Chapter 22 Yes, is something wrong?
Camilla and her mother-in-law had just finished a meal and were now sitting enjoying warm coffee made by Mrs. Malaike. The room where they were relaxing was on the first floor, with a fireplace burning, making the room feel warm.
Camilla sat close to her mother-in-law, smiling and laughing as she recounted Danieru's childhood, even showing her photographs of her husband from decades ago.
"Mom wanted a daughter, and she wore this dress for her." Mrs. Malaike showed Camilla a photograph.
"Is this... Danieru?" Camilla asked, not expecting her husband to look so beautiful. She stared intently at her husband's face; he truly resembled his mother-in-law. She suppressed a smile, not realizing that Danieru was so adorable as a child.
"That was when he was three years old, and Mom wore a dress she complimented on being beautiful during a visit to a boutique." Mrs. Malaike tried to recall her daughter's childhood, then chuckled at the memory.
"She looked so beautiful," Camilla said. The woman then looked at other photos, and she was particularly drawn to one of Danieru wearing his uniform.
“Mom, how old is he?” Camilla asked, pointing to the photo in question.
Mrs. Malaike stared, then smiled. “This was when he was six years old and on his first day of elementary school, hahahaha... I remember, when he came home his pants were wet.”
Camilla was confused. “Wet?”
“Danieru was afraid to ask his teacher for permission to go to the bathroom, so he peed himself.” The old woman shook her head. The Danieru of the past and the Danieru of today were clearly very different.
“Pfffffttt... hahahaha... he was that stupid once.” Camilla held her stomach, unable to hold back laughter as she imagined Danieru holding back. The man who didn't want his reputation ruined had actually ruined his own as a child.
“And another thing, he still brought a milk bottle to school until fifth grade.”
Camilla stared at her mother, unable to imagine those moments. Danieru truly surprised her; he had an incredibly happy childhood, so different from her own.
“Hahahaha... Mother, why is Danieru so adorable? I-I... hahahaha... I can't stand it.” Camilla was truly delighted, especially when Mrs. Malaike stroked her hair.
The woman then stopped laughing, feeling her cheeks hurt from laughing so much.
“Yes, he is truly adorable. I also really miss the days when Danieru was little.”
“If he has children, I don't know what to say. Maybe it's better if his children don't do stupid things that make me laugh like this.” Camilla was just saying it casually; she didn't mean that she would be the one to bear him a child.
“So, you want to give me a grandchild quickly?” Mrs. Malaike asked enthusiastically.
Camilla, hearing the question, was confused, then realized what she had said a moment ago.
"I can't wait to see your child," the middle-aged woman said again.
Camilla swallowed hard, trapping herself now. "Ah... y-yes... of course we'll have a child."
Another lie, and another... Camilla truly felt better off dead right now. How could she have said the wrong thing, and now she was giving her mother-in-law false hope. Stupid... so stupid! But hadn't this all started with a big lie? She couldn't go back and turn back time.
Just as Camilla was about to speak again, she was struck by the familiar scent of perfume. She averted her gaze, not expecting her husband to return. Danieru entered, smiling warmly as he met her gaze.
"Hmm... I think I know whose perfume this is." Mrs. Malaike also averted her gaze, looking at her son, pleased.
"Mom, it looks like you and Camilla are discussing something interesting." Danieru approached his mother and kissed her cheek.
Camilla, watching Danieru interact with her mother-in-law, felt a little hurt. Why couldn't her mother be like Danieru's mother? Why... ah, that question she asked so often.
"Camilla," Danieru reprimanded.
Camilla immediately lifted her head, and at that moment, Danieru planted a kiss on her forehead. Camilla remembered her father; she missed him so much now.
The warmth Danieru gave her was almost the same as his father's. The woman then composed herself; now he was no longer kissing her.
"I'm happy, you really are a perfect match. I think you will always be happy."
Danieru sat between his mother and Camilla, feeling so happy to be with this woman who meant so much to him.
"Did you show me a photo of me as a child?" Danieru asked. He stared blankly at the photo album and glanced at Camilla.
“Yes, is something wrong?” Mrs. Malaike asked.
Camilla, aware that Danieru was glancing at her, looked away. She also had to hide her now happy face, even trying to hold back laughter as she remembered the story her mother-in-law had told her.
“No, hehehe... nothing's wrong,” Danieru replied.
Camilla sensed a different aura from Danieru, and she shifted away to avoid getting too close to him. But, unfortunately, Danieru quickly held her back.
“Did you enjoy hearing Mother's story, dear?” Danieru asked.
Camilla swallowed hard, while Mrs. Malaike, aware of her son's level of anxiety, shook her head. Mrs. Malaike immediately reached out and smiled.
Platak...
Danieru immediately stiffened his head, frowning as he stared at his mother.
“What?” Mrs. Malaike asked.
“Nothing,” Danieru replied.
Camilla, who knew Danieru was afraid of her mother-in-law, couldn't help but smile. She desperately held back her laughter so Danieru wouldn't be offended.
"Okay, since you're back, I should go home too. I brought some food for you; you can warm it up, Danieru."
"Mother, why don't you stay overnight?" Danieru asked.
Camilla's eyes widened, remembering that there was only one room in Danieru's mansion. She was about to speak, but stopped when Mrs. Malaike smiled warmly.
"No... Your father needs attention too, especially since he's been sick lately."
Inevitably, Danieru let his mother go. The man looked at Camilla, reached out, and took her hand.
"I'll take Mother back. You can wait at home, right?" Danieru asked. He was actually worried, afraid that the pain that plagued Camilla every night would return when she was alone.
"Danieru, Mother has the car and the driver. Don't leave your wife, and this is an order." Mrs. Malaike crossed her arms and looked at her son, who was no longer able to argue.
"Okay, we'll just take you to the front door." Danieru then stood up and pulled Camilla's hand to come with him.
"Yes, we'll take Mother home, and that's right up to the house. How about it? Do you mind if Danieru and I stay overnight?"
Mrs. Malaike stared at Camilla, not expecting her daughter-in-law to do something like this.
"No, I don't want to meet that heartless old man." Danieru refused.
"But I want to learn to cook with Mother, you have to obey!" Camilla firmly. It was time for revenge, time for her to make Danieru realize that ignoring his mother was wrong.
“No... no... and no!” Danieru insisted.
“Danieru, you're evil! Your son wanted this so badly, and you ignored him. You promised to fulfill all my wishes, you even promised to bring me closer to Mother.”
Danieru and his mother stared at Camilla in disbelief. Danieru didn't expect Camilla to use the most unreasonable weapon to get him to give in. And Mrs. Malaike couldn't believe her daughter-in-law was pregnant. Mother and son stared at each other, and Camilla grinned.
“Are you pregnant?” Danieru asked without realizing it.
Camilla's eyes widened; it seemed he was trying to thwart her plan.
“You even forgot,” Camilla said in a small voice with a sad tone.
“Come on, we should go back immediately. Danieru, all of Camilla's wishes must be fulfilled!” Mrs. Malaike insisted.
Camilla was pleased; if this lie would make it easier to get Danieru into her family home, she needed that way. There was no point in being honest in a marriage already founded on something bad. At least he could see the mother who raised Danieru with such love happy.
Danieru, who had received his mother's warning, could only nod his head. He glanced at Camilla; after this, that woman was dead. He would teach her some valuable lessons that would prevent her from going any further.
"Okay, let's go." Danieru pulled Camilla's hand closer to his. He glanced at her sharply when her mother had already left and was some distance ahead of them.
"Why did you do this crazy thing?" Danieru asked in a whisper.
"Because I want you not to waste your mother's love." Camilla slapped Danieru's hand away and quickly followed her mother-in-law, taking her hand.
"Camilla, you really have to pay for this with something tangible." Danieru clenched his fists and quickly stepped to catch up with the two women.