Chapter 178
“Camilla, you’re incredible. I really believe that with your strength, you’ll get out of all this mess and start over… and it won’t take long either p>
Camilla didn’t reply right away.
On one side was Jasper, on the other was her mom. They were the people she cared most about in the world, and she just didn’t know how to explain this whole situation to either of them.
The minutes ticked by. After about half an hour, Lance finally walked out of Jasper’s room and said, “Relax. The kid’s asleep p>
Camilla already knew Lance had a habit of saying outrageous things, but sometimes he still managed to catch her off guard.
Dahlia, who barely knew Lance at all, stared at him open-mouthed when he casually called Jasper his son.
She collected herself and stood up quickly. “Camilla, I’ll leave you two to talk. I’ll go check on Jasper p>
Now it was just Camilla and Lance in the living room.
Camilla spoke first. “Lance, seriously, cut it out with those jokes. I know you mean well, but if Jasper ever found out the truth, it would just break his heart p>
Lance looked at her straight on. “Who said I was joking? Jasper needs a dad. I’m happy to step up. I’d definitely do a better job than Barnard ever did. If you give me the word right now, I’ll tell everyone Jasper’s my kid… my real, flesh-and-blood child. I want to see who’d have the guts to mess with my boy after that p>
There wasn’t even a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. If anything, he looked almost eager, like he was itching for a showdown with the media, as if he’d never once thought of Jasper as any kind of burden.
But…
She’d already learned her lesson. Once, she’d thought Barnard would save her and set her free, but all he did was drag her deeper into the mud. She couldn’t gamble everything on another man’s promise.
“Lance, I’m sorry. I just can’t take you up on your offer. You’ve done so much for me already—no need to put your own reputation on the line p>
Lance grinned. “Reputation? What do I even have to lose around you? Camilla, just trust me this once. Or at least tell me what’s holding you back. I’ll fight anyone for you. I p>
“What about those reporters outside?” Camilla didn’t want to keep talking about this, so she changed the subject.
Lance’s sweet talk came so easily, but for Camilla, it just made her feel more weighed down. She had so many worries. She just wasn’t built to be as fearless as he was.
Lance could see she was deliberately dodging the topic, and he understood. He didn’t push her. “They’re gone. Whatever you decide—press charges, move on—I’ll back you all the way. And this whole thing wasn’t an accident either. Someone tipped off the press. I had my guys trace the IP address. It was the nanny p>
Davina.
Camilla’s jaw clenched so hard it hurt. When Barnard had used this against her, she honestly thought that if she just went along, nobody else would ever find out. She never imagined Barnard would stoop so low as to let Davina in on his twisted plans.
What a devoted couple they made—building their own happiness from her misery.
“Whatever you want to do, I’ll be there for you,” Lance said softly.
He didn’t know all the details, but he wasn’t the type to stir up more pain. He didn’t care about what really happened. All he knew was, anyone who hurt Camilla was in the wrong.
Taking a long, steady breath, Camilla tried to compose herself. “Lance, are the bodyguards you brought still here p>
“They’re all downstairs p>
“Good. I need to borrow them p>
It was time to settle things with Davina.
“Sure. Want me to come along?” Lance offered.
“No, I’ll handle it. I just don’t feel right leaving Jasper. Dahlia probably can’t keep him calm by herself. Could you stick around with him for a bit?” Camilla asked.
She had too much going on, too many fires to put out. Leaving Lance to look after Jasper was her only option for now.
“You really don’t want me with you?” Lance didn’t look entirely convinced. Camilla’s face was so pale that she looked completely washed out, exhausted to the bone. He was worried she’d get hurt if she faced off with someone right now.
“Don’t underestimate me, Lance. Davina isn’t a problem for me p>
And neither was Barnard. With all of her leverage gone, it was time to make things right with him too.
This time, Lance didn’t try to talk her out of it. He let her have her freedom, no strings attached.
Camilla’s anger burned steady inside her, helping her feel more focused, more certain than she had in a long time.
She splashed her face with cold water, tied her hair back into a ponytail, and shook off every trace of despair. Then she headed straight for Saddlebrook Estates.
As she left, Lance called after her, his tone half teasing, “If you won’t let me play the hero, I’ll just wait here for you to come back after crushing your enemies p>
Camilla glanced over her shoulder. She caught him sprawled on the sofa, his shirt collar open, showing off a broad chest, those mischievous eyes of his dancing in the afternoon light. He looked completely at home—a little wild, a little dangerous, and impossible to ignore.