Chapter 1133: Gratitude

Chapter 1133: Gratitude

Camille lightly pressed her lips, looking at Preston with a faint

expression of disapproval. Deep down, she strongly disliked Preston's

behavior, but she wouldn't meddle or express any disapproval.

At this moment, she just wanted to leave quickly. Talking to Preston

was draining, and she felt exhausted, utterly worn out.

However, Preston didn't believe her words. He gazed at her and said,

"Cami, aren't you and Ayan a couple?"

"We divorced, didn't we?" Camille looked at him with an expression that

suggested he should have known this already. She continued,

"Preston, even if we weren't divorced, I wouldn't involve myself in the

company's affairs. This has been the case in the past, and it will

continue to be so in the future. I don't want to meddle in any work-

related matters, and he respects that."

"Cami, I didn't mean to ask you anything. You don't need to be so

defensive. I'm just asking casually. Why do you have so much guard up

against me? Cami, I really don't know what Ayan told you. Why have

you become like this towards me?"

Preston's face showed helplessness, looking at Camille with eyes filled

with sadness, as if he were genuinely being mistreated.

If Camille didn't know what kind of person he was, she might have been

confused by his current appearance.

Camille pressed her lips, her expression carrying a shallow smile. The

smile held a touch of coldness as she said, "I don't quite understand

what you mean, and I don't know if I said something to give you this

misunderstanding. Preston, I'm an adult with my own thoughts. I won't

be swayed by others. So, what I say is not influenced by anyone. After

all, if I let someone control even my words, then my intelligence would

be close to zero, wouldn't it?"

Camille lowered her gaze, took a deep breath, glanced at the time. It

was already late. She had spent about twenty minutes here since

leaving the hospital room. Talking to Preston had consumed more time

than she intended.

Without waiting for Preston to speak, she spoke first, “It's late; I need to

go back. You should go back early too."

“I'll drive you."

"No need. The driver is coming to pick me up." She said nonchalantly.

Preston's expression stiffened slightly, but he didn't insist. He just

looked at her and said, “I'm working at Armstrong Corp now. If there's

anything you want, just tell me. I'll get it for you without hesitation."

"I don't want anything, Preston. Since you're working at Armstrong

Corp, focus on your job. There's really no need for anything else. The

past is past, and we need to live in the present.”

Camille finished speaking and took a step forward.

Even when she got into the car, she didn't look back. Preston, on the

other hand, kept staring at her. His gaze remained fixed even after the

car left.

He stood there for a long time. He still had some doubts about Camille

coming to the hospital late at night because she didn't have many

friends. Sienna was her best friend, and if anyone could be considered

a friend, it would be a few colleagues at the company. But it still

seemed odd for her to visit at such a late hour.

He squinted his eyes, a hint of coldness in his gaze. Was Camille

feeling unwell, or did Ayan hit her? Why else would she come to the

hospital alone so late at night?

After this idea occurred to him, he became more certain because he

believed Ayan was the kind of man who Camille, being deeply in love

with him, would support even when he was in the wrong.

The more Preston thought about it, the worse he felt. He took out his

phone and made a call with an indifferent tone, saying, "I've got some

explosive news for you. Interested?"

The person on the other end naturally showed immediate interest, and

Preston asked them to pay a deposit first before he left the hospital,

satisfied with his mischief.

As for tonight's events, Camille didn't dwell on them. She didn't want

Ayan to do anything to Preston because of it. So, she chose not to

mention her encounter with Preston.

Back at Franklin Bay, Ayan had just returned. Instead of entering the

house, he sat on the garden steps, waiting for Camille. She noticed him

from the car and, as soon as she got out, asked, "Why are you sitting

here?"

He looked a bit pitiful, like a homeless child.

Camille walked over, and he immediately extended his hand. Seeing

him in this state made her feel a bit sorry. She took his hand, and he

rose from the steps. He held her hand in return, leading her towards the

house. Ayan's handsome face showed a hint of weariness, prompting

Camille to ask, "What's wrong? Are you very tired today?"

"Yeah, a bit tired from dealing with work all day."

"Don't push yourself so hard. Take some rest occasionally. After all,

Simpson Group won't stop if you take a day or two off or do one less

thing." Despite Ayan's high position, seen as an object of envy by

outsiders, only those close to him knew the efforts and sacrifices he

made behind the scenes.

He rarely showed this kind of fatigue, so Camille felt a pang of pity. She

stared at Ayan, speaking softly, "If you wear yourself out like this, what

will Timmy and I do?"

As she said this, feeling Ayan's grip on her hand tighten, as she rarely

spoke these kinds of words, it touched Ayan deeply. He responded,

"Okay, when Kian returns and after I finalize the collaboration project

with Mario, I'll slow down and spend more time with you, okay?"

"Not just with me, but also with Timmy, and with Mom, Dad, and

Grandpa!"

"Mom has Dad to accompany her, no need for me. As for Grandpa, let

Timmy take our place!" He said without any hesitation, even adding,

"After all, he's the man of the Simpson family, naturally, he should do

some things a man should do."

After saying this, without waiting for Camille's response, he walked

briskly into the house, holding her hand.

Watching his “stepdad” appearance, Camille secretly thought that when

Timmy grew up, she would definitely tell him. Humph, let's see how

cool he thinks he is.

As for now, of course, she wouldn't say anything.

It was already nine o'clock, and Ayan hadn't even had dinner yet. The

housekeeper cooked noodles for him, so he pulled Camille to join him.

Sitting face to face at the dining table, Camille only had a bit of soup

because she had already had a full dinner with her grandfather. Her

grandfather was always worried about her losing weight, and every

time she visited, he would insistently persuade her not to diet. As a

result, Camille usually couldn't eat anything after returning from her

grandfather's place.

Ayan ate noodles while asking, "How is Grandpa?"

"He's doing well, in good spirits. When I went, he was playing chess!"

Camille said casually and couldn't help but boast, "Grandpa asked why

you didn't go together. Next time, you should give him a call in

advance. Otherwise, he thought we had a fight. You know, at that time,

he was planning to find someone to beat you up. If it weren't for me

stopping him, you'd probably have been beaten by now.”

Camille pressed her lips together, her eyes revealing a playful glint.

Ayan, of course, understood her thoughts. After all, every time, the old

Simpson sided with her, and he was the one scolded.

He lifted his gaze to meet Camille's eyes, his voice low and slow, "Then

I should thank you?"