Page 106 of My Damaged Protector

“I'm guessing you guys started to date then?”

“Something like that. But then he left without offering me an explanation a few months later.”

It's an accusation. I don't really care if he answers or not. But I'm surprised he does.

“Sarah, that's not exactly how it happened.”

“Really? Tell me how it happened then.”

He looks troubled. “Let's just say we didn't work out then, but we're here now, aren't we? And the future still has so much to offer.”

He's trying to deflect, and my aunt is helping him do so.

“I like this one, Sarah. He's really smart,” she says approvingly.

I roll my eyes at them, ready to set the record straight. Ian's phone starts to ring.

That damn thing.

He picks up the phone so quickly, you'd think his ass is on fire.

“Excuse me,” he says as he stands up to leave the room.

The moment the living room door closes behind him, my aunt's eyes shoot to mine.

“What are you doing?”

“What am I doing? What are you doing asking questions like this!”

“What? So, I'm not allowed to be curious?”

“Not when you're doing it to sabotage me from leaving!”

“How dare you? I've been supportive of you since you got here even though I don't agree with your every decision!”

She's angry. But so am I.

“Well, you're not being so supportive right now when you're telling him he's smart. I don't want to give him the wrong impression when I need him to leave immediately after breakfast.”

Her face turns stormy, her lips pressed together. I wait for her comeback, but no words leave her mouth. Ian comes back inside the room.

“Ladies, I'm sorry but I have to go. Something just came up, and it's important, but I'll be back before the day ends,” Ian says as he walks back in, his eyes on me.

My aunt doesn't say anything, her gaze on me too, making him suspicious as he looks from me to her.

“Is something going on?” he asks.

Standing up, I shake my head and walk toward him.

When I'm in front of him, I put my hand on his shoulder and kiss him.

It's not a rushed or passionate kiss. It's a goodbye, something good to always remember this moment by.

“Goodbye,” I whisper against his mouth and break the kiss.

He smiles at me, one of his hands going to my waist.

“I'll be back soon,” he vows.

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