Chapter 2
I was jealous of Sophia. She hadn't done anything special, yet she managed to etch herself into the heart of the man I loved for a whole fifteen years.
He was even willing to give up everything, to be with a woman he despised, just so Sophia could be happy.
Cameron's love for Sophia was truly overwhelming.
Everything before my eyes grew hazy.
Tears poured down as if they cost nothing, unstoppable.
They smudged Cameron's careful handwriting, turning his words into a blurry mess.
Cameron had hurt me so much with his lies.
Fighting back the ache in my chest, I put the notebook back in its place.
But as soon as I tried to stand, I couldn't keep myself upright and stumbled forward.
When I came to, Cameron was already sitting next to me.
He held my hand, worry written all over his face.
"Honey, how did you end up fainting in the study?" Cameron asked. "If Evie hadn't found you in time, I honestly don't know what I would've done," he said.
Cameron exhaled shakily, still rattled by the close call. "I was really scared something might happen to you."
Every word he spoke was full of affection, and his gaze was tender.
I caught a faint whiff of alcohol on him; my brow furrowed ever so slightly, hoping he wouldn't notice.
Guys really knew how to play the part when they were tipsy, making women tear up.
I couldn't help but replay all the little moments we'd shared together.
Whenever he got a bit tipsy, Cameron would snuggle up to me, acting all cute and insisting I was the only one he'd ever want in this life.
Every morning, he'd cook breakfast for me before heading off to work, always so thoughtful.
On holidays and anniversaries, he always went the extra mile to surprise me with something romantic.
Honestly, if anyone else did what Cameron did, they could win anyone's heart without even trying.
Anyone would fall for him, except Sophia.
I looked up, locking eyes with Cameron.
He looked at me with nothing but tenderness in his eyes.
"Honey, why aren't you saying anything?" Cameron asked.
"It's nothing," I said, forcing out the words. "Work's just been crazy lately, and I haven't been sleeping well."
"I see..." Cameron said.
He kept holding my hand, his grip steady, and started rubbing it almost unconsciously.
"Is Sophia as busy as you are?" he asked.
"I mean, if she's not too busy, maybe you could let her take on some of your tasks. That way, you won't get so worn out," he suggested.
I stared at his nonchalant expression and let out a bitter laugh.
Memories crashed over me like a tidal wave.
All those times I never noticed, Cameron was piecing together everything about the woman he loved, bit by bit, just by listening to me talk—getting a read on her moods and feelings.
"If I give her too much work, Willie would give me hell for it," I said.
I did it on purpose, just to provoke him.
I made sure he knew that Sophia and Willie were a couple now.
He didn't have any right or any chance to be with Sophia anymore.
But when I caught that fleeting sadness in his eyes, it hit me that the pain I felt was even worse than his.
Hurting him only made me feel worse myself. Guess that was what they meant by cutting off my nose to spite my face.
"I want to sleep now. Just go," I muttered.
I kept my head down, hoping he wouldn't notice how upset I was.
Not hesitating for a moment, he turned and left the room.
Now that I knew the truth, everything Cameron had done suddenly added up.
He'd sweet-talk me, but the gifts were always what Sophia would've wanted.
He'd cook for me, but he never even knew I was allergic to seafood.
I closed my eyes, feeling so tired.
Suddenly, it hit me that maybe getting cancer wouldn't be the worst thing.
At least I wouldn't have to stick around in this messed-up world anymore.
I thought the real world was already bad enough, but I never imagined my nightmares would be just as cruel.
Even in my dreams, the scenes were just as terrifying.
In my dream, just like the story described, I treated Sophia as the bane of my existence, a thorn I couldn't pull out.
I was determined to break up Sophia and Willie, no matter what it took.
I even went as far as injecting Sophia with HIV, trafficking her to some underground brothel, and stripping away everything she had.
In the end, Cameron forced me to grovel on the floor, his foot crushing my head in humiliation.
He towered over me, looking down with cold contempt as he jammed needles one by one into my fingertips.
The agony shot straight to my heart. I couldn't even cry out, nearly passing out from the pain.
His face was ferocious as he viciously grabbed my chin.
"This is the price you pay for destroying Sophia!" he snarled. "I'll avenge Sophia. I'll return everything you did to her, a hundred times, a thousand times over on you!"
Cameron knew I cherished my beauty, so he deliberately destroyed my looks.
He knew I was a neat freak, so he stripped me bare and forced me to sleep naked in a dirty heap of trash.
He knew I had a strong sense of dignity, so in the end, he made sure I died in the most humiliating way possible, being passed around by hundreds of men.
My body was battered beyond recognition, not a single patch of skin left untouched by torment. But even then, Cameron still wouldn't let me go, not even after I was dead.
He wanted to grind my bones to dust and scatter my ashes, making sure nothing of me remained.
I shot awake, soaked in cold sweat, only to see Cameron fast asleep right next to me.
His arm was locked tightly around my waist, and even in his dreams, his brow stayed furrowed.