Hugo's POV
The bedroom door burst open without warning, and Camilla's voice filled the space with artificial cheerfulness. "Oh my goodness, Zack's here with you? How on earth did this happen?"
Her sudden entrance made Zack instinctively grab my hand, his small fingers wrapping around mine with surprising strength. The boy hadn't forgotten her behavior toward Bella during our engagement dinner, and his reaction proved it.
"What's wrong, sweetheart? Why are you afraid of me?" Camilla's tone shifted, attempting warmth as she moved closer to us.
Whether her concern was genuine remained questionable.
Zack's grip on my hand tightened. "Uncle Hugo, I don't want to talk to her."
The rejection hit Camilla like a physical blow, her practiced smile wavering at the edges.
"But why not? I'm your aunt, remember?" She dragged a small chair closer to the bed where Zack and I sat, settling herself within arm's reach.
