Chapter 135
After two IV drips, some of the pain faded from Camilla’s face. When she finally woke, Dahlia rushed over with a cup of warm water. “Here, take a sip, your throat must be dry. Do you even realize your fever spiked to over 102? Did you take any of the cold medicine I gave you yesterday?” Dahlia’s voice was soft but filled with concern. “Camilla, no matter what, your health should always come first. You can’t just p>
“Alright, Dahlia, I get it. I messed up. This is the last time, I promise.” The warmth trickled down Camilla’s throat, soothing the ache. She clung to Dahlia’s arm, making a promise she wished she could keep.
She’d had her moment to fall apart—tears and all—but life didn’t leave much room for weakness. She needed to pull herself together and find her calm.
Gently, Dahlia brushed Camilla’s hair back. “Alright, I’ll believe you, but just this once. What do you feel like eating? I can call Susan and have her bring something.” She was already fishing her phone out of her bag, but then something caught her eye. Her whole expression changed as she stared at the screen and gasped, her eyes wide as saucers. “Camilla! Something big just went down. The Carter family is in serious trouble p>
Camilla tensed at the mention of the Carters. “What happened?” she asked. Dahlia shoved the phone at her, barely able to contain her excitement.
“It’s Lance. That arrogant jerk. Barnard managed to tick him off, and now everyone in our circle is desperate to break ties with the Carters, all to stay on Lance’s good side p>
Camilla glanced at the phone, quickly reading over the posts. About an hour ago, Lance had taken to social media:
The more I think about it, the more pissed I get. Usually, I’m the one leaving people hanging—but this time, someone stood me up. Over a nanny, no less. So now I rank beneath a nanny? Does he think my time means nothing? @Barnard
It sounded like the usual rant, probably just him blowing off steam. But everyone else saw an opportunity. The moment Lance posted, all those families that would kill for even a scrap of the Charles family’s favor leapt into action, and that set off everything Dahlia was talking about.
Barnard had apologized immediately, but Lance never replied. Instead, a flood of mocking comments buried Barnard online.
Dahlia shook her head. “Barnard really screwed up this time. Lance is clearly coming after him, and honestly, he deserves it. People go to insane lengths just to see Lance in person, but Barnard? Gets a meeting and then stands him up for a nanny. If it were me, I’d be mad too p>
Camilla pressed her lips together, keeping quiet. That whole mess had happened ages ago. If Lance wanted payback, he wouldn’t have waited so long. Deep down, she knew none of this was actually about the slight. Lance was doing this for her.
If he truly wanted Barnard to suffer, one word from him and a whole army would scramble to obey. This drama was different—it dragged Davina into the public scene, making her an easy target, making Calvin hate her even more.
Dahlia kept scrolling, her voice growing sharp. “Camilla, can you believe Lance’s influence? Just one post from him and the Carter family’s stock is in free fall. Barnard totally brought it on himself. That nanny—what bad luck. All she does is stir up trouble. Yet he treats her like she’s some kind of treasure. Honestly, I’ve never seen someone so blind p>
Once she started venting, Dahlia just couldn’t stop, her words getting more heated each minute.
Camilla still said nothing, her thoughts spinning. She’d really thought she could use all this chaos to quietly end things with Lance, but now it was obvious—it wasn’t going to work. The deeper she got involved, the more she owed him, and there was no way to ever repay that.
Dahlia eventually noticed the silence and turned back, looking a little sheepish. “Sorry, Camilla. I just got carried away seeing that jerk finally get what’s coming to him.” She forced a small smile. “Anyway, you still haven’t told me what you want to eat. I’ll call Susan, alright p>
“I’m fine, really. Let’s just eat at home,” Camilla managed.
“Are you sure you’re really feeling better? Don’t move, let me grab a thermometer and check your temperature,” Dahlia said, not completely convinced. She still thought it was safer for Camilla to stay right here in the hospital.
Just then, footsteps echoed in the hallway. The door swung open and Barnard appeared, with Dr. Magee trailing in behind him in his white lab coat.
Dahlia’s eyes flickered to Magee, but annoyance quickly flared into anger when she saw Barnard. Pointing right at him, she snapped, “What are you doing here? Do you really expect Camilla to play damage control for you right now? She’s sick, have you even thought about anyone but yourself? What is it going to take before you’re satisfied—running her into the ground p>