It would melt anyone’s heart if they heard a handsome man speaking in such a needy tone. And this man wasn’t just anyone–he was Chloe’s boyfriend.


    Chloe nced at William, who was focused on the road, then back at Brian. Noticing the pleading look on Brian’s face, she sighed.


    Well, he was her boyfriend, and it was on her to pamper him.


    She tilted his chin and kissed him. He smelled good, and kissing him actually felt pleasant. Even though he seemed so aloof and distant, when he kissed her, she somehow felt as though she could have anything she wanted, for he would give her everything.


    When the kiss finally broke, Brian leaned against her shoulder, his mind still lingering on the taste of her lips.


    “Chloe, if you ever want to kiss me again, just do it anytime.”


    Chloe was rendered speechless. Was that supposed to be an invitation?


    As they drove on, she gazed out at the scenery. She’d thought this trip to Yarfdale would be about burying


    her parents and fulfilling her mission. She hadn’t expected her rtionship with Brian to change like this.


    What would happen when they returned to Corvessia?


    Time flew by. Not long after, they arrived at Steele Group’s branch office in Yarfdale.


    The car entered the underground parking lot. Just as Chloe turned to wake Brian, the car lurched to an


    abrupt stop.


    A dull thud sounded, sending a shiver down Chloe’s spine. Brian, who’d been napping, snapped his eyes open immediately as well.


    “We scraped another car. I’ll go out and check,” William said, getting out of the car.


    Through the windshield, Chloe saw a white sedan with a dented bumper. A woman stepped out of it, and


    William walked over to her. They quickly slipped into conversation.


    Chloe had assumed it was a minor ident until she noticed something odd about William’s posture.


    With his back facing the car, she saw him suddenly stiffen.


    But just that alone was enough to alert Chloe.


    A secondter, William crumpled to the ground. The woman whipped toward them, aiming a pistol straight at their car.


    “Get down!” Chloe shouted, yanking Brian down.


    With her arm raised high, the woman fired relentlessly. Chloe shoved the door open, dragged Brian out,


    Chapter 111 He Regrets it


    and hid behind a concrete pir.


    Bodyguards who should’ve been in charge of Brian’s safety had been following their car. Yet now, the bodyguards‘ car was nowhere in sight.


    Something must’ve gone wrong.


    Gunfire cracked through the parking lot. Chloe’s heart raced–not just because she had to protect Brian, but also because stray bullets could hit passersby.


    “Stay hidden. I’ll draw her off,” she whispered.


    Before Brian could answer, she darted off.


    He stared after her. Just like in the game yesterday, she told him to hide while she ran toward danger. He didn’t want this to happen again.


    Another shot rang out, and a bullet grazed Chloe’s arm. She kicked the half–open car door, mming it


    into the approaching assassin and knocking her to the ground.


    The woman copsed to the ground, and her gun skittered across the floor.


    Just as the woman lunged for it, Chloe threw herself at her. They went for each other’s fatal spots, using every brutal move they knew. Blood ran down Chloe’s arm, but she didn’t notice.


    Only one thought filled her mind–she had to stop this woman and keep her from reaching the gun.


    As their brawl grew more agitated, a voice rang out.


    “It’s over!”


    The woman froze. Chloe turned to see the pistol in Brian’s hand. He’d somehow managed to pick it up and was now aiming squarely at the back of the woman’s head.


    Relief washed through Chloe.


    Brian’s eyes, however, were fixed on Chloe’s sleeve. The area that had been grazed by a bullet earlier was


    soaked in blood.


    “Were you shot?”


    “It just grazed me,” she said.


    In the next instant, the click of a round being loaded into the chamber startled her.


    Brian aimed the gun at the woman, his voice cold andced with fury. “How dare you hurt her!”


    He’d treated Chloe like a princess. The audacity of this woman to hurt Chloe was unbelievable.


    “Don’t shoot!” Chloe shouted, stepping forward.


    Thest thing she wanted was for him to kill someone and live with that burden.


    Chapter 111 He Regrets It


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    Just then, Brian’s bodyguards finally arrived. But only four emerged from the car instead of five.


    Their expressions immediately changed when they saw what had happened. In no time, they rushed forward and pinned the assassin to the floor.


    Still, Brian kept the gun trained on the woman, his eyes full of murderous intent. Only when Chloe grabbed his hand did he release the weapon.


    “Give me the gun.”


    Once Chloe seized the gun, she handed it to a bodyguard and ordered, “Give this to the policeter.”


    “Yes, ma’am.”


    Brian tore off his tie and bound her arm to slow the bleeding. “I’m taking you to the hospital right now<i>.</i>” He scooped her into his arms and rushed her into the car with two bodyguards in front. Then, they sped off toward the hospital.


    “I’m fine. It’s just a minor injury,” Chloe said, trying to reassure Brian.


    Brian’s face was ashen, and his hands were trembling as he held her. He looked more like the wounded


    one.


    He pressed his lips into a thin line. She might’ve dismissed it as a minor injury, but the blood had nearly soaked through half her sleeve.


    “I’m sorry,” he muttered. “I’m so sorry…”


    “What are you sorry for? Protecting you is my duty,” Chloe said.


    Regret filled Brian’s eyes. Indeed, he’d hired her as a bodyguard to keep her close to him. Even though he’d known that she might get hurt protecting him, he hadn’t cared at all.


    At the time, he’d only found her interesting. Whether she ended up injured or not hadn’t been any of his


    concern.


    Now he realized how wrong he’d been. He should never have put her in danger.


    As soon as they reached the hospital, the doctor treated Chloe’s wound. Outside the emergency room, Brian leaned against the wall, staring at his hands. They were covered in dried blood–Chloe’s blood.


    “Mr. Steele, I’m sorry. There was a traitor among the bodyguards,” the lead bodyguard reported. “That’s why we lost you. Mr. Vaughn was only knocked out. He’s got two ribs broken, but no fatal injuries. Shall we hand the assassin over to the police?”


    “Yes. But before that, break her right hand,” Brian said coldly.


    “Yes, sir.”


    “And get things ready. I have matters to settle,” he continued, his low voice carrying a lethal edge.


    Chapter 112 You Dont Have to Protect Me Anymore


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