Meanwhile, Camille and Asher were in the car while waiting for Cleo.
Camille had a bright smile on her face as she looked out the window to which Asher noticed.
"You seem to be in a good mood, mind sharing what is making you smile," Asher smiled.
"That's if you are willing to share it," he quickly added because he was aware that his relationship with Camille wasn't as strong as it was again.
Camille was in a good mood, so she decided to give him a response.
"I am just in a good mood, I was able to write this exam against all odds, it is something to be excited about," Camille explained to him.
Asher sighed, nodding in agreement to her words.
Camille, on the other hand, kept the smile on her face. It was true what she had said. Against all odds, she was able to write the exam.
She was unable to sit for the exam in her past life because she craved attention, but this life is different.
Putting herself first, she was able to get things done, and she was quite sure she would also get others done as well. She was looking forward to what this particular life held for her.
"I wanted to ask, why didn't you pursue the matter with Cleo? She tried to hurt you, that is an undisputed fact, so why did you choose to do that?" Asher asked curiously.
Camille turned to look at him, and she grinned widely before responding, "isn't it better to deal with her myself?"
Asher looked at the smile on her face, and he felt a chill spread in his heart. He knew she had changed, but her change was something he couldn't comprehend.
"Why do you look so surprised?" Camille asked with a chuckle. She didn't realize, but she was slowly letting her guard down around her brothers.
"Are you surprised that I could say that?" She asked again, and Asher slowly nodded his head.
"You don't need to be astonished brother, recall that you are the one who taught me all these, I am just making use of your teachings."
"Surely, you wouldn't want your teachings to go to waste, would you?" Camille smiled. Asher felt a shock ripple in his heart with each word she uttered.
"Forget about it, sit back and enjoy the show. Speaking of Cleo, she should be out soon," Camille deftly changed the topic as she stared at her wristwatch.
Asher looked at Camille who looked like she didn't want to talk about whatever was going ok on her mind.
No, it wasn't just how she looked. That was it, she was shutting them out.
He could only sigh in disappointment as he was aware this was his and Ethan's faults.
If only they weren't so blind, then there was a possibility that Camille wouldn't be so guarded around them.
Just as Asher was thinking, there was a knock on the car's window. Asher rolled it down, Cleo's 'innocent' face came into view.
"Get in," Asher said, unlocking the back door. Cleo walked to the back, and she got in, but while staring at Camille who unfortunately didn't pay any attention to her.
The drive back home was peaceful, but there was tension underneath, and no one was willing to break the ice. Asher could have, but he decided to put Camille's feelings first as he felt that he had hurt a lot.
When they arrived home, Ethan was already waiting for them in the living room.
"You are back early," Asher said, folding his arms.
"Of course, I promised Cam I'll take her out for dinner, and I want to make sure I do so," Ethan replied as he walked to Camille who had her mouth wide open in shock.
"I can't believe this," she muttered under her breath but it was loud enough for Ethan to hear her.
"Well, you better believe it, I booked the best restaurant to celebrate you, it will just be me, Asher and you, just like old times," Ethan said, and one could hear the excitement in his voice.
Camille inhaled deeply. She couldn't deny that all these were too much for her to take in, and she didn't know how she was to react.
Suddenly, her train of thoughts was broken by Cleo's question.
"Can I come along as well? I also wrote the exam." There was pleading in her tone, and it was clear that she wanted to be at the celebration as well.
"No."
"Absolutely not!"
The brothers responded simultaneously as they glared at her. They had no idea when they had already stepped in front of Camille.
Camille blinked seeing her two brothers protect her from behind, and she chuckled in disbelief.
"Wow," she whispered to herself. She didn't understand what her brothers were up to, so she decided to convince herself that they were only playing a game, and she shouldn't fall for it.
Well, she couldn't be blamed. She had been severely hurt in her past life. It is only normal for her to be guarded against them.
"Let her come," Camille said with a soft smile, stepping out from behind her brothers. "The more, the merrier, don't you agree?"
The two brothers snapped their heads to look at her, and their faces couldn't hide the shock they felt.
Cleo, on the other hand, had her gaze fixed on Camille. She felt that she was up to something, but what that was, she had no idea. There was a glint in her eyes that made Cleo pause, just for a second.
Since Camille decided that she should go, she would take advantage and find out what the siblings were hiding. She refused to be in the dark.
"What? She asked nicely, it is only proper to give her a positive reply," Camille said naturally.
"You have the option to reject her, there is nothing she can do if you reject her, she tried to sabotage you in today's exam, but you let her go, and now, you are inviting her to your celebration, are you out of your mind?" Asher yelled, spilling Cleo's actions from earlier.
"Wait what? Sabotage? Can someone tell me what is going on?" Ethan asked, confused by Asher's words.
Asher took a deep breath, and against Camille's warning look, he told Ethan about everything that had taken place today.
Camille sighed resignedly. But the same couldn't be said for Cleo.
Her chest heaved in horror, and it only got worse when Ethan turned to look at her with a deathly glare.
Camille stepped in front of Cleo, and Ethan was forced to put away his expression as he didn't want Camille to be scared, not like she would be scared.
"Everybody deserves second chances, even Cleo. And besides, I was the one hurt, and I have forgiven her, if you claim to be my brothers, you should do so as well," Camille stated with a firm expression.
Asher and Ethan exchanged glances, communicating with their eyes. They both inhaled simultaneously, and they nodded their heads, agreeing to her words.
She smiled, before turning to look at Cleo who was all sweaty.
"You should smile too, Cleo. After all everything you've been hoping for is finally happening, though maybe not the way you expected." Camille smiled, placing her hands on Cleo's shoulders.