Chapter 131
Ada’s anxious voice finally snapped Camilla out of her fog. Her hands shook as she reached to turn off the shower.
“I’m fine,” Camilla managed, voice barely steady. “Just… give me a minute. I want to be alone p>
“Alright, Camilla. I’ll wait outside. If you need anything, just call out, okay?” Ada’s words were gentle.
Ada hovered at the door, not leaving until she heard Camilla give a quiet response. Only then did she slip away.
Camilla’s phone started buzzing again, stubborn and insistent from the desk. Most of the calls were from Dahlia. She already had over a dozen missed calls.
She was soaked all over, freezing. The cold water had numbed her skin but also forced her scattered thoughts into some kind of uneasy pattern. She dug her fingernails into her palm, repeating over and over in her head: I can’t collapse. I just can’t. I still have Jasper. I still have Mom. If I fall now, there won’t be anyone left to protect them.
It took at least ten more minutes before she felt steady enough to move. Leaning on the wall for support, Camilla walked out and pulled on some clean clothes. She pushed open the door to the lounge and saw Dahlia waiting on the sofa.
The office had been cleaned up. Papers were sorted back on her desk, everything looking strangely normal, like nothing bad ever happened.
Ada was sitting close by. She jumped up the moment she saw Camilla, relief flooding her face. “Camilla, you finally came out. I was so worried about you. Dahlia called you a bunch of times and then called me when you didn’t answer. I only had her come over because I was scared for you p>
Before Ada finished, Dahlia was on her feet, pulling Camilla into a tight hug. “What happened? Why are you so cold? Camilla, you’re scaring me. Maybe we should go to the hospital p>
“No, please,” Camilla said quickly, gripping Dahlia’s wrist. “Dahlia, I just… I just need some space p>
Ada nodded and quietly stepped out, closing the door behind her. Dahlia helped Camilla sit down.
“Camilla, I found what you asked about,” Dahlia started, but Camilla stopped her.
“I know already,” Camilla said, voice dull. “I know everything p>
Barnard’s secrets were all out in the open now. The truth had hit her so suddenly, so sharply, that there was nowhere to hide. Even now, Camilla could hardly breathe.
Dahlia gathered her in another hug. Her eyes drifted down to Camilla’s wrist, where the skin was raw and red.
“How did this happen?” Dahlia asked quietly. “Did Barnard hurt you p>
Camilla shook her head, trying to form words, but nothing came out. She opened her mouth, desperate to spill everything locked inside her chest.
But how could she? How could she ever say it out loud? What Barnard had done was a nightmare too full of shame to even name. Not even with her closest friend could Camilla bring herself to speak it.
It was too ugly. Too disgusting.
She just…
Dahlia squeezed her tighter as if she could keep Camilla from breaking apart. “You don’t have to say a word, okay? I’m here. No matter what happened, I’m not going anywhere p>
Dahlia was used to seeing Camilla as someone untouchable and strong, always in charge. There had never been a moment where she thought anything could shake her. But right now, Camilla felt small, lost. Almost like a child.
She clung to Dahlia’s shirt, knuckles white, and cried until her voice was nothing but a rasp and her eyes were swollen and aching. Slowly, the sobs faded. She sat, empty and silent, staring ahead like she was made of stone.
Dahlia went to get her a glass of warm water. Camilla took it and drank without thinking, completely on autopilot.
“Camilla, it’s getting late,” Dahlia said softly. “Let me take you home. You need some rest. After you sleep, it might feel a little better p>
For the first time, Camilla glanced at the window. Night had crept in, pressing against the glass. The whole city looked drowned in darkness.
And in that black silence, her mind slipped back to the night everything with Barnard changed forever. She could feel something crawling in her veins, making her skin itch, sending chills down her spine. It was all she could do to run to the bathroom.
She retched and retched, but nothing came up.
Dahlia hurried after her, rubbing Camilla’s back, her words trembling. “You’re not okay. Please… let’s go to the hospital p>
She didn’t know what happened, and since Camilla wouldn’t talk, she tried not to press. But watching Camilla like this felt unbearable.
Nothing would come up. Camilla just felt dirty, sick to her core. Even if she went to the hospital, she knew what she really needed was a therapist.
But that would mean talking about Jasper’s past.
She couldn’t let anyone else know.
Only Dahlia. Only Dahlia was someone she could trust with all of this.