Entangled in Truth

The knock on the door was gentle.

Camilla perched on the edge of her bed, her heart racing. She hadn't slept since receiving the call. Her mind was a whirlwind, replaying every moment, every word, and every hurtful glance Drew had given her. And now, he was here.

She rose slowly, her hand resting on her stomach. Her pregnancy was still a secret, one she hadn't decided how or if she would share.

Another knock echoed.

She crossed the room and opened the door.

There stood Drew.

Tall, tired, and as handsome as ever, dressed in dark jeans and a black sweater. His hair was slightly messy, and his eyes were red, suggesting he hadn't rested either. For a moment, they both remained silent.

Then he spoke, "Hi," his voice heavy.

Camilla swallowed hard. "Hi."

They locked eyes in a silence so thick it felt like another entity in the room.

"Can I come in?"

She nodded and stepped aside. Drew walked in, his eyes scanning the cozy room, landing on a framed picture of her parents on the nightstand, then on the ultrasound photo partially hidden beneath it.

She noticed his gaze linger there, but not long enough to understand what it was.

He turned back to her. "I wasn't sure you'd let me in."

Camilla hugged herself tightly. "I wasn't sure either."

He sighed, pacing the room once before facing her again. "I've been recalling things. Not everything, but enough."

Her breath hitched.

"Like what?"

He moved closer. "The night at the beach when you danced barefoot in the rain. The way you hummed while making tea. That scar on your wrist from the bike accident in college. How I would kiss it whenever you felt anxious before a meeting."

He smiled slightly, then continued. "I remember the night we first kissed, I remember our first trip together to the Bahamas.

Tears welled in her eyes.

I recall you saying that even if I lost everything, you would still be by my side. I remember thinking, I really hope she never has to show that.

Camilla quickly wiped her eyes. "And yet… here we are."

"Here we are," he repeated.

They gazed at each other again, now even closer. Burning desire very evident in their eyes.

The air between them crackled with tension, thick with the unspoken desires they had been denied for far too long.

He stood inches away, his breath uneven, his gaze dark with hunger as he reached for her, fingers trailing over her bare arm, igniting a wildfire beneath her skin.

She shuddered at the contact, her body instinctively leaning toward him, her pulse hammering as she felt the warmth of his breath ghost over her lips.

"You have no idea what you do to me, no idea how much I have missed you" he murmured, his voice husky, raw with restraint.

She did. She had known for weeks, months even, she knew that even when his mind could not recollect, his heart still yearned for her. She tilted her head, parting her lips as his hand slid into her hair, gripping just enough to make her knees weak. His mouth claimed hers, urgent, demanding, devouring every ounce of longing they had held back.

Their bodies pressed together, his warmth seeping into her, his hands exploring, memorizing every inch of her as she melted into him. The tension, the ache, the need, it all unraveled in the breathless moment between restraint and surrender, and they both knew nothing could quench the burning desire they both had for each other.

But still, Camilla knew that everything that has happened within this short space of time, would create a crack in their seemingly perfect relationship. Instinctively, she slightly pulled away from him.

"I messed up," he finally admitted as they broke apart. "I know I can't just show up and expect things to be fine. I just needed to see you. I needed to say… I'm sorry. For forgetting. For trusting her. For hurting you."

Camilla stepped forward slowly, her voice shaking. "Do you love her, Drew?"

His gaze remained steady. "I never did. I was… lost. And she made it easy to stay that way."

Her lips quivered. "And what about me?"

He reached out, softly touching her hand. "You? You were always my home. You are everything I have ever wanted. My forever"

Camilla broke down.

A sob escaped her as he embraced her, and for a moment, everything else faded away. They held each other tightly, drawing strength from one another.

But the burden of her secret weighed heavily on her chest.

She pulled back slightly to look into his eyes.

"I have something to tell you."

He nodded slowly. "Anything."

She opened her mouth—

Just then, her phone rang.

They both glanced at it.

Lila.

Camilla frowned, her heart racing. Lila wouldn't call unless it was serious.

She answered, "Lila? What's going on?"

Lila's voice was frantic. "Turn on the news. Now."

Camilla grabbed the remote and switched on the small TV. The screen displayed breaking news.

"TANIS HARPER UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR FRAUD, MEDICAL TAMPERING, AND ABUSE OF POWER."

Camilla and Drew stood in shock.

A journalist appeared on screen. "…allegations include tampering with Andrew Miller's medical records, drugging the billionaire during his recovery, and falsifying documents to present herself as his fiancée. Sources indicate a whistleblower from Tanis's private staff provided crucial evidence."

Camilla turned to Drew, who looked utterly stunned.

"I sensed something was off," he admitted. "I could feel it."

"What will you do now?"

He inhaled deeply. "I'm going back. I need to set things right. Publicly. I'll clear both our names."

She paused, unsure.

He grasped her hands. "Join me."

Her throat constricted. She wanted to. Oh, how she wanted to.

But—

"Drew…"

He stopped, noticing the change in her face.

"What's wrong?"

She bit her lip. "I have something to tell you."

His brows furrowed. "What is it, Camilla?"

She opened the drawer and took out the ultrasound image.

His gaze landed on it, eyes widening.

She handed it to him, her hands trembling.

"That's… that's our baby. I'm pregnant, Drew. Three months along."

Silence enveloped them.

He stared at the picture, his fingers shaking.

Then he looked up, his eyes bright. "You're pregnant?"

She nodded, tears streaming down her face.

He glanced down again, blinking rapidly.

"You were carrying our child when I proposed to her."

"I didn't know at that time. I found out later. I hesitated to tell you because I wasn't sure if it would matter to you. If I still mattered."

He quickly pulled her into his embrace, burying his face in her neck.

"You mean everything to me. Both of you."

She allowed herself to relax in his arms for a brief moment.

But she understood that the battle was far from over.

Now, it was just beginning.