Chapter 512
“That Camilla is just a front. I haven’t even touched her. I’ve been saving myself for you. You’re the only one I care about, Davina. You’re the only one I want to marry p>
These were the sweet nothings he used to whisper to her back when he was still married to Camilla. Hearing those words used to give her a twisted sense of superiority, making her feel like she had triumphed over the young and beautiful Camilla. She had kept the recording all this time, replaying it whenever she needed an ego boost. Now, it was her ultimate weapon.
“It’s a deepfake! The audio is completely fabricated!” Barnard roared, his fury finally exploding. The last trace of restraint he held for her vanished. “Look at the facts! Why would I ever say something like that to an old woman p>
He had finally clawed his way out of Cabinda and established a powerful new identity in Valdoria. He was on top of the world. And yet, the moment Davina showed up, she humiliated him all over again, dragging him right back to the days when his scandals dominated the headlines.
Calling her an old woman twice was the final nail in the coffin.
The reporters, initially intrigued by the audio, began to doubt it. Barnard was disabled, yes, but he was now the head of a massive corporate empire. A man in his position could have any woman he wanted. Why would he tie himself down to an older woman? It made no sense. The narrative shifted entirely: she was a deranged, obsessive maid who had concocted an elaborate fantasy to blackmail her wealthy boss.
Disgusted looks were thrown in Davina’s direction as the reporters bombarded her.
“Ma’am, what made you think you could use the media to extort Mr. Carter p>
“Are you some kind of delusional fan? Is that why you used AI to fake this recording p>
“Ma’am, if you’re going to try to blackmail a billionaire, maybe you should consider your own age next time. At least find a target in your demographic p>
“Ahhh! NO! It’s not fake! I’m telling the truth! He’s my husband! You’re all being manipulated!” Davina shrieked in despair.
But it was useless. They weren’t in Cabinda. These reporters knew nothing of their tangled history. Following Barnard’s lead, they treated her like a circus act, eagerly mining her for a pathetic headline. Davina’s vision blurred with rage. No matter how much she screamed, they only mocked her age.
Watching her get eaten alive by the press, Barnard felt absolutely nothing. She had brought this entirely on herself.
Taking advantage of the chaos, he smoothly wheeled himself out of the crowd. A triumphant smile played on his lips as he turned to look for Camilla—only to find she was completely gone. And so was Zack Lennox.
A suffocating panic gripped his chest. He frantically yanked out his phone and dialed Zack’s number.
Meanwhile, Camilla was sitting in the passenger seat of Lance’s car. They had tracked Zack’s vehicle all the way to the outskirts of the city.
As the streetlights grew sparse, Zack seemed to realize he was being followed and started to slow down. Lance ruthlessly slammed on the gas, cutting sharply in front of Zack’s car and forcing him to screech to a halt.
Lance stepped out and tapped sharply on the driver’s window. Zack rolled it down, his face pale with terror. “Who are you?! Why are you blocking me? You p>
His words died in his throat as Camilla stepped out from behind Lance. Zack’s eyes darted nervously.
“There’s no one else around, Zack,” Camilla said coolly. “Step out. We need to talk p>
“I… I already told Mike everything I know. I have nothing to say to you,” Zack stammered, his voice lacking any real conviction. He couldn’t stop looking around, practically radiating guilt.
“Is that right?” Camilla pressed. “Then why were you in such a rush to sneak away from Barnard p>
Zack’s eyes shifted rapidly. “My private business is none of your concern. Look, I know that cop is your father, and it’s natural you’re desperate. But you shouldn’t fall for fake news. Clement was obviously lying. I was with him for years and never saw any cop. You’re wasting your time p>
He had barely managed to avoid getting dragged down by Clement’s arrest. That cop was a ticking time bomb, and under no circumstances could anyone find out the truth.
Zack took a slow, deep breath, trying desperately to force his expression into a calm mask.