Swapping a Broken Heart for a New Start novel Chapter 457

Camila Davis blinked, completely caught off guard. “B-boyfriend?”

Mary nodded, pretty sure she hadn’t messed this up.

After all, Lillian had already started calling the guy “Dad.”

Honestly, Mary was surprised Ms. Davis had found such a good-looking man so soon after the divorce. But hey, that guy was every bit as handsome and charming as Jordan Smith. Maybe even more.

That’s when Camila realized who Mary was talking about—and she couldn’t help but laugh.

“Oh, no, you’ve got it all wrong,” Camila explained quickly. “He’s not my boyfriend. Seriously, don’t go telling people that!”

She stood up, brushing off her lab coat, and asked, “Where are they now?”

Mary pointed down the hallway, toward the sitting room.

Camila nodded and headed off to find them.

As soon as she walked in, she spotted her daughter, Lillian, perched at the table, nose practically pressed to a little aquarium.

Inside, a handful of colorful fish darted around, clearly happy as can be.

Lillian was so absorbed, she didn’t even notice her mom at first.

Near her, Dennis Williams sat keeping a watchful eye. When Camila entered, he glanced up, sensing her arrival.

Her lab coat made her look different—more professional, a little distant, but Dennis was used to it by now.

He didn’t stare, just offered her a gentle smile. “Hope we didn’t interrupt your work?”

“Not at all,” Camila shook her head. “I was just about to call it a day.”

She glanced at Lillian and asked, “So, Mr. Williams, where’d you two go today?”

Dennis looked down fondly at the little girl. “Took her to the aquarium. She loved the fish.”

Right on cue, Lillian finally noticed her mom. She bounced over and grabbed Camila’s hand, bubbling with excitement. “Mom, look! Dad got me these fishies!”

Camila peeked into the tank—and realized there was more than just fish inside. There, floating gracefully, were tiny, pale-pink jellyfish. Their delicate tentacles swayed in the water, looking almost magical.

Lillian beamed. “Can we keep them? Please? I really want to!”

Relieved to move on, Camila nodded. “Give me a second, I’ll get changed.”

A quick change later, she gathered up Lillian, and the three of them headed home.

When they walked in, Camila and Lillian immediately noticed the shiny new aquarium in the living room. It wasn’t huge, so it didn’t take over the space, but it looked like a little slice of the ocean—complete with colorful coral decorations and high-tech gadgets on top.

Lillian was in awe, pressing her face to the glass to watch the fish.

Dennis grinned. “Don’t worry, Ms. Davis. I got advice from a professional. They’ll be just fine.”

Then he knelt down and showed Lillian how to care for her new pets—feeding them, checking the equipment, keeping the water clean. Lillian listened intently, eyes wide.

Later, once the fish had gotten used to the new water, Aaron transferred them from the travel tank to their new home. The aquarium looked a bit empty with only a handful of tiny fish swimming around, hiding among the coral.

Dennis stood beside Lillian, watching her fascination. “We could get a few more fish, if you want. What kind do you like?”

Lillian rested her chin in her hands, thinking hard. “Can we have a shark?”

Camila’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. Her sweet little girl—wanting to keep a shark?