The meeting was brief and efficient.
In less than an hour, every detail of the agreement had been finalized, and the contract was signed.
As the newly appointed ambassador for the construction firm, Camilla would receive a total of two million yuan.
As Darian drove her home, Camilla sat quietly in the back seat, searching for information about Kendrick Black.
The results were fascinating.
Kendrick belonged to the infamous Black family, the most powerful mafia family in Country V.
Unlike the rest of his family, however, he had chosen the world of legitimate business.
Instead of establishing his own company, Kendrick specialized in transforming struggling businesses into highly profitable corporations. Rather than accepting payment for his services, he acquired equity, often claiming as much as twenty-five percent of a company's shares.
Camilla frowned as she locked her phone.
The more she learned about Kendrick, the more mysterious he became.
The SUV rolled into the compound.
The moment Camilla stepped inside, she sensed that something was wrong.
The house was unnaturally silent.
"Nanny?" she called.
No answer.
"Nanny!"
Still nothing.
"Darian!"
"Yes, Miss Camilla?" Darian answered as he hurried inside.
"Search the ground floor. I'll check upstairs."
Without waiting for a reply, Camilla rushed up the staircase.
She searched every room.
Every hallway.
Every balcony.
Nothing.
Several minutes later, she stumbled back downstairs, breathing heavily.
Her face had turned pale.
There was no nanny.
More importantly…
There was no Ruel.
For a moment, it felt as though her entire world had collapsed.
"Miss Camilla," Darian said as he pulled out his phone, "we should call the police."
Just then, the front door swung open.
Charlie hurried inside.
"Miss Pierce!" he called. "Ruel is safe."
Camilla spun around.
"What?"
"He's with the Mersaces."
"What?" Camilla and Darian exclaimed in unison.
"I'll explain on the way," Charlie said urgently. "There's no time."
The journey to Manuel's villa felt unbearably long.
Camilla's heart pounded relentlessly.
She didn't utter a single word.
The moment the SUV came to a stop, she threw the door open before anyone could assist her.
She hurried through the entrance.
"Where's my baby?" she demanded.
"Where's Uriel ?"
Her voice rang through the mansion with an authority that commanded everyone's attention.
A middle-aged man standing nearby folded his arms with a satisfied smile.
"I like this lady," George remarked with quiet amusement.
"Don't worry," Manuel said calmly as he descended the grand staircase one deliberate step at a time.
"He's safe."
He stopped at the foot of the stairs and looked directly at Camilla.
"A maid will take you to his room."
Camilla didn't wait for another word.
She followed the maid immediately, with Darian and Charlie close behind.
The nursery door opened.
Uriel lay peacefully asleep in an elegant crib.
The room had clearly been prepared especially for a child.
There were toys.
Baby clothes.
A rocking chair.
Everything a nursery should have.
Camilla barely noticed any of it.
Her only concern was her son.
She gently lifted Ruel into her arms and kissed his forehead repeatedly, relief washing over her with every breath he took.
Once she was certain he was unharmed, she carried him back downstairs.
The atmosphere in the hall became tense.
Camilla's eyes locked onto Manuel.
In her mind, there was only one explanation.
This was another attempt to demonstrate his power over her life.
Without warning, she strode toward him.
Uriel rested securely in her left arm.
Her right hand swung through the air.
Smack!
The sound echoed throughout the mansion.
The force of the slap snapped Manuel's head to one side.
A thin stream of blood trickled from the corner of his nose.
Yet he remained perfectly still.
He neither raised a hand nor spoke a word.
His expression was as calm as ever.
Camilla glared at him, her eyes blazing with fury.
"I can tolerate your arrogance."
"I can tolerate your controlling nature."
"But if you ever involve my son in your games again…"
She took a step closer, her voice trembling with restrained rage.
"Don't you ever lay a finger on my child."
The entire hall fell into a suffocating silence.
No one dared to breathe.
No one dared to interrupt.
Even George's smile slowly faded as everyone's eyes turned to Manuel, waiting to see how the most feared man in the room would respond.