Divorced the Cheat Married the Fleet (Camilla and Lance) novel Chapter 198

This was Jasper’s first time standing toe-to-toe with Barnard since the truth about his birth had exploded everywhere. Camilla couldn’t help but worry he’d crumble under the pressure.

But Jasper looked completely unfazed. He ignored Barnard altogether, just squeezed Camilla’s hand and said, “We came to pick you up. Ada told us you were here. Mom, did they do anything to you?”

Laura caught sight of Jasper and, by instinct, wanted to call out to him. When their eyes met, though, his gaze was cold, almost hostile. That’s when it finally hit her. The grandson she’d watched grow up wasn’t actually a Carter by blood.

“Of course not. Are you hungry, Jasper? Let’s go find something to eat,” Camilla answered, dodging the heart of the issue.

She didn’t want to talk about the Carter family in front of Jasper. All she wanted was for him to move on, to forget the Carters exist.

Without another glance toward the group, Camilla took Jasper’s hand and walked away, leaving it all behind.

Barnard stared after them. For a second, it was almost like he was outside his own body. Once, he used to walk right there beside them.

“Camilla…” He called after her on a whim, and somehow, his legs started moving too, like maybe he could catch up.

The revolving door slid closed between them, Camilla’s shape disappearing on the other side, cutting him off from her and Jasper.

He stood there, helpless, watching her get into a black Maybach parked at the curb. That wasn’t her car.

Camilla and Jasper both got into the back, but as the door opened, Barnard caught the briefest glimpse of someone already in the back seat. He couldn’t see the man’s face, just a large hand reaching out to help Jasper into the car, gentle but strong.

Definitely a man’s hand.

Barnard’s mind took off, piecing together the bodyguards, the new medical team covering for Elise, the way Camilla never seemed alone. A tight suspicion started to form.

Anger punched through him. He headed straight for the Maybach, wanting to see for himself who this other man was, who was quietly helping Camilla and creeping his way into her life.

Before he could get close, the engine came to life and the car shot off, leaving him standing there breathing in exhaust and regret.

He refused to give up. Fingers fumbling, Barnard pulled out his phone, snapped a shot of the license plate, and sent it to Aaron with the instructions to track it down.

Davina came rushing out right at that moment, tripping a little as she caught up and immediately linking her arm through his.

As soon as Barnard heard Davina call them “Mom and Dad,” his expression froze for just a second. He turned to look at her and, for the first time, he really noticed the age gap. Davina calling his parents that—it just felt off.

He’d always focused on the comfort Davina gave him, never stopping to think about her age… but now he noticed.

“Maybe just call them by their names from now on,” Barnard said quietly.

“Why? Barnard, I’m having your baby. We’re going to be together sooner or later. Isn’t this just a matter of time?”

“You said it, Davina, sooner or later… but right now things are complicated. Let’s not make anything official. The Carter Group needs us focused. Once things settle, we’ll talk about all of this.”

Davina’s face darkened, her mood shifting in seconds. “Barnard, do you still have feelings for Camilla? Is that why you’re stalling on the divorce? Are you regretting it?”

“Of course not, Davina. Everything I’m doing is because…”

He was cut off when his phone started ringing—Aaron calling. He shot Davina an unreadable look, then stepped aside to answer. As he listened to Aaron spit out the information about the car, Barnard’s expression grew thunderous. He ended the call and slammed his phone to the ground.