Chapter 2
That downpour lasted for two whole days.
Westlake was soaked in rain, damp to the bone.
I couldn’t sleep, constantly getting up in the midnight to click my lighter.
When I first got together with Rhys, he was just a broke hustler who couldn’t pay rent, living in a basement apartment.
In the damp air, only that small flame from the lighter gave any light.
Click Click–igniting and extinguishing.
Rhys, with his buzzcut, stared at me in my school uniform.
“Think carefully, Camden.”
“I’m nobody. I’ve got nothing.”
“I can’t give you the future you want.”
I was so innocent back then–taking off my rain–soaked canvas shoes and pushing my cold feet into his embrace through his thin tank top.
Rhys’s body heat was like a torch, gradually setting my body aflame.
Even with just that tiny lighter flame, I stubbornly nodded.
“Rhys, I don’t care about some future.”
“I only want you.”
I went through hell and back with Rhys.
In nights filled with the smell of bandages and disinfectant, we had passionate nights that lasted till dawn.
Rhys said that when he finally went legit, the first thing he’d do would be to marry me.
Now he was going legit, but the first thing he wanted to do was cut ties with me.
I was twenty–eight now, not young anymore, couldn’t keep acting reckless.
Besides, my family had already chosen a man for me, just waiting for me to give him a chance.
I decided to leave Westlake.
Taking the keys to the house, I went to Rhys’s club one last time.
No makeup, just jeans and canvas shoes when I walked in, many didn’t recognize me at first.
When I took off my hat, the crew who used to eagerly call me “boss lady” fell silent.
They obviously knew about Rhys’s new relationship. The ones who were closest to me started teasing:
“Cam, as your brothers, we still think you and Boss are perfect together.”
14:44
Our Vows Were Lies, But Your Revenge Will Be Very Real
65.9%
Chapter 2
Chapter 2
That downpour Insted for two whole days.
Westlake was soaked in rain, damp to the bone.
I couldn’t sleep, constantly getting up in the midnight to click my lighter.
When I first got together with Rhys, he was just a broke hustler who couldn’t pay rent, living in a basement apartment.
In the damp air, only that small flame from the lighter gave any light.
Click Click–igniting and extinguishing.
Rhys, with his buzzcut, stared at me in my school uniform.
“Think carefully, Camden.”
“I’m nobody. I’ve got nothing.”
“I can’t give you the future you want.”
I was so innocent back then–taking off my rain–soaked canvas shoes and pushing my cold feet into his embrace through his thin
tank top.
Rhys’s body heat was like a torch, gradually setting my body aflame.
Even with just that tiny lighter flame, I stubbornly nodded.
“Rhys, I don’t care about some future.”
“I only want you.”
I went through hell and back with Rhys.
In nights filled with the smell of bandages and disinfectant, we had passionate nights that lasted till dawn.
Rhys said that when he finally went legit, the first thing he’d do would be to marry me.
Now he was going legit, but the first thing he wanted to do was cut ties with me.
I was twenty–eight now, not young anymore, couldn’t keep acting reckless.
Besides, my family had already chosen a man for me, just waiting for me to give him a chance.
I decided to leave Westlake.
Taking the keys to the house, I went to Rhys’s club one last time.
No makeup, just jeans and canvas shoes when I walked in, many didn’t recognize me at first.
When I took off my hat, the crew who used to eagerly call me “boss lady” fell silent.
They obviously knew about Rhys’s new relationship. The ones who were closest to me started teasing:
“Cam, as your brothers, we still think you and Boss are perfect together.”
14:44
Our Vows Were Lies, But Your Revenge Will Be Very Real
65.9%
Chapter 2
“Some little girl? That’s a joke. He’d look ridiculous taking her anywhere.”
“Why don’t you go sweet talk the boss? He always listens to…”
1 laughed bitterly.
Ten years with Rhys, I looked innocent, but with thin eyebrows and red lips, I could be sultry.
Many men watched me from afar, but Rhys was my protector.
Anyone who dared touch a hair on my head was sent to the northern border to stack sandbags.
Just one tear from me, and Rhys would drop everything to comfort me.
This had been my exclusive privilege.
But this time, the guys couldn’t finish their sentence.
A ceramic cup smashed against someone’s eyebrow, shattering into pieces.
Rhys’s face was deadly serious.
“Is this Camden’s place now or something?”
“Is this how you run my business when I’m not around?!”
The enormous room fell instantly silent.
That was Rhys’s influence.
But now, that influence was being used against me.
I tried to explain. But the girl behind him peeked out cautiously, casually remarking:
“Rhys, is this the Camden you told me about?”
“She dresses just like me!”
Rhys frowned slightly, examining my outfit–jeans and canvas shoes, indeed identical to Lily’s style.
He looked at me suspiciously.
“Camden, have you been stalking Lily?”
Looking closely, Lily resembled my eighteen–year–old self quite a bit. Especially in jeans and canvas shoes, the resemblance was
uncanny.
I understood the girl’s little ploy. But I refused to speak up.
Rather than me stalking Lily, wasn’t it more likely someone had researched Rhys’s preferences?
After ten years together, Rhys couldn’t even trust me this much…
I pressed my lips together stubbornly.
Rhys snorted mockingly:
“Dressing alike doesn’t make you eighteen again.”
14:44
Our Vows Were Lies, But Your Revenge Will Be Very Real
66.1%
Chapter 2
“Cainden, why are you being difficult with me?”
I blinked, not believing what Rhys had just said.
“How about this,” Rhys licked his lips, mercilessly continuing.
“Ten years–name your price?”
I was stunned.
Ten years with Rhys, I’d taken bullets for him, knife wounds for him.
Yet nothing had ever hurt as much as this moment.
My nails dug into my palms as my voice trembled.
“Rhys, what did you just say?!”
“I said, for wasting ten years of your youth, name your price.”
Rhys stood with his hands in his pockets.
Even with emotions churning in his eyes, he still spoke through gritted teeth.
After hearing this, I could barely stand.
Lily tugged at Rhys’s sleeve, softly trying to mediate.
“Rhys, don’t be so harsh.”
“Camden didn’t do anything wrong.”
Rhys lowered his head, gently brushing her nose with his.
“Be good, listen to me.”
He pulled her behind him. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
Rhys used to protect me just like that.
I couldn’t bear to watch, acid churning in my stomach.
Looking down, I noticed the silver bracelet on my wrist.
When that bracelet was first given to me, it had been tight.
But the deeper I fell in love with Rhys, the looser it became.
14:44
