Chapter 167
After that night, Cameron and Laura's relationship noticeably changed. Laura was no longer indifferent; instead, she showed genuine concern, particularly for his chest wound.
Two days later, they escaped the primitive forest. Once they regained cell service, Laura immediately called her father.
Her father was enraged by the news. He dispatched the military to sweep through the small kingdom, exposing and brutally executing the mastermind behind the plot.
With her family's help, they returned to Leving. Cameron, having completed his mentor's task, prepared to part ways with Laura at the airport. However, Laura asked him to stay on as her personal bodyguard, feeling she could trust no one else after recent events. He agreed.
In the following days, they were nearly inseparable, attending every event together. Their relationship grew closer through constant contact, but they remained far from lovers.
Until one day, while en route to an important negotiation meeting, they were attacked again—by remnants of the small kingdom seeking revenge for their king's death. Heavy gunfire riddled their car; the driver and other bodyguards were killed.
In a desperate attempt to escape the gunfire, Cameron sped the car, crashing through a guardrail beside a moat and plunging them into the turbulent water. The car quickly sank. Laura, unable to swim, began to inhale water and suffocate. [Remove the promotional text here: "S~ᴇaʀᴄh the ƒind ηøᴠel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality."]
In that critical moment, Cameron held Laura close and pressed his mouth to hers—their first kiss. They remained in that position for over ten minutes.
SWAT teams eventually arrived, subduing the remaining attackers. Cameron and Laura were rescued.
Laura, suffering from cerebral hypoxia, was rushed to the hospital, clinging tightly to Cameron's hand. He followed the ambulance and remained at her side until she was admitted to the emergency room.
Thanks to his quick actions, her condition was not critical, and she was soon moved to a special care ward.
Upon regaining consciousness, her first words were a request for his company. Perhaps because of the kiss, or perhaps because he'd saved her life twice, Laura began to develop feelings for him. As they spent more time together, Cameron realized her heart was not as cold as it seemed. They quickly fell in love.
They visited an amusement park, where a foreign tourist happened to photograph them playfully teasing each other—their only photo together.
Around Cameron's upcoming birthday, Laura asked if he wanted anything. Jokingly, he requested a love letter from her.
To his surprise, she wrote him one the next day—her first love letter to a man, filled with shy expressions.
After reading it, Cameron vowed to protect Laura eternally, no matter the danger.
However, tragedy struck the very next day. He received a breakup text from Laura. Initially, he thought it was a joke, but when her phone remained off, he went to the Jones family residence seeking answers, only to be met with humiliation.
The ringing of his phone interrupted his thoughts. It was Dakota. He answered.
"Cameron, have you seen the evening news in Yrando?" Dakota's voice was filled with excitement.