Chapter 4

Camila’s POV:

Vincent used to live with his mother after his parents’ divorce so he didn't attend the wedding between his father, Raymond, and my mother. And he never returned until long after I had left the house five years ago.

But before the wedding, driven by a deep-seated resentment and a need to know exactly who was infiltrating our lives, I had done extensive background research on my new stepfather. I had spent hours staring at his family pictures and I vividly remembered seeing several pictures of Vincent but it had been years since I looked at those pictures. 

That was why my alcohol-fried brain hadn't recognized him this morning.

‘Please.’ I prayed desperately to whatever cruel deity was pulling the strings of my life. ‘Please let him have been too drunk last night to remember my face.’

Luckily, his eyes remained completely devoid of any hidden malice or knowing amusement as he rose to his feet, and stretched out his right hand toward me.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Camila." Vincent said, his voice sending a chill straight down my spine. “Nice to meet you too.” I stammered, quickly pulling my hand back. 

Then I turned my attention away from him to face my stepfather. I braced myself, fully expecting a cold shoulder. After all, the last time I had spoken to Raymond Langston, I had rudely insulted him, thrown his wealth in his face, and walked out, directly costing his company a massive deal.

Instead, Raymond stood up. "Welcome home, Camila.” He said gently and I froze.

I had spent five years treating them like the villains of my story, yet here they were, opening their doors and accepting me into their home with open arms which made me burst into tears. 

My mother immediately rushed to my side, wrapping her arms tightly around my trembling frame. "Camila, oh my god, sweetie, what happened? Please, tell me what's wrong."

How could I look my mother in the eyes and admit that the man I had fiercely defended as my soulmate, had cheated on me with Samantha, the woman I called my sister?

I didn't even know where to begin, still through broken sobs, the entire truth poured out of me as I told my mother and Raymond everything.

My mother’s face flushed with anger while Raymond’s jaw clenched as he said. "I’ll destroy him. I will take Daniel to court and strip him of every single asset he thinks he saved.”

I knew he could do it. I knew a lawsuit backed by Langston Holdings would crush Daniel into poverty. But as I looked at my stepfather, I slowly shook my head. "I just... I just want to move on with my life.” I whispered, wiping my eyes. "

My mother squeezed my hand, her eyes glistening with tears. "You can live here with us for as long as you need, my love. This is your home." The offer stunned me and I looked at my mother, remembering the bitter resentment I had carried against her for years. 

And now, after earning absolutely nothing for five years, and after foolishly rejecting my alimony out of prideful anger, I had been forced to crawl back to the very gates I had cursed yet there was no judgment in their eyes. 

Weeks began to pass and even though the Langstons treated me with immense kindness, I still felt profoundly out of place but the biggest source of my suffocating anxiety was Vincent. 

To avoid him, I stayed confined to my room, sneaking down to the kitchen only when the house was quiet. Surprisingly, it felt as though Vincent was actively avoiding me too because we never bumped into each other in the hallways. And on the rare, unavoidable occasions when our paths did cross, he would walk right past me without a word. 

Finally, after a month of hiding like a ghost, I decided I couldn't live like this anymore. 

Raymond looked like he genuinely wanted to build a real relationship with me, and hiding in my room for every meal felt disrespectful and ungrateful. Tonight, I dressed in an oversized dress to hide my protruding belly and walked down to the dining room to join the family for dinner.

My mother sat next to Raymond, while Vincent sat directly across from me, his expression unreadable as he cut his steak. As the meal progressed, Raymond cleared his throat and looked at me with a proud smile.

"Camila, I have some news." Raymond announced gently. "I have arranged everything for your relocation to New York.”

“Really?” I asked, surprised.

Although, I had told him of my plan to move 

out of Los Angeles a few days ago, I wasn't expecting it to be settled so quickly.

"Yes.” Raymond smiled, nodding. “But I don't think you should rush into looking for an entry-level job. Instead, I want to sponsor your further education, once you have that advanced degree, it will help secure a position you can accept proudly, knowing you earned it entirely through your own hard work."

The very man I had insulted and ignored was offering me a completely blank slate. "Raymond... I don't even know how to thank you.” I choked out, a smile breaking across my face. 

Raymond smiled warmly.

"Everything is ready. Your admission has been approved. Your apartment is waiting, and your flight leaves in three days."

The dining room fell silent.

I lowered my eyes to my lap before placing a trembling hand over my stomach.

If anything, they deserved to know the truth before I was going to leave.

It was the least that I could do.

"There's... something else you all have a right  to know before I leave."

Every pair of eyes turned toward my.

I swallowed hard.

"I'm pregnant."

The knife slipped from Vincent's hand and clattered against his plate.

His face drained of color.

"...Pregnant?"

I nodded, tears filling my eyes.

"And I'm going to raise this child alone."