Divorced the Cheat Married the Fleet (Camilla and Lance) novel Chapter 141

Elise had no clue what was really going on with Camilla. She didn’t know her daughter had only managed to wake up because she’d given in. All Elise saw was the girl she’d always known—brave, stubborn, hard as nails—was now so fragile, it looked like she could barely hold herself together.

She just couldn’t make sense of it. How could her strong-willed daughter fall apart like this? Before, Elise never knew what Camilla’s marriage was truly like. She’d even tried to convince Camilla to work things out with Barnard. But now? With Barnard clearly cheating, what was left to endure?

Elise pressed her, her voice urgent. “Camilla, what are you even thinking? Can’t you say something? Your husband’s already parading around with another woman, trying to take your spot, and you’re just going to stand by and do nothing? Are you really going to let yourself get pushed out like that?”

Camilla couldn’t meet her mother’s eyes. She didn’t want to see that disappointment staring back at her. Two days’ worth of heartbreak had piled up inside her, threatening to smother her. Elise was already in fragile health, and the last thing Camilla wanted was for these messy problems to weigh on her more.

Fine, let her take the fall alone. Let her mother think she was a rebellious daughter, someone too passive to defend herself.

With Elise still questioning her, Camilla finally forced out, “Mom, you’re letting your imagination run wild. Barnard promised me that no one can take the title of Mrs. Carter from me. It’s mine, always.”

Elise stared, wide-eyed and incredulous, as if she was looking at a stranger. “You actually believe him? He’s out there cheating on you, but one empty promise and you’re ready to forget everything? Camilla, where’s your backbone?”

Camilla shook her head, trying to calm her mother. “Mom, please don’t get so upset. I really don’t think Barnard is lying to me. I…”

Her words stumbled to a halt as she saw Elise’s hands shaking from anger.

Just then there was a sound at the door.

Barnard stepped in and came up behind Camilla. “Please, Elise, don’t upset yourself. Camilla and I are fine, just like she said. As long as she wants to be Mrs. Carter, nobody can change that. I’m guessing you heard some nasty rumors, which is why you’ve got the wrong idea about me. But come on, you know your daughter better than that. Camilla’s stubborn. She would never settle for less. If she trusts me, that should mean something.”

Even though he didn’t touch her, Camilla could feel Barnard’s presence weighing down on her, making her skin crawl. But in front of Elise, she had to keep up the act.

Inside, her frustration was building. Of course Barnard didn’t trust her. He pretended she was just visiting her mom, but had clearly been listening outside all along. If she said even one wrong thing, he’d crash right in.

He tried to look sympathetic, leaning closer as if searching her eyes. Camilla recoiled and shoved him away. “Don’t get so close. Honestly, Barnard, instead of watching my every move, maybe you should be teaching your precious Davina a few tricks. She’ll have to be by your side sooner or later. Unless you aren’t worried about making a fool of yourself.”

Barnard didn’t look away. His voice, strangely gentle, lingered on her name. “Camilla, like I told you before, the person beside me could always be you.”

He made it sound like a declaration of love, but it sent shivers down her spine.

To Camilla, he seemed more fake and frightening by the minute.

First, he’d sweet-talked her into marrying him, all while hiding Davina in the shadows. Now, with Davina’s secrets out, he was promising the world to both of them, as if he could juggle it all.

If she was honest, he probably didn’t really care about Davina either. If he did, there’s no way he’d still be saying things like this.