When he walked into the engagement party, the place was pure chaos—a mess of toppled chairs, hushed whispers, and everyone staring at the massive screen showing photos he both recognized and barely remembered. For a second, Adam stood frozen, absolutely clueless about what was happening.
Meanwhile, someone sent by Dennis Williams arrived, gently leading Lillian inside.
“Mommy!”
The little one spotted Camila Davis across the room. She lit up like a Christmas tree, waving enthusiastically and calling out to her in her sweet, sing-song voice.
Camila, who’d been watching everything unfold with cool detachment, instantly snapped out of her trance at her daughter’s familiar call.
When she saw Lillian running toward her, Camila dropped to her knees and scooped the little girl up in a heartbeat.
“Sweetheart, are you okay? Did you get hurt at all?” she asked, her voice full of gentle concern as she quickly checked the girl over.
Lillian shook her head, her pigtails bouncing. “Nope, Mommy! I was hiding, just like you taught me. I’m all good!”
Camila checked again—no scratches, not a single hair out of place. Relief washed over her.
“I’m so glad, honey. Sorry Mommy was late,” she murmured, planting a soft kiss on Lillian’s cheek.
Lillian threw her arms around her mom’s neck. “Don’t worry, Mommy! Daddy kept me safe. Can we go now, please? I don’t like it here. My friend Molly from school is waiting for me. We promised we’d go to the ice cream shop together!”
She was eager to see her friends again, desperate to leave behind the people she didn’t like.
“Of course, sweetheart. Let’s get out of here.”
Camila understood exactly how her daughter felt. Now that everything was settled and Lillian was safe in her arms, she didn’t want to stick around either.
She turned to Sarah Brown and Walter Wilson, who’d stood by her side all afternoon. “Let’s go home.”
Neither Walter nor Sarah objected. Their mission—to stand up for Camila—was complete. Time to leave.
But just as they were about to walk out, Barbara Jones’s desperate voice rang out:
“Lillian… Lillian, honey, I’m your grandma. Please, don’t go!”
Barbara had been rattled to her core by everything that happened today. Now, her voice trembled with a mix of panic and pleading.
But Lillian remembered all too well how Barbara had treated her just moments before. She simply looked at the older woman—her big blue eyes wide, but as cold and calm as a still lake in winter.
“You’re not my grandma,” she said, her tone direct and unwavering.
Camila didn’t bother to respond to Barbara or anyone from the Jones family. When they didn’t want her or Lillian, they’d tossed them aside like yesterday’s newspaper. Now, after the truth came out, they were scrambling to make amends? It was almost laughable.



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