Camilla's POV
I moved to make my exit when Dante stopped me "Camilla," Dante's husky voice wrapped warmly around my spine. I spun back, and behind me, his eyes gleamed dark with equal parts desire and relief. “Where are you running off to?" "Dante," I said, the smile breaking across my face. "I was just- He leaned in closer, the space between us condensing. "I missed you, you know," he said; his voice was gentle. "I couldn't wait to get back home to you." My breath caught, my heart racing with flutters. "I missed you too," I said, turning again to make sure nobody saw us, but the thrill of our moment together sparked a charge through my nerves. "Someone might be watching us, Let's go.” That devil-may-care smile played across his lips and flipped my stomach over. "Let them watch, I don't care. All I can think about is78. TAKING CHARGE. CAMILLA'S POV I stepped inside the halls of C-Care Cosmetics with Dante, my heart galloping inside my chest. This was it, the moment I'd fantasized about since the day I found out what John had done. However, the reassuring firmness of Dante's hand on the small of my back steadied me as the weight of what lay ahead gnawed at my nerves. We would be interrupting a board meeting, and today beneath the mask of civilities, there would be no holding back. Today, I'd be laying it all bare. When we got to the doors of the board room, Dante nodded to me, fire and confidence dancing in his eyes, as I had known. He had trusted that I could do this, and I had to live up to it. I took a deep breath and opened the door. The room was full of people; John at the head, a smirk on his face when he saw us come in. It didn't take him too long until his face twisted in surprise, then annoyance. Instant thick silence while all eyes shif
Camilla's POV I sat at the edge of the bed, running my fingers over the sleek fabric of my gown. Tomorrow, I was going to officially take over the CEO reins at C-Care Cosmetics. The thought was exciting to the bones, yet terrifically overwhelming in equal ways. Dante was by the window, sleeves rolled up to his elbow as he looked across at me with a little smile playing on his lips. “You ready for tomorrow?" he asked, his tone warm but laced with that tiniest hint of concern. I nodded, my gaze locking with his. "I think so. I mean… it's what I've been fighting for, right? It's just that taking over the company feels different than fighting for it. It's real now.” He stood, crossed the floor, and sat beside me, his hand finding mine. "You're going to be amazing, Camilla. You've fought so hard to get here-you deserve every bit of this. And I'm sure your mother will be very proud of you." The mention of my mother s
Camilla's P.O.V. I sat opposite Dante in his office, my fingertips dancing briskly up and down on the chair's arm. The hum of my wait was low and steady. Today, Dante would begin the unraveling of the past concerning John, the man who had built a fortune and name based on the ruins of my mother's legacy. Before the computer, Dante sat motionless, scrolling down through documents. I let a loud breath escape me and said anything that came to my mind; my voice had hardly risen above a whisper. "So… where do we begin?" He turned then and looked at me; his dark eyes caught mine. "First, we investigate every transaction he made around the time of your mother's death. We look for anything suspicious, any pattern that doesn't add up." I nodded furiously, my anger growing with each second. "He took everything from her, from me. I want to know precisely how he did it. Every filthy detail.” The warmth in Da
Camilla's POV The hum of the television rang in harmony with the living room. My eyes were glued to the image of John across the screen: hands cuffed, being escorted towards a police car. Cameras flashed as reporters swarmed in, capturing every movement of his demise. My breath hitched at the tone of the reporter that rang through the room. “Ex-CEO of C-Care Cosmetics, arrested just hours ago on charges including the murder of his wife, Carol…” The words came surreal, some twisted dream finally coming to reality. I felt the reassuring weight of Dante's hand on my shoulder anchor me. "It is over," he said low, his voice sure and deadly. "He is finally going to pay.” I was glued to the screen. "It's just the beginning, Dante. He doesn't get to run after all he's done. He took her from me… from all of us." Dante's grip tightened, his face harder than steel. "And he's not running.
CAMILLA'S POV It was one of those mornings, still, sitting in the kitchen, sipping my coffee and watching the soft light crawl in between the curtains, awaiting the return of Dad. He had gone out more than two hours ago to do his usual round at the estate grounds, it felt off, he had never gone for that long and he wasn't fit to go on for more than thirty minutes. I set my coffee down and stepped out into the open, scanning the grounds. There was no sign of him anywhere. "Dad?" I called into the stillness. My heart quickened, and my phone was out as I dialed his number. It went straight to voicemail. Then I called Dante, trying to keep the panic from welling up in my voice. "Dante, I can't find him. He went for his morning walk and never came back." “Benson?” Dante said over the phone. “Yes, he's been gone for more than two hours. He usually doesn't take that long.” "Stay calm, Camilla. I am on my w
CAMILLA'S POV. I sat and kept on glancing at the door, waiting for anything remotely resembling hope. Anthony stood no more than a few feet away from me; his arms crossed over his chest, his face chiseled from stone. Never in my life had I felt this small, cornered. My heart went haywire inside my chest, anxiety and fear running amok—the utter silence for two continuous days. My dad had been missing for two days, nothing but that haunting message for a last contact, and now, when some semblance of justice was finally supposed to arrive, Dante was nowhere to be found. I dug my nails into the wood edge of my seat, trying to hold myself in place. It was a full courtroom, filled with reporters and officials; a sea of onlookers remained standing, it would seem, awaiting some kind of shootout—a trial filled with drama. What they didn't know was how close I felt to falling apart. Anthony stirred beside me. "Ms. Camilla," he whispered softly,
Camilla's POV The gavel of the judge fell like a last heartbeat, and the courtroom went dead silent. Every nerve in my body grew taut as he looked over his glasses, his gaze unbending and fixed directly on John. "John Walker," he began, razor-sharp. "The court finds you guilty of all charges and sentences you to life imprisonment." It silenced them and the courtroom went into murmuration. I felt the weight of every word crash into me, filling me with a strange kind of satisfaction mixed with disbelief. It was finally over; finally, justice had been served. Beside me, Dante blew out a low satisfied breath; his hand found mine and gave it a warm, grounding squeeze. "It's done, Camilla," he whispered, his voice a comforting murmur against the storm that was my emotions. "He won't hurt you or anyone else again.” I nodded, clinging to the simplicity of that comfort. "I should be happy, shouldn't I?" my voice barely a
Camilla's POVThe chandeliers of the ballroom sparkled like stars, soft and warm, spilling their gentle glow onto the faces of our guests. Dante had spared no expense for this welcome party; a celebration, he said, of my new official role as CEO of C-Care Cosmetics to make up for the one that was ruined by John's schemes. I could feel the admiration in the eyes around me, a mixture of respect and surprise.I clung to Dante as if his presence was the only steady point in a churning sea of faces and voices. But as the evening lengthened and my new position gained its slow weight on my shoulders, with it came—a thrill, some sort of fierce pride. It wasn't about the title; it was about my story, my strength.But just like that, when all appeared to be perfect with the world, a shadow fell across the party. I felt Dante's tension beside me, the slight clench of his jaw, and turned to where he was looking.Tom Lockwood.The room seemed to have grown several degrees colder the instant he ste
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