Swapping a Broken Heart for a New Start novel Chapter 82

Camila Davis couldn’t help but feel deeply grateful, thanking Aaron over and over again.

Aaron just waved it off. “Hey, don’t mention it. No big deal.”

He had a flight to catch back to Cabinda, so after dropping off what he’d brought, he didn’t stick around. He was out the door in no time.

Camila had been running on empty all day and wasn’t about to hang around either. After saying goodbye to Mr. White, she packed up and headed home.

On the way back, Lillian dozed off, curled up against Camila’s chest, still clutching her harmonica like it was treasure.

Camila noticed, but didn’t try to take it away—Lillian was out cold, but her little fingers weren’t about to let go.

It had been a long, exhausting day, and though she hadn’t managed to meet Mr. Williams, Camila felt like she’d finally made some progress.

Honestly, it was the most relaxed she’d felt in days.

By the time they got home, the tension eased from her shoulders, and exhaustion hit her like a brick. She lay down with Lillian, and before she knew it, they both drifted off.

When she woke up again, it was already past 8 p.m., and both mother and daughter were starving, their stomachs growling loud enough to wake the neighbors.

Camila freshened up and hurried Lillian downstairs for dinner.

What she didn’t expect was to walk into the living room to find Sandra Taylor’s son, Daniel, sprawled out on the rug, playing with his toys.

And there was Jordan Smith, legs crossed on the sofa, skimming through a stack of paperwork.

The two of them looked pretty cozy, bathed in the warm glow of the lamp. Honestly, they looked like father and son.

Camila’s face clouded instantly. She blurted out, “Why is he here again?”

After the last fiasco, she’d assumed Jordan understood exactly how wary she was of this kid.

Jordan frowned at her, his tone chilly, maybe even annoyed. “Sandra’s busy with a new project, and Daniel’s just gotten over being sick. There’s no one at home to watch him, so I brought him over. Seriously, Camila, do you have to be so hostile to a child?”

Camila didn’t even blink.

What, like she wasn’t supposed to be cautious around a kid who was nothing but trouble?

Daniel’s eyes darted up, and he put on his best innocent face. “Sorry, Camila. I didn’t mean to bother you. I promise I’ll be good. I can play with Lillian, too…”

Lillian shrank a little closer to her mom, clearly not interested in making friends. She barely looked at Daniel.

But Daniel wasn’t about to give up. He scooted closer, waving a handful of new toys. “Lillian, I brought some cool stuff. Want to share?”

Camila smiled, ruffled her hair, and hurried out to the living room.

But when she got there, the sheet music was nowhere to be found.

She wondered if the housekeeper had tidied it away—until her eyes landed on Daniel.

And then she saw it: the sheet music, flattened under the foot of a newly-assembled Transformer.

Her blood ran cold when she spotted a drawing next to it—Lillian’s, a gift from Mr. Williams, just brought home that evening, tucked inside the music sheets.

Camila raced over and snatched up the drawing.

It had been a sweet, lively picture of a little girl and her puppy. Now, the paint was smudged beyond recognition, a corner torn clean off.

The artwork was ruined.

Camila’s anger boiled over, her hands shaking as she held what was left.

“Who said you could touch Lillian’s things? Didn’t your mother ever teach you not to mess with other people’s stuff when you’re a guest?” she snapped at Daniel, voice trembling with fury. “Do you have any manners at all?”

She yanked the music sheets out from under the toy, her patience gone.