I still stayed in my own room, and the servants showed even more respect towards me. I often overheard them talking behind my back about how I had become a famous journalist and how well-written my articles were.
I felt gratified, at least my efforts hadn’t been in vain, and my achievements were being recognized.
At home, I occasionally ran into Cameron. He was still as cold as ever, and we were like strangers.
Yet, I could always recall the days in Alcostan, the intimacy by the creek on that night… Perhaps all my passion had been exhausted during those days. The warm Cameron, forever frozen in that moment when he walked out of the kitchen with the crabs…
…
The news of the alliance between The Lynch Family and The Scott Family became a hot topic once again.
Cameron visibly became busier, often absent from home for several days at a time. According to his assistant, he was busy preparing for the wedding.
Sometimes, Carter casually mentioned in front of me, “Cameron’s wedding will be quite grand. He’s also giving a lot of consideration to Queenie. Just the other day, he purchased a rare pink diamond for her. Pink diamonds are exceptionally rare, and he publicly declared that Queenie is the rare gem in his life!”
“By the way, almost all media outlets are seizing this opportunity. There are journalists coming in and out of Cameron’s office every day.”
I remained silent after hearing this, turning back to my room, with Carter’s mocking laughter trailing behind me.
I told myself it wasn’t worth caring about. We were never meant to be together anyway, and with the matter of the will right in front of me, while I couldn’t fully trust Carter’s words, I also couldn’t decipher Cameron’s intentions. Maybe I was just deluding myself?
Maybe… he really was just stringing me along, using me?
I told myself to trust Cameron, to believe in his love for me, but everything in reality was causing me great anguish.
I asked Yasmin to come to The Lynch Family to accompany me. In such a huge place like The Lynch Family, I didn’t trust any of the servants, only Yasmin.
“Miss Campbell, this isn’t good,” Yasmin lamented. “You need to eat more. Look at how thin you’ve become! Tell me what you want to eat, and I’ll make sure to get it for you, okay?”
I stared at the computer screen, the document still blank, my thoughts wandering off somewhere. Unexpectedly, I blurted out “crab.”
“Crab?” came Carter’s voice suddenly.
“It’s something Laura used to love eating when she was young,” Suddenly came Carter’s voice
I was taken aback, quickly shutting down the computer. Carter looked at me and chuckled softly. “There’s no need to be so guarded against me. I’m not about to plagiarize your articles.”
“It’s not that,” I murmured, looking down. “I just can’t seem to write anything now, so I might as well shut it down.”
“Want some crab?”
“I…”
“Come on, I’ll take you out to eat!” Carter grabbed my hand. “I know a restaurant where they make excellent crab dishes.” He dragged me out without waiting for my response, and I realized that his legs seemed to have become more agile.
“My legs were never the problem,” he noticed my gaze. “I used to have varicose veins from sitting for too long, so I had to rely on a wheelchair and crutches. But during this time, I’ve been actively rehabilitating, so I can gradually get rid of these things.”
Indeed, besides his agile legs, he also looked well, much more energetic overall.
“Laura,” he continued, “I’ve never really given up on you.”
“Carter… Can we please not discuss this topic anymore?”
“Have you never considered marrying me for real?”
My heart was in turmoil. “Please, stop. Okay?”
“Carter,” I took a deep breath. “You said Cameron approached me with a purpose, to get the inheritance. But what about you? Aren’t you marrying me with the same intention?”
“If we get married, I can transfer all that money to you!” Carter looked at me, his gaze complex.
“Laura, I’m not Stella’s biological son. Cameron and I are half-brothers,” he emphasized each word. “So, our wedding was entirely a scheme by The Lynch Family! They lied to me, saying I was marrying you, but in reality, we were never legally married! Stella had ulterior motives; she only wanted to leave that money to her son!”
“Laura, why don’t you cooperate with me? They’re not leaving anything for me… But if we join forces, we can get everything from The Lynch Family!”
“Let’s work together, what do you say?”
“No…” My heart trembled fiercely, and I kept shrinking back.
The aroma of crab drifted over, and the neighboring table couldn’t wait to taste the delicacy. But I felt strange. Why didn’t this aroma resemble the one I had in Alcostan?
People change, environments change, and so do mindsets. Could it be that even my taste buds were affected?
“Laura, don’t be foolish! Cameron has been trying to use you from the start, can’t you see?”
“I don’t know,” I looked at him. “I don’t know if he’s using me, just like I don’t know how much truth there is in what you’re saying right now… Carter, I won’t trust anyone at this point. I’ll go back to The Lynch Family because of the fifteen years Stella raised me. Now that she needs me, I should fulfill my duties as a daughter.”
“Regardless of what you and Cameron think, I won’t be a pawn in your sibling rivalry for control of The Lynch Group. Get that out of your head!”
He sneered, “You still have hope for Cameron? Are you that pathetic, willingly being used by him?”
“I’m sorry, I don’t want to hear any of this,” I stood up. “Carter, you’ve always been good to me since childhood, and I’ve respected you like a brother… But what you’re doing now is just unacceptable to me!”
“Laura!”
I turned and ran to the door of the shop, with Carter chasing after me and grabbing me.
“Everything I’ve done is for you, can’t you understand?” he pleaded.
“Carter, I don’t need it!” I broke free. “If you really care for me, stop scheming! Otherwise, I won’t see you as Carter anymore, and I won’t consider this place my home…”
“You’re deceiving yourself!” His eyes reddened slightly. “It’s impossible, Laura… Cameron and I have long torn our relationship apart. We don’t have brotherly feelings, only a struggle for interests!”
“Face reality,” he said. “Cameron is about to marry Queenie! Forget about getting his affection, all you can grasp now is that inheritance!”
I remained motionless, like a statue.
“Laura,” Carter grabbed my shoulder, sighing heavily. “As long as you marry me and get that inheritance, I truly… truly will transfer all the money to your name! After all, we were husband and wife at that time, why should it matter who the money belongs to? And all I want is you!”
“After Cameron is done using Queenie, he’ll definitely turn his attention to you! So, we must marry before he ditches Queenie, get the inheritance, and make his hopes come crashing down…”
I pushed him hard.
Carter couldn’t keep his balance and stumbled, crashing into the wall. He looked up at me, utterly astonished.
Gradually, that look turned into resentment.
I didn’t want to get entangled with him anymore. Just hearing him mention Cameron, mentioning the marriage, caused me unbearable pain.
I turned and ran, hearing footsteps behind me. I looked back, only to see Carter rushing towards me with a glass of water from the table…
I screamed in shock as the water almost splashed onto me, but someone stood in front of me.
“Stop!”
Still trembling with fear, I looked at Carter, whose hand was now restrained by someone, and the glass shattered on the ground.
“Carter, what are you doing?”
It was a deep, stern voice.
“Pa… Patrick?” I was startled. “What are you doing here?”
Patrick didn’t answer me, glaring angrily at Carter. Carter, equally furious, gritted his teeth and said, “This is my family matter… Stay out of it!”
“Laura is your sister, how could you splash hot water on her?”
“She’s not my sister!” Carter was hysterical. “Patrick, are you deliberately trying to pick a fight with me?”
“She hasn’t officially married you, and she was adopted by The Lynch Family. Legally, your relationship with her is siblings!” Patrick smiled calmly. “I’m a police officer, and upholding the law is my duty. I only speak through the law! Your act of splashing hot water on her just now constitutes assault. If Mr. Lynch still refuses to see reason, do you want to come back to the police station with me?”
“You…”
Carter was left speechless by Patrick’s words.
Patrick let go of him and stood beside me.
“Are you okay?”
I shook my head, feeling like crying. This sense of security, it seemed like no one else besides Cameron had ever given it to me.
“Can we talk somewhere else?” Patrick whispered to me. “It’s about your father.”