CHAPTER 9

Cameilla paced her apartment, the events of the past few days replaying in her mind. Zayden's proposal had taken her by surprise. A part of her, longed for the moment, yet when he asked some weeks back, she had refused. Back then she had convinced herself, that she wasn't ready for the life he was offering—a life filled with the weight of the Blackwood family name.

But now, things are different. She was no longer the woman who hesistated, unsure of her place. She was on a mission and marrying Zayden would bring her closer to the secrets she sought to uncover. This time, she would accept.

She glanced at her reflection in the mirror, her resolve hardening. She would step into his world, no matter the cost.

Zayden was in deep thoughts when Cameilla arrived his office. He was staring out of the window, his broad shoulders tensed. Hearing the soft click of the door, he turned to find her there as radiant as ever.

"Camellia," he said, his voice soft and cautious.

"Zayden," she replied, stepping closer. "I have been thinking about....us."

His brows furrowed, and for a moment, uncertainty flicker in his eyes. "What about us?"

“You asked me to marry you once,” she began, her tone measured. “And I said no. But now, I want to say yes.”

Zayden's eyes widened, surprise giving way to something deeper-hope, perhaps. "Are you serious?"

"Yes," she said, her voice firm. "I want to be with you Zayden. I'm serious."

For a moment, he looked at her as though weighing her words. Then he stepped forward, his hands finding hers. “You have no idea how much I’ve wanted this,” he murmured.

Camellia smiled, though her heart was anything but light. She knew the path she was choosing was fraught with complications, but she had no intention of backing down.

The next day, Zayden paced his study, his mind racing. The weight of his decision to propose to Camellia felt lighter than he’d anticipated. For the first time in months, he felt clarity, a sense of direction that revolved around her. But his peace was short-lived.

A sharp knock pierced the quiet room. Before Zayden could respond, the door swung open, revealing Charlotte. Her face was pale but composed, her eyes flickering with a mix of nerves and determination as she stepped inside and closed the door behind her.

"What is it, Charlotte?" Zayden asked, irritation flashing across his face.

She ignored his tone, her expression shifting to one of smug confidence. “I have something important to tell you.”

He sighed, his patience wearing thin. “Then get to the point.”

“I’m pregnant,” she said, her voice steady.

The words struck him like a thunderclap. Zayden froze, his mind reeling. “Pregnant?” he echoed, disbelief heavy in his voice.

“Yes, Zayden. I’m carrying your child,” she confirmed, her tone firm and deliberate. “I’m six weeks along.”

The weight of her words settled in the air between them. Zayden’s jaw tightened as he struggled to process the revelation, his plans unraveling in an instant.

Charlotte stepped closer, her voice softening but losing none of its intent. “We can’t divorce now. Our baby needs us. Needs a family.”

Before he could respond, she leaned in, pressing a brief but calculated kiss to his lips. Her eyes sparkled with triumph as she pulled away, leaving him standing there, stunned and conflicted, as she exited the room without another word.

For a long moment, Zayden sat, rooted to the spot. His thoughts a chaotic mess. Camellia, his future, his family—it all seemed to unravel in an instant.

Cameilla arrived at Zayden's penthouse that evening, she had envisioned the moment a million times-her grand access to the Blackwoods. But when she saw his somber expression as the door opened, her heart sank.

"Are you okay?" She asked, stepping inside.

Zayden hesistated, running a hand through his hair. "We need to talk."

Her stomach churned at his tone. "What's going on, Zayden?"

He gestured for her to sit on a nearby couch. Taking a deep breath, he sat across from her, his gaze unwavering.

"Charlotte is pregnant," he said bluntly.

The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. Camellia felt as though the ground had shifted beneath her. “Pregnant?” she echoed, her voice betraying a hint of disbelief.

"Yes," he said. "It's my child."

Her mind raced, placing the implications together. Zayden had been on the verge of divorcing Cameilla. But now everything had changed. Her plans had been ruined.

“I was planning to divorce her,” Zayden continued, his tone filled with frustration. “I wanted to move on, to start a new life with you. But now… I can’t just walk away from her while she’s carrying my child.”

Camellia swallowed hard, forcing herself to appear composed. "So what happens to us, now?"

Zayden reached for her hand, his grip firm. "I'm asking you to wait for me, Cameilla. Just until the baby is born. After that I'll set things right."

Her mind screamed in protest, but nodded slowly, her expression calm. "I understand," she said softly, though her heart screamed in anger.

Later that night as Cameilla sat by Catherine hospital bed, her hand caressing Catherine's hand absentmindedly. She allowed her mask to slip. The frustration and betrayal she felt was overwhelming. How can Zayden ask her to wait? To put her life on hold for a child he hasn't planned for?

This wasn’t just about Zayden anymore. It was about dismantling the Blackwood's power structure that had caused so much pain to her family.

Camellia pulled out her purse and stared at the contact card judge Harrison had given her the previous night. Her fingers hovered over her phone's keyboard before she pressed call.

"Judge Harrison," she said when he answered, her voice steady. "It's Cameilla. I need to meet with you."

After she hung up, her resolve solidified. If Zayden couldn't bring her closer to the truth, she would find another way. She wasn't done yet. No by a long shot.