Camille froze at Ayan's question.

She stared at him, confused. "What are you talking about?"

"Did you or didn't you?" he pressed, refusing to let it go.

"Of course not!" Camille replied, her tone firm. "Who told you something, or what did you see?"

Ayan knew Camille well enough to have a sense of who she had around her. After all, the people secretly protecting her were his. Typically, he wouldn't ask too much-he wanted to give her the freedom of personal space-but if he really wanted to know, he could simply ask the bodyguards.

Camille looked directly at Ayan, her gaze calm. He said nothing, just stared at her.

She smiled suddenly, recalling Sienna's teasing words from earlier that day. Camille decided to toy with him a bit. "Alright, fine. I won't tease you anymore. Don't worry, no one can sway my heart. It's all yours, okay?"

Her words were ambiguous, offering no real answer to his question.

As Ayan continued to look at her with a mix of frustration and longing, Camille opened the door to the private room and left.

She walked down the hallway, a smile still lingering on her face, when she spotted Sienna waiting by the door of the dining room.

Their eyes met, and Sienna let out a light snort. "Where did you go?"

"I just went to the restroom and paid the bill," Camille answered casually.

"Really?"

"Yes, really."

Sienna snorted again, her eyes carrying a hint of coldness and warning. "You'd better be honest. Don't forget the promise you made to me yesterday."

The veiled threat was impossible for Camille to ignore.

Camille narrowed her eyes slightly and whispered, "Oh, come on, let's talk calmly. I just went to see him for a moment."

"Oh, how clingy! Can't even have a meal without him showing up? How insecure is he?"

"Maybe," Camille said with a laugh, taking Sienna's arm in hers. "Let's not talk about him anymore. Come on, let's go in. Otherwise, they'll think we ran out on the bill!"

Sienna tapped Camille lightly on the cheek with her finger. "Don't hide things from me next time. Whatever it is, just tell me directly. How else am I supposed to back you up?"

Camille raised her hand in a gesture of promise. "Got it! Yes, ma'am!"

Telling Sienna about Ayan had indeed lifted a weight off Camille's shoulders. It was far easier to be honest than to keep hiding things.

Sienna knew her too well. Camille had slipped up numerous times before, but Sienna hadn't thought much of it at the time. Now that there was no need to hide anything, Camille felt freer to speak openly.

As for Ayan, his recent behavior suggested a certain insecurity. Although he initially planned to maintain some distance, he now couldn't help but message her several times a day. If Camille took too long to reply, he would call her directly, unable to restrain himself.

Their relationship felt like the early, passionate stages of a romance, where they couldn't get enough of each other. But the timing wasn't right yet, so they had to endure the bittersweet ache of longing.

---

Preston and Brandon's situation had cooled off, losing its hold on public attention. Preston, however, remained in hiding, wary of the lingering interest from online sleuths who loved to follow unfinished scandals.

Meanwhile, Molly had returned home with her child and the nanny after a vacation abroad.

Preston had no idea that Molly had used the excuse of a summer vacation to leave the country. She had hidden it well, and Preston hadn't suspected a thing.

When Molly arrived home, she found Preston looking worse for wear. He'd been living off instant noodles for days-the very noodles she had stocked up on before leaving, almost as if she had anticipated this.

Feigning ignorance about what had been happening online, Molly said, "I had no idea. The nanny told me about it, and that's when I found out. But the baby hasn't been feeling well these past couple of days, so I couldn't come back sooner."

Preston frowned. "Ever since the baby was born, I feel like your heart isn't with me anymore. Is the baby your top priority now? Am I not as important as the child?"

For a moment, Molly didn't know how to respond.

She looked at him, listening to his words. How ironic, she thought. The same Preston who had once been cold and calculating, using her only to gain leverage over the Walker family, was now jealous of a child, feeling neglected.

If she didn't know the truth about his intentions, Molly might have been moved by his words.

But now, she felt nothing. She smiled faintly, her lips curving slightly. "Preston, you've misunderstood. It's because of you that I had this child. I care about the baby because I love you so much. I thought you could take care of yourself this time, but I guess I was wrong."

Her words had a hint of amusement, as if she found the whole situation laughable.

Preston couldn't find any way to refute her, so he fell silent, his face dark and brooding.

His appearance was unkempt, his beard unshaven, giving him a worn, almost broken look.

Molly asked, feigning concern, "Who exactly is this Brandon? Why won't he leave you alone?"

"He's just some nobody. I don't know why he's targeting me," Preston replied coldly.

Molly didn't believe him, but she simply narrowed her eyes and gave him a faint, probing smile. "Could someone have put him up to it? Isn't he connected to the SynergyCon project? Could this be Ayan's doing?"

Preston had a habit of blaming others for his problems, always finding excuses to justify his actions. Molly's suggestion conveniently gave him a scapegoat.

When Preston heard Ayan's name, his expression shifted dramatically, his face contorted with anger. "That's right. It's Ayan. He's afraid I'll expose some of his secrets, so he's trying to destroy me like this."

"I knew it," Molly said, her voice calm but calculated. "Preston, if you know it's Ayan, why don't you fight back? If this drags on, who knows how long it'll take to end?"

As she spoke, Molly studied Preston closely, watching his every reaction.

Preston frowned deeply, his silence betraying his inner turmoil.

Molly continued, pressing him further. "Are you going soft on Ayan? Or are you worried about upsetting Camille, so you can't bring yourself to act against him?"

Her words weren't just a test-they were meant to provoke him.

Preston was the type who couldn't handle being provoked, especially when it came to Ayan. The thought of Ayan had likely filled him with rage for years, but he had never found the right opportunity to strike. Now, Molly's words were like fuel to the fire.