Page 83 of My Damaged Protector

I change my posture on the sofa and allow myself to lie down with no definite decision on what I'm going to do just yet.

I must have slept at some point because suddenly, I'm jolting awake to the sound of someone knocking on the door. I stand up to answer it, but my aunt beats me to it.

“You again. I told you to leave and never come back here.”

“I know ma'am, but I just need a few minutes with her, please. I'm trying to help her, except you don't want her name cleared. You prefer that the whole world keep believing she's a cruel person who is refusing to save her father because he left her and her mother at a young age for another woman, because that's what the news is saying, and I can guarantee you that it's going to get worse.”

“Let her in.” The words leave my mouth easily.

“Sarah!” my aunt snaps at me in protest.

“Please,” I whisper.

“Ma'am, please, I just want to help.” The reporter speaks at the same time as me.

My aunt struggles to come up with a decision, but eventually, she gives up and steps aside for the lady to come in.

“Thank you,” she whispers to her fervently.

My aunt rolls her eyes and motions for her to come in quickly.

I smile at the lady as she comes toward me, her palm outstretched.

“Claire Henderson. I'm an independent reporter. It's an honor to finally meet you, Miss Brown, and your books are amazing.”

She's good with words, I'll give her that.

Taking her hand, I shake it.

“The pleasure is mine. Please, take a seat.” I motion to the sofa at the other end of the living room, wanting to sit beside my aunt.

She doesn't protest. And my aunt comes to sit beside me.

I expect my aunt to offer her refreshment, but she doesn't, and that's when I confirm she still isn't on board with her presence here. I better get things over with, then.

“So Claire, you say you can help me. How?”

She smiles at my words, and she starts to take a book and pen out of her bag. She also pulls out her phone.

“This conversation can't be recorded,” I immediately inform her.

She nods at me. “I know. My phone is not on record, but if at any point you want me to record, I'll bring out my recorder.”

“No, no recording,” my aunt snaps. Glancing at her, I give her a look. and she huffs at me. She can't even try to pretend to be okay with this. Fine.

“That won't be necessary.”

“I understand,” Claire responds and sticks with her notepad and pen. “Now, back to how I can help you, just in case you've not been following the news, which I'm seventy percent sure you haven't been doing. And I get it. It's what I would do too, but I need you to know that it's not fun out there. And you need to be honest with me. Do you have any idea who might have let it out in the first place that you were helping your father? Who are the people aware of the decision?”

That's simple. There's only one name that comes to my mind.

Lauren.

But I'm not stupid enough to just throw her name out without any evidence except the fact that I think she's a deceitful snake of a person.

“I can't say for sure, but I know I only discussed it with my stepbrother and my dad before I came to New Jersey. Ian didn'teven… Never mind. What I'm saying is, no one except my aunt, my step-siblings, and my dad knew.”

“Hmmm.” She looks at me skeptically.

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