Chapter 40

He found himself fascinated by the graceful movement of Quinn’s throat as she swallowed. Before long, she had finished her meal, dabbing her lips and looking as though the cold had settled in her bones.

“Are you…all right?” Cameron asked.

Quinn nodded, knowing she could not have finished such a large portion under normal circumstances.

“The guest room is upstairs, second door on the left. Go shower and rest. You can clean up in the morning,” Cameron instructed before turning to get water from the refrigerator. Despite his instructions, Quinn felt uncomfortable leaving the mess. She began washing dishes and tidying up.

Cameron stopped when he heard the noise. “Didn’t I tell you to go rest?”

Quinn hesitated, her voice barely audible. “I can’t sleep.”

Even though her immediate problems were resolved, she was still worried about James, who was waiting for her to get the money to help him.

“Why can’t you sleep?” Cameron was puzzled.

Suddenly, an idea struck Quinn. She set down the dishes, dried her hands, and approached him. Grabbing his sleeve, she looked up at him with a desperate expression and pleaded, “Mr. Sutton, could I ask you for a favor?”

Cameron didn’t respond immediately. His gaze traveled from her anxious face to the small hand clutching his sleeve. Realizing her boldness, Quinn quickly let go, embarrassed. “What is it?” Cameron asked, his tone neutral. There was no hint of whether he was inclined to help.

Quinn took a deep breath and said, “I—I need to borrow some money.” It was hard to admit, but there was no time for pride when a life was at stake.

Surprised by her request, Cameron’s expression softened slightly. “How much?”

Quinn held up five fingers timidly. “Five hundred thousand dollars, if that’s okay?”

Cameron considered the sum insignificant, but Quinn considered it a small fortune. He was curious about why she needed so much.

Seeing his hesitation, Quinn became increasingly nervous. Fearing his refusal, she dropped to her knees in a burst of desperation. “Please, Mr. Sutton, I promise I’ll pay you back. I really will!”

Her urgency only deepened his suspicion about the reason behind the loan. Looking down at her pale, anxious face, he asked, “How do you plan to repay me? If I remember correctly, you still owe me from before.”

Quinn felt her heart sink as she remembered the enormous sum she already owed him.