Chapter 27
Camilla knew Davina was an expert at playing people.
Take right now, for example. Never mind where that money really came from. The second Davina brought up her late husband, she quietly managed to paint herself as the helpless, misunderstood widow. If Camilla had even the slightest soft spot left, there was no way she could have accepted that money. But Camilla had no plans to play nice.
Davina had been working the same angle since she first showed up at Saddlebrook Estates, acting like her in-laws made her life miserable. She told anyone who would listen that after her husband died, his family wanted nothing to do with her. She claimed she had nowhere to go except here, dragging her daughter along. Even if there was some accident compensation because of her husband’s death, Camilla thought, there was just no way it would have landed in Davina’s hands.
Nothing Davina said was ever entirely true or false. Camilla was done caring about which parts were which.
It was Barnard who piped up, “Camilla, Davina’s really trying here. Maybe it’s time to let the past go and bring Jasper home p>
Camilla brushed him off. “Jasper’s got a bad cold. I don’t want Daisy to catch it, so I’ll wait till he’s better. I’m just going to pack a few clothes and stay out with him for a couple of days p>
The divorce was definitely happening, too much baggage or not. But Camilla didn’t want Jasper anywhere near Daisy or Davina in the meantime.
Davina put on her usual righteous, noble act. “It’s not a big deal, Camilla. Daisy’s a tough kid, there’s no reason Jasper should have to bend over backwards for her p>
Camilla shot back, “What’s with this talk about anyone being tough or weak? They’re both kids. Daisy just got out of the hospital. Jasper can stay with me for a few days. I’ll grab my things and go p>
She gripped her purse, her mind already racing. As she went upstairs, there was a calculating look in her eyes.
“Camilla, it’s been ages since we’ve visited your mom,” Barnard called after her, his voice strangely casual. “Let’s go see her when my project wraps up p>
Camilla paused mid-step. She heard the subtle little test in his words.
“Sure,” she said, “let’s wait for Jasper to be back on his feet first p>
Her mom’s heart wasn’t great. Camilla wasn’t about to tell her anything about the divorce until it was a done deal. She knew exactly why Barnard brought it up at this moment. If she agreed to go see her mother with him, it would mean she’d given up on divorce. He was just fishing for a sign.
He had no idea Camilla was way past wanting to settle things quietly—she’d always planned to take him to court if it came down to that.
She’d already bought two tiny hidden cameras before she came back, and while she packed, she carefully planted one in the master bedroom and another in the living room. If Barnard wanted to keep her out of the house’s security system, fine. She’d work around it.
Downstairs, the divorce papers were already sitting in the trash, tossed aside by Barnard like they meant nothing.
Davina turned to Barnard. “Is Camilla still upset? I only moved in hoping to give Daisy a stable home. If my being here is causing problems between you two, I can just move back out p>
“She’s just being dramatic, Davina,” Barnard said, sounding bored. “Trust me, she won’t leave me. There’s nothing for you to worry about. I’ll go see Jasper in a couple of days, and things will settle down p>
Honestly, Barnard only saw the divorce papers as another trick of Camilla’s, some childish tantrum. For years, she’d been obsessed with him. She still needed him to pay for her mother’s medical bills. If she left, if she stopped being Mrs. Barnard, how could she possibly cover those costs? He’d always kept her comfortable, never scrimped. She was used to luxury. There was no way she’d settle for anything less.
Davina hesitated. “But p>
“Davina, let me handle it. She can’t leave me. And hey, I know today was unfair to you. Whatever money you transferred to her, I’ll pay you back tenfold,” Barnard said, completely confident.
Davina had wired two million. Ten times that made it twenty million. Davina’s eyes lit up, but she schooled her features in a second and just sighed. “Camilla is lucky to have you. I wasn’t so fortunate p>
“Don’t compare yourself to her, Davina,” Barnard replied, looking both flattered and proud. “Whatever I ever gave her, I’ll give you ten, a hundred times more p>
Davina’s eyes flickered. She looked like she wanted to say something else, but then footsteps sounded on the stairs.
Camilla was already coming down with her suitcase.
Barnard jumped up, grabbing the suitcase from her. “I’ll drive you p>
“No need. I drove myself,” Camilla replied.
She didn’t want his help, but Barnard still insisted on hauling her luggage out to the car, carrying on like nothing was wrong.
He watched her car disappear down the street, then pulled out his phone and called Aaron. “Find out who just moved in next door to Saddlebrook Estates p>
He’d noticed earlier that the surveillance video Camilla had on her phone was shot from a neighbor’s balcony. He didn’t even know the people living next door. But somehow, Camilla had gotten exactly what she needed from them.