Chapter 5

The man I eventually married was the very same man I had run away from at 18. He was the eldest son of the Olson family, Cyrus Olson.

He was a man who lived up to his name. He was disciplined to the point of being pathological, deeply cunning, and also incredibly petty.

Whenever we argued, and he found himself outmatched, Cyrus would resort to reminding me that I had once abandoned our arranged marriage, making him the laughingstock in the city.

Now that this video had gone viral, I shuddered to think of the outrageous concessions I'd have to make just to pacify him.

This was all Julian's fault. He could have worked as security personnel anywhere, but why did he have to wind up as my bodyguard?

I said to Melinda, "Replace the security team."

She nodded, then looked at me with a troubled expression. "I just received Mr. Olson's schedule. He's returning tonight."

I asked in shock, "Isn't he supposed to be in Jonborough City for a meeting? Why is he back?"

After a brief silence, Melinda tried to comfort me. "M-Maybe it’s for something else?"

A chill ran down my spine. I threw on my coat, ready to bolt. "Book me a flight to Yarlow. I'm leaving now."

As I yanked open the bedroom door, I saw a familiar pair of eyes.

Julian was there, half-hidden in the hallway shadows. His eyes were glued to my room.

My sudden opening of the door had caught him off guard, and the raw emotion in his eyes was laid bare.

Julian had been this way since he saw me at the airport— brooding, conflicted, and caught in a dark mood I didn't understand.

When I first got off the plane, I felt miserable because of the jet lag. Yet, the man with me was nagging me about my diet and having regular meals like a broken record.

Losing my patience, I grabbed his face and squished his mouth shut with my hands.

Just then, I spotted Julian among the people waiting for us. Standing there in a crisp black suit, he looked more mature than the man I once knew.

When our eyes met, he lost his composure, and the radio slipped from his hand.

Julian stared at me, but I quickly averted my gaze as if he were a stranger.

Later, at the terminal entrance, Cyrus kissed me deeply before leaving for his connecting flight to Jonborough City. As he kissed me, his hand was firm against the back of my head. Suddenly, a loud thud sounded in the distance.

After I got in the car, I saw Julian through the window. His palm was torn open. Blood was seeping through his fingers and dripping onto the pavement. Yet, he just watched my car with a hollow expression.

I looked away and remarked to Melinda, "That seems unprofessional."

She tapped on her tablet while replying, "This firm is the top security agency in Skylar City. That guy who just tripped on the flat ground is one of the founders. But you're right that it was unprofessional. I'll arrange a replacement."

I thought it over and shook my head. "Never mind. It's only for 2 weeks."

Besides, Julian and I hadn't met for a decade; we probably wouldn't have anything to say to each other anymore.

But netizens were a different breed of chaos.

I met a friend for dinner, and it happened to be raining when we left the restaurant.

Julian held an umbrella for me and said professionally, "Ms. Brown, let me get you to your car."

That 100-foot walk was all it took for someone to snap a photo.

The next day, "Bodyguard Shielding an Heiress in Rainy Skylar City" was the hottest trending video online.

I thought it would blow over soon, but then that old, cringey video resurfaced.

Julian seemed oblivious to the drama; he probably hadn't seen the news yet since he was on duty.

He walked up to me and asked, "Ms. Brown, are you heading out? I'll have the car ready."

I decided to maintain my distance. "No need. I want you and your men out of here immediately. I'll pay for the breach of contract."

Julian paused. His hand was still on his earpiece. Then, he raised his head and gazed at me.

"Is this about the online news?"

I frowned and stayed silent. Julian chuckled slightly and continued, "Are you really bothered by what they're saying?"

I stared at him.

Julian locked eyes with me, and his gaze became uncharacteristically sharp. "The internet is full of rumors. As long as our intentions are pure, then—"

I interrupted, "I'm the client. You're crossing the line."