Chapter 951-960
Ang stared at the man in a daze just like that. Then, the tears that had been wiped away just now
started falling uncontrobly onto the nket.
Richard grabbed the door knob so tightly as though he wanted to pull the wooden door off its frame. In
the end, however, he stepped out through the door and closed it without saying another word.
On the other hand, Ang’s mind was in turmoil. She sat on the bed behind him, overwhelmed by
feelings of anguish.
Two hourster, Trevor and Jared pulled up in front of the inn, having cleared the mudslidest night.
At this moment, they were here to pick Ang up on Richard’s orders.
Ang was downcast when she followed Trevor and Jared out of the inn. Despite her exquisite beauty,
she looked lifeless from the inside out, as if she had been tortured and flogged by something intangible.
“Miss Meyers, we’ve received orders that we can now send you back to Averna safely. Please go back
with us now to pack up your belongings. We’ll be going to the airport this afternoon,” Jared said
somewhat reluctantly.
Ang nodded in silence. “Okay. Thank you for that.”
“Don’t mention it. It’s part of our duty.” Trevor looked at her with sympathy. I thought Ang and Richie
would be able to get back together if we pushed her toward him. But now, it seems that things have
gotten worse. Richie ordered us to send her back to Averna right away, whereas his whereabouts are
unknown.
Ang returned to the base. She had lived here for two months, but now, she found herself somewhat
reluctant to leave this ce.
Ang stared at the man in a daze just like that. Then, the tears that had been wiped away just now
started falling uncontrobly onto the nket.
At 2:00PM, she got a phone call from Daphne; her family had learned of the good news and was
looking forward to her return. Atst, her life was no longer in danger. “Ang, I’ll throw a big party for
you when youe back so that we can have fun to our heart’s content.”
“It’s not necessary, Mom. I just want to go home and rest as much as I can,” Ang refused.
“Okay, no problem. Let’s talk about it when youe back. I miss you so much.”
At 3:00PM, Ang arrived at the airport, escorted by four team members who also apanied her
on the flight back to Averna. Seated in the first-ss cabin, she kept looking at the passengers who
wereing in. When she saw the flight attendant closing the cabin door, a hint of disappointment
shed across her eyes.
As expected, Richard no longer showed up around her. His mission was over, and she no longer
needed protection. Now that she thought about it, they belonged to different worlds in the first ce
and were only bound together by the protective mission this time. They had to live their separate lives
after the mission ended.
The ne took off from the ground. Now that the mission to protect Ang was over, her life would
return to normal. She was the daughter of the Meyers Family. Her mother ran a listedpany that
was worth more than 7 billion, whereas her father was a powerful government official. As their only
daughter, she was destined to live in glory.
The two-hour flight ended, and the ne touched down at the airport. When Ang emerged from the
VIP passage, she saw her parents standing there. Holding a bouquet of flowers in her arms, Daphne
burst into tears of joy; she ran up to Ang and hugged her, saying, “You’re back atst, my daughter.”
“Hey, Mom.” Ang patted her on the back.
Daphne’s heart ached when she saw her daughter’s makeup-free face and her washed-out clothes.
“Look at you. You must’ve suffered a lot.”
Gilbert came over and looked at Ang with a sigh of relief, saying, “Ang, we’ll have dinner with our
extended family this evening to celebrate your safe return. We all missed you.” Then, he said to Trevor
and the other three men behind her, “Pleasee this evening to let our family express our gratitude
toward you guys.”
“Hey, didn’t Captain Lloyde back with you guys?” Daphne asked curiously. Richard was Annie’s
fiancé, so she had to express her care for him, of course.
“Captain Lloyd left because he had something else to do,” Jared replied with a smile.
“Mr. Meyers, we still have another mission at hand. Sorry that we won’t being for dinner,” Willy
refused.
Ang looked back at the four of them. “Willy, let me treat you guys to dinner to thank you for taking
care of me over the past few days, okay?”
“Miss Meyers, the fact that you’re safe and sound is the best reward for us. We really still have
something else to deal with. Goodbye,” Willy said before bing the first to leave.
Reluctant to part with Ang, Trevor and Jared looked at her, whereas Sean said with a wave of his
hand, “Goodbye.”
As Ang watched the four tall figures leave, she had a feeling that she might never see them again.
Her eyes reddened, and her nose twinged as sadness welled up within her.
Noticing her reddened eyes, Daphne couldn’t help but put her arm around her in an attempt tofort
her. “Look at our daughter. She’s so reluctant to part with them, isn’t she?”
But who knew what sort of mixed feelings she was having at this very moment? She was no longer the
person she had once been two months ago. Over the past two months, she had uncontrobly fallen in
love with a man while trying to forget him with all her might. She looked alright on the outside, but her
heart was already broken to pieces.
“Let’s go!” Gilbert said to Daphne and Ang.
Ang let go of Daphne’s hand and hurriedly ran toward the door from which Willy and the others
disappeared. When she stepped out through the door, she saw an army green SUV that had just
started up and left. She followed the SUV with her gaze until it disappeared on the other end of the
overpass. She pursed her lips while holding back her tears.
At this moment, it was as if these men had never appeared in her world. They weren’t ordinary people
in the first ce, and their job was also totally different from that of ordinary people. They were like a
bunch of unknown heroes who would rush to wherever they were needed. When their mission was
complete, they’d disappear without a trace.
Suddenly, it urred to Ang that she didn’t even have the phone number of any of them. All she
knew about them was their names, and all she had was the memory of her living with them.
As Ang watched the four tall figures leave, she had a feeling that she might never see them again.
Her eyes reddened, and her nose twinged as sadness welled up within her.
Daphne caught up to her curiously. “Ang, what are you looking at?”
“Nothing. Let’s go home.” Ang shook her head before walking toward an inconspicuously ck
Bentley nearby.
She sat in the car while looking out the car window at the bustling downtown area. Having stayed for
two months in the mountains with no phone reception, she fell into a trance-like state upon her return to
the bustling metropolis.
Just then, Daphne asked in vexation, “Did you break up with Dexter? He returned all the money I’d
given to him. Well, I’d say it’s sensible of him to do that. Otherwise, I won’t let him off so easily.”
Ang nodded. “Let’s not mention this guy from now on. I have nothing to do with him anymore.”
“Oh, right, Ang, I told you that you deserve a better man. Don’t worry, I have some nice bachelors
around me. I’ll choose a good guy for you,” Daphne said in an attempt tofort her.
“Mom, I don’t feel like dating anyone for now. I just want to rest for a couple of days.”
Daphne suggested, “If you don’t feel like dating anyone, then why don’t youe to my office? It’s time
for you to try to take over my position.” She had been suffering from migraines since her previous car
ident. Therefore, she nned to step down from her position and let her daughter learn how to run
thepany.
The Meyers Residence had taken on an entirely new look. A variety of flowers and nts were grown
again in the once excavated garden; even the security system had been reced by a top-level one.
Sitting in the car, Ang suddenly saw through the car window that someone was running happily
toward the car.
Ang’s pupils shrank slightly. It was Annie.
When Ang opened the car door, Annie trotted over and took her hand excitedly. “You’re back atst,
Ang. You scared me to death.” She had her care for Ang written all over her face.
Inwardly, Ang was ovee with shame and self-reproach. Seeing how naive and kind-hearted
Annie was, she felt she had made a huge mistake. She was d that she had learned of Annie’s
engagement to Richard in advance. Otherwise, how hurt Annie would be if she were to talk about him
when she came back and tell the former about what had happened at the base? “Annie, thank you for
caring about me,” she thanked with a sigh.
“It’s lucky that all the dangers are gone. From now on, we can go shopping and chat over coffee again
with peace of mind,” Annie said happily.
Just then, Daphne said, “Ang, hurry and take a shower. Then we’ll take a look at the presents that
I’ve prepared for you.”
Ang knew without thinking that Daphne must’ve bought a lot of designer clothes and handbags for
her. However, she was no longer interested in these things now.
“Mom, don’t waste money for me anymore,” Ang said to Daphne.
Daphne was stunned. Why does my daughter look depressed after I haven’t seen her for a few
months? She is much more mature than before; even her smile betrays a hint of weariness. I’ve doted
on her since she was little, so I know her personality better than anyone else does. She threw a hissy
fit and was at odds with me over Dexter when she came back from overseasst time. Why is she like
a totally different person now?
“Let’s go, Ang! Let’s take a look together.” Annie dragged Ang into the living room with a smile.
They took the elevator to Ang’s master bedroom on the fourth floor, where the couch was covered
with presents, as well as clothes and handbags from luxury brands. Annie picked up a ne,
saying, “Here is my present for you. It’s not expensive, but you mustn’t frown upon it.”
“Why would I? I’m happy that you coulde and visit me,” Ang replied while looking at Annie with
an apologetic look in her eyes.
Annie then picked up a handbag and introduced it happily, saying, “Look, Ang. This is thetest item
that your mom bought for you. This handbag is worth more than 3 million!”
However, Ang was looking at her instead of the handbag.
Annie was sharp enough to sense it. She blinked her eyes, asking, “Ang, why do you keep looking
at me for no reason?”
Ang lowered her head in panic to conceal the look of guilt in her eyes. “Nothing. Let’s chat again
after I take a shower.” “Mom, don’t waste money for me anymore,” Ang said to Daphne.
“Just go. I’ll be here waiting for you.” Annie smiled with a nod. She urged Ang, saying, “Hurry and
wash yourself. There’s a snag in your clothes.”
Ang entered her bathroom before sitting in the bathtub in a daze. Her life was back, but her heart felt
empty, as if there was no happiness for her anymore. She dared not recall those wonderful memories.
They’re all sins; I can’t even think about them.
She took a shower. After blowing her hair dry, she wrapped herself in a bath towel and entered the
closet, which was 100 square meters in size and was full of the designer clothes that Daphne had
bought for her. She opened the wardrobe and took a set of clothes out of it. It was a simple white
sweater, matched with a pair of casual trousers. However, the diamond belt around her waist made her
appear noble for no apparent reason.
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When Annie saw Ang, she couldn’t help but look at her enviously while propping her chin in her
hand. “You’re so beautiful, Ang. I often feel stressed out in front of you!”
Ang looked at Annie’s face, which was pretty, tender, and youthful. She’s a lovely youngdy that
people would like at first nce. Richard really shouldn’t call off his engagement to her.
“Ang, I have a big secret to share with you. Why don’t you guess what it is?” Annie asked her with a
smile while tilting her head to one side.
“Is it about your engagement?”
“That’s right! I couldn’t reach you on your cell phone when I got engagedst time. After that, I heard
that you were in huge trouble and had been ced under protection, so I hadn’t had the chance to talk
to you about my fiancé. Now I can finally share it with you.” Annie was already bursting with impatience
to tell Ang about it. “His name is Richard Lloyd. As for what he does for a living, I don’t know that
yet, but he’s a really handsome and outstanding person.” Her eyes were starry. She had only met
Richard on the night of their engagement, but she had been unable to forget his face since then.
Ang’s heart clenched. She suddenly wondered if she should tell Annie that Richard and his team
members were the ones in charge of protecting her this time. If she kept this from Annie, she wouldn’t
be able to exin the matter when thetter learned about it someday. “Richard Lloyd, huh? I met him
before. He’s the one assigned to protect me during this mission,” she said while pretending to sound
rxed.
Annie’s eyes widened at once. She looked at Ang in disbelief, saying, “Really? Ang, is Richard
the one who protected you this time? How many times have you met him? What do you think of him?
Hurry and tell me about it! I’m dying to know everything about him.” Rubbing her hands together, she
couldn’t wait to listen to Ang’s story.
Ang was lost for words for a moment. Seems like Annie assumes that Richard and I didn’t meet
often. But who would know that we’d lived together day and night for two months? “I…” She sat down.
However, as soon as she uttered the first syble, Annie held her hand and asked again, “How is he?
Is he easy to get along with? Is he a serious man? He knows that we’re cousins, right? Did he take
good care of you?”
Ang’s heart suddenly clenched. Seeing the curious look in Annie’s eyes, she found herself at a loss
for words for a moment.
Just then, Annie’s cell phone rang; she picked it up and looked at its screen. “It’s Grandpa. He’s
probably calling me to urge us to go out for dinner,” she said before stepping aside to answer the
phone. “Hey, Grandpa! We’reing,” she said. Then, she hung up and said to Ang, “Ang, go
put on a coat. It’s time for us to go out for dinner. Everybody wants to see you.”
Ang nodded before standing up to get her coat. However, after entering the closet, she leaned
against the wall wearily and let out a sigh. In the end, she grabbed an overcoat and went out with
Annie.
Daphne and Gilbert had been waiting for her. When she came out, Daphne came over and looked at
her. She said in surprise, “Why are you dressed so simply? You’re not wearing makeup, nor are you
wearing earrings or a ne.”
Ang shook her head with a smile. “It’s okay, Mom. We’re just going for dinner with our family.”
Daphne had no choice but to drop the matter. Just then, the female helper who had gone to collect the
laundry came over and said, “Miss Ang, this fell out of your clothes.” She was holding a pink raw
crystal in her hand. Ang was lost for words for a moment. Seems like Annie assumes that Richard
and I didn’t meet often. But who would know that we’d lived together day and night for two months?
“I…” She sat down.
Ang’s heart twinged. As she took the crystal, Annie leaned over curiously to look at it, asking, “What
is this, Ang? Is this a crystal?”
“Yeah. I got it in the mountains.” Ang put the crystal into her handbag.
“It looks quite beautiful. Do you want to make the crystal into a pendant or a bracelet?” Daphne asked
with a smile.
“I-I haven’t made up my mind yet.” Ang recalled how she had told Richard that she wanted to have
the crystal made into two pendants so that they’d each have one. Right now, however, she didn’t want
to make the crystal into anything. I’ll just take it as a memento.
Ang and Annie sat in the car, but thetter couldn’t stop talking about the subject just now. She
pestered Ang with questions, asking, “Ang, tell me about Richard. Is he easy to get along with? Is
he handsome at work?”
Ang nodded. “H-He’s quite easy to get along with, but he seems very busy. I rarely saw him, so I
don’t know much about him.”
“Yeah, that’s understandable. He left in a hurry before the end of our engagement dinnerst time.”
Richard was a workaholic in Annie’s mind’s eye.
“Annie, when will you get married to him? Has the date been finalized?” Ang asked tentatively.
Annie’s face blushed. She replied shyly, “It’s still early for that! We’ve only met once, after all. But
Grandpa said that Richard’s grandfather wishes us to get married sooner because he wants to have a
great-grandson.”
Ang looked at Annie as emotions surged within her. Her feelings were mixed, but she was also d
that she didn’t ruin thetter’s happiness. “Congrattions, Annie.”
“Thank you, Ang. By the way, did Richard mention me when you met him? I sent him a lot of text
messages, but he didn’t reply to any of them. I once suspected that I had the wrong phone number,”
Annie said with a bitter expression.
Dumbfounded, Ang looked at her. “He didn’t reply to any of your text messages?”
Annie gave a sigh of disappointment. “That’s right! I sent him almost 50 text messages. I wonder if he’s
so busy that he doesn’t have time to text me back.”
Ang was suddenly enraged. Like hell he is that busy! He spends lots of time reading over there. But
how could he be so cruel as to not reply to any of Annie’s messages? “How could he do this to you?”
she said angrily at once.
Annieforted her instead, saying, “It’s okay, Ang. I know that he’s busy; perhaps he’s rushed off
his feet with lots of stuff to do. Please don’t me him for that.”
Ang’s chest heaved up and down. She really wanted to tell Annie that Richard wasn’t busy at all,
and that he had plenty of time and was ignoring her text messages on purpose. She also felt sorry for
Annie, whose feelings for Richard weren’t reciprocated at all.
“Annie, aren’t you angry about that?” Ang asked while looking at Annie.
Annie shook her head understandingly. “I’m not angry. I’m happy as long as he saw my messages. I’m
just texting him about my feelings, anyway. I’m afraid of bothering him, but I can’t help wanting to chat
with him.”
Ang stretched out her hand and patted Annie on the head while looking at her with sympathy. It’s too
bad that such feelings aren’t cherished. She hoped Richard would give Annie a quick answer as soon
as possible instead of letting thetter get her hopes up for nothing. Doesn’t he want to break off their
engagement? If he really doesn’t love Annie, he can do that and stop making aughingstock of her
sacrifice, she thought somewhat indignantly.
Just then, Annie said with a look of envy, “Ang, I’m so envious of you for being able to see him. If
only I were quarantined along with you at the time. That way, I’d be able to see him as well.”
Ang’s heart stopped. She also wished she could travel back to the day of Annie’s engagement. If
only I knew that he was Annie’s fiancé. That way, what happened after that wouldn’t have happened.
She knew that she was the origin of all the tragedies between them. “Don’t be envious of me. That
ce is sealed off, so you won’t get used to living there.”
“Then how did you manage to get through?”
“I-I killed time by reading.” Ang pursed her lips, not daring to look Annie in the eye.
“As long as I’m able to see him, I’ll be happy no matter how bored I feel. It’s too bad that I didn’t know
he was the one protecting you at the time. Had I known it earlier, I’d have gone with you no matter
what,” Annie said with a look of regret. “Annie, aren’t you angry about that?” Ang asked while
looking at Annie.
Ang let out a sigh in secret. What sort of cruel fate is it that bound Richard and me together?!
They arrived at the restaurant.
When Joshua saw that his eldest granddaughter had returned safely, his face broke into a cheerful
smile. “You’re back atst, Ang.”
“I’m back, Grandpa,” Ang said while walking up to him.
“d that you’re back. Atst, we can put our mind at rest.”
Ang then greeted her uncle and aunt. “Hi, Uncle Matthew and Aunt Jennifer.”
“Hey, Ang! You’re really getting more and more beautiful. You weren’t there during the engagement
dinnerst time. Come to think of it, it’s been two years since west met.”
Ang felt embarrassed upon seeing them. Just then, Gilbert asked, “Dad, are the Lloydsing as
well?”
Ang turned to look at Joshua with a panic-stricken expression. What? Are the Lloydsing as
well?
Joshua shook his head. “Phillip said his grandson had yet toe back. We’ll meet again next time.”
When Ang heard him say so, her heart was back in its ce. She really didn’t want to run into
Richard on such an asion. She didn’t know at all how to face him.
In a luxurious private room, everyone was talking about what had happened to Ang this time.
Daphne also had a car ident because of this incident. If she hadn’t been lucky enough to have
narrowly escaped death, the consequences would’ve been unthinkable.
As Ang looked at Daphne, she realized that nothing made her happier than being able to reunite
with her family. Even though she had to end a brief rtionship, the warmth of her family filled the void
in her heart.
“Jennifer, has the date of Annie’s wedding been finalized? When will it take ce? Tell me so that I can
prepare a wedding gift for her,” Daphne asked with a smile.
Jennifer Mailon, Annie’s mother, was a university lecturer. She and her husband Matthew followed a
career in teaching and were now focusing their minds on Annie’s wedding, which they cared a lot
about. She replied with a smile, “They’ve gotten engaged, but we need the Lloyd Family to decide the
date of the wedding. Richard is very busy, after all.”
Ang lowered her head while sipping a cup of tea that she was holding. It was apparent from the way
Jennifer had referred to Richard that she was treating him as her son-inw.
Seeing that her family had started to talk about her wedding, Annie couldn’t help but blush shyly.
Richard’s tall figure appeared in her mind. How I wish he were present!
Joshua let out a chuckle. “I’ll talk to Phillip in the next few days to have the wedding held sooner.”
Ang took a drink from her tea and choked on it by ident in a moment of absentmindedness. She
quickly covered her mouth and coughed a few times under the table. When Daphne saw this, she
quickly stretched out her hand and patted her on the back.
“How did you choke on tea?” sheined.
“Mom, I’m going to the washroom,” Ang said before standing up and leaving the dining table. She
walked very quickly, leaving the private room as if she were fleeing from it. She had no intention of
going to the washroom; she just wanted to go outside for a breath of fresh air.
Just then, she was drawn to the sound of the piano in the hall. Involuntarily, she came all the way into
the hall from the private room, only to see someone performing a piano piece at the scene. After
standing there for a while, she noticed that the youngdy on stage seemed to be leaving, upon which
an idea came to her mind. I have nothing to do, anyway. She went over and asked the manager if she
could y the piano.
The manager quickly nodded and replied with a smile, “Yes, of course. Feel free to y it, miss.”
Ang walked up to the piano and sat down. With her slender fingers, she seemed to be born to y
the piano. A moving string of musical notes sounded in the restaurant, causing many diners to turn
their eyes toward the piano in amazement. When they saw a differentdy sitting at the piano, they
were attracted to her good looks. She was dressed in white while wearing her hair down. What
captivated them the most was her delicate features. She looked graceful and refreshing, like the warm
sunshine in this freezing winter.
Getting carried away for a moment, she closed her eyes slightly. However, her fingers danced fluidly
across the keyboard, bringing the most melodious music to people’s ears. “How did you choke on tea?”
sheined.
“Mom, I’m going to the washroom,” Ang said before standing up and leaving the dining table. She
walked very quickly, leaving the private room as if she were fleeing from it. She had no intention of
going to the washroom; she just wanted to go outside for a breath of fresh air.
A middle-aged female diner got so entranced by the music that she couldn’t help but praise, “Her skills
are close to that of a grandmaster, right?”
“Uh-huh. I wonder which family she’s from. Not only is she beautiful, but she’s so skilled at ying the
piano.”
A man was striding into the hall through the entrance with sturdy and slender legs. Dressed in a ck
trench coat, he projected amanding presence. He walked in long strides, as if he wereing for
dinner in a hurry. However, as soon as he entered the restaurant, he was drawn to the sound of the
piano ying smoothly. When he looked up in the piano’s direction, his dark and deep pupils shrank;
he couldn’t believe that the youngdy ying the piano on stage was none other than Ang.
At this moment, Ang was closing her eyes while lowering them slightly. Her face, which was even
more gorgeous than flowers, looked pure and pretty under the spotlight like that of an otherworldly
spirit.
The man standing in the hall probably never thought he would meet the person he wanted to see the
most in the restaurant. Richard couldn’t move an inch. In an instant, his eyes betrayed a hint of
tenderness; even his lips curled into a smile. He stared at thedy on stage just like that, whereas she
lost herself in the music without realizing that there was an important figure among her audience.
Noticing that Ang’s piano piece seemed to being to a stop, Richard finally came to his senses.
He quickly stepped behind a pir that happened to conceal his figure. The diner at the table next to
the pir looked at him in bewilderment, but his gaze was directed toward the piano.
cing her hands on the piano, Ang was in a trance for a moment. Just then, a waiter came over
with a ss of red wine. He said to her, “Miss, a customer has ordered a ss of red wine for you.”
Ang looked in the direction the waiter was pointing and saw two men standing in front of the French
window. The younger one among them, who was a graceful-looking man, raised his ss at her as
though he admired her very much.
Ang gave the man a nod out of courtesy, but she put the ss of red wine aside without drinking
from it. When she stood up, the man stood up as well. While she was walking toward the private room,
the man came to her side, saying, “Miss, you yed the piano very well. I wonder if I have the honor of
getting to know you. Let’s be friends.” The man looked at her fervently as if he was desperate to get to
know her.
Not wanting to draw the attention of anyone, Ang replied thankfully, “Thanks for thepliment.”
With that, she decided to leave.
However, the man really wanted to get to know her, so he stretched out his hand and stopped her.
“Miss, I really wish to get to know you. I’m not some bad guy; I just want to be friends with you.”
Ang was stunned. Facing such a passionate man, she found herself caught in an awkward situation.
Suddenly, an icy male voice sounded behind her, saying, “She already has a boyfriend.”
Ang was startled and dismayed by the voice she heard and turned around to find Richard standing
behind her. It was as if she were dreaming, seeing him in person. “You…” Her throat dried up, her heart
raced, and her chest ached.
Before she could respond, the man grabbed her shoulders and led her to a corridor. At that time, a
waiter wheeled a cleaning cart around the table to clean it up after several customers had left the room.
Then, Richard told the waiter, “Clean this upter,” as he opened the door and ushered Ang inside.
The waiter realized what was going on and only stood near the entrance.
Slightly out of breath, she asked, “Why are you here?”
He answered, “I’m having dinner with a friend here.”
Ang’s eyes were slightly red and close to tears. She thought Richard and his group had left and had
no idea he was still in Averna. When she suddenly thought of her family, who were in another room,
she asked with her lips pursed, “My grandpa, aunt, uncle, and Annie are all here for dinner. Do you
want toe over and say hello?”
He didn’t say anything but stared at her with an intense gaze. As he looked at her, he observed the
tears that started to swim in her eyes. “I’m not going over,” he said helplessly.
His response caused her to look away in embarrassment, and she wiped away the tears that had
already formed in her eyes. “Why won’t you go?” she asked again. Ang was startled and dismayed
by the voice she heard and turned around to find Richard standing behind her. It was as if she were
dreaming, seeing him in person. “You…” Her throat dried up, her heart raced, and her chest ached.
Richard reached out and grabbed her chin, turning her face to look at him even though she was
resisting. “Do your tears indicate that you haven’tpletely forgotten about me?”
Looking at his expression, she panicked and pushed his hand away from her chin. “Stop it.”
“In the future, if a man approaches you, you should express your rejection clearly and protect yourself
better,” he reminded her.
In response to his words, Ang felt a spark of anger rise and said bluntly, “You don’t have to tell me
that. I can protect myself.” Soon after, she remembered Annie’s countless text messages to him.
Hence, she raised her head and asked, “Why didn’t you reply to Annie’s text messages? Do you know
how hurtful it is?”
“I’m not going to waste my time on women I’m not interested in,” Richard stated coldly. His eyes
softened when he looked at her as if trying to convince her that she was the only woman worth his
time. No one else but Ang Meyers.
When Ang looked into Richard’s eyes, she had the sensation that she was being submerged in
them. She held her breath for such a prolonged period that she heaved a sigh of relief when she finally
came to her senses. She shook her head and pleaded, “Please, don’t look at me that way.” When she
realized she couldn’t stay in front of him any longer, she turned away and said, “I should head back to
the room.”
However, as she approached the door, he grabbed her arm and drew her into his arms with no
apparent force. He held one hand around her waist and the other behind her head to support her while
he kissed her passionately, and it took her breath away.
“Hmm!” In retaliation, her body became rigid while still in his arms. Her brain became so foggy that she
could not even consider shoving the man away from her. The only thing on her mind now was how
domineering the man was in kissing her. He gently released his lips until she was on the verge of
passing out, at which point he continued to look intently at her. “One of the many questions you asked
me in the past is whether or not I will feel tempted if I am protecting another woman. My reply is…
unless you’re that woman, I will not be tempted.”
“Why me?” Ang asked sluggishly, forgetting to push Richard away.
“Because you’re the only one I’m interested in,” he replied, his smile tinged with self-mockery and
helplessness.
As Ang’s heart ached in response to his words, she immediately struggled to escape his embrace
and took two steps back. “I’m not going to do this to Annie. You aren’t allowed to hurt her too. If you do,
I will never forgive you.” She turned around and attempted to open the door but quickly realized that it
was much too heavy for her. She staggered to her feet after losing her bnce due to the door’s
weight.
Richard immediately approached Ang and, with his long arms, opened the door for her before he
chuckled. “Did that kiss I gave you make your knees go weak?”
She red at him in utter disgust that he would still have the nerve to say such a thing. Next, she fled
from the room along the corridor toward the bathroom to calm herself down.
Meanwhile, Richard made his way to a room, pushed open the door, and entered, where he was
greeted by a calm and charming man. He had obviously been waiting a long time as he was staring
intently out the window.
“Sorry for the wait, Elliot,” he apologized as he sat across from him.
The man waiting for Richard at the table was Elliot Presgrave. Dressed in a deep ck suit, he gave off
a sense of regal elegance. “Don’t worry. I know how busy you are, “he said while adjusting his posture.
Then, looking at his best friend with curiosity, he asked, “Is it my imagination? It appears that you have
changed slightly.”
“What has changed?”
“Your eyes. Have you recently met someone? I’m assuming a woman has entered your life.” With his
razor-sharp gaze, Elliot assessed him.
Richard replied, almost at a loss for words, “You’re just as insightful as always.”
“It’s just a habit of mine.” He smiled. As his curiosity grew, he inquired, “Did you meet someone you’re
interested in?”
Richard hadn’t expected such a swift blow to his self-esteem. He had said before that he would never
have romantic feelings for a woman. However, God had other ns for him and set up a love affair that
he couldn’t avoid in less than three months. “Yeah.” He nodded without attempting to contradict Elliott’s
assumption.
Richard immediately approached Ang and, with his long arms, opened the door for her before he
chuckled. “Did that kiss I gave you make your knees go weak?”
Elliot said while he appeared to be congratting him with his gaze, “Let’s have dinner together
sometime soon. You can then introduce her to Anastasia and me.”
However, Richard had no assurance that such a day woulde. “It’s a littleplicated right now.
We’ll talk about it when the timees.”
The two friends then discussed their current affairs. When Richard mentioned that he was ready to take
his revenge, Elliot’s face immediately turned serious before he gave his advice. “Richard, I know how
you’re feeling, but you must not act rashly.”
“Even though my uncle tried to stop me, I’m not going toply with his arrangements. I’ll handle
things with that person in my own way.” The words came from Richard, whose eyes were as cold as
knives and without the slightest sign ofpromise.
“If you need my help, just say the word.” Elliot was aware that he could not be persuaded once he had
made up his mind, but could not help worrying.
Richard shook his head. “Not right now. I’m still preparing everything, so it’s not the right time yet.”
In the meantime, Ang returned to the room and was back in her seat. She intended to keep a low
profile as she listened to her family discuss trivial matters of their daily lives. When Annie approached
her with an inquisitive attitude and leaned next to her, she asked, “Ang, where’ve you been? You’ve
been gone for quite some time.”
“I-I ran into an old friend and we chatted for a while.” She could not bring herself to look Annie in the
eyes.
The two sisters fit into two distinct categories of stunning beauty. Annie had a face that was both
beautiful and delicate, like that of a baby. In contrast, Ang had an oval face that was sophisticated
and morous.
Ang still couldn’t enjoy the meal she was eating because her mind and heart weren’t in the right
ce. She got a text message right then and was so bored that she decided to look at it, although she
thought it was probably a spam message. She inhaled deeply as she read the text message. ‘This is
my private number. Remember to save it.’ She didn’t have to guess who sent this. Fearing that this
message would be seen by others, she quickly hid it by covering her phone with her hand.
At that moment, she overheard her mom talking. “Dad, there are so many fine young gentlemen around
you; perhaps you can introduce Ang to some of them. She’s old enough to get married,” Daphne
spoke to Joshua.
Feeling a tug on her heartstrings, she said hastily, “Mom, Mom. I’m not in a hurry to get married.”
“Even though you’re a year and a half older than Annie, she’s already engaged!” Daphne retorted.
Joshua shared Daphne’s sentiments, so he said, “Alright. Ang, I’ll find you a suitable match. I recall
a friend of mine telling me that he has a grandson who turned twenty-eight this year and has a great
personality. I’ll introduce you to him one of these days.”
Ang looked at him with concern and said, “You don’t have to do that, Grandpa. I don’t want to marry
just yet.”
“Dad, you should make an appointment with the Lloyd Family so that we can discuss Annie’s wedding
ns,” Jennifer said with a hint of urgency.
“Alright. I will call Phillip and arrange to meet as soon as possible.” Joshua informed Jennifer.
Ang noticed Annie’s eyes widening, and her cheek flushed as she nced over at her. Ang let
out a heavy sigh of bitterness and felt sorry for her. Just like a bystander, she saw Annie’s feelings for
Richard grow despite his indifference to her. She felt even worse because she couldn’t do anything to
help Annie.
She had every intention of letting her grandpa, aunt, uncle, and Annie know that Richard had decided
to call off the engagement. However, shecked the courage to do so and could only observe as they
enthusiastically discussed Annie’s wedding preparations. She knew they’d be disappointed when the
time came.
Ang left the room with a heavy heart, terrified that Richard would suddenly appear and announce his
intention to break off the engagement in front of her family. Fortunately, she didn’t need to worry
because that man didn’t show up, and everyone got into their cars. She sat in the car with her parents,
filled with thoughts.
“What’s the matter, Ang? You’re not as talkative as you used to be.” As soon as she got in the car,
Daphne asked her. She noticed that her daughter had changed, and it seemed as if she had suddenly
matured and gained a sense of stability.
“I’m fine,” Ang replied with a wry smile.
“Perhaps she is still afraid. She’ll be fine once she takes some more time to rest at home,” Gilbert
added.
“Yes, I still have some fears, so I probably just need to get some rest.” Ang agreed with her dad that
she didn’t want her mom to worry.
“Alright. I will call Phillip and arrange to meet as soon as possible.” Joshua informed Jennifer.
“Thankfully, it’s all in the past. After going through an experience like that, your dad and I have decided
that we do not want anything else. We can only wish you happiness and safety.” Daphne gave her a
tender nce. The once-dominant mother had be patient and understanding toward her daughter.
“Yeah, the most important thing is that our family is safe and sound.” She finallyprehended
Daphne’s meaning. A part of her wanted to run away from home back then. But now she realized that
there is no ce like home.
When they got home, Ang copsed on her soft bed worth forty thousand, and kept her eyes on the
beautiful ceiling. She switched on the room’s ambient lighting, which immediately turned it into a
weing and sophisticated environment. Surprisingly, she began to miss the small bed at Richard’s
base. Despite the bed rigidity and difort, it provided her with exceptional warmth.
She was exhausted from everything she’d been through recently. In the past, she found that doing
something as simple as getting a cup of coffee or going shopping could instantly lift her spirits. On the
other hand, it would appear that the source of her happiness now was simply the thought of Richard.
She then sighed heavily and decided to take a shower, change into cozy pajamas, and drink a cup of
warm milk downstairs to help her sleep.
It was already 10:00PM when Ang nced at the clock. Her parents had both returned to their room
and were currently resting. She then took a shower and dried her waist-length hair with a blow dryer.
Even though she could not give her hair the proper care it needed in the base, it retained its gloss and
smoothness. Since her delicate facial skin was beginning to look dull, she gave it a little boost by
applying a mask.
Shey down on therge leather couch with two eye masks on top of the sheet mask, and began her
evening skincare routine while listening to her favorite music. She couldn’t help but feel drowsy as she
listened to the music. Suddenly, she was startled by what she thought was a sounding from her
bedroom door. She furrowed her brow as she thought, Did I leave the window open? Is it because of
the wind? As she had just put on her mask ten minutes earlier, she ultimately decided to disregard it. It
would take at least twenty minutes to remove the sheet mask.
However, Ang was unaware that another person was in the room at the time. The man was standing
with his arms crossed next to her couch, staring at her contented expression. The high-quality carpet in
her room muffled the sounds of the man’s feet, so she didn’t notice another person had entered the
room. Despite this, she had the distinct impression that someone was watching her at this very
moment, and she couldn’t help but pull off her eye mask instantly. The moment she did so, terror took
hold of her, but just as she was about to scream…
The man covered Ang’s mouth with his hand, which muffled her screams. She ripped her sheet
mask off, enraged, and red at the man who had mysteriously appeared in her room—Richard. Yes,
the man standing beside her couch was none other than Richard Lloyd.
“You… How did you get in?” Her initial shock had transformed into rage. She recalled that her mother
had assured her that not even a bird would be able to break through the state-of-the-art security
system at their home. So, how does this man, much bigger than a bird, get in? Then, in an angry voice,
she said, “You should know that the area around my house is installed with electrical lines. So, how did
you get in here? Do you want to die? You’ll bepletely burned to a crisp if you step on one of those
lines!”
The man remained silent for a moment before he finally smiled faintly. “Are you worried about me?”
Ang, whose face was flushed with anger, clenched her teeth. “You’re overthinking it. Why would I be
worried about you?”
Richard sat on the couch beside her and looked around her luxurious room. He couldn’t help but sigh
upon realizing that her bedroom was magnificent and regal. “It seems like things were tough for you at
the base.” Looks like at home, she gets theplete royal treatment befitting a wealthy heiress, with
only the finest amenities.
After being stunned for a few seconds, she snapped, “I’m not that pampered.” Then, she thought,
That’s not the point. This man has barged into my room in the dead of night. What exactly does he
want? Don’t tell me he intends to seduce me! She looked at Richard, slightly rmed, before speaking,
“You… What are you doing here? What are your intentions?”
The man covered Ang’s mouth with his hand, which muffled her screams. She ripped her sheet
mask off, enraged, and red at the man who had mysteriously appeared in her room—Richard. Yes,
the man standing beside her couch was none other than Richard Lloyd.
He averted his gaze and gave her a yful stare. “What do you want me to do to you?”
Ang replied with a hint of irritation, “I do not want you to do anything to me.”
“Don’t worry, I just came to see you,” he exined. After dinner with Elliot, he intended to return home
but unexpectedly found himself at her doorstep. Then, he noticed the room’s light was on and assumed
it was Ang’s, so he decided to pay her a visit.
“Did you climb up the wall to get in?” she asked while pondering. Was this man a monkey in a previous
life?
“Yeah.” The man did not deny it.
“You… What if you slip and fall?” Ang said with a tone of worry.
“And you said that you’re not worried about me,” he said with a teasing grin.
“I’m not.”
“Ugh…” Richard suddenly grabbed his arm and made a painful expression.
Ang’s eyes narrowed as she sprang from the couch and ran to the man’s side. She became
concerned when she saw him holding his elbow and asked, “What happened? Are you hurt?”
The man’s eyes changed from one of pain to one of yfulness. He narrowed his eyes before saying,
“You’re still saying you’re not worried about me? Wow, women really do not mean what they say.”
“You…” She became enraged and pped him on the shoulder. “How dare you lie to me!”
Even after being pped, Richard was still beaming with joy and pleasure. After that, he went and
made himselffortable on her couch. Anyone who looked at him could tell he was tired because of
the space between his brows. She felt pity for the man and reasoned that his exhaustion could be
attributed to a new assignment. “Go back home and get some rest!” She made several attempts to get
him to leave.
He quickly nced at her with his deep ck eyes before resting his head on his arms and closing his
eyes. “Don’t worry. I’m only using your couch for a short time. I’ll be leaving shortly.”
Ang’s anxiety increased as she became aware that the man shouldn’t even be in her room; she
knew this was already a mistake. “Don’t be a rascal, Richard Lloyd. Just get up and go.” She grabbed
the man’s arms and tried to pull him to his feet.
Suddenly, the man reached out and grabbed her slender arm, pulling her into his arms. Due to his
significant exertion of force, she had no choice but to submit and fall into his arms without resistance.
After she started to feel anxious and disoriented, he wrapped his arms around her waist, and she
suddenly found herself on the ground beneath him.