Ch. 1731..1740

Chapter 1731

Chapter 1731

Maisie's heart pounded as she pushed against Daniel's muscular chest, doing her best to create distance. However, the feeble attempt seemed more like a tease. Daniel threw himself onto her and captured her flushed earlobe with a kiss, feeling her tiny frame shake in his embrace.

"Maisie..." he whispered huskily into her ear, "Can I?"

She shut her eyes, too nervous to respond verbally. He smirked, interpreting her reaction as silent consent.

Yet, just as he was about to proceed, his phone rudely interrupted with an extra blaring ringtone that echoed through the room, incessantly ringing.

Maisie opened her eyes, her cheeks still flushed. "Pick it up," she said.

With a sigh, Daniel reluctantly distanced himself from her.

It was his assistant calling, and Daniel answered with irritation. "What is it?!"

The assistant hesitated. "Mr. Quimby, um..."

"Spit it out!"

"It's about Owen." The assistant nervously continued. "You asked me to follow him, and I..."

"Wait." Daniel lowered his voice, moving to the balcony to shield Maisie from the conversation. "Okay, go ahead."

"Well, we've been tailing him for a few days and discovered that he does nothing apart from drinking and gambling. His life seems devoid of purpose, and he resorts to asking for money at home whenever he loses in gambling..."

Daniel's face darkened. The revelation didn't surprise him-Owen had exhibited such behavior in the past. Drinking, gambling, and even mistreating his sister. Yet, Maisie had stood up for him when he was ill, selling her body to cover his medical bills.

Was such a brother deserving of the immense sacrifices Maisie had made?

Daniel's joints paled as he gripped his phone.

"Also, we found something else," the assistant said. "He met with Ms. Camila."

"What?" He was surprised. "Did you guys make a mistake?"

"No way." The assistant was confident. "It was her indeed. Even if we got the wrong person, we recognized the car's number plate. It belonged to the Quimby family."

Daniel was dumbfounded. Suspicion surrounded him like dark clouds.

"Why did they meet? What did they talk about?" he asked.

"Um..." The assistant paused. "We only saw that they met once throughout the time we followed him. And they met on the street. Ms. Camila pulled over while Owen went over to talk. It lasted less than two minutes. We couldn't hear what they were talking about as we were too far away."

"Okay, got it," he said. "Continue following him and see if you find anything else." Daniel fell deep in thought after hanging up.

The person his assistant mentioned was Camila Quimby, the Quimbys' adopted child. She belonged to his fourth uncle. The couple was childless back then, so they had adopted a girl. Coincidentally, the wife became pregnant soon after adopting her. Since then, they had more children. As they had their own children, they grew colder and colder toward this adopted daughter. From what Daniel remembered, Camila had little presence at home and was not attention-seeking. She was always quiet and well-behaved, with good grades in school. She had worked at the Quimby Group for a while after graduating but had been chased out due to a scheme orchestrated by the fourth uncle's children.

Nobody cared if she had been wrongly accused back then. She was just an adoptive daughter, and it was enough that the family provided her with a roof above her head.

Chapter 1732

Chapter 1732

Meanwhile, Camila acted admirably, refraining from engaging in conflicts. Subsequently, she secured employment, seemingly navigating through roles in a couple of smaller companies.

At the peak of her career, she held a managerial position, but for reasons unknown, she had recently been idling at home, reveling in domestic life.

If it weren't for Daniel's assistant mentioning her, he would have almost forgotten about her existence. Their communication had dwindled to the point of near non-existence. The extent of their interaction involved cordial greetings during family dinners, after which she would retreat to her own space.

Feeling a surge of chaos in his mind, Daniel took a deep breath and massaged his temples. Amidst this internal turmoil, a sudden touch startled him—a pair of gentle hands.

Turning around, he was met with Maisie's starry eyes. She dressed him warmly, remarking, "It's chilly at night. Don't catch a cold standing here."

She glanced at him shyly, and she disappeared into the room.

Helpless, he smiled and released a long sigh, pondering when he would finally achieve a personal triumph.

A few days later, he visited Lily's office. The company bore a new sign, "SL Publishing", gleaming prominently. Even the front desk had undergone an impressive renovation.

Daniel remarked, "You certainly didn't spare any expenses in utilizing my funds. Such an incredible renovation must have come at a high cost."

Lily was equally cheerful. "This is an investment, Daniel! We'll deliver the promised bonus at the end of the year. It's not accurate to say we are spending your money. Besides, I wouldn't dare to use your funds frivolously. You're saving it for your little bunny!"

Upon mentioning Maisie, Daniel inquired about her work.

Lily teasingly said, "Aren't you two together every day? You're asking me?"

He pouted, prompting her to shift to a serious tone. "Would you like to hear the truth?"

"Of course."

"Alright. Your little bunny isn't the exceptionally talented type. She's good but not outstanding. Her work takes time to unfold, much like her personality. It's a slow, savory experience. In today's fast-paced world. curiosity sells. Unfortunately, that's not her forte.

"But preferences vary, and there's a niche audience for this. I predict she might not attract a massive following, but those who appreciate her work will remain loyal. It's positive to cultivate a fan base in the niche genre!"

"Hmm... Okay." Daniel responded, showing more concern for Maisie's potential discouragement than the book sales.

"When will her book be published?" he asked.

"At least two months," Lily estimated. "We need proofreading, and we have to discuss the necessary amendments with her. Oh, right!"

Lily called Rachael over. "Is the new editor here? We have a couple of books for her to work on!"

"Yes, yes!" Rachael brought a person in.

"Hi, Ms. Lily."

The voice stunned Daniel.

The suit, properly combed hair, regular features, and a humble and honest smile that was always on her face...

"Daniel?" Camila was surprised, too. "Why are you here?"

Chapter 1733

Chapter 1733

Daniel was also taken aback but skillfully concealed his surprise. A flat greeting was all she received from him.

While Rachael guided Camila through the office, Daniel discreetly pulled Lily aside to seek clarification about the situation.

Lily's smile was tinged with awkwardness as she explained, "She came for an interview. Initially, she applied for a managerial position, but I discovered her writing skills. She used to be an editor, so I roped her in to handle editing work temporarily. I'm short-staffed!"

"That's not what I'm asking!" Daniel's tone was stern as he glared at her. "Why did you hire her?"

"Oh..." Lily scratched her head, admitting, "I only found out that she's your cousin after doing a background check two days ago..."

"Lily!" Daniel widened his eyes in disbelief. "We were married, after all. Didn't you see her at my home back then?"

"Hey, hey, hey!" Lily retorted, "Don't accuse me. I'm worried that Maisie will misunderstand more than you do! We lived separately as soon as we got married. When have I stayed at your place?" "You didn't, but you visited whenever we had family dinner!"

"Hey, those were banquets! I have face blindness. I can't remember faces... I never met her back then, okay!"

Daniel fell into silence. It made sense. Camila had a low presence. Lily aside, he struggled to recall what she looked like sometimes.

Nobody in the whole family paid much attention to her. Being the adoptive daughter in such a large family was undoubtedly a lonely position.

Daniel pouted helplessly. As he was about to leave, Lily called out to him.

"Why did you react like that? Do you guys have beef?"

"No..." He paused. "I just thought she never fit in among our family members. To be honest, I don't really know her. So please keep an eye out for her. Don't let your guard down just because she's family." "You don't have to worry about that." Lily chuckled. "I'll keep my guard up!"

He nodded and left, coincidentally encountering Camila at the office's turn.

She had traversed the entire office with Rachael, organized her desk, and was now rearranging the drafts she needed to edit.

She wore her usual honest smile, "Daniel, do you have time for a chat?"

He welcomed the idea.

They descended to a cafe where Camila opted for a complimentary glass of water after checking the menu.

"Is there nothing you'd like to drink here?" Daniel asked casually. "We can go somewhere else if you don't like this place."

"No." She squeezed a smile, "It's too... expensive. The coffee here costs 5 dollars per cup."

Daniel was stunned. She was a Quimby heiress who could easily afford a cup of coffee.

He scrutinized his cousin, noting her ordinary dress, lack of makeup, and unassuming appearance. Amidst well-dressed office workers, she seemed out of place.

She appeared normal, dressed normally, and had little presence, even in the office building.

Chapter 1734

Chapter 1734

"Don't worry. It's my treat." Daniel glanced at Camila, "Order anything you want."

"It's fine, really," Camila smiled. "Daniel, you might be curious as to why I can't even bear to buy a cup of coffee...

"In reality, this is my life at home. I appear glorious on the outside as a Quimby heiress, but only I know the suffering behind everything. My parents neglect me while my siblings do their best to boycott me.

"I have a driver when I go out, I have food when I go home, but none of those belong to me. My jobs were the only things that belonged to me all these years."

She looked sad, and it was the first time she had said so much to him.

"Daniel, I-I'm sorry," she stammered. "I used your name to work for Ms. Lily. She's your ex-wife, so I..."

"It's alright. It's just a job," he said flatly. "It's good that Lily could help you."

"So you don't mind it?"

"Why would I?"

"Don't worry, Daniel." She bit her lip. "I'll do my best. I won't embarrass you."

Daniel nodded. He did not worry about that. Camila was thorough in her job, and her capability was nothing less than anyone in the family. If she were not an adoptive child, perhaps she would hold a high position in the company.

"Oh yes, Daniel, I thought about it and decided I should tell you something."

"What is it?"

She hesitated before saying, "I ran into Owen the other day. You remember him, right? He's Maisie's brother..."

Daniel was quite surprised. He did not say it, yet she brought it up herself.

"So this is what happened..." She said, "I went to buy something for my mom the other day. I got the driver to take me. Never had I thought I would run into him on the street after shopping. He asked for money from me."

"He asked for money?"

"Yes." She looked at him. "He said he lost in gambling and wanted money from me."

Daniel's eyes dimmed. "Why did he ask for money from you?"

"Perhaps he saw that it was a Quimby car." She shrugged. "The Quimby cars' number plates are easy to recognize, and his sister is with you..."

Daniel said nothing.

"I ignored him, Daniel. I heard that he's a terrible person, so I pretended not to know him when he asked for money. He must be desperate this time, or he definitely wouldn't come to me." What she said was similar to what Daniel's assistant investigated.

Could it be that... their meeting was purely a coincidence?

"Daniel, was what I did, right?" Camila held the glass nervously. "After all... he's Maisie's brother, yet I ignored him. Was I..."

"Yes, you did the right thing," Daniel said with his deep voice. "Just ignore this. I'll handle everything about Maisie from now on."

"Okay!" There was finally a smile on her face like a worried student finally getting the teacher's approval.

"But now that I think about it, it's quite sad for Maisie..." She seemed to be bringing this up intentionally. "It's sad to have a brother like that. He must have brought many troubles for her! You'll have to do something when he stirs trouble, am I right?"

Daniel looked at her and squinted. "What are you trying to say exactly?"

Chapter 1735

Chapter 1735

Camila briskly shook her head. "I-I just said that on a whim. I don't mean anything else. It's really nothing, Daniel!"

Daniel looked at her and remained silent.

"Actually, I've admired Maisie for years." She changed the topic. "I can see that she genuinely loves you. She's an honest girl, the perfect partner. Such a relationship is rare.

"Oh yes, Daniel, I heard she... lost her memory?"

Aniel looked up and fixed his gaze on her. The coldness in his eyes sent chills down her spine. She dared not say more.

The atmosphere grew rather awkward. He spoke flatly a moment later. "Her health was lacking earlier. Thanks for your concern. I hope you'll take care of her when the two of you work together." "Yes, yes!" She readily agreed. "Of course!"

He smiled, and their conversation came to an end.

Life resembled a peaceful lake under the sun-quietly flowing, without a ripple.

Maisie continued to learn and recharge, making rapid progress. She submitted drafts on time, and soon, it was time for the book to be published.

Due to work, she spent time with Lily and Camila, experiencing an unprecedented sense of relaxation.

She seemed to be born for that. Though not inherently talented, she possessed a bit of skill. With hard work, she could achieve the goals she set for herself.

Life felt more meaningful in this pursuit than it did at the kindergarten in Centrolis.

She was grateful for Lily. Without her, Maisie wouldn't have discovered her writing ability.

Lily was pleased with the final draft. She provided honest opinions before handing them to Camila for editing.

"Your story fits the anthology series type, a genre receiving positive feedback on major platforms," Lily said, smiling at Maisie. "While you might not match the major authors in the company, you've built a loyal fan base! It's the perfect time to publish the book."

"Yes, that's right!" Rachael exclaimed. "Send me some candid photos of yourself, Ms. Squire. I'll post them on your personal account and leverage personal media to gain fans! We'll present you as the attractive writer!"

Lily waved before Maisie could react.

"No, no. Daniel would definitely object to that! Are you trying to sabotage our company?"

It took great effort to make Maisie her "hostage", an investment Daniel willingly paid. If anything went wrong and he withdrew his support, all their effort would go to waste!

"Oh..." Rachael nodded. She had to admit her boss was right.

"We're finishing work soon. Any plans?" Lily asked Maisie with a smile. "Let's go for dinner!"

"But I..."

"No buts!" Lily winked. "Don't tell me you're going home to cook for Daniel! It's not a woman's job to do laundry, cook, and give men children, okay? You're a writer now. You should look like one... Treat tonight as the company's compulsory entertainment. Let him wait for you at home!"

Maisie was dumbfounded and then chuckled.

Lily's independence and coolness were what she lacked. The wisdom she had accumulated over the years made her envious.

As they spent time together, Maisie was surprised that they clicked so well despite their different characters. They were like missing puzzle pieces that clicked on many things.

"Mm-hmm, you're right!" Maisie held her arm. "I should have my own world. I shouldn't always be waiting for someone!"

"That's more like it!"

"What are we eating tonight?" Rachael only cared about food.

Chapter 1736

Chapter 1736

Lily beamed as she said, "I'm buying, so we can go anywhere you want!"

After work, they arrived at a restaurant, and Lily, always generous in entertaining, chose a high-end one. She even extended the invitation to her colleagues, including famous authors and their agents. Among them was Camila.

They chatted happily in the private room. The famous authors expressed confidence in Maisie, eagerly anticipating her new book to create history for the company.

"See? So many people are confident about you. I told you that you're great, remember?" Lily patted Maisie's shoulder, smiling. "I told you not to work as a journalist back then. Why would you want to do that? I'm glad that Amanda pulled a trick and you ended up not taking the journalist examination! I should thank her!"

"Ahem, boss..." Rachael signaled urgently from the side.

"Oh, no, no... Look at me!" Lily corrected herself. "I wanted to say that even without Amanda, you wouldn't be able to get the press pass either!"

Some people looked awkward, while others suppressed their laughter.

Helplessly, Rachael stood up and raised her glass at Maisie. "Don't listen to Ms. Lily, Ms. Squire! She had too much to drink. You know her. She's good at everything but incoherent whenever she sees pretty people!"

Maisie smiled at the joke, understanding Lily's incoherence was due to the drinks.

To be frank, Maisie used to fear work-related socializing, but being out with Lily felt relaxing. Lily, a serious and strict boss at work, seemed to shed that persona after hours.

Lily stood up and apologized to Maisie.

"Don't do that, Ms. Lily!" Maisie looked at her sincerely. "It's my honor to work for your company." She raised her glass, finishing the wine.

Maisie, who had never drunk outside before, felt at ease with Lily by her side.

After drinking, she went to the bathroom to wash her face. When she looked up in the mirror, she saw a familiar face emerging from the stall.

"Maisie?"

"Ms. Camila?" Maisie greeted her with a smile.

She had almost not noticed Camila's presence throughout the night she was quiet, staying in a corner during the drinking and chatting.

"You're too nice," Camila said, walking over with a smile. "Just call me Camila. We've been working for so long. Let's skip the courtesy, am I right?" "Okay."

"Are you alright?" Camila observed her flushed cheeks. "Did you have too much to drink?"

"I'm okay."

"Should I get Daniel to pick you up later?" Camila asked. "Why don't I call him? I'm worried that you're drinking too much out here!"

Chapter 1737

Chapter 1737

Maisie stood in stunned silence as a voice emanated from outside.

"Yes, I'm worried too!" The two turned toward the source of the voice and spotted Lily walking in, positioning herself in front of the mirror. "I'm here to powder my face! Ignore me, go ahead!" Lily declared, and Camila smiled in response.

Maisie couldn't shake the feeling that Camila's expression changed upon seeing Lily, though she couldn't be certain if it was just an illusion.

"Oh, Maisie, are you going home?" Lily turned her head to inquire after applying lipstick. "Perfect. We're done eating now, so I thought we'd call it a night so that everyone could go home. I'll give you a ride! Rachael didn't drink. She'll drive!"

"I..." Maisie attempted to speak, but Camila interjected, "Is that okay, Ms. Lily? Won't it be awkward if you run into my cousin when you send her home?"

"Hmm?" Lily, a bit tipsy from the drinks, hadn't considered that. She asked aloud, "What's there to be awkward about? Do you think it's awkward, Maisie? If I run into Daniel, you'll just tell him that we went drinking. What can he do about it? What? You can't have your own life and friends when you date him?"

"Ms. Lily, that's not what I meant!" Camila whispered, "Weren't you and my cousin... Forget it. I'll get him to pick her up!"

Lily squinted, seemingly more sober now. She looked at Camila with a cryptic smile. "So, you want Daniel to come?"

"I" Camila started, but Lily cut her off, "I'm talking to Maisie, not you! Why do you talk so much?"

Camila fell silent.

Sensing Lily's unsteadiness, Maisie rushed to support her. Lily smiled at her, patted her shoulder, and gestured for her to follow, assuring her a safe ride home.

As they left, Maisie couldn't help but glance back and caught a momentary flash of malice on Camila's face under the dim bathroom light.

Shocked, Maisie saw Camila waving with a smile. "Safe trip home, Ms. Lily. Safe trip home, too, Maisie! Please take care of her!"

"Mm-hmm, safe trip... Safe trip home, everyone!" Lily waved without turning around, and Maisie's racing heart gradually calmed. Reflecting on it, Maisie considered Camila's usual kindness and professionalism. How could she harbor malice?

The gathering concluded in cheerful conversations.

On the weekend morning, Daniel brought breakfast to the hotel room. Upon entering, he found Maisie asleep at the table with her computer still on.

Despite being upset, he gently moved her to the bed, careful not to wake her. Yet, she stirred awake.

Opening her eyes, she frowned momentarily but relaxed upon seeing Daniel. She smiled and nestled in his embrace like a soft kitten.

"Why did you sleep at the table?" he nagged gently. "And you're wearing so little. You might catch a cold, you know that?"

Maisie smiled lazily. "Mm-hmm..."

"Would you skip breakfast if I didn't bring it to you?"

"Mm-hmm..."

Pretending to be mad, he said, "How will I ever be at ease if you're like that?!"

"Okay, I'm sorry. Alright?" Maisie coquettishly responded. "I'd like to sleep more, Daniel..."

"Sleep," he said helplessly but gently, "I'll get them to warm your breakfast. I'll bring it up to you when you wake up."

Chapter 1738

Chapter 1738

"Will you stay here with me?" Maisie asked.

Daniel smiled and gently patted Maisie's head, wrapping her in a tight embrace.

However, Maisie found it difficult to succumb to sleep when the person she loved was beside her. She opened her eyes and gazed at him, savoring every moment and reluctant to let time slip away in slumber. "Why are you looking at me like this?" Daniel asked with a smile.

"I suddenly don't feel like sleeping anymore. Can we talk?" Maisie requested.

He nodded and smiled, extending his hand to pat her head.

"Daniel."

"What is it?"

"Why do you love patting my head so much? It's like I'm a kitten or a puppy!" Maisie blurted out unintentionally, noticing a change in his expression.

Daniel examined his hand, his fingertips trembling. It seemed like a subconscious habit, triggering a recollection of Maisie saying similar words in the past, albeit with pain and despair echoing through her

screams.

"I'm not a puppy or a kitten. I'm the woman who loves you! I don't like you patting my head! Do you think you're playing with a pet? Daniel, when will you treat me like a human?!" Maisie had exclaimed in the past.

His heart jolted, prompting him to tighten his embrace.

"Mmph! Daniel! What are you doing? I can't breathe!"

"Oh, I'm sorry..." He released her in a panic.

Looking into his eyes, Maisie gently caressed his face.

"Maisie!" he exclaimed, holding her. "Y-You're neither a puppy nor a kitten. You're not a pet but the woman whom I love!"

"Huh?" Maisie was stunned. "I know that..."

"I won't pat your head again. Don't you dare call yourself a puppy or a kitten again!" she said.

"Daniel..."

"Understand?!" he insisted, shocking her.

It took her a while to snap back to her senses as he suddenly hugged her. Regret and remorse plagued him, the complex emotions akin to needles poking his heart.

After a prolonged silence, Maisie gently caressed his back and spoke softly as if comforting a child. "How have you been lately? You don't look too good, and you've been saying weird things. Is there something going on at work?"

He remained silent.

"If you're too busy at work to excuse yourself, you don't have to visit me every day."

Daniel was still silent.

"Daniel, if you're stressed, let's take a trip, okay? We can visit other cities and explore a small border town that not many know about. Experience a different lifestyle! How does that sound?" Finally, a smile graced his face. He pushed his forehead against hers and said, "What about your book?"

"Well..."

"You should focus on that," he advised, significantly calmer now. "You're making Lily your role model, wanting to be a powerful, independent woman like her. How could I drag you down?" She smiled and playfully punched him.

"But you promised me this..." he whispered, "You'll marry me as soon as the book is published. You didn't forget that, right?"

Chapter 1739

Chapter 1739

Maisie smiled and took the initiative to kiss Daniel's cheek. He was flying. He thought he was going to hear a different answer-never had he thought she would inch closer to his ear. Shyly and sweetly, she said, "I can't wait... for the day I become your bride."

"Maisie..."

Again, he couldn't help it.

She pushed him away and smiled, her cheeks blushing. "Okay, I don't want to sleep anymore. I'm going to write now!"

"Oh." He was quite unwilling. "I'll be your company."

"I'm quite hungry!" she claimed.

He smirked. "Got it. I'll unpack the breakfast!"

The preparation for the book launch was almost done.

Lily had been terribly busy the past few days, looking at the venue herself, contacting the emcee, dealing with other tasks, and monitoring the launch progress.

This made Maisie feel sorry and stressed-she kept thinking that she would waste Lily's effort if the book did not sell well.

Today at the office, she ran into Rachael, who smiled as soon as she saw her and said, "Did you not sleep well last night? You must've gotten those dark eye circles from pulling an all-nighter." Maisie pursed her lips awkwardly. "It wasn't because I was writing, but-"

"You couldn't sleep because you were too stressed?" Rachael patted her shoulder. "Don't worry. Although the number of your fans can't compare with the renowned writers in the company, they're loyal to you. Your book will definitely sell well!"

"You're not just saying this to comfort me, right?"

"Do I look like I have the time to do that?" Rachael smiled. "I've been looking at the backend data every day. I know about this the best!"

"I just thought..." Maisie paused before continuing. "I'll feel sorry for Lily if it doesn't sell well. She's been doing so much for me..." Rachael laughed out loud before she was done.

"You're too cute!" Rachael looked at her. "She's a workaholic. She turns into a cold-blooded monster as soon as she works. I can't believe there'll come a day when someone will feel sorry for her! Haha! Okay, you don't have to have so many feelings for her. She's willing to invest in you now because she can make more money off you! It's a win-win!

"You must believe this," Rachael mischievously raised her eyebrows and told her while covering her mouth, "All investors have no feelings!" Maisie smiled at her joke.

Perhaps she was right. Lily was an entrepreneur, after all. In business, she would not let her effort go to waste.

However, as they spent time together, she was impressed by Lily's charm. She was willing to work hard for her.

Rachael looked at her and smiled. "If you really feel sorry, you can think about it this way... It's your fault that you look pretty! Ms. Lily was born vain. She's willing to invest in good-looking men and beautiful women! It's not only you. Look at the other writers in the company. Aren't they all good-looking men?!"

Maisie laughed out loud. She did not seem to be as tense as she was before.

Seeing that she was much more relaxed now, Rachael waved at her and went on to do her own thing.

Maisie thought she would go to the pantry to make herself a cup of coffee.

However, she saw Camila coming holding a cup as soon as she turned around. It turned out she had been around. She had not interrupted them since she was chatting happily with Rachael just now.

Chapter 1740

Chapter 1740

"By the way, I've been meaning to talk to you." Camila walked alongside her in the corridor. "There are some parts of your manuscript that aren't quite right. I've marked them for you, and you need to make some changes."

"More changes?" Maisie felt a pang of anxiety. Since the manuscript had landed in Camila's hands, it had been undergoing constant revisions.

Camila always said that, in her professional opinion, this part wasn't right and that part wasn't right... Maisie made changes according to her suggestions, and the manuscript had lost a bit of its original essence in the process.

However, her main concern was that the deadline on the signed contract was approaching. If they kept changing things, what if it led to a delay? The penalty for breach of contract was a substantial amount, and she didn't want to have to pay such a large sum before the book was even sold.

"Camila." Maisie forced a smile, trying to test the waters. "Can we stop making changes? If we keep going... the manuscript will deviate too far from my original outline!"

"I'm afraid that's not possible." Camila frowned. "Based on my past experience, the way you wrote it wouldn't sell. Readers wouldn't buy into that kind of writing!" "..."

"Maisie, your writing is too gentle. You need to add some impact every once in a while." Camila held Maisie's shoulders, smiling earnestly. "As long as you follow my editing suggestions, it will surely improve! You don't want to disappoint Ms. Reyes, right? She's been running around for you these days. If your book sells well, it will be a consolation for her!"

Maisie bit her lip and nodded slightly after a long pause.

An indecipherable smile flashed across Camila's face.

"Oh, by the way, I overheard your conversation with Racheal just now." She fetched a glass of water and continued. "So Ms. Reyes likes handsome men and beautiful women, huh? Haha! No, Ms. Reyes likes talented handsome men and beautiful women!"

"Are you kidding?" Maisie chuckled. "I'm not exactly a beauty."

"Ms. Reyes actually appreciates beauty."

"What?"

"I've always known it." Camila drank and continued. "Even back when she hadn't divorced Daniel, she was still infatuated with him!"

Maisie, who was stunned, kept staring at her blankly.

Camila seemed not to care about her reaction and continued talking.

"At the time, they were close. Plus, they were a perfect match. It was easy to develop feelings... Especially during their newlywed period. I remember when I visited them. Ms. Reyes' eyes wouldn't leave Daniel. They wished they could be glued together 24 hours a day..."

Maisie grimaced and clenched the hem of her clothes.

Her thoughts were a bit chaotic.

Hadn't Daniel clearly told her that he and Lily had been only married on paper?

Hadn't Lily moved out as soon as they'd gotten married?

Why would Camila say this...

"Oh, by the way." Camila smiled. "The elders in the family even said that if they had a child, it would definitely be very beautiful! Then, my sister-in-law would move her eyes away from Daniel and focus on the child..."

"What?" Maisie was stunned. "A child?"

"Oh, sorry, Maisie!" Camila apologized repeatedly. "I didn't mean anything by it... Th-This is all in the past. Look at me, why am I bringing up these things!"

She seemed quite nervous and repeatedly asked Maisie not to overthink things.

"This... This is all in the past now. Daniel likes you! I said too much just now. Please don't think too much about it, okay?"