His Two-Faced Sexy Bodyguard

Chapter 2 Eavesdropping and Falling Into the Water!

"Have we met before?"

Hanson suddenly inquired, sending Ashley's heart racing so ferociously it felt like it might leap out of her throat!

Fortunately for her, Hanson just asked casually, not waiting for an actual answer, and the others, eager to butter him up, quickly diverted the conversation.

Seizing the moment when no one was paying attention to her, Ashley slipped out of the room. The further away from Hanson, the better!

Strolling along the path in the garden, she aimlessly wandered to the pool area and was about to sit down on a poolside bench when voices nearby caught her attention.

"Was it you who arranged the shooting that day?"

It was Hanson's voice. He was also in the garden!

Caught between the desire to leave and her curiosity about their discussion, Ashley hesitated but finally decided to stay a while and listen.

The man talking to Hanson was a stranger to her, his tone thick with sarcasm. "Does it matter what I say? From the moment we became adversaries, it's been natural for you to link such events to me. Do you think I'm seeking revenge for Shirley?"

"Shirley," another strange name.

Hanson didn't reply, but the man's voice sounded again, seething with anger. "Hanson Gardner, what did you promise back then? You said you'd be good to her, and then? She died because of you!

I swear to you, for the rest of my life, I'll stand against you. I'll see you live on as a sinner, wracked with guilt and self-reproach, because that's what you owe Shirley..."

The man's passion was palpable. Ashley could even tell he said those through clenched teeth.

Ashley no longer wanted to eavesdrop on this private conversation. She stood to leave quietly, but her high heel caught on a pebble.

She was never used to high heels, and this pebble made her foot slide, pitching her backward toward the pool!

With nothing near her to catch hold of, Ashley was defenseless against the fall!

The loud splash she made as she hit the water instantly drew Hanson's and the other man's attention.

The other man wasn't even bothered by the splash in the pool. He simply gave Hanson a cold, indifferent glance and walked away in the opposite direction.

Meanwhile, Hanson, drawn by the thrashing sounds from the water, approached the pool.

Ashley could swim, but right then, a sudden leg cramp robbed her of any strength. She was left at the mercy of the water, bobbing and sinking. Water choked her with every desperate gasp for air, and she kept struggling to stay above the surface.

Hanson couldn't just stand by and watch her drown, so he jumped into the pool.

The night was cool, and the pool water felt like icy tendrils wrapping around Ashley's body. Her dress, once an elegant garment, now felt like shackles, making it nearly impossible for her to move.

Dying in a pool at a high-class event, how embarrassing...

Ashley bitterly chuckled to herself inside as her consciousness started getting foggy.

Out of nowhere, a pair of strong arms wrapped firmly around her from behind. The heat from his chest seared through the cold, banishing the chill that seeped deep into her bones. Ashley's senses, slightly revived by the warmth, registered the press of his muscular chest against her back and the powerful lines of muscle that made her feel utterly protected.

The instinct to survive kicked in, and she began to thrash in his hold, nearly slipping from his grasp. Hanson had to tighten his hold on her slender waist.

"Stop moving around. I'm taking you to shore."

Perhaps because of the water, Hanson's voice was hoarse yet oddly sexy.

Ashley's body tensed on realizing her rescuer was Hanson. She froze, too scared to make another move.

Her soaked dress clung to her curves, the silhouette of her body moulding against Hanson's chest as if she was perfectly fitted there, and her posture caused her breast to rub against his strong arms.

A flush spread over Ashley's cheeks and she instinctively wanted to pull away, but the moment she moved, Hanson tightened his grip even more. Their position suggested an intimacy, like she was nestled into Hanson's embrace.

And so, Ashley stopped moving entirely.

Hanson seemed oblivious to these and, with one arm still around Ashley, quickly brought her to the poolside.

Once on dry land, Ashley regained her breath after several coughs. Her hair was completely wet, clinging to her cheeks. Illuminated in the moonlight, her face appeared thinner, yet her features remained vibrant and stunning, especially those mysterious eyes that seemed to pull him into a vortex. Looking into them, Hanson felt as if his soul was being stolen.

For the second time, a sense of familiarity surged within Hanson's heart.

He must have seen this woman somewhere before!