Chapter 9 - Camille Had Been Editing Landon’s World
The drink was only one part.
Once Landon knew what manipulation felt like, he began noticing its other forms.
Camille had canceled therapy appointments claiming Landon was fatigued.
His therapist had assumed Landon requested it.
Landon had not.
She answered messages from friends saying he was “not emotionally ready” for visitors.
He thought they stopped coming.
She told Landon his architecture partners preferred him remote because clients felt uncomfortable around his wheelchair.
His partners were horrified when asked.
They had repeatedly invited him back.
Camille said the accessible restaurant near his office was temporarily closed.
It wasn’t.
She said his modified car had failed inspection.
It had passed.
Every small falsehood did the same thing.
Reduce friction for dependence.
Keep his world narrow enough that Camille remained the easiest route through it.
The physical tampering was the most dangerous act.
But psychologically, it fit a much larger system.
Nora sat with him as he read old messages.
Eventually Landon said:
“How did I not see this?”
“You were recovering from a spinal injury.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“It is part of one.”
He looked at her.
Nora continued.
“She didn’t lie about everything. That’s why it worked. Most appointments really happened. Most things she did really helped. Most days she probably did care about you.”
That was harder to hear than calling Camille evil.
Because it was likely true.
People can care and still control.
Love does not automatically make behavior safe.
“And I let her,” Landon said.
“For a while.”
“I stopped checking.”
“Yes.”
Nora did not rescue him from responsibility either.
He appreciated that.
Then they found one message from eight months earlier.
Landon had written Camille:
I need to start making decisions myself again, even if I make some wrong ones.
Camille replied:
Why are you acting like I’m your enemy after everything I’ve sacrificed?
That conversation happened three days before the first documented sedative episode.
The central motive was now almost impossible to deny.
May you like
Independence itself had become Camille’s enemy.
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