Chapter 4 "Cami"

• "Don't speak, you need to sleep... "he gestured to push her away so he could see her small face, but only succeeded in making her cling tighter to his neck
• "No! Don't leave me alone! You left and she, she is b... bad "she said through tears.
• "Cami "he couldn't contain the sorrow he felt seeing his little sister so hurt and broke down crying while trying to comfort her with gentle strokes on her tangled hair after a sad and long night. From the doorway, Matt and Noel watched nervously, unsure of what to do to calm them down.
• "I..."
• "I'll take care of it "Matt said, asking them to leave them alone.
• "Are you...? "Noel doubted.
• "Go downstairs "he cut him off, then approached Victoria, kneeling beside her, wrapping his hand around her waist, careful not to touch Camille's curled up legs.
• "Hello Cami "he greeted with a tender and soft voice. He was uncomfortable. Cami pulled her face out of its hiding place in her sister's neck and met those intense sky blue eyes watching her with concern.
• "Are you my sister's... boyfriend? "she asked between sobs and tears.
• "Yes, do you like that I am? "he responded very calmly.
• "No "she said simply.
• "Why not? "he asked, surprised.
• "Cami, let's go to your room? "Victoria intervened.
• "I don't want to, I want to stay with you forever "she cried again.
• "Silly, I'm not going anywhere "he said to calm her down.
• "But you went to Mr. R's house... you left me alone..."
• "I promise it won't happen again, never again "Matt offered, to calm them both down.
• "How will you do that? "she asked, wiping away her tears. Now she had the full attention of the little girl.
• "You can call Todd whenever you want, he has a car, you can go with Victoria, or you can bring him to you, whenever you want"
• "Are you serious? "Cami asked eagerly.
• "Of course "he smiled affectionately at her.
• After a brief reconciling silence, Victoria took the lead and with Matt's help, she stood up without letting go of her sister.
• "Okay, now I need you to rest, do you feel sleepy? "she asked with affection, looking into her little brown eyes.
• "Yes, my throat hurts... "she confessed with a pained expression.
• "Okay, tonight you're going to sleep at my house, does that sound good to you Cami? "Matt intervened again.
• "In your mansion? "she got excited, showing her smile.
• "Yes, but you have to do something for me "he paused to gauge her reaction.
• "What is it? "she was now excited and happy to get out of there.
• "We're going to the doctor to have your throat checked"
• "Okay "she responded immediately.
• "Now go get your things "he asked without taking his eyes off Victoria. She couldn't help but notice that he was planning something in his head.
• "What are you doing? "Victoria asked in a low voice.
• "Victoria "he whispered "What is it? "he insisted.
• "His throat and... His cheek, one of my lawyers will come to see Hank, I already notified my assistant I need everything to be recorded, he hit Cami "he explained without measuring his reaction to her cold words.
• "Don't remind me! I know! "she said as she rubbed her arms against the chill that it caused her.
• "Come here, I'm sorry. He pulled her into a protective embrace, caressing her back with great affection, until the chill that had disturbed her disappeared."
• "It's a precaution in case she wants to take her away, there's no way she's going to take money from her "he explained, determined to move forward with his plan.
• "You're taking this very personally "she whispered, surprised by the coldness with which he was planning everything in his head.
• "It is, everything that concerns your world, I take it seriously."
• Without words, he showed it in his eyes for a few silent minutes, until he let her go...
• "You say it as if we were going to..."
• "Yes "he cut her off" We are going to do it "he affirmed decisively.
• "But... We need to talk, don't avoid the subject, Matt."
• "It doesn't matter to talk, when something enters my head I don't rest until I fulfill it."
• "I am not "something", get it into your little head that if you want to bring someone into your perfect and square life, your decisions will not be yours alone, never again "she explained, visibly upset by his possessive attitude.
• "First you have to marry me "he smiled with satisfaction at her reaction.
• "I say it in general, you keep saying what will happen, it's your problem, I'm not going to do anything, I don't know at what point we are, this is confusing."
• "I'm not familiar with following other people's rules, I have mine very clear."
• "Maniac "she accused him "You said it "he smiled mockingly, showing his perfect teeth.
• "It was just to annoy the witches and you know it."
• "I also know that I want to have that "he held her firmly against his body.
• "Things will continue to be strange, you haven't asked me for anything and don't get me wrong, you're not doing it, you're confusing and at this moment I don't have the head for anything other than my sister and my family."
• "I respect that, we'll leave it pending for now."
• "What a relief "she said sarcastically.
• "That sarcasm is rude "he scolded her.
• "How rude I am, uptight."
• She let out a frustrated sigh, but hiding her amusement, making him angry or contradicting him remained her favorite pastime. She ended up leaving him alone to make his calls while she went to her little sister's room. She found her packing her pillow and her favorite stuffed animal in a backpack, along with some clothes. Amused by what she saw, she helped her prepare a couple of changes of clothes, followed by her toiletries.
• With the backpack on her shoulder and Cami ready to leave, they went down to the porch, where Matt and Noel were waiting for them.
• "Noel, come with us, let's give Hank some space "Matt suggested.
• "Thank you, but I prefer to catch up with you later."
• "Of course."
• "Are we all going to sleep at Mr. R's house?"
• "Yes, Cami "Matt confirms, very serious as he looks at Victoria.
• "I have to talk to Noel for a minute, I won't be long, Cami."
• She let go of her sister's hand and immediately Todd took care of the backpack and the little girl, encouraging her to get into the car while Victoria pushed her brother inside the house.
• "What's wrong? "Noel asked, somewhat worried.
• "Is Dad okay?"
• "No, he's devastated, Jamie tore him apart, threw everything in his face."
• "He's showing his true colors, don't get depressed "she said with disgust.
• " I just can't understand how she can be so cruel, it's our mom " Noel confesses with anguish, he was always the closest to Jamie, being her first child Victoria was sure that she only truly loved him. Setting that aside, she could only console her brother, she wrapped him in a hug and stroked his back as she promised him that everything would be okay.
• " I want to know what she said about me that angered Cami so much, enough to intervene."
• " Vic, it's not worth it, she's just jealous of you."
• " Noel, don't make me ask Cami, tell me " she demanded calmly.
• " She said you were good for nothing, a jealous and selfish bitch."
• " Well, I expected that, it's what she would have done."
• " Don't say that."
• " I'm sorry " she apologized for her outburst.
• " ...when she started saying that you didn't love your siblings, that we disgusted you, that you didn't care about us, Cami came out of her room and intervened, she told her that her sister was good and that she loved us much more than her, referring to Jamie, she said that mom was bad and forgot about us and that you never would, and then she slapped her in the face and threw her to the ground."
• " That damn woman " she roared upon hearing what had happened.
• " Hank was about to lose his mind, he kicked her out and told her that he knew she had gotten pregnant by you just for money and to not end up on the streets after Edward kicked her out and took Evan away, he said "At least he's a smart man and knew how to recognize an opportunist.""
• " Are you serious? " she asked incredulously.
• " Yes, I..."
• " Enough of this topic, can I borrow your phone to call Evan? I can't find mine."
• " Victoria, you always end up with Evan, we never have your phone " her brother scolded her.
• " I'm sorry, dad. With a half smile on her face, she handed him her phone, but the urge to call Evan, so they wouldn't worry, disappeared immediately, before Victoria could even find his number in the contacts list, she was already calling Noel's phone."
• " Hello Evan."
• He answered, preparing for the shouts of his brother who was surely furious, he was the worst when he set his mind to it.
• "Where the hell are you?!" Evan shouted upon recognizing her voice. "With Noel, it's his phone, idiot," she laughed at the frustrated huff he let out. "Damn it, Victoria, why didn't you answer? Noel was worried and you, as usual, didn't answer. Am I going to have to tell Rothschild to teach you how to behave and not worry your family?" "Don't push it, asshole!" she shouted furiously. "What happened?" he asked, trying to contain his bad temper. "Family problems," she sighed. "Did Jamie do something?" his anger rising. "I don't want to talk about that woman, I'm about to send her to the gallows," she growled. "Tell me, now," he said, impatiently. "I told you no, I was about to call you to tell you everything was fine, or something like that, so you wouldn't get hysterical, like now." "Don't make fun, you're having dinner with me tonight, I'll pick you up at Rothschild's house." "And what if I don't want to go?" she said, trying to anger him, as temperamental as ever. "Too bad, you're going and that's it. I love you!" And before she could reply, he hung up. But she wasn't upset at all, it was the most normal conversation she had had in a long time. "Thank you, Noel," she handed him his phone. "Don't forget that I'm your brother too," he said somewhat jealous. "Noel, I don't want you to end up hating Jamie too, you love her, let it stay that way." "I'm the oldest, I'm supposed to take care of you, not the other way around." "Evan wants me to have dinner with him, do you think you can make it before I leave? So Cami won't be alone," she asked, changing the subject. "Of course, I just want to sleep for a bit and see how she's doing." "Tell her I'll take care of Cami."