Chapter 111
Garner knew it. Melissa was at it again.
“Bark!”
“Bark!”
Suddenly, the dog barking came outside the villa, and a massive black Labrador charged them.
“Ah!” Melissa screamed, almost instinctively leaping to hang onto Garner, clinging to him for dear life.
Melissa was afraid of dogs, a fact well–known to the security staff of the Lawrence family.
Being Melissa’s bodyguard was a cushy job. Without real danger, they just needed to keep the dogs at bay for the boss.
Garner didn’t know why Melissa was so terrified of dogs, but judging by her fear, it wasn’t just a simple phobia. She must have had some traumatic experiences in the past, like being bitten by a dog.
“Garner, get rid of it, please!” Melissa’s voice choked with panic as she hung onto Garner, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.
Garner cradled Melissa with one arm, his gaze dark and intense on the approaching dog.
Melissa had bought a villa on an island in the middle of a lake for safety. There were no nearby neighbors with dogs, making it clear that this was someone’s deliberate doing.
“Baillie, follow it and see where it came from,” Garner ordered after shooing the dog away, telling the other bodyguards to track it down.
“It’s gone. Come down,” Garner said, loosening his grip, signaling Melissa to get off him.
Her clinging act left the other bodyguards speechless. But Melissa teasing Garner was a daily routine, so they were not surprised.
“I’m not coming down,” Melissa insisted, refusing to let go of Garner.
Garner raised his hand to peel her off him when he felt a damp coolness on his shoulder. “Are you crying?”
Melissa stayed silent, her head tilted, resting on Garner’s shoulder.
This man was so sturdy, so reassuring. She didn’t want to let go.
“Why are you so scared of dogs?” Garner asked, his curiosity piqued.
He felt Melissa tense up at his question.
He wasn’t sure what he’d said to offend Melissa, but she suddenly got down and headed straight for the house with a tear–streaked face.
Chapter 111
“Madam, this is the attorney representing Mr. Keith Martin here to discuss your late husband’s
estate,”
Melissa’s eyes sharpened instantly, wary of the lawyer. “Keith sent you? I thought I made myself clear. My husband left a will, notarized on video. I am the sole beneficiary of his entire estate. Keith, his brother, has no claim. Do you understand?”
The attorney stepped forward politely, offering his hand to Melissa. “I represent Mr. Keith Martin…”
Melissa stepped back cautiously, but the attorney advanced, brandishing a knife hidden up his sleeve, stabbing toward Melissa’s heart.
Melissa recoiled in horror, instinctively closing her eyes.
“Watch out!”
The knife never reached her.
With her breath caught in her throat, Melissa opened her eyes, trembling. “Ga… Garner.”
Garner enveloped her in his arms, kicking the impostor attorney away.
His back muscles firm, the knife only inflicted a superficial wound, not serious. But the bleeding was profuse, and his crisp white shirt quickly soaked with blood.
To Melissa, it looked like Garner was dying.
“Garner, Garner… don’t die.” Melissa cried out in a panic, turning to the butler to call an ambulance.
“I’m okay,” Garner murmured, eyeing the subdued attorney. “What will you do with him?”
Melissa had no time for anyone else, clutching Garner tightly. “Don’t die. Please don’t leave me alone…”
That wasn’t the first time Garner had taken a blade for her.
Garner frowned, trying to push Melissa away.
He got paid handsomely to take bullets for the boss. It was part of the job, and he didn’t want Melissa to harbor unrealistic fantasies about him. Because they were from different worlds.
In Garner’s eyes, these spoiled heirs and heiresses were a different species altogether.
How could there be feelings between different species?
Just like humans wouldn’t fall in love with rats in the sewers, and a stray cat wouldn’t fall for a passerby on the street.
Rhett drove all the way to pick up Summer at the kindergarten.
Garner had anticipated that Melissa wouldn’t allow him to finish work on time, so he asked
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Rhett to ensure Kristin could leave on time to pick up Summer.
Either of them needed to be free from the boss‘ demands to pick up Summer on time.
Pulling up at the kindergarten, Kristin was stunned. “Are we picking up Summer?”
Rhett glanced at Kristin. “What else? Take you to college?”
His tone might have been sarcastic, but Kristin felt a strange warmth. “I… I’ll get Summer.”
“I’ve got people contacted the hospital. James has arranged for the doctor to call you under the guise of Summer’s check–up. He’s just using Summer’s condition as an excuse to see you,” Rhett said bluntly about James‘ scheming.
Of course, it wasn’t slander. It was the truth. He was merely stating the facts.
Kristin opened her mouth in surprise, then bit her lip. “Thank you, Mr. FitzGerald.”
That was indeed something James would do.
He knew she wouldn’t want to see him unless it involved Summer after what happened in Crescendo Town that night.
“Is Summer registered under Garner’s name?” Rhett asked before Kristin got out of the car.
Kristin quickly nodded, explaining in a low voice, “Yes, Mr. FitzGerald, you don’t have to worry. It won’t cause you any trouble.”
Rhett’s expression darkened further. Kristin seemed to have no sense of the danger they were
- in.
Summer was James‘ son, and even if James didn’t fight for custody, his grandfather Carter wouldn’t let the custody of Summer go unchallenged.
“Get custody of Summer back as soon as possible.” Rhett checked the time. “Tomorrow, at the latest, the day after, have York go with you to take care of the paperwork.”
“But…” Kristin began, her voice trailing off with hesitation.
By tying the knot. Summer and Rhett would be bound by a legal step–parent relationship. On paper. Summer would become Rhett’s stepchild.
Didn’t Rhett worry that Summer might come after his inheritance one day?
“Summer’s out.” Rhett interjected, interrupting Kristin’s thoughts.
Kristin spun around to peer at the kindergarten entrance but didn’t see Summer.
“Excuse me, where is Summer?” Kristin hurried over to the teacher leading the group.
“Summer? Oh? Someone picked him up about half an hour ago,” the teacher said, puzzled as she looked at Kristin.
Kristin drew in a sharp breath, her panic gripping as she clutched the teacher’s arm. “How could someone just take Summer? How could you let him go without our permission?”
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Chapter 111
Her voice trembled with anxiety.
Seeing Kristin on the verge of tears, the teacher became flustered. “Wasn’t it someone you
know?”
Rhett sensed something was wrong in the car and stepped out. “Where’s Summer?”
Visibly shaken, the teacher turned to Rhett, her voice quivering. Mr. FitzGerald I need to check the sign–out sheet. It says “picked up by Dad.”
Kristin released the teacher and frantically pulled out her phone to call James.
Did he have someone pick up Summer?
“Where are you?” James answered the call, his voice thick with annoyance
“Did you have someone take Summer?” Kristin’s voice came with tears and fear.
On the other end, James paused. “Summer? I didn’t…”
He hadn’t sent anyone to pick up Summer.
