Chapter 140 Officially Together
"Hector, Betty, and Sebastian might be all about Camilla, but not me. My eyes are only on you. I'll always have your back and see you as the most important person in my life. I really, really like you. Can you give me a shot to openly protect you and be by your side?"
Darren had a thing for Doris since she first walked into the lab.
Doris was enthusiastic, lively, talented, and came from a good background—totally different from him. It just made sense he'd be drawn to her.
Darren had been chasing her for a while, but she never said yes.
But now, Darren felt like giving it one more shot for himself.
Doris didn't catch Darren's loving look; she was just suspicious. What was Darren's game in asking for a relationship now?
Was it a hidden threat?
A chance to pressure her?
If she said no, would Darren spill everything she had done to everyone?
Fear gripped Doris. If she left the lab, she'd lose any chance with Sebastian. She couldn't risk it.
"Doris? It's cool if you don't agree," Darren scratched his head. "These two things aren't really connected. I just got emotional and had to say it. By the way, I get why you don't like Camilla, but please don't do that again. If Sebastian finds out, it won't be pretty."
Darren spoke without any malice, but Doris took it seriously.
Doris's gaze turned cold. She thought, 'Darren is definitely threatening me.'
"Okay, I agree."
"What?" Darren was ready for rejection and didn't expect her to agree.
Doris spelled it out, "I said, I agree to date you."
"That's awesome! Doris, thank you! I'll treat you so well, believe me!"
Darren was over the moon and didn't notice the reluctance on Doris's face.
Maybe Darren knew deep down that Doris's feelings for him weren't as strong as his for her, but he believed that with enough effort, things could change.
Hand in hand, they went back to the late-night food stall. Darren was grinning from ear to ear.
Betty's eyes sparkled as she saw their clasped hands. "Hey, what's going on here?"
Darren grinned and couldn't wait to announce, "Doris just accepted my confession. We're together."
Betty blinked. "Congrats, congrats. You finally got what you wanted."
Hector said, "Way to go!"
Darren's crush on Doris was so obvious that Camilla had noticed it on her very first day in the lab.
Doris had always been lukewarm, neither rejecting nor accepting, so she thought Darren's pursuit would be long and tough. No one expected them to suddenly start dating.
Camilla also smiled and genuinely congratulated them.
Sebastian not only congratulated them but also asked the waiter to add a few more dishes to celebrate the couple.
Doris had been watching Sebastian's reaction closely.
She noticed that when he heard the news from Darren, not only was he not upset, but his smile grew even bigger.
At that moment, Doris's last hope was finally crushed.
After the late-night snack, it was already 10:30 PM.
Everyone parted ways, and Camilla and Sebastian were also ready to head home.
The food stall was near Harmony College. Sebastian hadn't driven, and it was still early, so Camilla suggested taking a walk to digest the food.
Walking along the riverbank, the neon signs flickered on both sides. The noisy city suddenly felt quiet, giving Camilla the sense that time had slowed down.
They strolled side by side, a light silence between them, but it wasn't awkward. It felt like they just got each other.
It was like just being next to each other was the most natural thing.
"Want to go up on the bridge and feel the breeze?" Camilla suddenly asked, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as the wind blew gently.
Sebastian followed her gaze. "Sure. But it's a bit far."
Camilla teased, "Too tired to walk?"
Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "Wanna race and see who gets there first?"
He found it funny. Here they were, both over fifty, acting like kids.
Camilla was all in. "Sure, let's race. Loser buys ice cream."
If Juniper were here, she'd probably tease her. Just ice cream? Sebastian was her cousin. She could ask for something pricier, and he wouldn't even blink.
Sebastian nodded seriously. "Alright."
"I'll count to three. One, two, three!"
Camilla took off running, with Sebastian following at a leisurely pace.
He never got too close, nor too far.
When she finally reached the bridge, Camilla was out of breath but her eyes were shining.
She turned back with a triumphant smile. "Sebastian, I won!"
Sebastian had already reached the convenience store entrance and pointed to the freezer. "What flavor do you want?"
"Strawberry, please," Camilla replied.
Sebastian grabbed one for himself too.
So, they sat lazily by the roadside, enjoying their ice cream and the post-exercise buzz.
"There's no stars tonight," Camilla said, looking at the pitch-black sky with a hint of regret.
"When I was a kid, seeing stars was so easy that I rarely looked up."
Because it was easy, there was no need to look up intentionally. Anytime she wanted to see them, they were there.
With her elbows on her knees, Camilla rested her chin on one hand, recalling some old memories.
Camilla had always been excellent and sensible, and her parents didn't restrict her much.
When Alistair was busy, he couldn't even find time during winter and summer breaks. Even so, he would still fulfill Camilla's small wishes, treating her like a princess.
But when it came to education, he was never lenient.
In contrast, Bella's demands were much simpler, or rather, she had no demands.
Camilla could play around, splash in puddles on rainy days, and get as dirty as a mud monkey, as long as she was alive.
"My mom could always guess where I hid my allowance. She could even find my dad's secret stash without fail." Talking about her childhood, Camilla laughed happily.
Her eyes sparkled, bright as the stars, and she occasionally gestured while speaking. The streetlight's warm glow wrapped around her.
Sebastian watched quietly, a smile on his lips, drawn to her light, as if he would be submerged in it the next second.
And he was willing, powerless to resist.
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