Divorced the Cheat Married the Fleet (Camilla and Lance) novel Chapter 106

Barnard didn’t bother answering. He just opened the car door and slid into Camilla’s car, like he was making some kind of point, hoping his loyalty would be loud enough for her to hear without a word. But Camilla’s expression only grew tighter, her frown stuck in place.

They drove in silence, the car gliding down the empty road. Neon lights flickered in from outside, painting little stripes on the dashboard. After a moment, Camilla broke the quiet. “Aren’t you supposed to go home and get your wound looked at? Why are you in my car?”

Barnard looked straight ahead. “Because it’s my birthday. We’ve always spent it together. Why should this year be any different?” He tried to sound casual, but there was something a little too eager in his voice. “You hardly ate at the party, Camilla. I had Aaron book a nice spot. Let me take you out to dinner.”

Dragging up the past, like reminding her of some sweet tradition, he tried to make her believe nothing between them had changed. But to Camilla, his act only felt fake at this point.

Did he really think that just by making a show of choosing her over Davina for one night, he’d magically fix everything that was broken between them? Camilla kept her eyes on the road, jaw tight.

At the next red light, she let the car roll to a stop and turned to face him. “Traditions aren’t sacred, Barnard. I’m exhausted, I want to go home. I’ll drop you up ahead. Call Aaron, let him pick you up.”

He blinked, not used to her pushing back. “Camilla, what’s this about? You forgot my birthday—I let that go. I even covered for you at the banquet. You can’t even spend tonight with me?”

Sure, maybe she really forgot earlier, but now there was no pretending. He’d asked, she’d refused. Was she really just making trouble for the sake of it?

“Barnard, you’re not a kid,” Camilla said, keeping her tone even. “I’m just tired. I want to sleep. There are plenty of people at Saddlebrook Estates who’d jump at the chance to spoil you tonight.”

The light changed. She drove a little farther, then pulled over. “Time to go.”

He hesitated, hanging in the open silence. “Camilla, can we just—”

She cut him off. “I said I’m tired. Get out.”

He looked at her through the rearview mirror. Her eyes were flat, her face unreadable. Something inside him tightened, a sharp ache in his chest. Suddenly, it felt like there was a gulf between them—one he couldn’t even imagine crossing.

He paused before stepping out. “Then rest up, Camilla. I’ll come by tomorrow.”

Her eyes shimmered with tears. Something inside Barnard softened, just a little. A flicker of guilt crept in.

“You’re not wrong,” he said, his voice gentler. “Just… don’t provoke Camilla, okay? I still need her, and my parents think highly of her. She—”

“Yeah, Camilla’s perfect, everyone loves her. So what about Daisy and me?” Davina’s voice shook. “You say you love me, you brought me here, but I’m some dirty secret? Am I just your pet? Barnard, I’m scared. Scared you’re just going to break my heart and leave me with nothing. You know I have no way out now—it’s all you.”

Barnard’s lips softened, eyes full of pity. He tried to soothe her. “Davina, I get it. I really do. Just give me a little more time. Once I’m done with Camilla, I’ll introduce you to my parents, properly. Everything’s already set up, I promise. Just hang on, okay?”

Davina seemed to accept it, offering him a weak smile. She helped him with his jacket and guided him to the bedroom to tend to his wound, all gentle care and quiet touches, like always.

No one noticed Daisy on the sofa, clutching her toys tight, her little fists squeezed until her knuckles went white. Hidden from the grown-ups, there was no missing the resentment building in her eyes.