Chapter 515
Lance drove, taking Camilla straight to the hospital.
Meanwhile, back at Barnard’s villa, he hurled a glass across the room in a blind rage, shattering it against the floor. Laura stood beside him, terrified to even breathe too loudly, but she tentatively tried to soothe him. “Barnard, what’s going on? Why are you so furious? Just talk to me. There’s no need to smash things p>
“You have the nerve to ask?” Barnard roared. “Mom, didn’t I tell you I came back to avenge my father? Everything I’m doing right now is critical. But you couldn’t even keep an eye on Davina! You let her cause a massive scene at the banquet. Haven’t I been humiliated enough? Do you have any idea how bad she screwed things up today? You better pray to God I can fix this, or else we’ll be packing our bags and going on the run p>
Laura looked bewildered and panic-stricken. She grabbed his sleeve. “On the run? Barnard, you said you had finally established yourself. Why would we need to run? Please don’t scare me like this, my heart can’t take it p>
Barnard scoffed coldly. “If everything goes to hell, it’s your own fault. I asked you for one simple thing—watch Davina. And you couldn’t even do that. Dad spoiled you way too much and made you completely useless. You’re going to get me killed p>
Barnard was seeing red, completely disregarding Laura’s feelings. Within seconds, his harsh words brought tears to her eyes.
But he didn’t care about her emotions right now. He still couldn’t reach Zack, and it gave him an undeniable sinking feeling. Something terrible was about to happen. He likely couldn’t stay in Valdoria much longer.
After a brief silence, Barnard made a snap decision. “Whatever happens, it’s better to be prepared. Mom, go pack all the valuables right now. Convert whatever you have in the accounts to cash. Hurry up. We might be out of time p>
If Zack was arrested, their fragile alliance was over. To shave years off his own sentence, Zack would absolutely expose the secrets Barnard had worked so hard to bury.
Without knowing where Zack was, Barnard couldn’t even threaten him into silence.
He had to prepare for the worst.
Davina walked through the door just in time to hear this. Her face was stained with tears, but as she heard Barnard telling Laura to pack, she turned livid. “Barnard, I can’t believe you! You’re actually moving away just to avoid me? How could you be so heartless? I don’t care, you brought me here. Even if you run, you are not leaving me behind p>
“Davina, we’re not running from you, we’re—” Laura started awkwardly, trying to explain.
Barnard cut her off sharply. “If you want to come, pack your bags and shut up. When the time comes, I won’t wait for you p>
If it really came down to fleeing, leaving an idiot like Davina behind would only create more liabilities. It was safer to drag her along for now and deal with her when the time was right.
Thinking about how Davina had single-handedly ruined his carefully laid plans, any lingering pity he had for her evaporated. Now, when he looked at her, he felt nothing but pure disgust.
Davina was taken aback by his intense, urgent tone. Realizing he wasn’t joking, she kept crying but moved with impressive speed, jogging to her room to throw her things into a suitcase.
By this time, Camilla and Lance had arrived at the hospital.
As they stood outside Tanner’s door, Camilla’s feet felt rooted to the floor.
She knew her father was lying just on the other side of that door, yet her hand trembled violently. She couldn’t summon the courage to push it open.
From inside the room, Carol’s muffled, uncontrollable sobbing echoed through the walls.
Tanner was awake. Just as Zack had admitted, Clement hated him so deeply that he had forced him to stay sane, denying him the mercy of death while ensuring he suffered day and night.
Now, Tanner looked at Carol with a warm, paternal gaze, his voice gentle and comforting. “Carol, it’s been so many years. Why are you still such a crybaby? If you cry this much, how are you ever going to be a good cop p>
Carol cried even harder. “I’m sorry, Tanner. I promised you I’d be a cop for the rest of my life, but I broke my promise. I p>
“What’s wrong with that?” Tanner smiled. “I told you a long time ago, you never had to chase a dream just for my sake. Doing what you love is all that matters. I funded your schooling because I had the means to do it. If it hadn’t been you, I would have helped someone else. You were always so stubborn, I worried you’d trap yourself in a corner forever. You’re doing something you love now, right? I’m proud of you for choosing your own path. Come on, dry your eyes. Look, I’m still alive, aren’t I p>