Chapter 41

Cameron continued, “Or do you think adding me won’t make a difference? You’re head over heels in debt. At the end of the day, it’s just more you can’t repay.”

“No, that’s not it. I never thought that way. I’m asking to borrow a million dollars for—” Qin explained.

“I don’t care why you need the money; I just want to know how you plan to pay it back,” Cameron interrupted.

It dawned on Quinn that she had been naive to think someone she barely knew would lend her such a large sum, especially knowing she had no way of repaying him. She realized she had misjudged the situation entirely.

Just because Cameron picked her up from the train station didn't mean he was willing to lend her money. He had no obligation to help—if he did, it would be a favor, not something she could expect.

Quinn hung her head, her voice barely a whisper as she made a desperate offer. “Would you be willing to buy me?”

Cameron’s brow furrowed, not quite catching her words. “What?”

Quinn steeled herself, knowing she had to do whatever it took. She looked him in the eye and spoke more audibly. “I could sleep with you to pay off the debt.” Cameron’s gaze sharpened as he studied her face intently. He smirked slightly as he tilted her chin up with his finger. “Now that’s an interesting proposal,” he commented.

Quinn blinked, and the tears that had gathered clung to her lashes. She held them back, refusing to let herself cry. She told herself this was the right thing to do, that there was no shame in what she offered to save her father.

In the master bedroom, the main light was off, leaving only a dim nightlight glowing softly by the bed. The warm amber light cast a hazy glow across the room, making everything look muted and serene.

Quinn lay nervously in Cameron’s plush king-sized bed. She had showered and, having lost her luggage, wore one of his oversized dress shirts as a makeshift nightgown. Her heart pounded wildly, recalling the last night they had been together two years ago.

Cameron approached the bed, his gaze fixed on the small figure curled beneath the covers. Even with the blanket pulled over her, he could sense her trembling.

He sat down on the edge, and the mattress dipped under his weight. As he lifted a corner of the blanket, he slid in beside her and reached over to the nightlight’s switch, turning it off. Quinn clutched the blankets tightly, her body tense with fear as Cameron effortlessly pulled her close.

She held her breath as he wrapped an arm around her waist. She could hear Cameron’s steady heartbeat thudding against her ear where she was pressed to his chest.

“Are you trying to suffocate yourself?” he asked, his tone characteristically gentle.

Quinn exhaled shakily, but her warm breath against his skin only seemed to heighten the tension between them. She was just as warm in his arms. She tried to shift, hoping to lie flat instead, but as soon as she moved, the grip on her waist tightened.