Chapter 196

Chloe sprinted toward Camille, her tiny hand raised for a celebratory slap. "Mommy, we did it!"

Camille met her palm with a gentle high-five. "Mm-hmm."

Damien approached them casually. "Did you get the footage?"

"Right here." Camille tapped her screen, sending the video file his way.

The next challenge was called the Unstoppable Hoop Relay. Four family teams would compete, each maneuvering a giant circular tape loop beneath their feet while advancing toward the finish line.

Damien's gaze flicked to Camille. "Your turn for this one?"

Chloe bounced on her toes. "Mommy's playing with me this round!"

Camille adjusted her sunglasses. "Fine by me."

As participants gathered at the starting line, Camille hesitated, fingers tightening around her purse strap.

Damien extended his hand without comment.

"Thanks." She relinquished the bag.

For ordinary couples, this would be mundane. For them? Monumental. Camille couldn't recall Damien ever holding her belongings before. She wondered absently if he'd performed this small service for Selene.

Dressed in a tailored black trench coat instead of his usual business attire, he looked incongruously at ease holding her designer handbag. To any observer, he might appear to be any devoted partner waiting for his significant other.

Camille averted her eyes.

The game demanded precise coordination. Camille positioned herself at the team's center, arms raised to guide the rotating hoop. Chloe clutched the back of her mother's coat, giggling as she struggled to match the rhythm.

When Chloe spotted Damien filming, her excitement doubled. "Daddy!"

He stood slightly off-center, phone steady in his grip.

Isaware of his presence but kept her focus forward. Then Damien's voice cut through the chatter. "Eyes on the hoop, princess. Match Mommy's timing."

"Okay!" Chloe chirped.

Unlike Camille's stationary filming earlier, Damien moved with them, walking backward while maintaining perfect framing.

The game concluded with their team victorious.

Chloe barreled into Damien's legs. "Can we play again sometime? Please?"

His lips quirked. "We'll see."

Camille reclaimed her bag just as a notification chimed. She glimpsed the video Damien had sent but didn't open it.

Chloe was already clamoring to see the footage. Damien surrendered his phone, then uncapped a water bottle and offered it to Camille.

"Thanks." She drank, throat parched from shouting instructions.

As she recapped the bottle, Damien asked, "What's next?"

Camille arched a brow. The man had photographic memory. Yet...

Her fingers tightened around the plastic container. One didn't refuse basic courtesy after accepting it. "Ball Relay," she answered.

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