Chapter 8

After leaving the café, Cameron went to the Riddikulus Riverview Villas neighborhood. His eyes were devoid of emotion as he gazed at the familiar villa he and Madison had shared. He approached and rang the doorbell.

"What are you doing home so early, my dear daughter? Has Mr. Price agreed to have dinner with us?" Madison's mother, Pia Parker, called from inside.

Pia rushed to the door, her excitement quickly replaced by irritation upon seeing Cameron. "What are you doing here?" she demanded.

"Mom," Cameron said politely, surprised to find her there.

"Bah! I'm not your mother! Don't come here and bother Madison anymore!" Pia snapped, assuming he was seeking more favors. Madison had divorced Cameron and was now involved with the wealthy Archie Price; Pia wouldn't allow Cameron to interfere. She was at Madison's house to inquire about her progress with Archie, wanting to maintain her wealthy, carefree lifestyle.

Cameron, seemingly unsurprised by Pia's cruelty, calmly replied, "I'm not here for Madison. I forgot to retrieve something of mine. I'll leave immediately afterward."

"What do you mean, 'something of yours'? In all the years you lived with my daughter, you never used a single thing that belonged to you?" Pia sneered, blocking his way. "You wasted five years of Madison's youth. How do you plan to compensate her?"

"Me? Compensate her?" Cameron asked incredulously. He hadn't spent a cent of Madison's money; all his expenses were covered by his own funds. In fact, the hundred million Madison had used as capital for her business was his money! After Madison's infidelity, he hadn't demanded compensation, nor had he asked for the hundred million back. Why did they act as if he owed them so much?

"Shouldn't you?" Pia retorted.

"Like mother, like daughter, I see," Cameron sneered.

"What are you implying?" Pia demanded, outraged. "I'm asking you to compensate for my daughter's wasted youth because I believe you're capable! Don't you dare mock me!"

"I thank you for your belief," Cameron replied coldly. "I said nothing when Madison cheated on me, yet you demand compensation. Where's your conscience?"

"What do you mean, Madison cheated? You're the incapable one! If you were as respectable as Mr. Price, this wouldn't have happened!" Pia stated flatly.

"Heh. Yeah, blame me for being incapable. That wasn't your attitude when I contributed a million dollars to fund Madison's business years ago," Cameron mocked.

"It's just one million dollars. You married my daughter; wasn't that your responsibility? And let me be clear, Cameron Morgan—my daughter succeeded through her own efforts! Don't even try to take anything from this house. My daughter bought everything here with her own money!" Pia declared, showing no shame.

Cameron scoffed and started to enter the villa, unwilling to waste more time. Pia blocked him, extending a hand, revealing an aquamarine bracelet. Cameron's eyes widened; it was the only thing his mother had left him before she died, a bracelet she’d wished he would give to his wife. Now that he was divorced, he needed to retrieve it.

Pia noticed his gaze. She retracted her hand and snapped, "What are you looking at?"

"I'm looking at the bracelet my mother left me," Cameron said coldly.

"What 'mother'? You gave it to my daughter, so now it's mine!" Pia declared. Madison had deemed the bracelet old-fashioned and given it to Pia, who, after wearing it, discovered its seemingly miraculous health benefits. She was unwilling to return it.

Cameron's eyes grew colder. "So you don't plan on returning it, do you?"

"Oh? You're demanding back a gift you willingly gave away? I've never met someone as outrageous as you!" Pia sneered.

"Yeah, as outrageous as your entire family blaming me for your faults," Cameron retorted.

"What faults?" Pia cried. "First of all, you should be thanking me for allowing you to marry my daughter! And this worthless piece of jewelry—I don't even think it's cursed, yet you demand it back?"

"What did you just say?" Cameron's anger flared. No one insulted his mother.

Pia was shocked by his outburst; she'd never seen him so upset. Just then, Madison's brother, Skyler Parker, appeared.

"You came just in time, Skyler. This bum is trying to steal your sister's things; he even wants my bracelet!" Pia said, feeling reassured by her son's presence.

"You again? How dare you come here after the divorce!" Skyler scoffed, viewing Cameron as a freeloader.

Ignoring Skyler, Cameron focused on Pia. "Give me back my mother's bracelet. I didn't ask for anything from the Parker family, so you shouldn't have anything of mine."

"Didn't ask for anything? You've got guts! Do you really think my daughter would give you anything, you loser?" Pia sneered. "As for the bracelet—since you gave it to Madison, it belongs to me!"

"I'll say this one last time, Pia. Give me back my mother's bracelet. I don't want to cause a scene," Cameron said icily.

"Hey, watch your tone with my mother!" Skyler barked, jabbing a finger at Cameron's face. "You're nothing but a loser who lived off my sister!"

Cameron's gaze darkened. Skyler, mistaking Cameron's silence for surrender, continued his insults. "C'mon, bark for me. If you amuse me, I might toss you a bone. Haha!"

Cameron remained silent for a moment, then struck Skyler across the cheek.