Divorced the Cheat Married the Fleet (Camilla and Lance) novel Chapter 147

The doctor picked up on the tension in the room and quietly slipped away, eyes cast down.

Davina's glare swept over everyone until it locked on Camilla. She practically pointed a finger. “It was you, wasn’t it? You brought them here on purpose. You’re trying to hurt me—and Barnard’s baby, too.”

Clutching her belly, Davina seemed to drop all her pretenses now that the truth was out.

Camilla just stood there, silent, not arguing back, looking more awkward than anything. She was the real wife in this mess, yet she was the one being accused, while the other woman barked at her with all the righteous anger in the world. It almost looked sad, really.

Barnard lost patience. “Enough, Davina. Camilla had no idea you were pregnant. And those people earlier—those are your in-laws, not Camilla’s. What does any of this have to do with her?”

Davina’s eyes were huge, like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Why are you so sure it wasn’t her? Maybe she found out early, maybe she wanted to hurt me. She’s smart—looking into my background would be easy for her. Barnard, our baby nearly… How can you take her side now?”

She wouldn’t stop, just fired question after question, until even Barnard felt she was being absurd. It flashed through his mind how Ines had been sobbing uncontrollably in the hallway earlier. Now he saw the same pattern in Davina, the same stubborn drama, the same lack of dignity.

He kept his voice steady. “I told you—this has nothing to do with Camilla. You’re imagining things. And if I remember right, you were the one who asked Camilla to meet today. Now something happens and suddenly it’s all her fault?”

Davina stared, eyes wide, then looked at her bump. Panic and insecurity flickered across her face.

She was the one being attacked. She was the one who’d been wronged. So why was Barnard rushing to protect Camilla? And… Hadn’t he insisted before that he didn’t love Camilla, that Camilla was just there to save face? Then why defend her now?

“Barnard, I…” Davina reached out, trying to cling to his sleeve. Barnard recoiled without thinking, and his voice came out sharper. “This is a hospital, Davina. Try not to yell.”

“But—” She looked helplessly at Camilla, but before she could finish, Barnard cut her off. “I already said, this isn’t about Camilla. Don’t bring it up again.”

He wouldn’t even look at Camilla as he spoke, his gaze drifting away, almost avoiding her. He still hadn’t figured out what to say to explain Davina’s pregnancy to Camilla. The whole thing had blown up out of nowhere, and he was totally thrown off. Seeing how hurt Camilla looked made him feel even worse inside.

Camilla could see their guilt and embarrassment, but all she felt was a kind of cold amusement. They were all just covering for each other, really. She was curious what kind of “solution” Calvin planned to offer.

As soon as they reached The Carter Estate and got out of the car, Laura ushered Camilla straight to the couch, peeled some fruit for her, and never left her side.

She pulled Camilla close and squeezed her shoulder, a protective warmth in her voice. “Don’t worry, Camilla. This is your home. You’re the woman of this house—no one can take your place, no matter what. Even if that woman is pregnant, it won’t change anything for you. You—”

Camilla cut her off, voice trembling with emotion. “And what about when her child is born? What am I supposed to do then? Pretend everything’s fine and welcome a child who doesn’t belong here?”

She paused, her voice tinged with bitterness. “Davina is still, officially, just the nanny over at Saddlebrook Estates. She’s living right under Barnard’s nose, and now her child will be there too. Mom, this isn’t the old days. There’s no such thing as a second wife any more. So tell me… what am I supposed to call this?”

Her words left Laura speechless. Calvin’s jaw tightened and a vein throbbed on his temple. He barked, “You don’t need to worry about that. I’ll make sure that child never makes it into this family. Nobody—not even with a baby—will ever become part of the Carter family unless I say so.”