Page 1 of My Damaged Protector

1

IAN

How do you become a billionaire?

It's quite simple.

You wake up one morning, receive a visitor you had no idea was coming, and they say to you, “Mr. Peele, I’m Christopher, your Aunt Maya’s estate manager and lawyer. Can I speak with you for a moment?”

Of course, you tell him sure because what else could you say? Especially since you have no previous knowledge of an Aunt Maya.

He enters, and you offer him a seat. You ask if there's something you can get him. He asks for water, which you provide.

As he drinks the water, and you watch him impatiently, wanting to know who this Aunt Maya is and of what concern she is to you.

After taking his damn time to dramatically swallow more than half the glass, the attorney places the glass down, raises his head so your eyes meet with his, and then he tells youyou're now a billionaire.

“Mr. Peele, I’m here to inform you that your aunt has passed away, and she's left behind over a billion dollars, including an estate in Glazer Ville, and it's all yours.”

Yeah, it’s not so weird at all.

But unbelievable as it was then, time has proven that the information is, in fact, very true.

I have an aunt. Had. She lived in Glazer Ville and had a lot of money and real estate investments there, too. It’s now mine but, of course, with a slight condition.

And now you're wondering what the condition is.

Well, it would appear my good aunt wants me to live in Glazer Ville, the town she lived and died in, for a year before I can access all that she left behind.

To anyone else, this is a small feat in exchange for what I have to gain. But as someone who loves what he does and takes so much joy in saving lives, I decided to bench myself from having to go to Glazer Ville indefinitely. That is, until I got suspended from work and had no choice but to make good use of my compulsory leave.

So here I am, standing in front of a cheap motel in a town where I have many properties but can’t visit any yet, deliberating if I really want to be here.

It doesn't help that my account balance badly needs a brush-up, but I refuse to focus on that as I look at my new surroundings, taking note of everything my eyes rest upon.

The place has managed to surpass my expectations. I expected to meet small town, older houses and maybe snobby people. But so far, all I've experienced is very chatty people, a lively environment, and very beautiful houses.

Truthfully, I don't know what I was thinking in expecting shabby houses, but if I'm going to be honest, there's a huge part of me that thinks the whole billion inheritance thing is a scam.

The joke’s on me, though, because the town sure looks like one that hosts a lot of people with money. Which is very weird because it's in the countryside, somewhere you would expect to meet people because they have no choice living there, not because they have so much money.

Oh boy.

I shove my hesitation aside and finally enter the motel. I walk toward the front desk. It's not like I can drive back home anyway. Again, low on funds.

A lady with a warm smile welcomes me, her eyes not so inconspicuously taking me in.

“A tourist, I presume?” she asks when I'm in front of her.

I opened my mouth to say no but then decide against it. I might as well be a tourist.

I nod with a smile, and she smiles back at me.

“Well, allow me to properly welcome you to Glazer Ville; you will enjoy your stay here, I promise, and if you need help locating anywhere around town, please don't hesitate to ask.”

In that case.

“I need a room, and then I need to find a bar. Think you can help me with both?” I ask her with a charming smile.

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