Chapter 12
Don Colen’s lips curved into a warm smile as he gently took Camilla’s hand. Lifting it to his lips, he pressed a soft kiss to the back of it, his eyes never leaving hers. “Did you like the dress, my lady?”
Camilla froze, her breath catching as whispers erupted across the room. Her heart pounded in her chest, a mix of confusion and realization swirling in her mind. “Oh, yeah…” she stammered, her words barely audible. She blinked, then blurted out, “So you‘ re… him? You‘ re my future husband?”
Don Colen’s brows lifted slightly, a hint of amusement flickering in his gaze. “I am,” he confirmed with a nod.
Camilla swallowed hard, her eyes scanning his face. “But you‘ re not ugly…” she murmured, her voice trailing off as her
thoughts escaped her lips. “You‘ re… what…”
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Don Colen tilted his head, a teasing glint in his eyes. “I’m what, my lady?” he prompted, leaning slightly closer as if eager to hear her answer.
Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly blurted out, “You‘ re handsome.”
A deep chuckle rumbled from Don Colen’s chest, his smile widening. “And you‘ re gorgeous, my love,” he replied smoothly, his words carrying a warmth that seemed utterly out of place for the man known as the Steel Serpent.
The room fell into stunned silence, broken only by the faint rustle of fabric and the buzz of hushed gossip. Mafia elites
whispered among themselves. The ruthless Don Colen Armand, a man feared across continents, was smiling. And not just smiling–he was soft with Camilla.
Katie stood frozen, her mind racing as she pieced the scene together. He’s her
fiancé? she thought, her fists clenching.
The hatred that simmered inside her boiled
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over, though she kept her expression neutral. Of all people, Camilla gets this?
Across the room, Jackson and Ridge exchanged uneasy glances, both trying to process what they were witnessing.
“What’s going on?” Jackson muttered under his breath, his jaw tightening.
“I don’t know,” Ridge replied quietly, his eyes fixed on Camilla and Don Colen. “Fiancè?”
Camilla, still reeling, finally found her voice. “Thank you… for the dress,” she said softly, unsure of how else to respond. Her eyes darted around the room, the weight of everyone’s stares pressing down on her.
Don Colen’s hand lingered on hers for a moment longer before he released it. “Anything for my bride,” he said smoothly, his gaze lingering on her for a heartbeat before turning to address the room.
Don Colen lifted his hand to silence the murmurs in the hall. His sharp gaze swept
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over the crowd, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
“No one,” he announced firmly, “dares to harm Camilla. She is to be my wife, and anyone who disrespects her will answer to me.”
The declaration sent a shockwave through the room. Whispers surged, but no one dared challenge him. Camilla, though still stunned, felt a wave of relief. The humiliation Katie had tried to bring upon her was wiped away with a single, powerful statement. She glanced at Don Colen, and for the first time that night, she felt a strange sense of security in his presence.
Katie, on the other hand, stood frozen in shock. Her carefully laid plan to humiliate Camilla had backfired spectacularly. She forced a weak smile, retreating into the crowd to hide her frustration as she wasn’t able to do her plan tonight.
As the event began to settle, Camilla took a quiet moment to herself near the balcony.
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She barely had time to breathe before Jackson and Ridge approached.
“Camilla,” Jackson started, his voice low but firm, “what the hell was that? You‘ re engaged to him? And you didn’t think to tell us?”
Ridge crossed his arms, adding, “You didn’t even give us a heads–up. Do you know how shocked we were? How blindsided?”
Camilla turned to face them, her expression cold and unyielding. “Why would it matter? It’s not like either of you care about me,” she snapped. “You‘ ve both been too busy playing knights in shining armor for Katie.”
“That’s not fair,” Jackson argued, frowning. “We‘ ve always looked out for you.”
Camilla scoffed, shaking her head.
“Looked out for me? Really? All I see is you running to Katie every time she cries.
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You didn’t even ask me what happened tonight. You just assumed I was the one in the wrong.
Ridge opened his mouth to speak, but Camilla raised a hand to stop him. “Save it. I don’t need your excuses. I’ve been handling things on my own for a while. now.”
There was an awkward silence, heavy with unspoken emotions. Jackson and Ridge exchanged uneasy glances, clearly unsure how to respond.
Camilla took a step back, her voice quieter but still firm. “I don‘ t owe you anything. Not an explanation, not my trust, and certainly not my time.”
Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked away, leaving Jackson and Ridge standing there, grappling with their own. guilt and confusion. For the first time, they realized just how much they had
overlooked Camilla–and how far they had pushed her away.
