Released before dawn

Released before dawn

Camila’s POV

I had just dragged myself back from my evening martial arts class; every part of my body was aching like I’d been beaten with my own limbs. Progress was progress, though… I could feel myself improving with every session. Of course I was, but damn… tonight my bones were begging for mercy. I was so exhausted.

By the time I climbed the stairs to my room, I was half convinced I’d collapse right there in the hallway floor. Luckily, I made it to my bed and flopped down like a victorious soldier that had returned from war. The only difference? No applause. No welcome party. Just me and my throbbing muscles.

I was still lying down there, staring at the ceiling like it could do some abracadabra and flood my body with energy… Spoiler alert: stuff like that doesn't happen, not in my world at least.

“Oh, Camila, you’ve still got work to do,” I muttered, smacking my forehead before pushing myself upright in one swift move, landing on my toes like some gymnast.

I grinned to myself. “Instructor Miller would’ve fainted if he saw that.”

The laugh that broke out of me was loud, borderline manic… the kind that would make anyone passing outside my door wonder if an exorcism was needed. Their problem, though, not mine.

Using what little strength I had left, I dragged myself into the bathroom and turned the tap, filling the tub with warm water. Steam curled up instantly, fogging the mirror. I slipped in with a groan, the heat wrapping around me like a soft blanket, coaxing the ache out of my bones. My muscles loosened, my head sank back against the porcelain edge. This... this was exactly what I needed.

Fifteen minutes later, I stepped out, towel-drying my hair, feeling half-human again. My reflection smirked back at me from the mirror.

“It’s time,” I whispered.

I dressed quickly, settled on my bed, and pulled my laptop close. The glow lit up my room as I typed, diving into Pinnacle Holdings’ records that Josh had forwarded to me some days ago. Old employee lists, contract files, archived reports—I was digging through them all. I needed names, locations, anything that could point me to the truth. Every name was a potential key, every file a locked door I was ready to kick down.

The room was silent except for the quick tap-tap of my fingers on the keyboard… until…

Knock. Knock.

I froze. I wasn’t expecting anyone tonight. Unless… Asher? Oh great, what does he want now?

My pulse jumped, but I kept my voice steady. “Who’s there?”

“It’s me. Roseline.”

Oh. Maybe she’s here about dinner.

“I’ll come down later to eat,” I said, already turning back to my screen.

“You need to hear me out first.” Her tone wasn’t casual… It carried that heavy edge people get when bad news is hanging on their tongue.

I frowned. “Alright. Come in, then.”

The door creaked open, and Mrs. Roseline appeared, panting like she’d just outrun a pack of wolves. She clutched the doorframe, her chest heaving, with eyes wide open. What's so serious?

“Camila…” she gasped. “It's Mr Asher… He’s been arrested.”

What? Is this some kind of prank? It better be, because I am not in the mood for drama right now.

“What do you mean, ‘arrested’?” I asked, forcing my face into a mask of calm, but my tone carried steel. I wasn’t here for jokes.

She exhaled wearily, eyes half-shut like I’d just dumped the weight of the world onto her shoulders. “This is no joke, Camila. A call came in from the Henderson Police Department. They said Mr Asher has been taken in for questioning.”

That’s when it hit me. This was real.

I slammed my laptop shut and scrambled off the bed. “Tell James to get the car ready.”

Men! Honestly. What kind of mess has the Reyes family gotten themselves into this time? Enough to get Asher arrested? That’s deep. Whatever it was, the media would already be feeding like vultures. No time to scroll my phone… This was an emergency. I couldn’t afford to be missing in action. Not as his contract wife, and definitely not as the woman quietly plotting Edward Reyes’s downfall.

I yanked open my wardrobe, rifling through hangers with more urgency than taste. I needed something classy enough for the cameras—something that screamed “Mrs. Reyes”, even if this whole marriage was nothing more than a business deal. Why does Asher have to stir up trouble now?

My hand landed on a grey gown. Perfect. Neutral, but elegant. I threw it on, dabbed on quick makeup, and dashed out.

\-----

The ride to Henderson PD wasn’t supposed to be long, but traffic stretched the drive into a thirty-minute eternity.

“Mrs Camila Reyes,” I said crisply, flashing my ID at the officer on duty. “Here to see Asher Reyes.”

The man didn’t even bother with a smile. Yikes. Like I was the one who dumped him in this profession. “Hold on, let me—”

“She’s with me.”

That voice. Familiar.

I turned, and the sight that greeted me made me feel like I’d wasted my entire evening.

Asher. Elias. And the man I curse every single day of my life. Edward Reyes.

Of course. Who said Asher would actually be detained, much less jailed? It would take an entire army to bring this family down. And yet here I was, foolishly thinking otherwise. How exactly was I planning to topple them on my own again? Well, I guess it's worth a try.

Asher strode toward me, those sharp gray eyes pinning me like he was searching for something he’d misplaced in them. “Let’s go home, Camila. I’ll explain on the way.”

I just nodded. Words felt unreliable at that moment.

Edward clapped a hand on his Asher's shoulder, his voice all warm concern. “Get some rest, son.”

Asher gave him a single nod. “Thanks for coming, Dad.”

The father-son moment might’ve looked sweet to anyone else—but not to me. Not when I knew their gold-plated lives were just rot dressed up in luxury.

Edward’s gaze slid to me, lips curling into something that almost resembled a smile. “Take care of yourself, young lady.”

Oh, spare me. The man could’ve won an Oscar for this little act.

He left, and I stood there stunned with my face void of any emotion.

Outside, as we headed for the car, the media swarmed like bees to honey. Fantastic. Just what I didn’t need. At least I was dressed for the cameras…. Small mercies.

Luckily, Elias and the driver swooped in just in time, forming a shield that herded Asher and me into the car.

Asher settled in beside me, calm as ever. “You really didn’t have to bother. I was coming home tonight anyway.”

Yeah, I know, almighty Asher. Always three steps ahead.

I didn’t reply.

“Wait… Don’t tell me you were missing me already,” he teased.

I turned to his side, giving him the kind of look that could curdle milk. When did he start cracking jokes?

“It’s my duty. I’m doing it for the pay cheque.”

Bullseye. His smirk fell away, replaced with that professional Asher-like look he wore so well.

“Did you read the news this morning?” he asked.

I blinked. I hadn’t been online in days. “What news?”

“Rajeever’s dead.”

Rajeever. Rajeever. The name rolled around in my brain, stubbornly familiar.

Wait….

My eyes widened, snapping to Asher's face. “The old geezer?”