CHAPTER 5 Revenge

　　Camila's hands trembled with a mix of rage and disbelief as she rifled through her folder, the one that should have contained the intricate design sketches for her latest jewellery collection. The delicate bracelet that had been the most important, was now being flaunted by Layla as her own creation. Heart pounding in her chest, Camila threw the empty folder onto her bed and snatched her car keys from the dresser.

　　Camila stormed out, slamming the door behind her so hard that the windows rattled in their frames. She drove to her father's house with a singular focus: to retrieve the original drafts and expose Layla's deceit.

　　As she approached the grandiose Martine residence, the familiar scent of roast beef wafted through the air. She hesitated at the threshold, hearing the clinking of silverware and the warm timbre of laughter from within. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open and stepped into the dining room.

　　"Ah, Camila! Join us!" Maddox boomed from the head of the table, his voice carrying the weight of authority it always did.

　　"Camila, dear, you look flustered. Is everything alright?" Evelyn's voice dripped with insincere concern, her perfectly manicured hand gesturing to an empty chair.

　　Ignoring the question, Camila took her seat, her gaze fixed on Layla's smug smile. "I'm fine," she replied curtly.

　　Maddox raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting between the two women. "So, Camila, any wedding bells ringing soon? Or are we waiting for Layla to walk down the aisle first?"

　　"Actually, Dad- " Layla began, but Maddox cut her off.

　　"Because, let's face it, Layla seems to have a penchant for... close encounters with fiancés, doesn't she?" His tone was laced with sarcasm, his eyes narrowing at Layla who blanched under his scrutiny.

　　"Excuse me?" Camila stammered, her heart skipping a beat.

　　Evelyn interjected smoothly, her voice carrying across the table like a velvet hammer. "Let's not be crude, Maddox. Layla's affair with Blake is nothing but a testament to true love conquering all."

　　"True love?" Camila repeated, her voice rising incredulously. "You call betrayal 'true love'?"

　　"Darling, sometimes the heart wants what it wants," Evelyn said, waving a dismissive hand as if swatting away an insignificant insect.

　　"Even if it belongs to someone else," Camila retorted, her words sharp as knives. Her mind raced, the pieces falling together in a mosaic of treachery and lies.

　　"Love doesn't follow rules, sweetheart," Layla chimed in, her blue eyes cold and unapologetic.

　　"Neither does theft," Camila shot back, her resolve hardening like steel. "But there are still consequences."

　　Camila's chair scraped against the hardwood floor as she pushed back from the table, her movements rigid with barely contained fury. "You think I should just accept this?" she spat out, her eyes blazing as they locked onto Evelyn's smug expression.

　　"Plagiarism is a serious accusation, Camila," Evelyn said coolly, her fork delicately spearing a green bean. "Especially when levelled at family."

　　"Family?" Camila laughed bitterly, the sound echoing hollowly in the opulent dining room. "Layla stole my design- the bracelet was mine. And you," she turned to her father, "you of all people should know the work I put into it."

　　"Camila, dear, don't let your emotions get the better of you," Maddox chided, his voice patronizing. "Just because Blake chose Layla doesn't mean you can fabricate stories."

　　"Fabricate?" Her voice rose an octave, incredulous. "Dad, I created that design! It's not about Blake- it's about my work, my art!"

　　Maddox shook his head, disappointment etched on his face. "I won't have you slander your sister over a man."

　　"Is that what you think this is about?" Camila's hands clenched into fists at her sides. "This has nothing to do with Blake. This is about respect, about honesty- values you taught me. Or were those just lies too?"

　　"Enough, Camila," Maddox warned, his own temper flaring.

　　"Fine." Her chest heaved with suppressed sobs of anger and betrayal. Yet, her voice remained steady, her resolve clear. "If you won't defend me, then I'll just have to defend myself." She turned away from the table, every line of her body radiating determination.

　　"Where do you think you're going?" Maddox demanded.

　　"Where I should have gone a long time ago- to stand up for myself," Camila declared without looking back. "Because clearly, I'm the only one who will."

　　As she strode down the hallway, the clack of her heels against the floor punctuated the silence she left behind. Once the front door closed with a resounding thud, she let out a shaky breath, allowing herself a moment to feel the sting of disillusionment.

　　But Camila Martinez was not one to wallow in self-pity. She squared her shoulders, her long hair whipping around as she turned towards her car, the night air cool against her flushed cheeks. The stars above twinkled indifferently, but within her, a fire had been lit.

　　"Blake, Layla," she whispered to the uncaring sky, "you took my trust, my love, and my work. But I am not broken." Her dark eyes reflected the flames of her inner strength, burning brighter with every betrayal she recounted.

　　"Revenge," she breathed the word like a vow, "will be mine." A smirk tugged at the corner of her lips, not cruel, but filled with the knowledge that justice would be served by her hand.

　　"Watch your backs," she murmured, the promise lacing her words as she climbed into her car and drove off into the night. Camila Martinez was ready to fight, and heaven help anyone who stood in her way.