Divorced the Cheat Married the Fleet (Camilla and Lance) novel Chapter 401

Mahoney and the others left after briefing them on the situation. In the blink of an eye, only Camilla and Carol remained in the private room.

Camilla had calmed down. Her eyes were full of gratitude as she looked at Carol. "Thank you, Carol. I know you didn't have to get involved in this mess. You..."

"Camilla, don't treat me like a stranger," Carol interrupted gently. "To be honest, I wouldn't have made it through school without your dad's financial support. He was the one who gave me a way out of poverty, and I've always been incredibly grateful to him.

"Back when your mom got sick, I barely had any savings. Then I heard you joined the Carter family. At the time, I thought you had found the right guy, but then...

"If I had known how things would turn out, I would have stopped you no matter what.

"Camilla, not being able to help you back then has always been my biggest regret. Now that we finally have a lead on your dad, there is absolutely no way I'm sitting on the sidelines."

"But won't this cause too much trouble for you? The Black family..." Camilla still harbored some concerns.

Like her, Carol came from an ordinary background but had married a wealthy man.

On the surface, Carol seemed more glamorous and successful than anyone, but Camilla worried that behind closed doors, she might be suffering the same mistreatment and bullying from her in-laws that she herself had endured.

If that were the case, she definitely couldn't drag Carol into this mess.

"You don't need to worry. My husband treats me wonderfully. He knows everything about my situation and supports me entirely," Carol reassured her.

Camilla had seen Carol and Jim together. Jim was always the perfect gentleman, deeply attentive to Carol's feelings. Hearing the soft, genuine happiness in Carol's voice, Camilla finally believed that she truly was doing well in the Black family.

They were both living out a Cinderella story, but the difference was that Carol had actually found true love.

"Camilla, how is your mom doing? I... it isn't a good time for me to visit her. I'm worried seeing me might remind her of your dad. Please don't mention me to her just yet," Carol added.

"My mom is doing much better. I've already brought her back home, so don't worry. As for my father... once everything is settled, I'll break the news to her gently," Camilla replied.

Back when Elise was still in the hospital, Carol had visited a few times, but she had always just peeked through the door and left without ever coming face-to-face with Elise.

At the time, Camilla hadn't known about Carol's connection to her family and assumed her presence was just a coincidence.

Only now did she understand Carol's careful distance.

"Even if you want her to learn some independence, you should ease her into it, not cut off all her cards at once!"

Darwin's eyes were full of icy mockery as he corrected her. "You still don't seem to grasp the situation. Sarah is no longer fit to be a member of the Charles family. I kicked her out. This isn't some training exercise.

"If you don't have any other business here, you should leave. What's the point of causing a scene in someone else's home?"

Everyone knew Camilla had purchased Laguna Shores. Darwin's blunt words instantly drew a clear line between family and outsiders, causing Tessa's expression to crack.

Ever since Sarah was kicked out, the anger festering in Tessa's chest had become impossible to contain. "Dad, I really don't understand what you're thinking!" she snapped. "No matter what, Sarah grew up in our home. It is absolutely chilling that you would treat her this way for the sake of an outsider."

"An outsider? Camilla is my future granddaughter-in-law and the mother of my great-grandson. How is she an outsider? If we're getting technical, your adopted daughter is the real outsider.

"Have you been favoring that girl for so long that you've forgotten Lance is your actual flesh and blood?

"Enough. I don't want to hear another word about this. Our family's money has better uses than being squandered by a banished adopted daughter. When you're done throwing your tantrum, see yourself out."