Chapter 0016

•CAMILLA•

“Miss Camilla,” the butler, Alec, bowed his head after opening the front door for me.

“Hey, Alec. Thank you.” I walked straight ahead and saw Paxton approaching in the hallway.

“Hey, Pax. Is Dad home? I need to talk to him.”

“What’s happening? Is there anything wrong?” He asked when he saw the frown on my face as I looked in the living room and then bolted my eyes to the staircase, leading to his study.

“There’s nothing wrong. You don’t have to worry about that,” I was frowning. I was angry and hormonal.

I was tired of Cecilia’s abuse and wanted to put an end to it all. I didn’t want to be abused by her in my father’s house anymore.

But before I could step onto the staircase to the second floor, Asher was already in my face.

I was angry at him. He was my brother and didn’t have to say all the things he said to me, all because of Cecilia.

“Get out of my way, Asher, I’m not here for you,” I hissed.

“Father is busy,” he responded.

“I don’t care; I will see my father if I want to see him. Now, get out of my way,” I commanded him.

“You’re not allowed to be here until you do what I told you to do. If you want to be a part of this family like everyone else, you must play your part,” he answered.

I chuckled. He amused me because the way he said that made me think we had to please Cecilia just like he was. Which made me wonder what he stood to gain.

“You’re bluffing, right?” I chuckled. “All these threats about disowning me as your sister because of Cecilia’s demands to be in charge of a project that I have no say in, what makes you think I care?”

“Then leave, Camilla,” he scolded.

“Dad!” I called at the top of my voice, looking up the stairs. “Dad!”

Asher grabbed my arm and tightened his grip as he led me down the hallway to the front door.

Paxton just stood there and watched, but before Asher could get me out of the house, my father’s voice halted him.

“That’s enough, Asher! Leave my daughter alone!” He commanded, causing even my heart to skip a beat.

“Why are you trusting her as if she’s your only child, Father?” Asher growled. “Not so long ago, your health was declining because she was nowhere to be found. You were on the verge of death because of her!” He pointed at me.

“First, you accused me of flaring our mother’s cancer when she got pregnant with me, and now this?” I scoffed. “I can’t allow you to put the blame for everything on me, Asher.”

“Your dearest papa didn’t want to tell you he almost died because of you,” he sneered as he leaned closer. “Camilla, you are a curse on this family. Your touch poisons everything, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you blackmailed Santino into marrying you.“

“How dare you?!” I snapped. “If you don’t get out of my way this minute to talk with my father, I’m going to yank your head against the wall.”

“The truth always hurts, sister. Coming back home was a terrible mistake. You should’ve stayed in the damp where you came from and left us alone.”

“Why do you hate me?” I breathed. “All I have ever done my entire life was to please you, Paxton, and Sakai. I treated you with so much respect because you’re older than me, but I don’t think I deserve the way you’re treating me, Asher.”

“I thought we had already had that talk. I never liked you from the moment our mother told us she was expecting another baby. We knew she was risking her cancer coming back or flaring up. If you weren’t born, she would still be alive.”

Hearing him say it again shattered my heart into pieces, and I felt my body growing weak.

“I said, that’s enough, Asher!” my father exclaimed as he walked toward us.

“Why, Father?” Asher shot back. “She deserves to be told the truth, and I’m going to say it the way it is! She killed our mother! Sakai and I were the ones who had to watch her lose herself after she gave birth to her. We watched as she struggled to regain her strength, and for 8 years, she tried to fight the cancer, but it took her! All that wouldn’t have happened if she wasn’t born!”

“If you say one more -“ My father groaned. “If -“ He grabbed his heart, groaning.

“Father, are you alright?” Asher asked as he grabbed his hand.

“Ahh!” Father shrieked before he fell to the floor.

***

“Well, Camila,” my stepmother seethed. “I hope you’re happy now that your father has suffered a heart attack because of you.”

“How can you say something like that to me?” A tear slipped down my eye. “He’s my father.”

“Yet,” she leaned closer. “You have been disappointing him ever since you were born. You’ve been a more troublesome child than the rest of his other kids. He’s in that hospital bed because of you.”

“If you’re looking for someone to project your insecurities and failures onto, Cecilia, I suggest you look in the mirror.” I shot back. “Ever since you came into our lives, you’ve been trying so hard to replace us in our father’s life.”

“If your mother were alive, I guess I would understand where your stubbornness and foolishness come from. If your father dies today, you’re going to lose everything that you thought you had, little Missy.”

“Excuse me, I’m going to see my father.” I walked past her as I headed to my father’s ward room and avoided going back and forth for no reason.

My heart broke when I saw him lying on that hospital bed, as if he wouldn’t open his eyes again.

I sat down on the chair near his bed and grabbed his hand. I caressed it gently, hoping that he would feel my touch and come back to me.

“Father, I’m sorry. I didn’t know that you had heart problems. I know I made things worse when I left home and refused to say my whereabouts. Please, open your eyes and tell me what to do to make up for what I did.”

“Cam - Camilla,” he groaned as he opened his eyes, tilting his head toward me.

“Daddy!” I squealed as I got up the chair. “My God, you’re awake. Should I call the doctor for you?”

“No,” he breathed. “Sit.”

I sat down and looked at him, feeling grateful that he up and was well.

“I’ve been conscious for some time now; I pretended to be still out because I didn’t want your stepmother and Asher creating more trouble for me.”

“I’m sorry, Dad. I didn’t know that my mother’s cancer -“

“Stop,” he interrupted me. “Her cancer was never your fault, Camilla. You are our child, and we loved you from the moment your mother found out that she was pregnant with you. I want you to know that your mother loved you, and she would have given her life for yours if she had to, just like I would.”

“Thank you, Dad.” I sobbed as I leaned my head on his shoulder.

“I want you to do something for me, Cam. In my study, you will find an envelope in my drawer. I want you to bring it to me tomorrow morning. Make sure that no one sees you, especially Cecilia.”

“Yes -“

The door creaked open as I was about to answer, and Cecilia, Asher, and Paxton walked in.

“Oh, my husband, you’re finally awake!” Cecilia squealed as she rushed to his bed.

I leaned back and watched as they all pretended as if I wasn’t in the same room with them.