Dear Sweetheart,

The Crossroad

Knock! Knock!

A knocked sound brought back Carl from be lost in thought. He'a currently at his office, to settle all business related matters. Since he've been busy carried out his royal duties.

Eventhough he's a royal, Carl don't want to be fully financially dependent on royal's income. He had his own ego and passion. He had passion in cars and that's why he established a company specialised in classic cars, VinAuto. Now, his company is one of the best classic cars dealer in the world.

The office door was opened and a guy in black leather jacket and brown berret entered his office. Carl welcomed him and asked him to take a seat at the couch.

"Any news on the things I asked you to look for?" Carl leaned back with his legs crossed.

That man pulled a brown A4 size envelope from his bag and put it in front of Carl.

Carl opened the envelope and studied the paper on his hand.

"Ms Becker worked as Finance Executive at PrimeTech. There isnt much place she go after work. Just back and forth from her studio and her office" that man was a private detective hired by Carl to gather information about Lara.

"Does she lived alone? What about her family?" Carl flipped the paper for more info on Lara.

"Her family lives at Buckle Town. And she lives with her boyfriend. The details you can see on page 3"

Carl flipped to page 3 and saw pictures of Lara and Daniel coming in and out from their studio. He squeezed the paper until it almost crumble. He didn't expect their relationship already went this far.

"Any special routine on her schedule so far?" Carl continued to dig as many information from that man.

"Nothing much. On weekend, she'll spend her time at the Woodland Nursing centre in the morning and visit her parents before going back home. Sometimes, she'll head to a florist shop, The Garden" That man spilled everything he have gathered from 2 weeks following Lara in secret.

Carl remembered Daniel told him about The Garden. It's Daniel's aunt shop. The first place Lara and Daniel met.

After several flipped the paper, Carl nodded. He opened a drawer from his side and gave the man a thick envelope. The man thanked Carl after checking the envelope content. He leave since his job was done.

Carl pulled a red pendrive from the envelope. He walked to his table and plugged in the pendrive in his laptop. The pendrive consisted of videos taken on Lara's movement and daily activity.

Carl clicked one of it. He watched Lara got into her car, heading to her workplace. Nothing much.

He closed the video and opened another one. He noticed Lara was driving headed to Standview Beach. She went alone. No sign of Daniel or her friends.

From the video, Lara was seen to park her car at one of the cliff. There's no other people there. The distance was quite far thus Carl can't tell what she's doing there.

Lara stepped out from her car. She seemed to look down at the cliff while did some stretching. To Carl's surprise, Lara took her white shirt off and stepped out from her jeans, revealing her in a black swimsuit. Carl can see Lara have a petite hourglass shape with nice curve wrapped in a wrap top. The swimsuit complimented Lara's figure perfectly.

Lara tied her hair in bun and walked near the cliff end. After a short while, Carl watched Lara jumped off the cliff.

He's quite shocked on different charms shown by Lara. She doesn't looked like someone who likes an adventurous activities. Unconciously, he smiled by himself.

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Daniel being summoned by Colonel Kennedy when he rested with his colleagues.

Daniel knocked and opened the door to see Colonel Kennedy wrote something on paper.

"Sir" Daniel raised his right arm with his fingers slightly above his eyebrow as salutation to Colonel Kennedy.

Colonel Kennedy invited Daniel to sit in front of him. Daniel took a seat with a straight posture, waiting for words from Colonel Kennedy.

After he finished did something, Colonel Kennedy closed a brown file and looked at Daniel, who's sitting in front of him.

"Cap, what's your future planning? In the military." Colonel Kennedy clasped his fingers while resting his elbow on armrest.

Daniel took a time to manage his thought before he answered.

"I don't have exact plans but I make sure I did everything in my very best to honor the badge on my chest. Even I have to put my life on the line" Daniel answered in confidence.

Colonel Kennedy nodded with Daniel's answer. Daniel's one of his best man. Talented, skillful and intelligent despite his young age. But Daniel was assigned as one of the Royal Guard under Grand Duke's request.

"When I have to send you to Royal Guard Department, I felt sorry for you. I am still. You're destined to be someone greater rather than stuck being a guard" Colonel Kennedy clearly showed his deep regret.

"But, I want to make up for it" Colonel Kennedy slided a paper closer for Daniel take a look.

'Royal Military Association : Specialised Training...'

Daniel read what's the paper all about and shifted to look back at Colonel Kennedy for explanation.

"I sent your name for the 2 years course on Specialised military training at London. There you can gain more knowledge and polish your skill" Colonel Kennedy calmly explained.

"and when I should depart for London?" Daniel hoped it wasn't in the near future.

"2 days before Christmas"

Daniel blankly stared at the paper. two days before Christmas, it means.... he left with less than 3 weeks to be with Lara.

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Lara stayed silent when Daniel told her about him leaving for London. So many things going inside her head at that time.

Daniel too, silently waiting for Lara's reaction. He held her hands in his.

"So... do you planned to go?" Lara asked with a slow voice.

"If you don't want me to, I'll talk to Colonel Kennedy tomorrow." Daniel's decision really depends on Lara's. What's use of him climbing up his career if his lover's hurting.

Lara took a deep breathe. She already made up her mind. She looked into Daniel's hazel eyes. She moved her hand to cup Daniel's cheek and brushed with with her thumb.

"Don't you know why I chose you? It's because you always chased for your dream. And I don't want to be the reason for you to stop running" Lara's affectionately speaks her mind.

"Two years will quickly flies by, right? Plus, London is not that far. I'll come to visit you" her smile warmed Daniel's anxious heart. He pulled her into his embrace. He's so thankful that Lara can be so understanding and tolerant with his career.

"I don't know what I've done to deserve you in my life"

Lara tightened the hug as they will be missing each other later.