Alle Kapitel von His Forbidden Guard : Kapitel 31 – Kapitel 40

 Friday morning arrived with deceptive normalcy. Leonard was preparing to leave for Mercy Medical Group, going through the motions of his usual routine, when his phone rang. It was Marcus, one of the senior security guards."Mr. Heyden," Marcus said, his voice tight with concern. "You need to come to the staff quarters. It's Daveson. We found him unconscious in his bathroom."Leonard's world tilted. "What? Is he…""He's breathing, but he won't wake up," Marcus interrupted. "We've called for an ambulance, but I thought you should know.""I'm on my way," Leonard said, already moving toward the door.He found Daveson's room crowded with security personnel and household staff, all looking worried. Daveson was on the floor, pale and unresponsive, his breathing shallow. Leonard had to force himself to maintain his composure, to not drop to his knees beside Daveson and reveal the depth of his concern."Everyone out," Leonard ord

Lissa Heyden had built an empire on her ability to read people. To sense weakness. To detect lies.And something about her son was different.She noticed it first at breakfast, three days after Daveson's hospital visit. Leonard had claimed Daveson was recovering from food poisoning, a convenient explanation that required no further investigation. But Leonard's behavior had shifted in ways that were almost imperceptible to anyone who didn't know him as well as she did.He was protective. Not of himself, which would have been normal, but of Daveson.When Marcus mentioned reassigning Daveson to lighter duties during his recovery, Leonard had objected with an intensity that seemed disproportionate. When the household manager suggested hiring temporary security coverage, Leonard insisted Daveson was essential and irreplaceable.It was the kind of attention one paid to something valuable.Something worth protecting.Lissa set down her coffee cup, watching Leonard across the breakfast table.

Leonard's phone buzzed at 2 AM with an alert he'd set up months ago, a digital tripwire he'd never expected to actually trigger.Someone was running a background check on Daveson Roarke.He sat up in bed, heart pounding, and opened the encrypted app that monitored such things. The search had been initiated from a private investigation firm in Manhattan, one that specialized in corporate espionage and high-net-worth client services.The kind of firm his mother used.Leonard's hands were shaking as he traced the digital footprint back to its source. The investigator's name was Marcus Wendell, a former FBI agent who now sold his skills to the highest bidder. And according to the metadata, he'd been hired exactly three hours ago.Seventy-two hours to produce results, the search parameters indicated. That meant Leonard had three days before his mother received a comprehensive report on Daveson's life.Three days before she potentially discovered the hospital visit.Three days before everyt

"I thought you were handling that," Leonard said."The family and board members, yes," Lissa agreed. "But Victoria wants to include some of your personal friends. I told her I'd ask you for names."It was a test. Leonard had no personal friends that his mother didn't know about. She was checking to see if he'd reveal anyone new, anyone unexpected."I don't really have personal friends," Leonard said. "You know that.""Mmm," Lissa said, studying him. "What about colleagues? Anyone from the company you'd want to include?"Another test. Checking if he'd mention Daveson."Just the usual department heads," Leonard said. "I'll send Victoria a list by tomorrow."Lissa nodded slowly. "You've been spending quite a bit of time in this office lately. Everything alright?""Just busy with work," Leonard said. "The quarterly reports are due soon.""Of course," Lissa said. She moved toward the window, her back to Leonard. "I've been thinking about your future at the company. After the wedding."Leon

"We're figuring it out," Leonard said carefully."That's not exactly a ringing endorsement," Victoria observed. "Leonard, I'm not trying to talk you out of this. If you love him and he loves you, then you should be together. But you need to be realistic about what you're facing. This isn't some romantic movie where love conquers all. This is real life, with real consequences.""I know that," Leonard said. "But what's the alternative? Marry you? Spend the rest of my life pretending? Watch Daveson from a distance while I play the role of devoted husband?""Yes," Victoria said bluntly. "Because sometimes that's what survival looks like. Sometimes you have to choose practicality over passion.""Is that what you would do?" Leonard asked.Victoria was quiet for a long moment. "I don't know," she admitted finally. "I've never been in love, so I can't say what I'd sacrifice for it. But Leonard, I do know your mother. And I know she won't let you go without a fight. If you choose Daveson over