Chapter 18
“Are you done with your shower?” Cameron’s low, magnetic voice broke the silence.
Yanina felt her cheeks flush and muttered under her breath, “Maybe I should sleep in the study instead.” She couldn’t bring herself to look at him.
It was a lie to say she didn’t care about Cameron; she had been pushing him away, putting on a cold front to protect herself and numb her feelings. But tonight, sharing a room, she worried that all her defenses would come crumbling down.
Realizing what was at stake, Cameron knew he couldn’t let her sleep outside the bedroom. If Carl found out in the morning, he’d be kicked out of the Zamora family.
He quickly locked the door, pocketed the key, and faced Yanina, You’re sleeping here tonight, no arguing! I’ll take my shower now…
With that he grabbed the room key and headed into the bathroom.
Yanina shook her head at the locked door and pulled a set of bedding from the closet. She lay down on the sofa, but sleep. wouldn’t come. She tossed and turned, feeling stuffy and restless.
Suddenly, she heard the bathroom door creak open. Freezing in place, she dared not move.
Cameron emerged, grabbed a thin blanket from the cabinet, and settled down on the bed.
With the wall clock ticking softly in the background, the rain pattered against the window, filling the silence with a soothing- rhythm. But it couldn’t drown out the tension in the room.
“Are you asleep? Cameron’s deep voice cut through the silence again.
Yanina remained silent, fighting the urge to turn over. Yet, there was an undeniable heat in her body, responding to his presence.
Unable to resist any longer, Cameron got up, walked over to Yanina, and lifted her gently to the bed.
The bed was spacious, but as their breaths mingled, Cameron felt a rush of heat surge inside him. He leaned in, drawn to her warmth, their bodies colliding after what felt like an eternity of restraint.
Even in the dark, he could see her tempting face.
“Cameron!” Yanina bit her lip, desperately trying to regain her composure. But her voice, thick with emotion, only added to
the tension
Just then, a series of impatient knocks sounded at the door.
Yanina snapped back to reality, pushed Cameron away, and curled up. Cameron frowned, battling the heat radiating from his body. He took a deep breath, quickly threw on some clothes, and went to open the door.
Standing there was Sherry, looking frantic. As soon as she saw Cameron, she grabbed his hand. “Cameron, you have to help! Chris is missing!
“She ran out after dinner and hasn’t come back. Her phone isn’t working. What if something bad happens to her?”
Sherry’s voice trembled as she spoke, and she suddenly collapsed, burying her face in her hands and crying.
Understanding the gravity of the situation, Cameron helped Sherry to the living room. Inside, Carl, Ethan, Quinei, and domestic workers filled the room, their expressions anxious as they tried to figure out what to do.
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“Wasn’t Steven with Chris? Have you called him?” Cameron asked, trying to stay calm.
“I called him, but his phone is off too… Quinci sighed in frustration, rubbing her temples.
Cameron frowned and pulled out his phone to call Zak. “Check all the hotels in the city. See if there are any records of Christina and Steven checked in anywhere.
After the call, he turned to Sherry. “Mom, don’t panic. Chris is grown; she knows how to take care of herself.”
From what he knew about Christina, she’d had a rough day, facing humiliation because of Yanina, but with Carl around, she could nothing to get back at Yanina.
Therefore, it made sense that she’d want to run away, thinking maybe disappearing would force the family to take her seriously. It was a way for her to reclaim some control when she felt cornered.
“Cameron, can Zak find out? Should we go look for her?” Sherry wiped her tears, anxiety written all over her face. She needed to see her daughter safe,
Just as Cameron opened his mouth to respond, his phone buzzed with a message. It was from Zak. [Celestial Dawn Hotel!] Cameron felt a rush of relief. The Celestial Dawn Hotel was family–owned, and it meant Christina was probably safe there. “Mom, Chris and Steven are both at the Celestial Dawn Hotel, he said, showing her the screen.
A wave of relief washed over Sherry, and a smile broke through her worry. Til go pick up Chris!”
Cameron shook his head. “I’ll go. You stay here. His expression darkened. It wasn’t just about Christina throwing a fit; he found it odd that Steven was with her. He thought, ‘Does Steven think he’s part of the family?‘
Lately, Cameron had been hearing rumors about the Hopper fathily, and Steven being with Christina now raised red flags for him.
Cameron hurried back to his room, grabbed his coat and car keys, and glanced at Yanina, who was still sitting on the bed. “I’m heading out for a bit.
“I’m corning with you. Yanina jumped up, having heard about Christina’s disappearance, too.
The rain was pouring outside, and the Zamora residence was in the suburbs near the coast. The coastal road would be slippery and hard to navigate in the dark. Yanina was worried about Cameron.
Cameron raised an eyebrow, surprised that she was concerned about his safety.
“Don’t get the wrong idea. I just can’t sleep here. When you find Christina, drop me off at SouthHaven Apartments, Yanina said, throwing on her jacket and following him downstairs. Staying in the Zamora residence felt risky.
Cameron drove straight to the Celestial Dawn Hotel, his mind racing. Meanwhile, Carl stood by the window, watching the faint glow of their headlights as they drove away, letting out a heavy sigh.
Ten minutes later, Cameron and Yanina were on the coastal highway, navigating through the torrential rain. They kept the speed down, aware that conditions were treacherous.
“Watch out!” Yanina suddenly yelled, spotting a rock in the middle of the road. It must have fallen from the mountain.
Cameron swerved and hit the brakes, but the road was slick. Just as they realized it was too late, the car collided with the rock with a loud thud, sending the back end spinning out.
In that split second, Cameron reached out to shield Yanina, pulling her into his arms as glass shattered around them.
The tires screeched against the pavement, a harsh; sound that pierced through the chaos. After sliding a few meters, the car
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Chapter 18
finally came to a halt on the shoulder.
“Are you okay?” Cameron’s voice was rough as he lowered his gaz
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