Swapping a Broken Heart for a New Start novel Chapter 283

Camila Davis was completely thrown off by his sudden gesture. She instinctively pressed her hand to her forehead, taking a few seconds to process what had just happened.

That move… it was definitely stepping outside the boundaries of a normal friendship.

Still, she didn’t dare read too much into it. After all, the memory of him tonight at the gala—cool, composed, with that air of authority—was still fresh in her mind.

Maybe he just thought she was being a hassle and was annoyed with her?

Camila’s heart skipped a beat as she carefully studied his expression.

To her surprise, Dennis Williams didn’t look as distant as she’d expected.

Right now, he seemed just like he always did back in Harrisburg. The intimidating “keep your distance” vibe was gone, replaced by the warm, familiar one she knew so well.

For some reason, that made her feel a whole lot better. She quickly tried to explain herself, “I promise, I didn’t pick it up from anyone… You were busy, and I didn’t want to bother you.”

Dennis looked at her sternly. “If you’d just said something, you really think I wouldn’t have come to see you? You’re sick, Camila. You should be resting, not running around town. The gift could have waited. It wasn’t going anywhere.”

It finally dawned on Camila—he wasn’t angry about her showing up; he was upset because she hadn’t taken care of herself.

Even though Mr. Williams had always been out of reach, it felt like, deep down, nothing had changed.

Feeling suddenly at ease, Camila flashed him a smile. “Honestly, I felt fine after dinner. And… I thought it’d be fun to surprise you.”

Dennis’s eyes darkened just a bit, and he replied dryly, “A surprise? More like a scare. You nearly passed out right in front of me. If I hadn’t stepped out for a moment, who knows what would’ve happened?”

The soup smelled amazing, hearty and comforting. Camila needed her strength, so she didn’t refuse, sipping it slowly.

While she ate, Dennis finally took a closer look at the bracelet she’d given him back at the reception—he’d only had a quick glance before.

The smooth wooden beads were beautifully polished, with a subtle, pleasant scent—definitely not cheap. The intricately carved bead in the center, which he hadn’t noticed before, was actually a small dragon.

Inside the beads, there was a sliver of jade, enclosing a tiny compartment for medicine. The craftsmanship was impressive.

Dennis’s expression softened as he turned to Camila. “What made you think of giving me this?”

Camila hesitated, then answered honestly, “I always see you wearing that old rosary bracelet. It looks nice, so… I thought you’d like something similar. I spent weeks finding the right kind of wood—supposed to be calming—and the dragon was… well, your zodiac sign. The jade inside is to keep the scent of the wood and the medicine from mixing. My friend’s a jeweler and helped put it all together.”