During all this, Mr. Reed made sure to bring Shirley Reed over to apologize to Camila Davis.
Shirley knew she was in the wrong, and with Mr. Williams’ stern presence looming over her, she reluctantly muttered, “I misunderstood you earlier, Ms. Davis. I’m sorry…”
Camila’s face was calm and unreadable as she replied, “No need. It’s all in the past now. You were just worried about Mr. Williams, I get it.”
Her words were polite, but there wasn’t an ounce of forgiveness in her tone.
Truth was, Camila didn’t care for Shirley Reed at all.
She thought Shirley was hopelessly naive—too easily swayed by others, lacking her own judgment, and underneath it all, harboring a stubborn streak of arrogance and prejudice.
Not someone Camila wanted to befriend.
Just then, her phone rang. It was Dennis Williams. Camila seized the opportunity to excuse herself and left Shirley standing awkwardly behind.
In the backyard, she picked up the call. Dennis’s deep, smooth voice came through, “Ms. Davis, is the treatment going alright?”
“It’s… going as well as can be expected,” Camila replied, keeping it brief.
Dennis, always perceptive, caught the hesitation in her voice. “As well as can be expected? Sounds like things aren’t going so smoothly. Did something happen?”
Camila hesitated. She hadn’t planned to get into it.
But then she realized there was no point hiding what had happened with the Reeds—he’d probably find out anyway. So, she gave him a quick rundown.
Dennis hadn’t expected that asking for her help would put her in such an awkward spot. His voice cooled. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize those two Reed kids could be so brainless. I hate that you had to go through that. Why didn’t you call me?”
“I tried,” Camila sighed, exasperated. “But every time, something came up and I got interrupted.”
Dennis understood right away and his tone softened. “That’s on me. If I hadn’t asked for your help, you wouldn’t have had to deal with any of this. But I promise you, the Reeds will make it up to you. By the way, did you say you called in the FDA to check the new drug?”

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