Chapter 256
Lance’s grin was nothing short of infuriating. His grandfather stared at him for a long second, trying to hold it in, but at last he snapped. “From now on, when you’re out, don’t bother telling anyone you’re my grandson. I have a name to protect p>
He couldn’t stand another look and stormed out. The door slammed shut behind him, making the whole room shake.
How did it come to this? The Charles family had always been so respectable. Yet somehow, in this generation, he’d ended up with a black sheep. He could already imagine his old friends having a field day laughing at him.
Camilla lingered in the doorway. The boom of the door only made her more uneasy. When her eyes locked with Darwin’s, she started to offer a polite hello, but he just let out a cold snort and walked right by as if she was invisible.
A little embarrassed, Camilla rubbed her nose and slipped quietly back into the room.
Lance was lounging back in his chair, looking completely relaxed, as if Darwin’s anger hadn’t touched him at all. Camilla hesitated, then asked, “Are you alright? Darwin seemed… pretty upset. Did you guys p>
He looked up with a flicker of mischief, but then his gaze fell and for a moment he actually looked sad. “Camilla, if I can’t go back to the Charles family, will you let me stay at your place p>
He looked so down. Camilla had never seen him this way—it made her palm itch. Without thinking, she reached out and set her hand on his head.
Lance stayed where he was, letting her touch linger. He even leaned into her palm. His hair was coarse and it tickled, making her want to pull her hand away, but before she could, he grabbed her wrist and kept her hand in place. “My grandpa thinks I’m embarrassing. You don’t think so too, right p>
He’d never sounded so vulnerable, and something about it made Camilla’s heart flutter. She kept her voice gentle. “What did you say to Darwin? Why does he think you embarrassed him p>
Lance’s lips curled into a smile. “He asked, if I like you so much, why don’t I just become your dog. I told him, sure, then I’ll have to buy tons of leashes, so you can take me out for a walk in a new style every day. He wasn’t too happy with that.
“So, Camilla, I’ve already made my statement. You’re stuck with me now. If you dump me, the old man will laugh at me forever p>
He looked up again. The playful sparkle in his eyes was softer now. Camilla could see herself reflected there. She realized her own heart was thumping so loud she could hear it in her ears. The rush of heat in her chest made it hard to breathe.
While she was still processing all this, she felt something pressed into her hand. She looked down and saw that Lance had unfastened his tie and looped it around her fingers. He leaned in, looking up at her, his shirt carelessly undone at the top, revealing a stretch of pale, toned skin.
There was something unexpectedly vulnerable about him in that moment.
Camilla couldn’t meet his gaze. She felt like her throat was on fire, her whole body strangely tense.
And then Lance spoke again, his voice low and a little rough, “So, Camilla, what do you say? Will you take me in? I’m homeless here, you know. Super pitiful p>
Take you in…? Her mind blanked for a second, but before she realized it, her mouth blurted out, “Alright. Come home with me p>
The words echoed through the room, and Camilla snapped back to herself, suddenly aware of what she’d just said.
She wanted to take it back, but before she could, Lance swept her into a tight hug. He whispered, “You said it yourself. No backsies.
“But don’t worry, I’m easy to take care of. I do laundry, I can cook, I’m great with Jasper, and I even know how to save money for you. Totally worth it p>
Camilla had no idea how the night had ended up like this. But when she heard the excitement in Lance’s voice, her own heart felt lighter and somehow… she didn’t really want to say no.
She barely had time to think before Lance grabbed her hand and led her out the door.
He set such a fast pace that Camilla had to jog just to catch up with him.
“Where are we going?” she managed to ask.
“Making it official, Camilla. I can’t wait any longer p>
Camilla thought he meant they were going to see Elise. She was already trying to figure out how she’d explain the whole thing. But half an hour later, she found herself staring up at the glowing sign outside the police station, completely at a loss.
Lance was already talking to Officer Mahoney. A couple minutes later, Barnard was led out.
Pamela had been the ringleader in the whole incident. Barnard hadn’t even shown up during the investigation, so he figured he was finally being released. When he spotted Camilla and Lance standing together in the lobby, Lance’s tall frame bent as he rested his chin lightly on Camilla’s shoulder, it stunned him for a moment.
Lance must have cracked a joke, because Camilla was actually smiling.
And in that instant, Barnard felt something clamp tight around his heart.