Camila tried to deflect Rowena's suspicions with a strained smile, but it only served to accentuate the unnaturalness of the situation.

“If you can't muster a genuine smile, don't force it. It's unsettling,"

Rowena retorted, her tone tinged with disappointment. “If you're not ready to confide in me, I won't pry. I'll go pack my things."

Then, she turned around and entered the room.

"Mom, could you carry Bowen for me?" Camila's voice trembled slightly as she made the request.

Rowena acquiesced, turning back to scoop him into her arms.

The toddler, accustomed to her presence, beamed with delight in her embrace.

He grinned up at her, drooling with excitement, and Rowena chuckled, wiping his mouth affectionately.

Camila's posture betrayed the strain she was under, her hands pressed against her chest as if to contain the turmoil within.

Rowena's gaze softened with understanding, a flicker of worry clouding her eyes before she released a weary sigh.

With Bowen cradled in her arms, Rowena made her way into the room.

In that fleeting moment, the facade of Camila's stoicism crumbled, revealing the vulnerability that lay beneath.

Her shoulders sagged under the weight of her emotions, her once proud posture now bent with the weight of her burdens.

Despite the warmth of the sun overhead, Camila felt only a chilling emptiness enveloping her.

Her body trembled with the strain, muscles tense from the pressure.

Alone with her thoughts for what felt like an eternity, her limbs grew numb, her mind lost in a haze.

Her vision blurred as tears welled in her eyes.

As Camila rose, a wave of dizziness washed over her, causing her to collapse.

Eagle, ever vigilant, spotted her unconscious form and swiftly scooped her up, carrying her indoors.

Rowena's panic surged as she watched the scene unfold.