Chapter 118
“We’ve been married for years. Everyone knows how good we are together. I have an amazing wife, and Jasper is such a smart kid. Why would I ever risk that for a nanny? You don’t actually believe that kind of rumor, do you p>
Barnard’s voice dripped with sarcasm, but Camilla knew him too well to be fooled. She could hear the discomfort hiding underneath. Whatever was between him and Davina, she already suspected. Right now, the thing that really knocked the wind out of her was what Daisy said about Jasper.
Barnard had never really cared about Jasper, not in any real way. Most of the time, it was just him going through the motions, pretending. Every time Camilla brought it up, he just brushed her off, saying boys were supposed to be tough, that she was coddling him too much. She hated it, but never knew how to fight him about it. His attitude always felt off to her, but she could never put a finger on it. Now, suddenly, if Jasper wasn’t his, everything made sense in the worst possible way.
The thought turned her cold all over. She’d married Barnard because after that night at the Carter Group gala, when things happened between them at the hotel, she’d found out she was pregnant. Barnard didn’t hesitate—he kept proposing until she finally gave in. Even when doubts crept in about their relationship, she never once questioned that Jasper was his. Who would willingly marry a woman carrying someone else’s child? Even Calvin and Laura had always just assumed Jasper was Barnard’s.
But seeing the nervous, almost panicked look on his face now, Camilla started to shake inside. It was almost like she was scared of him—a fear she never expected to feel. If Jasper wasn’t Barnard’s, and he’d done all this, set up their marriage, pushed so hard…then why? What was he really after?
She stared at him for a moment, unsettled. Barnard caught her look. “Camilla, what’s with that face? You’re not seriously going to start doubting me because of some kid’s gossip, are you p>
Camilla swallowed her panic and put on a smile. “Of course not, Barnard. Come on. No guy would ever be that stupid, right? If Jasper wasn’t your son, there’s no way you would’ve married me. Daisy probably just noticed how much you care about Jasper and got jealous or something. I totally get it p>
She reached out and patted Barnard’s back, like she was being sweet and supportive. When she pulled her hand back, there was a single strand of hair between her fingers. She slipped it into her pocket, her face calm, but her mind racing. This was no time to show her hand. She’d get to the bottom of Jasper’s real identity on her own.
Barnard’s eyes narrowed a little when she called that idea “stupid,” and she saw his hand clench, just for a second. But he forced a laugh. “Right, when you got pregnant with Jasper, I was ready to fight my parents just to marry you. Why would I have bothered if he wasn’t mine p>
He steered the conversation away and pulled out a chair for Jasper, sitting beside him. “Hey buddy, don’t listen to anyone’s nonsense. What do you want to eat? I’ll order it for you p>
Camilla kept it all hidden. She tucked the hair away and finished dinner, playing her part like nothing was wrong. That evening, she let Barnard drive her home, just like always.
But the next morning, she went straight to the hospital. She brought hair from both Jasper and Barnard to do a DNA test. Just to keep things quiet, she made a stop in Elise’s room first and chatted as usual, then went to her office.
At lunchtime, the Carter Estate called. They wanted Camilla to bring Jasper over for a meal. There was no way out of it. When she got there, Barnard was already waiting.
Laura welcomed her in. “Barnard’s birthday was a few days ago. We thought about having you over then, but he said he wanted time alone with you two, so we old folks stayed out of it. Today, Barnard finally had time and remembered us. Camilla, seeing you two so happy together makes me feel so much better p>
A cake waited on the table, like they were making up for the missed celebration. Everything looked normal on the surface, but Camilla felt the whole Carter family was really just here to watch her reaction and see if she’d crack.
Camilla smiled. “Barnard is wonderful to me. It’s just the people around him I’m a little scared of. Mom, you won’t believe this—yesterday Daisy actually told me Jasper isn’t Barnard’s real son. Isn’t that the funniest thing you’ve ever heard p>
She brought it up first, laughing it off so they couldn’t use it against her. Laura looked surprised for a second, then quickly acted shocked. “Did she really? That’s ridiculous. We’ve watched Jasper grow up. How could he not be Barnard’s son? Barnard, I always felt sorry for that girl and let you keep her around, but I guess she’s more trouble than I thought. What are you planning to do now p>
Camilla just kept smiling, the secret weighing heavy in her pocket and her heart, while everyone else played their parts in a story she was suddenly desperate to understand.