<h4>Chapter 213: For Protection</h4>


    Greg didn’t protest. He staggered to his feet, leaning against Ric’s shoulder as they walked to the elevator and up to the hotel suite. The bellboy opened the door for them, and Ric nodded in thanks before leading Greg inside.


    Greg copsed onto the bed, murmuring Cammy’s name as his eyes drifted shut. Ric stood there for a moment, just watching. The pain etched across Greg’s face in sleep mirrored the ache still reverberating in Ric’s own chest—not because of Cammy, but because of the dark question wing at his conscience.


    He walked quietly to the bathroom and grabbed a tissue. Then, with slow, careful fingers, he reached down to where Greg’s head rested on the pillow and found a single dark strand of hair tangled near the edge.


    Gently, Ric pulled it free.


    He wrapped the hair inside the tissue, folded it tightly, and slipped it into the inner pocket of his coat.


    His jaw tensed as he stood up and looked at Greg onest time.


    "For safe keeping," he whispered to himself.


    Then he turned off the light, closed the door behind him, and disappeared into the hallway—carrying the fragile thread of truth that could either shatter them all... or set them free.


    **********


    As the taxi pulled up to the penthouse building, the evening breeze brushed softly against Cammy’s face. She took a long, deep breath—trying to steady herself for whaty ahead. Monica stood beside her, quiet, holding Cammy’s arm gently as they entered the elevator.


    When the penthouse doors opened, a small pair of feet, one with a cast, came running across the living room floor.


    "Mommy!" Dn cried out, his voice bright and full of relief.


    Cammy barely had time to react before Dn threw himself into her arms. She crouched down and hugged him tightly, her chin trembling against his soft tresses.


    "I thought you need to stay in the hospital tonight," Dn said, his little hands clutching her sleeves. "I was so worried!"


    Cammy pulled back just enough to look into his eyes, her voice soothing and firm. "Mommy’s okay now, sweetheart. I just needed some rest and medicine. Everything’s alright."


    "You’re not going to faint again?" he asked, his lip trembling slightly.


    Cammy smiled and kissed his forehead. "No, baby. Mommy promises she’s going to take care of herself from now on."


    He nodded, satisfied for now, and let her guide him to his room. She tucked him into bed, sitting beside him as he fought the sleep in his eyes.


    "You’ll still be here tomorrow morning?" he asked through a yawn.


    "I’ll be right here," Cammy whispered, stroking his hair. "Sleep now, my love."


    It didn’t take long before Dn drifted off, clutching the stuffed bunny she got him for hisst birthday. Cammy stared at him for a moment, her chest tightening with emotion. He was her reason. Her strength.


    She rose quietly and made her way down the hall, stopping at Peter’s door. She peeked in and saw her father already fast asleep, a soft rhythm to his breath, a peaceful look on his face. The TV was softly ying an old romantic movie—one of his favorites.


    Cammy smiled faintly and stepped back, closing the door gently.


    She turned around to find Monica watching her silently from the hallway.


    "You’re not going to sleep yet?" Monica asked, her voice low.


    Cammy shook her head. "No. I’m not even sure I could."


    Monica gestured for her to join her on the couch. Cammy followed, sitting beside her mother, the weight of the entire day threatening to pull her under again.


    "I want to talk," Monica said softly. "About Richard. About everything."


    Cammy sighed, her eyes flickering to the floor.


    "I’ve decided," she said after a long pause. "I’ll ept Richard’s offer."


    Monica’s eyes widened. "Cammy—"


    "But not because I trust him," Cammy interrupted. Her tone was quiet but painted with steel.


    "And not because I want to. I will ept his proposal for one reason only—CorEx. Thepany can’t afford another legal war, and if I don’t agree... Duncan will drag us all through the mud. Again."


    Monica leaned back, her eyes glistening. "Are you sure you can handle that? After everything that’s happened? With Greg? With your health—"


    "I have to," Cammy said, her voice breaking slightly. "This isn’t about me anymore. It’s about Dn. It’s about Dad. It’s about the people working at CorEx who still believe in the legacy my grandfather built."


    She leaned forward, elbows on her knees, pressing her palms together. "I don’t have the luxury to fall apart, Mom. Not now."


    Monica ced a hand gently over Cammy’s and squeezed it.


    For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The silence was heavy, but shared.


    Then Monica said softly, "Alright, just don’t tell Peter. You are far, anyway, he will just think that you are busy working."


    "There’s... another thing, Mom," Cammy said hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper.


    Monica turned her head slowly to her daughter, already sensing that whatever came next would tear another piece of her heart.


    "This baby..." Cammy’s hand instinctively touched her stomach, her fingers trembling. "I cannot let anyone know that it’s Greg’s."


    Monica’s lips parted in stunned silence.


    Cammy continued, her tone shaking but determined, "The contempt... the shame... the humiliation that this child would receive if the world finds out who its parents are—Mom, I can’t do that. I won’t bring an innocent baby into a world that would look at it like a sin."


    Monica exhaled, rubbing her forehead, a deep pain cutting across her face. "So what’s your n? Everyone knows you’re with Greg... Everyone’s seen how much you two love each other. There’s no hiding that."


    Cammy’s eyes welled up again, but she blinked quickly, fighting the tears.


    "I need to find someone..." she said slowly, "someone who is willing to marry me and im this baby as his own. Someone who can help shield the child from scandal... from judgment."


    Monica turned to her fully now, almost in disbelief. "Cammy... that’s a huge sacrifice. You’re talking about tying yourself to someone you don’t love. Someone who might not love you. Are you sure about this?"


    Cammy bit her lip and nodded. "I’m not doing this for love anymore. I’m doing it for protection. For peace. For this baby. That’s all that matters now."


    Silence fell between them, only the hum of the city outside the windows filling the space.


    Then Cammy’s phone buzzed on the table.


    A message.


    She picked it up... and her heart dropped as she read the name on the screen...