Chapter 19
“Camilla, I’m talking to you. Why are you looking at Davina?” Barnard’s voice was tense. “You just brought home a dog without thinking it through. What matters now is sending it away p>
Realizing he’d come on too strong, Barnard tried to soften his voice, as if negotiating. But Camilla’s face stayed icy.
Jasper shrank back, scared, and grabbed Camilla’s arm. “Mommy, we just brought Snow home. I don’t want to give Snow away p>
“We’re not sending him away,” Camilla said softly, bending down to comfort Jasper. “I promise you, nobody’s sending Snow away today.” Her words landed right on Barnard’s last nerve.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Barnard shot back. “Daisy is this sick and you’re still planning to let Jasper keep the dog p>
“So what if I am?” Camilla replied coolly. “Let me ask you something. Did Daisy suddenly become allergic overnight? As her mom, do you really think Davina didn’t know about her allergy? Jasper never hid the fact that he wanted a dog. Davina even saw us bring home the dog bed yesterday. She had plenty of chances to say something but kept quiet. Now, after Jasper’s already got the puppy, suddenly it’s all about Daisy’s allergy and the dog has to go? Why should Jasper be the one to pay for this? If dogs weren’t allowed, why not speak up sooner? Why wait until Jasper is already attached and then just crush his happiness? Don’t you think that’s cruel, especially coming from his own dad p>
Camilla never liked to think poorly of others, but Davina’s behavior left her no choice. She remembered the last time they got back from the breeder and Daisy ended up in the hospital that same night. Davina said it was just a dust allergy then, but looking back, that didn’t really seem true.
She turned to Davina. “Don’t you think you should explain yourself? Why didn’t you ever mention Daisy’s allergy? Do you really not know your daughter’s health? That night at the hospital, was it really just dust p>
Davina shook her head and said quietly, “Camilla, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have hidden it. I was just thinking of Jasper. He wanted a dog—everyone knows that. Daisy’s just a nanny’s daughter, after all. Why should Jasper have to give up what he wants for her? You and Jasper are the ones who matter in this house. If Daisy can’t handle the dog, then maybe she’s the one who needs to adjust p>
Her words sounded noble, almost self-sacrificing.
Barnard’s face darkened. “That’s ridiculous, Davina. Jasper just wanted a dog for fun. Daisy’s allergy is serious, it could be dangerous for her. How could you be so careless? What if something happened to her p>
By now, the butler Jackson had already taken Daisy upstairs after the doctor saw her. The room was quieter without her coughing, but Barnard’s determination to stand up for Daisy didn’t fade.
Davina replied, “You’re overreacting. Kids from poor families can’t be this fragile. Camilla was kind enough to take me and Daisy in. If Daisy’s problems end up ruining Jasper’s happiness, wouldn’t that make us both incredibly ungrateful p>
Barnard looked at Davina with something almost like pity, but when he glanced back at Camilla, his eyes were cold. “You hear that, Camilla? Davina’s only thinking of Jasper. Anyway, it’s just a dog. A dog isn’t more important than a person. Make Jasper give it up. I’ll buy him a different toy p>
“That’s not going to happen,” Camilla said right away. “Jasper loves Snow now. I’m not going to make my son suffer so someone else can be happy. If Daisy really can’t live with the dog, I’ll just take Jasper and move out p>
This time, she said it straight out. She’d already been planning to leave—they might as well get it over with.
Barnard’s face tensed. He tried to reason with her. “You’d really move out over a dog? Is it really worth that p>
“It is. All I care about is that Jasper has finally found something he truly loves. He’s finally this happy. I won’t let you take that away from him. If you insist on putting Daisy first, then I’ll take Jasper and we’ll go,” she replied.
She called Jasper’s name and started heading for the stairs to pack a bag.
Even though she hadn’t found a new place yet, Camilla would rather take Jasper to a hotel than have him stay and deal with this.
Davina spread her arms, blocking Camilla’s way. “Please, don’t be rash. Jasper shouldn’t have to leave because of Daisy. How about this? I’ll make sure Daisy stays in her room whenever Jasper has the dog out. Would that be ok p>
Barnard broke in, “How is that ok? Davina, you helped me so much before, and I brought you here—it’s not right to make your daughter hide for a dog p>
Davina shook her head, “Barnard, please don’t say any more. I’m already grateful that you even remember me and Daisy at all p>