Chapter 149
Barnard had just been brought back to his room when Laura was called away by Calvin. Before she left, she leaned in and told Camilla to stay with Barnard, as if she didn’t trust anyone else around him.
The doctor checked Barnard over and put on some medication. Through the whole thing, Camilla never made a move to help. She just stood back, completely unbothered, almost like she wasn’t even in the room.
When the doctor left, it wasn’t long before Barnard opened his eyes. He saw Camilla sitting by his bed and let out a shaky breath, like seeing her there let him relax for the first time. “Camilla, I p>
“Let’s just be honest, Barnard,” she cut in, not even giving him a chance. “You suddenly show up with a child. Is this your latest way to humiliate me p>
The room was quiet except for the sound of her words, blunt and direct, making it impossible for Barnard to hide. He looked ashamed, sweat still clinging to his forehead from the pain, but Camilla didn’t even spare him a glance of sympathy. She didn’t ask if he was okay, didn’t bother with any small talk. The contrast hit him hard, left his heart pounding painfully.
Barnard tried to defend himself. “Camilla, I know I messed up. I hurt you. But what I told you before still counts. Even if Davina has my child, as long as you want to be Mrs. Carter, I won’t let anyone threaten your place p>
“I don’t want it,” Camilla replied without missing a beat. “Just tell me, how can you live with yourself, letting Davina’s child be a bastard forever? When are you going to agree to a divorce? Or maybe you’ll finally just tell me what you’re really playing at p>
She was done pretending. All these years, Barnard’s manipulations had always been perfect. She knew if Davina was pregnant, it was only because Barnard allowed it to happen. There was no way Davina could have managed this on her own.
What Camilla really couldn’t figure out was why he’d gone so far but still hadn’t brought up divorce. What else was he waiting for?
By now, Calvin was in the loop about Davina’s pregnancy. If Barnard really wanted, he could help Davina take her place and Camilla would step aside. It would be easy, everyone would get what they wanted.
“Camilla, why do you think the worst of me? Is it so impossible that I just don’t want to get divorced?” Barnard sounded stiff, like even he didn’t believe his own words.
Camilla just let out a cold laugh. “Let’s not kid ourselves. You married me to be your excuse for Davina, to keep your parents happy. Now that they know the truth, I’m useless, right? So why not just end it? What are you holding out for p>
She didn’t believe a word from him anymore. She remembered how she’d been swept up all those years ago by Barnard’s sweet talk, how stupid she’d been to fall for it. That was how she landed here, always fighting from behind.
Barnard stared at her, his expression shifting, brows furrowed deep in thought. In his mind, everything had gone to plan. On paper, this was the perfect time to come clean, to put his cards on the table, but the words just wouldn’t come out.
Camilla’s distance, the way she’d frozen him out, made his chest ache. There was this nagging fear that something important was slipping through his fingers and he’d never get it back.
After all these years together, it didn’t matter if the feelings were real or fake; Barnard still felt something for Camilla. He didn’t want to lose her, and that’s why he hesitated.
His voice came out rough. “Camilla, please… let’s not get divorced. I promise, Davina will never bother you again. We can keep things just the way they are. Nothing has to change, I swear p>
Camilla’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “And what about Jasper p>
Barnard’s entire face went stiff.
She already knew how he felt about Jasper. He’d made it clear with every cruel word, every hateful glare. He would never treat Jasper as his son, even though Jasper’s existence was his doing, even though he was responsible for all of it. Nothing could stop Barnard from hating that child.
Camilla laughed quietly. “Barnard, you just don’t want to lose the perks I give you. Jasper isn’t your child, but Davina’s baby is. So you want me to do the work, keep the family running, only for you to hand everything I’ve built over to that bastard. Then when you’ve squeezed every bit of use out of me, you’ll toss me and Jasper out. That’s your big plan? Seriously? You really think I’m that dumb p>
This whole Mrs. Carter thing was just for show. Jasper would never inherit a thing; it would all belong to Davina’s kid in the end.
Barnard had already cheated, and now he wanted Camilla to work herself to death for his mistress’s child. Did he think she was that blind?
Barnard’s lips parted and closed, shock flickering in his eyes. “Camilla, how can you see me that way? I p>
He suddenly stopped, like he just now realized how little he had left to say.
Camilla’s expression stayed cold, a small, distant smile always on her lips as she looked at him. To her, he was nothing but a piece of trash—filthy, pathetic, not even worth her anger.
Barnard couldn’t even meet her gaze anymore. He desperately wanted to deny her accusations, but he couldn’t, not truly. Jasper wasn’t his son, and he would never let the family fortune slip into an outsider’s hands.
But Camilla…
Barnard’s gaze flickered, and then, as if grasping for the last straw, he said, “Camilla, we could have a child of our own. I p>
He didn’t finish. Camilla lifted her hand and slapped him hard across the face.
“Barnard, you’re even more disgusting than I ever imagined p>