Chapter 122

Chapter 122

Camilla had barely taken two steps before her knees began to buckle.

The cramping pain in her stomach hadn't fully subsided, and every step tugged at her nerves.

A strong arm reached out from beside her, steadying her elbow.

Caspian shifted most of her weight onto himself.

"I'll carry you up." He started to bend down.

Camilla jumped in alarm and quickly grabbed his sleeve.

"No." She shook her head firmly. "I need to walk up myself."

Caspian frowned.

He looked at Camilla's pale cheeks and the fine beads of sweat dotting her forehead.

"You're not feeling well and you're still worrying about rules like that?"

Camilla didn't respond. She just stubbornly pressed forward.

Caspian had no choice but to stay glued to her side.

His large hand gripped her waist firmly, ready to catch her swaying body at any moment.

Every dozen or so steps, Camilla had to stop and catch her breath.

Caspian didn't rush her.

He held a bottle of room-temperature water, twisted off the cap, and handed it to her.

"Take a sip. Don't push yourself."

Camilla took the bottle and drank a small mouthful.

She looked at the seemingly endless staircase ahead, her legs trembling. "Mr. Mitchell, why don't you wait in the car?"

Caspian didn't answer.

He simply reached out, his large hand pressing against the small of her back, and gave her a gentle push forward. "Walk."

The two of them continued like this—stopping and starting—taking over an hour to climb all nine hundred and ninety-nine steps.

Inside the chapel.

Camilla entered the prayer room and dropped heavily to her knees.

She clasped her hands together and closed her eyes.

The chapel was silent except for the crisp sound of bells chiming.

Camilla's shoulders trembled slightly.

Fat tears rolled down her pale cheeks and fell to the floor.

She didn't pray for wealth or luxury.

She didn't pray for her ex and his mistress to suffer.

She only asked God for mercy—to give her a few more years.

Even just three years. Two years.

Enough time to build Second Decade Studio and fulfill her college dream.

Enough time to stay a little longer with Holden, that desperately love-starved child.

Caspian didn't kneel.

He stood tall beside Camilla, hands in his pockets.

His head was bowed, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on her slender back.

He didn't believe in God.

But watching Camilla cry made his heart clench painfully.

He made a silent vow.

Whatever she was praying for today—

Even if it cost him the entire Mitchell Group, he would make it happen.

Outside the chapel hall.

In the shadow of a ginkgo tree stood a disheveled man.

Theodric.

Last night, he'd watched the entire livestream replay of the signing event.

The image of Caspian publicly confessing and protecting Camilla had driven him mad with jealousy. He hadn't slept a wink.

This morning, as if possessed, he'd driven his car and followed the Mitchell family convoy all the way to the chapel.

Theodric leaned against the rough tree trunk, staring fixedly at the two figures standing side by side inside the chapel.

The expression on Camilla's face was serene yet fragile.

Theodric's breathing stopped abruptly.

Suddenly, he remembered a day from years ago.

It had been a weekend. Camilla had spent two hours making soup in the kitchen and brought it to him.

"Theodric, can we go to the chapel tomorrow? I heard the blessing charms there are really effective. I want to get two—one for you and one for Ollie."

How had he responded back then?

Theodric remembered every detail.

He'd shoved the bowl away, his face full of irritation. "Camilla, are you bored out of your mind? All day long with this superstitious nonsense!"

"Serena's taking Ollie to the amusement park tomorrow. I don't have time to humor your delusions."

Theodric also remembered that Serena had sent him a message that day.

[Theodric, Ollie says he wants to go to the amusement park, but I'm afraid I won't be able to take care of him alone. Can you come with us?]

Without a second thought, he'd grabbed his coat and left.

Before walking out, he'd looked at the blessing charms in Camilla's hands with disgust. "Don't hang that cheap junk on Ollie. What if he has an allergic reaction? Will you take responsibility?"

Camilla's hand, holding the charms, had frozen mid-air.

She'd stood there for a long time. Eventually, she'd poured the cold soup down the drain by herself.

The memories surged up.

Theodric's stomach cramped violently.

The pain made him double over, gasping for air.

What stupid things had he done?

He'd driven away a wife whose entire heart and soul had been devoted to him—pushed her straight into someone else's arms.

Theodric clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.

He couldn't control his legs. He stepped over the high threshold, wanting to rush into the chapel.

He wanted to shout Camilla's name.

He wanted to snatch her back from Caspian's side.

The moment Theodric's toes touched the chapel tiles—

Caspian suddenly turned his head.

A gaze filled with crushing pressure shot across the spacious chapel and landed squarely on Theodric.

No extra movements.

Caspian simply stared at him coldly.

That look carried absolute ownership—and an undisguised warning.

Theodric froze.

His legs felt like they'd been filled with lead. He couldn't take another step.

Caspian turned back around, pulled a clean handkerchief from his pocket, and bent down to hand it to Camilla.

His movements were impossibly gentle.

Theodric's eyes turned red.

He'd lost.

Completely and utterly.

He had no right to stand in front of Camilla anymore.

Theodric turned around in defeat, stumbling down the stone steps, his retreating figure utterly desolate.

Half an hour later.

Camilla finished her prayers and followed Caspian out of the chapel.

Her mood seemed a little calmer now.

The two walked slowly down the stone steps.

Bodyguards were scattered around them, maintaining a respectful distance.

As they passed a dense thicket of bushes—

Chaos erupted!

"Camilla! Go to hell!"

A shrill, piercing shriek exploded from the bushes.

A woman in black, wearing a baseball cap and face mask, suddenly lunged out.

She gripped a clear glass bottle tightly in her hand.

The cap had already been unscrewed.

Her face twisted with malice, she raised her arm high and aimed the bottle at Camilla's face, hurling the liquid inside at her!

A sharp, acrid stench instantly filled the air.

High-concentration sulfuric acid!

The people around screamed and scattered.

Everything happened too fast—even the bodyguards couldn't react in time.

Camilla froze completely, her feet rooted to the ground.

Caspian's long arm shot out.

He yanked Camilla into his chest, his broad back completely shielding her.

At the same time—

Caspian's long leg lashed out with terrifying explosive force!

A dull thud.

The woman in black was sent flying—bottle and all—landing hard on the stone steps.

The glass bottle shattered.

The remaining sulfuric acid spilled across the ground.