Crises in Love (Zora and Jaylan)
Chapter 515

Camilla was looking and feeling quite different today, and I couldn't quite put my finger on what had changed. I guessed that she was just thrilled to be picking up Fidelia.

There was an unmistakable aura about her, a far cry from the ostrich with her head in the sand that I'd known before.

"Camilla, I'm genuinely happy to see you," I said after she finished exchanging pleasantries with the kids and approached her.

"Aaliyah, you've been such a gem. I didn't want to trouble you with driving Fidelia back and forth, so I decided to come get her myself. Needed a little break, and thought I'd pop by to visit your parents." Camilla's smile was so down-to-earth.

Her words were beyond reproach.

"I've never been to Silverdale City, and after seeing all the photos and videos Fidelia sent me, I just couldn't resist the urge. So, I took this chance to visit. I didn't give you a heads-up, hope I'm not intruding." She finished with an awkward grin, nervously swallowing.

Hannah, hearing this, grabbed her things and left, clearly done with the conversation.

I kept my smile bright, "Camilla, please, you're always welcome here, though you've picked a bit of a tight time. School's starting in just a few days, and I wish you could stay longer."

After saying that, I gestured for her to follow, "Let's head back, and my mom's cooking knowing you're coming."

"How could I let her go to all that trouble?" she replied, reaching out to pick up Carl.

Carl shrugged off her hand, "No, I want Mommy to hold me."

She paused, looking at me with a hint of embarrassment. I quickly explained, "Carl had a bit of a scare recently, and now he's all clingy and doesn't want anyone else." "What happened?" she asked, her face a picture of concern.

"We can talk about it later because he understands everything," I whispered, not wanting to discuss the matter in front of Carl.

Camilla nodded. "OK."

I got Carl down and took his hand, leading him gently because he was getting too heavy for me to carry.

As we walked and talked, I showed Camilla the sights of Oldtown Avenue.

She looked around with envy, asking cautiously, "Is all of this yours?"

I smiled lightly, "Not all of it, a lot of it is communal."

She sighed, "How did Jaylan just...?"

She glanced at me and didn't finish her sentence.

I didn't respond, thinking to myself that even if I hadn't divorced him, he wouldn't have any stake in this place.

Once home, Camilla exclaimed, "Aaliyah, I know this place like the back of my hand. Fidelia has shown me photos, saying the house from the Wilburn family is grand. And it truly is, even more so than in the pictures."

Her eyes sparkled with curiosity, a look of greed I had never seen in her before.

Camilla kept marveling, "Such grandeur, it must cost a pretty penny to buy a place like this now, right?"

Hannah, who had arrived earlier, chimed in, "The thing is, even if you had the money, you couldn't buy it. Money isn't everything, you know."

She took Carl from me, "Come on, there's lots of yummy food. I will show you."

Carl's drool started flowing at the mention of food. He clapped his hands, "I want to eat."

As we entered the living room, my mom hurried out of the kitchen.

Honestly, it was their first meeting, which was a bit funny. Living in the Dawson family for years without knowing each other and now, after I'd left the Dawson family, we were getting acquainted.

After the pleasantries, Camilla was in the kitchen regardless of my mom's protests. She had an excuse for everything, leaving my mom bemused and looking to me for answers. I just shrugged, letting her be. My mom joined her in the kitchen, and soon it was bustling more than the living room.

Dinner was a lively affair, with Galen even inviting the Damon family over since Fidelia had grown close to them during her stay.

We ate late into the night, the conversation flowing freely.

Camilla was unexpectedly outgoing, a stark contrast to her reclusive self back in the Dawson family. She answered every question and expressed her gratitude smoothly.

But what I didn't expect was the unpleasant incident that unfolded in the middle of the night.