Chapter 5

Camilla’s POV 

“No-no-no!” I stammered with sort of frightened eyes, the tension in my heart skyrocketing. Having the father of your little son whom you didn't want to meet again to avoid scandals from leaking turning to be your stepdad is what I never imagined. Now if the news is gonna leak, it would be worse. I'm sure most people would interpret it as I being in an affair with my mom's lover. 

Oh no! 

I'd lowered my face to the ground but raising it to see that all eyes were on me got me even more stiffened. I forced a smile, shaking my head. 

“No, I'm pretty sure he's identical to someone I met in the past, probably in the cause of business.” I ran fast over my speech so no one would notice that my voice was shaking. 

I hijacked Carlos immediately from the ground, petting him. He must have been surprised from the eyes he was staring at me with. I was planning what to do next to get me out of here. Then I began to caress his face. 

“You need to sleep, kiddo.” I traced my fingers along his eye bags, wanting to act as though he's sleepy. 

“I'm pretty sure you're sleepy?” I asked, leaning my face across to him. He stared at me with shock but since he was facing me, no one could really detect his reaction. I wanted to wink at him to accept it but they will see it. I was left with no choice but to force sleep right away on him. 

“Come on, kiddo. Let's go to bed. It's already late.” Saying this, I turned around without looking at anyone and dashed in through the mini-hallway, heading to his room. I planned on staying here without coming out any time soon. 

My heart rocked with jealousy upon realizing Emilio is the one with mom. I couldn't just believe it. 

I sang some lullaby for my son, petting his head and caressing his cheeks till he fell asleep. Looking at his adorable face, a sweet smile curled up on my face and I was going to linger my gaze a little longer when someone knocked on the door. 

My body shrieked in reflex, it must be mom or my sister. My brother wouldn't do that. Worst still, it's Emilio. 

“Camilla, what are you doing inside?” Mom's hoarse voice terrified the entire space inside. 

“Mom?” I thought of what to say but no words came up from my mouth. I wanted to lie that I was trying to make Carlos sleep but before I could even open my mouth, the door sprang open and mom stormed in, her eyes raging with anger. 

She glared at me first, then switched her gaze to my son who was fast asleep. There's nothing to lie about any longer. 

I swallowed the lump in my throat, raising guilty eyes on her. 

“What are you still doing here?” 

“I'm sorry mom, I was about to come out.” With this, I wasted no time in rising before she embarrassed me. Leaning and kissing Carlos, I took one last look for the night at him before his nanny came to take over, then I walked through the door. Just about exiting, a firm arm caught me. 

“Mom?” 

“Tell me what's going on between you both? Have you really known him before?”

I shook my head. “No, not at all. He looks much like a guy I came across on my business trips.” Her hands released me slightly and I dashed out of the room leaving her gazing at me. 

I went straight to the living room where everyone was, bowing in courtesy with a fake smile. “I'm sorry I took a little bit too long.” 

I sat on the couch, returning back to my serious face while I waited for mom to come out. While footsteps sounded on the hallway, an indication she was coming, my eyes mistakenly collided with my traitor sister, Bella. I wanted to switch my gaze away quickly but her voice rang out. 

“Sis, are you angry that mom got a younger man? Probably you think someone that you could have been with?” 

I knew she couldn't say anything good. The raging anger in my chest was already reaching its peak, I folded my fist, wishing I could give her a painful punch. I could sense the domineering aura of mom's presence right behind me. 

This girl doesn't fail to get me into trouble! 

I was planning to give her a nice response, something good for her. 

“If I was such, don't you think I'd still be better than you, husband snatcher. See as you are sitting quite confidently with my husband whom you took away from me and had two kids with.” 

I sprang up with daring eyes when my mom caught me. “Aren't you ashamed of yourself? Or do you want to snatch mom’s husband from her?” 

“Huhhhh?” Her lips hung open, Sarah and Richard gasped, even Emilio who sat there puzzled, not even moving an inch. I'm pretty sure no one expected this response from me, not even mom but I couldn't stand such a bitch trying to put out words that would destroy my reputation. 

Even though it's her words I thought of, she had no right to say it out loud. 

“Calm down please!” Mom barked. “Don't bring in old family grudges here. We are having something important.” 

“Mom, didn't you hear what she said?” 

Peter and her were already so ashamed that they looked for where to hide their faces. It wouldn't be possible for them to leave now, they knew so they continued to sit with their shame. Right inside of me, my heart thumped with satisfaction. I'd disgraced them. 

“Let's have dinner,” mom announced the next few minutes. It was because of Emilio we delayed dinner because she wanted us to have it as a family. 

We sat around the dining table in the next room which was the dining, white rice with avocado veggie sauce, eggs and tomatoes, some steak and fresh assorted fruit juices. 

“Darling,” Mom tapped on Emilio and he raised his face, I too at the same time that our eyes clashed. I quickly withdrew, getting busy with my food. 

I prayed mom didn't notice. 

These are my kids, Camilla, my eldest, Bella, her twinnie.” My heart fumed hearing her call out this but I pretended to be busy with my food. “Richard and Sarah.” 

“That's Peter, Camilla already said who she is.”

I thought she was going to say it as Bella’s husband. I calmed my heart down, swallowing the lump in my throat. 

“All I wish is that we could stay as a family, despite the age similarity, you're their step-dad and they have to obey you in all things.” 

I sprang up, inhaling deep. 

“Sit Camilla!” She barked but I insisted. 

“Mom, not because you've managed to control us all these years with your dictator style of leadership, you think you can bring in your husband to do the same.” 

Just like me, I was an independent woman. 

“Watch and see!” 

“I wonder what you mean,” I muttered and then sat to continue with my meal. All they said at the table, including whispering to themselves, made no meaning to me. I wasn't even listening, my mind had gone very far away to years behind, to that hotel room where Emilio and I were making out. 

Then I heard my name, making me shriek in reflex. I returned my attention to the present. 

“What's that, mom?” 

“Tomorrow morning, you're taking Emilio on a tour of your company.” 

I lowered my brows, dropping my spoon. 

“Why?” 

“Do as I said!” Her cold voice rang out in the room suppressing my deviant nature. “It's not bad if he gets to know more about us.” 

Throughout that night, I couldn't sleep. A lot of thoughts ran through my head. “Is he gonna take over from me?” 

“Could this be what mom is planning?” 

Currently, I manage our family company being the eldest, hence qualifying me as the heiress. I was so dedicated to my duty and I've moved the company to great heights of success. I wouldn't entertain the thoughts of someone coming in to take over this company from me, if I don't usually fight for anything, I'll fight to keep my place as the CEO of Lux Fashion Hub. 

So I woke up early at around 5 AM for my usual morning exercises, then I had my bath and went over to my son's room to make sure he was up and prepared for the day. His nanny was already here. As usual, I had to give him that attention since I would be out at work for most hours in the day, I would only see him in the evening when I return. 

We ate breakfast together, not in the general dining room. 

When it was 8 AM, I was already dressed and prepared to go to work but this time around, I wouldn't be going alone. Emilio would be there with me. 

I wondered why mom must have wanted to leave him alone with me, didn't she suspect that something was going wrong?