"There''s more to this than meets the eye," Cameron said confidently, a knowing smile ying on his lips.


    "I''ll dig into it for you," Benjamin replied with a nod.


    Cameron gave a grateful nod before heading back to his family home.


    Inside, Kristinay bedridden. Her hair was streaked with gray. She looked like a shadow of the vibrant woman she once was. It seemed as if the years had caught up with her overnight, leaving her looking weary and frail. Upon arriving, Cameron knelt by his mother''s bedside, his voice heavy with regret. "Mom, I''ve let you down. I''ve gone against your wishes and caused you nothing but grief."


    Kristina turned away, her voice sharp with disappointment. "If you really cared about me, you''d divorce Greta."


    Cameron''s face was clouded with conflict. "Mom, Greta is the love of my life. I can''t leave her. But for everything else, I''m willing to follow your lead."


    Kristina''s anger simmered beneath her closed eyes as she refused to acknowledge him.


    Cameron shared his recent struggles, mostly grievances and frustrations. In the past, Kristina would have jumped to help him, but now she acted as if she hadn''t heard a word.


    He sighed, a sound full of defeat. "Mom, please take care of yourself. I''ll visit again soon."


    With a heavy heart, he turned to leave.


    Just as he reached the door, Kristina spoke up, her voice cutting through the tension. "Your father knows about your marriage to Greta. He was furious and said you''re a lost cause. I think he''s given up on you."


    In that moment, it dawned on Cameron why Griffin had pushed him into that reality show. He realized he had beenpletely sidelined from the Dawson family''s inner circle.


    "I''m sorry for letting you down," he murmured.


    Fueled by anger, Kristina grabbed


    themp from her bedside and


    hurled it at him. "You''ve et


    your future for Greta. Was it it?"


    away


    worth


    Cameron met her gaze, defiance in his eyes. "Mom, please have faith in me. I''ll rise again."


    Kristina sank back into the bed, waving him away with a weary hand. "Just leave. Don''te back. I''ll pretend I never had a son."


    The cracks in Cameron''sposed facade showed, his eyes welling up. "Mom?" he whispered, his voice catching.


    "If you can turn your back on me so easily, why should I keep fighting for you? Our bond as mother and son is broken." Kristina''s words cut deep into Cameron''s heart.


    "Mom, please don''t do this," he begged, inching back towards her on his knees.


    But Kristina was resolute, ordering the security guards, "Take him out. He isn''t allowed back here without my say-so." The guards stepped forward, dragging Cameron away.


    "Mom, please, don''t do this to me..."Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Tears streamed down Kristina''s face. "Without this lesson, you''ll never grow up."


    Cameron, feeling utterly defeated, found himself on a wooden bench in a small garden. The chill in the air cut through him more than the cold in his heart. Hunger gnawed at him, and he looked almost like a beggar sitting there.


    "Are you hungry?" A gentle voice asked. A pair of delicate hands offered him a warm piece of bread.


    Cameron had never appreciated such simple food as much as he did right then. He grabbed it eagerly, taking a big bite. "Careful, don''t choke," came the soothing voice.


    Startled, Cameron looked up to see Nathalie''s kind face. "Nathalie? What are you doing here?" he asked, stunned.