Divorce Him, Then Dazzle novel Chapter 78

They talked for a little while longer before Latonia was ready to head back to her room.

Just as she was about to leave, Camilla called her name.

Latonia turned around. “Yeah? Did you need something?”

“If it’s alright… I’d rather not see Mr. White again.” Camilla’s voice was soft but steady. “If there’s ever a time we’re meeting up and he’s going to be there, could you please let me know ahead of time?”

Latonia had only just discovered the fun of cheering for a couple, and now, right away, one of the main characters was practically tearing up the script in front of her. She managed a strained smile. “Camilla, sometimes things just happen whether I want them to or not. I’ll do what I can, okay?”

“Thank you.”

“Try to get some sleep.”

That night, Camilla barely got a wink of rest. Everything that had happened on the yacht kept replaying in her mind, leaving her feeling wrecked inside and out. She was still drowning in that pain, not even close to healing, and now Daniel was treating her like this on top of everything else.

And then there were Lean and Adah. Their harsh words and icy stares just kept piling on. The hurt she felt came in relentless waves, crashing over her again and again, until it was all she could do to keep herself from being swallowed up completely.

She wasn’t sure how long she tossed and turned before she finally drifted off, maybe just before sunrise. It didn’t feel like she slept at all before her phone started ringing, shattering the silence. Her whole body felt heavy, her mind foggy, and her head throbbed with pain.

She reached for her phone, forced her eyes open, and struggled to sit up.

“Mom,” she croaked, her voice rough from sleep.

“Dad. Mom. Do you even… feel anything for me at all?” Her voice trembled despite herself. “I’m not asking you to treat me like you do Barbara, but you raised me for more than twenty years. Seeing me get hurt, doesn’t it bother you at all? Not even a little?”

Even now, she was hoping for some sliver of affection from them, just a tiny bit that they might let slip through their fingers. She hated how desperate that made her, but they were all she had. If they’d loved her even a little, she wouldn’t have felt so hopeless, wouldn’t be standing on this edge. Their love, just the smallest bit, could’ve pulled her back from the brink. But if there really wasn’t any, then she knew she’d drop. After that, there’d be nothing left between her and them. They’d be strangers.

“You want us to feel sorry for you? Maybe you should think about what you’ve done first.” Lean’s voice oozed with disgust. “You’re about to give your mother and me a stroke, and you still want our sympathy?”

Camilla felt like she’d jumped straight off the side of a mountain. Her heart dropped, dragging a sharp, aching pain with it.

“If that’s how you feel,” she whispered, “then just pretend I was never your daughter.”

Lean erupted. “What did you just say? Say that again, I dare you!”