Chapter 153

Camille dozed lightly in the car, her rest fitful at best. Blinking awake, she noticed Tristan withdrawing his hand but didn't comment. "Are we there yet?" she asked instead.

"Almost."

Two minutes later, the car stopped outside the hospital. Tristan stepped out with Iris in his arms. "Need someone to drive you back?" he offered.

She shook her head. "I'm fine. I can manage."

Tristan didn't press further.

As Camille neared home, her phone buzzed with a text from Damien. "Grandmother wants us three to visit the Hartwell residence together after she sees your grandmother," it read.

A response was necessary.

She called him immediately.

He answered on the first ring. "Yes?"

"I'll pick up Chloe now," Camille said.

She assumed Damien wouldn't actually want to accompany her to the Hartwell residence. He'd been dodging these visits with increasingly creative excuses lately.

Besides, her family wasn't exactly eager to see him either.

There was a brief pause before Damien replied, "Alright."

Hanging up, Camille drove to his villa.

Chloe stood waiting outside with a tiny backpack when she arrived.

The moment Chloe spotted Camille, she clung to Damien's side, avoiding eye contact.

Camille assumed the girl was still sulking about being left behind during last week's ski trip.

Damien studied Camille's face. "Didn't sleep well last night?"

The question caught her off guard.

She must look terrible - no makeup, hair slightly disheveled, exhaustion written across her features.

"Mm," she hummed noncommittally, seeing no need to elaborate.

Marcus interjected, "Trouble sleeping? We have excellent incense. I'll place some in your room later."

Camille shook her head. "No need, Marcus. I slept fine. Just wasn't used to camping last night."

Marcus frowned. "Camping in winter? Hope you don't catch cold."

She smiled. "It was actually fun. Snowball fights, building snowmen, hide-and-seek by the bonfire."

Everyone else at the campsite had seemed to enjoy themselves immensely.

She'd envied them.

Damien set aside his newspaper at this, his gaze lingering thoughtfully on her.

Chloe, meanwhile, grew visibly more upset.

Camille hadn't even tried to make up with her after their last argument.

How could she go camping without her when it sounded so wonderful?

Dragging her backpack, Chloe jumped off the couch with a huff and bolted upstairs.

Camille frowned, opening her mouth to speak.

But Damien's voice cut through first. "Come back here, Chloe."

His tone held no anger.

Yet Chloe froze instantly.

Pursing her lips, she turned and stood stiffly.

Damien gave her a look.

Seconds later, the girl trudged back downstairs, dragging her backpack.

But she didn't approach Camille.

Instead, she went to Damien and tugged his hand. "Will you come too, Daddy?" she asked sweetly.