Chapter 446

The clock was ticking down, and the people eagerly awaiting Camille Hartwell's divorce weren't just Gabriel Ashcroft and Felix Rhodes. Tristan Rutherford had been counting the days too.

Among all of them, Tristan was the only other person besides Gabriel who knew Thursday marked the official end of Camille and Damien Harrington's mandatory separation period. Though frequently traveling for business, he'd made a special effort to return to the city before dawn on that crucial Thursday.

After catching a few hours of sleep at his penthouse, Tristan found himself glancing at his watch repeatedly throughout his morning meetings. By 10 AM, he couldn't resist calling Arlo Calloway under the pretense of catching up. "I've been swamped with work lately," he said casually. "Haven't had a proper meal with you and Damien in ages. How about lunch today?"

Arlo's response made Tristan's grip tighten on his phone. "I'm free, but Damien won't be joining. He left for an overseas business trip several days ago and hasn't returned yet."

"Damien...is abroad?" Tristan's mind raced. That meant the divorce couldn't be finalized today. He hadn't spoken directly to Damien or Selene Lancaster recently, which was why he'd called Arlo - to discreetly gather information. If the divorce had gone through as planned, he would have...

"When is he coming back?" Tristan forced his voice to remain steady. Arlo, unaware of the divorce timeline, answered absently, "No clue. You know how this season is - his international business always keeps him hopping between time zones. Could be weeks for all I know."

Tristan ended the call with a frown, staring at Camille's contact in his phone. He'd been preparing to reach out to her today. Now it seemed he'd have to wait longer.

Time passed quickly for those with busy schedules. On Friday afternoon, while Camille was reviewing contracts at her office, her phone buzzed with an incoming call from Chloe Harrington.

The young girl's voice bubbled with excitement as she announced her summer break had started. With Damien still away, she begged to stay with Camille. Camille gently refused, though her fingers tightened around her phone. During their last call, Damien had mentioned he'd only be gone a few days. That had been nearly a week ago now.

Left alone in the Harrington mansion, Chloe grew increasingly restless. By Wednesday, she called Camille again, her small voice tinged with loneliness. "Mom, Dad's been gone forever. The house is too quiet without him. Please can I stay with you?"

That plaintive tone broke through Camille's resolve. After a long pause, she relented. "I'll pick you up after work. Wait for me at your grandmother's place." Chloe's delighted squeal made Camille smile despite herself as the girl immediately began packing her favorite things to take to the Hartwell estate.

Of course, the Hartwell family knew Damien's unexpected trip had delayed the divorce proceedings again. During dinner that evening, Marianne Hartwell couldn't help asking, "Chloe dear, any word on when your father will return?"

Unaware of the adults' complicated emotions, Chloe answered between bites of her favorite pasta. "Dad said he's not sure yet. But when we talked yesterday, he said he might miss my birthday party."

Marianne's fork stilled mid-air. Nearly a week had passed since the separation period ended, and Damien still couldn't confirm his return date. Was he planning to stay away until the entire legal window had closed? If so, they'd have to restart the entire waiting period all over again.

Across the table, Camille's brow furrowed as well, her appetite suddenly gone. The uncertainty stretched before them like an endless road.