The Shells We Shared, Now Washed Away

Camille's POV

“She’s a top medical school graduate, Kemp. She’s perfectly capable of getting a job and taking care of herself,” Wendy said with a sweet but sharp voice. “If she’s ended up like this, it’s no one’s fault but her own. It simply means she’s lazy and unmotivated.”

“You could tell even back then,” she continued. “Sure, she came from a poor family, but instead of working part-time to pay for school, she just took your mom’s money without question. That says a lot. She’s poor and lazy.”

“Wendy!” I snapped, cutting her off. “I paid back every cent your aunt gave me, with interest. So watch your mouth.”

Caught off guard, Wendy sulked and tugged at Kemp’s sleeve. “Forget it, Kemp. She’s so prideful. No matter how kind you are, she’ll just take it as an insult. Let’s not waste our time on her.”

“You two don’t need to concern yourselves with my life,” I said coldly, turning back to keep digging through the trash.

Then suddenly, I saw it.

A small pouch of colorful seashells.

Finally found it, I let out a breath of relief. But just as I reached for it, Kemp grabbed my wrist and yanked me to my feet.

“Camille, you thought a dollar wasn’t enough back then. But now you’re digging through trash cans and still can’t find that much, can you?” he sneered. “But let me tell you, even if you’ve fallen this low, playing the pity card won’t work on me. I’m not taking you back.”

For a moment, I was speechless.

All these years later, and he still thought we broke up because of that stupid dollar?

The truth was, when Wendy suddenly went abroad and ghosted him, he spiraled. He was so heartbroken that it nearly destroyed him.

His mother asked me to look after him, and since she had helped me financially, I stayed by his side through it all. Over time, we naturally grew close and ended up together.

But the moment Wendy came back, he started pulling away, ignoring my calls, leaving my messages on read.

And on our third anniversary, he only sent me a dollar. If that wasn’t a message to “get lost,” I didn’t know what was.

The sad part? I still couldn’t bring myself to let go. Not until I saw the message Wendy sent me. That was when I gave up for good. And he knew that he had to.

I stared at the hand gripping my wrist and said calmly, “Kemp, I’m doing just fine now. I’ve never once thought about going back to you. You can relax.”

I tried pulling my hand away, but he didn’t budge.

“Didn’t you say it yourself?” I reminded him. “You told me, if we broke up, I better not come crawling back. I’ve remembered those words ever since.”

He narrowed his eyes at me, so I added, “I’m married now. My husband has a temper. If he saw you grabbing me like this, it wouldn’t end well for either of us.”

Only then did he finally let go, eyes wide with shock.

“You got married behind my back?!” His brows knitted together. “Where is he? What kind of man lets his wife end up in a state like this?”

When he saw I didn't answer, he let out a sarcastic laugh. “Oh, I get it. Trying to get a rise out of me by saying you’re married? Even if you said you had a kid, I still wouldn’t care.”

He didn’t need to spell it out. I already knew. His heart had only ever held Wendy.

But the thing was, he was the one who confessed to me first.

I even asked him over and over if he was truly over Wendy. Beck then, he had looked me in the eyes and promised he’d forgotten her.

That was the only reason I ever said yes to being with him.

Now, somehow, I was the clingy, manipulative ex in his story?

I shook my head, letting out a breath as I shrugged. “Think whatever you want.”

Wendy wrinkled her nose, backing up a step like the smell was too much for her.

“Kemp, this place stinks. Let’s go. It’s clear she doesn’t appreciate your kindness anyway.”

But Kemp didn’t move. His eyes stayed locked on me, like he still wasn’t ready to let this go.