Eight Years as His Bodyguard

Chapter 2

Ava's footsteps halted as a storm of relief and grief crashed into her at once.

Relief, because she was one step closer to avenging Daniel. Grief, because there was no one left in this world who would ever love her the way he had.

She smiled, but her tears kept falling.

After eight years, she finally saw a glimmer of hope.

Ava briskly wiped her tears and issued clear orders. "Got it. Set up a fake death for me. Make it happen on the road to the Elyndor Club a week from now. I'll break free, then we rendezvous in Canthesia."

With everything arranged, Ava took a deep breath, turned, and pushed the door open again.

Eric seemed to have expected her return, his eyes showing no emotion. But that night, he was merciless.

From behind the curtains came the sneers of spectators.

"Eric's always right—said three minutes, and bang, she's back in three."

"You must be new to Norbridge. Everyone knows Eric's female bodyguard is just his lapdog. Kick her out, she crawls back.."

"Seems the little bodyguard's got a crush on Eric. Too bad. His family would never let a bodyguard marry him."

Ava had no strength left, but her heart raged in silent protest.

She didn't love Eric. No one could love their beloved's killer.

The man above her thrust relentlessly, but the smell of leather only made her think of Daniel.

When she was twelve, Daniel had brought her home from the slave market. Everyone said he had ulterior motives, but she was the only one who knew he was pure, untouchable.

He taught her to read, to write, to survive in the world, and to protect herself.

For the first time, she had a bed, a room of her own, and pretty clothes to wear. Daniel treated her as a sister, but somewhere along the way, in the clumsy throes of first love, she'd fallen for him anyway.

She'd planned to confess on her eighteenth birthday. Instead, his car exploded on the way to pick her up.

Her birthday gift was his photograph, framed in black. Not even ashes left to bury.

Everyone told her to grieve, to accept it was a tragic accident. But she overheard them whispering.

"We couldn't oppose the Harris family."

"We must keep this from Ava. That young Mr. Harris is untouchable."

After that day, Ava left school.

For two years, she dug into every detail of the Harris heir's life, including his habits, his routines, and his likes.

That was when she learned Eric had Daniel killed over a refused tip. Made him lose face in public.

Ava found it absurd, but the truth was undeniable.

That day, she vanished from the store, and the slave market gained a new No. 103.

Soon after, No. 103 was taken home by Eric.

For eight years, she swallowed her pride, painstakingly collecting proof of every one of his crimes.

Everyone else was too afraid to cross him. But she had nothing to lose. No family. No future. If she failed, she'd just die.

But Daniel deserved better than this.

Now, on that tattoo bed, she bit down hard, refusing to make a sound.

She told herself maybe, just maybe, Daniel wouldn't hate her for this.

Yet Eric forced her mouth open, making her cries echo through the club.

At that moment, Ava hated him utterly.

By the time it ended, she had lost consciousness. When she came to, she was back at the Harris residence.

Before she could piece together what happened, a cold voice cut through the fog.

"If you're awake, go kneel in the courtyard."

Ava followed the voice and froze momentarily.

The way he sat, even the light, was identical to Daniel when she had just recovered from her illness.

Back then, he, too, would know she had opened her eyes even with his back turned.

"If you're awake, drink the water on the nightstand."

But that voice had been warm, while this one was ice-cold.

Ava didn't understand his command, but she dared not refuse.

She was just one step away from compiling all the evidence to make Eric's life a living hell, with no chance of redemption.

Until then, she couldn't risk any mishaps.

Yet the moment she kicked off the covers, Eric let out a cold laugh.

"Last night, you were so defiant. And now you're back to playing the obedient little dog? Is it because of that store?"