Chapter 9
Camelia’s POV
“Camelia, you have to take responsibility for me.”
With that teasing line from Kennard, I figured there was no turning back. Taking responsibility sounded like the right thing to do. Emboldened, I threw caution to the wind and pounced on him, fully committing to this new road of accountability.
The next morning, I woke up to find my phone practically blowing up with notifications. I scrolled through them one by one. Every single message was about my so–called new relationship.
My long–time best friend texted: [Camelia, you went and got yourself a man behind my back? You’ve changed!]
Then a newer friend followed: [Camelia, your man is a total catch. Where did you
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find this masterpiece of a human being?]
Even my mom also texted me, saying: [I knew you could do it, Camelia! Now hurry up and give me a grandchild!]
Relatives, classmates, friends—messages came flooding in from all directions.
But here’s the thing: Kennard and I had only been “together” for a few hours- most of which were spent in bed. So how on earth did the entire world seem to know already?
Still trying to make sense of it, I felt Kennard’s arms wrap tightly around me from behind. His voice, soft and content as he whispered near my ear, “Camelia, I was so scared of losing you that I couldn’t wait. I had someone make an
announcement.”
“If you’re mad, you can yell at me… or even hit me,” he added, his tone so earnest that my frustration began to melt.
For years with Darell, he’d said he loved
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me countless times, but I’d never truly felt it. That constant uncertainty had left me second–guessing everything.
But in this single moment with Kennard, all those past doubts felt irrelevant. It was as if, for the first time, someone genuinely held me at the center of their world.
“Thank you, Kennard,” I said, my voice steady and sincere, before turning to bury myself in his embrace.
Even if this happiness was fleeting, I thought, it would still be worth it.
He hesitated for a moment before asking,
“Camelia, can I propose to you? If I said I want to marry you right now, would you think I’m joking?”
I won’t lie–part of me did think it was a bit impulsive. But when I remembered how he’d made our relationship public
without hesitation, my worries vanished.
And so, the wedding planning began.
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As we were knee–deep in the preparations,
an unexpected visitor showed up: none other than Darell’s grandfather.
During my years of marriage to Darell, it was his grandfather who had always quietly supported me behind the scenes, so I owed him that much.
After some polite small talk, the old man’s face turned serious, as if he was struggling to find the right words.
“Camelia,” he began, “what I’m about to ask might be difficult for you. But please know, there’s no pressure. If you don’t want to do it, just say so.
“”
His tone was heavy with regret, almost apologetic, and he gave me every opportunity to refuse.
I glanced at Kennard, who gave me a reassuring nod. Feeling slightly more at ease, I replied, “It’s okay, Grandpa. If it’s something I can do, I’ll do my best to help.”
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I braced myself for some outrageous request, but I wasn’t prepared for what came next. He wanted me to return to the Wise Corporation to stabilize the situation and, essentially, clean up the mess Darell had made.
I hesitated for a long time before finally speaking bluntly. “Grandpa, has your family really fallen this far?”
For the first time, I saw the old man let out a weary sigh before launching into a tirade against his grandson.
“That fool! The only reason I handed the company over to him so early was because of you! But who would‘ ve thought he‘ d go and mess around with another woman? And that woman? She’s nothing but a petty, small–minded person who only cares about short–term gains. She’s got Darell wrapped around her finger, and he listens to her every word. She has no clue how to make real decisions, and now she’s driven my family to the brink of collapse!”
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Faced with Grandpa Shen‘ s earnest plea and Kennard’s unwavering support, I agreed to take over as the new president of the Wise Corporation, effectively replacing Darell.
My first official act as president? I slipped on a pair of killer heels and strutted straight into Sacha’s office, ready to reclaim control.
