Chapter 4

Ever since Camila came to Chaparal, Lucas and Julian's father, David Foster, and Lily had been good to her, treating her like one of their own.

Now that she was leaving, it was right to say a proper goodbye.

When Lily heard that Camila was heading back home to get married, her voice was full of surprise, but even more, a deep reluctance. She asked, "Camila, do Lucas or Julian know about this?"

Camila paused for a moment and replied, "I haven't told them."

There was a brief silence on Lily's end of the line.

Lily sighed deeply and continued, "Look at this situation. You all have been inseparable for so many years. I always thought you'd end up marrying one of the boys. What a pity."

Camila smiled and said softly, "There's nothing to regret. We aren't meant to be together."

Hearing that, Lily didn't try to talk her out of it any further. She said, "Camila, I always knew you'd have to go back home someday, but I didn't expect it to be so soon.

"I've watched you grow up. Make sure to see me before you leave. Once you're back in Southvale, who knows when we'll get to see each other again."

Camila smiled sweetly and replied playfully, "I promise I will. I've already picked out some gifts for you. I can't bear to leave you either."

Lily fussed over her for a bit longer before hanging up.

As Camila hung up, the doorbell rang.

Camila strolled to the door and opened it, only to find Sophie standing there with an aggrieved look on her face.

It was pouring outside, yet Sophie didn't have much rain on her.

She bit her lip and gazed at Camila with those puppy-dog eyes, her expression full of gentle protest.

Sophie asked, "Ms. Johnson, did you change the door code?

"Did I do something wrong? I can change."

Camila frowned, her smile all politeness with no warmth. "You didn't do anything wrong. I don't need a nanny anymore. Starting today, you don't have to come anymore," she said.

With that, she handed Sophie her salary for this month.

Sophie stared at Camila in utter disbelief, looking like she'd been wronged. "Ms. Johnson, how can you do this to me? My mother is still in the hospital. If I lose this job, she won't survive," she snapped.

But Camila didn't flinch. Seeing that, Sophie's face fell and her tears started pouring down.

Julian and Lucas hurried over after parking, taking in the tense scene at the door.

Without thinking, they rushed to Sophie, pulling her protectively into their arms and checking her all over, making sure she wasn't hurt.

"Sophie!" Julian called out.

Both of them hovered around Sophie, faces tight with anxiety, gently wiping away her tears.

Suddenly, Sophie collapsed, crying and pleading, "Ms. Johnson, please, don't let me go."

Julian helped her up, and seeing her so upset, he felt that his heart tightened with sympathy.

"Don't beg her," Julian interjected.

Sophie's eyes filled with tears, overflowing before she could even utter a word.

Seeing her sobbing like that, Lucas confronted me, "Camila, Sophie's mother is still in the hospital. She needs this job to support her family. She's so desperate right now. How could you fire her? Are you that heartless?"

At Lucas's words, Camila gave a short, incredulous laugh.

"Pitiful, huh? If she's so pitiful, why don't you give her the money yourselves? You think dumping your problems on me is the answer? I said I'm done with nannies, and she is fired. End of story," Camila snapped.

Camila was trembling with fury, finger stabbing toward Sophie, and her voice sounded cold.

"I'm paying you to work, not to cozy up with anyone. Don't I have every right to fire you?" Camila snapped.

Lucas's face darkened further, and he spat, "You've let me down, Camila. Sophie's been working so hard, but because you're jealous that Julian and I care about her, you slander her. You're turning into someone nasty, and I hardly recognize you."

With those words, Lucas didn't even glance at Camila. He pulled Sophie along and walked away without looking back.

"Camila, you've become impossible to talk to. What's wrong with you?" Julian said.

He didn't spare Camila a second glance and rushed over to Sophie's side, shielding her from the rain with his umbrella.

Watching Julian and Lucas walk away without a hint of hesitation, Camila stood frozen on the spot, heart sinking. Lucas's harsh words kept swirling in her head, each hitting harder than the last.

I was the unreasonable one?

They were the ones who had changed, not me.

Her chest ached with a sharp pain, and she sensed that chill creeping across her face.

Only now did Camila notice she was drenched by the pouring rain outside, yet none of them spared her a glance.

She shut the door behind her, wiped the water from her body, and with every drop that fell away, her heart felt one shade colder.