Chapter 452
“Come on, Jim. Don’t turn down my dad’s hospitality. He’s being hospitable by offering to slaughter a lamb and a chicken for you to eat tomorrow. I’ll get offended if you refuse.”
‘Jim has done so much to protect me. One of his most significant sacrifices is spending time with his family. I should find the time to visit them for a change.‘
Since she put it that way, Jim had no good reason to reject Gerald. He looked at the older couple and said, “Thank you for your hospitality.”
“It’s our honor! After all, you’re Ms. Bonita’s bodyguard. As far as we’re concerned, you’re just as important as her. Your arrival is nothing short of Lady Luck smiling down on us. We would’ve prepared fireworks if we could.”
Jim stole a glance at Bonnie, but she feigned ignorance. At that moment, Jim seemed to understand why she had not told her parents the truth.
The following day, Bonnie woke up to a commotion outside. She was surprised when she left her room.
‘Damn, that’s a lot of people and cars! There are kids and older people everywhere! It looks like the whole
village showed up.‘
Everyone huddled around Jim, trying to get to know him. Many even dressed their daughters to the nines
and told them to converse with him.
Meanwhile, some women stared at Ivor, making him feel so embarrassed that he wished he were on
another planet. Strangely, they only stared and did not approach him.
Bonnie thought, ‘I don’t believe they’re avoiding him out of respect for our relationship. Instead, he looks
cold and indifferent. He looks like he’d kill anyone who approaches. Maybe that’s why the women are only
staring at him.‘
Ivor sensed she was out of her room and turned to look at her. Immediately after, his cold and unfriendly demeanor disappeared. He smiled and said affectionately, “You’re up.”
His current attitude starkly contrasted with how he looked before he saw Bonnie, making the women considering flirting with him jealous of her.
Ivor strode to Bonnie and stood beside her, asking, “What do you want for breakfast? I’ll buy whatever you
want.”
“Don’t worry about it. Thanks to Jim, we’re having a big lunch. I’ll save room for that instead.”
“All right.”
At lunchtime, Bonnie’s grandfather, Donovan Shepard, took a bottle of homemade twenty–year–old wine and said, “Master Jim, I hope you like this wine. I made it myself. Please, have a taste.”
“Master Jim, my dad treasures this wine very much. He opened a bottle for Ivor last night–this one’s his
last. Let’s finish the whole thing today.”
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Bonnie’s family persuaded Jim to drink the wine so he could not reject them. However, he also needed to stay sober to protect her. He was at a loss at that moment.
Bonnie had expected Jim to be concerned about that. She leaned toward him momentarily and whispered, “Jim, I’ve always felt guilty about you. Since you started working for me, you’ve been suppressing your wishes and thoughts.
“That includes the International Fighting Competition. I know how much you wanted to compete in it, but you almost gave up your dream to protect me. I would’ve fired you if you hadn’t joined the competition.
“I don’t want you to keep sacrificing your future for my sake. I know you’re worried I might run into danger if you get drunk. Although I might not practice fighting daily like you, I’d still be a challenge if I went all out against you. I hope you don’t underestimate my self–defense skills.”
Chapter 453
