Chapter 283

Chapter 283:

Only her eyes betrayed her inner turmoil. Camille took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders. Whatever happened tonight, she would face it with the strength and dignity Victoria had taught her. She would not cower. She would not hide.

Even as the shadow of her nightmare hung over her like a storm cloud, ready to break.

Her phone chimed with a text from Alexander: “Everything secure. Ready when you are.”

Camille replied: “On my way.”

With one last look in the mirror, she gathered her small clutch purse and headed for the door. The gala awaited. Her guests would soon arrive. The show must go on.

Despite the voice in her head that whispered, Danger is coming. Danger is coming. Danger is coming.

And there was nothing she could do to stop it.

Camille knocked on Victoria’s office door, files clutched under her arm. The security plans for the gala needed one final approval, and despite Victoria’s reluctance about the event, Camille knew she would want to review the details.

When no answer came, she knocked again.

Still silence.

Camille turned the handle, expecting to find the office empty. Instead, she found Victoria slumped in her chair, eyes closed, face as pale as paper. A small bottle of pills had tipped over on the desk, its contents scattered across important documents.

“Victoria?” Camille rushed forward, the files forgotten, falling to the floor.

Victoria’s eyes fluttered open. For a moment, confusion clouded her face, then recognition dawned. “Camille. I was just resting my eyes.”

But Camille wasn’t listening. Her gaze had locked on the pill bottle. The label faced upward, the word OXYCODONE visible in bold print, along with Victoria’s name.

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“What are these?” Camille picked up the bottle, dread pooling in her stomach. “Why are you taking such strong pain medication?”

Victoria straightened in her chair, composing herself with visible effort. “It’s nothing. Just some discomfort from the surgery.”

“This isn’t for ‘some discomfort,’” Camille said, reading the dosage on the label. “This is for serious pain. And your surgery was months ago. You should be fully healed by now.”

Victoria reached for the bottle, but Camille pulled it away.

“Tell me the truth.” Camille’s voice shook. “What’s really going on?”

Something shifted in Victoria’s eyes—a surrender, a resignation. She sighed deeply, then opened her desk drawer and pulled out a folder.

“I was going to tell you after the gala,” she said, sliding the folder across the desk. “I didn’t want to distract you. Not with Rose still out there. Not with everything at stake.”

Camille stared at the folder, afraid to open it. The hospital logo embossed on its cover told her everything she needed to know.

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