Swapping a Broken Heart for a New Start novel Chapter 144

Camila Davis blinked, momentarily spacing out.

Lillian, on the other hand, was used to seeing Dennis Williams like this. She didn’t seem fazed at all.

Instead, she snuggled up to Dennis, her small frame pressing into his side as she chirped, “Uncle Dennis, you smell nice—like cookies!”

Camila snapped back to reality and realized Lillian was right. There was a subtle, crisp scent on Dennis—like cedarwood, but fresher, the kind of cologne that screamed good taste.

Dennis chuckled, ruffling Lillian’s hair. He didn’t respond to her comment, just glanced at Camila and said, “Hop in, Ms. Davis.”

Camila nodded, about to climb into the back seat, when Aaron suddenly pointed out, “Ms. Davis? I think someone’s looking for you.”

She turned, puzzled, and spotted a car pulling up a little ways down the street.

A very familiar figure stepped out.

Jordan Smith.

He’d clearly seen her, too. The moment his feet hit the pavement, he was striding straight for them.

Camila’s eyes narrowed. She stepped back from the car and told Dennis, “Sorry, Mr. Williams. I need a minute.”

Dennis didn’t seem to mind, giving a polite nod.

Camila closed the car door and waited, icy-eyed, as Jordan walked up.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, her tone frosty.

Jordan glanced at Aaron, then peered into the car, as if trying to see who else might be inside. But the windows were tinted—no chance.

He frowned. “Where’s Lillian? Didn’t you say she had a recital? I just finished a meeting and rushed over.”

Camila almost laughed at how easily the lies tripped off his tongue.

“A meeting?” she sneered. “You mean the PTA meeting at the other daycare—with your ‘pride and joy’ son? What are you doing here, Jordan? You’ve already got the kid you can brag about. Why are you bothering with Lillian now? You’re so fake it makes me sick.”

Jordan’s face tightened, clearly caught off guard.

His immediate reaction was, “Were you spying on me?”

Camila Davis. Even while still married, she dared to surround herself with men! How had he never realized she was so… unfaithful?

—

Inside the car, the mood was considerably calmer.

Camila, now buckled in, barely showed any sign of her earlier anger. She’d stopped expecting anything from Jordan long ago; nothing he did could really hurt her at this point.

She turned to Dennis with a sigh. “I’m sorry you got dragged into this, Mr. Williams.”

Dennis just nodded, unconcerned. He already knew the basics from Larry Adams, and Lillian’s situation spoke volumes.

“No worries,” he said. Changing the subject, he smiled at Lillian. “She’s really talented. Maybe you could set her a challenge—like drawing something every day. People, places, whatever she likes. It’ll help her learn discipline. And if you give her time limits for other activities, it might keep her from getting too lost in her own world.”

As soon as Dennis started talking about Lillian, Camila’s mood lifted. She listened intently.

Dennis asked, “Still keeping up with music?”

“Absolutely!” Camila replied, pulling out her phone and queuing up a video. “She loves the harmonica you gave her—plays it every morning. Here, take a look…”