"If it were an enemy," Joshua said tly, "Wilbur wouldn''t still be breathing."


    Although his logic was sound, Ste still decided to have someone look into it. Her life had been far from peacefultely; she couldn''t afford to let her guard down.


    ...


    Once the contract was signed, Ste headed straight to the hospital.


    Wilbur hadn''t suffered any severe injuries, just a mild concussion. Gideon was keeping himpany in the room.


    After Ste checked on him and was about to give him a few days off to recover, Wilbur suddenly spoke up. "Ste, can I talk to you alone for a minute?"


    Ste nced at Joshua.


    "I''ll wait for you outside," Joshua said smoothly.


    Gideon tactfully slipped out of the room as well.


    Once it was just the two of them, Wilbur hesitated before finally saying, "Ste, I... I think I have to resign."


    Ste was taken aback. "Why? If you just need time to rest and heal, I can give you as much paid leave as you need."


    Wilbur looked incredibly guilty. "It''s not that. My mom had a sudden heart attack... I got the news while I was driving over, and I got so distracted that I crashed the car. My dad passed away when I was young, and my mom is getting older. I''m her only child. All these years, I''ve been working away from home and hardly ever went back to see her. She''s the only family I have left in this world. Now that she''s sick, I need to step up and be a good son. I have to go back and take care of her."


    Hearing that, Ste swallowed whatever words she had prepared to convince him to stay. She was incredibly satisfied with his work ethic and his character. If possible, she would have loved to keep him on the payroll.


    But his mother was ill. It was only natural that he wanted to be by her side.


    Ste let out a soft sigh. "Since you''ve made up your mind, I won''t stand in your way. But if you ever want toe back, my door is always open."


    Wilbur looked deeply moved. "It was an absolute honor working for you, Ste."


    As an employer, Ste was the ideal boss. She was emotionally stable, never threw her weight around, had reasonable expectations, and handed out generous bonuses he had a choice, Wilbur wouldnt have dreamed of leaving.


    After chatting for a few more minutes, Ste said her goodbyes.


    When she got home, she called Abby Murphy.


    "Wilbur is resigning. Pay out an extra year of his sry as a bonus topensate


    for his injuries and his departure."


    Abby was shocked to hear the news,


    but after Ste exined the


    situation, she could only sigh. "Man that sucks. Wilbur was


    sweet-talking, sharp as a tack, insanely capable, and easy on the eyes. It''s really hard to see him go. I guess the next bodyguard we fure for you has to be a woman, or Joshua is definitely going to get jealous."


    Ste had been stressing over Joshua''s illnesstely, which already had her feeling down tosing her


    right hand man just made her mood plummet further.


    After hanging up with Abby, Ste slumped onto the couch, too drained to move.


    Just then, a pair of hands gently rested on her shoulders and began to massage the tight muscles.


    Knowing it was Joshua, she instantly rxed. His technique was as soothing as ever, melting the tension away.


    She felt herself drifting off.


    Sometimeter, she felt weightless as strong arms lifted her up. A momentter, she was gentlyid down onto the soft mattress.