Chapter 305


    "So what if you assigned me a bodyguard? I still got drugged and knocked out cold, Ian." ra''s


    voice trembled as she faced him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Look, I''m not


    unreasonable, but these dangers are getting to me. They scare me to my core."


    "As long as I''m with you, the danger never stops. And to protect myself and my family, I have to


    walk away. I''m begging you, please, just... stay away from me, okay?"


    She had made up her mind to leave him, to keep the existence of their child a secret. There was no


    turning back now, not when so much was at stake.


    "It doesn''t matter if I get hurt, but our child... is so little, so fragile. A single fall could be the end. I


    can''t take that risk," she thought.


    Ian''s heart ached at the sight of ra so fraught with fear. He reached out and gently stroked her


    hair. His voice dropped to a husky whisper, "There''s no way Heidi and Leonora could pull off


    something this covert on their own. There''s got to be a bigger fish behind them. When I catch


    whoever it is, you''ll be safe. ra, there are things I can''t exin right now, but trust me, you''re in


    more danger away from me than by my side."


    From the ident that took May''s life to Casey''s kidnapping, every incident had been executed


    wlessly, leaving no trace for the authorities to follow. It was clear evidence of a mastermind with


    formidable evasion skills, someone whose ambitions went beyond just a few lives.


    Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Before ra could respond, Chase''s roguishughter echoed from the doorway. "I was wondering


    why I couldn''t reach you on the phone, Ian. Looks like you''ve been busy chasing your wife."


    Chase sauntered in, his eyes crinkling with a knowing smile as he held a gift box. Ian shot him a


    cold re and said without a hint of mercy, "It''s the holidays, Chase. Shouldn''t you be visiting your


    fiancée instead of crashing my wife’s ce? Get lost!"


    Chase scoffed, "You''re so affectionate it''s almost like you actually married ra. Don''t forget, your


    marriage certificate is only halfplete. Don''t preach to me."


    "It''s just a matter of a stamp, which I could get with a single phone call. I want to make it meaningful


    by going there with my wife."


    "Then why don''t you take ra and see if she follows you? Your messes aren''t any cleaner than


    mine, so don''t act all high and mighty."


    As the two men bickered, Sasha burst out of the kitchen. Her eyes immediately locked onto Chase,


    the epitome of casual defiance in his grey coat. She couldn''t contain her irritation. "What are you


    doing here? You''re not wee!"


    Chase waved at her yfully. "Grandpa kicked me out. Just here to scrounge up a meal. Casey,


    you wouldn''t turn me away, would you?"


    The house was not full of guests for the holiday. Casey couldn''t help but beam with joy. "Of course


    not! When you''re here, you''re a guest. Come help out, and then we''ll all eat."


    "Right on, I''m in."


    The New Year''s Eve dinner was a lively affair, with the three men each too stubborn to back down,


    ending up with more than a few drinks in them. They stumbled outside to watch the fireworks over


    the square.


    As the clock struck midnight, ra felt a tug at her waist and then a strong scent of alcohol. By the


    time she realized what was happening, Ian was pressing close, his eyes tender as he gazed at her,


    his voice rough with the rasp of drunkenness.


    "Darling, may you be safe and fulfilled, year after year." With those words, a warm kissnded softly


    on ra''s blushing lips.