Chapter 8
Camilla stood before the mirror, admiring the gown that shimmered like starlight. For the first time in what felt like forever, she allowed herself a small, genuine smile. As she reached for her lipstick, the sound of heavy footsteps and an abrupt bang at the door startled her. The lipstick slipped from her fingers and rolled to the floor.
Jackson and Ridge barged in, their expressions thunderous. “What did you do?” Jackson demanded, his voice sharp.
Behind them, Katie hovered, her arms folded, wearing an air of practiced innocence.
Camilla turned to face them, her brows furrowed. “What are you talking about?”
“Katie’s dress is ruined,” Ridge snapped. “She said you‘ re behind it because you wanted the dress.”
Camilla’s eyes narrowed, her voice
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steady. “I didn’t touch her dress. Why would I?”
Katie sniffled from behind them, her voice trembling as if on cue. “I don’t know, Camilla. Maybe you were upset because you say I stole the dress even if it was my design? It’s okay–1 can forgive you.”
Camilla’s lips curved into a bitter smile.
“Forgive me? For something I didn’t do?”
“Don’t play coy,” Jackson interrupted, his tone laced with frustration. “Katie said you were upset about the dress. You‘ ve been on edge for days, ignoring her.”
Camilla crossed her arms, meeting their gazes with unwavering calm. “And you. believe her? Without a shred of proof?”
Ridge sighed heavily. “Camilla, it looks. bad. Just tell us the truth.”
Her chest tightened, but she refused to let
it show. “The truth is, I didn’t ruin her
dress. Think what you want.”
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Chapter 8
Katie clutched Jackson‘ s arm as if seeking comfort, her lips trembling. “Maybe we should just drop it. I’m sure Camilla didn’t mean it…
Camilla clenched her fists, forcing herself to stay composed. “Believe whatever you want. I have nothing more to say.”
Camilla took a deep breath, her patience. wearing dangerously thin. Katie‘ s theatrics were predictable, but Jackson and Ridge standing against her was a wound she hadn‘ t braced for. Before she could end the conversation, Katie stepped forward, her tone dripping with fake
sweetness.
“Let’s not fight, Camilla. How about we settle this? You wear my ruined dress, and I’ll take this one. It’s not like it matters who wears what, right?” She gestured to the gown Camilla was wearing, her eyes. glinting with smug entitlement.
Camilla‘ s jaw tightened as she met Katie’s gaze. “You‘ re out of your mind
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Chapter 2
if you think I’m giving you this dress. It’s a gift.”
Katie tilted her head, feigning innocence.
“From who? No one‘ s ever given you something this beautiful, Camilla. You‘ re dying.
Jackson stepped forward, his voice stern, “Camilla, just be honest. If this is some nisunderstanding, we can fix it.”
Her composure cracked, her voice sharper
- ow. “Honest? You think I owe her nything after everything she’s done? This dress is mine. Someone important ave it to me, and I’m not handing it
ver.”
atie let out a theatrical sigh, glancing at ackson and Ridge. “She‘ s being inreasonable. All this over a dress.”
The air in the room thickened as Camilla
tepped forward, the weight of her years of
ent–up frustration bubbling to the
urface. “Unreasonable?” she echoed,
Chapter 8
her tone icy. “You‘ ve lied, stolen, and manipulated your way into everything, and I’ve had enough of it.”
Katie blinked, her smug facade slipping.
“I–I didn‘ t-”
Before she could finish, Camilla’s palm connected with her cheek in a sharp, resounding slap. The room fell silent, save for Katie’s shocked gasp as she stumbled back, clutching her face.
Jackson and Ridge stared at her in
disbelief, their expressions a mix of shock. and disapproval.
“Camilla, what the hell?” Ridge muttered, his voice low.
She turned to them, her chest heaving. “Don’t you dare look at me like that. I’ve had enough of this. Enough of her lies, enough of her games, and enough of you two blindly following her every word like she’s some saint.”
Katie whimpered dramatically, stepping
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behind Jackson as if seeking protection. “I
can’t believe you‘ d hit me, Camilla. I’ve done nothing but try to be your friend.”
“Spare me the act,” Camilla snapped. “You‘ ve done nothing but try to tear me down. And you-” she turned her glare to Jackson and Ridge, “-you‘ ve let her. You‘ ve stood there and watched her lie, steal, and manipulate, and then had the audacity to question my integrity. So no, I’m not apologizing. Not for defending what‘ s mine.”
Her words hung in the air like a storm cloud, thick with tension. Jackson opened his mouth to speak, but Camilla raised a hand, silencing him. “Save it. I’m done.”
Without sparing them another glance, Camilla grabbed her clutch from the table and headed for the door. The weight of their stares followed her, but she didn‘ t care anymore. They could believe Katie if
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they wanted. It wasn‘ t her problem
anymore.
As she stepped out of the house, the cool evening air hit her skin, a stark contrast to the fiery tension inside. Parked outside the gates was a sleek black limousine, its polished surface gleaming under the dim light. The driver stepped out and opened
the door for her.
Camilla paused for a moment, taking in the sight. This was it–the beginning of something new, far from the betrayal and toxicity she’d endured. With one last glance back at the house, she walked toward the limousine.
The road ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear–she was done playing by everyone else’s rules. From this point on, she was reclaiming her life.
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