Chapter 13

Selene Harrington's voice cut through the night air.

Camille Hartwell turned sharply, spotting both Selene and Damien standing near the garden fountain.

Her footsteps faltered.

Damien exhaled cigarette smoke into the darkness.

The distance between them stretched too far, with Damien silhouetted against the moonlight, making his expression unreadable.

Selene sighed dramatically. "Honestly, I get it. Selene Lancaster? Twenty-five with a PhD from Oxford? Running her family's empire? She's practically perfect."

She twirled her wine glass. "Gorgeous, brilliant, untamed - exactly your type. But that family history... Damien, are you sure about this?"

Damien's voice turned icy. "I know exactly what I want."

Selene's nose wrinkled. She'd never liked Camille, but Selene Lancaster didn't impress her either.

"But-" she started, then froze under Damien's warning glare.

"Fine!" She threw up her hands. "God forbid I voice an opinion. I'll shut up now."

Camille clenched her fists, the night wind biting her cheeks. A bitter laugh escaped her lips before she turned away silently.

As she retreated, Selene's voice carried again. "Oh, did you hear? Camille submitted her resignation from Vertex Dynamics?"

Damien's reply came cold and detached. "Colin mentioned she messed up a client deal. I told him to terminate her per company policy."

Selene's mocking laughter followed. "That explains it! She made it sound like quitting when she told me. Typical - getting fired but pretending it was her choice."

Damien remained silent, as if discussing a stranger.

Upstairs, Camille nearly collided with Hugo Harrington on the landing. Both startled, then Hugo immediately apologized. "Are you alright?"

Aside from Helena, Hugo was the only Harrington who treated her with kindness.

Camille forced a smile. "I'm fine."

When she'd married Damien, Hugo had been just a boy. He'd always found Camille beautiful and kind, never understanding why his brother treated her so coldly. Even now, grown and aware of their strained marriage, he admired her.

Noticing her distress, he blurted, "Camille, you're amazing. Damien's an idiot if he can't see that."

Camille hesitated. No point explaining their impending divorce. "Thank you, Hugo."

"I'm grabbing a nightcap. You should rest."

"Goodnight," she murmured.

Back in her room, Camille switched off the main lights, leaving only the bedside lamp glowing. She'd just settled when Damien entered.

Their eyes met.

She studied him.

Once, she'd have jumped up to take his coat, prepare his pajamas, run his bath. Now she simply closed her eyes.

The absence of her usual attentions gave Damien pause. He dismissed it as another of her moods.

Without preamble, he stated, "Chloe's school paperwork is done. Take her tomorrow."

"Understood."

That was all. He turned toward the closet.

This was their marriage.

Watching him, Camille considered mentioning the divorce. But Damien would handle it in his own time. He wanted this more than she did.

His phone rang.

Camille recognized the change in his voice immediately - softer, warmer. Selene Lancaster, no doubt.

"I'll come now," he said abruptly, then left without another word.

Moments later, tires crunched on gravel as Damien drove away.

Camille turned off the light and slept.

At six the next morning, she rose to prepare Chloe for school. Damien hadn't returned. She checked the time, unsurprised.

Chloe's door was locked. Camille knocked.

Eventually, the door swung open to reveal a scowling Chloe. "Mom! You're giving me a headache!"

After last night's call with Selene, Chloe had slept poorly, plagued by guilt over disappointing her.

Camille remained calm. "We'll be late."

Chloe flopped back onto her bed with a dramatic sigh. "Fine."

Then, peeking through her lashes: "Can you put toothpaste on my brush?"

Camille obliged.

While Camille was in the bathroom, Chloe texted Selene: "Good morning, Aunt Selene!" before shuffling to brush her teeth.

Camille handed her a warm towel afterward. "Which uniform?"

Chloe gave the closet a cursory glance. "I'll dress myself."

Once alone, Chloe dug out the camouflage shirt Selene had gifted her - her secret rebellion.

She couldn't wait to show her loyalty!