Chapter 4

Niamh's hand had barely moved when Camilla caught her wrist.

"Don't." Camilla's voice was soft but held an undeniable firmness. She retrieved the medical report as she spoke.

Niamh turned to her, eyes full of indignation. "Camilla! Why won't you let me show him?"

"There's no point." Camilla shook her head, her gaze sweeping calmly across Theodric's cold face.

Theodric's brow twitched almost imperceptibly.

He hadn't caught what was written on that medical report, but Camilla's expression now felt unfamiliar to him.

No grievance, no expectation, not even disappointment. Like she was looking at someone who didn't matter.

Serena, still clinging to Theodric, let out a soft laugh. "Ms. Lavien, don't misunderstand. Theodric was just worried I'd fall. If you're sick, you should get it checked out. Don't delay."

Niamh scoffed, waving her hand in front of her nose. "Where'd this two-faced bitch come from?"

"Niamh." Camilla tugged at her. "Let's go. The exam is what matters."

She didn't want to waste time here. Even looking at those two was a mockery of her past self.

Camilla pulled Niamh around to leave. Just then, a child's voice rang out from the other end of the corridor.

"Mommy!"

Camilla's body stiffened slightly. The familiar voice made her instinctively look up to see Cleo holding Ollie's hand, hurrying toward them.

Ollie's cheeks were puffed out in anger, his little face turned away, refusing to look at Camilla.

Camilla's gaze followed where Ollie was looking—straight at Serena. That cry of "Mommy" obviously wasn't meant for her. It was for Serena.

Cleo led Ollie closer. When he spotted Theodric, his little mouth quivered, and he threw himself pitifully at Theodric's leg. "Daddy, my head hurts. It hurts so bad."

Theodric looked down at him, brow furrowing. "What happened?"

Cleo quickly explained, "Ollie woke up this morning complaining about a headache. I had no choice but to bring him to the hospital. I called Mrs. Clifford, and she told me to find you."

When she mentioned "Mrs. Clifford," she shot a cautious glance at Camilla.

Camilla stood a few steps away, making no move to approach.

Ollie followed Cleo's gaze and caught sight of Camilla. His little face tightened immediately.

Bad Mommy! She didn't put him to bed last night, and today when he was sick, she didn't even come see him!

The more he thought about it, the more wronged he felt. His eyes began to well up, but stubbornly, he refused to look at Camilla. Instead, he tilted his head back and called out to Serena, still hanging on Theodric, "Mom Serena!"

That cry of "Mom" rang out crisp and clear. The entire corridor heard it.

Camilla's hand, hanging at her side, clenched tight. Her nails dug into her palm, the pain making her fingertips tremble.

Niamh gasped, barely stopping herself from cursing out loud.

Cleo's face paled. She rushed to pull Ollie back. "Ollie, you can't say that! This is your mother..."

"She's not!" Ollie shook off Cleo's hand, his little face flushed bright red. "She's not my mommy! Serena is! Serena is nice to me, she gives me candy, she never yells at me!"

"I don't want this bad mommy!" As he spoke, tears began streaming down his face.

Serena quickly climbed down from Theodric and crouched to soothe Ollie. "Ollie, don't cry. I'm here."

She wiped his tears while glancing up at Camilla with a helpless smile. "Ms. Lavien, children don't know any better. Don't take it to heart. He just has a connection with me, that's all. If it bothers you, I'll keep my distance from him from now on."

When Camilla didn't respond, Serena sighed and turned back to Ollie. "Ollie, you can't call just anyone Mommy. Your mother is right there. You'll hurt her feelings."

Ollie was sobbing uncontrollably. At her words, he only clutched Serena's neck tighter. "I don't want her! I want Serena to be my mommy! Serena, will you be my mommy?"

He cried like his heart was breaking, as if he'd suffered the greatest injustice in the world.

People passing by in the corridor turned to stare, their gazes toward Camilla filled with judgment.

A woman whose child publicly sobbed and begged someone else to be his mother—what kind of mother could she be?

Camilla stood rooted in place. The child she'd risked her life to bring into the world, the child she'd loved with all her heart for four years, was now clinging to another woman, crying and begging her to be his mother.

Camilla suddenly felt exhausted. So exhausted she didn't even have the energy to be angry or heartbroken.

"Enough." A low voice cut through, laced with suppressed fury. Theodric's face was dark as he grabbed Ollie and pulled him off Serena.

Ollie was startled by his father's expression. His crying caught in his throat, reduced to hiccups.

He was too frightened to make another sound, though tears continued streaming down his face. Instinctively, his gaze drifted toward Camilla.

Camilla stood there, only a few steps away. Her eyes rested on him, but not like before—not filled with worry and urgency, not rushing over to comfort him.

She simply looked at him. That gaze was calm. So calm it made Ollie's heart race with unease.

As if whether he cried or not, whether he hurt or not, who he called Mommy—none of it mattered to her anymore.

Ollie suddenly felt afraid. He wanted to call out "Mommy," but his mouth moved and nothing came out.

Niamh couldn't hold back any longer. She let out a cold laugh. "What a show. A son calls another woman Mom right in front of his real mother, his dad stands there watching without a word, and the first love plays the saint. The elite circles are truly messed up."

She grabbed Camilla's hand. "Let's go, Camilla. Staying around these people is bad luck. Forget the checkup—they'll make you sicker just being here."

Camilla didn't resist. She let Niamh pull her away.

The test results came back quickly. Same as before.

Late-stage Fabry disease. Severely deficient enzyme activity. Irreversible organ damage.

The doctor recommended immediate hospitalization, but Camilla knew there was no cure for this disease. A hospital stay would only buy time.

Niamh refused to accept it. She cornered the doctor, asking if there were any other options—domestic, international, any treatment at all.

Camilla waited in the corridor. Her phone buzzed.

A message from Theodric.

[Next Monday. Come back to the Clifford Manor. We'll tell my parents. Get ready.]

Camilla stared at the words, her lips curving into a bitter smile. Was he really that eager to lay everything out for his parents?

Fine. She did need to return to the Clifford Manor anyway. Her parents' belongings were still stored there. She had to take them with her.

Niamh emerged from the doctor's office, eyes red-rimmed but forcing a smile. "Camilla, I asked around. There are treatments abroad for this. We'll go overseas. We can cure this, I know we can!"

Camilla looked at her, warmth flooding her chest. In this world, there was still someone who truly cared, someone who wanted to find a way for her.