Divorced the Cheat Married the Fleet (Camilla and Lance) novel Chapter 516

His unwavering optimism only made the stone in Carol's chest feel heavier, and outside the door, Camilla felt as if a vice was crushing her heart. The pain made it hard to breathe.

Her father had always been like this.

He always put everyone else first. No matter what horrors he endured, he maintained that bright, optimistic facade, as if no amount of tragedy could ever truly break him.

But Camilla wasn't a little girl anymore. She no longer viewed this absolute selflessness as glorious or heroic. She just found it devastating.

Her fingers accidentally brushed the door, and the slight pressure pushed the unlatched wood open.

Camilla stood in the doorway, her gaze locking onto Tanner.

Tanner looked back at her.

A father and daughter, separated for over a decade, both saw the glaring, painful unfamiliarity in each other's eyes.

Carol wiped her tears and stood up, forcing herself to sound composed as she made the introduction. "Tanner, this is Camilla. Your daughter. She's all grown up now. The change is huge, isn't it? You probably can't even recognize her. It took me a second to recognize her at first, too."

"I know my Camilla," Tanner said softly. "How could I ever forget my own daughter? Come here, Camilla. Come to Dad."

Those simple words shattered the dam holding back Camilla's tears.

Her body trembled violently, but this time, her footsteps were remarkably steady. She didn't need anyone to hold her up. Step by step, she walked over to his bedside.

Seeing this, Carol quietly slipped out the door with Lance, giving the father and daughter the space they desperately needed.

The door clicked shut.

Camilla stood right beside his bed.

In the heavy silence, Tanner was the first to let out a sigh. His voice was laced with profound guilt. "Camilla, I'm so sorry. For all these years, I've owed you and your mother an apology. It's been incredibly hard on you, hasn't it? It's all my fault. I..."

"Does 'sorry' fix anything?" Camilla interrupted, her voice tight. "Dad, we never wanted an apology. More than anything, I just want you to get better and come see Mom. She's been waiting for you for so long."

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