Chapter 871-880


    “Do you need something?” Ang self-consciously crossed her arms after realizing she was not


    wearing a bra.


    Richard gave her a withering look as he ordered, “You are not allowed to use the public bathroom for


    your night showers.”


    She narrowed her eyes and asked, “Why not?”


    He met her incredulous gaze steadily and said, “Because it causes inconvenience.”


    Frustration welled up in her. She had already gone out of her way to not make trouble for him, and she


    could not understand why he was nitpicking on her still.


    He did not turn away and leave. Instead, he paused for a few seconds before saying, “I’m sorry I was


    harsh with you today.”


    Ang blinked, clearly caught off-guard by his out-of-the-blue apology. When she rposed herself,


    she looked away from him and muttered, “Apology not epted.”


    “You wanted to hike, right? Be up at 6.00AM sharp tomorrow and I’ll take you there,” Richard said.


    Herpetitive side came out as she retorted, “As if I’d back down from that.”


    “We’ll meet at the entrance. Don’t bete.”


    “I won’t,” she bit out.


    Richard spun on his heels and walked away just as Ang closed the door. She nced at the time


    and saw that it was drawing near to 11.00PM. I have to sleep now, or I won’t be able to wake up in time


    and I’d never hear the end of it!


    She burrowed into bed, but her mind kept reying his apology and the events from earlier. In


    hindsight, it appeared that she was the one in the wrong. After all, she was the one who got mad and


    started the whole conflict in the first ce.


    And the only reason why she was mad was that she found out Richard was only here to protect her at


    her parent’s behest. In other words, she was just another job.


    A bitterugh then escaped Ang as she realized she was more upset about this than she should be.


    What am I getting so worked up for anyway?


    She tried to analyze her own feelings, but she ended up boring herself to sleep instead.


    The next day, Ang’s rm rang at precisely 5.50AM. She bolted upright in bed and threw the covers


    off, then hurried into the adjoining bathroom to wash up. To call it a bathroom was an exaggeration


    though, as it was more of a washroom with a small showering space.


    It was 5.59AM by the time she was done putting on her clothes. She hurtled out of her room toward the


    entrance of the base, whereupon she saw Richard’s tall and straight silhouette standing there.


    She walked up to him, and he made it a point to nce at the watch on his wrist. “You’rete by a


    minute.”


    Defiance colored her delicate features as she glowered at him and said, “Okay, fine, I’mte. Are you


    going to punish me? Go on, tell me what you want me to do to make up for my tardiness.”


    Richard gazed down at the girl who was openly challenging him, and his eyes lingered briefly on her


    shell-pink lips. He swallowed, and there was a steely edge to his expression as he barked, “Let’s go.”


    Ang had been waiting for him to mete out punishment, but when he did not, she couldn’t help feeling


    a little disappointed.


    Presently, he carried a backpack full of everything he thought they would need for a hike. Ang, on


    the other hand, was wearing a cap and sunblock, knowing that UV rays were the most vicious foes she


    could meet on this hike other than the mountainous terrain.


    Just like that, the both of them hiked up along the groove through which the mountain spring water


    flowed. There were no steps here or mapped-out trails for novice hikers, making the hike a tough


    exercise—albeit, an authentic one.


    Ang kept up her pace with Richard, but halfway through, she was starting to regret her decision to


    agree to the hike. Goodness, this trail is hard. It was no wonder he had forbidden her from going hiking


    on her ownst night; she would have lost her way or tripped several times in a row.


    However, she was not a quitter, and pride had more to do with that than ambition. She didn’t want


    Richard tough at her after all the big talk she had given himst night.


    When it came to slopes or uneven ground, Richard would hike up first, then turn and offer her a hand


    so that he could help her up.


    Thankfully, it did not take long for them to reach the rocky terrain where the trees were not quite as tall,


    and the shrubbery was not quite as dense. The ground here was rife with wildflowers, and Ang


    eximed in awe, “This is amazing!” She picked a couple of flowers and formed a bouquet, then


    sniffed its sweet fragrance as she tried to keep up with the man in front of her.


    Richard walked ahead for a few minutes before turning around to see if Ang had followed him.


    When he saw that she had fallen behind by a dozen feet, he stopped and nted his hands on his hips


    to wait for her. She’s not here to hike, he decided grimly. This is just a field trip to her.


    “I’m thirsty,” she said when she reached him, panting. “Did you bring water?”


    He unzipped his backpack and took out the standard-issue canteen, which he handed to her. She


    twisted open the cap and gulped down a few mouthfuls of water, then passed the canteen back to him.


    Ang had been wiping the corners of her mouth when Richard took the canteen wordlessly and


    gulped down some water.


    She paused and gaped at him incredulously as a fleeting thought crossed her mind, Does that mean


    we indirectly kissed? A pink flush crept over her cheeks, and she wondered how he could so readily


    drink from the same canteen she had used mere seconds ago.


    Oblivious to her thoughts, Richard shrugged on his backpack and pointed to the tallest summit in the


    distance. “That will be our destination, so let’s move!”


    Her eyes widened at the sight of the summit, which looked grayish-blue under the thinyer of mist that


    shrouded it. “I’m sorry. Are you suggesting we climb all the way up there?”


    “Yes, how astute of you,” Richard drawled sarcastically. He raised a brow at her and asked snidely,


    “You’re not scared, are you?”


    Falling for his trap, Ang snapped, “Of course I’m not scared! I’ll climb that mountain without a


    problem!”


    He smirked. “Then, shall we go?”


    She watched him turn and memorized the silhouette of his back as he trekked forward. Though her


    legs were already wobbly and her clothes soaked through with sweat, Richard did not look the slightest


    bit out of breath. If one didn’t know better, they would think he had been walking on t ground all this


    time.


    “Richard, wait up!” Ang cried out as she tossed aside the wildflower bouquet and ran up to him.


    Hiking was, she decided, absolute torture at this point. But she refused to give up; her pride and


    determination did not allow her to even though she was on the brink of copsing.


    Before long, they reached a slope that inclined at a sixty-degree angle. Just looking at it made her


    weak.


    As though sensing her reluctance, Richard threw an amused look over his shoulder at her, taking in her


    defeated expression.


    “Captain Lloyd, pull me up,” Ang said, reaching out her arm toward him


    He looked at her hand and naturally gripped it. For some reason, this gesture warmed her. At least he’s


    not leaving me out here to perish on my own, she thought, cheering up considerably. “You know, you


    didn’t have to apologize to mest night,” she began hesitantly, her exhaustionpelling her to re-


    evaluate her conscience. “I should be the one to say sorry instead.”


    Richard stared at her in surprise, only to see her grinning sweetly back at him. Her face was flushed,


    and her eyes were twinkling with mischief. She looked so bright and beautiful at that moment that even


    the wildflower field around them could notpete with her smile.


    Just as Richard was lost in her eyes, she yfully tugged on his arm and pulled him close to her. The


    poor man was already in a daze, and the sudden pull made him take one step closer to her.


    They ended up standing so close together that the tip of Ang’s nose nearly pressed up against his


    chest. She had only wanted to tease him for fun; this proximity was not what she had nned for at all.


    Her breath hitched, and she narrowed her pretty doe-eyes for a second before looking up to see the


    perfect, sumptuous curve of his lips. Abruptly, she found herself thinking audaciously, What if I kissed


    him?


    Mind and body coordinated, Ang rose on the tip of her toes, and before Richard could react, she


    gave him a quick peck on his lips.


    Startled by the unexpected kiss, Richard looked at the girl incredulously, but she had already pulled


    away from him and ran away like a kitten that got caught scratching up the furniture.


    Meanwhile, Ang was blushing madly as well. She couldn’t believe she had kissed him. Of all the


    ways she thought this hike would go, this was not one of them!


    As for the man who had just gotten a peck on his lips, he stood frozen in ce and did not try to go


    after her. The soft touch of her lips on his earlier had stunned him, and he was having a hard time


    recollecting his thoughts.


    After a while of running, Ang slowed to a stop and panted as she turned to look at him. When she


    realized that he did not catch up to her, she winced and decidedly waited for him toe over to give


    her a harsh talking-down.


    Richard straightened his backpack and tightened his grip on the straps as he trudged over to her. Blood


    rushed to her face when she registered his approaching figure. To hide her embarrassment, she looked


    down and picked up a random de of grass, then toyed with it to look busy as she sneaked a nce


    at the man’s expression.


    If he looked furious, then she would apologize immediately.


    Much to her astonishment, however, he looked as stoic as ever when he came to a stop next to her.


    Upon seeing that she was running the t of her thumb along the length of the grass, he pointed out,


    “Don’t y with the grass, not this one, at least.”


    “Huh? Why not—” She did not get to hear his answer before she broke off in a hiss. The tough and


    sharp edge of the grass had cut her finger while she was distracted, drawing blood.


    She tossed the offending de of grass aside exasperatedly and frowned at the blood beading from


    the cut on her finger. Without a second word, Richard unzipped his backpack and produced a band-aid.


    He then cleaned her small wound with a piece of tissue before taping the band-aid on it.


    Ang was standing on higher ground, making her half a head taller than Richard and allowing her to


    look at him from an angle she never had seen before. She took in his defined brow bone and the


    straight line of his nose. He had his gaze down as he helped put a band-aid over her finger, and his


    dark eyshes hid the steely look in his eyes. He looked almost… gentle, the most tender she had


    ever seen him.


    Startled by the contrast between his present demeanor and his usual stoic self, Ang could only gape


    at him speechlessly. After a while, she blushed and said apologetically, “I’m sorry for what I did earlier. I


    hope I didn’t offend you.” She was filled with regret over how forthright she had been.


    “Just don’t do it again,” Richard said as he looked up at her, his eyes like two clear pools. He seemed


    unaffected by the kiss as if it meant nothing to him, like a piece of lint on his coat.


    Disappointment shed in her eyes as she pulled her finger away from him. Then, she took a breath


    and promised, “I won’t do it again.”


    He eyed her darkly for a second, then slung his backpack over his shoulders as he dered, “Let’s call


    it a day and go back to base.”


    She was not so prideful as to have no self-awareness, and she knew she could never make it to the


    summit. Nodding, she said obligingly, “Okay.”


    With that, she took the first step to dismount from higher ground, but her footnded on a wobbly rock


    that detached from the soil.


    She swayed, but before she could fall, arge hand gripped her shoulder and steadied her.


    Ang looked up at the man who kept her from stumbling and falling down the slope, but she felt


    defeated. Did the kiss mean nothing to him? Doesn’t he feel anything at all?


    Richard let go of her shoulder, but offered her his hand as he said, “Come on, I’ll hold your hand until


    we reach the foot of the mountain.”


    She stared at his hand, and her mind wandered for a brief few seconds. He was always there when


    she needed his help, making sure she didn’t get hurt. He didn’t look like he knew how his gestures


    could give her the wrong idea, and how he could easily lead her on to think he liked her when in truth,


    taking care of her was nothing more than an obligation on his part—nothing personal.


    “No, thanks,” Ang said, turning him down with a smile as she took on a formal tone.


    With long strides, she trekked down the way they came. From the back, her slender frame looked like it


    could carry the weight of the world.


    Richard stared at her retreating figure for a beat or two before he followed her, striding easily, but very


    well-paced.


    Hiking up a rocky mountain like this wasparatively easier than going down it. At any given


    moment, Ang could very well step on a loosened rock and fall, especially since the trees here that


    she could hold onto for support were no better than saplings.


    Richard walked ahead of her, and whenever there was uneven terrain or steep slopes, he would stand


    close to her, ready to catch her if she fell.


    Presently, she was holding onto one of the smaller trees, hoping that it could hold her weight until her


    foot found a solid rock to stand on below the slope. However, the tree was so young and weak that she


    uprooted itpletely, causing her to fall backward when she skidded on the ground.


    She let out a shriek just as Richard reached out to catch her, keeping her from hitting the earth. He


    pulled her against him and held her there while her arms snaked around his waist instinctively.


    She was pressed up to his chest, still dazed from the fall as her heart beat frantically under her rib


    cage. Tired from the hike, she nuzzled into his broad and firm chest, then closed her eyes as she


    relished the break in the exercise.


    He did not push her away but merely watched as she closed her eyes andy there. Her cheeks were


    flushed, and there were beads of sweat on her forehead that sparkled under the sun. He softened at


    that moment and let her lean into him, holding her.


    Upon sensing his rxed stance, she smiled.


    Around them, the mountain breeze whistled through the trees, and the sun was beaming down on the


    mountain, coating everything in its gentle, golden rays. For a moment, everything came to an idyllic


    standstill.


    Ang could hear Richard’s strong and steady heartbeat. Inexplicably, her own heartbeat quickened


    as well, as if trying to match up to his.


    “Captain Lloyd, are you always this dedicated to every target you are assigned to protect? I guess what


    I’m trying to say is, if I were any other girl, would you be this kind to her as well?” she asked slowly as


    she looked up at him.


    He met her eyes, his gaze smoldering and dark.


    Ang blinked, looking into his eyes as she asked, “Would you let her use your bathroom and let her


    go in and out of your bedroom as she likes? Piggyback her when she gets hurt? Leap to protect her


    and shield her from every harm at any given moment? If she were the one holding onto you now, would


    you hold her even tighter?”


    Ang wasn’t sure why, but her eyes grew misty as she spoke. Flustered, she looked down and broke


    away from his intense gaze.


    Richard was speechless, floundered by all the questions she threw at him. He wasn’t sure where to


    begin.


    She waited for his response, but when he didn’t give her one, a bitter smile curled on her lips as she


    asked challengingly, “It’s not rocket science. All you have to do is answer yes or no.”


    “I don’t want to answer,” he said monotonously as he let her go and turned to walk ahead.


    It was at that moment that Ang was sure she was nothing more than a job and that he would have


    shown the same level of dedication even if she were any other girl. She was not special at all.


    In that case, she did not have to torture herself and delude herself into thinking she was different, that


    she meant something to him.


    Fortunately, the trail got easier as they neared the foot of the mountain. When she took the final step to


    dismount from the hike, Ang thought her legs would give up on her. She quickly found arge and


    t rock to sit on, then called out to the man ahead of her, “Hey, you go ahead! I’m going to stay here


    and catch my breath for a bit.”


    Richard nced at her for a while and left without another word.


    The base entrance was just nearby anyway. There was no point in him dawdling here to take care of


    her. That was what she told herself as she watched his retreating figure, but for some reason, tears


    sprang up to her eyes once more. She sniffed to ease the prickling sensation in her nose. Crap, what’s


    wrong with me? Pull yourself together, Ang. You were the one who asked him to leave, and now that


    he did, you’re crying about it like some kid abandoned in a yground? Snap out of it! You’re just a job


    to him. Just someone he has to protect. You’re not his girlfriend. Remember that.


    She gave herself a pat on the head as if to knock some sense into herself. She wished she was less


    sentimental because nothing good ever came out of it. Back in the day, she had been so duped by


    Dexter’s asional kindness that she was blind to his other ws. Now, Richard was being nice to her


    because it was his duty to protect her, but she was reading too much into it, so much so that she


    started to fall for him.


    She hated that she was so desperate to feel loved.


    Closing her eyes, Ang took a deep breath and cleared her mind. When she opened her eyes once


    more, there were none of the glistening tears or muddled emotions.


    Upon returning to base, she fell onto her bed and slept. She had woken up at an ungodly hour that


    morning, and the arduous hike had left herpletely drained.


    However, little did she know that Richard had received bad news while she was sleeping.


    In the conference room, Richard hung up on the call and clenched his phone tightly, then turned to look


    at his subordinates. “Ang’s mother just met with an ident. She’s badly injured and she’s been


    sent to the hospital for emergency treatment.”


    The four men working in front of theirputers exchanged a worried nce. The ident was not


    entirely unexpected; the criminals who had recently crossed the international borders were ruthless,


    and instigating the ident to hurt Ang’s mother was undoubtedly their n to lure Ang out from


    hiding.


    “Should we tell Miss Meyers about this?” Willy asked.


    “She would be devastated, and she’d insist on going back to see her mother,” Jared said


    sympathetically.


    “But she has the right to know,” Sean pointed out.


    “Poor Miss Meyers. She’ll be heartbroken!” Trevor said fretfully.


    Richard frowned. He had no right keeping this from Ang, which meant he was duty-bound to tell her


    the truth.


    Meanwhile, when Ang had straightened up her bedroom, she sat down on the couch and let her


    mind wander. One said wandering, but really it just kept reying the scene on the hiking trail where


    she had kissed Richard. It had only been a fleeting moment, but it had left a tingling sensation in the pit


    of her stomach that would not go away.


    The more she dwelled on it, the deeper her blush and the faster her heartbeat. That was the first time


    she had kissed a man on her own initiative, but the fact that he was unfazed by it made her feel like a


    pathetic loser.


    Just as she was drowning in her own embarrassment, a knock came from the door.


    She got to her feet and reached to open the door, only to be greeted by Richard, who looked as


    handsome as he was impassive. The air around her suddenly felt thin, and she blinked as she asked


    bewilderedly, “What is it?”


    “Come into my room,” Richard said in a low voice, then left in the direction of his room first.


    Ang opened her door and hurried out of her room to follow him. Judging by the look on his face


    earlier, he had something to tell her.


    When she entered his room, he closed the door behind her and gazed at her darkly. He did not speak


    right away, and she felt the need to blink to alleviate the strange tension between them. “Anytime now,”


    she prompted, wondering what he was waiting for.


    “I got a call ten minutes ago. It’s about your family,” Richard said.


    At once, her heart constricted, and her hand darted out to grab his arm as she urged, “What happened


    to my family? Are they okay?”


    “Your mother got into an ident an hour ago, and she’s now in the hospital emergency room,” he


    exined gravely.


    “What?” Ang’s mind went nk. She was anguished, and her lips trembled as all colors drained


    from her face. She didn’t even know she was about to cry until Richard reached to pull her into his


    arms.


    At once, hot tears spilled down her cheeks as she hastily shoved him away, then threw the door open


    and ran out of the room.


    He followed her, only to see that she had returned to her own room and left the door ajar. She


    rummaged through her room and found her purse, then hurriedly shoved her phone into it, looking


    ready to leave.


    Richard stood at the doorway, frowning as he asked, “Are you leaving?”


    Ang slung her purse over her shoulder. There was a steely edge to her expression as she stared at


    him with red-rimmed eyes and said, “I have to go. I need to see my mom. I don’t even know if she’s


    going to make it.” She refused to stay here safe and sound while her family was in danger. She would


    much rather offer herself up to those criminals than watch her family die for her.


    “You are not allowed to leave the base,” Richard said authoritatively as he put his arm out and blocked


    the gap in the doorway, his towering frame like a wall that kept her in.


    “Step aside, Richard,” Ang ordered.


    “Ang, calm down and let’s wait for more news on your mother, okay?” he suggested, taking on a


    soothing tone in hopes of getting her to see reason.


    However, reason eluded her at this moment. All she wanted to do was go back so she could see her


    mother. “I said,” she bit out forcefully. “Step. Aside.” This time, there was a look in her eyes that


    resembled hatred, and her jaw was clenched.


    “Now that your mom’s been hospitalized, I’m sure your family wouldn’t want you to end up the same


    way,” he argued, sounding even more insistent than he had moments ago. He knew what fate would


    await her if he let her leave the base and those men caught her. It was not something he was prepared


    to risk.


    Ang closed her eyes and let her tears fall. She was a mad woman at this point, a mad woman who


    only wanted to see her grievously injured mother. It was her duty as a daughter, and she couldn’t bear


    to see anyone in her family get hurt because of her even though she knew she would die the moment


    she went back.


    If she did note out of hiding, these criminals would start targeting her father, her grandfather, and


    other rtives. They would not stop at just hurting her mother.


    “Richard, I’ll hate you forever if you don’t let me go right now!” she warned as she tried to push him out


    of the way, but he was like a mountain that would not budge no matter how hard she shoved. “Move!”


    She glowered at him, the hatred in her eyes as clear as day. She truly hated him. She hated his


    heartlessness. She hated his job.


    “You know I can’t let you. I promised your parents to protect you. This is my duty,” Richard replied


    hoarsely.


    “I don’t need you to protect me! This is my life, and I get the final say in what to do with it! Let me go! I


    promise I won’t me you if I die out there,” Ang begged desperately. There was a pained look in


    her eyes, but she was not backing down.


    “I won’t let you die,” he said solemnly, his shoulders squared as he stood firmly in ce.


    His refusal to let her go felt worse than death. She broke down, crying out loud as she crouched on the


    floor. She put her head in her hands and sobbed, baring all her pain, devastation, and helplessness.


    Richard looked down at her, his heart twisting when he saw her tremble with the force of heaving out


    the next round of anguished sobs. He had no idea how badly injured her mother was. All he knew from


    the photos that were sent to him was that the other driver in the collision had died on the spot and that


    Ang’s mom had been unconscious when they ferried her to the hospital.


    Whether or not Ang’s mother could survive remained a variable.


    Just then, Ang held the door jamb for support as she got to her feet. She was still sobbing as she


    looked up pleadingly at the man in front of her, then said, “Could you at least let me call my dad and let


    him tell me how my mom is doing? Please?”


    Richard nodded slightly in agreement, relieved that she was settling for a call instead of leaving.


    She was just about to walk out when her legs caved under her weight and made her stagger. Sensing


    this, Richard quickly reached out to hold her, his arms wrapped securely around her frame as he


    steadied her. He assessed her pale face and how feeble she was, then asked quietly, “Can you walk?”


    Ang straightened up when she heard this. With her back stiffened, she walked toward the


    conference room where he and his men worked. This was her silent protest against his heartless


    disy earlier.


    As soon as she arrived in the conference room, the four men working in front of theirputers


    nced up at her worriedly. They could tell she had been crying just from looking at her red and puffy


    eyes, and they grew even more concerned.


    “Don’t worry, Miss Meyers, your mother will be fine,” Trevorforted softly.


    “Do you have a video of the car crash?” Ang asked hoarsely. “I want to see it.”


    Jared immediately closed hisptop and peered at Richard, who stood at the door with his arms


    crossed. When Richard shot him a hard look, he stammered a little awkwardly, “N-No, we only got a


    call about it. No videos were sent to us.”


    However, Ang had already seen through him. Her gaze fell on hisptop, and she rounded the long


    table to where he sat. Then, she shoved him aside and opened up hisptop, thereafter, searching


    through the documents in it. “Pull up the video for me right now,” she ordered icily, tears glistening in


    her eyes.


    Caught between a rock and a hard ce, Jared looked at Richard, silently asking for help. Having


    already seen Ang’s break-down earlier, Richard walked up to her and closed theptop, then said,


    “We should wait for the hospital to get back to us on this.”


    The tears spilled down her cheeks once more as she pondered on the meaning behind his words. If he


    so stubbornly refused to let her see the video, then it could only mean that the ident had been a


    brutal one and that the chances of her mother surviving were slim to none.


    At the thought that she would miss seeing her mother onest time, Ang felt a pain so all-consuming


    that she could not register anything else going on around her. She hyperventted as disbelief and


    panic coursed through her, and suddenly, everything went dark, and she fell backward.


    Trevor, who was closest to her, caught her before she fell. “Mr. Richard, she fainted!” he cried out in


    rm.


    Richard had sensed that something like this might happen. His brows furrowed as he hurried across


    the room and carried her into his arms, then turned to leave for the infirmary with Jared and Trevor


    close behind.


    Ang was pale as shey in the bed in the infirmary,pletely out cold. The doctor had examined


    her and concluded, “Miss Meyers fainted because her body could not cope with the shock, but she’ll be


    fine after she gets some rest.”


    “But she’ll still have to face reality when she wakes up!” Trevor argued with a sigh.


    “We can only hope that her mother will make it, otherwise, she’d be devastated,” Jared said.


    Meanwhile, Richard sat at the foot of the bed with his brows knitted together. His piercing gaze lingered


    on Ang, and in his eyes showed tender concern that had not been there before.


    “The both of you can leave,” he said to his subordinates. “Let me know as soon as you have any news


    on her mother.’


    “Got it. We’ll leave Miss Meyers to you then, Richie,” Trevor replied, pulling Jared out of the infirmary


    and back to the conference room.


    While making their way down the corridor, Trevor sighed again and said, “I bet Richie’s really beating


    himself up over this. He did promise Miss Meyers that he’d keep her family safe, but now, her mother’s


    lying in the hospital after a terrible car crash.”


    “Tell me about it. I saw the way she was looking at him earlier, and I swear she hates his guts. If


    anything were to happen to her mother, she might just me him forever.”


    Both men exchanged a nce, each hoping that whatever they guessed would note true. Thest


    thing they wanted was for Ang to hate Richard now that they sensed he had special feelings for her.


    In the infirmary, the doctor had put Ang on an IV, and the catheter had been inserted into her arm


    through a needle. Richard sat next to the bed, his silhouette straight and stiff as his dark gaze locked


    on the unconscious girl under the covers. It was hard to tell what was on his mind, but anyone could


    see that he was worried.


    Ang had only been put on the IV for no more than ten minutes when her eyes suddenly flew open.


    The first thing that came to her mind was her mother struggling for her life in a hospital somewhere,


    and the thought made her bolt upright in bed.


    “Don’t move,” a low male voice sounded next to her, followed by a hand pressing down firmly on her


    left arm so that she wouldn’t pull out the needle on her own.


    She looked down at the needle pushed under her skin and demanded in a watery voice, “Pull it out. I


    don’t need it.”


    Richard personally detached the needle. He was supposed to apply pressure to stop the bleeding the


    moment the needle was out, but Ang was in such a rush that she lifted the covers and tried to get


    down from the bed. At once, the blood trickled down the back of her hand.


    With an assertive and domineering air, the man held her arm in ce and grabbed a cotton ball from


    the bedside table, then pressed it down on the back of her hand where the needle had been.


    Tears filled her eyes, but she allowed him to stop the bleeding as she gazed at him calmly and ordered,


    “Take me home, Richard.”


    He did not answer her, paying particr attention to the task at hand.


    At such close proximity, she could clearly make out the hard set of his jaw and the cold indifference on


    his handsome face.


    When the bleeding stopped, Richard loosened his grip and looked up at her, then said slowly, “You


    have to stay here.”


    She pulled away from him as pain shed across her features. There was a chill in her voice as she


    asked defiantly, “And what if I say no?”


    “Ang…” He was trying to coax her now, but there was a hint of resignation in his eyes. He knew that


    he could not stop her if she insisted on leaving.


    Right now, the only thing she cared about was going home to see her mother for thest time. She had


    to go back even if she couldn’t make it in time, otherwise, the guilt and regret that followed would haunt


    her for the rest of her life.


    Richard ended up following her out of the infirmary and into her bedroom. She picked up her bag once


    more, and she turned to say to him, “Car keys.”


    At once, Richard was plunged into a dilemma. If he were to hand her the car keys, he would be


    watching her walk right into the trap set up by those evil men, which was the same as delivering her to


    death’s doorstep. On the other hand, if he refused to give her the keys and she missed seeing her


    mother for thest time, she would hate him forever.


    He could cope with that, but he really didn’t want her to hate him forever.


    Ang reached out her hand and stared at him with wide eyes, her silent demand evident in her tears.


    She was so delicate, but for some reason, she gave him immense pressure. It was as if she held some


    inexplicable power over him, and he could not keep a firm stance whenever she was around.


    At that moment, he lost all his calm and reason. But just as he was about to give in to impulse and offer


    to go with her, Trevor burst out of the conference room and came running in their direction excitedly.


    “Miss Meyers!” he shouted. “Miss Meyers! Good news! Your mother’s fine. She only suffered a broken


    leg!”


    Ang’s hand fell to the side when she heard this. She tossed her bag onto the floor and ran to meet


    Trevor halfway. When she came up to him, she clutched his shoulders and urged, “Really? Is my mom


    really okay?”


    “She is! Your dad just called, and he said your mom is fine save for the broken femur and a mild


    concussion. The doctor told him she’ll be fine after half a month’s rest!” Trevor answered, but he was


    still in the midst of conveying the good news when Ang suddenly threw her arms around him in


    relief.


    She hugged him tight as she muttered, “Thank you, Trevor! I can’t thank you enough!”


    Trevor was stumped by how overwhelmed she was.


    Meanwhile, behind her, Richard looked considerably stormy, and he narrowed his eyes dangerously as


    he watched the woman hugging his subordinate.


    The air grew colder, and Trevor immediately realized that he was overstepping his boundaries by


    letting Ang hug him. Gently pushing her away, he cleared his throat and said, “Miss Meyers, your


    dad also requested that you stay put here for your own safety. He doesn’t want you getting into


    danger.”


    “Is he still on the line?” she asked.


    Trevor patted his head as if to berate himself for forgetting about this. “He is. Go on, you must be dying


    to talk to him.” Before he could say anything, Ang took him by the hand and pulled him alongside


    her as she ran toward the conference room.


    Richard suddenly felt as if a weight had been taken off his shoulders. He let out a huge sigh of relief,


    secretly thanking Trevor for the timely interruption that saved him from betraying his own work


    principles. Had the news note in time, he would have risked everything just to personally drive


    Ang home to see her mother.


    In the conference room, Ang was crying as she listened to her parents’ voices on the phone, and


    she couldn’t help letting out a sob. “Mom, Dad…”


    “Ang, things are more drastic here than we imagined. You have to listen to Captain Lloyd and stay at


    the base where they can keep you safe, okay? We don’t want you getting hurt again,” Gilbert said on


    the other line, sounding serious—more serious than ever before.


    “But I don’t want you both to get into danger because of me. It’s all my fault. I’m the one who brought all


    this trouble. I’m so sorry, Mom.” She wept guiltily.


    Daphneforted softly, “Ang, I’m fine. I know you’re worried about me, but it’s over now, and I’ll be


    okay. You’re our only daughter, and we can’t let anything happen to you. Do you understand?”


    “Everyone in the family will be sent to somece safe. We’ll meet again once all this blows over,”


    Gilbert promised.


    “Really? Will the both of you go somece safe, too? Will youe here to the base?” Ang asked,


    wanting desperately to be reunited with her parents as soon as possible.


    “No, we’ve had other arrangements made. Protecting you is of utmost priority, and you have to stay put


    where Captain Lloyd can see you. Listen to him and don’t go causing any trouble for him,” Gilbert


    emphasized.


    Disappointment shed in Ang’s eyes when she heard that her parents would not be living with her


    anytime soon, but she nodded and said, “Okay. I promise I’ll be on my best behavior.”


    Gilbert hummed in response. “Very well, then. We’ll hang up now, and don’t call us unless there’s an


    emergency. We can’t take too many chances.” He hung up after that, knowing that the criminal


    organization after Ang had all the means to hack into all telmunication systems. He couldn’t


    risk having them track down his daughter.


    Ang handed the phone back to Trevor. She sighed as she looked up, only to see four pairs of eyes


    staring at her worriedly. She felt warmth in her heart as she shed them a weak smile and said, “I’m


    fine now. Thank you for your concern, everyone.”


    “Miss Meyers, I hope you won’t hold this against our captain. He’s only carrying out his duty to protect


    you,” Trevor said, speaking up for Richard.


    Jared joined in the efforts to paint a better picture of Richard too. “Don’t be too hard on him, Miss


    Meyers. I know he cane off as mean and heartless, but he’s more loyal and caring than anyone


    else.”


    “And please cooperate with us—Richie especially, so that we can do our jobs,” Willy added.


    Upon hearing this, Ang thought about how she had behaved in front of Richard earlier and had the


    grace to look shamefaced. She stared at the tips of her shoes as she muttered, “I know I was way over


    the line just now. I’ll try my best to make things easier for you guys from now on.”


    “That’s alright, Miss Meyers. You’re only human, after all. You must love your family very much to be


    that worried about your mother,” Sean consoled empathetically.


    “Yeah. I mean, who wouldn’t abandon reason just to save their family? Don’t beat yourself up over it.


    I’m sure Richie is well over it by now. That man has a heart bigger than the ocean, and he won’t hold it


    against you,” Trevor chimed in brightly.


    “Really? Do you think so?” She looked up at them hopefully, praying that what they said was true and


    that Richard would forgive her for her irrational outburst earlier.


    Just then, the door to the conference room swung open, and Richard came in. He had been standing at


    the doorway since he saw Ang walk in, and he heard everything they said loud and clear.


    His footfalls made Ang turn to look at him. When she registered his arrival, she quickly lowered her


    head and said apologetically to him, “I’m sorry about earlier.”


    “It’s fine,” he replied indifferently, as though he had already forgotten about the incident.


    This only served to worsen her guilt. For some reason, his nonchnce only made her even more


    distressed.


    Presently, Richard brushed past her and came to a stop in front of Willy, then bent down slightly to


    speak to him in hushed tones. His perfectly chiseled side profile was on disy. She could just make


    out the steely gleam in his eyes, which were framed by long eyshes that curled up ever so slightly.


    He looked calm and collected like nothing could faze him.


    There was something about him, Ang realized, that simplymanded the attention of any room he


    walked into. More importantly, there was nothing despicable about his job. Rather, it was a respectful


    one, and this realization only made her more ashamed of how unreasonable and maniacal she had


    been just now.


    “I’ll be in my room,” she mumbled quietly as she rose to leave.


    Even after returning to her room, Ang’s arms remained wrapped around herself as fear and unease


    filled her mind. It was only then that she realized those evil forces would do anything for that lipstick.


    Those people were currently looking for her everywhere. The terror she felt had only grown stronger


    after her mother’s death. She thought that danger was far away from her, but now it seemed to be


    looming over her head like a curse of death.


    Deep down, she begged and prayed that no one else would ever be hurt or killed for her sake.


    She stayed in her room for the entire night, having no appetite to even eat dinner. The next morning,


    she woke up haggard with prominent dark circles on her pale face.


    Trevor was the first to notice her. “Good morning, Miss Ang!”


    “Morning,” she responded with a smile.


    “Are you okay?”


    “I’m fine.” Nightmares had filled her dreams the entire night and kept her awake. She shook her head


    as fatigue overwhelmed her.


    “Don’t worry. You will be safe with us protecting you,” heforted.


    “I know,” she replied. She then saw the group running back from their morning job. Her eyes were


    immediately drawn to the handsome figures, and Richard was one of them.


    He was such an eye-catching man. Even among a group of equally handsome and tall men, there was


    still a unique charm to him.


    “Mr. Richard loves coffee in the morning. Can you send a cup up to his roomter?” Trevor suggested.


    It was a moment before Ang understood what he meant by that. Indeed, she had been looking for a


    chance to improve her rtionship with Richard, especially after how she had treated him the night


    before. They would be spending a lot of time together, so she did not want things to remain so


    awkward.


    “Very well. I will bring him a cupter.” She was thankful for Trevor’s thoughtful suggestion.


    He responded with a chuckle before walking away. She heaved a heavy sigh before turning to look at


    the group of men exercising under the sun, unknowingly mesmerized by the sight.


    Soon, the group dispersed. The change snapped her back to reality, and she hurried away.


    She hid behind a pir and watched as Richard returned to his room. She then seized the chance to


    get a cup of coffee ready.


    Although they did not live in luxury, the kitchen was equipped with a great coffee machine which Ang


    knew how to operate. Once the cup of coffee was ready, she brought it up on a tray to Richard’s room.


    Arriving at the door, she knocked. “Come in,” answered a deep voice.


    When she entered the room, she found Richard half-dressed. When he saw that it was her, he quickly


    put on his clothes, covering up his perfect muscles. In fact, he did it so quickly that it seemed like he


    thought letting her look a second longer was a travesty.


    In her heart, she was panicking. She did not expect him to still be half-dressed. Thankfully, he had his


    pants on.


    “I’m sorry. Can Ie in?” She turned her gaze down to look at the floor.


    “Sure.” He straightened his shirt before walking over to the couch. He had been expecting a


    subordinate, not her.


    She walked over and bent down to put the cup of coffee on the table before him. However, the


    unexpected heating from the bottom of the cup made her hands jerk, pouring the cup of coffee


    down onto his pants.


    Moreover, the liquidnded on him in the worst ce possible.


    “Aah!” She instantly darted over with some facial tissues to wipe the liquid away from his pants.


    She was in such a state of panic that she forgot where exactly she was touching. She wiped and


    wiped, and… It was only then that she realized what was going on. Her cheeks were blushing as she


    stared down at the spot she had been wiping.


    “I’m sorry. I am so sorry. I did not mean to do this.” She looked up at him with innocent eyes.


    His lips were tightly pressed together as his throat rolled with a swallow. Richard stared at her with his


    dark eyes as a storm brewed in them.


    “You did it on purpose.” Richard firmly believed that she was doing this as revenge. Ang’s eyes


    remained glued to the wet spot on his pants as she gulped. “I really did not. It was an ident.”


    “Get out!” he barked without obvious exasperation.


    She bit her lip and closed her eyes in frustration. Why did this happen? It was all a bid to make him like


    her, but now she had hurt him.


    “I’ll get you another cup of coffee.” She then rushed out of the room with her cheeks flushed red.


    He walked over to his closet to grab a pair of pants before heading to the bathroom. In the shower,


    annoyance swelled in him as his blood boiled with lust.


    Although she had only touched him a few times, he still reacted to her touch.


    Even now, his mind was still filled with the image of her fair and innocent face. He then realized the fire


    burning in him was impossible to suppress in just a few seconds.


    When he eventually exited the bathroom, he found someone under the table. It was Ang, back to


    clean his floor. Her hair was tied up in azy ponytail. She did not seem to be someone who often


    cleaned as she cleaned so awkwardly that she identally pushed over the rubbish bin.


    Thankfully, his bin was only filled with papers. Even though the bin was turned over, the only trash on


    the floor was scrunched-up balls of paper.


    He crossed his arms and admired the sight of her cleaning. He was not going to help at all.


    Once Ang was done cleaning up the trash, she moved on to organize the documents on his desk. A


    strand of long hair slipped out from the back of her ear, making her beautiful face appear even more


    exquisite.


    His eyes narrowed slightly as he continued to admire her figure.


    Then, noticing that she was being watched, she turned to smile at him. “Are you done changing?”


    She finished cleaning up his desk before walking out of the room. Soon, she was back with a new tray


    of coffee. This time, she had two cups; one for him while the other was for her.


    After a while, Ang realized the mostfortable spot in the room was Richard’s couch. Due to her


    lack of sleep, there was nowhere she wanted to be other than his couch where she would curl up into a


    ball and read one of his books.


    She even had a cup of coffee to enjoy right now. Overall, it sounded like an extremely wonderful way to


    spend the morning.


    “Here, this is your coffee.” She smiled as she ced the cup on his desk. She then turned to his


    bookshelf, grabbed a book from there, and sat on the couch. With crossed legs, she read as she


    sipped on her coffee.


    For some reason, when he saw that she had taken over his room without asking, he felt happy. This


    was a sign that she felt safe in the room once more.


    He then sat down beside her, pulled out hisptop, and checked his emails. Although they did not


    speak to each other, they felt at ease sharing the same room.


    Ang had selected a book on evolution. Although the book was filled to the brim with concepts that


    were hard toprehend, she still forced herself to slowly mull over every word she read. Had he even


    read this himself?


    A few minutester, a question struck her. Since the coffee was quite hot just now, was he hurt when


    she spilled it on him?


    Could the thinyer of fabric prevent the hot coffee from burning his skin?


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    “I… Are you okay?” she asked as she bit her lips.


    “I’m fine.” He continued staring at hisptop, not even looking up to answer her.


    “Are you really okay? Do you need to go get it checked out?” Getting hurt in that spot was no small


    matter! Injuries like that should not be ignored.


    He frowned. “There is no need for that.”


    His reaction made her realize teasing him could be quite fun. As such, she grew bolder and even went


    so far as to push his limits.


    She moved to sit beside him., then tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear, revealing her fair face, and


    smiled coquettishly at him.


    “Should I take a look at it, Mr. Richard?”