Divorced the Cheat Married the Fleet (Camilla and Lance) novel Chapter 13

The toy train was Jasper’s favorite birthday present from last year. Camilla had it made just for him. It was a custom set, and the tracks could be twisted into hundreds of shapes, making it endlessly fun. Jasper loved that train more than anything.

The last time Jasper and Daisy had a fight, it had been over this exact toy. Barnard knew Jasper treasured the train, but both times the kids argued, he had sided with Daisy instead of his own son.

Jasper had been crying for a long time. Susan, sensing Camilla’s distraction, whispered, “Jasper can’t stay like this… Camilla, maybe you should try and comfort him.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Camilla said softly. “You go on with your work.”

She knelt beside Jasper and brushed a hand over his hair. “Sweetheart, please don’t cry. How about Mommy gets you another train, exactly the same as this one?”

Jasper shook his head and buried his face in Camilla’s chest. “That’s not it, Mommy. It’s Dad. He’s mean. He only cares about Daisy. He doesn’t care about me.”

Hearing his broken little voice, Camilla finally understood—what Jasper really wanted wasn’t the toy train. He just wanted his father’s love.

Her chest tightened. Watching her husband turn away from their son just to comfort another child—it hurt in ways she couldn’t let show. Not in front of Jasper. She held him close, pretending nothing was wrong, stroking his back and murmuring soft nothings until he finally cried himself to sleep in her arms.

The moment she tucked Jasper into bed, she heard the front door open. Barnard was back, and Daisy and Davina followed close behind.

Barnard’s arms were full of shopping bags, almost all of them holding new toys for Daisy. He looked startled to see Camilla. “You’re home early, Camilla… I was just about to drop these off then come get you.”

Barnard had left her alone at the party with a crowd of investors, forcing her to make small talk on her own. She’d ended up drinking far more than she wanted. Now, watching him stand there with his arms full of gifts for someone else’s daughter, acting like nothing was out of the ordinary—it made Camilla’s anger spill over.

“So this was your big emergency? The thing so urgent you had to ditch a roomful of investors… was taking them shopping?” Her tone was cold.

Barnard was about to speak when Davina stepped in, tugging Daisy along. “Camilla, please don’t blame Barnard. It was all Daisy. She kept clinging to him and wouldn’t let go. I’ve already scolded her. Daisy, go on, kneel down and apologize to Camilla. And to Jasper, too.”

It was the exact same act from before. This time, Camilla felt nothing—not anger, not sympathy. She just watched Davina’s performance with a detached calm.

Letting Davina, the housekeeper, act like she owned the place—she had already tolerated more than enough. It was Barnard, giving in to Davina time and time again, who had ruined their marriage.

Davina’s expression froze for just a second, but she quickly managed a bright smile. “Of course I’m sincere, Camilla. I want to apologize as long as you’ll let us stay. If you want, I’ll kneel right now.”

She pulled Daisy down with her, both of them about to kneel on the floor.

Barnard’s brows knit together, deepening the lines on his forehead. He reached for Davina’s arm, placing himself firmly between Camilla and the pair. “Enough, Camilla. This is my fault. I should have talked to you first. If you’re upset, take it out on me. There’s no need to drag Davina and Daisy into this.”

With that, he turned to Davina, his voice gentler. “Davina, take Daisy and go rest.”

“Camilla, really, don’t blame Barnard. If you’re still mad, you can hit Daisy instead,” Davina offered, pushing Daisy forward. Daisy looked terrified, then suddenly burst into even louder sobs.

Barnard’s face softened with pity as he watched the scene. “Camilla, Davina has already gone so far. Can’t you just let this go?”