Chapter 6
As the customer finished her payment codes, she said to Camila, “You’ve always been quite the charmer, Camila. Got a boyfriend yet?”
Camila just smiled and shook her head.
“What are you looking for in a guy? Maybe I can set you up,” the customer offered.
“No need for that, another customer chimed in from a different table. “With her looks, she could easily be a beauty queen. The line of suitors must stretch all the way to Paris.”
“Absolutely, she can take her pick.”
“Td love for Camila to be my daughter–in–law. It’s just that my son isn’t quite up to par
The neighborhood regulars went back and forth, making Camila awkwardly stand in the middle..
“If there’s a good match, just let me know, I’ve got the matchmaking fee ready,” Claire said as she came over and put an arm around her daughter’s shoulder.
“No problem!”
At that moment, Camila wished she could just vanish.
1 made you so
some chicken soup with lots of greens. Come and eat,” Claire invited Camila to sit down.
Camila scooped up a spoonful of chicken soup and swallowed it, feeling a wave of contentment wash over her. She’d been eating it for over a decade and got tired of it, but she found herself craving it ever since she moved out.
“Camila, have some fruit after your soup, her mom suggested.
Looking up, Camila saw Cole approaching with some freshly cut apples.
Thanks, Cole. Why don’t you join us for some soup?” she offered.
Having lost his wife early, Cole raised his two sons alone and ran a local fruit shop. He had harbored feelings for Camila’s mother for
many years.
When Camila and her mother first moved to this village, Cole had always silently looked out for both of them, Camila knew her mother also had a soft spot for Cole, but neither had openly breached that topic.
She always felt her mother stayed single because of her. Whenever she came home, she would try to set them up.
“I already ate. There’s no one at the shop, so I’ll head back. Call me if you need anything.” Cole said with a warm smile as he left.
“Mom, I really think Cole is a nice guy, Camila said earnestly,
“You focus on yourself first. So, still no boyfriend?” Claire skillfully changed the subject
“Uh–huh.” Camila continued with her chicken soup.
She had broken up with her ex a few days ago, but she wasn’t upset. Perhaps she never really liked her ex–boyfriend.
Truth be told, she wasn’t very hopeful about love, heavily influenced by her parents‘ divorce. Her grandmother once told her that her father had pursued her mother persistently and was always ready to please. However, he changed completely after marriage. Not only did they often fight, but he also became abusive
What was worse, when her father found out she was a girl, he immediately demanded a divorce. It turned out he already had a son from another woman a few months earlier.
She vaguely remembered that one day, her mother took her to confront her father for child support. He insulted them and even kicked her. Claire lost her temper, picked up a brick from the villa’s entrance, and struck her father, leaving him bleeding profusely. The police came later, but she couldn’t remember how things were resolved after that.
Since then, Claire never pursued child support again and moved to this village with her daughter never mentioning that man again. Only Camila’s grandmother would sometimes look at her with resentment, saying, “If only you were a boy, we wouldn’t have to live this hard. Your father’s worth billions now. I could have been living in luxury.”
After helping with the dishes, Camila checked the time. She saw her mother preparing more ravioli, so she carefully pulled out a pill from her bag, and took it with water.
“Camila, what medicine are you taking? Claire’s voice startled her