Chapter 225: A bodyguard?

Words : 1314 Updated : Sep 29th, 2025

Chapter 225: A bodyguard? A week later... Augustine and Anne finally returned from their honeymoon. But the very next morning, Augustine was called back to the office for urgent matters. As he buttoned his shirt, he glanced at Anne, his expression tinged with regret. "I’m sorry. I really wanted to go with you to the hospital." They had originally planned to visit Paule together, but the unexpected situation at work had disrupted their plan. Anne, however, offered him a gentle smile. "It’s okay. The office needs you more right now. You can meet Papa later." "Still, I promised to go with you. I couldn’t keep my word." "Don’t be bad." She reached out, rubbing his arms in a soothing motion. "You have done more than enough already. You took care of all his medical expenses. You found the best therapist for him. He is already so much better because of you." Augustine’s gaze softened, the tension in his shoulders easing under her touch. "We are grateful to you," Anne continued. "Just take care of things at work. If you need me, call me. I’ll be there in no time." Augustine smiled. "I’ll manage. You enjoy your time with your Papa." He leaned down and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead, then walked out the door. Left to herself, Anne unpacked the bags, folding their belongings back into drawers and closets. Once she was done, she freshened up, got ready, and stepped outside. A sleek black car was waiting for her in the driveway. As she approached, a tall man in a black suit stepped forward. He was built like a fortress—broad-shouldered, perfectly upright, and expressionless behind a pair of dark sunglasses. Anne slowed, her brows drawing together. Augustine had mentioned sending someone to drive her, but this wasn’t what she expected. The man looked like anything but a driver. "Good morning, Madam," the man said with a polite nod. "I’m Sam, your bodyguard. I’ll be escorting you to the hospital." He moved to the rear door and held it open. A bodyguard? Anne stared at him, stunned. Her lips parted in disbelief. "He arranged a bodyguard for me?" she whispered under her breath. Her mind flashed back to the jungle—the chaos, the gunshots, the raw panic of thinking she might lose Augustine. That terrifying night had left a mark on both of them. Perhaps even more on him than on her. That was why he had arranged for Sam to protect her. "Madam?" Sam’s calm voice broke into her thoughts. "Please get in." Anne blinked out of her memories and gave a small nod. "Yes," she said quickly and slipped into the back seat. Sam closed the door behind her, got into the driver’s seat, and smoothly pulled away from the house. Anne sat quietly for a moment, glanced up at the rearview mirror, looking at his stoic face. Curiosity tugged at her. "So, Sam... how long have you been working for Augustine?" Sam flicked his eyes to the mirror. "About five years, ma’am." "Five years?" Anne echoed, her brows lifting in surprise. That was longer than she had expected. "He owns a private security company," Sam explained. "I was part of the team for some time. Then, a while ago, Mr. Bennet assigned me to personal duty." He was the one who had been quietly watching over Anne all those days, hiding in the shadows. Now, Augustine had officially assigned him to stay by her side as her bodyguard. Anne’s eyes widened slightly. ’A private security company?’ That was something Augustine had never mentioned. Her thoughts began to spiral. How much more was he keeping from her? She leaned back in the seat. Her eyes drifted to the window, watching the blur of city streets as the car moved forward. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, too many questions. She didn’t even notice when they arrived. Only when the car came to a halt and the door clicked open did Anne snap back to the present. Sam stood outside, waiting. She stepped out and approached the hospital entrance. She felt the shadow of Sam behind her. She stopped and turned to face him. "You don’t need to follow me inside," she said firmly. "Wait here." Sam hesitated. "But, Madam—" "I’m going to see my father," she cut him short. "I don’t need protection in there. Please try to understand. I’m not used to having someone trailing me everywhere." Sam paused, a flicker of conflict crossing his otherwise stoic face. Augustine had instructed him not to let Anne out of his sight. But at the same time, he couldn’t disobey her. Disrespecting her meant crossing a line with his boss. After thinking for a while, he reasoned that a hospital was secure enough. There wouldn’t likely be any threat here. With a respectful dip of his head, he stepped back. "Understood, ma’am. I’ll wait here." Anne gave him a small nod of appreciation before turning and walking through the sliding doors. As Anne stepped quietly into her father’s room, she saw Paule sitting upright on the edge of the bed, his legs dangling over the side while a nurse checked his vitals. He didn’t look frail or sunken like before. His face had more color, and his eyes were alert. When he spotted her, a wide grin spread across his face. "Anne, you are back." His voice was strong and steady, his words clearer than before. Anne froze for a second, then rushed toward him, her eyes wide with joy. "Papa... you can speak now," she exclaimed, overwhelmed with emotion. He chuckled and nodded. "Yes, and my legs are doing better, too. I can even stand and walk." "Really?" Anne turned quickly to the nurse, searching her eyes for confirmation. The nurse gave a reassuring nod. "His recovery has been promising. His strength is returning, though his muscles are still a bit weak. He’ll need regular therapy for the next few months, but the good news is, he can go home now and just visit for sessions." With a polite nod, the nurse excused herself, leaving them alone. Paule’s eyes lit up with a playful glint. "Isn’t that great? I can finally go home." Anne’s heart swelled. After three long, painful years, her father was finally getting his life back. The moment felt almost surreal. "Patricia is thrilled, too," Paule added sarcastically. "She has been so bored with visiting the hospital. I told her she doesn’t need to come anymore since I’m not as weak as before." Anne smiled, shaking her head affectionately at his humor. "But it’s really good to see you," he said, softening. "How have you been? Did you enjoy your trip?" Her thoughts briefly flickered back to the honeymoon, which was eventful. There had been joy, wonder, even moments of breathless romance. But threaded through it all was a sliver of fear she couldn’t shake. She had glimpsed Augustine’s world, one that was exhilarating but shadowed by danger. And that one terrifying night still haunted her, and she had no desire to relive it. Yet, she smiled through it all, pushing the dark memories away. "It was incredible. Augustine showed me a world I never even imagined in my dreams." She moved closer, her fingers wrapping gently around his hands. "But more than anything, it’s just so good to see you healed, strong, awake." Paule’s expression softened, emotion flickering behind his eyes. "And I’m glad you finally found someone who loves you the way you deserve." Then his smile faded slightly, his tone shifting. "I have something for you." He reached over to the side table and picked up a wooden box, punching in a code. With a soft click, the lock released. Inside, nestled against dark velvet, was a sapphire pendant. He picked it up and held it out to her. "Take it. It’s yours."

Chapter 225: A bodyguard?

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