Chapter 51 Just How Much Does She Want This Marriage?
When she heard Cameron say ‘you’ve got your heart set on him’ in such a calm manner, a rock that had seemingly been suspended in Courtney’s head for many days crashed to the ground with a loud smash all of a sudden, shattering into countless shards in her mind. How is this possible?
“Anyway, there’s no such thing as pure friendship between men and women. Alexander’s a young guy, and he’s the CEO of Sunhill Enterprise. He’s one busy man; why would he help you out with your daughter in his free time? Other than his mutual interest in you, I can’t think of any other reason that can explain his actions. It’s that simple.”
“He only likes me because Jordan loves my cooking.”
“In that case, he’s definitely thinking of marrying you for life.”
“No way.”
Cameron turned a deaf ear to Courtney’s constant denials, even going as far as to giggle jovially at her; it was as though Cameron had already won the argument and was preening over her victory. She didn’t care how Courtney was going to perceive her for this.
That night, Courtney couldn’t sleep at all. Cameron’s words about how she had her heart set on Alexander kept replaying themselves in her mind, as well as the various bits of daily life she shared with Alexander.
When she got up to drink some water and groped her way to the living room, she saw a new tea set on the table. At that moment, she recalled how one of her cups at home had been chipped, but she made Alexander drink out of that cup. The next day, he showed up at her home with a new tea set. That wasn’t all; during this period of time, Alexander would constantly bring new things over. It was to the point where he had practically invaded every corner of her apartment.
At that thought, Courtney clutched at her cup, her heart beating erratically.
The next morning, Courney received a text from Alexander on her way to work. ‘Tina has been sent to school already. Don’t worry.’
She typed out a single ‘thanks’ with much difficulty as she stood there, squashed inside the subway carriage; the corners of her lips curved into a sweet smile without her realizing.
Cameron stayed with Courtney ever since coming back from her trip, but Alexander didn’t mind. He still came over for meals regularly. On the first day of eating together, Alexander was thoroughly interrogated by Cameron about his family background. Courtney felt awkward and embarrassed as she heard them from the kitchen. How she wished she could storm out and whack Cameron on the head with a ladle to make her shut up.
Fortunately, Cameron didn’t mill around at home every day; she still had her job, which kept her well and busy with work. Being able to eat at home for one day out of the week was considered a luxury for her.
As night creeped on, Courtney pulled Tina over to her bedroom. Meanwhile, Cameron was lying on the couch, a sheet mask on her face as she scrolled through her phone in a hard-earned moment of relaxation. When she saw Courtney coming out of the bedroom, she suddenly got up and asked, “I heard an assistant at the studio gossiping earlier today. Supposedly, Alexander’s going to marry Britney?”
“That’s true.” Courtney’s expression was even as she took a sip of water.
“Whoa there.” The black sheet mask on Cameron’s face wrinkled up. “In that case, why is he still showing his face here and showering you with attention? Isn’t he two-timing then?”
“Where are you getting the idea that he’s been showering me with attention? Anyway, I’ve already told you earlier that I’m just his employee. You don’t believe me, that’s all.”
Courtney rolled her eyes at Cameon, but a lost expression flitted across her face when she turned around. Once that moment of impulsiveness was gone and she could think rationally again, she mulled things over. He was indeed going to marry someone else. How could he have feelings for her then?
Cameron was about to say something when Courtney’s phone rang. Courtney took a look at the screen before simply rejecting the call.
“Why didn’t you pick it up?”
“It’s just a spam caller.” With that, Courtney picked up the clothes from the washing machine and headed to the balcony to air them. There was a clear cloud of darkness hanging around her.
The phone on the table lit up again, displaying a notification from a text message. Cameron got up from the couch and edged toward the table, catching a glimpse of the message. ‘The engagement is this Saturday. Don’t forget about it. Isaac and I have…’
Cameron tensed up at the sight of the name Isaac. If her memory served her right, wasn’t that her friend’s jerk of an ex-boyfriend that Courtney unwittingly told her about when they went drinking abroad? There was a high chance that the woman who sent this text was that shameless homewrecker of a friend!
Courtney came back from drying the clothes on the balcony, and she caught sight of Cameron still sitting on the couch. “Why aren’t you done with your sheet mask? It’s drying up,” she chided.
“That’s not important.” Cameron’s arms were folded as she sat straight. “Come here and take a seat.”
“What for?” Courtney was amused by Cameron’s seriousness. “What kind of prank are you pulling on me in the dead of the night?”
“What is this?” Cameron pulled out a large, red invitation card and placed it on the coffee table. She had dug the invitation out from under the coffee table after she saw the text; it was buried under a stack of newspapers and magazines. From the looks of it, Courtney had received the card a while ago.
The stark red of the card was somewhat harsh on the eyes, making Courtney frown. “Where did you get that?”
“I found it under the pile of magazines. If I’m not mistaken, the groom here is that douchebag who cheated on you with your friend back then, yeah?” Cameron couldn’t help but roll her eyes when she brought up Isaac. “I thought that it was a wedding invitation. I’m amazed that she had to send such a fancy invitation card just for an engagement party. Just how badly does she want this marriage?”
Courtney was exasperated. “That’s their own business.”
“The real question is, what are you going to do about it?”
“I don’t plan on going.” Courtney immediately announced her stance.
“Why not?” Cameron leaped up from the couch. “I’ve already thought of a whole plan for such an opportunity. I’ll personally make this amazing gown for you. You’re guaranteed to wow the entire crowd there; that jerk will immediately break up with that girlie and come crying to you, asking you to take him back while admitting how blind he was.”
“There’s no need for that. It’s all in the past.” Courtney shrugged, a nonchalant look on her face. “How they live their life has nothing to do with me, so I don’t want to go. There’s nothing I can do about it anyway.”
“Look at you saying that. That clearly shows that you still haven’t gotten over things. Don’t you still feel something about it? The guy didn’t even give you an explanation for that.”
Courtney’s gaze turned complicated at the mention of that. She was naturally resentful about this. If Isaac hadn’t cheated on her back then, she wouldn’t have been taken to be a surrogate mother by accident.
“Anyway, I already answered that text for you.” Cameron winked, a smug look on her face.
“What did you say in your text?” Courtney’s expression stiffened, and her gaze immediately flitted over to the phone on the table. When she hastily opened up the messaging app, there was a reply to the text that Vanessa had sent.
‘Oh, you actually called? I thought that it was some insurance company spamming me every day. I’ve gotten the invitation already. Of course I’ll be going! After all, it’s my best friend’s wedding. I’ll definitely be there on the dot.’
“Cameron!” Courtney’s expression morphed before she grabbed a cushion and hurled it at Cameron.
“Well, I’ve already accepted the invitation for you. You’re on your own now. At most, you’ll just have to call her again and say that you’re not going.” Cameron peeled her sheet mask off and leaped off the couch from the other end, running barefooted into her own room. “That little b*tch definitely thought that you wouldn’t attend the party. If you don’t go, you’re the one who’s going to be humiliated!” she taunted through the door.
Courtney was so furious that she became speechless. Right then, another text message popped up on her phone. ‘In that case, I look forward to seeing you there.’
Even through the screen, it felt as though she could see Vanessa’s insufferably smug face. Courtney clutched her phone tightly. All of a sudden, she changed her mind.
“Who said that I’m not going? I’ve just decided that I will go. You’d better get started on that gown soon,” she said as she looked at Cameron’s door.
