Chapter 211
Cameron dropped by to see Patrick, and in just a month, the man had aged dramatically–his hair had turned grey, and deep wrinkles carved his face. He looked like someone well into his later years, utterly worn out.
Cameron actually felt no sympathy. His only worry was for Greta and how crushed she would be if she saw Patrick like this.
“I’ll find a way to get you out, but you need to tell me everything. I need the truth,” Cameron said, all business–like.
Tears streamed down Patrick’s face. “Cameron, I didn’t assault Lizzy. Nathalie set me up. Lizzy was in on it with her.“.
Hearing about the attempted assault charges against Patrick for the first time, Cameron was shocked, and his view of Nathalie took another hit. “But she’s your daughter. How could she accuse you like this? Isn’t she worried about ruining herself, too?”
“I tried to tell her that if I got caught up in a scandal, it would affect her and any future kids. But she said she’d never marry or have children.”
ameron was taken aback. Nathalie’s disillusionment with love was his doing, a shadow he had cast on her life.
His feelings were a tangled mess. On one hand, he despised Nathalie for hurting the gentle Greta, yet he also felt guilty about the pain he had caused Nathalie.
“What about Nathan then?”
Patrick, visibly upset, said, “Cameron, I meant to hurt Nathalie. Nathan jumped in to protect her, and that’s how he got hurt. They’re accusing me of trying to kill Nathan, but it wasn’t what really happened.”
Cameron’s face turned stern. “So, you did mean to kill. You just got the wrong person?”
Patrick paled, realizing his words almost admitted his guilt. He quickly denied, “No, Nathalie’s words drove me over the edge. I lost control and went after her.”
“Why did you bring a knife to meet her?”
“It was just by chance. You know I always carry a dagger for self–defense, and I happened to use it that day.”
Cameron looked into Patrick’s panicked eyes and suddenly felt the urge to distance himself from this mess. He also felt a strange sense of pity for Nathalie.
“Having you as a father is truly Nathalie’s misfortune,” he said quietly.
Patrick was taken aback but then smiled. “Cameron, don’t just blame me. You haven’t been any better to her. The way she’s turned out is as much your doing as mine.”
Cameron paused. With a resigned sigh, he said, “If you don’t regret your actions, then stay here.”
Patrick panicked. “Cameron, don’t do this. If I don’t get out, Greta will worry. You don’t want Greta upset, do you?”
Cameron felt like he had swallowed something awful, the feeling of being manipulated nearly driving him crazy.
Patrick continued, “And if you don’t get me out, expect Nathalie’s wrath. She hates you the most. If I’m in this mess, who knows what will happen to you?”
Cameron scoffed. “I’m nothing like you.”
To him, Patrick was just a waste.
