Chapter 182
“You love Jasper, don’t you? He’s still just a kid. What do you think would happen if he found out the truth? That he doesn’t even know who his real dad is, that he’s just some bastard… Could he handle that? Or would it destroy him p>
“Since you’ve already figured out this was all my doing, of course the man involved isn’t someone simple. You’re smart enough to know, the more disgraceful he is, the more I can use that against you p>
“You wouldn’t want people to find out that Jasper’s father is a criminal or even a homeless man, would you p>
Every word stung, one after another, just like that day in the office when Barnard completely tore down Camilla’s pride. The voice on the recording was mixed with static, so harsh and cold it felt like some cruel whisper clawing its way out of hell.
Barnard’s easy confidence fell apart the second he heard the audio.
He demanded, “How do you have this? How did you even get that recorded with everything going on p>
He remembered that day like it was yesterday. Camilla was shaking so badly she could hardly stand, let alone think about recording him.
The truth was, Camilla hadn’t recorded it at all. It was Bonnie.
When Camilla had first hired Bonnie, Bonnie never truly trusted her. She kept her guard up, worried Camilla might not keep her promises, scared something might happen to her own daughter again. So Bonnie secretly made the recording, just in case. What she caught instead was Barnard at his absolute worst.
Lately, Camilla had treated Bonnie kindly at work. Bonnie grew to trust her more, and with her own bitterness toward Barnard and Davina, she finally came clean to Camilla after all the drama broke out. She sent over the recording, laying everything bare.
Camilla faced Barnard directly. “I didn’t want to expose any of this before, for Jasper’s sake. But you’re the one who lost your leverage first. Jasper’s already been dragged into this and hurt. So I have nothing left holding me back. I know I might get criticized because of Jasper. But you’re the one who set everything up. You’ll take much more heat than me. Barnard, you must realize by now… if we’re talking about power, it’s mine now. You don’t control anything here p>
Barnard’s expression kept shifting. He didn’t want to admit it, but he couldn’t deny the truth. He’d lost his bargaining chip, and if things got any messier, he would suffer much more than she ever would.
The board was already fed up with him. Camilla used to be his cover, his last bit of respectability. Now Davina had exposed everything. Even though he hadn’t heard from the board yet, Barnard knew that silence now usually meant even worse trouble was brewing.
“So what do you want?” Even though he was fighting it inside, he had no choice but to give in, just to keep things from getting any worse.
Camilla didn’t blink. “I want a divorce. BLC was my creation. It should be mine. I want full custody of Jasper. If you agree, I’ll have the divorce agreement drawn up right now, and we can sign and be done with it. If you won’t agree, then I’ll file a lawsuit. Everyone knows Davina’s pregnant with your child. And I have this recording—you schemed against me. Think about what that looks like in court p>
Barnard’s face kept changing, his emotions barely contained.
He’d suspected this was coming. But hearing her say it so coldly still stung him to the bone.
He looked at her. “Does it really have to end like this? We p>
Camilla cut him off, her voice flat. “I’m not negotiating with you p>
Davina was still there. The cut on her face was still untreated, blood smeared across her skin. Her eyes were wide as she stared at Barnard, stunned. She could hear the reluctance in his voice. Even now, after all the havoc she’d caused, when there was no going back, Barnard was still clinging to Camilla.
Davina bit her lip, then grabbed onto Barnard’s sleeve. “Barnard, my head is killing me. Please, settle things with Camilla and take me to the hospital, okay p>
Barnard glanced at Davina’s bleeding head. He frowned and, instead of concern, his eyes just showed frustration. He quietly shook off her hand.
“Even if we get divorced, I can’t split the assets without my dad’s approval. I can’t give you an answer today. Give me until tomorrow, and I’ll get back to you p>
Camilla glanced out the window. It was already afternoon. It made sense. There wasn’t time to draw up the divorce and get to the civil-affairs office before they closed. She nodded. “Fine. But if you don’t contact me by tomorrow, I’ll just go ahead and file a lawsuit p>
She already had all the proof she needed. Barnard couldn’t stall for long.
Just to be extra careful, Camilla sent Lance and his team of bodyguards to the hospital with one goal: protect Elise at all costs.