A week later.
A week after their discussion with Cameron, Violet was spending more time at her friend's place, which didn't go unnoticed.
- You've been talking to him again?
- Pardon? Violet asked, surprised by her sudden question as there had been a silence of work between them recently.
- Cameron and you.
- Oh...uh yeah, we're talking. We live together, I remind you, how do you want us to stop talking?
- I know you well enough to know that's not your case. What happened after I left you two?
- He told me he would give me time to digest the news and to think about our relationship.
- The relationship I've been waiting for a century to come back? And he didn't kiss you or anything similar?
- No, he just left.
- At this rate, you're not going to get back together until next year. I almost feel like I'm dealing with children.
- Can you talk about your best friend better? I'm not a child. I'm just taking precautions.
- What precautions?! You just have to decide if you still want to be with my brother or not. I've already told you, Cameron is not like the other men you've met. He's reliable and trustworthy except when he decides to be a jerk. But here, he's the one who insists on getting back together with you. He's courting you sincerely. That's pretty rare for a man, isn't it?
- Courting me? Do you think you're in the Middle Ages or something?
- Stop changing the subject or making fun of me. I'm completely serious.
Lynda stopped all movement and turned completely towards her friend. She knew that deep down, she wasn't wrong.
- What are you trying to tell me?
- What I've been trying to tell you for the past ten minutes is that it's time for you to decide to give him your answer. If by any chance you don't want to be with him anymore, which I highly doubt; you might as well tell him now. But if you still love him then stop going in circles and get back together finally, for God's sake!
- Wow...I didn't think it mattered to you that much.
- Why is it weird for me to worry about the future of my best friend and my older brother's relationship?
- No, I'm not saying I find it weird, but very surprising. You're so invested, it's touching.
- Should I remind you that you're my best friend?
- No, I know that all too well.
- Good. Now that the subject is closed, we can continue our work.
After a morning of work, Dylan went home and just as he was about to collapse on his couch, the doorbell rang. He thought he would find Violet at the doorstep but what a surprise to see his ex-conquest's sister from almost four years ago.
- Myriam.
- Hello Cameron. Can I come in?
- Why this unexpected visit?
He reluctantly invited her in and scrutinized her with suspicion.
- I came to talk to you, to tell you something important.
- Very well, I'm listening.
- I came to ask for your help.
- My help for what exactly?
- After you left me, my sister fell into depression and committed suicide. And now I'm inviting you to her funeral.
- Excuse me? Why would I go to her funeral when, after a week of being my conquest, she still cheated on me with the first person she met. Maybe she was a conquest, but from the moment something belongs to me, it stays mine for good.
- I'm telling you she had feelings for you, otherwise why would she have fallen into depression?
- I don't deny that she had feelings for me, even though I never had any for her. But from the moment she decides to be my sexual partner, it has to be exclusive.
- So you have no heart? Is that the only reason you refuse to even come and say goodbye?
- She doesn't deserve it.
- What conquest again and who died?
Cameron slowly turned around, sighing before meeting Violet's gaze, who had visibly just entered having heard their conversation. He wanted to speak but Myriam got ahead of him.
- Hello, I'm an acquaintance of Cameron's. My name is Myriam.
- Hello, Violet, nice to meet you. But you didn't answer my questions? And besides, what brings you here, Myriam?
- I came to ask Cameron to attend the funeral of my older sister who was once his conquest for almost a year.
- Your sister is...oh I'm so sorry. My condolences.
- Thank you.
- What was her name?
- Elodie. Elodie Marshall.
Violet fell silent for a moment at the mention of this name before turning to Cameron. But with an impassive face and a fake smile.
- You will go to this funeral whether you like it or not, out of respect for her sister who went all this way to invite you. If I have to, I'll take you there myself. (She turned back to Myriam and gave a sincere smile.) Send me the address and him too, by the way. I'll take care of him.
- Thank you very much, miss. I'll leave you now, I've abused your hospitality enough. Have a good day.
After Myriam left. Violet took a deep breath before looking up at Cameron.
- You, don't speak to me again until further notice.
Her voice was cold and almost controlled, but Cameron knew too well that when she was in this state, she was really angry and it was difficult to reason with her in this case.
- Violet.
- I said I don't want to hear you or talk to you.
- Well, unfortunately for you, you'll be kind of obligated to go since we live together at my place. And we're in the same room. Why are you asking me to go if you know deep down it won't please you?
- Maybe because I have respect for her sister and also for the family who just lost one of their own for the sole and only reason that she was in love with the wrong man.
- Be careful what you say. I didn't force her, I'm telling you. She decided to become his wife herself.
- But I don't care about that, it's her life not mine, I don't care about her choice.
- So tell me the reason for such strong anger?
- You really don't know? Then I'll refresh your memory. Elodie Marshall, the girl who hated me the most in college and who was hitting on you in front of me to better humiliate me in front of her whole class. The same one you swore to me you'd never sleep with even if it was the end of the world!! There you go? Do you remember now?
- I never had feelings for her and you know it.
- Oh! And you think that's what's going to make me forget that you slept with my worst enemy? The one who harassed me at university for two months before changing schools?!
- Violet, I understand how you feel...
- If you really understood you wouldn't have done it with her. Out of all the women in the world, it had to be her. You couldn't have hurt me more than that.
- Because you think that when you decided to look for a man to fill your life on the internet, it didn't hurt me? What am I supposed to feel when I see the woman of my life letting another man besides me date her?!
- Well, that's completely different. It was a man unknown to both of us that I met on a dating site. But here, it's my worst enemy, Elodie Marshall. And everyone knows her, even my mother. So frankly, between the two of us, you've done the most wrong. There's no comparison.
She started to walk past him with her cup of coffee in hand, but he blocked her way. His gaze was certainly impassive, but tinged with guilt.
- If you really want me to go, you're coming with me. It'll be with you or nothing.
- Pardon?
- As you said yourself, out of respect for Myriam and her family. So if you really want me to go, you're coming with me whether you like it or not."