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?"

“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.