Chapter 77
Elise kept hesitating, never giving Camilla a clear answer no matter how much she pleaded.
Camilla understood. The belief that Barnard had done their family a huge favor was just too deeply rooted in Elise’s mind. Changing the way her mother thought wouldn’t happen overnight.
She didn’t push her any further. Instead, she just walked Elise back to her hospital room so she could rest.
Barnard showed up in the evening.
He arrived to find Camilla reading a bedtime story to Jasper. From the heavy steps and the way his face was stormy, Camilla immediately guessed why he was there. Word must’ve reached him that Calvin got Daisy expelled from the preschool.
Sure enough, the first thing out of Barnard’s mouth was an accusation. “Did you get Dad to deal with Daisy p>
Camilla didn’t even look at him as she pulled the blanket up around Jasper. “If you already think you know, why bother coming here to ask p>
Her voice was soft when she spoke to Jasper, a gentle warmth that made such a stark contrast with the tension in the air. “Sleep tight, Jasper. That’s enough story for tonight. Rest now. I’ll be back to sit with you soon p>
Barnard watched the way Camilla treated their son so tenderly, but when she faced him, the air crackled with tension. His brow furrowed hard as he followed her out into the hallway. “What is it you want, Camilla? Don’t you think you’re being unreasonable? How many times have I explained, Davina saved my life. I just want Daisy to have a better school. Is that so wrong? You’re supposed to be my wife. Isn’t it your job to support me, to help me repay that kindness? But all you do is fight me on everything. Are you trying to make me look bad in front of everyone p>
He barely took a breath between each harsh sentence.
But Camilla stayed calm and silent, not bothering to argue.
She only answered when he’d finally run out of steam. “If you’re done letting it out, then you can go p>
Barnard’s frustration hit a wall. It was like throwing a punch straight into soft cotton. He swallowed hard, his voice roughening a little. “What do you want from me, Camilla? Do you really not trust me at all p>
Finally, Camilla looked at him. Her eyes landed right below his neck where a red mark peeked out from under his collar. It looked suspiciously like a woman’s scratch, the kind of mark that didn’t just appear out of nowhere.
Trust? The word tasted cold to her. Deep down, she couldn’t think of a single reason left to believe him. And yet, Barnard just kept talking like he was completely innocent, as if he thought his actions were perfectly justified.
“Barnard,” she said quietly, “there’s no point talking about trust anymore p>
He stood there, defending another woman with the marks of someone else clearly on his skin. Surprisingly, Camilla just felt calm. Maybe even a bit relieved. After all these years of marriage, there hadn’t been any real intimacy between them, so she didn’t have to worry about him coming back from somewhere else and dirtying her space without her knowing.
But Barnard hadn’t come here to talk about trust. He wanted to argue about Daisy.
He circled back to the topic, pressing her again about why she had to interfere with Daisy’s schooling.
This time, Camilla spoke up. “Jasper is my boundary. As long as Daisy isn’t going to preschool with Jasper, I don’t care what fancy school you send her to. I won’t get involved p>
Barnard tried once more to convince her, barely getting out that Daisy wasn’t a bad child before Camilla cut him off.
“If you’re only here to take Daisy’s side, I get the message. Please leave,” Camilla said, her tone chilly.
Barnard’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He tried to change tactics. “The Black Group’s annual event is coming up soon. Carol loves your brand. I need you to take a piece from next season’s collection and make it her gift p>
Camilla let out a short breath. “Next season’s pieces were finalized over a month ago. If I take something out now to give away, that means I have to come up with a whole new replacement before the launch. I p>
Barnard cut her off. “Camilla, The Black Group has been one of our biggest partners these last few years. It’s for the company. Isn’t that your job too p>
That used to be true. In the past, if it was good for the company, Camilla would stay up for nights in a row, or work herself sick if that’s what it took. She made sure Barnard never had to worry about anything.
But she didn’t want to live like that anymore.
Barnard took her hard work for granted, showing off another woman in front of her without shame. Her dedication looked like a joke now. Why should she keep sacrificing so much?
Worse, she was hurt, stuck in the hospital—and Barnard knew it. Yet here he was, demanding she hurry up and work like nothing had changed.
He tried to soften his voice. “Camilla, you and I are a team. When The Carter Group does well, so do you. You know that. I believe in your talent. Even if you need to swap out a piece last minute, I know you can create something even better before the launch p>
Camilla just kept quiet. Barnard pressed on, sounding almost gentle now, trying to convince her.
She finally interrupted him. “Barnard, you only want this because of The Black Group’s ‘Verdant’ project, don’t you p>