CHAPTER 53: STORIES FLY

Camilla just stood there, frozen. Her cheek was already turning red from Julian’s slap, swelling fast. She looked stunned, like the ground had shifted under her feet and she didn’t know how to stand anymore. For a long moment, she didn’t even speak just stared, breathing hard, trying to understand what had just happened.

Honestly? I didn’t blame her.

She had always been the one with the upper hand. For years, I was the one who kept my head down, who swallowed every insult, every shove, every order. I was the one pushed aside while she stood tall, proud, and untouchable. She used to give me that satisfied little smirk, like she knew she’d always win.

But now?

Everything had flipped.

She was the one backed into a corner, surrounded by sharp eyes and quiet judgment... while I finally stood steady.

I used to hate the way she twisted everything how she guilt-tripped, how she made herself look innocent, how she used her charm like a weapon. But now that I was the one she couldn’t control anymore... I understood the temptation. Power was a strange thing. Once it shifted into your hands, it hummed beneath your skin, tempting, dangerous.

And for once, her tricks weren’t working.

Vicky her mother wasn’t ready to accept that. She still saw Camilla as her perfect daughter.

"Julian, don’t rush to accuse her," Vicky snapped. "Camilla, tell us what happened."

Camilla’s voice trembled, but she spoke loudly. "It was her! She came in and said I’d die on the operating table me and the baby! That’s why I threw the soup!"

Every gaze turned to me.

I let the tears fall just enough. Not to fake pain because the burn already hurt but to make her lie crumble on its own.

My voice shook. "Camilla... I know everything is messy right now, and the affair between you and Julian is still fresh in everyone’s mind. But you can’t twist things just to protect your pride."

I looked down at my blistering hands.

"I only came because I heard you hadn’t eaten all day. With your heart condition, I worried. I said surgery can be risky if you keep ignoring your health... but I never cursed your baby. I wouldn’t say something that cruel. I was trying to be kind." I breathed in slowly. "But I guess kindness is easy to misunderstand these days."

Silence settled over the room, heavy and uncomfortable.

James was the first to speak, his tone sharp. "Riley’s right. You should’ve been more careful, Camilla. You’ve had this condition since childhood. Pregnancy puts you at real risk. You haven’t taken care of yourself, and now you’re thinking about abortion? What if something actually goes wrong?"

Vicky opened her mouth but didn’t say anything. Even she couldn’t defend that.

Camilla burst into tears and clung to Julian’s arm. "Julian, she’s twisting everything! She cursed our baby don’t believe her!"

Julian’s face twisted with disgust. He yanked his arm out of her grip.

"Don’t touch me," he snapped. "You make me sick."

The force sent her stumbling. She dropped to the floor, crying, but Julian didn’t even look at her.

Instead, he went down on one knee right in front of me. His posture was instinctive, protective, like something deep inside him had kicked awake.

He reached for my hand, studying the burn with a tight jaw.

"Why is everyone standing around? Someone get the burn cream!" he barked.

His voice carried that tone the kind that made people obey without thinking.

When his fingers brushed my wrist, I pulled back on instinct. It was small, barely noticeable, but the reaction came from somewhere deeper than thought.

That tiny movement didn’t go unnoticed.

Vicky and James exchanged a sharp look. They sensed the shift, the tension, the unspoken heat in the air.

They moved quickly, both stepping between us.

"Jane, help Riley back to her room. Bring the first-aid kit," James ordered.

I stood slowly, my expression soft... even though my voice carried a hint of steel.

"Camilla," I said gently. "You’re pregnant. It’s normal to be emotional. So I’ll let this go."

She glared up at me, confusion and anger twisting together.

"But just a reminder don’t cause another scene at the banquet in a few days. It’s an important event."

Camilla’s head snapped up. "What banquet?"

Vicky frowned. "What is she talking about?"

I tilted my head slightly. "Oh... Jeffrey didn’t tell you? In three days, we’re hosting a formal banquet. It’s to officially announce my marriage to Lewis. The entire city’s elite is invited."

I said what I said for a reason and I made sure Camilla heard every word. I knew her too well. If she didn’t try something at the banquet, then she wouldn’t be the same spiteful, sharp-minded woman who had spent years stepping on me whenever she could.

I wanted them to try.

If they didn’t strike first... how was I supposed to close the trap?

I gave a small, polite smile and turned to Vicky.

"Please take good care of Camilla these next few days. I’ll go rest."

Her lips parted like she had something to say, but I didn’t give her the chance. I let Jane guide me out, keeping my steps slow and steady.

Behind us, James’s voice rang out, firm enough to shake the air.

"Julian. Study. Now."

I almost laughed. I already knew what that was about.

When I reached my room, Jane came in after me with the burn cream. Before she could speak, a cold voice cut through the air.

"That’ll be all. Leave us."

Lewis walked forward and picked up the tube. He turned it in his fingers once before looking at me. His eyes always felt too direct, almost like they could hear my heartbeat.

"What happened?"

I tried to hide my hand behind me. "It’s not serious."

His eyebrow lifted just slightly, but enough.

"Let me see it."

Arguing with him wasn’t something people did. Not successfully, at least. So I slowly held out my hand.

The moment he saw the burn, something shifted in his expression. Dark. Cold.

"You let yourself get burned... over a slap?" His voice dropped lower, steady but sharp.

I blinked. "How did you ?"

Did someone already run to him with the story?

"I didn’t think she’d really throw it at me," I said quietly.

He didn’t answer. He simply opened the cream and began applying it.

"Hiss " I sucked in a breath as the sting hit.

"Now it hurts?" His voice carried a faint edge of irritation.

"Ow..." The sound slipped out before I could stop it.

Lewis didn’t release me. His voice softened barely noticeable, but I heard it.

"Hold still. It’ll ease soon."

Just for a moment, I let myself feel safe.

Just for a moment, I let myself breathe.