Chapter 124
Chapter 124
Theodric walked in, bringing a wave of icy cold with him.
He'd just returned from the church, his mind flooded with images of Camilla and Caspian standing side by side. His heart felt like it was tearing apart.
The moment he stepped inside, he saw the wreckage scattered across the floor and his son huddled in the corner, sobbing.
"What the hell are you doing?"
Theodric strode over and scooped Ollie into his arms.
He stared coldly at Serena. Gone was the indulgence, the favoritism he'd once shown her.
Panic flashed through Serena. She quickly arranged her features into a wounded expression, tears springing to her eyes on command.
"Theodric, you're back. I... my headaches flared up again. I lost control of my temper. Ollie, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you."
She deployed her usual tactic—playing sick to earn sympathy.
But this time, Theodric didn't rush over with concern like he always had before.
He held Ollie close, his gaze sharp as a blade as it fixed on Serena.
"Headaches?" Theodric let out a bitter laugh. "I checked your follow-up records at the hospital today. The doctor said all your indicators have been normal for months. You don't need any more rehabilitation."
Serena's face went white.
"Theodric, let me explain—"
"Enough." Theodric cut her off impatiently. "Serena, how much longer are you going to keep lying to me?"
It finally clicked.
During the months since Camilla left the Clifford family, every single one of Serena's so-called "episodes" had coincided perfectly with something bad happening to Camilla.
The online harassment. The car accident. The police station.
Serena's shadow lurked behind every incident.
How blind had he been to mistake this venomous woman for his innocent, kind childhood sweetheart?
"Starting tomorrow, you're moving out." Theodric turned toward the stairs with his son, his tone final.
"Theodric! You can't kick me out!"
Complete panic seized Serena. She lunged forward, grabbing for his sleeve, but Theodric shook her off without mercy.
She collapsed to the floor as he climbed the stairs, her nails digging into the carpet.
No!
She'd worked too hard to drive Camilla away. She couldn't let it all fall apart now.
As she wracked her brain for a solution, her phone on the coffee table started buzzing frantically.
Her agent was calling.
Serena fumbled to answer.
"Hello..."
"Serena, who the hell did you piss off?" Her agent's voice came through hysterical. "Check the news right now! Everything's falling apart!"
A terrible sense of dread washed over Serena.
She opened the news app.
The top ten trending topics had all exploded.
#SerenaFakeCredentials
#SerenaStoleCamillaComposition
#SerenaIncitedFansAcidAttack
Every single trending topic led to ironclad evidence—audio recordings, bank transfer records, high-definition videos.
Especially the screenshots of her using a burner account to incite Lucy to throw acid in a fan group chat. Someone had made it into a video that was playing on loop across the entire internet.
The comment section had completely imploded.
[Oh my God! This woman is evil! She actually told her fans to throw acid!]
[I used to see her as a role model for independent women. Turns out she's just a thief who stole someone else's composition!]
[Camilla's the real victim here. No wonder she wanted a divorce with this snake around.]
[Police need to arrest her! Attempted murder should put her behind bars!]
Serena stared at the tidal wave of condemnation. Her phone slipped from her hands.
It was over.
Everything she'd carefully built—gone.
The next morning.
Camilla woke up in the soft bed at the Mitchell Villa.
On the nightstand sat a glass of warm honey water and a note.
The handwriting was strong and decisive.
[The studio space has been cleaned. Rest well at home today. I have some business to handle but I'll be back for dinner with you... Caspian]
Camilla gazed at the note. Warmth spread through her chest.
She picked up her phone and habitually checked the news.
When she saw the trending topics about Serena's complete downfall, she froze.
She clicked through the damning evidence and instantly understood who'd orchestrated this behind the scenes.
Besides Caspian, no one in Shadow City could've exposed Serena this thoroughly in such a short time.
Camilla clutched her phone. Her eyes grew hot.
That man was using his own methods to clear away every injustice she'd suffered.
Her phone suddenly vibrated.
An unfamiliar number with no contact name.
Camilla pressed accept.
From the other end came Serena's unhinged, almost manic laughter.
"Camilla, are you feeling smug right now? Watching me destroyed—does it make you happy?"
Camilla's expression went cold. She moved to hang up.
"Don't!" Serena shrieked. "Guess where I am right now?"
Wind roared through the phone line, along with the sound of an engine at high speed.
"You care so much about that mentor of yours, Atticus, right? Guess what happens when his brakes fail and his car flies off a mountain road?"
The engine's roar pierced her eardrums.
Serena's laughter reached a fever pitch of madness.
"Camilla, Atticus is about to be smashed to pieces! This is what you get for crossing me!"
Camilla's knuckles went white around her phone.
For one instant, her heartbeat nearly stopped.
But she forced herself to stay calm.
Serena was already a pariah—banned across the internet, pelted with rotten eggs if she showed her face in public. How could she possibly still have the capability to tamper with Atticus's brakes?
"Serena, stop bluffing."
"Bluffing? Check the news and see for yourself."
The call cut off abruptly.
Cold sweat covered Camilla's palms.
She immediately dialed Atticus's number.
Every second of waiting felt like torture.
"Hello, Camilla?"
The call connected. Atticus's gentle voice came through, soft instrumental music playing in the background.
Camilla released a long breath and sank back onto the sofa, drained. "Atticus, where are you?"
"I'm at the studio coordinating renovation details." Atticus paused, his tone somewhat helpless. "Mr. Mitchell sent two bodyguards over first thing this morning. They haven't left my side. Did something happen?"
Camilla closed her eyes.
Caspian.
He'd arranged everything.
He'd even anticipated that Serena might lash out desperately at the people around her.
"Nothing. Go ahead with your work."
After hanging up, she heard the fingerprint lock at the entrance disengage.
Caspian strode in, bringing late autumn's chill with him.
He immediately spotted Camilla curled up on the sofa, her face paper-white.
The man crossed the distance in two strides, his large palm pressing against her forehead.
Temperature normal.
But she was trembling all over.
"What's wrong?" Caspian's brow furrowed into a tight knot. "Did Lucy's incident scare you?"
Camilla shook her head. She'd just opened her mouth to speak when her stomach suddenly twisted with violent pain.
She clamped a hand over her mouth, retching harshly.
What came up was bitter, acidic water mixed with threads of alarming red.
Caspian's expression changed completely.
He swept her up into his arms and turned toward the door.
"Put me down... I'm fine..." Camilla's voice trembled with pain as she struggled weakly.
Caspian's arms tightened. He gave her no room to refuse.
"Shut up. We're going to the hospital."