Chapter 3
The blue Lamborghini pulled up to the Garcia Mansion. Outside the courtyard, a woman—still strikingly beautiful even without makeup—knelt pale-faced under the scorching sun.
Seeing this scene, Albert's pupils contracted slightly, and he almost instinctively moved to help Emily up.
"Don't you dare!"
An authoritative voice came from inside the gate, and Albert's mother appeared in their line of sight, her well-maintained face stern.
"If she likes kneeling, let her kneel. As long as I'm alive, I will never allow such a scheming woman into our family."
At these words, Emily's body trembled violently, tears flowing without warning. She reached to touch her abdomen, about to speak when Camila interrupted.
"Mrs. Garcia, please don't be angry. We haven't seen each other in so long, and I happened to buy some pastries. Let's chat while we eat."
Camila smiled gracefully and took her arm. Isla Jackson's expression softened somewhat upon seeing Camila.
"Mrs. Garcia, come quickly. I bought your favorite donuts."
In the lounge, Isla was quite pleased with Camila's submissive demeanor, her grip on the donut relaxing.
"You're so thoughtful," she said, taking a small bite of the pastry and speaking somewhat unclearly. "You don't need to pay attention to those women—they're just cheap gold-diggers trying to climb the social ladder."
As if remembering something, she glanced at Camila sideways. "Men, well, who hasn't made mistakes when young? Once he sees who's really suitable for marriage, he'll naturally come back."
Camila lowered her eyes with a smile, placing another maple syrup pancake on her plate. "Mrs. Garcia, don't worry, I'm not angry."
"To be a good wife to Albert, I need this kind of awareness. As long as certain things don't become public, just turn a blind eye."
Her eyelashes fluttered slightly as she spoke, her refined features showing no aggression, instead revealing an endearing gentleness.
Isla squeezed Camila's hand with satisfaction. "I knew you were sensible. Mary, quickly bring the box I prepared."
A pigeon blood red main diamond surrounded by twenty-eight pear-shaped white diamonds—each stone clearly carefully selected, flawless, conservatively worth at least seven figures.
"Mrs. Garcia, this is too precious, I can't..."
She made a show of declining while her fingertips touched the cool diamonds, understanding perfectly.
Comfort and warning combined—the Garcia family's gifts weren't as easy to accept as they appeared.
Isla personally fastened the necklace around her neck without argument. "You're about to become a new member of our family—you deserve any necklace."
"After you marry, I have more gifts. You two should set a date soon—I'm waiting to hold your children."
Camila's face lit up with perfectly appropriate joy as she obediently agreed.
They chatted about family matters until rest time, when Camila quietly left the lounge.
Emily stood at the end of the corridor, her yellow-white dress wrapped around her slightly protruding belly, the hem swaying gently in the cross-breeze.
The moment she saw Camila, the hatred in her seemingly innocent eyes nearly overflowed.
Camila smoothed her long hair over her shoulder, remaining expressionless.
It seemed the show was finally about to begin.
"I've seen you in Albert's phone before. I didn't expect that while you look radiant on stage, you're rather ordinary in private."
Camila found it amusing. Did this woman really think such petty provocations would anger her?
"Ms. Allen is joking. During runway shows, I wear ten-pound crinolines and nearly three-pound headdresses," Camila tucked her hair behind her ear, revealing her slender swan neck. "In private, naturally, it doesn't matter."
Her gaze fell on Emily's face, suddenly brightening. "Speaking of Ms. Allen, I've never seen you before. I only know you were the school beauty and said you wouldn't return to the country until you held a solo concert at Aurora Lyra Music Academy."
"I assume you've fulfilled that dream?"
Emily's face flushed red. She had missed three consecutive months of classes at Aurora Lyra Music Academy, gotten into fights at off-campus bars, and even her instructors couldn't be bothered with her.
When she returned home, dragging her suitcase to her family's building, she was thrown out. If she hadn't clung to Albert based on their past relationship, she'd probably be homeless now.
"What... what do you mean?"
Emily touched her belly, completely dropping pretenses. "I'm carrying Albert's child now."
"Do you think he'd let his own child be illegitimate?"
"You're an orphan with dead parents—the Garcia family will throw you out sooner or later."
Camila's gaze swept indifferently over her abdomen, as if looking at an irrelevant decoration. "Get rid of the child."
Emily was stunned, not expecting such directness.
"What did you say?"
Her open hands discreetly slipped into her pockets—a subtle movement that didn't escape Camila's notice.
Camila remained calm. "Get rid of the child."
Immediately, Emily clutched her belly and began crying. "Camila, please, don't make me abort the baby. I never wanted to compete with you for anything. Please spare my child's life."
She cried pitifully, as if her previous arrogance had never existed.
Camila found it ridiculous—people with poor judgment made even their schemes laughable.
Camila stepped forward, her expression soft enough to squeeze water from. "Darling, you misunderstood. How could I make you abort the child?"
"I mean you could apologize to Mrs. Garcia, say you're willing to abort the child and leave."
"I'll arrange to send you somewhere relatively safe. After you give birth and Albert and I are married, we'll say it's my child. The child won't become illegitimate."
After this speech, all of Emily's planned responses became useless.
"You... what kind of saint are you pretending to be?"
Camila showed no anger. Seeing a figure approaching in the distance, she unhesitatingly embraced Emily. "Albert's child is my child. Since he likes you, I'm willing to love you too."
"Give me a chance, okay? I won't hurt you."
Emily was enraged, roughly pushing Camila away, unable to speak. She shoved hard, "Bitch, stop your fake sympathy."
A pregnant woman's strength wasn't much, but Camila acted as if the push had drained her energy, her body falling backward and her lower back hitting the metal corridor railing with a dull clang.
She groaned softly, her face instantly white as paper, cold sweat trickling down her temples, even her lips losing color.
"What happened?"
As she'd guessed, it was Albert approaching.
Seeing this, Emily grabbed at this lifeline. "Albert, Camila said she wanted me to abort our child."
"Please don't do this. This child is my only family. I have no parents, no home left..."
Albert's gaze swept past Emily to Camila's pale face.
Frowning, he pushed Emily aside and strode to Camila, helping her up, only to find her hands ice-cold.
"Where does it hurt?" His voice carried panic he didn't even notice.
Camila's face was flushed, her lips pressed tightly together, showing a desolate smile. "I'm fine."
Albert looked at Emily. "Apologize."
"You actually believe her?" Emily stared in disbelief, pulling a recording device from her pocket and throwing it to the ground. "I recorded her telling me to abort the child! Listen for yourself!"
The recorder rolled twice on the floor. Albert picked it up and indeed heard Camila saying "Get rid of the child."
"It's not finished. Keep listening."
Then came her gentle explanation, word by word, crystal clear.
Her eyes reddened as Camila said to Albert, "That house was bought with the money I saved from modeling over the past few years. I really wanted to solve this properly."
Her voice grew smaller, filled with humility and despair. "I was being presumptuous."
After speaking, Camila tried to break free from Albert's embrace and leave, but he gripped her wrist tightly.
Albert hesitated, his fingers trembling uncontrollably. "I'm sorry, Camila. I was wrong to suspect you."
Camila leaned against his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat, the corner of her mouth curving in an imperceptible arc.