Chapter 6

"You're an adult. Why are you picking a fight with Xav?" Julian snapped.

Camille went rigid. She'd expected him not to believe her, but the sheer bias in his words still sliced through her. Her eyes burned.

Fighting back the tears, she shouted, "I didn't push him!"

Julian gave a short, derisive laugh. "So what? You expect me to believe he just toppled over on his own to frame you?"

His words landed like a blow.

Camille already knew he'd never believe her, so why was she even bothering to explain?

She dropped her gaze, forcing herself into calm. "Great. Just my luck, running into you guys."

She started to walk away.

"Stop."

Camille froze, but didn't glance back.

"Xav's just a kid. There's no reason to make such a fuss over him," Julian said, his tone softening just a touch. "Apologize to him."

Kimberly spoke up for Camille. "Julian, maybe we should just let it go…"

Julian's gaze hardened. "She's supposed to apologize when she's in the wrong."

Camille clenched her fists so tightly her nails bit into her palms, but she hardly felt it. She turned slowly to face him, pointing at the surveillance camera under the streetlight a short distance away.

"Surveillance cameras are everywhere in Aetheria Heights. So before you go playing hero, check the footage! I'll apologize if I did something wrong, but if I didn't? Don't count on hearing it from me!"

Camille spared him no further glance. She simply turned and walked away.

Julian's chest tightened, and a shadow passed over his face.

The words "surveillance cameras" made Kimberly's heart pound. The thought of Julian checking the footage terrified her.

She grabbed his arm. "Let it go, Julian. Xav's not hurt, and I trust Dr. Stowell didn't mean to."

Determined to keep him from checking the footage, she shifted the subject. "Julian, Xav's going to be late. We should just go."

Julian pulled his arm free. "I've already let Ms. Stevenson know. Take Xav there. She'll deal with everything. I have a meeting."

Then he walked straight to his car.

As Kimberly watched Julian pull away, her hand instinctively tightened, forgetting that she was still holding Xavier's.

"Mommy, it hurts," Xavier whimpered.

Kimberly snapped back to reality and crouched slowly, resting her hands on his shoulders. Her eyes darkened, a faint trace of triumph flickering across them.

"Xav, you did really well this time. You were amazing."

"Really?"

Xavier blinked at her. He didn't fully understand everything that had happened, but one thing was clear. If his actions made Kimberly happy and earned her praise, then it had to be right.

Kimberly smiled, her fingers brushing gently against his cheek. "Xav, you want Julian to be your dad too, don't you?"

He nodded, a bright, hopeful grin lighting up his face.

Her smile widened, but there was a sharp edge beneath it. "Then you have to make sure you win his favor. Make him like you even more. Do you understand?"

He nodded again. "I will!"

…

Julian had barely set foot in Hatcher Group when his assistant, Naomi Wilkins, approached him. "Mr. Hatcher, Mrs. Hatcher Senior is waiting for you in your office."

He gave a faint hum and made his way inside.

Anita perched gracefully on the couch, lifting her teacup with effortless poise. She glanced up at him. "I heard you got Kimberly assigned to the same hospital as Camille. Is that true?"

Julian loosened his tie and sank into the couch across from her. "Did Camille snitch on me?"

Anita set her teacup down with a sharp clink. "Julian, must you doubt your wife at every turn? Do you really think Camille would be the one to snitch on anyone?"

Julian gave a faint smile. "Wouldn't she? I haven't forgotten how she married into our family, or how you pressured me into marrying her."

Anita's expression soured, a brief sneer twisting her lips. "If she's really the type to snitch, do you honestly think Kimberly would ever get back into the country?"

Julian paused, then locked eyes with her. "Don't go after her again."

A sarcastic laugh escaped Anita. "She walked away with ten million dollars instead of staying with you. What's good about a woman who'd sell herself for a price?"

"She wouldn't have left if you hadn't meddled from the start," Julian said.

"How dare you…"

Anita's expression flickered, a sudden thought sparking behind her eyes. Then she laughed and rose to her feet with measured grace.

"Julian, oh Julian… mistaking a pebble for a diamond. One day, you'll regret that. And as for you and Camille, I'm done interfering. If you want a divorce, fine, handle it yourself."

With that, she walked out of the office.

Julian's jaw clenched, and his brow knit tight, his expression hardening. Regret? He couldn't even imagine it.

Camille already had all the wealth and status she'd ever wanted. Could she ever bring herself to leave him?

No. She never would.