Chapter 419
Mike’s declaration took Camilla by surprise. She couldn’t tell if he genuinely wanted to give Clement a second chance, or if he already knew they were investigating the man and was simply playing along to do Lance a favor.
Regardless of his motives, the situation was working entirely in her favor.
Clement agreed without hesitation. “Don’t worry. From now on, I’ll ensure every single day of Camilla’s stay in Valdoria is perfectly arranged. I swear, she won’t suffer a single grievance under my watch p>
“You better do a damn good job. I really don’t want Lance showing up at my door again, demanding I play the protective friend for his girlfriend,” Mike joked, shooting Lance a helpless look.
Clement nodded vigorously, promising to handle it flawlessly.
The rest of the meal went by peacefully. Before it was even over, Clement made his excuses and left early, leaving Mike and Lance to finish off the drinks.
About ten minutes later, one of Mike’s men stepped into the private room and handed Camilla an exquisitely wrapped gift box. The lid was open, revealing a stunning, elegant brooch resting on the velvet cushion.
“Just a small token,” Mike said smoothly. “Do me a favor, Lance. Have your girlfriend wear it, and we can consider this whole ordeal behind us p>
His words were subtle but laced with implication. Camilla inspected the piece closely and quickly spotted a microscopic tracking and communication device tucked discreetly between the jewels.
Mike had explicitly instructed her to wear it, and Camilla knew exactly where the signal was broadcasting. Clearly, Mike didn’t trust Clement any more than they did, so he was forcefully installing a second layer of protection for her.
For someone like Mike—a man with absolute power in Valdoria—to go to such lengths proved just how deep his bond with Lance truly went.
“I’d never dare disrespect you,” Lance replied effortlessly. “Camilla, since it’s a kind gesture from Mike, go ahead and put it on p>
Mike internally scoffed at Lance’s smug, self-satisfied act. Now he was being respectful, conveniently forgetting how aggressively he had been interrogating him just hours prior without any regard for his pride.
“Alright, we get it, you have a girlfriend. Tone down the romance, it’s making my eyes hurt,” Mike grumbled affectionately. “It’s been a few years since we’ve caught up. Valdoria has plenty of decent shopping spots. Let your girlfriend hit the town while you stay here and have a few more rounds with me p>
Lance didn’t refuse. He gave Camilla a brief nod, letting her and Carol take their leave first.
The moment they stepped out of the restaurant, Carol turned to her. “What exactly did Lance used to do? How on earth is he so tight with Mike p>
The Charles Family sat at the absolute top of the food chain in Cabinda, but their wealth came from entirely legitimate industries. There was simply no logical reason for the Charles family to ever cross paths with an underworld titan like Mike.
Even if there was some connection, it shouldn’t have been through Lance. The age gap alone was jarring—Mike was easily thirty years his senior. Yet, it was Lance who commanded Mike’s respect. Mike clearly didn’t treat him like a junior to be coddled; he treated him as an equal. That meant their relationship had absolutely nothing to do with the elders of The Charles Family.
“I’ve never actually asked him about it. I’m just as surprised as you are,” Camilla admitted. Thinking back on it, the emergency contact number Lance had given her earlier was almost certainly Mike’s direct line.
Camilla and Carol didn’t waste any time lingering in the city. They headed straight back to the hotel to dissect everything they had learned that day.
“Camilla, The Williams Group is far too clean,” Carol paced the room. “I’m convinced the entire company is just a massive front. Clement has to be running another operation in the shadows, moving his dirty money and illegal goods. But he’s so damn cautious. How are we ever going to find a crack in his armor p>
The more flawless something appeared, the more likely it was hiding a rotting core. A strange intuition settled in Carol’s chest—they were finally getting dangerously close to uncovering the truth about Camilla’s father.
“He’s absolutely hiding something,” Camilla agreed. “I can guarantee whatever Barnard is doing for him has nothing to do with pharmaceuticals. If we want real answers, we’re going to have to bait the truth out of Barnard. Once Lance heads back, I’ll find an excuse to drop by The Williams Group again p>
“No way, Camilla. It’s too risky. I am not letting you put yourself in danger again,” Carol objected immediately.
“Relax, Carol. I have the tracker Mike gave me. Plus, Clement is terrified of Mike right now, which means he has to treat me like royalty on the surface. If I show up a few more times, I’m bound to catch them slipping up p>
Carol still hated the idea. She tried to talk her out of it, but Camilla’s resolve was carved in stone. “Carol, I’ve waited way too long for this. I finally have a real lead, and I am not sitting around doing nothing. I have to go. I promise you, I know how to handle myself p>
“Camilla, I know you’re desperate to find your dad. But have you ever stopped to think about how sick with worry he’d be if he knew you were risking your life for him? And what if… what if he’s already gone? Is gambling your own life just for a piece of news really worth it p>
“It’s worth it. Even if he’s gone, he’s still my father. Finding out what happened to him means everything to me. You know what he was like, Carol p>