Chapter 20
“I have nothing left to lose. What do I have to be afraid of?” Camila asked.
Harry’s gaze bore into her, dark and unyielding, but Camila didn’t flinch. For the first time, she met his eyes without hesitation, her defiance cutting like a blade.
And for the first time, he saw it–hatred. He thought, ‘She actually hates me?‘
The Camila he remembered had always been obedient, gentle, utterly devoted to him. She had followed his every word, tiptoeing around his moods, always putting his feelings first.
For three years, he had gotten used to her silent admiration, to the way she had looked at him like he was the center of her world.
And now? Now, she looked at him as if he were nothing more than filth. He couldn’t accept it.
He had gone against William for her–knowing full well that William was Agnes’s fiancé. He had even put Agnes in a difficult position because of it. He had risked everything
And yet, he wondered, ‘She is still unsatisfied? His voice dropped to a cold, dangerous register. “Camila.” He practically spat out her name. “If you try to run again, I’ll fire Hazel.”
Camila’s heart clenched, Hazel was the only person in the Jackson family who had ever shown her kindness. If she lost her job because of this, Camila would never forgive herself.
Her fingers curled into fists, nails digging into her palms, but she forced herself to remain composed.
“She’s your maid. You can do whatever you want. What does that have to do with me?” she said, thinking, ‘If I act like I don’t care, maybe–just maybe- Hazel would be safe,
But Harry’s lips curled into a sneer, “Oh? Then I won’t just fire Hazel–it’ll also have her daughter expelled from school.”
Camila’s breath caught. Hazel’s daughter, Lucy Clark, was in her second year of university.
Five years ago, when Lucy was still in junior high, she had once biked through a torrential downpour just to deliver Camila’s SATs admission ticket. The roads had been slippery, and she had fallen, breaking her right hand–almost missing her own exams.
When Camila finally returned home after her exams, Hazel had told her that someone had thrown her ticket into the trash. Had she not found it in time, it would have been hauled away with the garbage.
Camila owed Hazel and Lucy too much already. If her actions caused them to lose their livelihood and education… that would be worse than death.
Her entire body tensed, but the rage inside her was quickly reaching its breaking point.
Seeing her remain silent, Harry assumed she was still resisting. His voice turned cruel. “I heard Lucy is an excellent student, always at the top of her class, earning scholarships, Imagine if she were suddenly expelled-”
The crisp sound of a slap rang through the car, cutting him off. His head snapped violently to the side.
From the rearview mirror, Michael’s eyes widened in shock. He thought, ‘Did Camila just slap Harry?‘
He never would have believed something this ridiculous could happen—but it had,
in front of him.
For so long, he had thought Camila was nothing more than a meek little thing, always submitting without a fight. But it turned out even a rabbit could
bite when cornered.
Amused, he let out a slow, lazy chuckle. “Harry, does it hurt?”
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16:17 Tue, 15 Apr
Chapter 20
Harry’s expression darkened, his face stormy and unreadable.
4完 37%公
The slap hadn’t been strong–her body was frail, weakened from exhaustion and hunger. The physical pain was nothing. But this wasn’t about pain. She had hit him. She had disobeyed him.
Harry’s fury exploded. His eyes turned bloodshot as he lunged forward, his hands wrapping around Camila’s throat like a steel trap. With brute force, he shoved her back into the seat, pinning her in place.
Camila felt a searing pain around her throat. Her breathing grew labored, her lungs burning as if they were about to burst. Every inhale became a desperate struggle, her vision darkening as her face turned an alarming shade of purple.
Michael clicked his tongue. “Harry, let go. If you keep this up, you’re going to kill her.”
“Then let her die” Harry spat out the words, but his grip loosened slightly.
AD
