Chapter 51

The morning sun painted golden streaks across Camille's bedroom as she prepared for another workday. Breakfast was quick - just coffee and toast before heading out the door.

Her phone buzzed during lunch. Chloe's name flashed on the screen. This marked their first contact since the hot springs incident.

"Hello?"

"Mom!"

Camille swallowed her bite of salad. "Have you eaten?"

"Just finished!" Chloe's cheerful voice carried through the line.

That morning at the resort, Damien had called Chloe with an invitation to join him and Selene for some fun. Without hesitation, Chloe had slipped away while Camille wasn't looking.

They'd enjoyed two full days of adventures before returning to the city yesterday afternoon. But Chloe hadn't come home last night.

Now back at school, guilt gnawed at Chloe. She feared Camille's anger. The phone call was her peace offering.

But Camille's casual question about lunch reassured her. No mention of the disappearance. No anger. Just relief flooded Chloe's system.

Of course her mother wouldn't be mad! Still, she noticed the change - no more daily check-ins or constant location updates. This new freedom suited Chloe perfectly.

Camille truly didn't care about Chloe's whereabouts these past days. After discussing school briefly, she ended the call.

Gabriel approached her desk later. "Tech expo tomorrow. Should we meet here and go together?"

"Sounds perfect."

Morning traffic crawled the next day when Camille's car sputtered and died. The vehicle behind couldn't stop in time - metal crunched against metal.

Horns blared. Angry shouts erupted from blocked drivers. Camille apologized profusely while calling for help.

This would take hours to resolve. The expo couldn't wait.

A shadow fell across her windshield. She looked up into Tristan Rutherford's striking features. What was he doing here?

She acknowledged him with a curt nod, then called Gabriel to explain. "Go ahead without me. I'll catch up."

"These things take forever," Gabriel warned. "You might miss the whole event. Let me send someone to help, but it'll take thirty minutes minimum."

"Just get me there before it's over."

Before she could address the other drivers, Tristan spoke. "I'll handle this. Where are you headed?"

Camille blinked in surprise.

Five minutes later, she sat stiffly in Tristan's luxury sedan. The spacious backseat still felt suffocating with him beside her.

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it."

Camille frowned. This polite Tristan was unfamiliar. Normally he treated her like furniture.

Their last encounter at the racetrack had ended badly. Even their recent chance meeting where he'd initiated greetings felt... off.

Thankfully, Tristan took call after call, filling the silence. Camille exhaled in relief.

Forty minutes later, the car stopped at the expo entrance.

"Thanks again," Camille said as she exited.

Tristan merely nodded.

She turned toward the venue. Behind her, a sleek black car pulled up beside Tristan's.

Selene Lancaster did a double take. That license plate was unmistakable. She rapped on Tristan's window.

"Tristan! What brings you here?"

He stepped out. "Just dropping off a friend."

Malcolm and Rosalie Lancaster emerged from their vehicle. Recognizing Tristan, they rushed to greet him.

Tristan exchanged pleasantries until his phone rang. With the expo starting, the Lancaster family moved on.

Inside, Camille found Gabriel waiting.

He leaned close. "Graham Bellamy is attending today."

Camille froze.

Gabriel smirked. "Good thing you made it. If he'd caught you late..."

She understood immediately. Graham didn't accept excuses. Tardiness equaled incompetence in his eyes.

He'd already disapproved of her marrying young and having Chloe right after graduation. Showing up late now, after finally reconnecting...

The thought of his disappointed glare made her shiver.

"Glad you're here on time," Gabriel said.

Camille exhaled deeply. That was too close.