“Let her go!”
My heart skipped a beat.
“Hand her over to me.”
My gaze locked onto him and couldn’t move away.
Cameron strode forward. His gaze was deep, and those shoulders still gave me an unparalleled sense of security.
I don’t know how, but suddenly he was holding me.
He shielded me behind his arm, his voice soft but filled with menace, “Who dare to touch my woman?”
“Mr. Lynch, this…” The doctor stepped forward to explain. But as soon as he met Cameron’s eyes, he kept stepping back.
No one said another word.
Cameron chuckled lightly, then turned and lifted me up, carrying me out of that hospital in full view of everyone.
It felt like I was dreaming. My ear was pressed against his chest, and only the thumping of his heartbeat felt real. I closed my eyes, my hands clasping tightly around his neck, fearing that if I woke up from this dream, he would disappear again.
“Don’t be afraid,” he whispered softly in my ear, “Laura, I’ll take you home.”
We were back in the apartment.
Cameron gently placed me on the bed, then went to the kitchen to prepare food. My mind was empty, my eyes staring blankly at the ceiling.
Oh no, I didn’t bring any of my medication!
What would I do when I wanted to sleep? What about when my emotions became unstable?
I was just thinking when I heard Cameron’s footsteps approaching. He came in, carrying a bowl of porridge, and softly said to me, “Have something to eat first.”
I sat up straight, feeling anxious.
“Don’t take those medicines anymore,” he said. “Those calming pills actually contain hypnotic ingredients. If you become dependent on them, you’ll have trouble for the rest of your life!”
I felt a surge of grievance, looking at him tightly as tears flowed uncontrollably down my cheeks.
“Laura,” he held my hand, “I hope you’ll be alright.”
Ironically, could I still be alright? Now the whole world knows that I’m the ruthless woman who killed her own father. And the whole world knows that the man I love is about to marry someone else. My existence seems so pointless.
“Laura,” Cameron gently rubbed the back of my hand, “I feel terrible seeing you like this.”
“No need to be sad,” I forced a smile, wiping away my tears. “Cameron, actually, it’s impossible for us from the beginning. My dad caused your sister’s tragic death, kidnapped your fiancée, and injured you… I killed him, and that’s what he deserved.”
“There’s too much between us, how could we ever be together?”
My mind had never been clearer.
“For me, being with you in Alcostan, sharing life and death for over a month, is already my most precious memory.” I smiled, reaching up to touch his face. There were still bruises on his face, and the injury on his abdomen must be more severe… It’s all my fault. If I wasn’t Jacob Campbell’s daughter, if he never met me, he wouldn’t have ended up like this.
“Cameron, I really… really like you.”
I finally gathered the courage to confess to him.
I smiled at him, saying everything I wanted to say, without any burden anymore.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine,” I told him. “I will step out of this shadow and start a new life. I won’t give up the career I love. I want to go back to the magazine, work as a journalist, dig up news, and express my feelings about life word by word… My dream is still to become the chief journalist, and I will strive towards that.”
“Cameron, perhaps one day, it will be very difficult for you to even see me.” I chuckled.
“Yeah. By then, I’ll only be able to see your articles, not you in person. To meet you, I’d probably have to schedule an appointment six months in advance.” His eyes reddened, his smile forced, nothing like the Cameron I knew.
“If that day comes, am I considered a strong woman?”
“Laura, you’ve always been strong.”
“I’ll continue to be strong.”
He sniffed, “No matter what happens in the future, I’ll wish you well.”
“I will too.” I looked at him, my gaze greedy. I wanted to engrave every strand of his hair, every glance, and every breath in my mind. I didn’t want to forget him; I just wanted to treasure him. To keep him in the deepest recesses of my memory, to recall in the dead of night.
“I wish you well too, Cameron.” I hugged him gently. “I wish you a happy marriage.”
That night, I slept in his arms.
We didn’t do anything, but that sleep was peaceful. I didn’t have any chaotic dreams. Holding hands with Cameron, listening to his heartbeat, it felt like the security of a baby in its mother’s womb.
The next morning, he was gone.
I returned to work at the magazine. When some familiar colleagues saw me, their gazes were complex. They wanted to say something to me but didn’t know what to say.
Holly called me into her office, first asking with concern, then patting my shoulder and saying softly, “Your father’s situation… it’s all over the news.”
I nodded, having mentally prepared for this.
“But I’ve told them it’s none of your business. The police have proven it was self-defense!”
I smiled wryly.
Whatever others said was their business; they had mouths of their own. Could I control that?
No matter how the police proved it, I still killed my own father.
The public opinion won’t let me off.
“Hold your head up, Laura,” Holly held my hand. “This isn’t your fault! Just focus on your work, shut them up with your achievements! Eventually, people will forget about this.”
“I got it, Holly,” I looked at her gratefully. “Don’t worry, I’m not that fragile.”
“Feel free to delegate any work to me!” I smiled. “Do we have any interviews scheduled for today? Any editorials to write? Or should I continue working on the Alcostan column?”
“You should continue with the Alcostan column, but now that there’s a ceasefire agreement over there, you don’t need to go to the front lines. Just a few commentaries will do. As for recent interview tasks…”
Before Holly could finish, someone barged in, pushing the door open. “Chief editor! Today, the second son of The Lynch Family is attending a charity luncheon with Miss Scott, at South Port. They’ve already arrived, arm in arm, looking very intimate. Should we send someone to…”
“Cough… Cough…” Holly coughed heavily.
The colleague’s face changed, glancing at her, then at me, looking extremely embarrassed.
“Why would we go?” Holly said firmly. “We run a respectable magazine, not some gossip tabloid! Why are you focusing on this kind of news? Each of you should focus on your own tasks and dig up something valuable!”
The colleague nodded and quickly left the room.
I looked at Holly, her angry expression oddly cute. I smiled and leaned my head on her shoulder, whispering, “Holly, you don’t have to be so careful… I’ve long forgotten about that person!”
“Forgotten?” Holly seemed skeptical.
I paused for a moment and then nodded.
“That’s good,” she said. “It’s best to forget everything related to The Lynch Family! Laura, I think the root of your tragedy lies with ‘The Lynch Family’…”
She stopped midway, her expression turning apologetic as she looked at me, awkwardly smiling.
“You’re right,” I said, looking at her. “You’re the only one willing to tell me these things now.”
“Laura, I don’t mean to hurt you,” she said earnestly. “But I can’t avoid saying these things. I feel… The Lynch Family isn’t as easy to deal with as it seems. But regardless, they raised you for fifteen years. Without The Lynch Family, you probably couldn’t have even gone to college. But as for Carter and Cameron, neither of them can be considered your soulmate.”
“So my advice is to keep your distance from them. You’re their adopted daughter, so you can’t keep too far away, but precisely because you’re just an ‘adopted daughter,’ you shouldn’t get too close either. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“I understand,” I replied. “I’ll be careful.”
“Good. Now go out and work!”
“Thank you, Holly.”
Before leaving, I gave her another grateful glance. Whenever I encountered any knots I couldn’t untangle, I was always thankful to have Holly as a friend by my side. She would give me the most sensible advice, like a guiding light, illuminating the path ahead.
The office buzzed with activity.
The clicking of mice and keyboards filled the air.
Phones rang incessantly.
I smiled. This was where I belonged.
I had had enough of depression; it was time to return to work.
I picked up my cup and headed to the pantry to make some coffee. But as I approached the door, I heard voices chattering inside.