Chapter 240
Lunch that day was with Daniel and a few key shareholders from the company. They dove into the project, hashing out every detail over plates of food. By the time everything was settled and Camilla made it back to her hotel, the sky was already fading into twilight. Her phone had finally been fixed and returned, and without missing a beat, she booked the earliest flight home for that same night.
Jet lag hit her like a train. She slept so deeply it felt like she barely even existed, lost in the kind of sleep that only happens when your body is begging for it. She didn’t even come up for air until the sharp sound of knocking and raised voices dragged her reluctantly back to consciousness. Somewhere in the ruckus, she caught a familiar, annoying voice—she could swear it was Davina.
Camilla stepped out of her bedroom to find the front door hanging open and Susan barring the way, her patience already thinning. “Davina, Camilla said you’re not welcome here. Please just go p>
Davina wasn’t the kind of person to be turned away easily. “I need to see Camilla. Tell her to come out. I want to know where she hid Barnard p>
Susan gave a tired sigh. “Then you’ve come to the wrong place. Camilla and Barnard ended things a long time ago.” Honestly, she couldn’t believe Davina was still coming around after the divorce. Now, with those engagement photos out there, she acted like she had every right, as if she’d forgotten how she’d started as the other woman and nothing more.
“What do you know? It’s all fake. Camilla just went overseas with Barnard a few days ago. Move, I need to talk to her myself,” Davina shot back, pushing forward.
Camilla cleared her throat before things could escalate. “Susan, you don’t have to deal with this. Leave her to me p>
Susan nodded, stepping aside. The instant Davina saw Camilla, her eyes went wide. She stormed toward her, demanding, “Where’s Barnard? Why are you back alone? Where did he go p>
Camilla kept it cool. “I could ask you the same thing. I need to find him too, especially since I’m trying to get this divorce finished. So if you find him, be sure to let me know p>
Davina was relentless, yanking at Camilla’s arm. “Stop pretending. My dad told me everything. Barnard left the country with you. What happened between you two? Aren’t you supposed to be divorced? Why are you still clinging to him p>
Camilla stared at Davina and nearly laughed. “Really? Isn’t he your true love now? Aren’t you his fiancée? Instead of wasting time throwing fits in my living room, maybe try calling him. Seems a lot simpler to me p>
“You think I haven’t tried calling? Barnard refuses to pick up. What did you say to him? Call him now. Use your phone. I want to hear it,” Davina demanded.
For a second, Camilla could only look at her like she’d lost her mind. Davina didn’t even notice—she plopped right down onto the couch, crossing her arms. “If you won’t call him, then I’m not leaving today p>
Camilla finally snapped. “Are you crazy p>
Davina turned up her chin. “Call him, or I’ll tell everyone you’re stealing someone else’s fiancé p>
It was so ridiculous that Susan’s jaw nearly hit the floor. If she remembered right, Camilla and Barnard’s divorce wasn’t even final. And everyone knew who the real third wheel here was.
Susan leaned in and whispered, “Camilla, maybe I should just call security and have her taken out?” There was no reasoning with someone like this.
Before Camilla could answer, Barnard himself appeared in the doorway, as if summoned. Davina’s eyes brightened at the sight of him, but instead of going to him, she just turned back to Camilla.
“I knew it. You aren’t really divorcing him. You still have feelings for my fiancé,” she said, smugly emphasizing “fiancé” like she had to stake her claim in front of Camilla.
Barnard’s expression was stone cold. “That’s enough,” he said. “I came here for you. Who told you to make a scene? Come on, let’s go home p>
Davina just got louder. “Barnard, are you siding with her? Ever since you got back, you haven’t been home, and the second I come looking for her, you show up. What did you do overseas? Did she seduce you?” Her shrill complaints hung heavy in the air.
Camilla felt her hand twitch and had to resist the urge to slap Davina silly. Instead, she turned to Barnard. “Did you bring your paperwork? Grab your rabid dog and come with me to the courthouse. I want this divorce done, now p>
Davina wasn’t like the tragic side-chicks from those cliché TV shows, or like the fake sweethearts Camilla had met at social events. She had zero shame and her only tactics were making a scene and trying to guilt people into giving in. There was no point arguing with someone like that. The only way forward was to let her crash into reality and watch her bounce off.
Barnard looked like he might explode, a vein pulsing at his temple, clearly mortified by Davina’s outburst. But it was Camilla’s open contempt that truly seemed to suck the air out of him.
Camilla was in no mood to waste another second. “If you didn’t bring the documents,” she said, voice flat, “then let’s go get them right now p>