After helping Artemis out of the pavilion, Bailey guided him to lean on the long bench in the corridor.
As she got up, her gaze met Cameron's.
She had yet to reveal the events that transpired within the castle to him. Likewise, she hadn't mentioned the incident where Blaze departed in sorrow, leaving behind a strand of severed hair.
By then, the sedative fragrance she had cast upon him had worn off. She figured she wouldn't be able to keep him in the dark for much longer.
Since he was bound to find out sooner or later, she decided to take the opportunity to tell him.
The two of them arrived by the artificial lake.
Cameron, who seemed to have guessed something, probed, “Have you already rescued Blaze?”
Taken aback, Bailey threw the question back at him. “What makes you think I've rescued her? She is the biggest bargaining chip in Kurt's hands after all. If she were that easy to rescue, it wouldn't have dragged on until now where we ended up being disgusted by an imposter for so long.”
Hearing her calm voice that carried a teasing undertone, Cameron was increasingly certain that she had already rescued Blaze.
“If you hadn't saved Blaze, you wouldn't have been able to expose Eunice so easily. After all, she was a spy sent by Kurt. As long as Kurt stands, you probably wouldn't act rashly and risk alarming him.”
Bailey was amused by him and chuckled. “You do seem to understand me and have figured out my temperament. You're right. Thanks to Artemis' plan yesterday, we have already dismantled Kurt's influence and rescued Blaze.”
“Where is she?” Cameron urgently asked, gripping her arm tightly.
It was clear that he cared deeply about Blaze.
With a helpless smile, Bailey slowly raised her head to look out at the horizon.
Blaze, after all these years of pursuit, you've finally melted his heart. If only you knew how much he cares about you now, you'd probably be very happy.
“She's gone, Cameron. You've known her for so many years. You should understand her temperament by now. After going through all that, she's too embarrassed to continue staying by your side.”
Cameron gave a wry smile. “Yes, after going through such an ordeal, there's no way she could shamelessly stay by my side. I can't believe that I actually mistook that imposter, Eunice, for her. That fake was always clinging to me, playing the victim in every way possible. I should have been suspicious from the start. But in the end, not only did I fail to see it, I even defended her at every turn. Blaze must be heartbroken. Otherwise, she wouldn't have left on her own.”
Bailey reached out and patted his shoulder, then pulled out a strand of black hair from her pocket and handed it to him.
“Blaze asked me to give this to you. Please take it.”
Cameron looked at the cut hair, feeling even more distressed. His heart squeezed in response, triggering an unbearable pain.
Strands of hair were like threads of love. To sever one's hair was akin to severing one's affection.
Is she trying to draw the line between the two of us? To be like strangers going forward? But she has stirred my heart, gradually capturing my acceptance and affection. How could she be so irresponsible as to just get up and leave, cutting ties so abruptly?
“Are all you women so ruthless? Not willing to show even a little mercy?”
As he spoke, he took the strand of hair from Bailey's hand.
Bailey raised her eyebrows, her gaze falling on the strands of hair he had taken. With a teasing smile, she said, “You're not one to admit defeat easily, are you? So now, you're thinking of giving up just because of this little setback? This isn't the Cameron I know. If she runs, you pursue. Isn't it simple?”
“Pursue her?” Cameron couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. “It's not that easy to catch up with her. If she really wants to hide from me, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to find her even if I mobilize the entire Yablon family's resources.”
With a mysterious smile, Bailey gestured to the strand of hair in his hand. “That girl is smart, but her thinking can be muddled at times. If she truly wanted to part ways with you forever, she wouldn't have given you her hair.”
Cameron was taken aback, but he wasn't a fool.
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