Page 107 of My Damaged Protector

I nod. “I know.” I just won't be here by then.

“We'll talk then?” he asks, his eyes searching mine, hope shining through his.

I force a smile and kiss him one more time before I step away from him and walk out of the room.

If we do get to talk again, maybe it'll be in the next life. Or if by some chance he changes his mind about not wanting to be a father.

Something I know may never happen.

31

IAN

Something's off with Sarah.I can't place my finger on what, so I chalk it up to paranoia as I watch her walk away.

My eyes meet with Sheila's for a few minutes, and I'm tempted to question her if she knows what's going on. But my last attempt at that didn't work.

And she and I have bonded so well since last night, I don't want to ruin that.

I woke up to her telling me to go sleep inside the room in the early hours of the morning. I thanked her and went inside. I slept for about two hours before I decided I'd had enough for the day, and then I went back into the living room where I met her in the kitchen.

I asked her what her plan for breakfast was, and she confessed to not having any, so I offered to cook. Not only was she impressed by my skill, but she was also happy to learn more about me.

She asked about my job and my hobbies, and as fate would have it, my favorite song started to play on the radio, and she happened to love the song just as much.

“See you later, Sheila,” I say as I walk out of the room. She waves at me and focuses on her plate, which is almost empty of food.

I walk out of the house carefully, checking the street for any stray cat loitering before I come out fully.

When I'm on the street, I confirm there's no one lurking around one more time before I start to walk back to the house.

It's a long walk, but it's a much-needed one. I don't allow myself to focus on anything at all as I walk the streets, sweat trickling down my back and all over my face by the time I get to the estate gate.

The gate opens at my approach. I nod at security in acknowledgement as I walk past them.

Christopher had called me earlier, saying he has things to discuss with me if I can spare the time.

It was a perfect escape for me. Breakfast was getting awkward because of Sarah's attempt to make me feel like crap, which by the way, was successful.

Which is why I don't understand the change in her.

One minute, she's spitefully staring me down for how I treated her in the past, and the next she's kissing me and smiling at me, telling me goodbye as if I were going far away.

She can be very confusing.

I go straight into my room to shower the moment I enter the house. None of the staff are in sight, and I'm grateful for that.

I'm almost done getting dressed when there's a knock on my door.

“Mr. Ian, Mr. Craig is here to see you.” Salem's voice comes from the other side of the door.

“Tell him I'll be out in five minutes.”

“Yes, sir,” she says before her light footsteps recede from my door.

I pull my shirt on and properly button it. Going to look at myself in the mirror, I see I still look the same. Yet so much has changed.

I should get new clothes soon.

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