Sham Marriage Quit Real Heiress Strikes Back novel Chapter 29

Chapter 29 Playing House

Nathan’s car still carried Camille’s perfume. He didn’t want Elena to notice, or worse, be upset by it.

“Sure,” Elena said with a soft smile, linking her arm through his as they got into the car.

Camille watched from the doorway, eyes locked on the taillights as they pulled away. Her rage had been simmering all day, and now it boiled over.

“Did you see that, Mom? She was flirting with Nathan like nothing happened. I’m the one who’s married to him!”

She was shaking with anger, tears threatening to spill. Catherine stroked her back gently, voice full of fake comfort, as if she hadn’t completely erased the fact that Elena was her real daughter.

“Don’t worry about her. Nathan only cares about you. Once he gets his shares, he’ll cut ties with her for good. Don’t cry, sweetie.”

Camille’s bitterness deepened. “Dad literally walked her down himself.”

Just the memory made her chest tighten. Catherine shot her husband a look.

“Why are you being so nice to her? Camille’s our daughter, not Elena. That girl’s ungrateful.”

She still hadn’t forgiven Elena for the way she kept visiting Malcolm and Vivian–the couple who raised her–instead of sticking close to her “real” family. Like a slap to the face every time she left for the countryside.

Richard gave Catherine a look of pure annoyance. “Just stop showing up in front of her. Both of you.”

He threw the line out casually, then whistled his way back into the house like nothing had happened. Camille blinked, stunned.

“What does that even mean?” she asked.

Catherine couldn’t make sense of it either.

“Is he losing it?”

She followed him inside to press for an explanation. Richard sighed like he was talking to a couple of fools.

“You really don’t get it? She’s tight with the Kingsleys now. There’s a chance she’s close to Alexander too. This company needs capital, and if she pulls any strings with them… we’re set.

So for the love of God, don’t mess this up.”

If Elena helped them win over the Kingsleys, the Hart family was looking at a whole new level of power and prestige. Suddenly, everything clicked for Catherine.

She turned to Camille and handed her her phone, already open to a bank transfer. “Here, ten grand. Go treat yourself. Stop pouting.”

Camille sniffled, then finally managed a smile.

Meanwhile, Elena followed Nathan to the Hawthorne estate. As soon as they stepped out of the car, a housekeeper caught sight of her and rushed inside, voice ringing through the courtyard.

“She’s here! Elena’s back!”

“Nora,” he called to the housekeeper, “take Elena to the kitchen. Let her pick what she wants for dinner. Tonight, we’re eating whatever she feels like.”

Elena followed Nora without a word, leaving the three remaining Hawthornes alone.

Charles’s expression dropped the moment she left. His gaze turned sharp.

I saw the photos online,” he said. “You and that girl.”

His voice was calm, but the weight in it made both Nathan and Victoria stiffen.

“If you still see me as your grandfather,” Charles said, looking at Nathan, “then you’ll end it with her. You’ve been married to Elena for five years. She’s done everything right—as a wife, as a daughter–in–law. And this is how you repay her? By turning her into a public joke?”

He’d only started feeling better recently. Otherwise, he might never have seen the gossip making the rounds online.

That was why he’d called this family meeting. To make one thing very clear.

“Grandpa, there’s nothing between me and Camille,” Nathan muttered, eyes fixed on the floor.

“You think I’m a fool?”

Charles slammed his cane against the ground. “Before Elena came back, you were practically glued to Camille. If I hadn’t shut it down, she’d already be in this house with a ring on her finger.”