Chapter 4
"Albert, how could you do this to me?"
The crystal chandelier's light cast a glow on Emily's trembling shoulders. Her eyes were red, and her lips quivered. "I'm carrying your child."
Albert lifted his thick lashes, his cold gaze devoid of any emotion. "I told you not to come here, but you just had to make a scene."
"It's just a child. Don't think you can use this to threaten me."
Emily stumbled back a step, her hands instinctively protecting her belly. "How could you say that?"
"What did you expect? That I would grovel to a woman who once abandoned me?"
Camila watched the drama unfold with a cold eye, a faint smile playing on her lips. She found it laughable.
What kind of fool thinks they can keep a man with a child?
"Albert, that was a bit harsh," she interjected, her voice unusually gentle.
"Ms. Allen is in the early stages of pregnancy. It's normal for her to be emotional."
"It's getting late. Why don't you take her home? We can discuss this later."
Albert nodded slightly, his gaze softening as it landed on her. He brushed a stray lock of hair from her forehead and kissed her brow. "Alright, I'll be back soon."
Camila tilted her head slightly, looking up at his chiseled jawline. She glanced at Emily out of the corner of her eye. "Be careful on the road."
She personally saw them to the door, only turning back once she heard the car engine start. The smile faded from her lips as she returned to her room.
The Garcia Mansion wasn't a place she stayed often, but they had prepared a room for her on the second floor, designed to her tastes. The wallpaper was a misty blue, her favorite color.
Camila removed the necklace from her neck and opened the wardrobe. She tapped lightly three times, revealing a hidden white panel. Inside was an old-fashioned phone.
Her slender fingers trembled as she picked it up, her knuckles white from the pressure.
"Ms. Wilson." The voice on the other end was steady, with the background hum of a printer.
Camila asked, "How's the investigation going?"
"So far, nothing unusual has been found."
"The evidence is solid. Your sister was indeed diagnosed with severe depression, and witnesses saw her alone on the rooftop that day."
He swallowed, as if afraid of angering her. "There were no signs of foul play on her body. There's no evidence to suggest she was murdered."
"Are you saying it's all in my head?" Camila interrupted, her voice as calm as still water.
"That's not what I mean."
"But based on the information we have, there's no way to reopen your sister's case."
Camila's face turned pale, and she closed her eyes slowly.
She couldn't help but think back to the days before Laura Wilson's death.
Laura had seemed to be getting better.
They had even planned a trip up north for the summer.
They only had each other. Laura had promised she wouldn't do anything drastic.
Camila slid down the cold wall, her knees to her chest, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably. "Keep looking. I don't believe there are no clues."
"I'll make sure you're paid on time. Just don't draw any attention."
"Understood."
After hanging up, Camila lay on the bed. Her other phone lit up with a message from Albert on WhatsApp.
[Something came up. I might be back late. It has nothing to do with Emily.]
What a lame excuse.
She almost laughed at the message, sending a voice reply. "It's fine. Take care of your work."
As soon as she sent the message, a $500,000 transfer notification popped up.
Camila accepted it without hesitation, the balance update chiming as she tossed the phone onto the bed.
If it weren't for finding out the truth about Laura's death, she would have left the Garcia family long ago.
But as a small-time model with no connections, she needed a powerful backer to uncover the truth.
Camila gritted her teeth. Until the truth was revealed, her relationship with Albert had to remain intact.
She was about to put down her phone when she noticed a pinned contact with a black profile picture.
It was Clifford on WhatsApp.
"When did I pin this?"
She muttered to herself, thinking of unpinning it but hesitated.
"Never mind, it doesn't matter."
She closed her eyes, exhaustion washing over her, and drifted off.
"Camila and Laura are our precious girls. Our family of four will always be together."
"Go check on Laura. She's crying, and she always listens to you."
"Okay, Mom."
"Look, these bracelets are specially designed for you and Laura. They fit together perfectly."
"Thank you, Dad!"
"Camila, take care of Laura. You must live well."
"No, Dad... Mom!"
The flames roared, sparks flying everywhere. Her parents' kind faces twisted into something terrifying.
"Camila, I got into Nordheim International University!"
"I ranked first in my grade this time. I even got a scholarship. Let's go out to eat."
"Camila, the doctor says I have severe depression. I have to take medication every day."
"I'm sorry for being such a burden."
Dreams or memories, Laura's bloodied face surged towards her with the heat of the flames.
Camila jolted awake from the nightmare, drenched in cold sweat.
She opened her eyes to find herself still in her room at the Garcia Mansion.
Outside, a light rain had started to fall. A maid's polite voice came from the door. "Ms. Wilson, are you awake?"
"Madam asked me to call you for dinner."
"Alright, I'll be right there."
Camila looked down, slowly standing up. She picked up the necklace from the table and put it back on.
The pigeon blood ruby did indeed make her look more vibrant.
She walked to the mirror, took a lipstick from her makeup bag, and carefully applied it.
Her complexion gradually returned to normal, and her eyes regained their usual sharpness.
The downfall of the Wilson family and Laura's death...
One day, she would make those who hurt them pay.
"Mom, are you sure you want Albert to marry her? Camila is just an ordinary model. What right does she have to join our Garcia family?"
"Exactly. She's only fit to be a mistress, nothing more."
"If you ask me, give her some money and send her away. They've been together for over a year. Who knows if Albert is tired of her? Maybe I should give it a try."