Swapping a Broken Heart for a New Start novel Chapter 533

Aaron was still struggling to process his suspicions when Dennis Williams’s phone suddenly rang.

He glanced down at the caller ID, then gave Aaron a curt nod. “Let’s go.”

Aaron didn’t dare ask any questions. He started the car in silence.

The phone had been ringing for quite a while. It wasn’t until the very last moment, just before the call would’ve gone to voicemail, that Dennis finally answered, his voice icy. “What is it?”

As the car pulled away from the curb, Dennis’s gaze lingered on the hotel entrance. In the dim light of the car’s interior, it was impossible to read his expression.

Meanwhile, upstairs, Camila Davis was having a rough night.

After bringing little Lillian back to their room, she’d spent ages trying to comfort her. Usually, Camila could soothe her daughter with a bedtime story or a warm mug of cocoa, but tonight, nothing seemed to work.

Lillian only managed to fall asleep after crying herself out, leaving Camila to tuck her in and lie down beside her, wide awake, staring at the ceiling.

She hadn’t anticipated how much this would affect her.

It made sense that Lillian was upset about Dennis—she saw him as a father figure, after all.

But Camila... what was her excuse?

If she’d overheard news about Walter Wilson, or any other acquaintance getting engaged, would she feel this way? No. She’d probably just send them a congratulatory text and move on.

But with Dennis? It was different—and she didn’t like where her mind was going.

No, she told herself. That’s impossible.

She’d always been painfully aware of the gap between her life and Dennis’s—their worlds barely overlapped. Gratitude, that was all she’d ever allowed herself to feel. Even when Sarah and her other friends teased her about Dennis, Camila never let herself entertain the idea.

She knew her place. After a messy divorce, she’d promised herself never to get tangled up in complicated feelings again. She was cautious, even a little wary of anything that might look like romance.

Besides, Dennis Williams wasn’t just any guy—he was Dennis Williams.

There were a hundred reasons why nothing could ever happen between them.

And yet, here she was, shaken anyway.

It wasn’t right.

Dennis was getting engaged. From now on, the woman standing beside him would be someone else—someone Camila had met tonight, actually. She was elegant, beautiful, and clearly Dennis’s equal. Anyone could see how perfect they looked together.

Camila, on the other hand, was just... Camila.

She spent the rest of the night lecturing herself, waiting for her heart to settle down.

She couldn’t sleep, so she decided to change her plans. Instead of waiting for her 10 a.m. flight, she rebooked for the first flight out—7 a.m.—and started packing.

At dawn, she bundled up Lillian and their bags and caught a cab to the airport, heading home to Harrisburg before anyone could say goodbye.

As soon as she hung up, she noticed her friend Sarah Brown giving her a suspicious look, as if she could see right through her.

Camila tried to act normal. “What? Why are you staring at me like that?”

Sarah propped her chin on her hand, shaking her head in mock seriousness. “Something’s off, Camila. You and Lillian both. Spill it—what happened on this trip to Cabinda? And why did you just lie to Mr. Williams?”

Camila hadn’t planned on saying anything. But on second thought, maybe it was better to be honest, at least with Sarah. That way, she could put an end to all the teasing and jokes.

With Susan out walking Lillian and the family dog, Lightning, Camila sat down and told Sarah the truth: Dennis Williams was getting engaged.

Sarah’s jaw dropped. “No way! You actually ran into his fiancée?”

“Yeah, met her and everything,” Camila said, forcing a weak smile.

Sarah nodded, her expression suddenly serious. “Okay, then. No more jokes. Love is one thing, but we don’t do homewreckers in this house.”

Still, she couldn’t help glancing at Camila, her tone softer now. “But really, Camila... Is this about Lillian being upset, or is it because he’s getting engaged to someone else? Are you... jealous?”

Camila blinked, caught off guard. “I... No. Of course not.”

Sarah just raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. “You sure about that? ‘Cause from where I’m sitting, it looks like you are.”

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