Chapter 31
She had wandered over to a small, man-made pond, and from behind a pile of boulders, she had witnessed a woman tossing a boy, who looked to be around ten years old or so, into the water.
It was the moment that opened Camila’s eyes to the reality of human nature, and how evil it could be. She remembered how she had instantly ducked out of sight, trembling with fear. She had been terrified of what would happen to her if she was discovered. She had wanted to run away.
But when little Camila peeked through the rocks again, she saw the boy struggling desperately in the water. She then had chosen to stay. She had waited for the woman to Leave, then ran over to the pond and jumped in to save the boy.
It was a good thing that she had learned how to swim at an early age, but it hadn’t made things easy for her. She was far too tiny, with a much larger load. In the end, Camila’s grandfather had appeared and dragged her and the boy back to safety.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtThe boy had been unconscious by then. Her grandfather had to administer CPR, and the moment the boy had coughed up the water in his lungs, the old man whisked her away.
Camila remembered being confused with the old man’s reaction. “Who was that, Grandpa? Why did someone throw him in the water when he doesn’t know how to swim?”
“He is also here for the funeral, just like you and me,” her grandfather had told her. Unbeknownst to Little Camila, her grandfather wasn’t telling her the whole truth, for fear of retaliation.
“You need to forget everything that happened today. You must never tell anyone about this.” It was a reminder that Camila had heard repeatedly on that day.
She was extremely close to her grandfather, and obeyed his every word. It wasn’t until they had returned hthat day that she realized she had lost her jade pendant.
It was a carved piece that her grandfather had claimed to be blessed. He had given it to her hoping that it would grant her kindness, patience, optimism, and ultimately, happiness.
In a way, it was her grandfather's blessing to her
She had been wearing the pendant since she was one, and would Likely be wearing it still if she hadn’t lost it.
Therefore, she understood Isaac’s anger.
She didn’t blhim for lashing out at her, but she truly feared the man.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmHe was much too cruel for comfort.
“Stevie, call for Dr. Walters,” Robin instructed the butler. “Have him check Mila.”
Camila was snapped out of her reverie and quickly said, “No, no. Thank you, but that won't be necessary. Do you have a medicine kit on hand? | can treat the wound myself.” She already knew that the injury wasn’t serious.
Robin still looked uncertain, though, so she added, “I’m a doctor. Trust me, | know what I’m doing.”
The old man heard the confidence in her voice and finally relented. Her wound was indeed not serous. It was just a small cut, but it went quite deeper than a normal gash, hence the blood.
Camila used a mirror to give herself first-aid treatment. She would need the wound to dry up, so she didn’t bother bandaging it. Not that it would have been possible, anyway, since the wound was covered by her thick hair.
Stevie and Robin lingered in the Living room to make sure that Camila was all right. The butler glanced cautiously toward the bathroom before speaking in a low voice.