Reborn From Oblivion

Cameron stood firm and said, "I foot the bill around here, so I get to decide who stays and who goes."

Nina, tears flooding her cheeks, shot back, "You're the worst dad ever! You always put that wicked stepmother of mine first, sacrificing my happiness for hers. It's her or me in this house. Make your choice!"

Cameron felt a headache brewing and massaged the back of his neck. "Nina, don't be so unreasonable."

"I've been quiet and caused no trouble before, and that wicked stepmother still managed to steal you away. Now she's after my nurse too. Why should I keep playing the pushover?"

She tossed off the blanket, her face a mask of resentment. "Dad, I don't like you anymore."

Cameron winced at her words and threw in the towel with a sigh. "Okay, okay. I won't take your nurse away. Happy now?"

Leaving Nina's hospital room, Cameron looked like he was caught in a storm. Being stuck between his wife and daughter felt like being the filling in a sandwich - really tough.

Feeling down, Cameron eventually snuck out of the hospital, heading to a bar he used to haunt.

The bartender, who once practically jumped to serve him, now greeted him with forced cheer. "Mr. Dawson, what'll it be today?"

Cameron, determined not to be looked down upon, waved his hand grandly. "Bring me your best drink."

He just wanted to drown today's worries and let tomorrow's problems wait till tomorrow.

The bartender's attitude warmed up as he scurried off to fetch Cameron's drink.

Meanwhile, Cameron couldn't help but eavesdrop on a group of women chatting nearby:

"Have you heard? Ms. Nathalie and the Evans family are gearing up for a big lawsuit."

"Ashley, seriously! After all the struggles she's been through, she should be enjoying her life now that she's back with her family. But instead, she's tossing billions to get some guy out of jail early."

"Can't Ashley live without a man? A few years ago, she got mixed up with that former prince and lost everything. You'd think she'd learn. Now she's in another man's trap. It's sad. She just can't let go of love."

"What do you know? The guy Ashley truly cares about was never the former prince. Why else would she ditch him and flee abroad? The one she truly cares for is in prison."

The woman motioned for the others to huddle closer. In a hushed voice, she said, I've heard Ashley visits him in jait regularly, but he doesn't want anything to do with her. She's crazy about him, even willing to die for him."

She paused, leaving her listeners hanging.

Sipping her drink, she casually added, "The former prince was just a blip for

Ashley. But this guy, she's got him engraved on her heart."noveldrama

Listening to their gossip, Cameron felt a knot tighten in his chest.

In his gloomy state, he took a swig from his bottle, trying to drown out his thoughts.

The booze sparked a fleeting daydream.

If Nathalie could splash out for Morris, and here he was struggling to pay his staff, wouldn't it be something if she lent him a hand to get through this rough patch?

After drinking himself to a comfortable haze, Cameron wobbled to his feet and stumbled out.