Tut Tut

Just as Camellia was about to reply, the call was abruptly ended. The girl stared at her phone in disbelief and shouted, "Hey?!"

She then swore, "Bastard."

She really wanted to slam her phone down. Oh no, Camellia would rather throw Luke into the air and stuff him in a toilet.

But she knew that would be pointless. After a moment of internal struggle, she grabbed her bag and hurried out. Even though she had an important meeting with a client today.

"You’ve put me through hell, Luke."

***

In the CEO's office at Terrence Company, Luke Spencer was laughing with satisfaction as he looked at a photo of Camellia. The girl he had been eyeing since high school.

The man, who already had a lover, easily claimed Camellia as his mistress.

Suddenly, the photo he was staring at was forcibly taken by someone. A man in a black blazer. "Who are you playing with this time?"

Realizing the presence of the room’s actual owner, Luke stood up. "She’s not important."

"Don’t play with Isabella's heart. You know she loves you very much."

"Yes, I know. What she doesn’t know is who this girl is."

"Who is this girl?"

"Camellia. Camellia Gustave."

Kyle seemed familiar with the name. His brows furrowed, and his expression showed he was trying to remember something.

Noticing the change in Kyle's expression, Luke looked at him with curiosity. "Why? Do you know her?"

Asked like that, Kyle looked at him. What surprised Luke was how Kyle’s expression immediately turned blank. As if nothing had happened. "No," he paused.

Returning the photo to Luke, he turned to leave. But just before the door, he turned back. "She’s beautiful. I’ll take her from you."

For a moment, Luke was silent, looking at Kyle's strange smile. But after Kyle completely disappeared from sight, he realized something.

Clenching his fist and shouting, "HEY?! SHE’S MINE!"

But it was useless to shout. Kyle had already left.

***

Interrence Mall is the largest mall in the city. Usually, only certain people can come and shop here.

And Camellia was one of them. Proven when she was sitting and waiting. Waiting for Luke, of course.

Camellia deliberately left her hair messy to make Luke uncomfortable. But she didn’t know, her face looked even sexier with her hair like that.

Her big eyes watched someone walking toward her and sitting next to her. She glared with a fierce look.

But Luke only chuckled softly. "Don’t turn your face away from your lover. You know, that’s not good."

"Meeting you isn’t good. Just tell me what you want. Let’s get this over with so I can leave."

"Hey, why the rush?"

"Rush, you say? Let me tell you. I was about to have an important meeting with a client when you called. I left it just for you."

"Is that a compliment?"

Camellia snorted lazily. "No, it’s an insult."

The girl emphasized her statement but Luke, as usual, just laughed. A mocking laugh that Camellia hated.

"Alright, you’ve told me. Now I’ll tell you. We’ll do something enjoyable that couples usually do. How does that sound? Fun, right?"

"No, that’s a bad idea. Luke, stop thinking of me as your lover. I’ve been just a mistress from the start. If you want to have fun, do it with your real lover."

"Yes, I’m doing that."

"With your lover?"

"With you."

"You’re crazy!"

Spending less than five minutes with this man almost drove Camellia insane. How could she spend the rest of her time with Luke?

***

Today was truly a long day for Camellia. After a tiring workday, she had to deal with Luke. And then go back to the café to finish her meeting.

Camellia plopped down on the sofa. Rubbing her aching head while leaning on the sofa.

From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a girl with long hair walking toward her.

Alright, forget about how she walks. What to remember is that Caleya brought her friends to the apartment and made a mess in the kitchen.

Camellia clicked her tongue before finally approaching them. She stood in front of them like a landlord demanding rent.

"Can you leave my apartment?" Camellia said firmly.

Some of them whispered and looked at Camellia. But the girl just folded her arms and glared haughtily. "Why are you whispering? I’m asking you to leave this place."

They were about to step out when Caleya’s voice stopped them. She stood in front of her friends, facing Camellia directly.

When her friends tried to leave, Caleya spread her arms. "Wait a minute. They are my friends, you have no right to kick them out."

"And this is my apartment. A place I bought with my own money. You have no right to bring them all here." Camellia retorted just as fiercely.

"Why are you like this? Why is everything I do always wrong in your eyes?"

"Caleya, I’m your sister. I do everything for you. Them? They’re strangers. They won’t help you when you’re in trouble. So please listen to me this time and tell them to go home."

It took a few minutes before Caleya finally lowered her head and led her friends out.

Camellia sighed. Her sister must be drunk. That’s why it wasn’t too hard to make her obey.