Cameron Carlson and his associate, Skyler Lopez, arrived in New York right on schedule at 6:30 p.m. Cameron had just parked when he spotted Lyla Greene stepping out of a cab. Her white Victorian-style dress gave her the appearance of a fresh-faced college student. With a slight smirk, Cameron motioned for her to join him and started walking towards the hotel entrance.
Skyler trailed closely behind Cameron, hesitating as he watched Lyla approach. She seemed familiar, like a fleeting memory that he couldn’t quite place.
Lyla reached Cameron and, with a polite nod to Skyler, fell in step with Cameron as they headed into the hotel. Skyler, following behind, was beginning to perspire slightly. He was puzzled by the woman’s identity and her connection to Cameron, detecting something unusual in their dynamic that even an outsider could sense.
Inside the plush private room, the hotel manager was already waiting for them. Cameron’s esteemed status was clear, as the manager personally attended to him every time. After taking their orders, the manager respectfully exited.
Cameron lifted his wine glass, swirling the wine with elegance as he observed Lyla through the glass. The atmosphere was awkward; the three sat in an uneasy silence, each at a distance from the others.
Lyla, unsure of Cameron's intentions, was about to question him when the manager returned, accompanied by several waitstaff to serve their meal.
With the table set, Cameron dismissed everyone, leaving just the three of them. The air grew even more charged. Cameron found the irony amusing—using one rival to aid the daughter of another he despised. Was this the real essence of using fire to fight fire?
“Mr. Carlson, who is this lady?” Skyler finally broke the suffocating silence, his voice a plea for Cameron to ease the tension.
“My wife!” Cameron said offhandedly, not even glancing at Skyler as he savored his wine. “I called you here for her.”
"For her? Is Mrs. Carlson unwell? She seems perfectly fine!” Skyler’s specialty was neurological disorders like strokes and brain injuries often seen in older patients, and Lyla appeared to be in good health.
“Not her, her father!” Cameron clarified. “A year ago, he had a stroke and has been in a coma since. Can you help him?”
“Without assessing him, I can’t say for sure!” Skyler understood now but still felt uneasy. Though skilled, not every case was within his ability to cure.
“Failure is not an option. If he doesn’t wake up, neither will you!” Cameron’s chilling words, delivered with a stoic face, made Lyla tense. That was his way—one sentence could instill fear, and Skyler was visibly shaken.
Realizing Cameron’s plan was to help her father, Lyla felt a mix of gratitude and an unfamiliar warmth at the gesture.
“Mr. Carlson, you’re putting me in a tough spot. I need more details to make any promises!” Skyler protested, wiping sweat from his brow.
“Don’t worry, you’ll get the information. I’ve informed the hospital that you’re now my personal physician. Be there at 8 a.m. the day after tomorrow, or face the consequences!” Cameron tossed a card toward Skyler, his eyes glinting with a steely determination.
“Alright, you can go now. I’m dining with my wife, so I won’t keep you.” Cameron dismissed Skyler with a wave, resuming his meal as if he were shooing away an inconvenience.
Skyler wisely took the card and left, his shaking figure evoking pity from Lyla. Cameron’s disdainful gaze upon Skyler revealed his annoyance, even a hint of loathing, but Lyla stayed silent, unsure of what to say.
“Not eating? Is something wrong with the food?” Cameron was well aware of Lyla’s questions but wasn’t in the mood to answer them.
“Thank you!” After a lengthy silence, Lyla finally spoke, her voice sincere. “Thank you for arranging a doctor for my father. I appreciate it.” Lyla wasn’t one to easily express her feelings; even now, her gratitude was understated.
If someone overheard their conversation, who would believe they’d been married for a year?
“No need for thanks, you earned it! You performed well last night; keep it up!” Cameron raised his glass to her, a teasing glint in his eyes.
Lyla’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment at his words. Thinking about the previous evening made her feel self-conscious. “Cameron, can’t you be serious for once? I’m genuinely thanking you!” she replied, rolling her eyes at him before downing her wine in one go.
Seeing her blush, Cameron’s mood brightened, and he laughed. “Why be shy after the fact?” His teasing words carried an air of intimacy, making her blush deepen.
“Cameron, even if you’re helping me, I won’t tolerate your teasing!” she said, flustered, as she got up to leave.
“Teasing? In this world, why can’t the truth be spoken? I’m just stating facts!” A dinner roll whizzed past her cheek, hitting the door. Clearly, Cameron wasn’t letting her leave. “Stay and have dinner with me, Mrs. Carlson!” he commanded, not even looking her way as he continued to eat.
Lyla bit her lip, feeling cornered. This man always maintained an air of superiority, and she felt like nothing more than a pawn to him, powerless to fight back.
In the office, tension was thick. Cameron and Nora James sat facing each other, each engrossed in their documents, not exchanging a single word. Their expressions were icy reflections of one another.
Nora hadn’t anticipated that one phone call from her would bring Cameron back to sign the papers. Once he signed, the contract would take effect, marking his relinquishment of a substantial fortune.
“Have you reviewed it? If all's in order, sign it!” Nora used a taunt to push Cameron, hoping he'd proceed. Yet, she seemed to have underestimated him. Cameron was indifferent, even eager to sever ties with her.
“There’s nothing to review; I don’t want it. Giving it all to you brings peace of mind and clears any debt between us!” He uncapped the pen and signed his name with a flourish, feeling a weight lift from his shoulders. Finally, a breath of relief. For years, he’d been more than generous to Nora. Her continual oversteps had eroded his patience. Knowing the truth of past events made it impossible for him to tolerate her any longer.
“Cameron, I’m surprised at how easily you’ve let this go. You pursued this for so long; surely there’s some attachment?” Nora was incredulous that Cameron would sign so readily, decisively cutting ties.
“Aunt, you never understood me. My pursuits were never just about wealth!” Putting the pen away, Cameron’s smile was faint. Had he only chased money and power, he wouldn’t have become a leader feared by all.
That was in the past. Cameron had long left that world, though his innate wildness and fierceness remained undiminished. Had someone else done what Nora had, their fate would have been far worse.
“Oh? Seems like you’ve been busy with things outside my knowledge!” Nora narrowed her eyes, standing close to Cameron as she spoke, her right hand inadvertently touching her left, where a finger once was.
“Not nearly as much as you’ve done to me, not even close!” Cameron shrugged, his smile vague and sardonic.
“Cameron, what do you mean? How dare you speak to me like this!” Nora was annoyed, unable to understand why his attitude had grown so cold over the past five years.
“You told me we’d have no ties. So now, we’re just strangers. My demeanor is my own business! If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.” Cameron seemed eager to leave, bowing slightly to Nora before turning to go.
“If it's about what happened over twenty years ago, I maintain I wasn’t wrong! It was always Rivka!” As Cameron moved to leave, Nora’s voice rose, echoing her distress.
