Chapter 142

"Dad, Mom, about this"

Dakota hesitated, sensing Leonard and Jane's discomfort. It was a long story.

"Leonard, Jane, hasn't Dakota introduced Cameron's identity?" Pia glanced at Dakota, her excitement evident. Leonard and Jane exchanged worried looks, wondering if Dakota had been keeping something from them.

Pia, with a hint of malicious amusement, said, "Since Dakota's too embarrassed to tell you the truth, I will. The man sitting across from you is Madison's ex-husband. He was lazy, cheated on her during their marriage, and she divorced him. Now homeless, he plans to deceive your daughter and cling to the Jennings family!"

"Cheated during the marriage? Madison's ex-husband?" Leonard and Jane were stunned. They knew nothing of this.

"Dakota didn't tell you?" Pia watched with amusement.

"Dad, Mom, don't listen to her nonsense! That's not true!" Dakota protested anxiously.

Pia sneered. "Dakota, it's useless to defend him! He's sponged off the Parker family for years. I know him well! You're a good girl, but you've been fooled! You even hid his identity from your parents!"

"Oh, and I almost forgot," Pia continued, "Colonel Bailey took him away for some unknown reason—perhaps he committed a crime. He's here now, probably because Mr. Kane bailed him out."

"Committed a crime? Colonel Bailey took him away?" Leonard and Jane grew increasingly bewildered.

"You didn't know? Well, it's not surprising. How could he bring himself to tell you?" Pia looked down at Cameron condescendingly.

"Have you said enough?" Cameron raised his head, meeting his former mother-in-law's gaze coldly.

"Do you want to stop me?" Pia challenged him, crossing her arms defiantly. She'd resented Cameron for a long time and relished this opportunity to cause trouble.

He scoffed. "You're ridiculous to frame me."

"Frame? Do I need to?" She laughed, then turned to Leonard and Jane. "You've seen his attitude toward me! He'll treat you the same way!"

"Have you said enough? Please shut up!" Cameron, finally losing his patience, frowned. If not for Leonard and Jane's presence, he would have lashed out at her.

"Look! He has no manners!" Pia launched another moralistic attack.

"Dad, Mom, don't believe her! Cameron isn't like that!" Dakota pleaded.

"Dakota, stop." Leonard and Jane signaled her to be quiet, then turned to Cameron. Their tone was serious. "Cam, tell us the truth. Are you Madison's ex-husband?"

Dakota frantically signaled Cameron not to admit it. They believed Pia; admitting it would be difficult to explain.

However, Cameron chose honesty. He nodded. "Yes, I am."