Chapter 62
Barnard looked exhausted, but there was still a gentleness in his face. Camilla couldn’t help the bitterness that rose inside her. He showed up at this hour, which could only mean he’d already enjoyed dinner with Davina back home before sparing a thought for the wife and son waiting in a hospital.
“Camilla, thank you for today. Go get some rest. I’ll stay here with Jasper,” Barnard said quietly.
Jasper glanced at him, and it was obvious, even from the way he shrank behind Camilla, that he didn’t have that hopeful look in his eyes anymore. He seemed almost afraid to look Barnard in the eye.
“So, what brings you here now?” Camilla’s tone was nothing but blunt.
Barnard sighed. “Things got out of hand today. Both of you are here, where else would I be? Camilla, you must be tired. Just leave Jasper with me, alright p>
Jasper’s voice was tiny. “Mom p>
Camilla placed a protective hand on Jasper’s shoulder. “You left him all alone today, Barnard. He’s scared of you now. Maybe you should just go. You staying here is only making things harder for him p>
She didn’t bother to hide her annoyance, and her words hit precisely where Barnard would feel them most.
Ignoring her, Barnard set his things on the little table by Jasper’s bed. Catching Jasper’s averted gaze, his brows drew together. “Camilla, I’m his father. What kind of son stays mad at his dad? If you coddle him like this forever, do you just want him to never see me again? Everybody makes mistakes. I came here myself to apologize. Isn’t that enough p>
He reached out as if to ruffle Jasper’s hair, but Camilla batted his hand away with a sharp motion.
To err is human? Camilla nearly laughed. This wasn’t some careless slip—Barnard chose to ditch Jasper to be with Davina, plain and simple.
Seeing Jasper’s leg trapped in that heavy splint cut her to the core. Her voice turned icy cold. “Barnard, some mistakes can’t just be erased with a quick ‘I’m sorry.’ Can your apology heal Jasper’s leg? He’s the one hurting here. Doesn’t he have a right to feel upset? Let me ask you—if Daisy was the one lying here, would you brush it off so easily p>
Barnard snapped, “Then what do you want from me? Am I supposed to do what Davina said and push Daisy down the stairs just to make you happy p>
As soon as Daisy’s name came up, his whole energy changed, and there was this impatience in his eyes that made Camilla grit her teeth. Honestly, if anyone needed to be pushed down the stairs to make up for what Jasper went through, it was Barnard, not Daisy. He was the one who chose to leave Jasper behind, after all.
In the middle of their argument, Jasper suddenly looked up. “Dad, am I really your son p>
He’d whispered that question to Camilla so many times, but now, with Barnard standing right there, he finally blurted it out.
Barnard’s face froze, then shifted from shock to anger—the kind worth slamming doors over. “What are you talking about? How can you even ask that? If you weren’t my son, would I have raised you all these years, put a roof over your head p>
His harsh tone startled Jasper, who started to shake. Camilla scooped him into her arms, glaring at Barnard. “Can’t you just talk to him like he’s a child, not your rival? You were the one showing favoritism from the start. You owe him an explanation—not more anger p>
Barnard paused, softening just a bit. “It’s just… for something so small, he’s questioning if I’m his dad. How can I not be upset p>
The tension in the room was suffocating. Jasper was still trembling, but today for some reason, he wouldn’t back down. His fingers tightly gripped the hem of Camilla’s shirt. “Then why are you nicer to Daisy than to me p>
He looked scared but needed to know the answer more than anything.
The truth was, Barnard had barely spent time with Jasper over the years. In Barnard’s mind, Jasper was always this quiet, obedient kid. This was the first time he’d seen Jasper challenge him.
Camilla lifted her eyes, curious too. She wanted to hear how Barnard would wiggle out of this one.
Barnard didn’t hesitate. “Because Daisy’s father passed away. She’s a girl, and girls are more sensitive. Of course, she needs more attention. Jasper, you’re a boy. You’re the Carter family heir. You have to learn to be strong early. That’s never going to change. There’s no need to compete with Daisy p>
Learn to be strong? So, suddenly, leaving Jasper out wasn’t neglect, but Barnard’s way of preparing him for his future. Amazing how far he’d go to make his choices look noble when they couldn’t be further from it.