Chapter 1 Protection
Chapter 33: Protection
In a split second, Julia’s pupils expanded to their limits, her thoughts freezing in place as she grappled with the bewildering twist of events. But before she could make sense of it all, the man’s fervor intensified, and he forcefully pressed his lips against hers, setting off a whirlwind of wild emotions.
“What’s happening?” Lincoln’s eyes widened to the point of nearly popping out of their sockets. The sight before him was beyond his expectations – his typically poised and self–assured boss was now the recipient of an aggressive and unexpected kiss.
“Jared, let go of my boss this instant!” Lincoln’s fist clenched, striking out at Jared with force.
Reacting swiftly, Julia extended her arm, encircling the man‘ s slender waist as she executed an abrupt pivot, effectively shielding Jared from the approaching blow aimed by Lincoln.
Caught in a suspended motion, Lincoln’s fist hung in the air, and his eyes transfixed on the intertwined figures that seemed to combine into a protective embrace.
A whirlwind of questions swirled in Lincoln’s mind. What was transpiring before his eyes? Had the boss actually come to Jared’s rescue? Why was the boss safeguarding Jared despite Jared’s unmistakably initiating the daring act?
With the stolen kiss now relinquished, a furrow formed on Jared’s brow as he leaned in, poised for another daring attempt.
Swiftly, Julia pressed her palm over the man’s mouth, addressing Lincoln, “He’s been drugged.”
Julia produced a silver needle as she spoke, inserting it into Jared’s body to temporarily quell the surging impulses, causing him to slip into a semi–conscious
state.
“I don’t care about whatever‘ s affecting him; his actions towards you-” Lincoln began, only to halt, a glimmer of understanding dawning upon him as he scrutinized Jared.
It all made sense now. No wonder Jared had impulsively kissed the boss – it had been
a set–up.
“Even so, he can’t treat you like that! Keep a hold on him, and let me teach him a lesson!” Lincoln moved to grab Jared’s collar, ready to take a swing.
“Lincoln cut it out!” Julia interjected, deftly intercepting Lincoln’s hand and securing her grip around Jared’s waist, adopting a posture reminiscent of a mother eagle shielding her chick.
The scene sent a jolt through Lincoln, a palpable surge of apprehension coursing through him. Internally, he cried out.
15:46
“No! The wolf is about to snatch away his boss!‘ he thought.
Just then, the Scott family emerged onto the scene, and a furious Naomi fixed her gaze on Julia, cradling Jared. “You better put him down right now!”
“So, it was you who drugged him. How audacious! Let me guess. You‘ re banking on cutting off all ties between the Brooks and Scott families. Worried about your family’s decline, you decided to burn bridges by doping Jared, hoping to seize the opportunity and become his legitimate wife.”
Julia’s words struck like a laser, piercing through the veiled machinations of the Scott family’s ugly scheme.
“Your claims are unfounded! You‘ re fabricating lies!” Naomi retorted.
“Haven’t you admitted it already? Care to explain what’s wrong with him?” Julia narrowed her eyes, fixing her gaze unwaveringly on Naomi.
“He, uh, he had a bit too much to drink. It’s not the medicine you‘ re thinking of Now hand him over!” Naomi advanced, her hand reaching out to snatch Jared away. In response, Julia raised her foot and delivered a swift kick, sending Naomi tumbling to the ground.
“Naomi, are you trying to tell me he’s just drunk? If he’s drunk, then as his wife, its my duty to look after him. And who exactly are you? Why would I hand over my man to you?”
Naomi clutched her abdomen, glaring at Julia with a venomous gaze. “Don’t delude yourself into thinking you‘ re his wife. I don’t believe you two are married. This must be Jared’s way of getting back at me for embarrassing him at the Civil Affairs Bureau. He must have paid you to make me regret it. Jared and I are the perfect match! Give him back to me!”
Julia scoffed at Naomi’s possessive fixation on a man. “You‘ re utterly delusional. Let me tell you, chasing after a man like this is pathetic.” With a derisive curl of her lips, Julia turned on her heel and walked away, supporting Jared as she left the scene behind.
Seeing that Julia was about to make off with Jared, Naomi swiftly sought assistance from Neil and the others, urgency in her voice. “Dad, Grandpa…
Anthony swiftly issued a commanding directive, summoning the prearranged bodyguards into action. “Halt them!”
Chapter 35.2 Protection
Chapter 33.2: Protection
With their decision made, there was no room for error. Today, they were resolute in their mission – Naomi must be brought to Jared’s bedside, no matter the cost. Failure to do so would spell the Scott family’s downfall once Jared regained his senses.
“Lincoln, block their path,” Julia instructed.
“Got it!” Lincoln sprung into action, intercepting their path. He swiftly incapacitated the bodyguards with a combination of precise maneuvers, stretching his muscles and joints after a period of inactivity.
Guiding Jared toward the hotel exit, Julia spotted Joseph, who had alighted from the car upon seeing the unfolding situation.
“Boss, what’s happened to him? Has he been drinking too much?” Joseph queried, puzzled by Julia‘ s presence.
‘Why is Julia here?‘
“The Scott family schemed against him,” Julia replied, aiding Jared into the awaiting vehicle.
“What?!” Joseph‘ s astonishment was palpable as he gazed at Jared.
“It’s not a grave issue. He was administered some medication,” Julia explained, giving Joseph a concise account of the situation.
Realization dawned on Joseph as he comprehended the gravity of the situation. “I remember there’s a hospital up ahead,” Joseph, taking the driver’s seat, suggested while pressing the gas pedal.
At that moment, Jared began to stir from his semi–conscious state.
“No… Don’t bring me… to the hospital…”
“Boss, are you certain it’s wise to forgo the hospital?” Joseph inquired, glancing at Jared.
“Turn back… go home,” Jared instructed, quelling the discomfort within him. Joseph found himself in a quandary. While his role was to assist the boss, obeying orders was paramount. Yet, Jared’s current state was precarious.
If he followed the boss’s directives without question and something untoward occurred due to Jared’s potentially incoherent utterance, wouldn’t he bear responsibility for any repercussions?
In a split–second decision, Joseph nodded in affirmation. “Alright, let’s head back home.”
“Listen to him, take him back, and I’ll provide treatment,” Julia asserted.
Julia’s words indeed acted as a lifeline for Joseph, saving him from potential pitfalls.
“Certainly, madam.”
Glapter 12 Protection
Coinciding with the NBA season, Shiloh had settled in the living room, a bucket of popcorn in hand, eagerly watching the game.
Amid his enjoyment, the villa’s door swung open. Was it his brother returning?
“Brother, you’re just in time. The game‘ s just begun. Come quickly,” Shiloh called out as he noticed Julia entering with Jared in her arms.
“Brother!” Shiloh hastened over in his wheelchair.
“Julia, what happened to my brother?”
Shiloh observed Jared’s reddened face, his forehead glistening with sweat, his breathing uneven – all signs that his physical condition was amiss, eerily reminiscent of the day Julia had been drugged.
“Somebody drugged your brother,” Julia explained, offering support to Jared as they
walked.
“It’s you,
isn’t it? You drugged my brother,” Shiloh accused Julia.
“Can you stop accusing me without evidence?” Julia muttered under her breath.
“Accusing you? How am I accusing you? You told my mother earlier that you wanted to be with my brother and administer medication. I thought it was talk, but now you ve lost your mind.”
Julia held her head, reflecting on her outburst at Yannie earlier in the day, fueled by frustration. She hadn’t anticipated the uncanny turn of events – Jared had genuinely been drugged.
“This has nothing to do with me.”
“I don’t believe you! Let go of my brother immediately!” Shiloh blocked Julia’s path, intent on preventing her from taking Jared upstairs.
“Step aside. I need to take your brother to his room for treatment.”
“Treatment? Ha! Is that your plan? Do you want to harm my brother? Well, not today. I won’t let you take my brother away!” Shiloh erupted in anger, his gaze fixed on Julia.
Julia turned to Joseph and instructed, “Remove him from here quickly.”
Joseph inwardly groaned at his perpetual misfortune.
“How dare you!” Shiloh directed his fury at Joseph.
Meanwhile, Joseph asked himself, “Why is everything so complicated? Can’t anything go smoothly?”
Just as Joseph stewed in his thoughts, Jared’s condition suddenly worsened. He peered at the figure before him, Julia‘ s pink lips in sight. The waves of heat and the commotion around him faded into a distant hum. His internal turmoil reached a crescendo, prompting Jared to act on impulse. With a surge of determination, he
pushed Julia onto the sofa.
