Chapter 143
When Camilla picked up Davina’s call, she had just finished reading her background file.
Davina grew up in a family that always put her younger brother first. Her parents dragged her along to work odd jobs just to make sure he could go to school. The longest job she ever held was taking care of Barnard at the Carter family’s house. Once Barnard went abroad, she jumped between different gigs until Carmen arranged her marriage.
Her husband was a truck driver. He was nothing special, maybe a bit plain, but solid and real. Still, Davina always had her head in the clouds. She never looked at him twice. Not long after he passed, she changed Daisy’s last name and left that family behind.
There were a few more things about her in the file that caught Camilla’s eye. For one, after Davina left, her in-laws never stopped looking for her, desperate to know where she went.
So when Davina asked to meet, Camilla sent her location anonymously to Davina’s former in-laws before heading out. She’d promised herself she wouldn’t let Davina off easy, not after everything she’d pulled. If Davina was bold enough to show up in person, Camilla definitely wasn’t going to let this slip by.
Davina was already at the café, a glass of milk in front of her, when Camilla arrived. She sat there, back straight, doing her best to look relaxed like everyone else, but the way she fumbled as she stirred her milk with a spoon made it obvious. She wasn’t used to places like this.
Camilla took the seat across from her and didn’t bother with small talk. “So, what did you want to say in private? Can’t keep it a secret anymore? Here to claim your territory and tell me Barnard’s yours p>
Her tone was icy, every word meant to buy time for what was coming next.
Barnard could cover for Davina all he wanted when it came to Calvin, but facing her in-laws was another story.
Davina didn’t flinch. She said, “Barnard always said you were sharp and that you’d catch on to us. Looks like he was right. So tell me—since you know Barnard loves me, when are you going to divorce him? Someone like you wouldn’t want to stay stuck with a man who doesn’t love you, right p>
She talked about love like it was some sort of trophy she’d won. Camilla tried to imagine how things looked from Davina’s side. For someone like her, Barnard’s love was probably the only shot she had at a better life, something worth holding onto for dear life.
Camilla let out a soft laugh. “If you’re sitting here with me, that means Barnard hasn’t given you any real promises. Makes sense—I’m not just his wife, I’m his partner. And you? You’re just the nanny he once hired, more than ten years older than him, someone he keeps hidden away at home. It must be nerve-wracking, having to come all this way to demand what you think is yours p>
She knew exactly where Davina’s weak points were, and every word hit them. Davina’s face twisted with resentment even as she struggled not to show it. Camilla wasn’t wrong—Barnard never brought her along anywhere. At every important event, it was always Camilla by his side.
Davina’s reply was sharp. “I can’t compare to you. You have a degree from a top university. You’re smart, you have a career… You even managed to win Laura and Calvin’s approval even though you don’t come from money. Why would you tie yourself to a man who doesn’t even love you? What will it take for you to let Barnard go p>
Camilla met her gaze. “You’re mistaken about one thing. I’m not the one who’s refusing to get divorced p>
That hit Davina hard enough that her hands started trembling.
Camilla kept going. “If you came here hoping to pressure me, maybe you should talk to Barnard first. Divorce isn’t something I can decide alone p>
A fresh cup of coffee landed on the table. Camilla stirred the foam, eyes scanning the entrance as a plainly dressed older couple stepped in. They looked around until they spotted Davina, then came straight for their table.
Davina barely had time to ask another question before the woman grabbed her wrist. “So this is where you’ve been. We’ve been searching everywhere for you. My son’s barely gone and you’re here enjoying life. Look at these clothes, the bag—did you buy them all with my son’s money p>
Hearing that voice, Davina lost whatever calm she’d been pretending to have. She fumbled with her bag, trying to shield her face, but there was nowhere to hide.
The woman yanked the bag out of her hands and tossed it aside. “You really have no shame. My son treated you well. The moment he died, you grabbed his money and disappeared. Did you even think about us, about how we’d survive? How can someone like you exist p>
Davina’s face was tense, irritation written all over it. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I don’t even know you p>
Her denial only made the woman angrier, her voice even louder as the entire café turned to watch.