Chapter 53 Don’t Leave Me Behind


    Fortunately, the waiter came in with the food, easing the tension in the room.


    Chloe’s eyes stung as she looked at the familiar vors of Yarfdale spread across the table. She ate slowly, savoring each bite.


    The restaurant Brian had chosen was one of the city’s finest, and the food was excellent. Yet, it still didn’t


    taste like what she remembered from long ago.


    “What’s wrong? You don’t like it?” he suddenly asked.


    Caught off guard by his sharp observation, she quickly shook her head. “No, it’s good.”


    “Your expression says otherwise,” he said. “If you don’t like this ce, we can go somewhere else.”


    “There’s no need. It’s just a meal, nothing worth fussing over,” she replied. “Besides, this ce is one of


    the best in Yarfdale. Compared to the little diner my parents used to take my brother and me to, this is far


    more refined.”


    Even so, she couldn’t help missing the taste of that little diner.


    “Your brother…” Brian’s eyes flickered. “You barely mention him.‘


    “He went missing five years ago.”


    Chloe’s expression dimmed. It had been years, and people kept telling her that Daniel was probably dead.


    But she refused to believe it. As long as his body wasn’t found, she believed that he was still alive.


    <i>“</i>Since I’ll be working as your bodyguard, is there anything I should know beforehand?” she asked, trying to change the subject.


    “Like I said, you can deal with <i>your </i>own affairs in Yarfdale,” Brian replied. “The rest of the time, you’ll stick to your bodyguard duties. If I attend any social functions, you’ll keep mepany.”


    Chloe nodded. “Understood.”


    During her time in the army, she had never worked as a bodyguard. But since she’d done protection missions before, she assumed this job wouldn’t be difficult.


    “And most importantly…” Brian paused. “No matter what happens, you can’t leave me behind.”


    Chloe almost choked on her soup. He sounded as if he were terrified of being abandoned.


    However, it exined why he had been so insistent on having her as his bodyguard. It was probably because she never left his side in moments of danger.


    It was almost as if… he’d been left behind one too many times.


    hierarchy. Who in their right mind would dare leave him behind?


    “Of course. That goes without saying,” she replied swiftly.


    Protecting him was her duty, so naturally, she’d never leave him behind.


    “Great.”


    A smile spread across Brian’s face, softening his usually cold, distant features. Even the harsh lines of his face seemed gentler, and all of a sudden, he looked breathtakingly handsome.


    And against her better judgment, Chloe found it hard to look away.


    After dinner, Chloe went to the restroom. She ended up running into Willow at the sink.


    “Ms. Quall, we meet again,” Willow said, adjusting her sses. “Brian said you’re more than just friends. What exactly is your rtionship with him?”


    Her tone was polite, far from confrontational. But there was something in her eyes that made Chloe


    uneasy.


    “There’s nothing between us,” Chloe replied, figuring she and Brian weren’t even friends. At most, she was only working as his bodyguard for the next three months.


    Willow smiled. “If you don’t want to answer, that’s fine. But I’ve seen plenty of women like you.” <fnfe2c> Chapters first released on fin?novel</fnfe2c>


    Chloe arched an eyebrow.


    “Women who think that cozying up to powerful men makes them special,” Willow continued, her smile perfectly in ce. “In the end, they’re just toys to be discarded.”


    “Is that so? Alright, then,” Chloe replied coolly, turning to leave.


    Displeasure shed in Willow’s eyes. She stopped Chloe, the same smile fixed firmly on her face. “Shall I be more direct? You mean nothing to Brian. He’ll never love anyone.”


    ‘Does that mean he won’t fall in love with you either?” Chloe shot back.


    Willow’s expression changed. “Who do you think you are topare yourself to me?” she hissed, raising


    her hand to p Chloe.


    But before the p couldnd, Chloe caught her wrist and snarled, “All humans are equal. What makes you better than all of us?”


    “Do you even know who I am?” Willow seethed. “I’m-”


    “I know you’re Willow Quall. That’s all.” Chloe cut her off, pushing her hand away. “As for your background,


    I’m not interested.”


    A sneer twisted Willow’s lips. “What if I tell Brian you shoved me on purpose, broke my sses, and hurt


    Chapter 53 Dont Leave Me Behind


    my eyes? What do you think he’ll do?”


    With that, she suddenly yanked the sses off her face and smashed them against the sink. The rims of the designer sses broke, the lenses shattering.


    “You should know that Brian cares a lot about my eyes,” Willow added smugly.


    Usually, the women around Brian didn’t bother her. She knew he’d never care for them, and their feelings. for him would always go unreciprocated.


    So even if he didn’t love her, she wasn’t upset. She didn’t mind waiting for him. After all, she’d always. been patient.


    But Chloe stirred something in Willow.


    She began to panic after seeing Brian lead Chloe to a private room, her hand in his. All these years, he had never taken the initiative to hold a woman’s hand.


    Unease pricked at Willow, reminding her that she couldn’t let Chloe stay by Brian’s side. She had to get rid of her, or things would spiral out of control.


    So even though she usually wouldn’t stoop to such despicable methods, she had no choice now.


    But to Willow’s surprise, Chloe seemed unfazed.


    Instead, she flipped her phone around, showing Willow that she was on a call. Brian’s caller ID was flickering on the screen.


    Panic gripped Willow.


    “D–Did you call Brian?” she sputtered, lunging at Chloe to snatch the phone from her.


    Chloe dodged her and put Brian on speaker. “You heard what she said, didn’t you?” His cold voice rang out. “Yes, I did.”


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