He turned to Camila Davis with a polite smile. “Ms. Davis, if you ever get the chance to visit Cabinda, let’s grab dinner together.”
Camila nodded, a warm smile lighting up her face. “Of course, I’d love that. And thank you for taking care of me tonight, Mr. Mark.”
Mr. Mark laughed, shaking his head. “Oh, you’re too kind, Ms. Davis. As one of the heads of the Pharmaceutical Association, it’s just part of my job.”
While they were chatting, the car pulled up to the curb.
Camila gently supported Mr. Morris as they walked over to the waiting sedan.
Walter Wilson came up from behind, quickly moving to open the door for them.
Camila glanced back, as if just now remembering him. She shot Walter a quick smile. “Thanks, Walter.”
Walter met her eyes for a moment. There was so much he wanted to ask, so many things on his mind. But he knew this wasn’t the time—Camila had finally reunited with her mentor tonight, and she’d obviously want to leave with him.
Walter was dying with curiosity about the man who had whisked Camila away at that critical moment. Whoever he was, his presence was like a splinter under Walter’s skin—small, but impossible to ignore.
Walter forced a warm smile and said, “No need for thanks. Just have a good talk with Mr. Morris. Drive safe, okay? Text me when you get home.”
“Will do,” Camila replied, giving him a small nod before helping her mentor into the car.
In moments, the car pulled away from the hotel entrance, taillights disappearing into the night.
Only after Mr. Morris’s car was out of sight did the other guests, who had gathered in small clusters outside, begin to disperse.
As Walter headed back inside, his mind kept circling back to that moment earlier—when Camila, in danger, had been saved by someone else. That man’s presence nagged at him, making him restless.
He ran through the guest list in his head. He knew almost everyone who had attended tonight, except that one man. He wondered if the mystery man—or maybe even Mr. Mark—was the person who had the reserved seat at the main table.
After Camila left with that man, Walter had tried to pry some information out of Mr. Mark, but the older man remained tight-lipped, giving nothing away. Frustrated, Walter narrowed his eyes.
First Jordan Smith had left, and now, was there a new rival? That psychologist—he’d never given him much thought before, but now he couldn’t afford to ignore him.
Camila knew exactly how to play her cards. She continued massaging his leg, her tone playfully pleading. “I really am sorry, Master. I was stubborn and reckless. I wouldn’t listen to you, and I paid the price for it. I promise, I’ll focus on my career now, and make you proud of the skills you taught me back at medical school. I want to be the kind of protégé you can brag about at Thanksgiving dinner. I won’t let you down again, okay?”
Mr. Morris’s stern face finally started to crack. He didn’t want to forgive her so easily—but seeing his strong-willed, willful student being so contrite, he just couldn’t stay hard.
In the end, all his anger deflated with a long sigh.
Alright, alright. No matter what, she was still his student. Like Patrick had said, he’d watched her grow up. She’d paid for her mistakes, suffered through enough tough years. Unless he was really ready to cut all ties, in the end, it would only hurt himself.
Suddenly, he understood what people meant when they called family ties a “debt.” She wasn’t his daughter by blood, but the feeling was just the same.
Finally, he grumbled, “This is your last chance, Camila. I mean it. If you mess up again, we’re done. I’ll pretend I never even had a student like you. This time, I’m not bluffing.”
Camila’s eyes filled with tears at the seriousness in his voice. She nodded hard, her promise heartfelt. “I swear, Master. I won’t let you down again. I really mean it this time…”
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