Chapter Ten: Cam

I arrived late, cursing under my breath at the timing. This event was different—it was the kind that required couples to dance and drink together. And the first person who came to mind wasn’t Stella—it was Miss Luper. That realization hit harder than I expected. That’s why I asked her to come with me. I thought she’d wait for me outside or at least text me before going in, but to my surprise, she didn’t. She just went ahead without a word.

If it wasn’t for Luke telling me he was bringing her because his date happened to be Miss Luper’s friend, I would’ve been waiting outside like an idiot. Ever since her accident, I’ve been keeping tabs on her, wanting to know if that bastard responsible would ever show up again. But she’s stubborn, refusing to name him, keeping her silence. It frustrates me, yet I can’t bring myself to push her harder.

As I walked into the venue, scanning the crowd, my breath caught. There she was, chatting with someone, completely oblivious to my arrival. And God, she looked stunning. It was the first time I’d ever seen her like this—hair pinned back in a messy bun that somehow looked elegant, a dress that hugged her curves just right. For a moment, all I could think about was how good she looked—and how good it’d feel to peel that dress off her.

The thought hit me like a jolt, and I shook it off, trying to focus.

But then I saw it: the guy she was talking to reached out, trying to touch her arm. She seemed distracted, lost in thought, her usual sharpness dulled. That was enough to send anger coursing through me. Without hesitation, I walked toward her, ignoring the crowded room around me. She didn’t even notice me as I approached, and that only fuelled my frustration.

I stepped behind her and pulled her into a hug, wrapping my arms around her waist and resting my head on her shoulder. She flinched at first—surprised—but quickly melted into the embrace. It was such a subtle change, but it made me happy in a way I couldn’t explain. I caught the guy’s confused and angry expression and met his gaze directly, my voice sharp as I said, “What are you doing here? I’ve been looking all over for you, Wife.” I let the last word hang in the air, louder and more deliberate.

She turned her head slightly, looking at me over her shoulder. Her expression was unreadable, but she matched my tone with a calmness that surprised me. “I was waiting for you,” she said smoothly. “You texted that you’d be late, so I was just keeping myself occupied, Hubby.” Her voice was steady, but I felt the slight tremble in her body through my arms. Still, she wasn’t letting it show.

Hearing her call me that—Hubby—felt surprisingly good. It was playful, but the way she said it sent a thrill through me.

The guy blinked in shock, taking a step back. “Oh, Miss Luper! You were telling the truth. You’re married? Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Before I could respond, she tightened her grip on the hand I had resting on her waist, holding it firmly as if to emphasize the point. “Well,” she said, her voice calm but with a touch of humour, “I wanted to, but my husband suggested we keep a low profile. You know how it is—he’s a big shot, and I’m just a humble team leader at the company.”

I had to bite back a laugh at the effort she was putting in. Her words were smooth, but I could feel her trying to twist my wrist slightly, as if hoping I’d loosen my hold. Instead, I tightened it, pulling her closer, caging her in completely.

I leaned in, my voice low near her ear. “Oh really? I said that?” She nodded quickly, not looking at me, and I couldn’t help but laugh. The sound made her jump slightly, her body tensing against mine, which only amused me more.

I turned her around to face me, ignoring the guy as I focused on her. I tilted my head, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face, letting my fingers linger for a moment. “Can you take a hint and leave us alone?” I said casually, my gaze fixed on her even as I addressed the guy. My fingers toyed with the loose strand, noting how beautiful she looked up closely, her cheeks slightly flushed.

The guy mumbled an apology and backed off, moving away into the crowd. But I barely noticed—my attention was entirely on her now. She was staring up at me, her eyes filled with confusion and something else I couldn’t quite place.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I asked, smirking slightly, though my voice softened as I took in the vulnerability, she was trying so hard to mask.

“Because you’re acting… different,” she said quietly, her gaze searching mine.

I leaned closer, my hand still on her waist. “Maybe because I don’t like other people touching what’s mine.”

Her lips parted, but she didn’t respond. For once, she was speechless, and I couldn’t deny the satisfaction that gave me.

“Mr. Watson, this is not like you. What’s gotten into you?” she asked, her voice tinged with both irritation and curiosity as she tried to wriggle free from my grip. Instead of letting go, I pulled her closer, tightening my hold even further. She let out a soft hiss of frustration, and for some reason, I liked the sound.

I smirked, leaning closer to her ear. “And whose fault is that?” I asked, letting my chin rest lightly on her shoulder as the music shifted to a slower melody. The crowd began to sway together in pairs, and I instinctively started moving with her, guiding her to match the rhythm.

My eyes wandered briefly, landing on my younger brother. He was dancing peacefully with the girl I had met at the café—a pleasant surprise, though my thoughts were still fixed on the woman in my arms.

I turned my head slightly toward her. “Hey, say—do you think she’s okay over there?” I gestured subtly toward my brother and his dance partner.

Miss Luper glanced in their direction as I shifted her a little to give her a better view. “I think they’re fine. She’s an introvert, though. It takes her time to warm up to people. She’s a writer, you see, and doesn’t go out much…” Her voice trailed off as she continued, but honestly, I wasn’t paying attention to the details. I found myself more focused on the way her body felt pressed against mine.

Bored by her commentary, I pulled her even closer, our proximity leaving no space between us. I could feel the warmth of her against my chest, which only made my thoughts wander to dangerous places. Lowering my voice to a whisper, I asked, “What about you? Do you open up so easily to just anyone?”

She paused for a moment, then replied with a faint smile. “If I did, you’d know everything about my life by now. And you’d probably be on my list of trusted people.”

It was rare to see her smile like that. Her expression was disarmingly genuine, and I found myself blurting out, “You should smile more.”

Her response was quick and unexpected. “I hate my smile,” she said, a hint of bitterness in her tone, before turning her face away. I caught a glimpse of a fake, forced grin, and it made something in my chest tighten. Before I could say anything, the music changed, signalling a partner rotation.

“Damn this stupid dance,” I muttered under my breath, watching as she moved reluctantly to her next partner. My eyes stayed glued to her as she danced with others, some of whom clearly made her uncomfortable.

My jaw tightened as I took mental notes, marking the ones who dared to overstep. They wouldn’t get away with it—whether I had to bankrupt them, ruin their reputations, or worse, I’d make sure they regretted it.

Every new partner she danced with felt like a thorn in my side. Meanwhile, my own partners were trying their hardest to flirt or draw my attention, but my focus was entirely elsewhere. I couldn’t shake the jealousy simmering inside me.

When Harper finally rotated to me, I asked her about Miss Luper, hoping for some insight into her life. But Harper was tight-lipped, refusing to share much. I didn’t push her; it wasn’t worth the effort. The moment our dance ended, I scanned the room for Miss Luper, intending to claim her for the next song—but she was gone.

“Where is she?” I muttered, my eyes darting toward the restrooms. Perhaps she’d gone there to escape the crowd.

“Here you are, Cam.” Romano’s familiar voice pulled me out of my thoughts. He approached me with two glasses of wine, offering one as he came to a stop beside me.

“Romano,” I greeted him, accepting the drink.

“I’m sorry for dragging you here,” he said, taking a sip.

“It’s fine,” I replied, though my mind was elsewhere. “Because of you, I got to see something I never had before.”

Romano and I were the same age—29—but we had vastly different lives. We’d met in Italy during a case where I had to clean up the mess of corrupt politicians. He was in charge of the investigation and had a knack for acting, which helped him play the part when needed.

At first, we clashed—two arrogant, sharp-tongued men—but eventually, we became close. He was my go-to for information, and I shared intelligence about underground organizations with him in return.

“So,” Romano said, his tone teasing. “How’s your little wife? I missed my chance to meet her.” He looked around, scanning the room for Miss Luper.

“She’s probably in the restroom,” I replied casually, taking a sip of my wine.

Romano arched a brow at me, his expression amused. “Don’t tell me you planted a spy in my building.”

I rolled my eyes. “Why would I? I don’t need to. Besides, you’re too obvious about it.”

He grinned, but then his tone turned serious. “You’re a mess, Cam. The day you showed up at my place with whiskey in hand, ranting about how you’d screwed up your life—that was when I knew. You kept saying how you couldn’t stop thinking about her, how you were torn between doing the right thing and—”

“Did you get what I asked for?” I cut him off, unwilling to let him continue down that path.

“Yes,” he replied, smirking. “But she’s smarter than I gave her credit for. I couldn’t get all the details you wanted. And let me give you some advice—be a man and confess to her. So, what if you already have a child with Stella? Whether it’s yours or not, you can figure that out later.”

I clenched my jaw, refusing to rise to his bait. Romano loved to stir the pot, but I wasn’t going to let him put words to something I wasn’t ready to admit—not even to myself.

“I have my doubts but I can’t just go and ask her that tell me the truth she will lie again,”

“I will give whatever I find directly to you or to Mathew,” He replies, “but seriously why do you have to burn the hotel down with all the criminals inside man they were alive,

People who were outside could hear the scream can you imagine what they have to go through, you have caused me so much work you know that” he took a big sip of wine. “They touched what’s mine, and they hurt her, I am looking for the mastermind who gave the order, Miss Luper knows the person”

“What?” he looks surprised, “yes she told me but she is refusing to give me the name and I don’t want to use force to make her tell me the name”

“You want me to ask her as an investigator?” I shook my head, dismissing the idea. “No, it’s fine. I’m monitoring her. She wants to deal with this problem on her own. That’s just how she is—handling everything on her own.”

“What a good husband you are, huh?” Romano’s tone was teasing, but I didn’t rise to the bait. “Don’t go there,” I warned him, and he laughed lightly.

“Did you test the blood that doctor gave you?” I changed the subject, knowing he wouldn’t let it go. “Yes, I know I’m deflecting, but who cares?”

He nodded. “Your wife’s blood, right?”

I nodded back. “Yes”

“The drug we found in it is different from what’s available on the market. Yesterday, I got a lead on a local dealer who was selling the drug.”

“Did he say the name?” I asked, taking a sip of my wine.

Romano shook his head. “No name yet, but it’s a start.”

” Do you need help?”

I shrugged. “Oh my God, The Cam Watson is helping me without me asking first. This is a miracle,” he teased, but I wasn’t in the mood for jokes.

“Shut up,” I replied, more sharply than I intended. “Ahem, jokes aside, I’ll give you a call if I need the help.”

“Ooh, Mr. Romano and Mr. Watson. What a pleasure to see you two together,” a voice interrupted us—someone with a hint of amusement in their tone. Romano got engaged, and I took it as my cue to slip away from the gossip. I hated idle talk—especially now when things were tense.

I walked towards Luke, who was trying to calm Harper down. “Hey, have you seen your sister-in-law?” I asked, scanning the crowd.

Luke shook his head, looking concerned. Harper was tense, searching the room with wide eyes. “What? Where did she go?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

I glanced around, trying to keep a low profile. “Don’t worry, I’ll find her. You two stay put.”

I roamed the hotel, checking all the usual spots. When I walked past the balcony, I heard a muffled argument—definitely Miss Luper’s voice, raised in anger. It wasn’t loud, but it was enough to catch my attention.

“Shit,” I muttered under my breath, quickening my pace toward the source of the noise.