Swapping a Broken Heart for a New Start novel Chapter 354

“Come on, even if any of that were true, how much of a loser would you have to be?”

“Seriously, five years together, and you’re telling me a couple months of someone else being nice to her is all it takes? And you have the nerve to bring that up?”

“If I were you, I’d be embarrassed!”

“You—”

Jordan Smith’s face turned the color of a thundercloud.

How had he never realized just how sharp Camila could be with her words?

He took a shaky breath, trying to keep his cool. “Camila Davis, I’m taking Lillian home with me today, one way or another. If she won’t come, then you can both come. I insist.”

He said it like he was doing her some huge favor, as if his invitation was some kind of generous gift.

Camila stared at him, looking like she’d just heard the funniest joke in the world.

“You want me to go out to dinner with you?” she asked, incredulous.

Jordan’s answer was cold, almost robotic: “It’s your duty as her mother.”

Camila didn’t know whether to laugh or gag. “Show me the law that says a divorced mom has to play happy family over burgers and fries with her ex. Honestly, the idea makes me lose my appetite.”

“Oh, and since you never loved me in the first place, why don’t you stop acting like some tragic dad from a bad sitcom? It’s honestly pathetic. Go home and take care of your precious first love’s kid.”

“My daughter’s been fatherless for a while now, and we’re doing just fine.”

With that, Camila scooped Lillian up and breezed past him, refusing to let either of them stand there and take any more of his self-pity.

Jordan stood frozen, jaw clenched, anger radiating off him. He honestly couldn’t believe Camila had spoken to him that way. She’d actually said he made her sick?

Not long ago, she’d been hopelessly in love with him. How could she really be over it? He didn’t buy it for a second.

But then he remembered the man he’d seen her with earlier, and something twisted painfully in his chest. Frustrated and helpless, Jordan finally stormed off.

From a second-story classroom window, Larry Adams watched the whole scene unfold. Not that he meant to eavesdrop, but Jordan had been lurking outside all day like he was auditioning for a stalker movie. Larry had worried Camila would show up and get dragged into some drama, so he’d kept an eye on things.

“And I know why you didn’t want to go with him,” Camila added, giving her a knowing smile.

Lillian nodded, tears forgotten, and burrowed into Camila’s arms like a kitten seeking warmth.

She mumbled, “I don’t like Daddy. I don’t like Mr. Williams or his mom either—they don’t like me. But I love Grandpa and Grandma, and Sarah, and Lightning, and most of all, you, Mommy. You all love me.”

“And Uncle Dennis… he feels like a real dad.”

This was the first time Camila had heard her daughter speak so honestly about who she liked—and who she didn’t.

Camila hugged her tighter, her heart melting. “And I love you most in the whole world, Lillian. You’re my treasure.”

Lillian’s face broke into a shy smile, her mood finally lifted.

Wanting to keep her daughter from dwelling on the hurtful scene, Camila quickly changed the subject. “So you said it was Amelia’s birthday today at school? She gave you some candy? Tell me all about it!”

Lillian’s eyes lit up, and she chattered away about her day, all the way home. By the time they walked through the front door, it was like nothing bad had ever happened at all.