Chapter 16
The atmosphere in the dining room plummeted to freezing point, as if someone had hit pause on everyone’s movements.
Arthur frowned slightly but said nothing.
Belinda’s expression flickered with discomfort. For a moment, she couldn’t think of a way to smooth over the awkwardness.
Only Harry reacted–he slammed his knife and fork onto the table with a loud bang, startling the servants. “What the hell is going on?
The maid flinched, lowering her head as she stammered, “Mr. Jackson, the meals have always been prepared for four people,
Her explanation was weak, doing nothing to calm Harry’s anger. Instead, it was like throwing gasoline on a fire.
“So what? Are you blind? Didn’t you see my sister’s back? Or did you see her and just choose not to prepare a portion for
her?
“Mr. Jackson, I.. The maid tried to explain but was quickly cut off by Harry’s impatient voice.
“You’re fired.
The maid’s face turned pale with panic as she instinctively looked toward Agnes for help. But Agnes kept her head down, lost in thought.
Arthur cleared his throat. “Hazel, go make another portion.”
“Yes, sir!” Hazel’s face lit up with relief as she hurried into the kitchen.
Agnes’s eyes flickered with calculation before she quickly put on a concerned expression. She pushed her own breakfast toward Camila.
Camila didn’t look at her, nor did she say anything. But she also didn’t refuse the so–called gesture of kindness. She was hungry, after all.
Without hesitation, she picked up her fork and began eating, her movements unhurried, as if the tension in the room had nothing to do with her.
Agnes watched her expectantly, clearly waiting for some kind of acknowledgment. But after a long while, Camila didn’t even spare her a glance. Agnes’s hopeful expression gradually faded into disappointment, like a child who’d been wronged.
Arthur tapped his fingers on the table, subtly reminding Camila to respond. She continued eating, never once looking up..
“Ahem!” He cleared his throat louder this time.
Camila remained unmoved.
Belinda finally lost patience, her voice tinged with disappointment. “Camila, look at how much Agnes cares about you. Shouldn’t you at least thank her?”
Camila thought, ‘So that’s what this is about. Even breakfast isn’t safe from their games. Is this supposed to be some kind of obedience test?
She had played along for three years, and it still hady’t earned their sincerity. If she continued to go along with their expectations, she’d truly be a fool who never learned her lesson.
Camila set down her fork and swept her gaze around the room. “Thank her? For what? For stealing my life? Fo
Forni
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Chapter 16
all against me? Or for the five years I spent in prison because of her?
“All I did was eat her breakfast, and you expect me to thank her. Then what about the three years I spent in this house, when I didn’t even get a proper breakfast or lunch?
“When every night I had to eat your leftovers while listening to your insults? Shouldn’t your entire family be apologizing to
me first?”
She thought. They can’t hold themselves to the same standards they demand from me. Hypocrites!
Belinda’s expression darkened. “That’s all in the past. Why can’t you just let it go?”
Camila let out a cold laugh. The pain is mine to bear, and you have the audacity to tell me it’s in the past? Says who?” Belinda clutched her chest as if she’d been dealt a fatal blow,
Arthur, unable to contain his anger any longer, slammed his hand on the table. “I am your father! That alone means you have to obey me!
“Camila, let me make one thing clear–you don’t get to do whatever you want just because you’re back. This family doesn’t need you.
“We were line without you, and we’ll be fine if you leave. If you hold such a grudge against us, then get out, I never once said you were welcome here.
Camila let out a cold, mocking laugh. “Oh? And do you think I wanted to come back? What happened just last night–have you already erased it from your memory. Mr. Jackson?
“You drag me back here just to use me as leverage to rebuild your begged to stay.
partnership with the Commor Group, yet you u act like I
“What is it? You all sit up on your high horses, and I’m just supposed to lie down and take the abuse? Like I’m worth nothing?
“Shut up!” Arthur was shaking with rage. He shot up from his chair, stormed toward Camila, and without warning–slap!
The impact was brutal. Camila staggered, slamming into the dining table. Her plate crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces.
Her cheek swelled instantly, an angry red mark blooming across her skin. A thin trail of blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, stark against the pristine white tablecloth..
Her right ear, already weak, rang from the blow. Her head buzzed, a dull roar filling her skull like a swarm of bees.
Did it hurt? Honestly, not really. She’d been hit more times than she could count in prison, But just because it didn’t hurt. didn’t mean she didn’t hate.
Camila slowly turned her head, her expression ice–cold.
Arthur’s face was still twisted with fury–there wasn’t a trace of fatherly affection in his
eyes.
Belinda stood there, her expression one of heartbreak, but she hadn’t lifted a finger to stop h
Harry frowned, something flickering in his gaze–hesitation, maybe–but it vanished in an instant, replaced by indifference.
And Agnes? She didn’t even bother to hide the smug satisfaction in her eyes.
The years of silent suffering, the humiliation, the crushing weight of betrayal–everything boiled over at once, erupting like
a volcano,
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Chapter 16
Camila clenched her jaw, then, with all her strength, sshe flipped the entire dining table over. Plates, cups, food–all of it went flying, scattering across the floor in utter chaos,
Arthur and Belinda instinctively stumbled back in shock. Agnes let out a shrill scream.
“Camila, have you lost your mind?” Harry shouted.
“What the hell gives you the right to treat me like this?” Camila’s voice was raw, shaking with fury. “What did I ever do to
deserve this?”
Tears burned down her cheeks, mixing with the blood at the corner of her mouth, leaving a bitter trail down her skin.
Belinda stepped forward, reaching out as if to grab her. “Camila, calm down. We’re family. Can’t we talk this through: There’s no need for all this—”
Arthur’s face was red with rage. “You ungrateful disgrace! Look at yourself–you’re a humiliation to this family!”
Agnes peeked out from behind him, her voice delicate and pitiful. “Camila, please don’t be like this. It’s all my fault, okay? Everything is my fault. Just don’t be mad anymore…”
Camila couldn’t hear them anymore. She could only see their mouths moving–angry, disappointed, fake concern…
She felt like a caged animal, roaring with everything she had–but she couldn’t even hear her own voice.
The world around her blurred. The room spun. She stumbled backward, struggling to stay upright, but her body refused to listen. Her knees buckled. She collapsed forward.
“Camila!” Harry hinged, catching her just before she hit the ground. His arms wrapped around her tightly, his hands. trembling slightly, as if afraid she might slip away.
“She was fine just a second ago–what happened?” Belinda’s voice was frantic, her face streaked with tears.
Arthur scoffed coldly. “I know her tricks. If she’s good at anything, it’s putting on a show.”
“Enough!” Harry’s jaw clenched, veins pulsing at his temple. “She just passed out, and you’re standing here spewing garbage? I’m seriously starting to wonder if she’s even really your daughter.”
Without another word, he lifted Camila into his arms and strode toward the stairs.
Arthur nearly exploded. “If she wasn’t my daughter, she wouldn’t even have the privilege of throwing a tantrum in front of
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