The Agent's Blood

Chapter 11

Julian drove his car at excessive speeds, causing Evander to lose sight of them for some time. Eventually, Evander tracked Elena's phone via GPS, and when he saw Julian’s destination, his anger flared. Julian wasn't heading to the Montgomery family residence, but to his own home.

"What's he up to?!" Evander snarled. Without another thought, he immediately steered his car towards Julian's house.

Evander half-leapt out the moment his car stopped. He flashed his ID, identifying himself as Elena's bodyguard to the gatekeepers, who then allowed him entry.

Julian roughly threw Elena onto a chair, making the girl shriek.

"What do you think you’re doing, Julian?!" Elena yelled, furious.

"Shut up!" Julian snapped, pointing a straight finger at Elena.

"Are you flirting with that damn bodyguard of yours, Elena?! ANSWER ME!"

Elena blinked in surprise, shrinking back in fear on the sofa. "Don't accuse me baselessly, Julian!" Elena retorted, gathering her courage.

Julian grabbed Elena's face, clamping her jaw in his large hand until she winced in pain.

"Listen! If it turns out you have a special relationship with him, I’ll make sure both of you suffer the consequences!" Julian threatened, his voice close to Elena’s cheek. Then, he shoved her face, sending her head snapping to the side. The girl turned back, glaring at Julian with profound hatred.

Was this truly her future husband?

The man who would be her spiritual leader?

The person who vowed to protect her for life?

Elena couldn't imagine her life if they genuinely married and lived under the same roof as Julian.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Julian sneered. "Are you regretting our engagement?!"

Elena didn't respond, which only fueled Julian’s rage. He lunged forward, pushing Elena onto the sofa, forcing a kiss on her lips.

"No! Get away from me, you bastard!" Elena screamed, struggling.

Julian chuckled. "You're my fiancée, it's only natural for me to claim my rights, Elena!" he said, pinning her hands.

But then Elena did something that clearly infuriated Julian. A single movement made the man suddenly freeze, his face covered in spit.

SLAP!

Elena's head snapped to the left, and she whimpered, feeling pain in her neck.

"Watch your attitude! I am your future husband!" Julian barked, his face scarlet.

Suddenly...

"Miss!"

Both of them turned to see Evander entering, his face cold, staring intently at Julian. Yet, his expression softened dramatically when he looked at Elena.

"Are you hurt, Miss?" Evander asked, helping Elena to her feet.

Elena didn't answer, her eyes only darting to Julian with intense loathing. The corner of her lip was split from Julian's slap.

"You've gone too far, sir!" Evander stated, standing in front of Elena.

Julian laughed, then looked at the two in front of him, tilting his head. "Look at them! The Princess and her bodyguard!" he scoffed.

"I am merely doing my duty, ensuring Miss Elena’s safety, even from those closest to her!" Evander asserted.

Julian let out a cynical laugh. "Yes, yes," he sneered, then glanced at Elena with disdain. "Take her away! I’ve lost my appetite!" he declared, with an arrogant smile.

Elena wanted to fight back, feeling her dignity trampled by Julian, but Evander held her firm. His top priority was Elena's safety. He ignored Julian's attempts to provoke him. The important thing was to get them out of Julian's house without a scene.

Elena meekly allowed Evander to pull her away quickly. And when they reached outside, she immediately got into the car without waiting for Evander to open the door for her. Fortunately, Elena was still lucid enough to remember to sit in the back seat.

If she had made a mistake and taken the front seat with Evander, the situation would have been different because Julian was watching them from inside the house.

Evander cast one final, piercing gaze at Julian before he got into the car and drove away from the place.

***

Elena thought Julian's behavior deserved to be reported to Victoria. How could she marry a man so quick to violence?

"Where have you been, Elena?" Victoria immediately questioned as Elena and Evander entered the house.

"Mother, are you still determined to marry me to Julian?" Elena asked, ignoring Victoria's question.

"He's abusive, Mom! How can I marry him? He even dared to lay a hand on me like this!" Elena complained, showing the corner of her lip, which was now bruised purple.

"That was an accident, Julian already apologized just now!" Victoria said.

"What?!" Elena's eyes widened at the news, as did Evander's, who immediately frowned.

Victoria let out a long sigh. "Julian called. He said you two had a slight misunderstanding about the wedding dress, and that happened by accident!" she explained.

Elena shook her head, refusing to accept it. "Mother! It's clear he's a jerk! He harassed me and hit me!" Elena pressed, her voice trembling, her eyes starting to well up with unshed tears.

"He humiliated me and slapped me, and he says it was an accident?!" Elena shrieked, disbelieving that her own mother would trust someone else over her own daughter.

"Didn't you ask how he treated me, Mother?! He harassed and humiliated your child, Mother!" Elena cried, frustrated by Victoria's attitude, her tears finally breaking free.

"You're being overly dramatic, Elena! Don't make a mountain out of a molehill!" Victoria snapped back angrily.

Elena fell silent, staring in disbelief and deep disappointment at the woman who had given birth to her, who refused to defend her. Feeling useless to argue further, the girl turned and ran out of the room.

"Wait!" Evander, who was about to follow Elena, paused and turned back to face Victoria.

Victoria looked at him coldly. "I'm reminding you again, Captain! Don't you dare cross the line!" she warned.

Evander didn't reply, his jaw clenched. After that, he quickly rushed out of the room, chasing after Elena.

Elena was already inside the car, waiting for him. This time, she didn't care and sat in the front passenger seat. She sobbed, feeling heartbroken by Julian's treatment and Victoria's seemingly untrusting attitude.

When Evander got in, he didn't immediately question or speak. All he did was start the car and drive Elena away.

It was already night, and Evander decided to take Elena back to her apartment. When they arrived in the parking lot, Elena remained silent in her seat, staring blankly out the window, with the residue of dried tears on her cheeks.

"Miss," Evander called. But Elena didn't turn.

Evander got out of the car and opened Elena's car door, but the girl remained motionless.

"Miss, you should get some rest," Evander coaxed. He gently stroked Elena's cheek.

Elena blinked, looking at Evander. Tears welled up again.

"Tell me, Evan!" she whispered softly. "Is this the life I'm going to live?"

Evander paused.

"I already want to give up now. What will happen if I truly become Mrs. Julian Thorne?!" Elena sobbed.

Evander didn't answer. Instead, he leaned closer and bent down towards Elena, scooped her up, and carried her. He took her into the elevator, heading to Elena's apartment.

Elena simply surrendered. She was listless and just rested her head on Evander's chest. Her hand stroked the Captain's broad chest.

Evander turned to her, looking at her. Their gazes locked. Until Evander offered a gentle smile, Elena, too, let her lips curve slightly. She couldn't deny the charm of the Captain who had captured her heart.

The elevator doors opened, and Evander stepped out, walking towards Elena's unit. They shared a small laugh as Evander struggled to open the door, and Elena was reluctant to get down. Fortunately, the apartment also used a fingerprint feature, so they were finally able to enter without the hassle of using an access card.

Evander gently lowered Elena onto the bed. But as he tried to get up, Elena held him back. This made him pause, looking at the beautiful young woman, his beloved, with a questioning gaze.

"Can you stay here?" Elena pleaded, her eyes looking languid, as she touched Evander's handsome face.

Evander was silent. They looked at each other meaningfully. A smile then appeared on Evander's lips, before his handsome face drew closer, and he passionately claimed Elena's sweet lips.