Swapping a Broken Heart for a New Start novel Chapter 155

I couldn’t believe it. A family this big, this powerful—bullying a little kid who’s barely three years old? I’d heard about dysfunctional families, but these people really took the cake.

The so-called "first family" of the city, and this is how they act? What a joke.

“Camila, all I did was let her get a taste of her own medicine, and suddenly you all can't handle it?”

“Fine, you want to call the cops? Here, I’ll do it myself. Maybe you should call the press too, let everyone see what you’re really like!”

With that, Camila whipped out her phone, ready to dial.

“Stop!”

Jordan Smith stepped in, his face thunderous.

He was still processing what Sarah Brown had said, but his eyes drifted to Lillian.

The little one’s porcelain skin was blotched red in a few places—most noticeably her cheeks.

Everyone else stared at Lillian, shocked into silence by the sight of her flushed and teary face.

Camila couldn’t be bothered to argue any longer. She scooped Lillian into her arms and swept past the crowd without a word.

Sarah Brown and Lightning—their golden retriever—hurried after her.

Only then did Barbara Jones, who’d been hiding out in the storage room, dare to make a sound.

Mason Smith rushed in to help his wife up, peeling the duct tape from her face.

As soon as he touched it, Barbara let out a scream.

Mason, clueless, thought she was just furious. He yanked the tape off even faster.

But the tape didn’t just stick to her skin—it caught her hair too.

By the time it was all off, she’d lost a few strands, and her face was a mess of angry red marks. Some spots even looked like the skin had peeled, stinging sharply.

Barbara was livid. “That ungrateful brat, Camila, she actually did this to me? Jordan, go get her back, now!”

She was ready to make Camila pay.

But Jordan’s expression was as dark as a thundercloud. “Enough! You want to keep this up? Why did you mess with Lillian in the first place? She’s just a kid. Did you even think about what could happen? Isn’t this family’s reputation already enough of a circus?”

Barbara shook with rage.

As far as she was concerned, it wasn’t enough at all. Camila had humiliated her—and taken photos, too.

Barbara’s heart softened; Daniel was such a good boy, so sweet and considerate—unlike Camila’s little girl. That child was odd, withdrawn, nothing like a real Smith. Daniel, now, he was everything a Smith heir should be.

…

Once they’d left the Smith Estate, Camila checked Lillian over again in the car, making sure she wasn’t hurt. She dabbed some soothing cream on the red marks, her heart aching.

She worried Lillian might be traumatized, but Lightning was curled up in her lap, making her giggle and distract her. Soon enough, the two were playing in the backseat as if nothing had happened.

Camila finally let herself relax.

Only then did Sarah Brown ask what had really happened. She’d rushed over with Lightning as soon as she got the call, but hadn’t heard the details.

Camila filled her in, keeping it brief.

Sarah’s face turned red with anger when she heard how Barbara had forced Camila to quit The Wilson Group and demanded a $50 million divorce settlement. “She’s got some nerve! Her own son was the one cheating! How does she even sleep at night?”

Camila’s expression was icy. There was no way she was giving them a cent.

Barbara had tried to use Lillian as leverage—that was unforgivable. Camila would never let that slide.

Later, back home, Camila gave Lightning a special treat for his part in finding Lillian. After lunch, she called the detective agency to check on the latest evidence they’d gathered. She was determined to fight back—this time, on her own terms.