The Heiress' Mysterious Bodyguard

"You don't mind to risk your life? For your first love?" The irritated man laughed horribly. "Emily Harper, you're just an ordinary stupid girl!"

Emily's breath hitched. Her eyes trembled. The guy now was holding a knife, right in front of her.

"Y-you're not him? You're not Cay-"

Emily's words were cut off by the knife blade shot towards her stomach. She tried to dodge, but her body was too tense.

The next thing she knew, blood started dripping onto the floor. She could only gasp, gaping with a blank look. Memories rolled quickly through her mind. When it came to the end, a question echoed. Was she right to maintain a love that brought disaster?

A moment ago ....

Breaking news!

"Emily Harper, the heiress of the Savior Group, has reportedly been missing. Since rejecting Brandon Young's proposal last Saturday night, she has not been seen."

"Many people speculated that she ran away to avoid the public. Some parties suspected that she had been kidnapped. However, the Harper family firmly denied those speculations. They said that the heiress just needed time to calm down."

"Until now, journalists are still on standby around Harper's residence and office. They are waiting for a statement from Emily Harper regarding her decision to reject the proposal from the heir of the Young Company."

Emily sighed in disbelief. With a cynical gaze, she studied the reporter's face.

"Are they running out of news? Why broadcast such a useless case? Gosh .... And why did Louis let this issue circulate? He should control the media. If it's like this, I have to be extra vigilant."

Suddenly, her twin brother's name appeared on the phone. Seeing that, Emily immediately glanced around. There was no sign of Louis' bodyguards. Only after feeling that the situation was safe did she answer the call.

"Emily Harper, how dare you just run away after the mess you made? You think it's okay?" Louis shouted from across the continent.

Emily spontaneously took the phone away from her ear. Instead of feeling guilty, she sipped her hot chocolate.

"Keep your voice down, Louis. You make it sound like it's a big deal."

"It is a big deal. Do you know how much media is highlighting your deeds? All of them! Social media, work phones, even work emails are noisy with people waiting for an explanation from you. You've heard the breaking news I sent?"

Emily massaged her temple three times. After letting out a faint sigh, she leaned back against the chair.

"Now you make it sound like it's something new. Come on, Louis. Don't make a big deal out of it. Our company has faced bigger things than this. Do you remember your scandal four years ago?"

"Don't divert the conversation, Emily. We're discussing your behavior. So stop being evasive and admit your mistake!"

Emily's eyebrows began to furrow. "I'm not guilty."

"Yes, you are. You made a mistake and it was fatal. Why did you reject Brandon's proposal? You're still normal, right? He's the guy most women want! Second after me."

Emily snorted slightly. "It's not my fault. He's too stupid. I've said many times that I don't have feelings for him, but he proposed to me in a public place, in front of lots of media."

"That's because he really loves you. Brandon is a good guy, Emily. So far, he's the best for you. You two could be the perfect couple."

"You're saying that because he's your best friend," Emily interrupted curtly.

"And your best friend too," Louis concluded, suddenly softening. "Open your eyes, Em. We've known him since childhood. We already know all his traits and habits. We also know his family. What else is missing from him?"

Emily fell silent. She could only grit her teeth, squeezing her own elbow that supported the phone. Since she became less alert, she didn't realize that three people were glancing at her from other tables.

"Is it because of Cayden? You're still waiting for that little boy?" Louis broke the silence.

Emily blinked. "Cayden is not a little boy. He's a year older than us," she corrected, grumbling.

"But he was just a 5-year-old boy when he said that promise. And now, you're not a 4-year-old kid anymore."

Emily exhaled quickly, her eyes closed. She realized that the embers in her heart had reignited.

"Come to your senses, Emily," Louis continued. "He could have forgotten about you. Or maybe, he doesn't remember you at all."

"Cayden promised me," Emily muttered softly.

"To see you in 20 years. Now? You're 27, Emily. Think realistically. There's no point in waiting for someone in uncertainty."

Emily swallowed bitterly. "There's no point in you instigating me. I won't be affected. I know Cayden better."

"I remind you because I care about you. I don't want you to be disappointed, Emily. What if it turns out he's married? Or worse, what if he's already in a different world? Heaven, maybe?"

"Louis!" Emily's eyes widened. Her brows furrowed in displeasure.

"What if when you meet him later, he doesn't meet your expectations? Maybe, now he is ugly and doesn't take care of himself. He's unemployed, dirty, has no future-"

"Stop now or I won't answer your calls again," Emily insisted, not kidding.

Louis sighed in resignation. "Okay. If you don't want to listen to me, whatever. But you have to come back as soon as possible. Do you know how worried Mom and Dad think about you?"

Emily's lips pursed. Her ego flared up again. "I'm an adult. I can take care of myself."

"This is a security issue, Emily. Many threats are lurking out there. Have you forgotten how many enemies we have? Even if it's not the companies, your philanderers or fanatical fans could do something crazy. You're not afraid of being kidnapped?"

Emily shook her head. Just then, an old woman staggered over and bumped into her table. At that very second, Emily stood up to secure her bag and phone.

"Sorry," the old woman said. Her wrinkled face looked tired and restless. "I am not feeling well. I didn't mean to disturb you."

Emily blinked as she took in the situation. Thinking that the old woman was not a threat, she nodded faintly. "It's okay."

Sighing, a man at the next table closed his magazine and approached them. "Madame, do you need help?"

"Oui, merci."

While the two people walked away, Emily returned to her chair. She fell silent for a moment, contemplating what had just happened. She didn't care if Louis called her to the point of frustration.

"Is the old lady alright? She looked so scared. Could it be that she just received bad news about her family?" Emily muttered.

After one blink, Emily's eyes widened. Her hot chocolate had partially spilled.

"Oh, my chocolate!" Emily quickly pulled out a sheet of tissue and cleaned the cup. Then, without the slightest suspicion, she took a small sip. She didn't know that the old woman had put something in her drink.

Emily brought the phone closer to her ear. Louis was still bombarding her with questions.

"Emily, what happened? Did someone attack you? Are you okay? Emily? Don't make me worry."

Instead of feeling guilty, Emily let out a tired sigh. "I'm fine, Louis."

Louis snorted. "Don't lie to me! I clearly heard the commotion just now."

"It was just an old lady who suddenly lost her balance. Maybe she's not so healthy. Nothing happened to me, okay? People here don't even know me. You don't need to worry. Have you forgotten? I can defend myself and defeat the enemy."

"If only one enemy," Louis continued. "What about two or more? You think you're the Supergirl who can beat them? Not to mention if your opponent is stronger and bigger. You're not safe there alone."

Emily snorted. "You underestimate me. Do you remember how I beat Russell during the last training?"

"That's because he gave in to you. He's a sweet little brother. He wanted to make you happy and was afraid of hurting you."

"I also managed to defeat Orion."

Louis sighed lightly. "He's your sweet cousin and bodyguard. It's natural that he gave in. Besides, Uncle and Aunt will definitely scold him if he slams you."

Emily put on a sullen look. "You always think I'm weak."

"You are weak, especially with those skinny legs of yours. I even lost count of how many times you've fallen or tripped this year. That's why you have to go home as soon as possible!"

Emily raised her chin as if Louis was on the other side of the round table. "I don't want to."

"Then tell me where you are. I'll send a bodyguard to look after you."

Emily's eyebrows twitched. "To drag me home, you mean?"

"No. I'm serious. Your safety is my priority. I don't want to take care of Savior without your help. Russell can't be relied on yet."

Emily shook her head slightly. "I don't need a bodyguard. I ran away here to find peace. I wouldn't feel free if they were around."

"I don't need your approval. Protecting you is my duty. So tell me. Is it France? You are a productive person. You must have another mission besides avoiding the press. Are you looking for inspiration for your latest design?"

Emily froze. Her eyes flickered to the sketchbook she had just slipped into her bag.

"Don't act like you know. You could end up sending guards to the wrong place," she said stiffly.

"Is it T City? You went looking for Cayden? But I don't think that's possible. Your dignity wouldn't allow you to meet him first. Then, did you go looking for Sky? You always confide in her whenever you have a big problem. But you haven't contacted her for a long time. Where is she now? You guys didn't secretly arrange a meeting without me, did you?"

Emily's eyebrows met again. "I said, don't act like you know. Arghhh, you're so annoying!"

Without further ado, Emily hung up the phone. She put it on the table, then finished her hot chocolate.

"What kind of twin is Louis? He should understand my feelings, instead of annoying me."

Emily wiped her mouth and slammed the napkin. Then, she packed her things on the table. During her tirade, she started to yawn.

"Who would dare attack me here? People don't even know who I am. Besides, it's crowded enough here. Who dares to kidnap me?"

Emily yawned again. Her eyes even closed. That's when she realized that her sleepiness was unnatural.

"Why am I sleepy? Is this the effect of jetlag? But I rested all day yesterday," she muttered as she checked her watch. The night was still long.

Once again, Emily yawned. Her eyelids drooped, her head got heavier. "What's wrong with me?"

Suddenly, her gaze fell on the cup she had emptied. In an instant, a bad feeling filled her heart.

"Could it be that ... the old lady put drug in my drink?"

Wasting no more time, Emily left the cafe. Unfortunately, after only a few steps, the rain started to pour.

"Oh, no."

While covering her head with the bag, Emily tried to walk faster. Unfortunately, the yellow dress she was wearing restricted her steps. She had to pull it with one hand so that her legs could move more freely.

"Why did I choose this costume? I should have worn a simple outfit. It would be much more useful in a critical situation like this," she thought to herself.

Suddenly, Emily felt someone following her. She looked back. A man wearing a hat and a black jacket was walking quickly towards her.

"This is bad!" Emily cursed in her heart. Forcing her eyes to open wide, she saw a hotel at the end of the street.

"Come on, Emily. Just a little longer. Don't let Louis' words come true. That would be a big disaster."

Unfortunately, the man was getting closer. Emily's heart was beating more and more erratically. Moreover, her wet dress began to feel heavy, just like her eyelids that were lulled to drop longer.

Worse still, the effects of the drug had spread. Her body began to feel weak. Her distance from the stalker was easily reduced. Five meters, four meters, three meters. Emily's hair stood on end.

"Should I just scream? But who's going to help me? I don't want to cause a useless commotion."

Shaking her head quickly, Emily opened her bag. Before she could get the pepper spray, a flash of light suddenly came from the front. Emily spontaneously screamed. Either because the sidewalk was slippery or her legs were too weak, she fell down and sat near the stalker's feet.

"Akh! Ahh ...."

Emily winced. Her waist hurt. At that moment, a man bent down, handing her a mic that had been wrapped in plastic.

"Hello, Miss. Are you Emily Harper? What are you doing in Paris? Are you running away?"

Between the lull of sleep and the drizzle of rain, Emily blinked. The face in front of her was blurry, covered by the shadow of an umbrella. Only his camera was clearly visible, hanging from his neck with a yellow strap.

Not getting an answer from Emily, the man turned around. His move made the stalker look down while pulling his hat closer.

"What about you, Sir? Are you the person sent to pick Miss Harper up? Or perhaps, you are Brandon Young's man assigned to guard her?"

The stalker did not answer. While holding the brim of his hat, he glanced left and right. His feet moved back slightly.

"Well then, I hope you don't mind if I take your picture. This will be an exclusive coverage."

A burst of light illuminated again. Feeling dazzled, the stalker covered his face with one arm. After a snort, he finally stepped back and turned to leave.

"Sir? Where are you going? Our interview isn't over yet. I haven't even started. I have a lot of questions for you. Sir?"

The man in the black jacket started to run. Seeing that, the cameraman smiled. "I think you're already safe, Miss Harper," he said while making sure the stalker was really gone.

Emily tried to make a sound. However, she had no strength left. She couldn't even maintain her position. Two seconds later, the world seemed so dark to her. She didn't know what was happening anymore.

Emily flinched when she woke up. Her eyes flickered. The room looked strange to her.

"What happened? Why am I here? Wasn't the last time I ...."

Suddenly, the man with an umbrella flashed in her memory. Emily gasped, her eyes widened to the max.

"I fell asleep on the street? In front of that man?"

Emily sighed in disbelief. Panicking, she hurriedly got up. When the blanket was lifted, her heart almost jumped out of her throat. She was wearing nothing but a men's t-shirt!

"Gosh! What happened last night? Could it be ... that guy took advantage of me?"

Imagining what might have happened to her, Emily clutched her head. Her eyes were red with annoyance.

"Why am I so careless? What should I explain to Cayden later? Then Louis ... he will definitely curse at me. Mom and Dad ... they will definitely be sad and disappointed."

Emily closed her eyes tightly. She hoped it was just a dream, but her regret only felt even more real.

"How come I repeat Mom's fate? Sleeping with a stranger? Seriously! Mom is lucky that Daddy turned out to be a good person. While I ...."

As she was guessing what kind of guy had slept with her, someone stepped in with a cup of hot chocolate.

"Hey, you're awake. How are you? Nothing hurts, right?"

Emily stared wide-eyed at the handsome man who was only wearing shorts. His perfect muscles were on full display. Emily forgot to blink at such a sight.

"Is this the guy who slept with me? Is he the same as Daddy? A successful businessman who was tricked into sleeping with a girl he didn't know?" Emily thought with a tense expression.

After one breath, Emily gritted her teeth and gripped the blanket beneath her feet.

'What's the use of being handsome but immoral? He clearly mentioned my name last night. He knows who I am. A good man can't possibly take a chance in my bad situation. This guy is just a psychopath with a handsome face!'

"You!" Emily jumped out of bed and pushed his shoulder with all her strength. Whether it was because she was still weak or the man was too strong, she was the one who staggered backwards.

"You brazen jerk! Just because I fainted, you dare take the chance?"

The man looked at Emily with a questioning expression. "What chance?"

Emily pointed her index finger and put on a fierce look. "You think that by sleeping with me, I will ask for your responsibility? You think it's that easy to make me yours? Don't expect it! I will never accept a depraved man like you into my life. Never!"

"Wait a minute." The man raised one hand. "You've misunderstood. I didn't sleep with you. I'm just helping you."

Suddenly, Emily threw a punch at his chest. "You think I'm stupid? I woke up without any clothes. Then you come like this."

"You're still wearing clothes. Don't you see my t-shirt on your body?"

Emily looked down following his gaze. Noticing the body shape printed on the t-shirt, she quickly crossed her arms in front of her chest. Her frustration now doubled.

"You still dare to deny?" Emily shouted angrily.

"Miss Harper, calm down. This is not what you imagine. I had to change your wet clothes. But I swear, I didn't do anything lewd. I look like this because I just finished exercising."

Emily's brows furrowed studying him. His expression looked honest, but still suspicious.

"You know what? You'll definitely regret it. My parents and siblings will not remain silent. Soon, they will hire the best lawyer to put you in prison."

The man sighed tiredly. "You can't sue me, Miss Harper. I'm innocent. Didn't you see that couch?"

Emily glanced in the direction pointed. A pillow and a blanket were still messy there.

"We sleep in different places. I'm not a jerk. Don't you remember? I was the one who saved you from that stalker. Now drink this hot chocolate. Calm your mind. You must have been really scared last night."

Emily stared at what was being offered with knitted eyebrows. Then, in one swift movement, she took the cup and threw the hot liquid to him.

"Hey ...." The man wiped the hot chocolate that had soaked his stomach and shorts. "Why did you splash me?"

"That's the consequence because you dare to play with me. You must have put drugs in there. What are your plans after this? Sell me?" Emily asked loudly.

The man's face was now covered with wrinkles. "Why do you still not believe me?"

"Which fool would believe what you say? A man and a woman sleeping together naked? What else can a man do if not take advantage?"

The handsome guy closed her eyes for a moment. After a faint shake of his head, he snorted in resignation. "Okay, whatever. You want to report me? Go ahead."

He turned to face a door. Before he managed to take a step, Emily grabbed his arm.

"Where are you going?"

"Bathroom. I have to douse my stomach. Can't you see my skin has turned red? The chocolate was hot."

Emily chuckled dryly, her head shook. "Liar! I know you want to run away. I won't let you do it until you take responsibility."

The man sighed again faintly. "What responsibility? You want me to marry you? Weren't you the one who rejected the idea earlier? What would people say if the Savior Group heiress married a man whose background was unclear?"

Emily raised her chin. "You must be punished according to the laws."

The man massaged his temples. After taking a deep breath, he looked at Emily with all seriousness. "Should we check it out?"

Emily blinked. Her eyes widened slightly. "Checking what?"

"Are you still a virgin or not."

Emily's head snapped back. Before she could answer, the man continued, "You've never done it before, right? Therefore, let's prove it. If you're still a virgin, that means I didn't touch you last night."

Emily's eyes flickered rapidly. Why didn't she think of that way before? She didn't need to explain anything to Cayden if she was still a virgin. But, was it possible that the shirtless guy really didn't sleep with her?

"H-how can we prove it?" Her lips trembled.

The man raised his eyebrows in disbelief. "You really don't understand or expect me to help you? Is it okay if these two fingers ...." He moved his head downwards, pointing at something he seemed reluctant to see.

Emily subconsciously held her breath. She could feel her cheeks warm. "Where's my phone?" she asked suddenly.

The man pointed at the table. Without any words, Emily took her phone, went into the bathroom, then locked the door.

"Is it true that he didn't touch me? How can I prove it? Tsk, I shouldn't shy away every time Mom or Aunt wants to teach me about this."

Leaning against the door, Emily did an internet search. After a few moments, she shuddered in horror.

"How dare he trick me? The two-finger test is invalid. Luckily I didn't do it."

While squinting, Emily read another article. Once she finished, she turned into a statue.

"That's the only sign? But I don't feel pain. That means he didn't touch me?"

Emily closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She regretted making accusations without evidence.

"So, you still want to throw me in jail?" the handsome guy asked when Emily came out of the bathroom.

Emily pressed her lips with her chin. "Who wouldn't be suspicious with our condition? You should wear better clothes when you met me, and you shouldn't ask if anything hurt."

The man sighed in amusement. "I asked that because your head hit the pavement last night. Didn't you look in the mirror earlier? Your temple is bruised."

Emily stared wide-eyed, but to keep her dignity, she quickly controlled her expression. "Still, you're in the wrong."

The man could only snort. "Now that everything is clear, it's my turn to check myself. If anything happens, you have to take responsibility."

Emily furtively glanced down. His muscular stomach was indeed red, and the chocolate had soaked perfectly through his shorts. When the man was about to walk away, she quickly blocked the door with her arms. "Wait a minute."

"What else? Do you want to be responsible if I can't have any child?"

Emily pursed her lips. She hesitated, "Are you gay?"