Chapter 322

The phone rang only once before Damien picked up. "School's over?"

"Yes!"

Damien's voice softened. "Missing your mom?"

"Uh-huh."

"You didn't call her yet?"

A chuckle came through the line. "Go ahead and call. She'll answer today."

Chloe's eyes sparkled. "Really?"

"Absolutely. Call her."

"Okay!"

The moment she hung up, Chloe dialed Camille's number with trembling fingers.

Camille froze when she saw the caller ID.

Though they'd met twice recently—once when Helena took a fall and was hospitalized, and again at the Ashcroft residence—those encounters didn't count toward their usual monthly visits.

It had actually been over six weeks since they'd properly met.

With a deep breath, she answered. "Chloe, are you—"

"Mom!" The sheer delight in Chloe's voice cut her off mid-sentence.

Camille's fingers stilled on her mouse.

Two heartbeats passed before she managed to respond. "I'm here. Just finished school?"

"Yes! Mom, where are you? I wanted to call earlier but thought you'd be too busy."

"Dad said you'd definitely pick up today. Are you coming home?"

Camille exhaled slowly. "I'm still at work. Later I'm heading to Grandma's. Do you want to go there or—"

"Wherever you go, I go!"

"Alright." A pause. "Go to Grandma's first. I'll join you after work."

"Perfect!"

The moment she ended the call, Camille shut down her computer and grabbed her purse.

Chloe heard the car before it even pulled into the Hartwell driveway.

She sprinted outside and launched herself into Camille's arms. "Mom!"

"Mmm." Camille lifted her effortlessly.

Marianne appeared in the doorway, smiling. "Perfect timing, Camille. Dinner's ready."

"Coming."

At the table, Chloe sat glued to Camille's side.

After three bites, she blurted out, "You haven't cooked for me in forever! Can you make dinner tomorrow? I miss your food."

The truth stung. Since deciding to divorce Damien, home-cooked meals for Chloe had become rare. And during Chloe's visits to the Hartwell house, Camille had always been swamped with work.

"Alright," Camille agreed quietly.

Their social circle remained oblivious to Selene's interference, so Marianne and Owen never heard about Chloe's growing attachment to the Lancaster woman.

But even before Chloe returned from abroad, the elders had anticipated this possibility.

It displeased them, naturally.

Yet they understood—Chloe was just a child, unaware of the decades-old feud between the Hartwells and Lancasters.

When Camille lost the custody battle, Marianne and Owen feared the separation would erode the mother-daughter bond.

Now, watching Chloe cling to Camille like ivy to stone, their relief was palpable.