CHAPTER 5
"Camilla! Where have you been?"
Daisy had already rushed at Camilla from behind the door as she opened the door and displayed her face. Daisy is Camilla's only niece
"I- I have a problem that I need to fix. What's the matter with you, Daisy? Why are you crying? Explain slowly to me."
Daisy sobbed as she hugged Camilla. Camilla returned her hug and began quietly asking what had made her.
"Last night, the police informed me that Mom and Dad had been in an accident and were being treated at St. Frederica's Hospital in Brooklyn."
Camilla's knees had gone slack. Camilla's blood pressure fell after learning of her aunt and uncle's accident.
"How are they doing now?"
"I'm not sure, I tried to reach you last night but couldn't. Where have you been? Why didn't you come home last night?" she asked.
Camilla's gaze became hotter. She couldn't possibly tell a minor girl what had occurred to her the night before. Camilla sighed as if she couldn't believe she was dealing with many problems.
"I told you I had an urgent matter. Now we have to go to the hospital to see how uncle and aunt are doing."
Camilla halted at the end of the hospital corridor after learning from staff that Benny's uncle had died the night before. His body was in a dreadful state in the morgue. Meanwhile, her aunt, Paula, needed emergency surgery due to a brain hemorrhage.
Camilla feels frustrated. When Daisy discovered her father had died, she burst into tears. Daisy is hoping that only her mother remains.
"She must be operated on as soon as possible or we shall lose her."
"Camilla, do anything to save my mom." Daisy cried while pleading with Camilla.
The girl was crying hysterically for fear of losing her mother. Meanwhile, Camilla was confused about what to do. She didn't have enough money to confirm her aunt's procedure.
"Daisy, calm down. Trust me, everything will be fine." Camilla said soothingly to Daisy. "Doctor, how much will brain surgery cost?" Camilla inquired skeptically.
Camilla may have predicted the doctor's response. The surgery is not cheap. Camilla is frustrated.
On the one hand, she is powerless to assist. On the other hand, there is Daisy, who will soon become an orphan.
"Camilla, how come? Please help my mom, please…." Daisy whined once more.
"How could it be? Should I go back to that jerk and seek his forgiveness?" Her heart began to speak for the first time. "Only he could offer me such a significant sum of money so quickly." Camilla's thoughts began to darken.
There was no option but to bear the enormous disgrace of returning to the man named Tristan.
"Oh, God. Is this really what my life is all about? Do I have to get raped first to get money to save my family?" Camilla fell silent for a minute, reflecting on her miserable life.
"Should I put my pride aside in front of that man for the sake of my family? Daisy will be the same as me if Uncle leaves and Aunt leaves. That is not possible. I must return to see that man. I hope he hasn't changed his mind. Lord, if this is your will, please make it simple. Just let me face this sorrow, not Daisy." Camilla braced herself.
She stared at Daisy, clasped her hands around her neck, and held her.
"I'm going to find a way to get Auntie into surgery straight away. You simply sit here and wait. I'll be right back with the money."
Tristan's phone starts to ring. Tristan had repeatedly refused the call because the incoming number was unknown. Tristan would never answer a call from an unknown number.
As a result, he intends to block the cell phone number immediately. Tristan was then discouraged when a message from that number was displayed on his cellphone screen.
(This is Camilla, and I'd want to speak for a moment.)
As he read Camilla's note, Tristan gave a mocking smirk. He believed his prediction was correct since the little girl would eventually accept his offer.
(I'm busy. It's too late anyway.)
"Feel it!" Tristan is typing the keyboard keys passionately.
He was determined to make Camilla pay for her arrogance in turning down his gold offer.
Tristan instantly threw his phone on the side bench, determined not to attempt again if Camilla's message had been answered. But as his phone indicated an incoming message, Tristan didn't hesitate to take it back.
(Let us fix our problem right away. I've changed my mind and will accept your offer. Please meet me at the Brooklyn Bridge.)
"Who the hell is she? How dare she tell me to come?!" Tristan hurled his phone once more.
He threw his phone behind the car seat this time. He chose to dismiss Camilla's message. Even if his head declined Camilla's request to meet, his heart desired to do so.
Tristan had followed the opposite direction that Camilla had requested. But in the end, Tristan couldn't lie to himself. He turned his car back towards the direction of the Brooklyn bridge.
"Looks like I need to finish it soon."
"Come in." Tristan finally found Camilla.
The girl was sitting on a brown wooden chair, waiting for him. Tristan opened his car window and told the girl to get in quickly.
"Hey, who told you to sit in the back?!" Tristan grumbled again when Camilla opened the car's back door and was about to sit in the back.
"Am I your driver?"
"Sorry, but I didn't mean to…"
"Come and sit next to me!" Tristan snapped again.
Camilla finally obeyed Tristan's orders. She opened the car slowly and sat down carefully. Tristan glanced at Camilla, who seemed to struggle as she tried to sit.Tristan knew why Camilla was like that. From the beginning, since he left the hotel together, Camilla's way of walking already looked unusual.
"Am I that rude that you feel uncomfortable sitting down?" Tristan started a conversation that Camilla thought was a conversation she didn't want to talk about.
"Where are we going?" Camilla asked, changing the subject.
"To my apartment."
Camilla gulped. She was scared when Tristan said he wanted to take her to his private apartment.
Tristan noticed Camilla's panic through the center mirror.
"Don't worry. I'm not going to force you to make love like yesterday. Sorry if I was rude that night."
Camilla remained silent because she didn't know what to say. After that sentence, no more words came out of their mouths. Until they finally arrived at a luxury apartment. Camilla followed Tristan wherever he went.
After they arrived at the Billionaire's private room. Tristan immediately took off his suit and threw it on the bed, loosened his tie, poured a glass of wine, and took a sip.
"Aren't you going to take a shower first?"
"What kind of question is that?" Camilla grumbled in her head.
"No. I won't beat around the bush anymore. I'll get straight to the point. Give me the money and I'll go as you please." Camilla immediately came clean. Hearing Camilla tells the truth, Tristan bursts out laughing.
"Turns out my guess was correct. You're nothing more than a whore”
Tristan's words hurt Camilla's heart instantly. The man's words were like a dagger that pierced her heart and tore it apart until it was impossible to heal.
"It hasn't been twenty-four hours and you've changed your mind. If I may ask, what has changed you?"
"That's none of your business. It's just that I need the money."
"If I take back what I just said, then what?"
"Please don't!" Camilla's eyes widened. Her eyes were full of pain and full of respect for Tristan.
"Let's just get married. Isn't that what you want?" Tristan seemed to have deliberately reversed Camilla's words.
Camilla endured a very, very heavy shame tonight. She wanted to end his conversation with this evil man, but her aunt's life now depended on her.
"As I said at the start, I've changed my mind. I think receiving money would be more profitable than just being your doll wife."
"You bitch. You are a little bitch. But sorry, I'm sick of all your lies!"
"Mr. Tristan! I beg of you, I-I need the money right now. You tell me anything this time I won't refuse, as long as you give me the money you promised."
"Really? You're not going back on your word again?" Tristan challenges Camilla. Camilla lowered her head and nodded slowly, with the burden of shame already mounting.
"Then serve me one more time tonight. If you can satisfy me tonight, I'll pay you to double the amount I promised."