章 7: A Dance Of Lies.

As Camille approached Richard Moore, the sharpness of her steps echoed through the hall, her mind racing with the realization that the woman standing at the altar was not who she had been led to believe. Her blood boiled with a mix of confusion and anger, threatening to overwhelm her.

Claire, standing beside Richard, caught sight of Camille's determined approach and instinctively took a step back. Richard, however, remained oblivious to the growing storm, his face set in the polite mask he wore around guests. But as Camille's piercing gaze locked with his, he couldn't help but sense the tension in the air.

Camille's voice broke the silence, steely and cold. "Excuse me, Mr. Moore. I must speak with you—privately."

Richard, sensing the gravity in her tone, nodded curtly and gestured for Claire to step aside. Though his face betrayed no emotion, an unease stirred within him. What could this be about?

Richard spoke, his voice calm but weary. "Of course, Mrs. Hargrave. What is it?"

Claire, watching from a distance, couldn't suppress a quiet murmur of confusion. What does she want with him? She seems furious. With a glance at Camille's tense posture, Claire reluctantly stepped away, her mind racing with possibilities.

As Camille and Richard walked a few steps away from the crowd, Claire discreetly followed behind them, staying out of sight.

Camille's breath hitched. The polite facades, the small talk—it was all gone. "Where is Maya?" she demanded, her voice no longer restrained by the mask of civility.

Richard's eyes widened, but he quickly masked his surprise. She found out already? How? Panic flickered in his chest, but he pushed it down. He couldn't afford to show weakness now.

Claire, hiding just behind a pillar, stifled a gasp. She found out so quickly? Her mind spun, uncertainty creeping in as she listened to their exchange.

"I asked for your daughter, yet you gave me a maid?" Camille's voice was thick with disbelief, each word dripping with contempt.

Richard shook his head frantically. "That's not the case, Mrs. Hargrave. Evelina isn't a maid—she is my daughter. My oldest daughter."

Camille's eyes narrowed, her gaze sharp enough to cut through steel. "Do you seriously take me for a fool, Mr. Moore?" Her voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "Your wife claimed…"

She paused, suspicion creeping into her thoughts. Could Evelina be an illegitimate child? It's not impossible… Camille's mind raced, but she wouldn't give Richard the satisfaction of showing doubt.

"So this is the truth, then? The maid… is your daughter?" Her words were laced with venom, the realization settling in like a bitter pill.

Richard flinched, but his voice remained steady, though he couldn't hide the tightness around his jaw. "Yes, Mrs. Hargrave. Evelina is my daughter." His tone was firm, but Camille could hear the barely restrained frustration behind it.

Camille's hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms as she fought to keep her composure. How could he have let this happen? The weight of it all pressed down on her chest.

Her voice snapped, raw with fury. "How could you—how could you let her marry my son?! You've disgraced my family, Richard. This… this is what you've brought into the Hargrave name?"

Richard's eyes darkened, his voice dropping to a lower, more threatening tone. "Evelina may not be who you expected, but she is my daughter. Maya ran away to God knows where, and—"

"Maya ran away?" Camille's voice was dangerously low, her eyes narrowing as she focused on Richard, unwilling to let him deflect the conversation.

Claire, eavesdropping from behind the pillar, bit her lip in frustration. I need to turn the tables in Maya's favor… Her mind churned with thoughts, plotting her next move, but for now, she had to remain in the shadows.

Richard took a step closer, his presence imposing, but Camille wasn't deterred. She was beyond reasoning, beyond caring about polite gestures. Her voice was a low hiss, laden with venom. "You stand there, in front of me, pretending like nothing has happened. But you've allowed this woman—this maid—to marry my son. What are you trying to do, Richard? Destroy my family?"

Richard's jaw tightened, and for the first time, a flicker of emotion crossed his face—regret, frustration, or perhaps guilt. It was fleeting, but Camille caught it.

"I never wanted this for you, Mrs. Hargrave," Richard said, his voice clipped, but there was an edge to it. "But I cannot change what has already been done. I deeply apologised , if maya had not run away this wouldnt have happened"

Camille's eyes narrowed, her face a mask of controlled fury, but she took a deep breath and let go of her grip on the tension for the moment. "I see," she said, her voice eerily calm, though the fire still simmered beneath. "So Evelina really is also your daughter."

Richard nodded slowly, unsure where this would go next. "Yes. I've told you the truth, Mrs Hargrave."

Camille tilted her head slightly, as though carefully weighing his words. Then, with chilling precision, she turned to face him fully, her posture rigid. "I'm not here to argue with you, Richard."

Richard opened his mouth to respond, but Camille raised a hand, silencing him. "I'll believe you," she said flatly, her tone devoid of warmth. Her eyes, however, were cold and calculating. "I'll accept this for now. But if I find out she isn't your daughter... you know what I'm capable of."

"Does this mean our companies can still partner?" Richard asked, a greedy glint flashing in his eyes.

Camille scoffed, a sneer curling her lips. Ah, so that's all he cares about.

Camille turned back to Richard, her words cold and final. "Yes, of course."

Richard swallowed hard, a strained smile on his lips as he nodded. "You won't regret this decision. I promise."

Camille didn't respond. She turned on her heel, leaving him standing motionless behind her.

As she walked away, Claire stepped forward, her voice cutting through the tense silence. "You're letting him off too easily."

Camille didn't even glance back, her tone dripping with venom. "Were you eavesdropping?"

Claire's eyes narrowed, but she chose to hold her tongue. She'd have to find another way to twist the situation to her advantage.

"I apologize, Mrs. Hargrave," Claire said evenly. "But I wanted to know if he was in trouble. He is my husband, after all."

Camille stopped and turned sharply to face her, her gaze piercing. "What is it that you want?"

Claire's expression was calm, almost calculated. "I came here to clarify the things my husband said."

"First of all, he's right about Evelina being his daughter, but she's his illegitimate child. And because of that, she's always been envious of Maya. In fact, she even encouraged Maya to run away with her fiancé!"

Claire's voice trembled slightly as she leaned closer to Camille, her words spilling out in a hushed, urgent tone.

"Evelina has always been a thorn in Maya's side. She's manipulative—always playing the victim while stirring up trouble behind the scenes. I wouldn't put it past her to scheme like this."

Camille's eyes widened, a flicker of shock and intrigue crossing her face. "Are you saying Evelina deliberately sabotaged Maya's engagement just to take her place?"

Claire nodded, her expression grim and calculated. "Exactly. She's envied Maya's life for years—the attention, the admiration, and now, the future she was meant to have. Evelina isn't as innocent as she pretends to be."

A tense silence followed, the weight of Claire's accusation hanging in the air.

"But why would Mr. Moore allow it?" Camille asked finally, her tone sharp with suspicion.

Claire hesitated, then lowered her voice further. "He's always been soft on Evelina—probably out of guilt. Letting her marry into the Hargrave family would be his way of legitimizing her, erasing the stain of her birth. He'd do anything to protect his reputation."

Camille's frown deepened, her brows furrowing as she mulled over the revelation. "This changes everything. If what you're saying is true, I won't stand for it."

Claire allowed herself a small, satisfied smirk, though her eyes gleamed with quiet calculation. Perfect. Mrs. Hargrave will ensure Evelina is exposed for what she truly is. Then Maya can reclaim her rightful place.

But before Claire could bask in her perceived victory, Camille's cold, measured tone shattered the moment.

"But at the same time," Camille said, her voice dropping to a chilling register, "if I find out this is a lie, Mrs. Moore, I will not stand for it either."

Claire stiffened, her smirk faltering. "W-What do you mean?" she stammered.

Camille's eyes narrowed, her sharp gaze cutting through Claire's facade. "I'm not foolish enough to take everything you say at face value. Why are you telling me this now, Claire? Evelina is already married to my son. Do you expect me to simply throw her out based on your words alone? I need more than accusations."

Claire opened her mouth to protest. "But I'm telling you the truth, Mrs.—"

"Enough," Camille interrupted, her tone unyielding. "I know exactly what a desperate mother would do to secure a future for her child."

The air between them grew heavy with unspoken tension.

"I will judge Evelina for who she is, not for her background," Camille continued coldly. "If her actions match your claims, I will deal with her accordingly. But if not…" Camille's lips curled into a menacing smile. "You already know what I'm capable of."

Without another word, Camille turned on her heel and walked away, her composure intact, leaving Claire rooted in place, her confidence visibly shaken.

As Camille disappeared around the corner, Claire's calm mask shattered. Her fists clenched at her sides, her expression twisting with frustration.

"That ice witch!" she hissed under her breath. "How dare she? She's indirectly calling me a liar!"

Claire's eyes burned with resolve as she stormed off, her mind racing with plans to ensure Camille would have no choice but to see things her way.