Chapter 48

"Mom, come home first! Then we can go together!" Chloe tugged at Camille's sleeve. "The hot springs resort is so far away. It'll be boring going alone."

Camille hesitated. Maybe she should accompany her daughter. "Alright."

Gabriel Ashcroft was currently developing a new app for their tech company. After dinner, he called to discuss some technical details.

While Damien and Chloe chatted in the living room, Camille stepped outside to take the call. The conversation lasted nearly forty minutes.

Chloe frowned when her mother returned. "Mom, you've been getting so many calls lately. And they're always so long. You never used to be like this."

Damien's gaze lifted at their daughter's words.

Marcus, the butler, noticed it too.

Camille had never been one for lengthy phone conversations before.

An affair? Impossible.

Not when everyone knew how deeply she still cared for Damien.

"It's just work," Camille said briskly. "I need to finish something upstairs."

"Okay..."

Upstairs, Camille booted up her laptop and began reviewing the files Gabriel had sent.

Chloe returned to her room later. Seeing her mother absorbed in work, she didn't disturb her. After her bath, she peeked in again.

Over the years, Camille had never completely abandoned her programming skills.

In her free time, she still coded. When Chloe was younger, she'd even tried teaching her basics.

Back then, Chloe would doze off during these lessons.

Now, watching silently from the doorway, Chloe realized—wasn't this similar to what Selene Lancaster did for work?

She observed for a while before finally going to bed.

Camille worked until past 2 AM.

She'd spent the entire night in Chloe's room. Damien hadn't come looking for her. Maybe he didn't care.

Or perhaps... this distance was exactly what he wanted.

The next morning, Camille didn't prepare breakfast.

Chloe woke to find her mother still asleep beside her. Not wanting to wake her, the girl tiptoed out.

"Morning, Dad." She yawned when she saw Damien in the kitchen.

He nodded silently.

"Mom's still sleeping."

"Hmm."

By the time Camille came down, Damien had nearly finished eating.

They exchanged no words. He left as soon as he was done.

Camille headed to work shortly after.

That evening, she returned on time. Chloe was already waiting in the car, but Damien hadn't returned yet.

After twenty minutes, Chloe huffed. "Dad's taking forever."

Camille remained calm, flipping through a book patiently.

Then the house phone rang.

Marcus informed them moments later, "Mr. Harrington said he's detained with business. He asked that you and Miss Chloe proceed to the resort first—he'll join you later."

Camille simply nodded. "Understood."

Damien had promised to come later. But as night fell, he never appeared.