Chapter 8

"Something wrong?" Arlo asked, noticing Damien's sudden pause.

Damien's gaze lingered near the restaurant entrance. "Thought I recognized someone."

His companions knew all about Camille's unrequited love for Damien. They'd grown up witnessing it firsthand.

Objectively speaking, Camille possessed delicate beauty. But her quiet demeanor made her fade into the background. Exactly the type Damien would never notice.

Since Damien kept his distance, they'd adopted the same attitude. Their encounters with Camille had been few and far between, rarely warranting more than cursory nods.

Truthfully, Arlo couldn't recall Camille's features clearly. He wasn't even certain it had been her. Not that it mattered either way.

Shrugging, he followed Damien back to their private room.

Camille remained oblivious to their presence.

After leaving The Meridian, she took Elise home and stayed overnight to care for her.

When Elise awoke to find Camille still there, she threw her arms around her. "You're an angel! I owe you dinner!" Breakfast already waited on the table. Camille gently nudged her. "Go freshen up before it gets cold." Elise clung tighter, nuzzling against her. "You're so warm and smell amazing. Best hug ever!"

Camille blinked, momentarily speechless.

Returning from the bathroom, Elise gaped at the spread Camille had prepared. Whoever married this woman would hit the jackpot, she thought.

Then she remembered Damien. Biting her tongue, she kept the thought to herself.

As Elise ate, she scrolled through her phone. Suddenly, her fork clattered against the plate. "Is Damien back in Lucerne?"

Camille nodded.

Elise turned her phone around. Arlo's social media post displayed photos from last night's gathering.

"Happy birthday to the stunning Selene!" read the caption.

Though celebrating Selene's birthday, five of the nine photos prominently featured Damien. One particularly intimate shot showed them jointly cutting a cake, hands overlapping on the same crystal knife handle.

Chloe was conspicuously absent from all pictures—likely to prevent Helena Harrington from discovering the gathering. Helena, being close to Marianne, had never approved of Selene due to past conflicts between Audrey and Selene's mother.

To any outsider, the photos screamed couple goals. Clearly, Damien had orchestrated an elaborate celebration for Selene.

Remembering how he'd ignored her own birthday weeks prior, Camille looked away.

"Cami—" Elise began worriedly.

"It's fine." Camille handed back the phone. "Their relationship doesn't concern me anymore. I've already filed for divorce."

"What?" Elise nearly choked. "You initiated it?"

"Yes."

Elise had once admired Damien. His accomplishments bordered on mythical—college at thirteen, multiple successful startups before twenty, effortlessly elevating Calder Group while expanding his empire across industries.

In their circles, Damien commanded universal respect. His striking looks didn't hurt either. No wonder Camille—a prodigy herself—had fallen for him. But Damien showed zero mercy to those he disregarded.

After years watching him dismiss Camille's devotion, Elise's admiration had curdled into disdain.

She'd often urged Camille to leave him, only to be met with silent refusal. That Camille would now take this step...

Pushing her plate aside, Elise searched her friend's face. "What happened?"

For Camille to walk away after so many years, something seismic must have occurred.

After a pause, Camille replied, "Nothing dramatic. Just... accumulated too many disappointments. Time to move on."

Elise knew that tone. Once Camille decided, she wouldn't backtrack—even if her heart hadn't fully let go.

She pulled Camille into a hug. "You're doing the right thing."

After breakfast, Camille headed to work.

Previously, they'd worked in the same building while meticulously avoiding each other. Months could pass without crossing paths.

Now, having moved out, she'd encountered him twice in two days.

Today, Damien looked as impeccably handsome as ever. His expression frosted over upon seeing her. Just like yesterday, his gaze slid right past her.

"Mr. Harrington," she murmured, eyes downcast.

Only after he'd passed did she enter. Whether Selene would visit today didn't concern her. She buried herself in work.

At noon, Marianne called. "Someone sent Lucerne lamb. Come for dinner—I'm having them prepare a feast."

Warmth spread through Camille at Marianne's kindness. "I'll come after work."

She didn't see Damien again until leaving time.

Colin intercepted her with a file. "This needs immediate attention."

Camille scanned it. Not truly urgent. Previously, she'd have smiled and accepted, eager to prove herself. Not anymore. Especially after Colin's baseless accusation yesterday.

Coolly meeting his gaze, she said, "Not now. My workday's over."