Chapter 283
Lance was so stubborn about it that Camilla knew she couldn’t win. In the end, she just let it go.
Sitting in the back seat, surrounded by quiet, she caught a glimpse of Lance’s profile in the rearview mirror. No matter how long she stared, that first rush of excitement just wouldn’t come. She’d really thought, after that messy divorce, her heart couldn’t be moved by anyone again.
But Lance was different. His feelings were intense, real, and impossible to ignore. She found herself pulled closer, even though part of her wanted to resist.
Barnard slipped into her thoughts. Back when he brought her to the Carter family, Calvin had made things difficult for her. Barnard never stood up for her in front of his father, just let her take care of everything on her own. Only after she’d handled it—and only if she looked properly upset—would he offer a few half-hearted words of comfort, pretending to sound gentle.
Looking back, Camilla almost had to laugh at herself. How could she have believed his sweet words? How could she have thought he truly cared? She couldn’t help but think she’d been so naive. Fake affection was obvious in hindsight. She’d just been too young, too willing to believe.
Jasper was falling asleep even before they reached home, his head nestled in her lap. Lance parked the car, quietly scooped Jasper into his arms, and carried him to his room. After tucking the boy in, he came back to Camilla.
There was a hint of worry in his voice. “Camilla, be straight with me. You’re not really going to leave me because of what the old man said, are you p>
Maybe he’d figured out how soft she could be. Lately, he seemed to know exactly how to play the vulnerable card in front of her. The truth was, Camilla just couldn’t say no to that quiet, pleading look.
Her lips pressed together. Her thoughts raced. Her heart felt wild and shaky, tinged with a little ache she couldn’t quite name.
Lance was so good to her. She didn’t want to give him up. But the secrets in her past felt like a landmine hidden deep inside—always ready to go off, always whispering worry into her head.
She looked up to meet the brightness in Lance’s eyes. “I’m not going anywhere,” Camilla said softly. “Not unless you’re the one letting go p>
They’d never even officially had a conversation about being together, but this was as clear as it got. She just couldn’t turn away from the honest, relentless way he loved her. Even with a whole world of uncertainty between them, distance was the last thing she wanted.
Lance pulled her in, holding her so tight it almost hurt. “Then you’re stuck with me,” he whispered. “I won’t let go, not ever. You better get used to always having me around p>
She didn’t push him away. For a while she just let herself sink into his arms, her thoughts spinning. Then, after a moment’s hesitation, she wrapped her arms around him too. It was a tight squeeze, almost desperate, like she was trying to steady her own uneven heartbeat.
If only time could stop here, right in this warmth. If only she’d met Lance sooner, before everything else got complicated. Maybe then she could love him as freely as he loved her.
But there’s no such thing as ‘if only’ in real life.
She still had to wonder what would happen if the truth—the one Barnard hid, the secret even she struggled to name—ever came out. Would Lance still look at her the same way? Would he still love her like this, openly and without hesitation?
That night, before bed, Lance warmed up a glass of milk for her, just like always. He knew how to keep things easy—grabbed his own cup, then quietly retreated to his room, never putting her in a spot or making her feel uncomfortable.
The next morning, Camilla ate breakfast with Lance and Jasper, then headed out to work.
Ada had already gotten back to her with new leads. Based on Camilla’s earlier notes, she’d pulled together a few more candidates and stacked their profiles neatly on her desk.
Camilla flipped through them, pausing on someone she recognized—a year above her from the same school. According to the file, he’d been receiving scholarship support from the Carter family since high school. He seemed grateful, always volunteering for Carter Group events, and he’d even spoken directly with Barnard a couple times.
But the real red flag? The month she’d gotten pregnant with Jasper, this guy had suddenly moved overseas.
It was just too suspicious.
Worse, his family had always struggled, and yet, before he even graduated, he’d somehow managed to bring his parents abroad too. The whole thing screamed last-minute riches.
Camilla ran her fingers over the edge of the file. She called Ada over. “Look into him again. Find out everything you can—and if possible, get his current address p>
She needed to see it for herself. She had to make sure this man wouldn’t suddenly reappear and blow up her life. It was time to get some real answers.
By the time she finished at work, the sky had already started to darken. It occurred to her that she hadn’t visited Elise in a while, so before heading home, Camilla took a quick detour to the hospital.
Elise looked much better, her cheeks rosier, her whole mood lighter with all the recent stress off her shoulders. Watching her friend recover made Camilla feel a little lighter herself.
On her way out of the hospital, she bumped into Bonnie, who brought happy news—Bonnie’s daughter, who’d been burned by Davina, was finally ready to be discharged. For once, good things seemed to be piling up.