Chapter 44 Marcus, She's My Woman!
Leopold suddenly stopped dead in his tracks, yanking his hand away from Amara's like he'd touched a hot stove.
Amara's eyebrows shot up, and she couldn't help but frown. She followed his gaze and spotted Camilla standing a little ways off.
Leopold scowled and shot a look at Marcus. "Did you invite Camilla?"
"Yeah, man, we're all friends," Marcus said with an innocent grin.
"Why didn't you give me a heads-up?"
Marcus shrugged. "Slipped my mind. No biggie, right?"
Camilla had noticed Leopold, too, but she quickly looked away after a brief glance.
She was just here to say congrats and bounce. She had a ton of reading and research to do, no time for this kind of shindig.
With that thought, Camilla made a beeline for Marcus. "Happy birthday. Here's a little something for you. Nothing fancy."
She handed him a gift box.
Marcus took it and chuckled, "Thanks."
Being the birthday boy, Marcus was the center of attention, surrounded by people. He'd already mingled with a bunch of guests and had a slight whiff of booze on him.
"Since we're all having a blast, how about a drink?" A waiter with a tray of drinks passed by, and Marcus grabbed a glass of red wine. "I'll start."
He downed the glass in one go, and Camilla couldn't really say no.
Then she checked her watch and said she had to head out.
Marcus raised an eyebrow. "It's still early, and the party's just getting started. You're bailing already?"
Seeing Camilla's uneasy look, Marcus softened his tone, "How about this? Stick around a bit longer, at least until we cut the cake."
"Alright," Camilla agreed.
One full glass of wine was a bit much for her, and the room's heating was cranked up. After standing for a while, she felt a bit suffocated.
Marcus was busy with other guests, so she asked a waiter and headed towards the garden through an archway.
Leopold watched Camilla with a dark expression. She hadn't even given him a proper look earlier, and now she left without a glance.
He wanted to follow her, but Amara suddenly clung to his arm. "Babe, I'm feeling a bit off. Can you take me to rest?"
Her voice was soft and weak, leaning gently on Leopold's arm.
In that moment, Camilla disappeared from sight.
Leopold had no choice but to turn back, his tone tinged with irritation. "Let's go."
The path from the living room to the garden wasn't far. Along the way, there were green plants everywhere, and the greenhouse was filled with various flowers.
Some rare tree species she had only seen in magazines, which were difficult to maintain and expensive, were planted throughout the garden.
The woody fragrance wafted through the cold wind, easing the heaviness in her heart.
She decided to take a walk around.
Suddenly, a warm breath enveloped her from behind, and a man's alcohol-laden breath brushed against her neck. She thought it was Leopold and was about to break free when she heard a low chuckle.
Camilla froze in shock, her pupils dilating.
It was Marcus!
His hand rested on her waist, the unfamiliar warmth making her skin crawl. Without thinking, she immediately broke free and took two steps back.
"You're drunk. I'm not your date."
Marcus looked at her like she was a deer caught in headlights, eyes wide and wary.
He chuckled, "I didn't get it wrong."
Camilla blinked, looking confused, her mind momentarily blank.
Marcus spoke again.
"I wanna kiss you."
Camilla was stunned, her words caught in her throat.
Her mind was spinning, and for a second, she couldn't tell if this was real or some crazy dream.
Because it was just too wild!
Marcus smirked, his handsome face carrying a hint of mischief and nonchalance, mixed with the slight scent of alcohol, exuding a devil-may-care attitude. "What? Surprised?"
More than surprised, Camilla's head was spinning.
"You... you!"
Camilla moved her lips but couldn't form a complete sentence.
"That's right, I like you."
"What are you talking about?! How could we possibly be together?"
"How do you know it's impossible if you don't try?"
"Aren't you and Leopold good friends?"
"You two have broken up. I like you, so I'm going for it. What's wrong with that?"
Camilla took a good, hard look at Marcus standing in front of her.
She had to admit, Marcus was tall, handsome, and gentle.
Leopold was like an unpredictable storm, you never knew when it would rain or shine; Marcus was like a breeze, seemingly within reach but actually hard to grasp.
"Sorry," Camilla said, "I don't like you."
Marcus didn't seem mad at all. He even smiled, like he saw it coming. "Yeah, I know."
Just as Camilla was about to sigh in relief, she heard him speak again.
"That's why I'm chasing you, not asking you to be with me."
Camilla fell silent.
"Why can't you give me a shot? Leopold doesn't know how to cherish, but I won't."
Marcus stepped closer. "I know your thoughtfulness, your meticulousness, your talent, and I understand your pride and persistence."
"Don't come any closer!" Camilla watched his tall figure approach and took two steps back in rejection.
"No matter what you say, I still don't like you. Chasing me is just a waste of effort, completely unnecessary."
She had never considered the possibility of being with anyone from Leopold's circle, let alone his best friend.
"To me, you're just Leopold's friend. I'll pretend I never heard what you said today, and from now on, please don't bring it up again."
Marcus frowned, not expecting Camilla to shut him down so bluntly.
She wasn't giving him any chance at all.
He reached out to wrap his arm around Camilla's waist, but the next second, a force yanked him away, followed by a punch.
Leopold's eyes were bloodshot, and he punched Marcus in the nose. Not satisfied, he threw another punch.
He had followed her out, intending to talk to Camilla.
However, he saw his best friend Marcus, holding his ex-girlfriend Camilla. Camilla had her back to him, so Leopold couldn't see her expression, but Marcus's face was filled with infatuation, his eyes brimming with lust. It was obvious there was something going on!
Leopold's mind went blank for a full five seconds.
When he came to his senses, his fist was already swinging.
"Well, Marcus, what a good friend! Don't you know Camilla is my woman? What were you two doing just now?"
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