Divorced the Cheat Married the Fleet (Camilla and Lance) novel Chapter 109

There was something magnetic about the idea of getting close with the Charles family, and Barnard felt the pull more strongly every day. Lately, he’d found any excuse to drop by Camilla’s office, doing his best to talk her around, hoping he could sway her opinion one conversation at a time.

Sometimes, while he was there, his phone would light up with calls from Daisy and Davina. Back in the past, he would have answered right away, leaving Camilla mid-sentence if need be. Now, though, he pressed decline in front of her, over and over. He would shrug and say, “It’s probably Davina searching for something again. She’s getting on in years and forgets things. I already told her—if she needs something, she should find Jackson.”

Camilla just listened, unmoved. She didn’t argue or even bother responding. How long Daisy and Davina would put up with being ignored was anyone’s guess, but Camilla could sense the tension building. Everything might look calm on the surface, but underneath, it felt like a storm was gathering.

Even when the night of the charity gala arrived, Camilla still wouldn’t give in. Barnard tried once more to get her to come, but she brushed him off with another excuse. To keep up their model couple image, Barnard made sure not to invite anyone else. He arrived at the event alone, his face set and serious.

Inside the grand, glittering hall, glasses clinked and laughter echoed. Most of the room was couples, arms linked or huddled close, making Barnard’s solo entrance stand out sharply. Not long after he walked in, a partner from The Carter Group came over, eyebrows raised. “Barnard, I almost didn’t recognize you solo. Where’s Camilla tonight?”

He forced a smile. “She’s been swamped with work, so I told her to take the night off at home.” He made it sound offhand, covering up any annoyance with practiced ease.

“You’re always so thoughtful,” the other man replied, shifting the conversation to light chatter.

But Barnard’s mind wasn’t really in it. Across the room, a sudden hush swept through the noise. A crowd trailed in, guarded by men in dark suits. At the front walked a man whose energy was hard to miss—jacket unbuttoned, posture relaxed. He wore a rose brooch that caught the light and every eye in the room. That was Lance.

When Barnard saw that brooch, something flickered behind his eyes. His informant had been right. Lance showed up, and he didn’t just like Camilla’s designs … he loved them. Every event, he wore that rose brooch, and tonight was no exception.

Sure, Camilla hadn’t come to introduce them, and Barnard wasn’t happy about that. But with that brooch as common ground, he was convinced he could still find a way in.

Next to him, the business partner followed his gaze. “Lance has been making waves lately. Didn’t expect to see him in person. Barnard, you keep glancing his way—are you interested in the Charles family’s new projects?”

Barnard recognized the brooch instantly. He’d seen it on Camilla’s desk plenty of times. It wasn’t just a piece of jewelry—it was proof she belonged in this world, that she wasn’t just a trophy wife during their first year together. In his mind, that brooch had always represented their marriage.

Camilla treasured it. Barnard never imagined she’d let it go for auction.

As the realization sank in, Barnard felt a sharp pang of something he didn’t want to call jealousy or regret. For the first time that night, he didn’t care about Lance or connections or business. He just wanted that brooch back. He raised a number in his head, ready to bid.

Suddenly, before the first offer was even called, a server standing at Lance’s side raised a number paddle and announced, “One hundred million.”

It was as if the whole ballroom gasped all at once. Barnard turned, stunned, staring at Lance. His heart went cold.