Chapter 115
Camilla wondered if she was losing her mind. How could she let herself get worked up over Lance’s words and one simple gesture?
Even after Lance snapped her out of her thoughts, her heart kept pounding, completely out of her control.
Lance looked at her and said softly, “Why are you so quiet, Camilla? I mean, I wasn’t thinking about anything like that… but if you were, I wouldn’t say no p>
“Stop talking!” Camilla cut him off, her cheeks burning. Every time Lance threw out those ridiculous lines, her morals and boundaries seemed to blur. It didn’t help that he was honestly breathtaking to look at, and when his voice dipped just right, everything between them felt charged, almost dangerous, as if he were tempting her without even trying. She hated how off balance it made her feel.
She forced herself to sound steady. “Lance, I need you to understand something. I have a husband and a son. Jokes like this aren’t appropriate p>
Jokes?
There was a flicker of something in Lance’s eyes. He gave a low laugh. “Camilla, you’re about to be divorced. Your husband barely counts as one anymore. Did you really think one marriage meant you had to be tied down to him forever p>
“My personal life isn’t your concern, Lance,” Camilla said, her tone cool and clipped.
She wasn’t angry at him, exactly. Mostly, she was reminding herself where her priorities lay. Wasn’t it clear by now? Lance never took anything seriously. Even when he flirted, it sounded just like any other joke he might crack with anyone else. He was the golden boy from a powerful family, born at the top of the world. She, on the other hand, came from nothing, had already been married, already had a child. They were from separate planets, and even if she’d never married Barnard, she still wouldn’t be enough to belong where Lance did.
She’d spent years struggling as Mrs. Carter, fighting to fit into a life that wasn’t hers. The lesson was painful but clear. No matter how hard you tried, forcing your way into the wrong world only left you bruised and broken.
She was done with childish daydreams about love. Now, she just wanted to use the remaining advantages of the Carter name to secure her own future, then divorce Barnard and create a better life with Jasper.
Lance, for his part, seemed to sense the change in her. The air grew cold between them.
He glanced down, like he was wondering if he’d pushed her too far, maybe even scared her off.
Before he could say anything else, Camilla cut in. “I’ll handle the pendant. Just keep your word, Lance. That’s all I ask p>
She didn’t throw him out, but their dinner might as well have ended right there. Every word from her after that was stiff and formal.
That night, after Lance left, Camilla’s dreams wouldn’t leave her alone.
She dreamed of a hotel room, wide and bathed in soft light, filled with the faint scent of incense. Two people breathing heavy in the shadows, every sound wrapped in intimacy. It was the night she’d conceived Jasper—the only night she’d ever truly been with Barnard.
Sometimes she still dreamed of that night, but the man’s face was always hidden in shadow. She’d always been left with nothing but a feeling—wild, reckless, and unforgettable.
But this time, in her dream, the man’s face was clear. Those bright, captivating eyes… She woke up gasping, heart pounding, clutching her chest, the moment so vivid it stayed with her for a long time.
It was Lance.
Why was it Lance?
No matter how fuzzy her memory of that night had become, or how drunk she’d been, she knew it had to have been Barnard in that room with her. Otherwise, he never would’ve proposed right after she found out she was pregnant with Jasper.
But… how could her mind have put Lance in that place?
Camilla headed downstairs and gulped an entire glass of ice water. Only then did her nerves settle, just a little.
She kept repeating to herself that Lance was nothing more than a beautiful fox, clever and dangerous, the kind of man she’d do best to avoid from now on.
When she arrived at the office the next morning, she was still distracted, nerves frayed and restless.
Barnard was already sitting in her chair when she opened the door. Ada was pouring him tea, but Camilla nodded for her to leave.
She fixed Barnard with a look. “What are you doing here again? Don’t you have anything to do at The Carter Group p>
Maybe it was the ice water working its revenge, or maybe she was just too tired to care, but her throat hurt and her voice came out raspy.
Barnard noticed right away. “Camilla, what happened to your voice? Are you sick?” His concern was genuine, but to her it just felt intrusive. “I keep telling you, you don’t have enough help at your place. Why don’t you just move back in so I can take care of you p>
“That’s not necessary,” she replied, sounding tired. “Just tell me what you want, Barnard p>
She didn’t even try to hide her coldness anymore. Their marriage was so close to being over, she barely saw him as a part of her life at all. Whatever fondness she’d felt for him as a younger woman had long since faded away.
Barnard, as usual, got straight to the point—he didn’t even try to pretend. “Camilla, what happened after I left last night? Why did Lance leave? And what was that about you sending him home p>
He rattled off questions, all about yesterday’s dinner. Clearly, he still hadn’t given up on roping the Charles family into a deal.
Camilla had spent her entire morning forcing Lance out of her thoughts. Hearing Barnard bring up his name again sent a wave of frustration through her.