Divorce Him, Then Dazzle novel Chapter 80

Latonia let out a short, humorless sound. “You two act like university professors, all righteous on the outside, but you hardly spent anything to raise her, right? And now you’re calling it charity? If everyone helped the way you did, people in real need would all starve.”

Lean and Adah were caught off guard when Camilla started talking. She was just being honest, and neither of them had anything to say in their defense. Latonia’s teasing just made their faces burn hotter with embarrassment.

Camilla took a breath. “I am grateful that you raised me. It was never about money or things. I worked so hard in school because I wanted you to be proud, wanted to repay you somehow. I always thought of you as my real parents. I wanted you to see me as your own too. But then, when somebody hurt me, you just ignored it…”

“You shouldn’t say that. Daniel was wrong, but there’s no reason to involve the police,” Adah said, her voice softening, trying to calm things down. “We know you’re a good girl. You’ve always listened to us. This time you just went too far, and it made us mad. If you apologize, your dad will forgive you. You and Daniel can start over. If he does something again, I’ll make sure he answers for it, too.”

“What did Cammie do wrong? Why does she have to apologize?” Latonia jumped in, unable to hold it in anymore. “That man did awful things to her, and you’re telling her to go back and live happily ever after with him? No real parent would ever do that. No real parent would ever ask that of her—only someone who has no business calling themselves a parent.”

Lean realized there was no point arguing with Latonia. Instead, he looked straight at Camilla. “I’m asking you one last time. Are you really not going to drop the charges?”

Latonia put her hand gently on Camilla’s arm. “Cammie, I’m with you. No matter what.”

Tears filled Camilla’s eyes. Even after everything, she still cared about Lean and Adah. All these years, she had treated them like family. But now, the way they ignored her pain and threw out insults, she finally saw it clearly. She’d been the only one trying to keep this family together. They never truly cared about her.

Her voice shook, but she didn’t waver. “I’m not dropping the charges. I’m divorcing Daniel. If you still think he deserves another chance, then let me tell you something else.”

Even Lean and Adah were stunned silent.

Adah didn’t know what to say. She just stared at Camilla, lost.

But Lean found his words quickly. “Daniel would never do anything like that. You’re making this up just so you can leave him, aren’t you?”

Latonia couldn’t take any more. “If you think it’s a lie, go ask Daniel yourself. See what he says.”