g structure loomed before her, its intricately designed black gate a testament to the General's wealth and

r the gravel drive. Camille pressed her palms to her thighs, willin

ed out, her eyes taking in the beauty of the General's grand estate. Camille di

him into the main residence. Then she

study door. "Your guest has

ndon bellowed from inside

nestly in her heart that the meeting she was about to

ed in. Only when she was halfway in did she r

General, who was seated behind a massive oak desk. His

ng, but his voice firm and controlled. "I've heard a lot a

side of her dress. "

urned to his seat. "A DNA test will be conduct

ately looking for a grandchild, but she didn't expect him to be so relaxed about a crimi

mille responded, her gr

nt – before he pressed a button on his interc

man with a kind yet firm demean

staying with us for a while. Please show her to

with warmth as she smiled a

h the air, "If the DNA test proves that the child isn't my son's,

w that the child was indeed Pierce's child, but still... what if? Cami

her a tight smile, then followed her out of the Gene

ted when Ms Elizabeth walked her through a long hallway with pictures of General Landon and the generals before him.

e window overlooking the gardens. It was larger than her prison

aid. "We'll go shopping for clothes t

he prospect of new clothes

knew the girl had lost her father and was accused of killing him. Ms Elizabeth could tell a good person when she

amille immediately fell asleep th

*

as Ms Elizabeth instructed. She'd grown to l

her through the intimidating hallway, down a fli

idn't know better, she might have thought she'd entered a boutique.

"I never said it would

draped in designer wear from head to toe – waltzed in, her high-pitched voi

dy asked. "My name is Gloria, and

me?" Camille asked, sitting down on the beautiful cream-coloured sofa

she was invited to the General's estate was before the General's wife passe

pick out clothes for you, based solely on my judgement? Or, of course,

ike a heiress should, just to spite her father – but somehow sh

rld of the top 1% of Ventria, she ne

ncy, throwing out dresses onto an empty couch, muttering words like a crazy person. "Beauti

s' consideration before being tossed o

nding proudly as she beamed at the cl

them perfectly," Ms Elizabeth instructed. The maids,

hought she would only get at least five outfits, but if it was this many

ing else you'd like me to do, Ms Elizabeth?"

izabeth responded, smiling warmly at her.

The maids were still arranging her clothes in the wardrobe, so she sat d

umped up in fright. And a man in his twenties

he barked, and the mai

ll her who the man was. From the

s watching his every move. If she didn't have a lot o

, advancing toward her, h

e backwards or run away. She had prepared

she asked calmly,

pregnant with my child – one that I'm a hundred perce

cating, not intimidating, as he intended. She exhaled sharply, blaming her body's reac

rged into my room, so I have

rce Landon, and yet, he found it boldly attractive. He stared at her, her amber eyes gleam

nd definitely not a pleasant one. He stared at her piercingly, lowering his face to hers, da

oo close. The way he looked at her-

. Camille gasped, her hands reached for his, as she tried to pull hi

ainst her cheek. "I might have lived a promiscuous lifestyle

"This pregnancy had better be a lie, Ms Camill

the bed, choking. A tear rolled d