Chapter 6. The One They Underestimated
1420 Words
Riley glanced at Grace, her tone suddenly sharp. “You dropped out of high school?”
In their circle, Camila was the definition of perfection. Not only was she a socialite in San Francisco’s elite crowd, she was also known for her brains. An Ivy League alum, one of the most cultured young women in their world.
Someone like her was made for William.
In their society, looks weren’t enough. Ambition mattered. Education was essential. So was status. Family names carried just as much weight as intelligence.
Riley’s voice dripped with condescension. “So not only do you not have a degree, you didn’t even finish school?”
Grace glanced at Camila, who looked smug. But Grace just smiled calmly. “I didn’t drop out. I just didn’t go to college right after high school.”
Riley raised her brows, then let out a loud laugh. “Wow. Funny thing is, William didn’t go to college right after high school either...” She paused, her voice turning nastier. “But he went back and got dual master’s degrees from Easton University. In Boston. Campus record-holder, by the way. You? I’m guessing you didn’t even get your bachelor’s.”
Laughter broke out around them.
Camila lifted her chin with pride. Everyone in the room hated Grace. William just sat quietly. The dim lighting from the bar highlighted the sharp lines of his face. His eyes were on Grace.
He didn’t look surprised. His wife was a housewife who was always there for him. No degree. No ambition. Nothing special.
But when their eyes met, William noticed something different. Her big, clear eyes didn’t show shame or nervousness. If anything, there was a flicker in them—almost amused.
Grace gave a small smile and said softly, “Yeah. It’s a funny coincidence, isn’t it?”
Simple words, but they unsettled him. His heart started beating faster. And he didn’t know why.
What he did know was that her eyes were stunning. Bright, sparkling.
And just then, Clara showed up. “Grace!” Her glare landed straight on Camila. “Are you bothering her again?”
Camila gave her a fake friendly smile. “Me? No, of course not. We were just trying to help her find a job.”
Clara froze. Her expression shifted instantly. “A job? You’re offering her a job?”
Camila stayed calm, that sweet phony smile still on her face. “Yeah. Even if she doesn’t have any qualifications, we’d still like to help her find something.”
Clara blinked, then let out a sharp laugh.
She looked like she was about to say something, but Grace gently touched her wrist. “Clara, let’s go.”
She didn’t even bother wasting time giving them an answer.
Clara looked at Grace for a moment, then turned back to Camila with a thin smile. “Remember this moment. You’re gonna regret it one day.”
They walked off, and Riley burst out laughing.
“Who does she think she is? A high school dropout acting all confident like that? If I were her, I’d be too embarrassed to even show up here!” Riley said.
But Camila stayed calm. She had never actually cared about Grace. Never considered her important. Getting mad would mean giving Grace equal footing.
She casually smiled at Riley. “Forget her. Dumb people don’t know shame.”
Riley scoffed. “William, you really need to divorce her already. She’s not even close to your level.”
William didn’t say a word. A few seconds later, he just got up and said quietly, “Let’s go.”
Camila nodded, and they left the bar together.
Outside, a voice called out. “Mr. Donovan?”
William turned, and a man stepped out from the shadows under a streetlamp.
Charles Laurent. Director of Easton University.
William immediately walked over and shook his hand. “Mr. Laurent? You’re in San Francisco?”
Camila straightened her posture. She held this man in high regard. Even though she’d always been considered smart, she had never been special enough to get into Easton.
Charles smiled warmly. “Here for a conference. And I happened to have another brilliant former student living here.”
William frowned. “Who?” He wasn’t aware of anyone else.
Charles gave him a slow nod. “Yes, Easton had two legends. You were one. The other was a female student. Both of you got in through the Prodigy Track, and she finished her dual master’s even younger than you. A true genius. But you were in different years, so you never crossed paths.”
Riley’s jaw dropped. “Wait... someone that smart? Even more than William?”
Charles looked at William with a slight smile. “You two were about equal.”
William raised an eyebrow. “Equal?” He’d never met a woman who could actually match him.
Camila, on the other hand, felt a weird sense of unease rise in her chest. Grace had never seemed like a threat. No degree, humble, practically invisible in her eyes. But this mysterious woman...
Who was she?
Why had she never heard of her?
“Mr. Donovan, I’ll send you her contact on w******p. You’re both in the same city now, so it’d be great if you two could connect—as alumni, even if from different fields.”
William nodded. “Sure.”
As soon as Charles left, Riley jumped in. “William! Add her right now! I’m dying to know who she is!”
William pulled out his phone and opened the app. Only one contact had been sent. The name showed a single letter: G. The profile photo was just a blank white background.
Riley leaned in. “G? What’s that supposed to mean?”
William didn’t know. He tapped “Add Contact” and typed “William Donovan” as the intro message.
The message was still pending.
Riley got more hyped. “Once she replies, you better introduce me. I’m officially a fan.”
While the guys kept talking about this mystery woman, Camila felt the anxiety in her chest deepen.
Since when could a woman grab William and Riley’s attention like that in just minutes?
At that moment, a black Mercedes-Maybach S680 pulled up quietly by the curb. The front window rolled down, and behind the wheel, Paul—William’s personal assistant—looked out.
Camila jumped at the chance to shift the energy. “William, the car’s here. Let’s go.”
Riley waved as they left. “Later, William! Camila!”
The Maybach pulled away and slid into the glowing city streets. But the silence inside the car was heavy.
Paul glanced in the rearview mirror. “Sir, heading straight to HQ?”
“Yeah,” William said flatly.
In the dim glow of the night, his profile looked like it belonged in an old black-and-white film. Cold. Distant.
Camila watched him from the passenger seat. Her chest tightened. She knew William better than anyone. But tonight, he felt different. Like his mind was somewhere else entirely.
She spoke softly. “Will, about earlier... You’re not into Grace just because she got prettier, right?”
William glanced at her. His voice was flat and bored. “She’s my wife. Not that surprising, is it? Besides, you’re the one who gave her to me.”
Camila froze. Her anxiety hadn’t really faded, even though William had come back to her. Because three years ago, she had left him when he was in a coma. And Grace had taken her place.
She tried to defend herself. “William... Grace insisted on marrying you. I just stepped aside...”
William let out a dry laugh. “You seriously want me to believe that?”
Camila’s face went pale. She knew it was a lie. But that look he gave her—like he saw straight through every mask she wore—was too much.
She looked down. Her voice barely a whisper. “Fine. If you’re still mad at me... then just let me go. Let me leave.” Then she turned toward the front. “Paul, stop the car.”
She reached for the door handle. But before she could pull it, William grabbed her wrist.
In one swift motion, he pulled her toward him, and Camila pounded his chest. Twice. Hard. But the only sound was the steady beat of his heart.
In the silence, William spoke one sentence.
“Camila, are you really trying to test my patience?”
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