Divorced the Cheat Married the Fleet (Camilla and Lance) novel Chapter 70

Elise just stared at Camilla in shock, her eyes wide and searching. “Are you sure you’re not making a mistake? I saw with my own eyes how nice Barnard was to you. Camilla, just tell me, did you do something wrong? Did you…”

She kept glancing between Camilla and Lance, suspicion clear on her face. The hint in her voice was obvious, and it made Camilla’s heart go cold all over again.

Barnard was the one who’d cheated—it couldn’t have been clearer. Yet somehow, even when the truth was right in front of her, Elise would rather doubt her own daughter than think Barnard could possibly be the problem. Barnard had played his role a little too well. All that “true love” talk hadn’t just fooled Camilla, it had convinced everyone around her, too.

“Feelings change,” Camilla said quietly. “Maybe Barnard really did care once, but things aren’t the same anymore. Lance is right. I probably never should have kept this from you. Let’s just go back to the hospital. I’ll take you to see Jasper.”

Elise still looked uneasy, but she didn’t argue. She just started walking back to the hospital with Camilla.

They made their way to Jasper’s room. As soon as the door opened, Jasper’s face lit up when he spotted Lance. “Lance! It’s been so long since you visited.”

“Work kept me out of the country,” Lance said, giving a small smile. His gaze dropped to Jasper’s leg, which was still bandaged and resting in a brace. “Are you feeling better?”

“It doesn’t hurt much anymore,” Jasper replied. “But Mom won’t let me walk on it just yet.”

With everyone gathered, Susan slipped out quietly to wash some fruit, giving them some space. Jasper chatted with Lance for a moment, then finally noticed Elise. “Grandma, what are you doing here? Mom said you weren’t feeling well and just had surgery. Shouldn’t you be resting? I should be the one coming to see you.”

Jasper had always been such a good kid. Hearing him say that, Elise’s heart softened.

“Grandma missed you,” Camilla said gently. “I have to step out for a bit. Would you keep Grandma company? I’ll bring you something good to eat when I come back.”

“What about Lance?” Jasper asked.

“Lance just got back to the country. He’s probably got tons to do. Once you’re all healed, I’ll let you go play with him, okay?”

Jasper looked over at Lance, who raised an eyebrow and grinned. “Better do what your mom says.”

Inside, Calvin and Laura were just finishing dinner. When Camilla walked in, both of them looked up in surprise. Laura stood, concern written all over her face. “Camilla, what brings you here tonight? Did something happen?”

Camilla didn’t waste time. “Dad, Mom, I know Davina did Barnard a favor once. You’ve always told me to be patient with her. Usually, I would just keep my head down and not bother you, but this… this has to do with Jasper’s whole future. I think you deserve to know.”

Calvin’s face turned serious, his brow furrowing. “What are you trying to say?”

He knew it had to be big. Every word from Camilla sounded heavy, and Jasper wasn’t just her son; he was the heart of her whole world.

“Davina went to Kaston recently,” Camilla explained. “She told me she exchanged ten years of Daisy’s life for a charm to protect Jasper. I thought it was a nice gesture, but it seemed a little suspicious to let Jasper wear something like that so close. So I took a look at it at Jade Spring Abbey. Turns out, it wasn’t a protective charm at all. It was a binding spell—a love charm, meant to entangle and tie Jasper and Daisy together for life. They wouldn’t be able to separate, ever.”

Laura’s eyes widened. She pressed a hand to her chest and her voice rose. “Are you serious? She actually dared to use something like that on Jasper?”

“I wouldn’t lie about this,” Camilla replied. “I just came back from Jade Spring Abbey, but if you want, you can send someone to check. Jasper is The Carter Family’s eldest grandson. For Davina to try and trap him like this so early… I think she’s gone way too far.”