Swapping a Broken Heart for a New Start novel Chapter 810

Camila Davis couldn’t turn back time, nor could she undo what had already happened.

All she could do was squeeze her parents’ hands in apology and say softly, “Dad, Mom, I’m so sorry for making you worry.”

Seeing their daughter still thinking of them at a moment like this, Melissa’s eyes grew even more glassy with unshed tears. She shook her head quickly. “You don’t need to say that to us. As long as you’re safe, that’s all we care about.”

Dennis Williams’s heart tightened slightly when he saw Camila’s parents arrive—he hadn’t expected them, not tonight. Their presence hadn’t been part of his calculations.

At that moment, Father Benedict stepped forward, filling in the question Camila had first asked. “Someone sent your parents an invitation, but it was anonymous. Clearly, the intent wasn’t innocent—whoever it was wanted them to witness that little spectacle firsthand. Maybe they were even hoping for a public outburst, hoping your parents would lose control and ruin the entire gala, turning the whole thing into a laughingstock.”

He spoke with a trace of anger, but then his tone shifted, flushing with satisfaction. “But I bet they never imagined just how resilient you’d be—or that you’d have so many people on your side! Their little scheme fell flat.”

Mrs. Molly snorted, picking up on his point. “Whoever’s behind this really had some nasty intentions.”

Camila’s eyes darkened as she listened, realizing just how deep the scheming ran. So this, too, was part of Lavinia Roberts’s machinations. Thankfully, she’d managed to keep her composure—and she owed that, in no small part, to Father Benedict, and to Dennis Williams’s careful guidance these past few weeks. Without them, she never would have met the remarkable people standing beside her now.

If not for that, Dennis Williams would have been the only one able to step in for her tonight. She would have had to rely on him alone, and not only would that have left her feeling powerless, it would have drawn him into the firing line once again.

Only now did Camila deeply understand why Dennis and Father Benedict had insisted she take on Mrs. Molly’s treatment. These connections—they belonged to her. She’d earned them through her own skills. Their recognition was her greatest support. It was something she could lean on, not just tonight, but at any gala, dinner party, or high-society event from now on.

With their backing tonight, no one in this city would dare look down on her again.

Camila glanced around the ballroom. She saw it clearly: the way people looked at her had changed. Gone was the contempt and dismissiveness. Now their eyes held respect—and even admiration.

Camila’s smile blossomed as she chatted with them, taking the chance to introduce her parents to Neville Parsons and Mrs. Molly.

Mr. and Mrs. Davis were deeply grateful to these people for standing up for their daughter, though a little nervous at first—the gap in status was hard to ignore. But Neville Parsons and Mrs. Molly put them instantly at ease. Mrs. Molly even took Melissa’s hand and praised her for raising such a wonderful daughter. The Sanders couple, already old friends, joined in with even more warmth and familiarity.

Soon, the elders were deep in lively conversation, leaving Camila and Dennis Williams—the “junior” generation—no chance to get a word in edgewise.

Camila didn’t mind at all. Taking advantage of her parents’ distraction, she slipped her hand around Dennis’s arm, her voice low and full of gratitude. “Thank you for arranging all of this.”

She knew full well that Lavinia Roberts had set the trap tonight. But Camila wasn’t naïve—she realized Dennis had also pulled some strings behind the scenes, making sure everything happened just so. Otherwise, how could it be that all three of these influential figures just happened to show up at this gala? Mrs. Molly and her godfather, Sarah, were one thing, but Mr. Parsons’s schedule was packed—he never had time for social events like this.

Clearly, someone had made sure he was here, and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect.