Page 66 of Bossy Bodyguard

“She was,” Cillian agreed, his voice soft. I glanced at him and he was watching her with a sad smile. “She loved Caleb more than me. She would have known what to do and talk to him while I can barely hold a minute of conversation with him.”

“Why did you avoid him after she…” I shook my head. “Caleb used to vent about you. I’m sorry. I’m being nosy.”

“No. It’s okay.” He took a deep breath and faced me. “I couldn’t see his face without remembering her. And how I failed as a husband and a father.”

I listened to him, his eyes drifting past my shoulder as he continued. “Olivia had terrible postpartum depression. I did everything I could to help her. Therapists. Medicines. Staying with her for hours while taking care of Caleb. He was a very naughty kid. Then one day…”

He took a deep breath and swallowed. “It was her birthday. I had to leave early in the morning because of a job and wrote a note that I’d be back in an hour. One hour turned into two, then three. I called Sean, my friend, and told him to keep an eye on Caleb since I had promised to bring a huge cake.”

His eyes were gleaming. “I bought the cake, went home. I couldn’t find her. She was still in bed. I remembered sighing in relief and went to surprise her with flowers and cake.” His jaw clenched, and he looked up at the ceiling. “She had taken sleeping pills the night before without my notice and she was… but I didn’t notice because I had to rush to work.”

My eyes burned, and I reached out to hold his forearm. “I didn’t know…”

“I called emergency. Gave her CPR, but it didn’t work. She went to bed that night, kissed me on my cheek and never woke up.” I wiped my tears when he looked at me. “Caleb hates me because I didn’t care to look after him as a parent, as his father, when she passed away. My mom and Sean looked after him while I was away for work, making excuses that I needed to earn more so I could put him in a good school. And now… it’s too late.”

“It’s not,” I disagreed, shaking my head. “It’s not too late. You are just scared. But he is your son, and he misses you. I know he does because…” I took a deep breath and met his eyes, “I hated my mom. I still do. She was a bully and a terrible mother with no maternal instinct. But… if I got a chance to talk to her about why she hated me so much and still left me with everything, I would take it in a heartbeat. So, talk to Caleb. He is stubborn, but he doesn’t hate you. He is just confused.”

Tears slid down his face and I tipped on my toes to wipe them away. “Emma—”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything.” I pulled him into a hug and sighed when he squeezed me.

I snuggled deeper into his arms with one thought ringing in my head. This was going to hurt a lot when it ends.

40

NOT AN ACCIDENT

CILLIAN

My arms tightened around her body, breathing in her warm vanilla scent. “Emma, I need to ask you about something,” I whispered, pulling away to look at her face.

Her eyes were gleaming with tears but she nodded, wanting for me to continue.

“That night,” I started, running the pad of my thumb over her jaw, “When we slept together in my suite, I came back because I couldn’t find my wedding ring.”

Her expression remained passive.

“I wanted to tell you that I was not having an affair and that Olivia is—”

“Shh, I know, Cillian.” She offered me a small smile. “I was pretty mad when I found it, but then the drug made me unconscious. I’m sorry I don’t have it with me anymore.”

I heard the door open downstairs and knew she had arrived. “She’s here.” I pulled away, squeezing Emma’s hand.

“She knows the passcode of your house?” she asked, following me downstairs.

I looked over my shoulder and shrugged. “I trust her.”

“And you should.” I smiled seeing Elena in my house. She was tall, wearing her long blond hair in a ponytail, shirt, and pants. No one would guess that she was a Princess, Sheikha of Azmia, or my boss. Her sharp green eyes softened as they fell on me and I went to hug her, “You look bigger than the last time I saw you, Cillian.”

“You saw me last month on a video meeting, Elena,” I deadpanned and introduced her. “Emma, this is Elena, my boss, and Elena, this is Emma.”

Emma’s chin was high, and she did a little nod at her. I frowned at her silence—

“Hello, hello, hello.” My body froze hearing his voice as he strolled in, waving at me, “It’s so nice of you to invite me too, Candy.”

“Zayed, you know his name is Cillian,” Elena rubbed her forehead.

Zayed Al-Fasih was the Sheikh of Azmia, one of the richest and most powerful Mid-Eastern countries, and he was, unfortunately, Elena’s husband. Definitely worse than her during a fight, but her total opposite. If Elena was ice, then he was fire. She always complained why she married him despite being childhood friends to lovers turned enemies to lovers (it’s complicated), but her voice was soft whenever she talked about him.

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