Since Dylan’s football match was scheduled for Friday, Cammy had been putting in extra hours after her eting with Grace and Greg to ensure she could leave work early that day. It was already past seven in the evening when a security guard approached their departnt.
"Excuse , is there a Camilla Veston here?"
The use of that na made her heart race, nearly causing her to feel she was about to faint. At Cross Tech, she was known as Cammy Watson, and she had never used Duncan’s last na on any docunts.
Quickly standing up, she asked, "That’s . Why are you asking?"
Chiqui and a few teammates working overti paused what they were doing, their curiosity stirred up by the security guard’s announcent and Cammy’s answer. They subtly leaned in to eavesdrop on the conversation.
"Oh, finally. I’ve checked three other departnts trying to find you," the security guard said. "There’s an older woman in the lobby asking for you. She said it’s an ergency."
Cammy’s eyes widened, her heart pounding even harder as panic set in. "An ergency? But my son’s school has both my personal and work numbers."
"Uh, I think she ntioned her na was Monica. Yeah, that’s it—Monica," the guard replied.
Cammy spun around quickly, almost rushing to her desk as she addressed Chiqui. "It’s my mom. Sothing might have happened to my dad—I need to go." She swiftly clicked through her computer to clock out and shut it down before grabbing her things.
As she exited the departnt, the security guard was already holding the elevator door for her. "You go ahead, miss. She seems upset," he said.
Cammy thanked him but paused briefly as his words registered. ’Upset? Shouldn’t her reaction be worried or panicked, not upset?’ she wondered, though she quickly dismissed the thought.
The mont the elevator doors opened on the ground floor, Cammy scanned the lobby for her mother. It didn’t take long to spot her distinctive strawberry-blonde hair.
"Mom!" Cammy called out, as she waved at Monica. The older woman turned around, their eyes eting.
"Let’s take the elevator. My car’s in the basent parking," Cammy said briskly, already heading toward the elevator. Monica nodded without a word and followed her.
As the door closes, the soft hum of the elevator fills the air. But the atmosphere shifted abruptly.
*SLAP*
Cammy staggered back slightly, her left cheek stinging from the force of Monica’s hand. Her hand flew up instinctively to touch the burning skin, her eyes wide with disbelief.
The shock left her montarily frozen as she tried to process what had just happened. "Mom—" she whispered, her voice trembling, the sharp pain in her cheek now matched by the ache blooming in her chest.
Monica’s face was taut with anger, her hands clenched at her sides. The fire in her eyes was impossible to ignore, and for a mont, it looked as if she might lash out again. Her fingers twitched, tempted to grab Cammy by the hair and force her to the ground, but her gaze flicked to the security cara mounted in the corner of the elevator. She stopped herself, her restraint more calculated than kind.
"Mom..." Cammy repeated, her voice barely audible now. Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill over as she searched her mother’s face for an explanation, for anything that might soften the blow—not just the physical one, but the emotional wreckage it had left behind.
Monica’s eyes were blazing with fury, her face a clear display of anger.
That piercing look rooted Cammy to the spot, paralyzing her with fear. She suddenly felt like a child again, small and powerless, bracing for her mother’s punishnt.
"How dare you call ’Mom’!" Monica’s voice thundered, echoing in the elevator.
Cammy knew exactly why her mother was furious. She had expected this mont, dreaded it, and there was no doubt in her mind who had told Monica the truth about her and Dylan.
"I—I’m sorry... Please, let explain..." Cammy stuttered, her cheek still stinging from the force of Monica’s slap.
"Oh, you will explain everything!" Monica shot back, her voice sharp and unforgiving. "Do you have any idea what you’ve done? You made look like a complete fool, Camilla! I almost had a heart attack! What kind of sick mind do you have, huh?"
"You were worried about ?" Cammy asked hesitantly. For a brief mont, she felt a flicker of relief. Hearing her mother express concern made her believe, even if only for a second, that she was still loved, despite their differences.
"Worried? That doesn’t even begin to cover it! I was devastated!" Monica snapped. "With you and Dylan gone, do you realize what that would an? Our company would have gone straight to Duncan! Did you even think about that before faking your death, you brainless girl?"
The sting from her mother’s slap faded instantly, replaced by a much deeper ache. It felt as though a knife had been plunged into her heart. The fleeting hope that her mother’s heartbreak had been rooted in love shattered, replaced by bitter disappointnt and sorrow.
"I—I didn’t plan any of it! It just happened!" Cammy retorted, her voice trembling with emotion. "Do you really think I would plan to make that airplane explode? I could never do sothing like that!"
"Then why is your na even on the list of deceased passengers?!" Monica yelled.
"I–" Cammy started to explain, but the elevator doors opened, and more people stepped in. She shifted to the far-right corner while Monica moved to the opposite side.
Though Cammy avoided her mother’s gaze, the intensity of Monica’s fury was palpable, piercing through the tension-filled silence.
With several employees heading in the sa direction, Monica refrained from continuing the argunt and instead quietly followed Cammy to her car.
"Mom, I only did it because I was devastated after catching Duncan with his mistress–"
"That again? Enough!" Monica interrupted sharply. "Just drive. I haven’t had dinner yet, and I’m starving. Feed first, so I’ll be in a better mood to listen to your pathetic excuses and poor life choices," she added, raising an eyebrow at Cammy with unmistakable disdain.
Cammy frowned in confusion. "Wait, aren’t you here because of Dad? The guard said it was an ergency, so I thought sothing had happened to him."
"No. That man has nine lives. Stop asking questions and let’s go. The food on the plane was terrible, and I didn’t eat any of it," Monica replied dismissively.
"Alright, just give a mont. Let step out and call a fine dining restaurant to check if they have a table for two. I’m sure you’ll enjoy their food," Cammy offered, knowing well that fine dining would put her mom in a much better mood. As Monica gave a curt nod, Cammy stepped out of the car.
The first person that ca to her mind was Ric, and without hesitation, she dialed his number. Ric was her best chance to navigate this situation—definitely not Greg.
[Cammy? I was just thinking about you. Have you had dinner yet?] Ric answered warmly, as soon as he picked up.
"That’s actually why I’m calling, Ric. I need your help. I’m with my mom, and she’s furious. Do you have a table for two available?"
[I’ll reserve a private room for you, don’t worry,] Ric assured her.
"One more thing," Cammy hesitated before continuing, "My mom is a fan of your show. I’m planning to introduce you as a close friend of mine. Would it be okay to let her know you’re aware of Duncan’s relationship with Annie? It might be the only way to make her believe ," Cammy pleaded.
[Anything you need, Cammy. If she’s a fan, this will be easier. Relax now—I’ve got your back,] Ric replied with calm confidence.
Cammy took a few deep breaths to steady herself before getting back into the car to rejoin her mother.
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