Chapter 5

Julian's expression tightened. He was about to let go of Kimberly when she clutched his arm.

"I still don't feel well, Julian. Will you come with me to get my medicine?"

He frowned, tearing his eyes from the place where Camille had just vanished, and let out a faint, detached hum. Then he walked Kimberly to the medication room.

Once there, she retrieved her medicine. When she turned back to Julian, she found his attention elsewhere. Smiling, she stepped closer.

"Julian, Xav wants to go to a private kindergarten, but he doesn't have the residency papers. Do you think we could get joint custody of him?"

Fearing a flat refusal, Kimberly rushed to add, "Don't worry. It would only be temporary. No one would ever know."

Julian's eyes locked on hers, sharp and unyielding.

Kimberly didn't dare look away. She clenched her fists quietly. "Julian… are you upset?"

"Joint custody wouldn't be right. But my mother could take him in as her stepson," he said evenly.

Kimberly froze.

The Hatcher family's stepson? Wouldn't that put Xavier in the same generation as Julian? If Xavier became Julian's "younger brother", then what would that make her?

Julian's gaze darkened as he stared at her. "You don't like the idea?"

Kimberly forced herself to stay calm, hiding her true thoughts. "No… whatever you decide is fine."

He let out a soft hum and fell silent.

Kimberly clenched her fists, a stubborn resentment rising in her chest. After a moment, she reminded herself there was no need to rush.

As long as Xavier became part of the Hatchers and won the favor of its elders, she had every reason to believe she could bend things to her advantage.

…

Julian hadn't come home all night.

Camille used to leave a light on for him, but those days were over. By now, it made no difference whether he came home or not.

On her way to Centrum Hospital, she ran into Kimberly and Xavier outside the apartment building. She was about to pass by when Kimberly called out, "Dr. Stowell."

Camille paused and turned. "Can I help you with something?"

"Dr. Stowell… do you dislike me?" Kimberly asked, her eyes fixed on Camille.

"You're overthinking it, Ms. Walsh."

It wasn't that Camille disliked her. She simply had no reason to feel otherwise. They weren't close.

Kimberly tugged Xavier along as she approached her. "That's good to hear. You're heading to the hospital, right? I am too. I'll drop off Xav first and then go. Since we're going the same way, I'll have Julian drive you as well."

Camille's face went rigid as the truth settled in.

Now she knew why he hadn't come home last night. He'd been with Kimberly. They weren't even divorced yet, and he was already in another woman's bed.

Her voice came out low and edged with frost. "That won't be necessary. I have my own car."

Kimberly caught her arm. "Don't be like that. We work at the same hospital. Julian will be here any minute."

Camille swallowed hard against the surge of anger burning in her chest. A sickening thought crept in.

Was Kimberly doing this on purpose? Had Kimberly known all along about her and Julian, and was that why Kimberly kept flaunting herself in front of her?

She yanked her hand back. "I said no."

Kimberly suddenly lost her footing and went crashing to the ground.

The moment Xavier saw her fall down, he lunged at Camille and shoved her. "You're so mean! How dare you push my mom!"

Camille's phone clattered to the ground.

Seething, Xavier brought his heel down on her phone again and again.

"Have you no manners at all?" Camille shouted and, almost without thinking, pulled him out of the way.

He crumpled to the ground with a heavy thud and burst into loud, tearful sobs.

Julian pulled up just in time to catch the scene unraveling. He swerved to the curb, jumped out, and rushed toward them.

"Camille!"

Panic drowned out caution, and he blurted her name, heedless of what Kimberly might realize.

"Daddy! She's mean! She pushed me!" Xavier cried, his voice cracking with indignation.

Kimberly turned to check Xavier for injuries, her expression pinched with displeasure. "Dr. Stowell, if you have a problem, take it out on me. There was no reason to lay hands on Xav, was there?"

Camille drew a long, steadying breath, her teeth nearly grinding together. "Ms. Walsh, why don't you mention the fact that he deliberately stomped on my phone?"

Kimberly kept her eyes averted. "Xav… didn't mean it."

"One stomp could be an accident. But several? That's deliberate."

"Camille."

Julian's voice sliced through the air, his eyes darkening with anger.