Chapter 269

When Lydia and the others arrived at Harrington Manor and didn't see Camille, they assumed she'd gone to the airport with Damien to pick up Chloe.

Now that Damien and Chloe had returned home, but Camille was still missing, they found it strange.

Not that they particularly cared about Camille's whereabouts. They couldn't be bothered to ask.

Damien simply stated, "She's occupied."

Hugo didn't question it and continued playing with Chloe.

Helena, however, understood the situation perfectly but chose to remain silent.

After dinner, Chloe entertained herself for a while before growing bored and deciding to call Camille.

Even during holidays, Camille refused to remain idle.

When Chloe's call came through, Camille was reviewing documents sent by Graham.

Seeing the caller ID and realizing nearly a month had passed since their last meeting, she answered casually.

"Hello?"

Camille hadn't answered her calls for so long that Chloe had nearly given up hope.

Hearing her mother's voice unexpectedly, she squealed with delight. "Mommy!"

Camille kept her eyes on the computer screen as she responded indifferently. "Hmm."

Chloe, oblivious to her mother's detached tone, excitedly announced, "Mommy, I'm back from Lucerne!"

Camille hadn't even known her daughter left the country. She responded with a noncommittal hum.

From the moment Camille answered, Chloe had been floating on cloud nine. She bounced excitedly on her bed.

"Mommy, when will you finish work? Are you coming home tonight? I want you to tuck me in! I have so many stories to tell you!"

"And I really want your pancakes tomorrow morning. When are you coming back?"

Camille didn't mention she wouldn't be returning to Harrington Manor. Instead, she said, "I'm swamped right now. Next month, I'll take you out."

It had been ages since their last outing. The thought made Chloe giddy with excitement.

"Next month?" Though only days away, it felt like an eternity to Chloe.

She pressed further. "Which day next month?"

Even through the phone, Camille could feel Chloe's desperate need for connection.

Her grip on the mouse tightened before she finally said, "We'll see. I'll let you know when I decide, alright?"

"Okay."

"Have you bathed yet?" Camille asked.

"Not yet. But soon."

"Then go take your bath. I have work to finish. I need to go now."

"But we just started talking!" Chloe protested, glancing at the call duration. "Mommy, it's only been two minutes! Can't we talk longer?"

"Next time when I'm free, we'll talk properly," Camille replied.

Reluctantly, Chloe conceded. "Okay. But Mommy, you have to promise."

"I will."

Only then did Chloe whisper, "Goodbye, Mommy."

"Bye." Camille ended the call immediately.

Chloe suddenly remembered the gift she'd bought for her mother. She opened her mouth to mention it, but the line had already gone dead.

Her small heart sank with disappointment.

Setting down her phone, she climbed off the bed and went to find Damien in his study.

Damien was in the middle of a video conference.

Seeing her enter, he adjusted his camera angle and muted the microphone. "What's wrong? Couldn't get through?"