Patrick took a heavy blow to the face, falling to the ground. Before he could get up, he was kicked in the chest.
I was terrified, watching Cameron’s arrogant face.
“What are you doing!” I screamed, rushing over and pushing him hard, standing in front of Patrick.
Cameron looked at me, initially with some disbelief. Then his face darkened, as if brewing a storm.
“What are you two doing?” he shouted sternly. “Laura, this is right downstairs from the company, watch your behavior and be mindful of the impact! What’s with the public display of affection at the entrance? Are you trying to cause trouble? What’s wrong with you?”
“Even so, you didn’t have to resort to violence,” I glare at him, trembling all over.
I helped Patrick up. His lip was swollen, and a dark footprint marked his clean white shirt.
There was a small cut on his forehead, blood oozing out.
I panicked, holding his arm and trying to take him to the hospital. Patrick gently held my hand, reassuring me with his gentle gaze that he was okay.
But this gesture angered Cameron further.
He stepped forward and shoved Patrick hard. Patrick stumbled back, almost falling into the flowerbed behind him.
Cameron grabbed Patrick’s collar tightly, glaring at him.
“Cameron!” Patrick said, “You’re going too far!”
“Am I the one going too far, or are you?” Cameron gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot. “Patrick, I’ve treated you like a brother since we were kids, but what about you? What are you doing?”
“Cameron,” Patrick grabbed his wrist, looking at him coldly, “You’re already married. Laura also has the right to pursue happiness.”
“It’s all excuses! Why does the person who gives her happiness have to be you?”
“Because I understand her. I know her!”
“You’re just a bastard!”
“Stop it!” I stood between them, Cameron’s fist almost coming down.
I didn’t expect that the moment I looked at him, I would still feel heartbroken.
There were already many people whispering around us, and I didn’t want to escalate the situation.
I composed myself and spoke to him as calmly as possible, “Vice President Lynch, I’m sorry… my boyfriend wanted to surprise me. We disrupted the order at the company’s entrance, and we’re deeply sorry.”
As I mentioned “boyfriend,” Cameron frowned.
“I’ll take him away now… I’ll take responsibility for the trouble we caused to the company. If there’s any punishment, I’ll accept it. But Vice President Lynch, you shouldn’t have resorted to violence. I’ll take responsibility for what’s mine, but I won’t let Vice President Lynch get away with hitting someone.”
Cameron chuckled, “What else do you want?”
I took Patrick’s arm.
“My boyfriend happens to be a police officer, he knows what to do.”
“A police officer? Fine, sue me for assault! I also happen to want to visit the police station and catch up with Patrick!”
“You…”
“Enough!” Patrick pulled me away, looking at Cameron. “I won’t argue with you. But Cameron, you should sober up! Let go of Laura, it’s also letting go of yourself.”
With that, he put his arm around my shoulder and led me to the car.
He drove me home.
I rummaged through the house but could only find some disinfectant alcohol and cotton pads, not even a bandage.
“I’m really sorry,” I said to him, “I don’t even have a first aid kit.”
“It’s okay. Just use the disinfectant alcohol to clean it.”
“But that’s not enough. Maybe we should go to the hospital!”
“No need.” Patrick held my hand, smiling gently. “Just give me the cotton pad, I’ll do it myself.”
I couldn’t resist him, so I used alcohol wipes to clean his wounds.
“I’m sorry…” I said softly, lowering my head, “It’s all because of me.”
“What nonsense are you talking?” he replied.
During the time I’ve been with Patrick, he seemed to never lose his temper. His voice was always gentle and soothing. I felt a warmth surging in my heart as I gently leaned into his embrace. There was a clean scent of soap on him, unlike Cameron, who always smelled of a mix of cigarette smoke, alcohol, and cologne.
“Laura, it’s actually my fault today. I didn’t consider everything properly. I should have realized Cameron was there too.”
“I caused trouble for you,” He said, squeezing my hand.
“No, it’s not your fault. It’s his. Patrick, why didn’t you fight back?”
I thought maybe he was considering their friendship, but after a moment of silence, he awkwardly replied, “I was afraid… afraid that you wouldn’t be happy.”
I was stunned and lightly pounded him, “You idiot!”
Patrick looked at me with a smile, then pulled me into his arms.
“If possible, would you like to go to Canada with me?”
“What?” I was surprised. “Why are you suddenly mentioning this?”
“I grew up there, and I attended police school there. I’m more familiar with everything there,” he explained. “Plus, my parents are there. I want you to meet them.”
I gently pushed away from him.
“I…”
“Don’t you want to marry me?”
“Patrick…” I felt awkward. “It’s too soon to talk about this. You haven’t fully understood me yet. How can we talk about marriage?”
“I understand you, very well!” His eyes were full of urgency and expectation. “Laura, I know you’re a good girl, and you’ll be a good wife in the future!”
“It’s not like that!”
My mind was in chaos.
I didn’t know how to explain to him.
Dating and marriage are different, and I was afraid of marriage. I seemed to have an innate fear of it.
A voice in my subconscious started to stir: Laura, are you still unable to forget about Cameron?
I hugged my head tightly, trembling. Patrick wrapped his arms around me from behind, gently stroking my hair, apologizing incessantly.
“I’m sorry, Laura. I shouldn’t have said those things… If you don’t want to, it’s okay. I won’t force you.”
“Patrick,” I looked at him.
“Let’s not talk about it anymore,” he comforted me. “I was too impatient, too eager to have you.”
“I’m not that great.”
“Maybe you’re not seen as great in others’ eyes,” He smiled, “But in my heart, you’re invaluable.”
People are strange indeed. Love is blind; regardless of how ordinary someone may appear in a crowd, as long as they’re the one you love, you can always recognize them at a glance.
I looked at Patrick, feeling like I could already see the happiness in our future.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” he teased, “You’re making me embarrassed!”
I chuckled. “You get embarrassed too?”
“Are you making fun of me?”
“I dare not! You have both a gun and handcuffs on you. I wouldn’t dare to provoke you!”
“You’re afraid of these?” Unexpectedly, he became serious, taking out the handcuffs and gun and placing them on the table. “I’m in charge of the major crimes unit. It’s a requirement from the police department that even when dressed casually, we have to carry these with us. After all, criminals can be brutal, and we need to protect ourselves and the public.”
“If you’re scared, then I’ll take these off when I’m with you in the future.”
“No need!” I hastily said. “This is your job requirement; you can’t just change it. I’m not afraid, really! I used to be a war correspondent in Alcostan, and I’ve seen plenty of gunfire from those terrorists, much scarier than your handgun!”
“Is that so?” He looked at me. “You’re so tough, and you’ve been a war correspondent?”
“Of course. Once, I was on the front line, and our car was ambushed. The peacekeeping forces didn’t arrive in time. It was pitch black, surrounded by fire, charred bodies all around me, and a mortar tube firing at me from a distance, if it weren’t for…”
I suddenly stopped, unable to continue.
If it weren’t for Cameron, I would have been killed…
I took a deep breath. Why was it like this? The word “Cameron” was like a nightmare, always appearing in my world!
“What if it weren’t for what?” Patrick listened with interest. “Why did you stop?”
I looked at him and forced a smile. “Oh, what if… What if someone hadn’t pushed me away in time, I would have been killed.”
“Then you should really thank the person who saved you.”
“Yeah.”
I started to feel absent-minded again, not even knowing when Patrick had left.
I curled up on the couch, memories of Alcostan flooding my mind.
Cameron shielding me from gunfire.
Cameron holding me in his arms, telling me not to be afraid.
Cameron helping me write every news article, being my first reader.
Cameron cooking crab for me, the best thing I ever ate in the war zone.
Cameron took me to the creek behind the mountains where we made love until dawn …
Cameron, Cameron…
He used to be so good, so good that I longed for the place where the flames of war raged.
I buried my face in my knees, feeling a pain in my heart.
Suddenly, a cold wind swept through the window, lifting the curtains.
I snapped out of my thoughts, shivering.
I got up to close the window, but then I heard urgent knocking on the door.
Standing outside was Cameron.
The anger in his eyes sent shivers down my spine.