Chapter 161 It's Over, Camille

Chapter 161 It's Over, Camille

Adrian's POV

The tip of the gun never sways from me. It remained there, steady, almost as if Camille had rehearsed this moment a thousand times before finally standing in front of me.

Neither of us spoke. I could hear my own heartbeat.

Slow.

Heavy.

Loud enough that I wondered if she could hear it too. My fingers twitched beside my thigh.

The gun inside my jacket suddenly felt heavier than it should.

One move and I could draw it.

Maybe I'd be faster. Maybe I wouldn't.

It wasn't a risk I was willing to take. Not anymore.

Hazel.

Darcy.

Their faces flashed through my mind one after another. I promised both of them I'd come back.

I wasn't going to die here. Not today and definitely not because of Camille.

I forced myself to breathe. Slowly.

"You're quiet," Camille said, the corner of her lips lifting. "I thought you'd have something to say."

"I do."

She waited.

"I just don't think you'll like hearing it."

A soft laugh escaped her. "When have I ever cared about that?"

I kept my eyes on hers. Inside, my thoughts were racing. Come on, Killian should've reached them by now.

Just a little longer. I only needed a few more minutes.."You asked me to come," I said calmly. "I'm here."

She tilted her head. "So?"

"So talk."

Her smile widened. "You finally want to understand me?"

"No." I shook my head.."I want to understand how someone can become this."

Her expression stiffened for the briefest second. Then she laughed. "You still think I'm the villain."

"I don't think.".I looked at her quietly. "I know."

Silence stretched between us. She lowered the gun slightly, though it never left my direction.

"I disappeared because I had plans."

"I know."

"I built an empire."

"I know."

"I sacrificed years of my life."

"I know."

Every answer I gave was calm.

Short and controlled.

She frowned. It isn't the reaction she wanted.

"You know..." she murmured. "You used to argue with me."

"I've grown tired."

Her jaw tightened.

"I did everything because I wanted power. Nora stole my father, my life. Since then I realized that no one can steal what is truly yours"

I raise my eyebrow. "And?"

"So I'd never bow to anyone again nor become victims."

"And?"

She stared at me. "What is wrong with you?"

I swallowed. "What does any of that have to do with Hazel?"

She looked away. The muscles in her jaw moves.

"I asked you something."

Still no answer.

"You tried to kill her."

Her eyes snapped back to mine.

"You burned that house."

"You locked a sick child inside."

Her breathing changed. Faster.

"Answer me."

Instead of answering, she scoffed. "This is Darcy's fault."

I blinked. "What?"

"If she hadn't shown up..." Her voice hardened. "If she hadn't stolen you..."

I let out a tired breath. "You still don't get it."

She frowned.

"I didn't leave you for Darcy."

"Stop lying you bastard!" Her voice echoes through the empty building.

"I'll say it over and over again. You weren't supposed to move on especially not with a low life like Darcy!"

I remained silent.

"You weren't supposed to love someone else because you promised." She pointed the gun higher again.

"I also promised to spend the rest of my life with my wife."

She froze.

"My wife died." The words landed harder than I expected. "And I buried her or would you have preferred to stay at a museum?"

Something cracks inside her eyes. For one brief second, I saw pain.

Real pain.

Then it disappeared beneath anger. "So that's it?" She laughs bitterly. "You've erased me?"

"Yes and I accepted reality."

She takes a step toward me. "I should've never let you survive."

I said nothing.

The calmer I became, the more restless she grows. She started pacing.

One step. Then another.

Her grip around the gun tightened. "You know what hurts the most?" She stopped. "You aren't even angry anymore."

I looked at her quietly. "I'm exhausted."

She blinked. "I wanted you to hate me."

"I don't."

"I wanted you to scream."

"I won't."

"I wanted you to keep asking why."

"I already know enough."

She shakes her head violently. "You don't understand anything!" Her breathing become uneven.

She laughs. Then stops.

Then laughs again. It isn't normal.

It echoes through the empty building until even I feel a chill crawl down my spine. Her phone vibrates.

She frowns and pull it out.

Looking at the screen, everything change. The smile disappears and her pupils widens.

For a second, she simply stares

"No..." Her whisper barely reach me.

Another second pass. She look at the message again. Then suddenly throws the phone across the room.

It smashes against a concrete pillar. Pieces scatters everywhere.

"No!" She grabs her hair with both hands.

"No! No! No!" She starts pacing again. Her breathing becomes frantic.

"They failed..."

"They actually failed..." She laughs.

Then cried.

Then laughed again.

I watched her carefully not bothering to ask her what the problem is. No matter what it is, there's nothing between us and I'm not obliged to show her any care.

After everything she has done, she doesn't even deserve a tiny bit of compassion because she doesn't have it in her.

Her lips trembles. "Impossible..." She turns toward me so abruptly that I almost reach for my gun.

"They failed to find them."

My chest tightened. "Who? Darcy and Hazel?"

She nodded. Then her expression twists. "I know you're hiding them. They are suppose to die!"

The words echoed through the unfinished building. Everything inside me freeze.

I couldn't hear the wind anymore. Couldn't hear my heartbeat. Only those words.

Images flooded my mind. Hazel unconscious. Hazel coughing. Hazel lying on the hospital bed.

So weak and small.

I close my eyes briefly as my fingers curls into fists. The urge to pull my gun became almost unbearable.

I wanted to end this. Right here. Right now.

But Darcy's face appeared in my mind. "Come back to us." I inhaled sharply.

Stay alive. Hazel still needs me.

Camille suddenly smiled. "You finally know."

I open my eyes. "You planned all of it."

"Of course."

I shook my head slowly. "You planned to murder your own daughter."

"She stopped being useful."

My stomach turned.."You disgust me."

"I don't care." She rolls her eyes.

"You never loved anyone."

I meet her gaze. "You were obsessed with owning me."

Her smile vanishes. "You don't know the difference."

"I do now." Her breathing grew heavier.

"I gave you everything but you gave me lies."

"I gave you my life, yet all I got was a grave to mourn."

"I came back!" She yelled.

"You came back to destroy us."

She screamed. "So what if I did?"

Her voice cracks. "You don't want me anymore so I'll do it again!"

Silence followed. Long and painful.

Very faintly, I heard it.

Sirens.

Far away. But getting closer.

Camille hears them too. She stops moving. Her eyes slowly shifts toward the open side of the building.

Then back to me. She looks at me. Realization spread across her face.

"You..." Her lips curls. "You've been talking this whole time."

I say nothing. "You were buying time."

I hold her gaze.

"It's over, Camille."

She laughs.

A cold, broken laugh. "No."

She slowly raised the gun until the barrel pointed directly at my heart again.

The sirens grew louder.

"If I can't leave this place..." She smiled through the tears running down her face. "...neither will you."