Chapter 265
Barnard was completely embarrassed by Davina. He didn’t want to spend even another minute in that café, but he was afraid she’d make things worse if he left her alone. In the end, he just decided to take her home to Saddlebrook Estates as fast as possible.
They had barely stepped into the driveway when Barnard noticed Calvin’s car already parked in the yard. His face tightened, but he took a deep breath and led Davina inside with him.
Calvin and Laura were sitting stiffly on the couch. Daisy sat nearby hugging a stuffed toy, a half-hearted smile on her face. She looked like she wanted to say something to Calvin, but his icy stare scared her into silence, and she ducked her head to peek at him shyly.
As soon as she spotted Barnard, it was like she’d just found her hero. She jumped up and ran straight to him, calling out, “Daddy, Mommy, you’re finally back! Grandma and Grandpa have been waiting for you for ages p>
Daisy had gotten used to the new family setup fast. Ever since Barnard and Davina took those engagement photos, she started calling him Dad. At first, Barnard hadn’t minded. He cared about Davina, after all, and adopting Daisy just meant adding one more plate at the dinner table. He figured he could be kind for Davina’s sake.
Now though, maybe because his feelings for Davina weren’t what they used to be, or maybe because he wasn’t ready to think about marriage at all, hearing Daisy call him “Dad” made him uncomfortable.
Calvin’s frown was just as deep, just as unhappy about Daisy’s eager change of address. Still, he didn’t say anything to her, only stared hard at Barnard. “Where have you been? You went to see her again, didn’t you p>
The mention of Camilla made Calvin’s stomach turn. Everyone knew she was capable—even Calvin couldn’t deny that she’d helped the Carter family’s reputation while she was around. But that same strength brought plenty of headaches once they split. There was a time when Calvin wished he could keep such a capable daughter-in-law around, but now, he couldn’t wait to get her out of their lives for good. Comparing the two, this new, clueless woman suddenly didn’t seem so bad. At least if they kept an eye on Davina, she wouldn’t make any real trouble. And with her skills, there was no way she could ever threaten the Carter family.
Barnard didn’t even bother denying it, which just made Calvin snap. He slammed his palm down on the table. “Barnard, I don’t care what you’re thinking. The divorce is done. The engagement is out in the open. You’re the one who insisted on marrying this woman, so you’re going to settle down and wait for the wedding. And as for Camilla, don’t even think about seeing her. Stay away p>
Laura spoke up too, her tone softer but her words just as firm. “That’s right, Barnard. Wasn’t it your idea to marry Davina? Your father and I are here to talk about the wedding. I had these plans drawn up, so you two can pick something you like. It needs to be a proper event—you can’t skimp on the details p>
The truth was, the lie was out there already. Now they had to do everything possible to keep up the act.
After all, the Carter family had already said in public that Barnard’s love for Davina had never changed. Everyone was watching, so this wedding had to look legit.
Originally, Laura and Calvin both planned on making this a calm, friendly discussion about the marriage. But the moment Calvin heard Barnard had gone back to see Camilla, he lost it.
When “wedding” came up, Davina had no interest in arguing anymore. She pasted on a cheerful smile, plopped down next to Laura and practically vibrated with excitement. “Mom, thanks for putting so much effort into all this. So, when is the date p>
She didn’t even try to hide how desperate she was. It was clear as day she couldn’t wait to marry Barnard.
Suddenly, she leaned in closer and Laura, caught off guard, stiffened even more. No matter how many times she heard Davina say “Mom,” it still made her heart skip a beat.
Laura discreetly edged away and said, “Probably about a month from now. You and Barnard take a couple of days to pick out what you want, then let us know your plan so we have an idea of what’s going on p>
By now, Davina’s attention was glued to the booklet Laura brought, flipping through the pages full of venue setups.
She turned one page after another, frowning at each elegant, simple design. “Mom, why is everything white and pink? Can’t we use more red? Red just feels so much happier. And these white camellias look so cheap. I think the flowers should be red roses. They’re expensive, they look great. I mean p>
She kept rattling off her ideas, making Laura think back to that engagement shoot, when Davina paired red and green and almost made her eyes hurt. For a second, Laura could only stare in disbelief.
Apparently, her new daughter-in-law was obsessed with red. She wasn’t exactly young anymore, but somehow she just kept picking those over-the-top, blinding colors.