Chapter 6 - CAMILLE'S PERFECT LITTLE DISASTER
Camille's photography studio opened six weeks after the wedding.
I learned about it through social media.
There were flowers.
Champagne.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony.
And Everett standing beside her.
Smiling.
Kelsey sent me a screenshot.
Don't look if you're having a good day.
I laughed.
Too late.
The studio was beautiful.
White walls.
Tall windows.
Expensive equipment.
And a sign reading:
CAMILLE PORTER PHOTOGRAPHY.
I stared at the photographs.
Forty-five thousand dollars.
Our house fund.
The money I'd earned working weekends.
And there it was.
A studio I'd never agreed to finance.
Then another photograph appeared.
Everett holding Camille's waist.
My stomach tightened.
I closed the app.
Two days later, Rebecca called.
“We have news.”
I sat down.
“What?”
“The lender has agreed to review the collateral arrangement.”
I exhaled.
“Does that mean—”
“Not yet. But it's progress.”
I nodded.
Meanwhile, Camille's studio began experiencing financial trouble.
Bookings were lower than expected.
Expenses were higher.
And several invoices remained unpaid.
Everett started receiving calls from the lender.
The collateral he'd insisted was safe was suddenly at risk.
One evening, Everett appeared outside my apartment.
I opened the door only after confirming Kelsey was on her way.
“What do you want?”
He looked exhausted.
“Madison.”
I folded my arms.
“Everett.”
He swallowed.
“Camille's business is struggling.”
I stared.
“And?”
He looked away.
“The lender is asking questions.”
I felt cold.
“About the collateral?”
He nodded.
I took a breath.
“Then you need to deal with that through the attorneys.”
Everett stepped closer.
“Maddie, please.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
He stared.
I continued.
“You made a financial decision without me.”
My voice strengthened.
“You don't get to make me responsible for fixing it.”
Everett looked at me for a long moment.
Then whispered:
“I never thought you'd actually leave.”
I swallowed.
There it was.
The truth.
He hadn't believed my boundaries mattered.
Because he'd never believed I'd enforce them.
I looked at him.
May you like
“That's why I had to.”
Then I closed the door.
