Chapter 26
No matter how many holes you could poke in Davina’s excuses, Barnard still thought everything she said made perfect sense. As for him caring about Davina and Jasper, that just meant he’d call them up a couple of times when he was bored. With his connections, it would have been easy to find out about Jaspar’s hospital stay. But of course, he had no idea any of it happened.
“Davina raised you. She means the world to you. I can’t compete with that, and I don’t want to. So please, just sign the divorce papers. After this, we’ll each go our own way,” Camilla said.
Barnard let out a long sigh, a flicker of weariness in his eyes. He slid the divorce papers aside and rested his hand on Camilla’s shoulder. “Camilla, this is nothing. You really want to divorce me over a dog? What a ridiculous reason. People will laugh at us. Don’t make a scene, all right? If there’s something you’re unhappy about, we can talk it out. And as for Davina… She really has nowhere else to go. I don’t think it’s right for her to leave just yet. Besides, she knows she messed up. Bring Jasper back, I’ll have Davina buy him another dog, and let’s not drag this out p>
His voice was softer now, gentle and patient, almost like how he used to talk to her when they first fell in love. There was always this hint of indulgence in the way he spoke, like he was guiding her to be reasonable.
But Camilla was past caring about that kind of tone. She could hear what he was really saying. He just wanted everything to blow over so he could keep Davina around. Even now, with the divorce papers right in front of him, he was still worrying about Davina first.
Did he really think of Davina as just the nanny he owed a favor to? Camilla didn’t believe that anymore.
Davina, who not long ago was insisting she should move out, was now lingering at the top of the stairs with Daisy in her arms. When she saw Camilla and Barnard at a standstill, she came down to play the peacemaker, repeating over and over, “It’s not worth it over a dog p>
At that moment, Daisy ran over and latched onto Camilla’s leg, crying and begging her not to make them leave.
With both mother and daughter working together, Camilla was suddenly cast as the villain. The way they were acting, if she didn’t go along with them, she’d end up looking like the bad guy.
Camilla took a deep breath and said, “So Davina’s planning to get Jasper a new dog? There’s no need. That last one was a purebred, cost me a hundred thousand. And thanks to all this, Jasper’s mood has been a mess, and he’s spent the past few days in the hospital. Since Davina is so apologetic, ten times the compensation shouldn’t be a problem, right? I know Davina doesn’t have much money, so I won’t ask for more. Another hundred thousand for Jasper’s hospital stay, so that’s two million. If she’s sincere, she’ll manage it p>
Davina went pale, looking desperately toward Barnard for help.
Barnard started to step in, but Camilla’s voice cut him off. “Davina, don’t even think about having Barnard pay for you. His money is our joint assets. I won’t accept it p>
“I Davina’s voice caught, but before she could finish, Camilla continued, “Or is all your apologizing just fake? If you’re this dishonest and Barnard is still defending you, then what’s the point of me staying with him p>
Barnard finally spoke, “Davina, you were at fault this time. Pay Camilla the money p>
So many aspects of their lives were tangled together after years of marriage. Even their BLC brand was tied to their image as a couple, boosting Barnard’s reputation. If Camilla insisted on a divorce, everything they’d built risked becoming a joke. The damage to Barnard would be way more than a couple million.
Barnard thought Camilla was being greedy and petty, but for the sake of keeping up appearances, he had to calm her down.
“I don’t have that kind of money, I Davina started.
“Didn’t Barnard just get you and Daisy a ton of luxury stuff? Sell it if you need to. That should cover it,” Camilla replied, cold as ever.
Truth was, she had no idea what Barnard gave Davina in private. Outwardly, Davina was just a nanny earning a modest salary.
Camilla had come with the divorce papers, but she never believed Barnard would just sign. Really, she just wanted Davina to cough up the money, so she’d have proof for a case of cheating later on.
Davina bit her lip, her face a mixture of embarrassment and indignation.
Camilla shot a look at Barnard. “Barnard, I’m the lady of this house. Our son was hurt because of the nanny. Asking for compensation isn’t over the top, is it p>
For years, she and Barnard had looked picture-perfect to everyone around them. She knew what mattered to him most was reputation. He would do anything to keep people from gossiping about their marriage falling apart because of a nanny.
Barnard said it again. “Davina, listen to Camilla p>
Davina clenched her jaw, then finally pulled out her phone and transferred the money. She didn’t even touch the luxury goods.
With tears in her eyes, she said, “Camilla, please believe me. This money isn’t from Barnard. It’s what my husband left me. Hurting Jasper was never my intention. Please, just take this as my way of making it up to him. Don’t let my mistake come between you and Barnard anymore p>