Chapter 193
“Other than these cheap scare tactics, is there anything else you know how to do?” Camilla asked, her tone cool.
It hadn’t even been a full day since Barnard tried to intimidate her at the police station with Jasper’s paternity. That didn’t work, and already he had come up with another so-called bargaining chip, something else to try to back her into a corner. Looking at him now, Camilla found it almost impossible to remember what she’d ever seen in this man.
They’d been married almost five years, but all she was left with was the sinking feeling that she barely knew him at all. No matter how many times her worldview got flipped upside down, Camilla couldn’t shake the sense that the real Barnard had always been a stranger to her.
Barnard gave her a tired look. “I wanted to talk things out with you, but you’re so stubborn. You never listen, so I have to find other ways to make you cooperate p>
He was the one resorting to underhanded tricks, yet somehow he made it sound like she was the problem, like he was just the poor, reasonable one pushed too far. Anyone listening in, not knowing the truth, would probably think Camilla was just being difficult.
He was always like this, such a performer. He was a pro at acting sweet to cover up just how nasty he could be.
Camilla didn’t bother hiding her disdain. “You want to sue me? With what? You have nothing, just empty threats. Meanwhile, what’s happening between you and Davina is out in the open. Face it, Barnard, you’re out of ideas or you wouldn’t be trying these sad little mind games p>
Barnard’s eyes darkened as he glared at her, lips curling into a creepy, twisted smile. The look in his eyes made her feel like he saw her not as a person, but as a toy he could control.
She could already guess where he was going with all this. “Let me warn you now: stop trying to use Jasper as leverage. This whole mess is on you. Even if you dragged me to court, you wouldn’t win p>
Right beside her, Dahlia clenched her fists, practically shaking with anger as she shot death glares at Barnard. She looked like she’d charge at him if she could. Barnard had fooled so many people for so long—not just Camilla. Even Dahlia, once upon a time, thought he really loved Camilla. But now, with the truth laid bare, Dahlia was face-to-face with how rotten Barnard really was, and her heart ached for her friend.
Barnard didn’t even blink at Dahlia’s glare. He seemed about to say something else when, all of a sudden, Davina appeared at the far end of the hallway.
She was in a hospital gown, moving slowly and unsteadily, one hand pressed to the wall for support. Daisy was right beside her. Daisy called softly, “Barnard,” drawing his attention, but her own eyes were fixed on Camilla, wary and guarded.
Barnard was in full argument mode with Camilla, but now he just frowned, looking annoyed. “Davina, you’re not in good shape. Didn’t the doctor tell you to get some rest? Why are you out here again p>
He barely gave her a glance before turning to Daisy. “Weren’t you supposed to be watching your mom p>
He’d seen the whole video Camilla posted online, every detail of Davina’s fall. It was impossible now, even if he tried, to act as affectionate or protective toward Daisy as he used to.
Daisy pouted, looking hurt. “Mom insisted she wanted to see you p>
Davina jumped in. “Barnard, I’m honestly sorry for all the trouble lately. I heard Camilla was here, so I thought we could talk this out. Maybe there’s something I can do to help p>
Pretending to talk things over was just an excuse. What she really wanted was to stop Barnard and Camilla from having any more private conversations.
Camilla glanced dismissively at Davina. Davina’s hand flew nervously to her stomach, and her eyes darted away, not daring to meet Camilla’s gaze.
Her forehead was still wrapped in thick gauze, the wound from their last run-in hidden beneath it. Davina probably thought that outing Camilla, making everything public, would destroy her and win herself the title of Mrs. Carter. But everything had backfired. Camilla stood strong as ever, while Barnard and the Carter Group were getting knocked down, step by step. Davina didn’t need to know a thing about business to realize it—one look at social media and she’d see that the fallout was crushing the Carter Group, not Camilla.
And Barnard, his irritation with her was plain as day. Davina was finally scared. She had thought she could compete with Camilla, but now it was painfully clear. Camilla was the rising moon, and Davina was barely a flicker of light in comparison. No matter what she did, she couldn’t make a dent.
Now, when Davina looked at Camilla, there was nothing left but fear.
That didn’t stop Davina from trying to play the part. Her cheeks burned with guilt, but her face was all soft concern. “I’ll do whatever Camilla thinks will fix things. I mean it p>
Camilla rolled her eyes. “Boring. Honestly, I don’t care what happens to the Carters anymore. Whatever the two of you do, just leave me out of it p>
She didn’t waste another second watching Davina play innocent. Without a word to anyone else, she turned and walked into Elise’s hospital room.
Two bodyguards followed at her side, planting themselves at the door. They stood silent and unmoving, shutting out the world and keeping things private for Camilla and Elise.
That whole scene only made Barnard’s frustration simmer higher. Davina had picked the worst possible time to show up. If she hadn’t barged in, he just might have gotten Camilla to spill the name of the man secretly helping her out.
Davina noticed his sour mood and tried to explain herself. “Barnard, I just wanted to apologize to Camilla while she was here. I p>