Chapter 20: Take care of you and protect you (2)

Among the Houston guards, a tall man stepped forward and addressed Karimba Cellon:

"Mr. Karimba Cellon, if this is your territory, we naturally won't intrude. But Ms. Alley belongs to the Houston family, and she's currently unwell. The elders want to take her back to the Houston residence to take care of her. You see, it's a family matter for the Houstons..."

"Who said Alley Houston is part of the Houston family?" Karimba Cellon glared, gritting his teeth.

Karimba Cellon suddenly shouted loudly, startling both the Houston guards and Alley Houston, who were hiding near the door. Alley Houston felt a mix of fear and astonishment. Clearly, Karimba Cellon could hand her over to the Houstons, but he was doing everything to protect her. She had no idea that before coming here, Karimba Cellon had arranged his security personnel to surround the area. No wonder last night, Alley Houston always had a feeling that this place wasn't just the two of them.

At this moment, the people from the Cellon family still stared at the small house, and some of them showed dissatisfaction with Karimba Cellon's words. He remained composed, smirking, and said:

"What's the matter? Did I say something wrong? Alley Houston is, in name, still Mrs. Karimba Cellon, she belongs to the Cellon family. If her in-laws want to take her back, they must come and talk to the Cellon family."

The request sounded reasonable but lacked empathy. Alley Houston pursed her lips, trembling as she sat in a corner. For her at this moment, both the Houston and Cellon families were not safe havens, and none of it was pleasant. However, the Houston group didn't dare to retort a single word; they looked at each other in silence before glaring at the small house for a while.

"Fine, Mr. Karimba Cellon. If you say that, we will retreat to the Houston residence. But remember, Mr. Cellon, Ms. Alley has a connection with our elders, and you must be responsible to our superiors."

Karimba Cellon smirked, his voice icy cold, "You must leave here, that's not up for debate. As for Alley Houston, what does she have to do with this Karimba Cellon? Moreover, when she went back to the Houston family, she got hurt and ran away again. It's the Houston family's responsibility to ensure her safety."

"Wait..." The captain of the security team stared wide-eyed, seething with anger, but couldn't manage to utter a word. Karimba Cellon scornfully turned his back and slammed the door shut. Sitting right by the door, Alley Houston could only raise her translucent eyes filled with fear to watch him.

At this moment, Karimba Cellon looked different from the man he used to be. Or perhaps, this was his true self. Alley Houston silently acknowledged her own naivety. Who was Karimba Cellon, after all? He was the heir of one of the largest conglomerates in the country, a man who could use his gentleness and sophistication to "fight" fiercely in the business world.

Once the hostile crowd finally left the small house, Karimba Cellon signaled his people to retreat as well. Alley Houston was still sitting in a corner, huddled up as if trying to protect herself. Seeing her like this, Karimba Cellon's heart ached intensely. He sat down next to her, reaching out to brush aside her soft hair that fell over her pale face.

"Alley, don't be afraid. You're safe here."

Alley Houston instinctively pulled away from Karimba Cellon's hand. After enduring so much pain, countless life-and-death struggles, and surviving a near-fatal blow, she no longer wanted to trust anyone, let alone place her trust in Karimba Cellon.

"And what about you? When will you leave here?" Alley Houston asked coldly.

Karimba Cellon froze, feeling torn. He had protected her, come all the way here just to see her and take care of her. Yet, Alley Houston repeatedly demanded that he leave. Not to mention love, his self-esteem had been trampled mercilessly. Karimba Cellon knew that the current situation was a consequence of his own actions, but he was still human, and he couldn't help but feel hurt.

"I’m not going to leave!" Karimba Cellon sighed heavily, suppressing the frustration in his heart as he spoke to Alley Houston, "I've said it before, I will protect you, stay by your side until your wounds are completely healed."

Alley Houston turned her face away. These were the words she had longed to hear, but now they seemed no different from empty promises. She sighed and muttered to herself, "Whatever you want, it's up to you!"

With that, she retreated into her bedroom, wrapping herself tightly in the blanket. Tears welled up in her eyes, and the constant fear returned. Karimba Cellon stood outside her door for a while before finally sitting on the floor like a guardian, silently watching over her.

The following day passed rather peacefully. Alley Houston stayed confined to her room, applying ointment to her wounds, taking pain medication, and eating the mediocre dishes prepared by Karimba Cellon.

The next few days continued in tranquility. Alley Houston's injuries were gradually healing, thanks to the medicine prescribed by Dr. Will, whom she now remembered had always taken care of her whenever she fell ill. She knew that he did it at the behest of Karimba Cellon.

To say she wasn't moved would be a lie. But...

During these days, Karimba Cellon completely abandoned his responsibilities at the Trinh Ca Corporation, his sole focus being on Alley Houston's well-being. Initially, she resisted his presence, but slowly she began to accept his being in this small house.

"How long do you plan to stay here?"

As they sat together for a meal, Karimba Cellon asked Alley Houston. She lowered her gaze, staring intently at the food on her plate, feeling reluctant to touch her chopsticks.

"I don't know. I feel so uncertain right now."

Alley Houston's response pierced Karimba Cellon's heart like a sharp blade. Seeing the woman he loved suffering, he felt not only heartache but also remorse, an overwhelming sense of regret. If only that day he hadn't abandoned Alley Houston, she wouldn't be in such a miserable state now. It was no exaggeration to say that he indirectly led her to this dead end. How could Alley Houston not be wary of him and harbor resentment?

"You can come back to me."

Karimba Cellon made a soft plea, even though he knew Alley Houston would instantly reject it. As predicted, she simply smirked, shaking her head without saying a word.

"I know you won't agree, but you must see, there's no one else who can protect you from the Houston family but me."

He persisted, but his persistence only irritated Alley Houston. She didn't deny that his words made sense, but at this moment, in her mind, there was no difference between the Houston family and Karimba Cellon.