Mission: Revenge – The Heiress's Second Life novel Chapter 24

A gentle smile touched Clara's lips.

She waved back. "Be good. Don't wander off."

With that, she turned and sprinted off to find Zander.

The moment she rounded the corner and disappeared from the man's sight, a sleek black SUV screeched to a halt by the curb, and a half-dozen bodyguards poured out.

When they saw the man sitting obediently on the bench eating a lollipop, a collective sigh of relief washed over them.

"Sir, are you hurt?"

A bodyguard stepped forward, asking with utmost caution.

"I'm not Sir, I'm Teddy," the man replied, his voice soft but laced with an icy edge. "Who are you? I don't know you. The pretty lady said I shouldn't talk to strangers."

The bodyguard looked like he wanted to cry. "Sir, it's me, Gavin Vance."

Every time his boss had an episode, Gavin had to reintroduce himself from scratch.

The only silver lining tonight was that usually, his boss would bolt the second he saw them. Today, he was actually staying put.

"Mr. and Mrs. Kingston are worried sick. Sir, please, let me take you home," Gavin pleaded.

The man dodged his outstretched hand. "The pretty lady told me to wait for her here. I'm not leaving."

Gavin was speechless.

Lord, where did this 'pretty lady' come from?

His boss only had older brothers. There were no women in the family.

"You're blocking my view," the man complained, shoving Gavin aside.

He kept licking his lollipop, his eyes locked unblinking on the corner where Clara had disappeared.

Not daring to use force, Gavin stepped aside to call Mr. and Mrs. Kingston for instructions.

"When he's having an episode, his mental state regresses to that of a toddler. He needs his medication immediately. I don't care what you have to do, bring him home right now!"

"Understood!"

Hanging up the phone, Gavin gave the other three bodyguards a sharp nod.

Tears instantly streamed down Clara's face.

The difference between a child protected by their mother and an orphan was a chasm of absolute heartbreak.

When she was forced to leave, Zander had been two years old, sporting chubby cheeks and bright dimples whenever he smiled. Now, he was devastatingly frail and hollowed out.

She rushed forward and pulled her baby brother into a desperate embrace.

"Zander, I'm here. I'm going to protect you."

"Zander, I will never let anyone hurt you ever again."

Clara scooped him up into her arms.

She possessed incredible strength, and Zander was so shockingly light that holding him felt effortless.

The little boy wrapped his thin arms around her neck, buried his face in her shoulder, and closed his eyes in absolute trust. Within moments, he was fast asleep.

Clara desperately wanted to take him home right then and there.

But she knew the bitter truth. Right now, she didn't have the time to care for him, nor the power to truly keep him safe.