Chapter 6

The laughter inside stopped abruptly when everyone saw Camilla.

Amara watched as Camilla took a seat at the far edge of the sofa. The smile on her face dimmed, and something complicated flickered in her eyes.

She'd been dissatisfied with this daughter-in-law for a long time now.

Back then, she'd taken in Camilla out of pity after her parents died. Later, she'd married her off to Theodric thinking she knew the girl well enough—she seemed obedient and well-behaved.

Who knew Theodric wouldn't like her at all.

That alone would have been fine, but after all these years of marriage, Camilla couldn't help with anything.

Theodric's business kept growing, but her? She didn't even have a proper social circle. When brought to parties, all she did was trail behind Theodric, barely saying a word.

Unlike Serena...

Amara glanced at Serena, who was clinging affectionately to her arm. A hint of approval crossed her eyes.

Serena's family background couldn't compare to the Cliffords', but she was beautiful, articulate, perceptive, and supposedly doing well overseas these past few years. If only Theodric had married her instead...

"Mom."

Camilla's voice interrupted Amara's thoughts.

Amara looked up, her face settling into a polite smile. "Camilla, where have you been these past few days? Ollie's been missing you."

Missing her?

Camilla glanced at Ollie sitting beside Serena.

Ollie was sneaking looks at her. When their eyes met, he immediately turned his head away, his little face screaming "I'm angry."

He was waiting. Waiting for Mommy to come over and coax him, to say "Ollie, I'm sorry, Mommy shouldn't have ignored you that day." Then he'd reluctantly forgive her—but she'd have to promise never to do it again.

But Camilla only gave him a brief glance before looking away.

Ollie froze.

Why wasn't Mommy looking at him?

He waited. Camilla still showed no sign of coming over. She sat there, her gaze on Amara, as if he didn't exist at all.

Ollie's mouth slowly formed a pout.

Fine! If she wouldn't come over, then he wouldn't talk to her either!

"Mom," Camilla began, her voice calm. "I came back today because I want to take some things."

Amara blinked. "What things?"

"My parents' belongings." Camilla looked at her steadily. "When I first came to the Clifford family, I brought some of my mother's things. Later, you collected them, saying you'd keep them safe for me. I want them back now."

Amara's expression shifted. Camilla's parents' belongings weren't just ordinary items.

The Lavien family had been wealthy in their day. Though not as powerful as the Cliffords, Camilla's mother came from an esteemed background—her dowry alone, just the jewelry, was worth a fortune. After the Laviens died in that accident, everything naturally went to Camilla.

But Camilla was only ten then. She knew nothing. The Clifford family took those items under the guise of "safekeeping," and over the years...

Amara's expression grew uncomfortable.

"Camilla," she laughed dryly, "those things have been stored for so many years. Some might be lost by now. You're asking so suddenly—I can't produce them right away."

Camilla looked at her, gaze cool. "Mom, I only want my mother's belongings. Everything else—I don't want anything."

She emphasized "everything else" lightly.

Amara caught the implication. Her face stiffened. She was about to respond when Serena laughed.

"Ms. Lavien, the way you're talking, it sounds like the Clifford family took something from you." Serena's smile was gracious, her tone teasing. "You lived with the Cliffords for so many years. Everything you ate and used came from them, didn't it? If we're really keeping accounts, paying some compensation would be fair, wouldn't it?"

Camilla's gaze shifted to her.

Serena maintained that easygoing, magnanimous air, as if she were just making a joke.

"Besides," Serena continued, patting Amara's hand with a smile, "Mrs. Clifford has been safeguarding those things for you all this time. Even if there's no credit, there's effort. Surely Ms. Lavien isn't going to quibble over that?"

Camilla said nothing. Her gaze dropped slightly, landing on Serena's wrist.

A gemstone bracelet.

The bracelet was smooth and delicate, with a faint brownish marking along the band—like a trace left by time.

Camilla's pupils constricted sharply. That was her mother's bracelet.

She remembered it clearly. As a child, when her mother held her, that bracelet would rest against her hand—cool and smooth. Her mother had said it was passed down from her grandmother, and one day it would go to Camilla.

"That bracelet." Camilla's voice came out hoarse. "Where did you get it?"

Serena paused, following her gaze to her own wrist, then smiled. "This? Mrs. Clifford gave it to me. Pretty, isn't it?"

She raised her wrist, turning it in the light. The bracelet gleamed softly. "Mrs. Clifford said it was an old piece—perfect for me. Do you like it too, Ms. Lavien?"

Camilla's fingers slowly clenched.

She looked at Amara.

Amara's eyes flickered evasively, but she quickly straightened with indignation. "Camilla, don't overthink it. Those things were just sitting there. Serena liked it, so I gave her one. You're wearing Clifford family jewelry right now, aren't you? Why make a fuss about this?"

Camilla took a deep breath.

"That's mine." Her voice was soft, but every word fell with weight. "My mother's belongings."

Amara's expression darkened.

"Camilla, what are you implying? You've lived with the Cliffords all these years, eating our food, using our things. What's wrong with me giving someone a single item? And besides—" She glanced at Camilla, her tone dripping with disdain. "You're a Clifford daughter-in-law now. Your things are the Clifford family's things. And I can give Clifford family property to whoever I please."

Camilla didn't look at Amara. Her gaze remained fixed on Serena's wrist. "Give me back the bracelet."

Serena's smile faltered for a moment before she shook her head helplessly. "Ms. Lavien, why do this? Mrs. Clifford already said she gave it to me. If you want a bracelet, just have Theodric buy you one. Why create tension with Mrs. Clifford?"

She paused, then added with a smile, "Besides, you've lived with the Cliffords for so many years. Quibbling over one bracelet—isn't that a little petty?"

Petty.

Camilla looked at her and suddenly felt like laughing.

Her mother's heirloom—worn by someone else—and she was the petty one.

Amara frowned too.

"Enough. It's just a bracelet. Is this really necessary, Camilla? You're part of the Clifford family now. How those things are handled is my decision. If you insist on making a big deal out of this, should we calculate what you've cost the Cliffords all these years?"

Camilla was silent for a long time—so long that Amara thought she'd finally backed down and was about to smooth things over.

Then Camilla stood up. "Theodric and I are getting divorced."

The living room went silent.