Swapping a Broken Heart for a New Start novel Chapter 25

“My mom says that veggie keeps her pretty and in shape. I thought, since Lillian is a girl, I should add some for her too…”

The words had barely left Daniel’s mouth when Camila Davis stormed into the kitchen.

She scanned the wide marble counter, where the housekeeper had left a big brown bag of fresh vegetables from the morning farmer’s market. Next to the blender, she spotted a used jalapeño pepper, its end lying suspiciously on the cutting board.

Camila’s face darkened. She spun on her heel and marched back into the living room, absolutely livid. “Did you seriously put jalapeño in the smoothie and give it to Lillian?!”

Jordan Smith’s eyebrows shot up, and he looked over at Daniel.

Daniel shrank back, his little hands clinging to Jordan’s jeans, eyes big and watery. “Uncle, did I mess up Lillian’s smoothie? I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to! My mom eats them all the time, and she says they’re sweet…”

He looked so remorseful, anyone would think he was genuinely sorry.

But Camila saw right through him.

This was the same kid who, the very first time they’d met, blurted out that Lillian was dumb. Not a chance this was an accident.

She’d thought, with herself right there, the kid wouldn’t dare get up to mischief. She couldn’t believe it—he’d been bold enough to pull this right under their noses!

To be so young and already so mean-spirited—how was that even possible?

Camila trembled with anger, especially when she saw poor Lillian, lips swollen and red, eyes brimming with tears as she whimpered from the spicy burn.

She’d put up with Jordan’s coldness toward herself, she’d even forced herself to ignore his flirtations with Sandra Taylor. But this—this was too much.

“If you hadn’t brought Daniel into our home, Lillian wouldn’t be suffering right now. Take him and go. I don’t ever want him near my daughter again. Lillian doesn’t need friends like him.”

Jordan’s handsome features were clouded with anger. “You’re being totally unreasonable,” he shot back.

But Camila only stared at him, heartbroken, seeing him—truly seeing him—for the first time.

She’d never felt this much disappointment, not even when she’d caught him with another woman.

But now, she knew she couldn’t forgive him.