DANTE'S POVThat call came on a fidgety morning when I sat in my office, running my hands through my hair, desperate to focus on other things than the weight of the uncertainty overhanging my heart. It buzzed, and I leaped for the phone before it could ring a second time, hoping this was the call that I had hoped for."Mr. Draven," the doctor's voice came on line unruffled. "Mrs Draven has regained unconsciousness."Relief hit me like a freight train. For a moment, I couldn't utter a word. My throat constricted, my vision blurring. I clutched the edge of the desk to hold myself steady."I'll be there in ten minutes," I said, managing to utter before hanging up.********The ride to the hospital was simultaneously endless and over in an instant. My heart was racing, relieved yet guilty and afraid about what I might find. I took a deep breath, turned into her room, and made my best attempt to look composed.Inside, Camilla lay against the stark white sheets, her face pale but her eyes
CAMILLA'S POVMy eyes were on the door, waiting for Dante to walk back in. Antiseptics lent that area that sterile smell; though I hardly noticed, my head filled with so many questions, lying there, staring up to the plain ceiling, feeling each second weigh heavier than it actually was. This chain of thought was snapped when the sound of footsteps approached my doorDante entered carrying a tray of food, his composed, sure self, yet with something in his eyes-something shuttered, something I couldn't quite place."You need to eat," he said-the tone soft, the actions gentle as he set the tray on the little table beside my bed."I'm not hungry," I said, turning my head away.“Camilla." His voice brooked no argument. He jerked the chair beside the bed and planted himself in it. "The doctor said, you went for days without food, you have to regain your strength. Which means you're going to eat. Period."I blew out a sigh, knowing further argument with him would be fruitless. He was being s
Chapter 158: MANIPULATED TRUST.Camilla's POVI choked, and my breath had hitched in my throat as the heavy weight of Dante's words hung there in the air. My heartbeat quickened, pounding against my chest until it was almost deafening. "What do you mean, Dante?" I whispered, hugging Jasper closer to me as his tiny hand leaned against my shoulder.Dante faltered; his eyes flickered to Kate, still by the door with her arms wrapped around herself, her eyes strained, ridden with guilt. Whatever it was they were keeping from me hung heavy in the air, a storm cloud on the verge of bursting."Just tell me," I insisted, my voice shaking with the mix of fear and anger churning in my body. "What's going on? Did something happen to Anthony when he found Jasper?”Dante's jaw flexed, and his eyes-unreadable yet piercing-latched onto mine. "Anthony… he's not who you think he is."I blinked, my brow furrowed. "What do you mean? Anthony's been nothing but loyal—""No," Dante cut in, sharp as a knife,
Chapter 159: A FATHER'S ADVICE.Camilla's POVThe only sound in the room, except the soft beeping of the monitors beside my bed, was silence. I stared at the pale blue walls while my mind raced on. It was so unreal, just some wild dream. The betrayals, the danger, Tom's chilling return-and now his permanent end. Part of me was relieved, while another part was still harboring residual fear.A knock, and my heart jumped. I turned to my father coming in, his face furrowed in brows of worry and relief."Dad," I said hoarsely."Camilla," he repeated instantly, dropping beside me, the first time he showed raw emotion, so different from this tall composure I was used to. He sat on the rim of my bed; his hands reached out for mine, shaking.“I was so scared," he said, his voice catching. "When I woke up and you weren't home, and your phone didn't go through. I thought the worst.""I'm sorry," I said guiltily. "I didn't mean to worry you.”He shook his head; his hold on my hand tightening. "Yo
Dante's POVCool morning air nibbled my skin as I trudged to the guest house. The estate was silent. Ella had moved in a few days ago, but since then I hadn't seen her. It was now time to face a reality that no way could I continue to avoid.Camilla was still in the hospital, and I'd been dreading the storm that would arise when she came home and finally saw Ella was here. I rubbed a hand over my face, forcing myself to focus on what was at hand. It wasn't all about me; there was a child involved. My child.I knocked twice. The sound rebounded in the silence.She opened it a few moments later, her expression guarded. Wearing only a simple dress, with her hair pulled back into some loose ponytail, there was a faint weariness to the eyes, but she managed a polite smile."Dante," she said, stepping aside to let me in. "Come in."I went inside, and it was warm inside, not like the chill outside, modestly furnished without anything overly fancy, just comfortable."I wasn't expecting you th
Camilla's POVThe breeze whispered sweet nothings as Dante aided me from the car. It felt surreal, coming home after weeks of staring into sterile white walls. Before me sprawled the mansion outlines-no longer intimidating, oddly enough, but welcoming. It would take my body a bit more time; yet just to stand once more seemed sufficient."Careful," Dante said, his hand's pad touching down onto my lower back. Gentle, barely touching me at all.“I'm fine, Dante," I snapped, pushing him away as I took a step toward the door. Giggles burst out loudly and then Jasper ran to me once I was inside."Mommy!”I fell to my haunches, yanking him against me in a tight hug. Unshed tears sting my eyes as I bury my face in his hair. He smells of vanilla and innocence, such a contrast with the war inside me."I missed you so much, baby," I whispered, grazing my lips across the top of his head.Jasper giggled. "I missed you too! Daddy said you were sick, but you're better now, right?"I looked up at Dan
Camilla's POVDante had gone off to work, having left me to my thoughts. The name of Ella resounded in my head like an alarm. It wasn't about her apologies last night, or how contrite she'd been since; it was the fact that she stood a fraction of an inch closer to Dante than to me, her eyes sparkling brightly, that set my skin crawling.And yet, somehow this feeling niggled-that she hid something far more hazardous than those cute little 'I'm sorries' and all those sweet smiles."This ends today," I growled, tugging my coat on and making for the door.The ride back to the guest house seemed to take an eternity: flashes going off behind my brain of Ella faking her laughs at each joke Dante ever made-always there, always watching, ghostly; never trusting her, neither putting on a farce now it was over.I didn't bother knocking as I reached the guest house; I opened the door to her seated on the sofa, with a book in her hand. She looked up, and in one second, her face had changed from th
Ella's POVI was seated cross-legged in the plush chair in the guest house; the only sound was that of the air conditioner humming away in the dark. I had been staring for minutes on end at the phone in my hand as if it held all the answers I needed. Anthony's name flashed across the screen, I'd been waiting to hear from him for a while now. I answered immediately. "Anthony," I said smoothly, careful that the eagerness didn't leak into my voice. "What a surprise."His voice came through sharp and urgent, and for once betrayed his façade of calm. "Ella, how are things going? Has there been any progress?"I let a small, appeasing smile slide onto my face as my eyes strayed to the window where, below me, sprawled the estate. Dante's empire was heady to look upon, and for the first time, I was inside. Well, it had taken years of planning. "It couldn't go any better," I replied, my tone airy but edgy. "I have gotten closer to Dante, and he has started trusting me again.”"And Camilla?" H
Chapter 171: A Second ChanceCamilla's PovStanding before me was the woman that I once thought was dead. She stared at me. Her steely resolve faltered to tears glistening in her eyes."What did you just call me?" shaking she whispered "Mom? Do...do you know me?"I swallowed hard, my stomach twisted up with nerves. "Yes, I know you," I said, and I could barely keep the shaking out of my voice. "I grew up seeing your picture in my parent's house. They told me you were my biological mother… but that my father, John, killed you. I—I thought you were dead.”“Who were the parents who raised you?” she questioned with a stern expression.“Your brother, Benson, and his wife, Olivia.” Carol's face crumpled, and the sight caught at my chest. She shook as she extended her hands toward me. "Camilla…my daughter. I—I had no idea.""Mom," I whispered. "You were alive, all these years.And with that, consumed with sobs, she pulled me into her arms tightly. It was as though all that noise going on a
Dante's POVThe air hung heavy in the room. Ella sat on the ground at the center of the dimly lit basement, her face a mask of defiance though bruises colored her pale skin. I was leaning casually against the table with Ella's phone in my hand, observing her."You're going to prove stubborn to the end, aren't you?" I said icily.She sneered, her swollen lip curling in defiance. "You'll get nothing from me, Dante."Alex was leaning against the doorframe, his arms folded over his chest as he regarded Ella. "We've tried every method. She's either too loyal or too scared."I clenched my fist. The image of Anthony pulling strings behind her seemed seared into my brain. "Or both," I muttered.The phone buzzed on the desk, and I sprang up, and picked it up-the flashing unknown number danced across the screen. Alex took another step closer, taut."Answer it," he said.I nodded and took it to my ear but didn't say anything. The other line was silent too. And then I just waited. The silence hun
Camilla's POV"Dante, you need to sit down for this," Alex said. His voice came out measured, and I could feel the weight of it. Even Dante's eyes seemed to fill with tension though he leaned against the pillows, he looked much better than this morning, but the body still wasn't up and working just yet.I sat on the edge of the chair beside him, watching as the flicker of every emotion crossed his face. My heart could be pounding against my chest, and I wasn't about to show evidence of it."What's wrong?" Dante asked more like jabbed.Alex gave a quick glance my way before he turned back to him. "Ella faked her pregnancy."His face contorted further, a scrunched-up mess as his gaze soured into an accusing scowl. "What?”"She bribed the doctors," I said. "Also the one that diagnosed and confirmed your condition the first time, the doctor knew about the poisoning but gave us a wrong diagnosis on purpose.” The silent seconds ticked over before Dante's hands actually fisted. "Why? What
Camilla's POV"You're positive she went inside?" I whispered, clenching the steering wheel tightly. I was staring into the entrance of the hospital, my nerves heightened.Alex's voice scratched in my earpiece, firm but wary. "Positive. She just went in. Do you want to back up?” I bit my lip, my fingers dancing on the wheel. "No. Go back home and keep an eye on Dante. It's something I need to deal with myself. Weeks of suspicious behavior on Ella's part had set warning bells ringing in my mind, and today I was going to finally confirm what my gut had been screaming at me all along.I pulled my coat tighter against the biting cold and stepped out of the car. The air was sharp, that kind of chill that burrowed deep in your bones, but I didn't notice. My attention was razor-sharp as I walked briskly across the parking lot and into the warm, sterile lobby of the hospital.Keep your head down. Act normal.The soft chime of the elevator doors slid open, releasing me onto the fourth floor,
Camilla's POV My breath caught as I watched Dante slumped against the headboard, hacking into his lungs. A bit of blood trickled from between his lips and onto his palm and down his hand, spilling onto the sheets. My heart boomed in my chest loud enough to block everything else."Dante!" I shrieked, scrambling onto the bed beside him. "What's going on?”His head swung once in a poor attempt at shaking. "I. I don't know," he spoke in low tones.I grabbed a towel, pressing it to his mouth in hopes of halting the stream of blood while my hands violently shook. "Don't speak. Just breathe. I'm going to call Alex," I said, reaching for my phone.It rang once, and then Alex answered."Camilla? What's going on?""Get here! Now!" I ordered. "Get a doctor, the one that knows what he's doing. Dante is coughing out blood!""What? Is it-""As soon as possible, Alex!" I cut him off, hooking the disconnect button.Dante's hand clutched mine weakly, his eyes searching for mine. "Camilla. I'm fine,"
Camilla's POVI stirred the coffee in my mug, my gaze darting to Dante, who sat on the bed edge, rubbing his temples. He was pale, far too pale. The composed veneer he always wore slumped in exhaustion."You don't look good," I said, placing the mug on the nightstand and sitting beside him.Dante let out a sigh and leaned back against the headboard. "I just need some sleep, Camilla. That's all.""No, it's not," I said, laying a hand on his forehead. He wasn't warm, but his skin felt clammy. "You have been pushing yourself too hard. You look sick, you are going to see the doctor.""I'm fine," he muttered, waving me off. “I don't fall sick.”"Dante, stop being stubborn," I snapped. "If you're fine, then just humor me. Let me take you to the hospital."Before he could disagree, a knock was heard at the door. I gave him a pointed glance before crossing the room and wrenching the door open.There she was, standing with her luggage in hand and looking between regret and resolutions swimming
Camilla's POVThe chill of the night leaned against my skin as I watched Dante's car and a few other cars following him disappear into the distance. Something wasn't quite right with it; it sat in my belly like a weight of bad news. The gestures had been measured, urgent-unnatural. Dante just wasn't one to go off without a scheme in his pocket, and experience told me his schemes came with danger clinging to them like an over-attached lover.I slid into my car, grasping the wheel. "What are you up to now, Dante?" I muttered under my breath.I hung back, careful to stay several car lengths behind. The road opened up before me, twisting and turning into a secluded area. My headlight was off, guided by the dim light of their tail lights.A place where they had stopped gave me the heebie-jeebies; it was dark, isolated, and quiet except for the rustling of leaves in the wind. I could feel my pulse as I drove a distance away and got out of the car.I dropped into a crouch, quiet, and made my
Dante's POVThe only noise within the study room was the whir of machinery around me, all watching and waiting for something to happen. I leaned back in my chair, peering up at the screen in front of me displaying Kate's position. She was sitting in one of the rooms, completely unaware of the bug within her phone as she ran nervous fingers through her hair."You've been watching her every day, you really think he'll call her?" Alex asked, standing behind me."He will," I said, my tone cold with certainty. "Anthony's too smart to leave without trying to tie up his loose ends. And Kate? She's the weakest link."Alex ceased pacing and faced me. "Do you trust her?"I looked at him. "Trust her? No. But guilt makes people do some pretty unpredictable things. She'll lead us to him.”The moment I'd stopped talking, her phone flared to life. My heart quickened, I sat up, gesturing for Alex to quiet. Kate reached for it gingerly and answered."Hello?" she whispered, and the word shook.There wa
Ella's POVI was seated cross-legged in the plush chair in the guest house; the only sound was that of the air conditioner humming away in the dark. I had been staring for minutes on end at the phone in my hand as if it held all the answers I needed. Anthony's name flashed across the screen, I'd been waiting to hear from him for a while now. I answered immediately. "Anthony," I said smoothly, careful that the eagerness didn't leak into my voice. "What a surprise."His voice came through sharp and urgent, and for once betrayed his façade of calm. "Ella, how are things going? Has there been any progress?"I let a small, appeasing smile slide onto my face as my eyes strayed to the window where, below me, sprawled the estate. Dante's empire was heady to look upon, and for the first time, I was inside. Well, it had taken years of planning. "It couldn't go any better," I replied, my tone airy but edgy. "I have gotten closer to Dante, and he has started trusting me again.”"And Camilla?" H