Camilla’s POV
The mont I stepped outside, I quickened my pace, making sure Hugo trailed behind . The last thing I needed was for him to catch sight of my face and read the sches brewing in my mind.
"Clear your evening schedule. We’re having dinner with them tonight," I called over my shoulder, practically sprinting up the stairs to avoid any chance encounters with Serena or Derek lingering in the common areas.
My mother needed to hear about this developnt imdiately.
I slamd my bedroom door shut and twisted the lock before pulling out my phone with trembling fingers.
"Tell the children devoured those chocolates," my mother’s voice crackled through the speaker, barely containing her excitent.
"Not exactly. I an, I placed the tray where they could see it. Children can’t resist sweets for long." I collapsed onto my bed, every muscle in my body tense with frustration. The way Bella had asserted her authority over still burned in my chest.
"Why haven’t they eaten them yet?" The disappointnt in my mother’s tone was unmistakable.
"Because that woman has to demonstrate her power over everything. She acts like she owns those kids, like every decision runs through her first," I spat, clenching my free hand into a fist.
"Stay calm. The chocolates are within their reach now. Children have no willpower when it cos to treats like that. She’ll cave eventually and let them have one. That’s all we need," my mother’s voice turned reassuring, and I forced myself to breathe slowly.
"There’s been a change of plans for tonight. I volunteered to cook dinner, thinking I could prepare sothing special for the children in case our chocolate strategy fails. But Bella announced she’s taking over the kitchen tonight," I recounted the afternoon’s events, my voice tight with barely controlled anger.
"Don’t panic. The chocolates will work. But rember, there are other steps in this plan. If we miss any of them, everything crumbles," my mother warned, her tone growing serious.
"I’m going downstairs to listen in on Hugo’s conversation with his friends. Those two are becoming a serious complication. They’re far too protective of Bella for my comfort," I muttered, rembering how Derek had practically launched himself at in the café just to defend her honor.
"Keep your emotions in check. Good luck tonight," my mother said before the line went dead.
I crept toward my door and eased it open just enough to peer down the hallway. Perfect timing. Serena had disappeared into her room, leaving the three n alone in the main living area.
Their voices drifted up the stairwell, just loud enough for to catch fragnts of their conversation.
"Sothing doesn’t sit right with about him," Derek was saying.
I pressed myself closer to the banister, straining to hear every word. The house had fallen quiet except for their discussion, making eavesdropping easier than I’d hoped.
"I can’t pinpoint exactly what it is, but there’s definitely sothing off about the guy," Hugo agreed, his voice carrying a note of suspicion.
They felt comfortable speaking freely, knowing that anyone in this house who might overhear them wouldn’t run straight to Vance with gossip.
From my vantage point, I could see Parker and Derek seated at the dining table while Hugo stood behind an empty chair, his hands gripping the wooden back, leaning forward with obvious intensity.
"You’re both going to find this interesting. I caught him with another woman," Parker announced, and ice shot through my veins.
My pulse accelerated as I watched Hugo and Derek exchange aningful glances before focusing entirely on Parker.
Hugo imdiately pulled out a chair and dropped into it, giving Parker his complete attention.
"Co again?" Hugo demanded.
"Rember that night we were walking back from town?" Parker directed his question to Hugo, who nodded eagerly.
"Right, there was so confusion about whether you thought he was inside the house, but we figured that out, didn’t we?" Hugo replied, though his tone suggested disappointnt rather than relief.
Sothing twisted in my stomach. Did Hugo actually want Vance to be unfaithful? The thought made my wolf pace restlessly. A cheating scandal would leave Bella vulnerable and single, and single won always attracted more attention than married ones.
The possibility that Hugo might be hoping for Bella’s relationship to implode sent an unwelco surge of jealousy through , but I pushed it aside, desperate to hear more.
"I’m almost certain he slipped out through the back entrance. I can’t say for sure, but I know what I witnessed. Bella wasn’t ho at the ti, and he definitely wasn’t alone," Parker explained, exhaustion creeping into his voice.
"Then why would Bella cover for him? That makes no sense whatsoever," Derek interjected, his brow furrowed in confusion.
Parker lifted his shoulders in a helpless gesture.
"That’s what’s so strange about this whole situation. We need to figure out what he’s really up to," Parker pressed.
"I did so digging into his recent activities. He’s requested access to a boat. Apparently, he’s planning to return to human territory for an extended period."
Hugo’s revelation hit like a physical blow.
This developnt could destroy everything. If Vance left, Bella would be alone and susceptible to forming attachnts with any of these three n. While I couldn’t care less about Parker and Derek, the thought of her growing closer to Hugo made my blood boil.
Alternatively, if Vance remained here while I tried to execute my mother’s plan, that presented its own set of challenges. The man clearly didn’t trust and had shown nothing but hostility since my arrival.
"Soone’s listening."
The words snapped back to reality with terrifying clarity. I’d been so absorbed in processing this information that I’d completely missed Hugo approaching the staircase.
When I looked up, he was already at the top of the steps, his eyes wide with surprise as they locked onto mine.
In that frozen mont, our entire history flashed between us like lightning.
"What are you doing sitting there?"
Parker’s voice ca from behind him, followed imdiately by Derek’s footsteps. Now all three n stood before , their expressions ranging from confusion to suspicion.
My mind raced for a believable explanation.
"I twisted my ankle," I managed to say, reaching down to massage my foot while forcing tears to well up in my eyes.
The performance seed to work. Even if the others harbored doubts, Hugo would never suspect capable of such calculated deception.
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