Chapter 23
+15 BONUS
As I sprinted out of the hallway, I shot Selena a quick message to explain what was going on.
When I stepped outside, the sight that greeted me made my blood run cold. Cameron had grabbed Jessica by the chin, forcing her to look him in the eye. His grip was so tight that she winced, tears streaming down her face.
Suddenly, Cameron let out a cold, mocking laugh. He leaned in and harshly said, “You’re still going on about how you’re just friends, huh? What a liar! You were with Sebastian for five years! I already knew a long time ago!”
His face twisted in disgust as he continued, “Now, you want to play the pure, virtuous woman? Telling me the one you really love is Sebastian? You’re a worthless woman, Jessica!”
“Get off me!” she shouted as she frantically shook her head
Seeing
Cameron’s face inch closer to hers, I charged forward, grabbing his collar and yanking him backwards with all my strength. He stumbled, falling hard to the ground.
Jessica stood there with tears streaming down her face, breathing heavily and still shaking with fear. I couldn’t stand seeing her like that, so I quickly shed my jacket and draped it around her shoulders.
“Cameron Judd! What kind of man puts his hands on a woman?!” I snapped icily.
“Oh, Sebastian, who are you to lecture me? A good friend? Or maybe the ex–boyfriend?”
Cameron laughed nonchalantly as he got to his feet slowly, brushing himself off like he wasn’t bothered by a
d by a thing
“By the way, don’t you two think you should clear things up for me? I’m talking about the real relationship between you. Man, she dumped you the moment I came back, and now you’re rushing to defend her. What’s the deal? You’re both just as pathetic.”
I ignored his words, my gaze dropping to the red marks on Jessica’s wrist.
“Did he do this?” I asked quietly.
She didn’t answer.
Looking into her tear–filled eyes, I felt my throat tighten. When I was sixteen, I promised myself I would be strong enough to protect Jessica and keep her from suffering. Even though my feelings for her had faded, I was still grateful for the fact that she had pulled me out of the abyss when I was at my lowest point.
Now, Cameron had hurt her, and I couldn’t bear it.
Jessica was crying so pitifully that I couldn’t look away.
“Wait here for a moment,” I said quietly, leaning in close.
Her tears still falling, she looked up at me, her voice trembling as she whispered, “Okay.”
On the other side, Cameron couldn’t stop himself from mocking me, taunting, “Sebastian, what do you even see in her? I’ve slept with her, you know? And now that she’s acting all pitiful, you come crawling back to her. Don’t you have any dignity or backbone?”
I took a slow, deliberate step toward him, allowing a faint smile to tug at my lips. “Honestly, I’m kind of glad, Cameron Jessica finally sees you for who you really are. She wasted five years on someone like you–she was blind, but now she can see!”
The confidence and pressure I built up over the years in the business world were clear at this moment. Cameron was just someone who rose to power later in life. Under the invisible weight of my presence, he
instinctively took a trap back. His eyes dared to Jessica, he had found a larger to act our ar
Fisages
ces
He gamed his teeth and unese “To think the actually out you from? The only cince you because die compared on, and you’re the one who’s more useful. A wonten like ter deserves the day I get
My expression darkened, my calm and composed fece toghting angely cut neatly tied the then shooed the man in fear of me hard gh the wall. Caught off guant, Cameron stee
Cangir Back a few steps, but reacted quedy
filante yan
en
“You’re asking for it, Sebastian hearted as he wings fat sent me
Irited my head, just enough to avoid the punch. With his os and, the fight begrense Jessica watched from the side worriedly
intense
Just as Cameron’s fist was about to hit me, she couldn’t hearing out, “deberas
