CHAPTER 15

The room fell into stunned silence as Zayden's gaze pierced into Cameilla's. Her breath hitched as she tried to mutter an explanation, but his cold expression gave nothing away.

Nathan, ever the annoying one, leaned back on his chair, smirking. "This is interesting. It seems your lover boy just found out about your extacurriculum activities, Camellia."

Zayden’s jaw clenched, his voice dangerously low. "Who are they?" He gestured toward Nathan and Dan without taking his eyes off Camellia. "And what is it about your being a seductress for a mission."

"Erm," she said, stammering. "We are allies and we've been working together to bring down Harrison and the Blackwoods."

"Bring down? He repeated, his brows furrowing in confusion. 

"Yes," she replied, her tone suddenly confident. "Your family ruined mine," her voice trembling but steady.

"I can't believe you, Cam," he said, his voice raw with pain. "I trusted you. I thought what we had meant something, but all this time, you’ve been lying to me. And I'm just a pawn in your games."

Camellia opened her mouth to respond, but no words came. The weight of his words and the hurt in his eyes struck her like a dagger.

Without another word, Zayden turned in his heels and made his way out of the apartment, slamming the door behind him. 

For a moment, Cameilla stood frozen, guilt washing down on her. She hadn't expected him to find out. Not like this. But as his retreating footsteps echoed, something within her snapped. She grabbed her coat and bolted after him.

Zayden had already made it to his car, but as she started the engine, Cameilla stepped in front of it, spreading her arms wide.

"Move," he said coldly, rolling down the window just loud enough for her to hear to him.

"Not until you allow me to explain," she shot back her voice trembling with frustration and desperation.

Zayden sighed, his jaw tightening. After a long tense silence, he unlocked the passenger door.

Camellia hesitated, then climbed into the car, her heart pounding. The silence between them was suffocating as Zayden pulled away from the curb, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly.

“Talk,” he finally said, his voice clipped.

She took a deep breath, her words tumbling out. “I never meant to hurt you, Zayden. But you have to understand—this isn’t just about us. Harrison and your family have ruined lives, including mine. I had to do whatever it took to stop them.”

"By fooling me," he shot back, his voice rising. "By making me believe you cared?"

Her chest tightened, but she forced herself to meet his gaze. “I didn’t have a choice. Daisy... was the one who burned down my family home. She took everything from me, Zayden. Do you really expect me to feel sorry for doing what I had to do to bring them down?” her voice trembling with unshed tears.

Zayden shook his head, his face grim. "Daisy would never do anything like that. She can be many things but never a monster."

Her chest tightened at his dismissal, but she refused to back down. “You’re so blinded by your loyalty to your family that you can’t see the truth staring you in the face.”

“Or maybe,” he shot back, his tone sharp, “you’re so consumed by your vendetta that you’re willing to believe anything to justify it.”

The words hit her like a sledgehammer. "Believe anything you want," she snapped. "I don't care."

She reached for the doork handle but then Zayden's voice stopped her. "So eerything between us—every moment, every word—was just part of your plan?”

Camellia faltered, her heart racing at the accusation, but she steadied herself, refusing to let him see her weakness. And moreover he had already hurt her by trusting daisy, so it wasn't a crime if she did the same. "Yes," she said, her voice cold and detached. "Everything I did was for revenge, nothing more."

Zayden's knuckles whitened as he gripped the steering wheel in anger. His expression hardened, but he caught the flicker of hurt in it before he masked it. "Tell me something. Did you ever loved me? Even the tiniest bit?"

Her breath caught, and for a moment the truth hovered on her lips, but she quickly masked it with a bitter smile. "Love? That's nonsense," she said, her tone detsched. "I don't even know what that is."

The silence that lingered was deafening. "I see," he said finally, his voice devoid of any emotion. "But I was also foolish."

"Foolish?" She repeated, confusion flicking on her face. 

"Yes," he affirmed. "Foolish to think that I could imagine a future with a slut like you. Once a stripper, always a stripper."

His words was cuts deeper through Cameilla than anything she had ever heard. Without thinking, her hands connected to his cheeks, and the sound echoed through the car. "You bastard," she cursed, her voice trembling with both fury and pain.

Zayden clenched his cheeks, his murderous gaze snapped at her, sending cold shivers through her. But Zayden wasn't done yet. "I'm not wrong," Zayden pressed. "Seducing is your specialty," he laughed mocking, a cruel sound that ripped her apart.

She had heard the words severally in the past, but hearing him say it, hits differently. "Zayden, stop," she said, her voice trembling as tears streamed now her face. 

“I Don't want to ever see you again, or else I'm going to make sure you regret it," he said in a low dangerous tone. "Now. Get out,” Zayden setthed.

Camellia hesitated, her heart aching, but she swallowed her pride and stepped out. As the car sped away, Camellia stood on the curb, she knew she had just destroyed something far more precious than her revenge. Her body trembled with pain and her heart shattered, but she quickly wiped off her tear-streaked face.

When she returned to the apartment, Nathan and Dan looked up expectantly.

"Dan, Nathan," she called, her voice firm with resolve. "Should we proceed with Plan B?"