Divorced the Cheat Married the Fleet (Camilla and Lance) novel Chapter 184

“You like Camilla so much, why don’t you ask her to be your mom?” Davina snapped.

Daisy shot back without missing a beat. “I totally would if I could. It’s not my fault you gave birth to me. Can’t blame me for your bad choices.”

Davina’s face twisted in anger. She lurched up from her seat, ready to yank Daisy back into line, but the room spun around her. Maybe she’d sat too long or maybe it was the blood loss, she couldn’t tell. Everything went dark, and she crumpled to the floor. Blood was already soaking through her clothes.

Daisy froze, wide-eyed. She let out a shaky scream and bolted for the door. Davina clutched her stomach, hollering through gritted teeth, “Don’t just stand there, you brat. Call an ambulance!”

***

Camilla had no idea what was happening at Afterglow after she left. She headed straight for Brookfield Manor, clutching the evidence she’d gathered.

Nobody was there except Lance, who was sitting with Jasper and trying, with little success, to draw him into a conversation. Jasper kept his head down, quietly stacking blocks, and barely acknowledged Lance.

Lance let out a sigh, trying to hide his frustration. “Oh, come on, little buddy. Even if I’m not your dad, we’re still friends. You don’t have to give me the cold shoulder.”

Jasper finally looked up, frowning. “You only pretend to be my friend because you want something. Why would I talk to you?”

Lance laughed, his tone playful. “That’s not fair, kiddo. I really do want to be your dad. I just haven’t gotten the job yet. You could help me out, you know. Maybe that’ll finally make my wish come true.”

Jasper sniffed and looked away. “Why should I help you? You’re just a liar.”

Lance grinned, unfazed. “Hey, we already get along so well. Me being your dad would just make things more fun, right? Who else fits the part as well as me? And your mom and I look pretty good together, don’t you think?”

Camilla stood in the doorway, overhearing most of what they said. Lance’s nonsense still annoyed her, but she was surprised at how quickly Jasper had bounced back. On the drive home, she’d worried about him, afraid today’s mess would really get to him. Watching him now, she felt a wave of relief—at least on the surface, Jasper seemed like his usual self.

She knew a lot of that was thanks to Lance.

Still, she had to set things straight. “Lance, stop teasing Jasper already.”

Lance straightened up when he saw her. “So, you feeling any better? If you’re still mad, we can always go burn down The Carter Group’s headquarters. I’ll help.”

Camilla didn’t argue, though she made a mental note to repay the favor someday.

Jasper, hearing their talk, paused in his block-building, looking between Camilla and Lance with a thoughtful expression.

Lance grinned at him. “Hey Jasper, you hungry? It’s a big day. How about we go out to eat and celebrate your mom finally breaking free?”

Jasper didn’t answer right away. Instead, he turned to Camilla. “Mom, are you really getting a divorce? Does that mean you’re happy now?”

He understood more than people gave him credit for, even if the truth was hard to accept at first. But honestly, it made sense. That dad never liked him, and his mom had moved them away because of him. In a way, it was what he’d wished for—the chance for him and his mom to let go of someone who never cared.

Jasper adapted to the divorce quicker than anyone expected.

Camilla smiled gently. “I’m happy. I promised you I’d do this, and from now on, we don’t have to deal with him ever again, okay?”

Jasper fell silent, thinking for a moment, then nodded carefully. “Yeah, I think we should celebrate.”