Chapter 294
Davina moved a little closer, bringing her face right up to Barnard, hoping he’d notice all the fresh wounds. Maybe, just maybe, he’d feel sorry for her.
Barnard couldn’t help but look. He saw how her face, usually angular, was now swollen and puffy, almost unrecognizable. Bright red scratches covered her cheeks, twisting like little worms across her skin. The marks made her already plain features look twisted and harsh, almost frightening in the dim light.
He swallowed hard, but nothing comforting came out of his mouth. His mind was somewhere else entirely.
If Camilla had hit Davina simply because he was planning to marry her, did that mean Camilla still cared? Did she still not want to see him marry someone else?
His eyes clouded with something unreadable. Glancing at Davina, still sobbing, he finally snapped, “Enough, just stop crying. It’s not my fault you couldn’t fight back. I can’t leave here anyway, so there’s no point crying to me p>
Davina started to flare up, but the last part of his sentence made her rethink it. The anger simmered down.
Barnard must still care about her. Maybe he was angry with Camilla right now. That small comfort helped her push aside her hurt feelings. She tried again, “I get it, Barnard. I know you care more about me. So maybe tonight p>
Before she could finish, Barnard paused, his gaze lingering on her swollen face before he interrupted her, voice flat. “Just forget it. I’m not in the mood p>
“But p>
“Davina, we had kids together once. It’s not my fault you didn’t keep them.” His words were like a slap. “I said I’m not in the mood, so don’t push me anymore p>
The mention of her miscarriage made Davina’s face fall. She sat down on the edge of the bed, looking hurt, finally giving up her pleas.
She sat in silence while Barnard quietly scooted further away, almost as if he wanted the bed to be wider. Davina said nothing more, but Barnard’s thoughts kept spinning around what she’d said.
Only one thought came to the surface.
Camilla didn’t want to see him get married.
Maybe he still had a chance with her.
He could call off this wedding… for Camilla.
Camilla had no clue what Barnard was plotting. She was too busy hunting down the man in the records who seemed most likely to be Jasper’s father.
She was a bundle of nerves, but she knew she had to meet him in person—even if that meant flying overseas.
She made sure Lance and Jasper were taken care of, booked the earliest flight she could find, and brought bodyguards along just to be safe.
When her plane touched down in Novaria, morning sunlight flooded the city.
Camilla followed the address from her piece of paper until she found Lean’s house.
The door swung open almost at once, and an elderly woman with white hair peeked out, cautious and defensive. It looked like she hadn’t seen anyone from home in years. As soon as she saw Camilla, her eyes widened in shock. Then, out of nowhere, she lunged straight at Camilla.
Camilla’s bodyguard moved quickly, blocking her.
The woman’s voice rose to a wail. “Lean! Where is my Lean? He’s my only son. You monsters, what have you done with him p>
“Lean isn’t here?” Camilla asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
“Are you joking? You’re the ones who took him. Stop pretending, tell me what you did with my son p>
She shoved at the bodyguard, arms reaching for Camilla, while Camilla only grew more serious. “When did your son go missing?” she pressed.
Maybe it was Camilla’s gentle tone or the confusion in her eyes, but the old woman slowly realized Camilla wasn’t with the people who’d taken Lean. Her face relaxed a little, but she didn’t answer right away. Instead, she gave Camilla a long, searching look.
Camilla softened her voice even more. “Ma’am, I don’t know what you’ve been through, but I’m hoping to find Lean and clear up something important. If you trust me, please tell me what happened to your son. I promise I’ll help however I can p>
“You… you…” The old woman still hesitated, struggling to make up her mind. Just then, another door opened inside, and an old man shuffled out slowly, leaning on his cane. “Let them in,” he said gently to his wife.
She paused for a second or two before stepping back to let Camilla and her bodyguard inside. The couple exchanged a quick glance, both still anxious and wary. With their son missing for so long and no clues to follow, all they could do now was put their hope in a stranger.