Chapter 7: The shocking news

It was almost noon when Camilla awakened the next morning.

She opened her eyes and gazed at the digital clock on the bedside table.

11:48AM

Surprised that she had slept in really late, she rolled over and stretched. She couldn't remember the last time she had such a good sleep. Back in Nick's house, her mother-in-law would have dragged her out of bed even before sunrise.

It was so nice to be finally free. Now all she had to do was find a job that would pay well. Then rent a nice single room apartment. She would be alone, but happy and content.

She pushed the covers away and got out of bed. Her nose wrinkled with distaste when she started at her rumpled dress. She needed new clothes. The men who tried to rob her the previous night had stolen her box which contained the few clothes she had and some cash.

Making up her mind, she hurried into the bathroom to freshen up.

Putting on the same old dress after showering was difficult, but she had no choice. Just as she was about to step outside, someone knocked on the door.

"Housekeeping." A girl called out.

Camilla quickly opened the door and stepped back as a young girl entered the room with a broom and a mopping bucket.

"Are you stepping out ma'am?" She asked.

"Uh, yes. I have something to do."

"Alright. I'll leave the key in the lobby so you can get it there when you return."

"Thank you." Camilla smiled and exited the room. She hadn't been able to examine the motel properly the previous night. It was large and extremely magnificent, a hundred times better than Nick's old mansion.

At the lobby, a large framed photograph caught her gaze. It was a picture of a strikingly handsome man, with piercing blue eyes and dark wavy hair. He was dressed in a tux, looking incredibly good looking.

There was an engraving at the bottom of the photograph and Camilla didn't pay much attention to it. She was too busy fussing with her rumpled dress. Just as she stepped through the doors, a news anchor appeared on the TV and began a news report.

Camilla hailed a taxi and took a ride to the nearest shopping mall where she could get a few dresses that weren't entirely expensive.

Reaching there, she paid the driver and hurried into the mall, all the while hoping no one would notice how ragged she looked.

Being in the midst of so many beautiful dresses, she got carried away and was almost done shopping when she suddenly bumped into someone.

"Watch where you're going!" A female voice hissed out.

"I'm sorry I–" Camilla trailed off when she turned and her gaze fell on two people she had hoped never to see.

Nick's sister, Cecilia and Barbara.

"Look who it is." Cecilia laughed mockingly. "The worthless slouch, Camilla Rosenberg."

Camilla didn't want any trouble. She didn't even want to exchange a word with them, so she tried to move past them.

"Excuse me."

But Barbara blocked her way, preventing her from leaving.

"What's the matter Camilla? Scared?" Cecilia taunted.

"Who would I be scared of, Cecilia? You?" Camilla retorted.

"I see you've grown quite bold since my brother dumped you." Cecilia shot back.

"Yes, Nick divorced me after he had an affair, and it was the best decision he ever made in his entire life. That isn't news anymore, so let it go."

"Don't tell me you're still pained he left you for me." Barbara chimed in. "It's not my fault you couldn't make someone like Nick fall in love with you."

Camilla didn't want to cause a scene. But it appeared the two women wouldn't let her leave without a fight. If it was a fight they wanted, she would give it to them.

"Pained?" She reiterated. "Barbara, I should be thanking you. You saved me from a murderer, a monster like Nick. If I were to choose between dying and going back to him, I'd rather die."

"Who are you calling a monster?" Cecilia asked, taking a threatening step towards Camilla.

But Camilla didn't back away and she stared straight into Cecilia's eyes.

"Nick Sinclair is the monster." She repeated boldly. "What? Did you think I would cower away from you like I always did?"

"You skanky bitch!" Cecilia made a move towards her but Camilla stepped forward, toe to toe with her, her eyes flashing angrily.

"Don't test me!" She said savagely.

"What, like you're going to do something about it." Cecilia snarled.

"You'd be surprised." Camilla retorted. "I endured you and your mother's presence, all because of that bastard you call your brother. But you're nothing to me Cecilia. You're just a girl who hides behind her brother's name. If it wasn't for Nick, you'd be in the streets, selling yourself off to men for money. And the funny thing is, that's what you actually do. That's why all your suitors disappeared, because no one wants to be married to a whore like you."

Cecilia was too stunned to speak. She just stood there, her mouth wide agape, her face red with rage.

Without backing down, Camilla turned to Barbara.

"And as for you, we both know you don't love Nick. You're just another whore who wants to have a taste of Nick's illegal money. And I'm pretty sure the child you're flaunting around isn't his. But who cares? I'm done with that goddamned family, done with enduring anymore of your crap."

Barbara's chest heaved heavily as Camilla's words stung her. She lifted her hand to strike her, but Camilla held her hand and shoved it away.

"Don't you dare touch me!" She snapped. "This should serve as warning to both of you. Stay away from me, if you know what's good for you."

"Is something wrong miss?" A security guard asked from behind them. "Is there a problem?"

"Everything is fine." Camilla replied and walked away from Barbara and Cecilia without a backward glance, feeling untouchable.

As she waited for her turn to pay, something caught her attention on the TV. It was a news report and she casually glanced at the TV screen.

She froze suddenly. Right there, splashed across the screen was a picture of herself and the stranger who saved her the previous night, kissing.

Someone has taken a picture of them and sent it to the media.