Chapter 1

When Camryn Storm pushed open the door to the private room, she caught the men inside discussing the power of first love.

"We all shared our stories, Xavion. It's your turn. Don't think you can avoid it this time."

Camryn's hand on the door handle froze when she heard his name.

After a long silence, Xavion Jacobson took a sip of his drink. His deep, alcohol-tinged voice resonated in the room moments later.

"I have her name tattooed near my heart. I've never had it removed. My motorcycle jacket still has a bloodstain from our first time together. I've kept it all these years.

"My current girlfriend is her stand-in."

Each word hit Camryn like thunder, reverberating until her entire body felt frozen. It was as though she'd plunged into icy water.

She was his first love's stand-in?

The room went silent for a beat before erupting into raucous cheers.

"Damn, that's impressive."

"As expected of you, Xavion. You won the game with just three sentences. You're a true romantic, huh?"

"I heard Zara's coming back to the country soon. Since you've never forgotten her, isn't this your chance to rekindle things after all these years? But what about your current girlfriend? Isn't she your sister's best friend? If this blows up, won't it ruin their friendship too?"

Xavion paused briefly but didn't respond.

Seeing someone about to come out of the private room, Camryn snapped out of her daze. Face pale, she stumbled down the stairs on unsteady legs.

It was pouring outside. However, she walked into it as if numb to the world.

Cold raindrops hit her face, mixing with her tears and streaming down. Her vision blurred in the watery haze while the words she had just heard replayed endlessly in her mind. Slowly, buried memories began to resurface.

Xavion was her best friend, Yvette Jacobson's older brother. He was four years her senior.

The first time she met him was in high school when a group of thugs cornered her and Yvette in an alley.

Right when they were forced into a corner, Xavion appeared on a motorcycle. He undid his helmet with his long, clean fingers as his cold voice rang out. "So, you're the ones picking on my family?"

The moment Xavion removed his helmet and revealed his face, Camryn heard her own heart pounding wildly in her chest.

She had heard Yvette rave countless times about her stunningly handsome older brother. Still, the real thing left her breathless. He looked even more dazzling when he effortlessly took down the gang of thugs with a few high kicks.

At the time, every girl at school except for Camryn had a crush. But that day, she wasn't the exception anymore. She had a crush, and it was on her best friend's brother.

By the time she entered university, her face and figure had matured, and with Yvette's encouragement, she finally mustered up the courage to pursue Xavion.

She prepared homemade breakfasts for him every day, orchestrated chance encounters, and found out his interests to create topics of conversation.

Even though she tried everything she could think of, Xavion always treated her like a child, remaining distant and aloof.

However, there were fleeting moments when he would unintentionally glance at her face and appear momentarily distracted.

Everything changed when he drove her home that one time. When a car accident was imminent, she threw herself in front of him without a second thought.

Fortunately, the brakes worked just in time, and she wasn't seriously hurt. She only had a small cut on the corner of her eye from hitting the car seat, leaving a wound the size of a fingernail.

It was a minor injury, but Xavion, who always seemed unbothered, was uncharacteristically anxious. He not only rushed her to the hospital but also repeatedly asked the doctor if the cut on her face would leave a scar.

When the doctor assured him it wouldn't, he finally relaxed, only to start scolding her right after.

"Why did you jump in front of me? Do you have a death wish?"

Camryn's eyes sparkled as she looked at him, her adoration impossible to hide.

"It's because I like you."

Xavion froze in place before his lips curled into a cold smirk.

"You like me, huh? You're just a kid. What do you know about liking someone? How long could you like me for?"

"Forever!" she declared without hesitation. "Xavion, I'll like you forever."

Perhaps it was the unwavering conviction in her tone or the sheer sincerity in her eyes, but for the first time, Xavion raised a hand and gently touched her face.

As he sighed, he finally said the words she had been dreaming of hearing.

"Camryn, let's give it a try."

From that day on, they officially became a couple.

During the three years Camryn was in a relationship with Xavion, Xavion had always given her the care she needed despite his cold demeanor. Camryn, too, had never dared to ask for more.

But tonight, the conversation she overheard had completely shattered the beautiful illusion she had naively clung to.

It turned out that his occasional moments of distraction while looking at her face were because she was a stand-in.

It turned out that his fear of her face getting injured was because she was a stand-in.

It was only because she was Zara Joel's stand-in that he liked to gaze at her face during their most intimate moments!

Camryn cried so hard it felt like her heart was being ripped apart. The rain drenched her completely, but she barely noticed as she stumbled back home. Drained of all energy, she finally collapsed onto the floor.

Some time must have passed before she began to regain her senses. The tear stains on her face had dried, and her mind felt clear.

Camryn reached into her bag and pulled out a business card.

Half a month ago, she had performed an original song she had written for Xavion at a bar on a whim. After the performance, a talent scout approached her with this card.

The scout had complimented her vocal talent and striking appearance, asking if she was interested in becoming a singer. The company would send her abroad for three years of secret training and groom her into a top-tier star.

Singing had always been Camryn's greatest passion. Camryn had also always dreamed of being a celebrity.

But she had turned the offer down, all so she could stay with Xavion.

Even so, the scout had insisted on leaving his contact information.

Now that Camryn knew the truth, there was no reason to stay with Xavion any longer.

Staring at the phone number on the business card, Camryn raised her cold, pale hand and dialed.

The moment the call connected, she cleared her hoarse, weary voice and uttered softly, "Hello, this is Camryn Storm. I'll sign the contract."

Chapter 2

"Ms. Storm! You've finally given it a thought. Let's add each other on WhatsApp. We can meet tomorrow," came the delighted voice on the other end of the line.

Camryn nodded and added the contact on WhatsApp.

Shortly after the call ended, footsteps echoed outside her door.

A few seconds later, the door opened, and Xavion walked in with an umbrella in hand.

He frowned when he saw her sitting on the floor in such a disheveled state. "Why are you soaked?"

"I forgot to bring an umbrella."

With her damp hair covering her face and the motion-sensor light flickering, it was impossible for Xavion to see her expression.

He reached out and ruffled her hair. "You're still such a kid. Remember to check the weather forecast next time."

Camryn didn't respond.

When Xavion turned and headed toward the bathroom, Camryn braced her half-numb body and dragged herself to the other bathroom.

After showering, she slipped into bed, staring blankly at the white wall.

Not long after, Xavion pulled back the blanket and lay down beside her.

The familiar scent of cedarwood filled her nose, triggering an avalanche of memories from earlier that day.

Unable to hold back, she wrapped her arms around him, her fingers trembling as they slid under his shirt. She slowly lifted it.

One inch above his heart, two stark letters stood out in black ink—Z.J.

This wasn't the first time she had seen the tattoo.

In moments of passion, she had caught glimpses of it countless times. She had always been curious but never asked.

But now that she saw it again, her chest tightened, her eyes burned, and her voice trembled as she whispered, "What do these letters mean?"

Xavion froze for a couple of seconds, his gaze following hers. His tone was calm, yet it carried a depth of emotion she had never felt from him in their three years together.

"They mean something very important." He paused, perhaps misinterpreting her action of lifting his shirt. "Alright now, you were out in the rain today. Let's not push it tonight. Get some rest."

With that, he gently removed her hand, pulled his shirt back down, and switched off the lights.

The bedroom fell into an abyss of silence.

Only the soundless tears streaming down her face remained, blending into the infinite darkness of the night.

Xavion woke up early the next morning. Skipping breakfast, he changed his shoes and prepared to leave when Camryn called out to him after seeing the relentless rain outside.

She remembered how much he hated going out on rainy days.

"You don't have any flights to do recently, do you? Why are you going out?" she asked.

Xavion seemed to be in a good mood. His usually cold and distant expression softened with a hint of a smile. Picking up an umbrella and turning the doorknob, he replied, "There is something important I have to take care of. Be good and stay home."

His words were punctuated by the sound of the door closing.

Watching his disappearing figure, Camryn turned back to the bedroom in silence. As soon as she entered, she noticed his phone, left behind on the nightstand, ringing incessantly.

She picked it up and unlocked the screen, only to see a WhatsApp chat interface.

The name of the contact was prominently displayed at the top—Zara.

A new message popped up.

"What time is your flight? It's raining heavily outside. Don't leave the terminal; I'll drive over to pick you up."

The caring tone and attentive words starkly contrasted with his cold reminder about Camryn's checking the weather forecast from the night before.

It turned out that Xavion would go out of his way to give someone a lift when it rained heavily if they were someone he truly cared about.

Camryn only caught a glimpse of the screen before she heard footsteps approaching the door.

Quickly, she put the phone back on the nightstand and slipped into the walk-in closet before Xavion entered.

By the time she finished doing her makeup and came out, the phone was gone, and so was Xavion.

Camryn grabbed her bag before she headed downstairs and hailed a cab.

When Camryn arrived at the café where the meeting was supposed to take place, she immediately spotted Zayne Carter, the talent scout, waiting for her at the entrance.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the two headed into a private booth.

Zayne went into detail about the training program and her future career development, then took out a contract.

Seeing the bold red seal of Stellar Sound Group on the document, Camryn froze for a moment.

Stellar was the world's most prestigious entertainment company. It was a place where countless people would do anything to join.

And she had almost given up on it.

She let out a self-deprecating smile as she unhesitatingly signed the document.

When Zayne received the signed contract, his face lit up as if he had discovered a hidden gem. He grinned so broadly that even wrinkles appeared.

"Ms. Storm, I thought it was a shame when you turned me down before. I'm glad you've reconsidered. A true treasure like you shouldn't be overlooked. Don't worry—Stellar is unmatched in the industry. We'll make sure you shine on the biggest stage. This training will be a closed program, so go home and get ready. We'll depart in 15 days."

Chapter 3

After Camryn noted the date, she politely said her goodbyes.

On her way home, Xavion's call suddenly came through.

"Are you out?" His tone sounded usually urgent.

Startled, Camryn was about to respond when he cut her off.

"Wherever you are, come to One Hospital in the city center immediately."

In all the time they'd been together, Camryn had never seen him this frantic. She hesitated for a moment but ultimately asked the driver to turn around.

As soon as she arrived at the emergency room, she saw Xavion standing there, perfectly unharmed.

If he was fine, who…

Before she could ask what was going on, a nurse appeared and guided her into a room next door.

"O-negative blood, correct?" she asked Camryn, who nodded in confusion.

The nurse quickly inquired about her health and, without much explanation, inserted a large needle into her arm.

Camryn let out a soft hiss at the sharp sting of pain. It was only then that she realized they were drawing her blood.

As the blood flowed into the bag, the nurse struck up a conversation with her.

"So, miss, what's your relationship with that handsome guy outside? His girlfriend got into a car accident near the airport and was rushed here. He was so panicked he practically lost it and even pulled strings to call the hospital director in.

"Our blood bank is critically low, and he made endless calls before finally bringing you in. You can really tell how much he loves his girlfriend."

Hearing this, Camryn felt her heart clench violently.

It was as if a pair of hands had reached into her chest and squeezed with unrelenting force. Even though the hands had already been unclenched, she still couldn't catch her breath, the pain lingering like an open wound.

So, Xavion had called her here to donate blood to Zara Joel?

The thought hit her like a blow. Leaving aside that this was a cruel reminder of her position as a stand-in for Zara, Xavion knew Camryn had severe anemia.

Had he forgotten? Or had he simply decided Zara's life was worth the risk to hers?

After the donation, she sat in the chair for a full 30 minutes before she felt stable enough to stand. During that time, Xavion didn't come to check on her or ask if she was okay once.

There was no doubt that Xavion was still by Zara's side.

After all, Camryn was just a stand-in. How could she possibly deserve his compassion?

Smiling bitterly, she leaned against the wall and stepped outside. The moment she did, she noticed the lights in the operating room had gone out.

The doctors wheeled the patient out, and Xavion, looking frantic, hurriedly followed, pushing the bed into the hospital room.

Camryn watched him sit beside the bed through the window, tightly gripping the pale hand, his face full of worry and fear.

Camryn felt her chest tighten.

From what she remembered, Xavion always seemed detached and calm, as if nothing could have affected him, no matter what had happened.

After five years of knowing him, this was the first time she had seen this look on his face.

So, this was what it looked like when he truly loved someone.

Xavion didn't come home for the next four or five days.

Even though Camryn knew he was at the hospital, she never contacted him.

During this time, she did three things.

The first was to submit her resignation letter.

The second was to take out her suitcase and begin packing.

The third was to mark the date she would leave on the calendar.

As the days passed and her departure neared, the confusion in her heart gradually settled.

Xavion finally returned on a sunny day after the rainy season ended.

The moment he stepped into the house, he noticed something was wrong. He frowned when he saw the boxes.

"Why did you bring back all the stuff from the office?"

Then, his breath faltered when he spotted the suitcase in the room. "Why are you suddenly packing your things?"

Finally, his gaze landed on the calendar, which had a circle drawn around the 30th. He turned to her and asked, "What is this circle on the 30th?"

Camryn paused upon hearing the three questions. She didn't hide anything. "I found a job I'm more interested in, so I resigned. I'm packing because I'm leaving for a place far away. The 30th is the day I'm leaving."

Camryn took a deep breath, preparing to tell Xavion that she was leaving and that they needed to break up.

"Do you have a moment? There's something important I need to talk to you about. I—"

Before she could finish her sentence, Xavion's phone suddenly rang.

Xavion quickly pressed the answer button when he looked at the screen and saw Zara's name.

Zara's playful voice soon came through the speaker.

"Xavion, thank you for taking care of me these past few days. My friend is throwing me a welcome-back party. Want to come join us?"

Xavion was about to agree but then seemed to remember something. He turned to Camryn. "You said you had something important to talk about. Is it urgent?"

He couldn't have made his intentions any clearer.

Camryn shook her head, "It's not important. If you have something to do, go ahead."

Zara, hearing the unfamiliar tone, chuckled in surprise.

"Is that your girlfriend? Bring her along, then! She's the one who gave me her blood, right? I haven't properly thanked her yet."

When Xavion heard the mention of blood donation, he froze. Instinctively, he covered the receiver and stepped aside.

The conversation continued out of Camryn's earshot. By the time Xavion returned, he was already ushering Camryn out the door. Before she could even speak, he had eagerly led her to the car.

On the way, he briefly explained what had happened a few days ago.

"The person who called just now was… a friend. She got into a car accident when she returned to the country. The hospital had a shortage of blood. I called you since you have the same blood type as her. It was an emergency. I didn't have time to explain it properly. Did you not message me these past few days because of that?"

"No, I've just been resting because of anemia," Camryn spoke in a calm tone as if it didn't matter.

Xavion's heart tightened as he noticed her pale face. Guilt suddenly rushed over him.

How could he have forgotten about her anemia?

Just as he was about to apologize and ask what kind of gift he could get to make it up to her, Camryn had already closed her eyes, giving the impression that it didn't matter to her.

In the end, Xavion, too, fell silent.

Chapter 4

After getting out of the car, Xavion and Camryn headed straight to the designated private room.

But as soon as they opened the door, they immediately sensed the oppressive atmosphere in the room.

It was supposed to be a welcome party, but nearly everyone present was male—most of them Xavion's friends.

As though they had something to say, they glanced at Xavion with hesitant expressions.

Before anyone could speak, Zara walked over with a bright smile. "You're here."

Her gaze fell on Camryn's face, and she froze for a moment before flashing another smile. "So this is your girlfriend. She looks young. Thank you for donating blood to me last time. Honestly, you saved my life. If you ever need anything, just say the word, and I'll be there for you."

Camryn forced a polite smile. "You're too kind."

Zara chuckled, told them to make themselves comfortable, and then went off to greet other newly arrived guests.

Although Zara was mingling elsewhere, Xavion's gaze remained fixed on her.

When he saw her laughing and chatting with other men, his face darkened.

When he noticed her eating a few more macarons, he silently instructed the waiter to bring every macaron in the venue to her table.

When the champagne tower was accidentally knocked over and nearly fell on Zara, he immediately got up and shielded her with his body.

"Watch out!"

Sharp glass shards sliced across his left hand, leaving several cuts. Everyone urged him to go to the hospital for treatment.

However, he casually wrapped his hand with a silk scarf and dismissed their concern.

"It's just a minor injury. Don't worry about it," he said.

Looking at the blood-stained white scarf, Camryn, who had just taken out her car keys, quietly put them back into her bag.

The room fell silent for a few minutes before returning to its lively atmosphere.

It was soon 8:00 pm. Seeing that everyone was in high spirits, Zara picked up a microphone and announced, "Now that everyone's here, I can finally share some important news. As you might already know, I broke up before returning to the country. Tonight, I've gathered everyone here in search of a new boyfriend!"

As soon as Zara said that, everyone in the room glanced nervously at Xavion.

Xavion only stared at her intently, his grip tightening on the glass in his hand until it shattered.

Blood dripped from his hand, but Zara seemed entirely unfazed. Instead, she raised her glass toward him with a smile.

"Xavion, I didn't invite you here for nothing. I need you to help me judge who among your friends might be the best match for me."

The entire private room fell deathly silent.

Seeing the nervous looks on the men's faces and Xavion's stormy expression, Camryn finally understood why the atmosphere had felt so tense when they walked in.

As everyone sat in uneasy silence, one of the guys sitting in the middle suddenly stood up.

"I—"

Before he could finish saying, "I need to use the restroom," Xavion flipped the table in front of him and coldly glared at him.

"If you dare agree, I swear…"

The sudden outburst left the man frozen. He didn't know whether he should sit or stand there.

Xavion, clutching his bloodied hand, stormed over to Zara. His eyes were red, his voice trembling as he hissed, "Zara, sometimes I wonder if you have a heart."

With that, he turned and left the room, slamming the door behind him, completely forgetting he'd left his girlfriend behind.

The welcome party couldn't continue after such a dramatic scene.

Camryn chuckled bitterly to herself as she got up and headed for the restroom. Walking down the hallway, she overheard Xavion's group of friends arguing with Zara.

"Zara, what exactly are you thinking? Why do you have to provoke Xavion and make him angry? Of all people, you should know better than anyone that he's always wanted to date you again. Who among us would dare make a move on the person he's obsessed with?"

"Am I supposed to agree to it just because he wants to reconcile? I don't see his sincerity," Zara insisted.

"Sincerity? Damn it, what more do you want? Do you even know what he's been through all these years? Have you ever seen anyone as devoted as he is in our circle? He's practically born with the world at his feet, but look at how he's driven mad for you!

"When you broke up with him and left the country, he drank himself nearly to death. Whenever you posted about something you liked on social media, he'd go to any length to buy it and secretly deliver it to your doorstep overseas. Not long ago, you casually mentioned to a friend that it had been a while since you'd seen fireworks, and he immediately arranged a grand fireworks show at Ballie. Don't tell me you had no idea about any of this..."

Camryn's hand trembled slightly at the indignation in Xavion's friend's voice.

So this was the reason for Xavion's mysterious disappearances while he was dating Camryn.

It had always been for Zara.

The argument in the hallway grew more heated, yet Zara remained indifferent.

"So what if he wanted to do those things for me? I never forced him. Besides, these are just small things. What's the big deal? Maybe someday he'll really prove it by giving his life for me."

"Zara, you're taking advantage of Xavion's feelings for you! Just you wait. You will regret it when his patience runs out and he stops liking you one day."

"Stop liking me?" Zara sneered and declared in a tone filled with smug certainty, "Don't make me laugh. He couldn't even pick a girlfriend who wasn't a stand-in for me. How could he ever stop liking me? What happens between us is none of your business!"

She confidently turned as if she had won, only to come face-to-face and lock eyes with Camryn standing not far away.

Chapter 5

When they saw her standing there, everyone froze on the spot.

Zara, however, quickly recovered her composure. With Xavion absent, her earlier politeness vanished. Instead, she cast a pitying glance at Camryn.

"You heard everything, didn't you? Well, then. It would've been sadder if you stayed clueless. Girlie, you're nothing more than a side character in our story. I suggest you step aside while you still can."

With that, she strode away in her high heels.

The hallway fell into an uneasy silence. Xavion's group of friends were red-faced as they stammered to explain.

"Camryn, it's not what it sounds like. It's… it's…"

They wanted to defend him, but no one could come up with a convincing explanation. After all, deep down, everyone knew the truth was exactly as it seemed.

Seeing how nervous they all looked, Camryn didn't want to make things difficult for them. Without saying a word, she turned and left.

When she reached the ground floor and was trying to hail a cab, a hot pink sports car suddenly splashed through a puddle, sending dirty water flying onto her and soaking most of her clothes.

Frowning, she looked up and saw Zara's gloating face through the car window.

"Hey, side character, if you still don't know your place and refuse to back out while you can, you will end up even more pathetic than this."

Zara sped off after throwing out those words.

Camryn took a tissue from her bag and slowly wiped the dirty water from her face. As she tossed the wet tissue into a trash can and lifted her head to gaze at the clear blue sky, a single tear fell.

A side character?

No. She was never a side character.

It was Xavion whose part in her story had come to an end.

When she got home, Camryn ate a little, took a shower, and went to bed.

At 3:00 am, the bedroom light suddenly flicked on.

A drunken Xavion stumbled in. Without a word, he pulled the startled Camryn into his arms.

"Why do you have to torture me like this? You know I can't let you go, so why won't you just give me one more chance?

"You know I love you, yet you're talking about dating someone else right in front of me. Do you enjoy humiliating me? Does it make you happy to see me in so much pain because of you?

"Fine, I'm suffering. Whatever you want, I'll give it to you—just as long as you're still mine."

Watching the unbearable pain on his face, Camryn clenched her hands and managed to break free from his embrace.

As she looked at him lying on the bed, muttering Zara's name over and over again, a self-deprecating smile crept across her lips.

"So this is how you behave when you love someone, huh?" she thought. "Our three-year relationship meant nothing to you."

With reddened eyes, she grabbed a pillow and left the bedroom, turning off the light on her way out. The room plunged back into darkness, leaving Xavion to ramble on unheard by anyone in his drunken haze.

Xavion didn't wake up until noon the next day.

Hungover and with a splitting headache, he struggled to sit up.

Camryn was by the window, tidying up her jewelry. Her silhouette stirred a hazy memory in his mind, and he froze for a moment.

"I had one too many last night. Did I say anything stupid?"

When she shook her head, Xavion felt a wave of relief.

He raised his hand to rub his temples but winced when he accidentally touched a wound.

Camryn turned around just in time to see the untreated cut on his hand, inflamed from the alcohol.

As a pilot, Xavion couldn't afford to let injuries go untreated. It was only now that he thought to deal with it.

"Where's the first aid kit?" he asked.

Camryn didn't respond and simply turned to the living room to fetch it.

"Everything you need is in here," she said, handing it to him.

Xavion chuckled softly. "How could everything be in—"

However, he froze when he opened it and saw the neatly organized rows of medications, from cold medicine to antacids.

"Did you prepare all this?" he asked.

Camryn nodded. "Yes. You're a pilot. You can't afford to be hurt. I made sure everything you might need was ready and available."

Hearing this, Xavion felt a buzz in his head as memories flooded back to him.

He recalled countless nights stumbling home drunk, only for her to patiently brew him hangover tea.

He remembered casually mentioning cravings and how she'd immediately learn new recipes just to make them for him.

And all those times he'd fallen ill, whether minor or serious, she had always been there, prepared and attentive.

When they first got together, he distinctly remembered his sister, Yvette, reminding him repeatedly that Camryn had grown up as a pampered young lady who had never done household chores. She had warned him to step up and shoulder the responsibilities of a boyfriend.

Yet, even though Xavion was a few years older than her, Camryn was always the one who took care of him.

At that moment, Xavion's heart was a tumult of emotions.

Guilt weighed heavily on him as he looked at her, wanting to say something.

But before he could speak, he saw her pick up her bag, clearly not intending to treat his wound but rather preparing to leave. He was momentarily taken aback.

"Are you going out?" he asked.

Chapter 6

Camryn nodded as she adjusted her hat.

"I made plans with Yvette for lunch."

Xavion then remembered his sister had just returned from her trip.

He quickly treated the wound on his hand, grabbed his keys, and followed Camryn to the doorway.

"I'll drive you there," he offered.

Before Camryn could refuse, he had already taken her hand and headed out with her.

Once in the car, Xavion set the location on the GPS and asked about Camryn's afternoon plans.

Hearing she was going shopping after lunch, he was about to offer to accompany them when his phone buzzed with a new message.

Glancing at the screen, he saw it was a notification for a sudden flight assignment. He pulled over, a guilty expression on his face.

"I was planning to spend today with you, but I just got an urgent flight task. Camryn, can you take a cab to meet Yvette?"

Camryn had noticed the flight assignment notification earlier, so she knew he wasn't lying. She nodded, got out of the car, and watched as his car disappeared into the distance. Then, she flagged down a taxi.

Yvette had already ordered when Camryn arrived at the restaurant.

She excitedly pulled out a gift and placed it in front of Camryn, her voice full of joy as she urged, "Ta-da! Here's a souvenir from my trip! Open it and see if you like it!"

Camryn placed the gift on her lap but didn't open it right away. Instead, she looked up at Yvette with a solemn expression.

"Yvie, I want to tell you something. I plan to break up with your brother and go to Vainea for further studies. It'll probably be for about three years."

Yvette's eyes widened in shock at those words. "What? Why so sudden? Things were going well between you two, didn't you? Why are you breaking up?"

Camryn put on a small smile and explained the truth.

"Because Xavion doesn't love me. He only dated me because I looked like his ex-girlfriend. He's always treated me as a stand-in."

Camryn's tone was calm and composed as she had long come to terms with this.

Yvette, however, was enraged when she heard that. She slammed her hand on the table and demanded in a voice filled with disbelief.

"His ex? Who? Is it Zara Joel? I remember how Xav drank himself into oblivion when they broke up. Has he still not moved on even after all these years? Zara is nothing like you. You're way more beautiful! Xav has a woman who's all in for him, and he still has the nerve to treat you like her stand-in?"

Yvette grew even more furious as she spoke. In the end, she couldn't even continue eating. After finding out where Xavion was, she stormed out in a huff.

Camryn knew Yvette had always been timid around Xavion, so she was touched to see her stand up so fiercely for her.

Even so, she didn't want to let the situation spiral. She didn't want things to get messy since she had already decided to let go of Xavion.

She hurried after Yvette, trying to stop her.

Despite Camryn's efforts to dissuade her the entire way, Yvette charged straight to Midnight Club.

Yvette was about to push the door open at the private room entrance when she saw Zara standing in the center of the crowd, looking haughtily at Xavion.

"If you're so dead set on me forgiving you, let me ride on your back like a horse. I might consider forgiving you then."

Before Xavion could respond, a few of the guys standing around exploded in outrage, rushing forward to intervene.

"Zara, that's way out of line! You were the one in the wrong back then. You're the one who started that ridiculous thing about getting a boyfriend. Xavion only stormed out in anger because of that!

"And now, just because you mentioned wanting to meet him, Xavion pushed off an urgent assignment and came here straight from work just to apologize to you. He didn't even take off his uniform! You're being unreasonable!"

"Exactly! Xavion is someone no one in the elite circles dares to speak rudely to. How could he possibly let you humiliate him?"

Facing the flood of accusations, Zara remained utterly indifferent.

"I don't care about all that. His outburst that day scared me. I want him to apologize this way. Besides, what's wrong with letting the person you like carry you on their back? If he thinks he's too superior for it, then he shouldn't bother coming to me."

Amid the rising chaos of voices, Xavion's face was cold and impassive. After a brief moment, he locked eyes with Zara's arrogant gaze and asked in a low voice, "If I let you ride on my back, does that mean you'll stop looking for a boyfriend in the future?"

"Mhm."

Hearing her reply, Xavion undid the top few buttons of his uniform and slowly bent down.

"Get on," he said.

Everyone's jaws dropped, their eyes filled with disbelief.

When Zara smugly climbed onto Xavion's back, Yvette, who was watching from outside the private room, was so furious she was practically steaming.

Gritting her teeth, she was about to rush in when Camryn dragged her away into the elevator.

Yvette struggled angrily, cursing under her breath. She was about to tell Camryn to let go, but the moment she turned and saw Camryn's face, she froze.

Camryn's expression was blank, but tears streamed down her face like broken strings of pearls. They dripped onto Yvette's hand, extinguishing the fire in her heart.

Yvette hurriedly pulled Camryn into her arms, panicking as she gently wiped away her tears. Her voice started to choke with emotion.

"Camryn, don't cry. Please don't cry.

"Okay, okay, you don't have to date Xav anymore. I'll find you a better handsome guy, okay?"

Camryn smiled faintly as she tried her best to swallow the lump in her throat. The sobs still came out.

"Honestly… I'm not that upset. I've already decided to put this behind me and start a new life."

But why was she crying?

Perhaps witnessing everything just now brought back memories that hit her all at once.

She suddenly realized that Xavion would be affected by the other party's emotions if they were someone he loved. He would go to great lengths for them, lower his pride, and willingly relent.

His love was unmistakably visible for all to see.

It seemed that Camryn had never been loved by him.