Chapter 84
As she spoke, Davina grabbed onto Barnard’s sleeve, holding tight. Barnard didn’t try to comfort her. Instead, he glanced around, scanning the room as if he was searching for security cameras. After a moment, he gently peeled her hand away from his arm.
“My promise to you isn’t going to change,” Barnard said, his voice steady. “But Davina, what you did today went way too far. You don’t realize how important that project is for the Carter family. For now, just stay at Saddlebrook Estates and don’t leave. Let me talk to Camilla and see if I can get the project back on track. After that, I’ll come see you p>
Carol and Camilla were both the type of women people noticed right away, powerful and respected in their social circle. They understood each other, and over time, had built a pretty solid friendship. Whether the deal went through all depended on Carol’s help. Only Camilla could make that happen, and Barnard was already thinking about what he’d have to do to convince her.
He didn’t even notice the calculating look that flashed in Davina’s eyes.
The whole mess with the Verdant project barely fazed Camilla. Elise was finally feeling much better, so Camilla didn’t need to stay by her side at the hospital anymore. She started sorting out Jasper’s discharge papers.
Jasper had spent the last several days thinking about his dog, Snow. He talked about Snow every day and honestly seemed more excited to see his pup than he was about leaving the hospital. His leg wasn’t healed enough for walking, so Camilla had picked up a wheelchair for him.
By the time Camilla got back to Jasper’s room with the new chair, Barnard was already there, crouching down and talking quietly to Jasper.
When he saw Camilla bring in the wheelchair, Barnard stood and, without even asking, lifted Jasper and settled him gently into it. “Camilla, why didn’t you call me to let me know Jasper was being discharged? Your hand hasn’t healed. If I wasn’t here, how were you going to get him in and out of the chair?” His tone was half concerned, half reproachful.
Jasper stayed completely silent, lips pressed together, stealing small, careful glances at Barnard but not saying anything to him.
Camilla didn’t bother hiding her suspicion. “What are you doing here p>
Barnard straightened and answered, “I’m Jasper’s dad. Do I need a reason to see my own son? I actually booked a restaurant on my way here. Jasper’s getting out, so I thought our family could finally sit down and have a proper meal together p>
He took charge, pushing Jasper’s wheelchair ahead of them as if it were perfectly natural.
As they walked down the hallway, Camilla heard Jasper’s little voice for the first time that day. “Dad, are you going to get called away again today p>
Barnard hesitated, his footsteps pausing for a split second. Camilla looked at him, her expression unreadable. He’d left them on their own so many times, and even though Jasper never complained, it was clear just how much he cared.
After a moment, Barnard took out his phone and turned it off right in front of Jasper. “No, Jasper. Today is just for you and your mom. Nothing and nobody is going to get in the way of our family time p>
Camilla watched him power down his phone, but she felt nothing. She already knew why he was suddenly stepping up. He needed something—that was the only reason he was pretending to be the perfect father now. Spending time with his son was something Barnard should have done without being asked. If he didn’t need her help, he’d never go this far and she had been too blind to see that before. How had she never noticed just how halfhearted Barnard was with Jasper?
But in the end, Barnard couldn’t even keep his own promise. With his phone off, every call for him went to Camilla’s number instead. Her phone buzzed again and again until she finally picked up. Calvin’s angry voice exploded through the line. “Camilla, is Barnard with you? Put him on right now. Ask him what’s going on with that damn caregiver p>
Camilla only found out what had happened because of that call. Somehow, Davina had tracked down the Black family’s address, gone to their house, and knelt down in front of them, begging—literally begging—them to give the project to Barnard.
No one in the Black family, or in their world, had ever seen anything like it. It was all but emotional blackmail.
Jim, furious, had called the Carter Group headquarters directly. The news made its way to Calvin and left him so humiliated he could barely breathe, sputtering in rage. He immediately sent people to drag Davina back to the Carter Estate.
But of course, the news had already started spreading through their circle, and now everyone was laughing at the Carter family.
By the time Barnard figured out what happened, his face was shock-white. He never imagined Davina would dare pull a stunt like that.
Camilla only smiled coldly to herself. She would never have believed there were women out there as stupid and spiteful as Davina. Davina had to know that you can’t land a major project just by making a scene. It was obvious—she was just trying to screw things up for Camilla.
Barnard needed Camilla to salvage the deal, and Davina was terrified that if Camilla pulled it off, everyone would see how useless she actually was. So she only made things worse, pushing the Black Group away entirely and leaving Camilla with nothing to work with.
Dinner was canceled in an instant. Calvin told Camilla to bring Jasper and return to the Carter Estate with Barnard.
When they got there, Calvin was still working with his team to put out the fire online. Outside, in the middle of the courtyard, Davina was kneeling in the dirt, her head bowed, looking for all the world like the picture of misery.