Chapter 41
“That won’t be necessary, ma’am. We all love your design,” Daniel said, relaxing for the first time that night. “I mainly came to see your attitude in person. If the issue with the lines was you brushing us off, maybe there’d be no point in working together. Turns out we were overthinking. Barnard, Camilla, I look forward to working with you p>
Daniel’s face finally softened with a genuine smile, the first since he’d come in. He reached out to shake Camilla’s hand. Just like that, the whole tense situation melted away.
After dinner, Camilla and Barnard saw Daniel off and quickly sorted out the remaining details. Once the door closed behind their guest, Barnard finally let his patience snap. He went right up to Camilla and grabbed her wrist. “What’s really going on? Why didn’t you tell me about this p>
Camilla tried to keep it light. “It wasn’t a big deal. It’s almost healed, so there’s no need to fuss p>
He looked down at her hand, his brows furrowed. “Camilla, you’re my wife. How can you say that? Any injury you get is a huge deal to me.” He examined the swelling carefully, something clicking in his expression. “Did this happen at the Carter Estate p>
She remembered the day his father offhandedly mentioned her not being able to drive. Barnard had been irritated and barely paid attention. Now, his serious stare made Camilla’s chest feel tight, but more than anything, she found it almost funny.
He sounded like he actually cared. All this emotion over a minor injury. But if he really did, why was he always so quick to judge her, never checking the facts first?
Camilla didn’t say anything.
Barnard pressed again. “You got hurt that day at the Carter Estate. Why didn’t you say anything p>
“It doesn’t matter. Let go, I have to get back to Jasper,” Camilla replied, suddenly cold. She tried to twist free, but he held on.
“Of course it matters,” Barnard’s tone sharpened. “Why are you so careless about yourself? You p>
“Are you about to say seeing me like this breaks your heart?” Camilla cut him off, voice dry and tired.
Barnard paused, but nodded honestly. That was exactly what he’d wanted to say. Camilla just shook her head, even colder now. “Stop. If you really cared, you wouldn’t be out parading Daisy and Davina in front of everyone. I’m your wife. When you do that, did you ever think about what it puts me through p>
He stumbled, “I… that day p>
“What’s so hard to get? You think I’d go back to the Carter Estate if it wasn’t for your parents pushing me?” Camilla snapped. “If it was up to me, I’d never set foot there again p>
When Barnard first married her, Calvin had fought it most. He’d wanted his son to find someone from a powerful family—someone who could push their business higher. Not someone like Camilla, just an ordinary girl, no connections, no money, got through college on scholarships.
Laura hadn’t outright said anything, but Camilla could feel how she looked down on her, especially in the beginning. Only recently, after Camilla started turning the company around, did Laura’s attitude warm the slightest bit.
Through all of this, Barnard was the only one she could count on. But unless she absolutely had to, she wouldn’t choose to head back to the Carter Estate for a dose of humiliation.
Barnard’s face froze and guilt finally flickered in his eyes. “I’m sorry, Camilla. I was rash that day. I jumped to conclusions. But it’s been days. Why couldn’t you just tell me p>
“Because there was no point. Anyway, you got your answer. Can you let go now?” Camilla asked, voice flat.
Barnard didn’t reply. Instead, he bent down, swept her up into his arms, and strode straight for the door.
Aaron, startled, quickly hurried over and opened the private room.
“Barnard, what are you doing?” Camilla was confused and more than a little embarrassed. All she knew was that the stares from the waitstaff as they passed were making her uncomfortable.
“We’re going to the hospital,” Barnard said simply.
“Do we really have to? My hand is nearly better. Can you stop making such a big deal out of it?” Camilla asked.
“Trust me, Camilla. Your hands are meant for creating beautiful things. I won’t be at ease until a doctor says everything’s fine.” His voice was gentle, almost coaxing.
Camilla couldn’t break away, so she gave in.
As the elevator doors slid open, Barnard, still carrying her, locked eyes with the group inside.
Abelard’s teasing voice reached her first. “Look at you two, always glued together. That’s a level of couple goals, right, Lance? Getting jealous yet p>
His jeering made Camilla stiffen. She glanced over to see Lance, Abelard’s companion, casting her a fleeting look—calm, detached, as if she were just some stranger.
It made her heart lurch with guilt, for reasons she couldn’t even explain.
He was headed down, she was going up. The closing elevator doors cut off their view.
Abelard nudged Lance. “What’s up, Lance? Still not done staring? Do you know what you look like right now p>
Lance kept his voice low. “What p>
“Pathetic. You caught the slightest whiff of gossip, flew back from overseas in a rush… and for what? Their marriage is solid. All this talk of divorce? Looks like it was just another one of their games after all p>