Free Web NovelChapter 146: Chapter 146 Unwelcome Interruption
Hugo’s POV
The bedroom door burst open without warning, and Camilla’s voice filled the space with artificial cheerfulness. "Oh my goodness, Zack’s here with you? How on earth did this happen?"
Her sudden entrance made Zack instinctively grab my hand, his small fingers wrapping around mine with surprising strength. The boy hadn’t forgotten her behavior toward Bella during our engagement dinner, and his reaction proved it.
"What’s wrong, sweetheart? Why are you afraid of me?" Camilla’s tone shifted, attempting warmth as she moved closer to us.
Whether her concern was genuine remained questionable.
Zack’s grip on my hand tightened. "Uncle Hugo, I don’t want to talk to her."
The rejection hit Camilla like a physical blow, her practiced smile wavering at the edges.
"But why not? I’m your aunt, remember?" She dragged a small chair closer to the bed where Zack and I sat, settling herself within arm’s reach.
Something else gnawed at me beyond the obvious tension. Despite everything he’d likely overheard from the council members’ conversation, Zack still called me uncle. The boy had certainly been present when those accusations flew, yet he refused to acknowledge what he’d heard.
"Listen, families have disagreements sometimes, but that doesn’t mean we stop loving each other. Don’t you and your brothers and sisters argue too?" Camilla’s voice carried forced patience.
I watched Zack slowly loosen his grip on my hand, his childlike honesty taking over.
"We argue all the time. Tara says she wants to kill me." The innocent oversharing that came so naturally to children spilled out. fгeewebnovёl.com
Camilla’s posture stiffened, her eyes snapping to mine with sharp concern.
"What exactly is happening here?" Her questions came rapid-fire. "Where’s Bella? Why is Zack staying with you? And where are the other children?"
The confusion in her voice told me she remained completely unaware of the current crisis.
"His mother is at the council center for an interview," I explained, rising to move toward my closet.
"An interview? But why is only Zack here? What did he mean about Tara wanting to kill him?" Her persistence bordered on interrogation.
Zack’s pout deepened as he watched our exchange, clearly uncomfortable with being discussed.
"Some medical complications. Nothing for you to worry about. I need to get to the center to support Bella. Who knows what kind of questions they’re throwing at her." I kept my explanation vague while pulling a clean shirt from the hanger.
"Medical complications? What kind of interview are we talking about here? Is this some sort of success story feature, or something more serious?" Camilla’s confusion was understandable since we typically called investigations by their proper name only when formal accusations had been filed.
For suspicions and preliminary inquiries, we used gentler terminology.
"We’ll discuss it later. Right now, I need to leave." I headed toward the bathroom, then paused. "You should probably head home."
Her frown deepened immediately. "No, that’s ridiculous. You get ready, and I’ll stay here with Zack. We can play some games together, can’t we, sweetheart?"
Zack’s reluctant nod spoke volumes about his true feelings.
"He’s exhausted, Camilla. He was awake all night. He needs rest while I get ready." I hoped she’d take the hint without forcing me to be more direct. freewebnσvel.cøm
"Of course, I understand. I’ll watch over him while he naps. You go handle whatever’s happening at the center. You can leave him with me - I am his aunt, after all." Her smile carried a hint of sadness, but also expectation.
Under different circumstances, leaving a child with their aunt would be the natural choice. But circumstances weren’t normal. The text messages, the strained relationship with Bella, and most importantly, Bella’s obvious trust in sending Zack to me specifically - all of it created a complex web of responsibility.
"I don’t think that’s appropriate, Camilla. Given the tension between you and Bella, I doubt she’d approve of you being alone with Zack."
The words drained color from her face instantly.
"Are you suggesting I’m dangerous to him?" She stood abruptly, moving closer with defensive energy.
"I’d rather not get into this right now." I avoided her gaze, not from guilt but from the conflicted feelings churning in my chest.
"I can’t believe this. After everything I’ve done for you, all the care I’ve provided, you’re questioning whether Zack is safe with me. This breaks my heart, Hugo." Her voice trembled with what seemed like genuine hurt.
"And the fact that Bella would trust her ex-best friend with her son instead of her own sister makes absolutely no sense." The confusion in her final statement revealed just how much of the bigger picture she was missing.
The weight of keeping secrets, managing family dynamics, and protecting everyone involved pressed down on me as I stood there, caught between loyalty to Bella and the complicated history with Camilla that had brought us all to this point.
