Chapter 74

Twenty minutes later, Damien returned with Chloe.

Helena's eyes immediately locked onto the little girl, bypassing Damien completely. Her face lit up with a grandmother's delight. "You're back, darling!"

"Hi, Grandma!" Chloe sprinted toward Helena. After receiving a tight hug and having her hair playfully tousled, the child finally turned to Camille. "Hi, Mommy."

Camille responded with a soft hum. As she embraced her daughter, the faintest trace of Selene's expensive perfume clung to Chloe's clothes.

She chose not to comment. Instead, she simply gave Chloe a gentle push toward the dining area.

Damien took the seat beside Helena and slid a carefully wrapped package across the table. "My apologies."

It contained Helena's favorite rare Arabica coffee beans - the kind money couldn't easily buy these days.

Helena recognized the peace offering for Damien's absence during their last family gathering.

She huffed dramatically. "You've appeased me, but what about Camille? Did you bring her anything?"

Damien remained silent, his gaze flickering briefly toward Camille.

Just a glance. Empty of any real emotion.

Helena had meant to prompt Damien to show more consideration toward his wife.

But Camille no longer needed such gestures.

She kept her eyes averted. "Grandma, the food's getting cold. Let's eat," she said with practiced ease.

Helena assumed Camille was protecting Damien again.

Just like all those times before when she'd make excuses for his neglect.

The older woman sighed. "You always take his side."

Camille simply smiled, offering no defense.

Damien's expression remained as unreadable as ever, unaffected by his wife's apparent defense.

But time was passing, and the meal couldn't wait any longer.

Helena stood, taking Chloe's small hand in hers. "It's been too long since we dined together, sweetheart. Sit by me tonight?"

Chloe nodded obediently. "Okay."

"Such a good girl." Helena shot Damien a meaningful look as she spoke.

Camille recognized her grandmother-in-law's not-so-subtle matchmaking attempt.

She didn't bother checking Damien's reaction, simply following Helena to the dining room.

As she took her seat across from Helena and Chloe, she caught movement in her periphery - Damien pulling out the chair beside hers.

Finally satisfied, Helena beamed. When the first course arrived, she instructed Damien, "Serve Camille first."

Camille kept her gaze lowered. "It's fine, Grandma. I can—"

Her protest died as Damien placed her favorite mashed potatoes before her.

She hesitated. "Thank you."

Silence from Damien.

Helena's instructions always carried deeper meaning - she wanted Damien to anticipate Camille's needs throughout the meal.

So when Camille reached for a dish, Damien would immediately pass it. He remembered her preferences perfectly.

But this meant nothing to Camille.

After years of these dinners, even someone with average memory would recall such details.

After dinner, Damien engaged Helena in conversation.

Camille listened quietly from the side, never initiating conversation with her husband, rarely meeting his eyes.

Helena sighed, noticing the complete lack of connection between the couple despite their years of marriage.

By nine, Helena began showing signs of fatigue, waving them off to retire for the night.