Chapter 77
Camille POV.
I was sitting on the balcony, staring at a busy road and waiting for Scott. It had been twenty-four hours since I last saw him. He hadn't shown up since last night. Colette wanted to meet him but I couldn't find him. I looked for him everywhere I could find him, but he was nowhere. I wondered if he had taken a direct flight to California. I could ask Rika about him but she didn't even know where he had gone. I was not worried about him but curious. Maura flew back to her hometown. She was his wife but their relationship seemed toxic. They no longer seemed closer than they used to be.
I didn't know why whenever I looked into Scott's eyes I felt like there was something he was hiding from me. It was deep and dark and he didn't want to share it with anyone. I have known him all my life. He was a kind person, but only to the world. He had never been kind to me and he would never be able to change our past no matter how many times he apologized. His apologies would never melt my heart.
I was a bit tipsy due to the consumption of alcohol. Scott had a wide variety of alcohol collections so I grabbed one of them and half-finished it. I lay my head against the seat, staring at the black cloud. The moon looked beautiful, glowing silver white, illuminating its light across the dark sky, millions of stars sprinkled behind it. It was the enticing beauty of the night. I remembered I liked to watch the sky with Scott lying next to me when we were children. Sometimes we spend time in a greenhouse. It used to be the most beautiful time of my life. Back then, he didn't love me but I loved that boy. I used to love everything about him. I would never forget the time when Scott was there for me at my darkest hours, at the death of my mother. I smiled at those memories and squeezed my eyes, shaking my head in disappointment. It was strange that your most beautiful memories turned into your nightmare. Scott had become my nightmare. No matter how much he changed it would never erase the things he had done to me. I would never forgive him.
I was startled when my phone buzzed. It was Conan. I picked it up. "Hey, what's up?"
"I was just missing you, Cami," he whispered almost sadly.
"I missed you too," I slurred with a half-smile.
"Are you drunk?" Conan asked almost in shock.
"Hmm..."
"You have got to be kidding me!" He growled. "Where is Scott?"
"I'm alone." I glanced at the empty penthouse. "And happy."
"Are you okay?" He asked, his voice concerned. I liked the way Conan cared about me. He was a real man. He was everything I wanted in my husband and I couldn't wait to get married to him. Once I freed Scott I would marry him. I regretted not marrying him in these years.
"I'm okay, honey." I smiled sadly and suddenly water gathered in my eyes. Breathing deeply, I blink my tears. "Conan..." my voice shook. "Camille..." he said, sensing gloominess in my voice. "Do you want me to come there? I'm worried about you."
"No, nothing to worry about." I swallowed hard. "I just..." I bit into my lower lip. "I just want to thank you for everything you did for me, Conan. For everything. You're my family. You're my man, Conan. I should have married you. I should have made you my husband a long time ago..." My breath shook. "I'm sorry for being so mean to you. I would be indebted to you for the rest of my life. You are looking after my daughter..."
"Camille..." He cut me off. His voice was soft and calm. "Why are you telling me all these things? I had done everything for us. Cami, I love you, and if you ask for my life, I won't hesitate to give it to you. I so fucking love you. You don't have to remind me of these things over and over again."
"I don't know, I just want to tell you." I rubbed my temple. "I'm upset."
"Everything is fine, Cami. Our daughter is doing well. She'll be with us in a few days."
I sniffled, smiling. "I'm dying to have her with us."
"Hmm..." Conan sighed.
"I'm feeling sleepy."
"Okay, take some rest. I'll call you later. Bye, Cami."
"Bye, Conan." I hung up and stood up and walked into the room before crawling into bed. Suddenly, there was a blackout everywhere. I sat up straight, glancing across the pitch black room. A chill swept through my spine when I heard footsteps echoing in the living room. Hurrying out of bed I walked outside.
"Scott..." I called out, scanning my eyes in the dark living room. I could make out things through the moonlight. There was no one there but I heard footsteps. "Is this your game to scare me?" My voice was husky from fear. It was as if someone was watching me. I could even smell and hear him breathing but I could not see the person. "Scott, please. I'm done with your drama. Now come out. I know you are there in this penthouse. I could hear you. Come out." I gulped hard. My throat turned dry when I heard his footfalls behind me. I spun around to see him but he was nowhere in sight. "S...Scott!" I screamed, my voice was wobbly. "Stop this game now!"
I walked into the kitchen and stood dumbstruck when I saw a man standing tall with a long knife.
"Ahh!" An agonising cry escaped my mouth when he advanced on me. I spun around, running out of the kitchen. I felt him following me. Suddenly my eyes caught a bottle on the table. I grabbed it and hurled it at him. "Go away!" The bottle crashed hard to the ground, making broken noise.
"Cami, I love you."
I paused when I heard a familiar voice. It was a voice I never wanted to listen to even in my worst nightmares. It was the same voice that terrified me for eight years. "Samuel!" I gasped for breath.
"Don't leave me, babe," he mocked, stepping closer to me. I wanted to scream, run and fight but my body seemed to freeze in the same spot. I couldn't do anything but watch him, shocked. I couldn't see his face but he was the same height and walking as Samuel. It must be Scott. He was playing this dirty game with me.
"I know you're Scott!" I hissed out. "Don't come near me. Don't you fucking dare!" I grabbed another bottle and smashed it into the wall before holding it out in front of me and stepping backward. "Get off me?"
He laughed darkly. "This won't shoo me away, darling." His dangerous voice made me shiver violently. Whenever I hear his voice, foul memories freshen in my head.
"You can't be Samuel."
"I can't be Scott either."
"Who are you?"
"Whoever I am..." He stepped closer to me. "...it does not matter but why I am here is."
In a matter of seconds, he shot out his hands and shoved me into the wall roughly. His face is covered with a mask. He pressed a sharp knife against my neck, his breath gusting across my face. "I'm here to kill you, sweetheart." Without thinking twice, I tightened my grip on the bottle and stabbed it into his thigh. He stumbled back with a grunt. I shoved him away as I broke into a run. Stepping into the elevator I fumbled with the buttons. In the end I pressed into the parking lot and rode straight down. My breath was uneven and my whole body was shaking. Once I reached the door opened, I dashed out. My head hit somebody's chest as I looked up to see Scott with a confused expression. "Scott...!" I gasped in disbelief, glancing back.
"Camille, what's wrong?" He grabbed me by my shoulder, steadying my body and looking into my eyes. "What happened?"
Without a word, I examined his thigh. I attacked that man on his left thigh. It was not Scott. Scott was wearing a black suit, and he held an award in his other hand. "Where were you?" I asked almost angrily.
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"I..." He hesitated. "I'm sorry I left you without giving you notice. I was invited to the International Film Festival and I was thinking of taking you with me but I knew you would never come with me. Therefore, I attended by myself. I wanted to dedicate this award to you..." He smiled sadly. "To my daughter."
And my heart melted. I could see generosity in his eyes. I hated how much he loved Colette, but he kept doing this with me. I didn't know why he wanted to keep me for six months instead of demanding Colette's custody. "Are you alright?" he asked me.
"I think someone broke into your place. A man tried to kill me."
"What?" He exclaimed. "Are you okay?" He examined my body and then his eyes fixed on my neck. He tilted my chin up to get a closer look. His jaw clenched harder when he noticed blood on his fingertips. Without a word he stormed into the elevator and punched the top floor. His body tensed and his chest expanded with heavy breathing. He rushed into the room as soon as the door opened. "Where was he?"
"In the living room," I replied.
He paused when he saw a broken bottle and blood. "Is your..."
"No, it was his blood. I attacked his thigh with a bottle."
He released a long sigh, shaking his head. He spun around and hugged me tightly.
And my heart stopped beating.
"Thank fuck!" he sighed.