All Chapters of the bodyguard's secret: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

66 Chapters

Chapter 51: First Dance

The reception area that Harlan had created was nothing short of magical. String lights crisscrossed overhead, casting a warm glow over the small dance floor he'd built from reclaimed wood. A simple table held the cake Leo had made that morning—three layers of vanilla sponge with fresh strawberries and cream, topped with the wooden figures Harlan had carved. It wasn't elaborate, but it was perfect, made with love and decorated with flowers from their own garden. Leo stood at the edge of the dance floor, still holding Silas's hand, marveling at how different this felt from any celebration he'd ever attended. There was no pretense here, no performance, no careful choreography designed to impress. This was pure joy, unfiltered and authentic, shared among people who had earned the right to witness it. "So," Reynolds said, appearing beside them with his camera in hand, "are you going to have a first dance, or are we jumping straight to the cake cutting?" Leo looked at Silas, suddenl

Last Updated : 2025-09-17

Chapter 52: Honeymoon by the Sea

The coastal cabin Silas had rented for their honeymoon was everything Leo hadn't known he wanted. Perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific, it was small and weathered, with wide windows that framed the endless expanse of ocean and a deck that seemed to hang suspended between sky and sea. It was nothing like the luxury resorts where Dominic had taken him on business trips—those sterile, impersonal spaces designed to impress rather than comfort. This place felt alive, organic, shaped by wind and salt air into something that belonged to the landscape rather than imposing upon it. "It's perfect," Leo breathed as they stood on the deck their first evening, watching the sun sink toward the horizon in a blaze of orange and gold. "How did you find this place?" Silas wrapped his arms around Leo from behind, pulling him back against his chest. "I've been looking for months," he admitted. "I wanted somewhere that felt like us—simple, beautiful, private. Somewhere we could just be ourselv

Last Updated : 2025-09-21

Chapter 53: Coming Home Married

The drive home from their honeymoon felt different from any journey Leo had ever taken. Not just because of the wedding rings that caught the light on their hands as Silas drove, or the collection of shells and sea glass Leo had gathered during their week at the coast. It was something deeper, more fundamental—a sense of returning not just to a place but to a life that belonged to them completely. "Look," Silas said as they crested the hill that gave them their first view of their valley, "home." Leo felt his breath catch as he took in the familiar sight of their house nestled among the trees, the workshop and studio buildings they'd added over the years, the garden where they'd been married just eight days ago. It looked exactly the same as when they'd left, but somehow it felt transformed, imbued with new meaning by the promises they'd made beneath the oak tree. "Home," Leo agreed, the word carrying more weight than it ever had before. They pulled into their driveway as th

Last Updated : 2025-09-22

Chapter 54: The Art of Being Seen

Three weeks after their return from the honeymoon, Leo stood in the main gallery of the Portland Art Museum, watching strangers examine his paintings with the kind of intense scrutiny that made his palms sweat. The opening reception for "Landscapes of Healing: New Works by Leo Moretti" was in full swing, the gallery filled with art collectors, critics, and curious members of the public who had come to see what the local papers were calling "a stunning debut from an emerging talent." Leo tugged at his tie—a deep blue silk that matched his wedding pendant, which he wore beneath his shirt like a talisman—and tried to calm his racing heart. This was his first solo exhibition, the culmination of three years of work and the validation of his decision to pursue art as more than just a hobby. But standing here, watching people judge and evaluate the most personal expressions of his soul, felt more terrifying than anything he'd faced in years. "Breathe," Silas murmured, appearing at his

Last Updated : 2025-09-24

Chapter 55: Growing Pains

Six months into their marriage, Leo and Silas had their first real fight. It started, as many fights do, with something small and seemingly insignificant. Leo had been invited to participate in a group exhibition in San Francisco—a prestigious opportunity that could significantly advance his career. The invitation had come through Margaret, his gallery director, who had been fielding increasing interest in his work since the Portland show. "It's three weeks," Leo explained as they sat at their kitchen table, the invitation spread between them like evidence in a trial. "Three weeks in San Francisco, working with other artists, creating new pieces for the show. It's exactly the kind of opportunity I've been hoping for." Silas stared at the papers, his expression carefully neutral in a way that Leo had learned to recognize as barely controlled emotion. "Three weeks," he repeated, his voice flat. "It's not that long," Leo said, though even as he spoke the words, he knew they wer

Last Updated : 2025-09-25

Chapter 56: The Commission

The letter arrived on a Tuesday morning in March, delivered by a courier who waited while Leo signed for it with hands that trembled slightly. The envelope was thick, expensive, with the letterhead of the Meridian Foundation—one of the most prestigious arts organizations on the West Coast. Leo carried it to the kitchen where Silas was making coffee, his heart hammering against his ribs. They had been back from San Francisco for two months, and the experience had been everything Leo had hoped for and more. The group exhibition had been a success, his work had been well-received, and he'd made connections with other artists and collectors that were already leading to new opportunities. But this—this was something else entirely. "What is it?" Silas asked, noting Leo's expression as he set down the envelope with reverent care. "I think," Leo said, his voice barely above a whisper, "this might be the commission." They had heard rumors in San Francisco. Whispers about the Meridi

Last Updated : 2025-09-27

Chapter 57: Expanding Horizons

The idea came to Silas while he was teaching his weekly woodworking class for veterans at the community center. He was helping Marcus, a young man who'd lost his left arm in Afghanistan, adapt a traditional joinery technique when he noticed how the other students had gathered around to watch and offer suggestions. "You know," said Elena, a Navy veteran who'd been coming to the classes for six months, "we should have a space where we could work on bigger projects. Maybe even sell some of our pieces." "And teach others," added David, whose PTSD had been significantly helped by the meditative nature of working with wood. "I've got a nephew who could really benefit from this kind of therapy." Silas paused in his demonstration, looking around at the group of eight veterans who had become not just his students but his friends. They met every Thursday evening in the community center's cramped craft room, working with basic tools on small projects. But he could see the hunger in their

Last Updated : 2025-09-28

Chapter 58: Unexpected Visitors

The knock on the door came at seven-thirty on a Saturday morning, sharp and insistent in a way that immediately put Silas on alert. He and Leo had been enjoying a lazy weekend morning, reading the newspaper over coffee and discussing the latest developments with The Anchor Workshop project. The permits had been approved, construction was set to begin in two weeks, and they were both feeling the excited anticipation that came with seeing a dream become reality. But unexpected visitors were rare in their quiet corner of Oregon, and Silas felt his protective instincts activate as he moved toward the front door. Through the window, he could see a woman standing on their porch—mid-forties, well-dressed, with the kind of nervous energy that suggested she'd been working up the courage to knock for some time. "Leo," Silas called softly, "we have a visitor." Leo appeared in the doorway, his expression immediately shifting from relaxed contentment to wary concern. They had learned to be

Last Updated : 2025-09-29

Chapter 59: The Storm Season

The first storm of the season arrived in late November, three weeks after Anna's unexpected visit. Leo stood at the studio window, watching the wind bend the trees nearly horizontal and listening to the rain hammer against the glass like bullets. The weather matched his internal state perfectly—turbulent, unpredictable, charged with an energy that felt both destructive and cleansing. Anna had been calling twice a week since her visit, careful conversations that danced around the edges of their shared history without diving too deep into painful territory. She'd sent photos of her children—Leo's niece and nephew, now teenagers he'd never met. She'd shared updates about her treatment, her good days and bad days, her determination to make the most of whatever time she had left. Leo wanted to trust her, wanted to believe that her illness had genuinely changed her perspective and priorities. But eight years of silence was a deep wound, and it would take more than a few phone calls to

Last Updated : 2025-09-30

Chapter 60: Teaching and Learning

The first official class at The Anchor Workshop was scheduled for a Tuesday morning in January, six months after construction had begun and three months after the buildings were completed. Leo stood in the main workshop space, breathing in the scent of fresh wood and new beginnings, watching Silas make final adjustments to the workbenches he'd crafted specifically for the program. "Nervous?" Silas asked, looking up from the hand plane he was testing. "Terrified," Leo admitted, checking his watch for the fifth time in ten minutes. "What if they don't show up? What if they do show up and I have no idea how to help them? What if this whole thing is a massive mistake?" Silas set down his tools and crossed the room to where Leo was fidgeting with the art supplies he'd arranged and rearranged three times already. "Hey," he said gently, taking Leo's hands in his. "Look at me." Leo met his husband's steady grey eyes, drawing strength from the calm confidence he found there. "You k

Last Updated : 2025-10-01

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