A Love Rewriting

Episode3: Shattered Dreams

CAMILLE.

I stirred as the morning sunlight poured through the window. I squinted at its brightness. A dull ache pulsed in my head, and I frowned against the pounding at the door.

"Camille! Open this door now!" boomed my father's voice from the other side.

My eyes flew open the moment the door swung open. I sat up, clutching sheets to my chest as Dad stormed into the room.

"What-what's going on?" I asked groggily and hoarse.

His gaze raked around the room, his face turning into one of pure anger. "What is this nonsense, Camille?" he exploded.

Confused, I looked around. My heart fell. Clothes—mine and a man's—were strewn on the floor. The bed was in disarray, and I realized with growing horror that I was naked beneath the covers.

"I-I don't remember—" I stuttered, my voice shaking.

Dad didn't let me finish. "How could you be so shameless? So classless?”

“I don't know what happened!" I cried out, my voice shaking. "I swear I don't!"

Movement in the doorway caught my eye, and my stomach fell farther. Bella stood there, an impish smirk pulling on her lips. Standing behind her, Celinda, their stepmother, also looked quite satisfied.

“I didn't do anything wrong!" I pleaded, looking at Dad. "The last thing I remember was Bella taking me to get water!"

At this, Bella's smirk deepened. "What are you talking about, Camille? I wasn't even with you last night."

"What?" I turned to Bella, betrayal flashing in my eyes. "How can you say that? You were right here with me!”

The icy, dismissing tone of Celinda spoke up. "Bella was at a convention last night. She has an alibi. Maybe you should take responsibility for your own actions instead of trying to pin the blame on Bella, Camille."

"No, she's lying!" My voice cracked as I looked desperately between Bella and my father. "Dad, you have got to believe me. I didn't do this. Bella, tell him!”

Bella gave a low, mirthless laugh. "Camille, maybe you need to quit blaming people and just accept your own mistakes. Really, it's pathetic."

My heart seized up as I listened to the words from Bella. "How could you?" I whispered, the threat of tears welling up in my eyes. "I trusted you, Bella. You said you wanted to fix things between us.

Bella shrugged, her smirk never faltering. "It's not my fault you’ve made a fool of yourself. Leave me out of this."

Dad’s patience snapped. "Enough!" he barked. "Get dressed immediately. You've humiliated this family enough already."

He stormed out, his footsteps heavy against the wooden floor. Celinda followed with a satisfied smirk, but not before throwing me a look of utter disdain.

Bella lingered a moment longer, leaning against the doorway. "Guess you're not as perfect as you think you are," she said with a mocking smile. Then she turned on her heel and walked out, leaving me sitting frozen on the bed.

Teeth clenched, anger, betrayal, and shame churning in my chest, I hastily dressed and followed them out, movements mechanical.

It was a smothering drive home, the tension of the air thick. I sat silently in the backseat, my hands clenched tightly into my lap. Bella stared out the window, a little smile on her face, while Celinda occasionally looked over at me with a mock piteous look.

Once we were home, Dad disappeared wordlessly into his study, leaving the rest to us to wait in the sitting room.

I sat ramrod straight on the couch, stealing glances at Dad’s closed study door, dread pooling in my stomach. Bella, on the other hand, looked wholly at ease, flipping casually through a magazine.

After what felt like an eternity, Dad emerged, his expression grim. He walked to the center of the room, clasping his hands behind his back.

“I’ve made a decision,” he began, his voice cold and final.

I sat up straighter, my heart pounding. “What decision?”

He didn’t look at me as he spoke. “You will not be getting married to Mr. Raymond.”

My heart plummeted, and I felt the air get knocked out of my lungs. "What?" I whispered.

"You've disgraced yourself and this family," he said, his voice sharp. "A woman who has lost her virtue cannot expect to marry into a respectable household."

Tears welled in my eyes. "Dad, please. You have to believe me. I didn't-

"It doesn't matter," he cut in, harshly. "What's done is done."

"But—"

"No more excuses, Camille!" he thundered.

I recoiled; my voice died in my throat. He’d never raised his voice at me before.

He pressed on, his voice softer but no less slashing. "The wedding preparations will go on, but it is Bella who shall marry Mr. Raymond instead of you."

The words hit me like a physical blow. I turned to Bella, who sat beaming with satisfaction.

“This can’t be happening,” I murmured, shaking my head. All my plans were disintegrating before my eyes.

“Oh, it’s happening,” Bella said sweetly, her voice dripping with false sympathy. “Don’t worry, Camille. I’ll make sure to represent the family well.”

“Dad, please," Camille begged, her voice cracking. "This isn't fair. You can't do this to me."

He didn't flinch. "You've brought this upon yourself, Camille. I have given you every opportunity, and this is how you repay me? I'm disappointed in you."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me just sitting there in stunned silence.

The room spun, my chest tight with the weight of my father's words. I turned to Bella, who only stood and stretched, flashing me a triumphant smile before following our father out.

Left alone, I mechanically got to my feet and started trudging upstairs to my room. I pushed open the door and froze. My suitcase sat neatly packed, waiting for a future that was now cruelly snatched away.

I stumbled to the floor, my body shaking with my sobs, as tears streamed down my face. I buried my face in my hands, the pain of betrayal, humiliation, and shattered dreams consuming me.

My muffled cries filled the empty room, echoing the loss of everything I had hoped for for so long.