Chapter 162 CHAPTER 162:NO ONE TOUCHES MY WIFE!!
~Wayne’s Pov~
Wayne didn’t sleep.
Not after the message.
Not after seeing the words glow against his screen like a threat carved into glass.
“She shouldn’t walk alone.”
It replayed in his mind over and over again.
Elara had finally fallen asleep sometime after 3 a.m., exhaustion pulling her under despite the fear. She was curled toward him, one hand resting against his chest, as if making sure he was still there.
He stayed awake.
Watching the door.
Listening to every sound.
Counting her breaths.
By morning, his decision was made.
This wasn’t something he could “wait and see” about.
Wayne arrived at the police station before 8 a.m.
He had kissed Elara softly before leaving, telling her he was “handling something.” He didn’t want to alarm her further, but she knew. She always knew.
The building smelled faintly of paper and disinfectant. Officers moved in and out casually, some carrying files, others sipping coffee.
Wayne walked straight to the front desk.
“I need to file a report.”
The officer behind the desk glanced up. “About?”
“A man has been following my wife.”
The tone in his voice made the officer sit straighter.
“Have a seat. An investigator will speak with you.”
Wayne didn’t sit.
He stood.
Hands in pockets.
Jaw tight.
When Detective Harris finally came out, he was older, observant eyes, slow measured movements.
“You’re reporting stalking?” Harris asked as they entered a small office.
“Yes.”
“Tell me everything.”
Wayne did.
The walk.
The baby store.
The hoodie.
The repeated presence.
The text message.
When he showed the phone, Harris leaned forward.
“Unknown number?”
“Yes.”
“Has he attempted contact before?”
“No.”
“Did he touch her?”
“No.”
“Approach her?”
“No.”
Harris leaned back slightly.
“At this point, we classify this as suspicious activity and harassment. It’s serious, but we’ll need more to escalate it to a full criminal charge.”
Wayne’s jaw flexed.
“So we wait until he gets closer?”
“That’s not what I said.”
“What are you saying?”
“We’ll trace the number. Increase patrol presence in your neighborhood. But without direct confrontation or physical threat, there are limits.”
Wayne leaned forward.
“He’s studying her.”
Harris didn’t dismiss him.
“What makes you think that?”
“She felt it. I felt it. He wasn’t browsing. He wasn’t walking. He was watching.”
“Does your wife have any public exposure? Social media presence? Business dealings? Past conflicts?”
Wayne paused.
“Elara writes,” he said slowly. “She posts sometimes.”
“Pregnancy announcement?”
“Yes.”
Harris nodded slightly.
“Sometimes attention invites the wrong kind of eyes.”
Wayne’s fingers curled into fists.
“So what do I do?”
“Document everything. Don’t confront him. Install cameras if you haven’t already.”
“I have.”
“Good.”
“And if he shows up again?”
“Call us immediately.”
Wayne held his gaze.
“And if he touches her?”
Harris’s voice lowered.
“Then it becomes something else entirely.”
The room went quiet.
Wayne stood up.
“I won’t let it get that far.”
Harris studied him carefully.
“I believe you.”
Wayne walked out of the station feeling… unsatisfied.
Waiting wasn’t enough.
Patrol cars weren’t enough.
He needed certainty.
He made a call before he even got into his car.
“Victor.”
A deep voice answered. “Wayne.”
“I need security.”
A pause.
“For?”
“My wife.”
Victor didn’t ask further questions. He didn’t need to.
“How many?”
“Two. Rotating shifts. Discreet but visible.”
“You think it’s serious?”
“I don’t think. I know.”
“I’ll send my best.”
“Today.”
“You’ll have them by evening.”
Wayne hung up.
When Wayne came home, Elara was in the kitchen pouring juice.
She looked up immediately.
“You went to the police.”
It wasn’t a question.
“Yes.”
“What did they say?”
“They’re tracing the number. Increasing patrol.”
“And?”
“And I’m hiring private security.”
The glass in her hand paused mid-air.
“Wayne.”
“No.”
“Bodyguards?”
“Yes.”
“Isn’t that extreme?”
“Not after that message.”
She set the glass down slowly.
“I don’t want to live like I’m in danger.”
“You are in danger.”
“We don’t know that.”
“We do.”
She stepped closer.
“You’re reacting from fear.”
“I’m reacting from responsibility.”
Her eyes softened slightly.
“You think I can’t protect myself?”
“I think you shouldn’t have to.”
Silence.
“I don’t want men following me around.”
“They won’t follow. They’ll stay nearby.”
“That’s the same thing.”
He walked toward her.
“Elara. This isn’t negotiable.”
Her eyebrows lifted.
“Excuse me?”
“If someone is watching you, I refuse to sit still.”
She folded her arms.
“And what if it scares people? What if it draws more attention?”
“It sends a message.”
“To who?”
“To him.”
She stared at him for a long moment.
“And what message is that?”
“That she’s not alone.”
The way he said it softened her resistance slightly.
“Wayne…”
“I almost lost you once in that hospital. I will not lose you because I underestimated a threat.”
Her heart ached.
“This baby isn’t just inside you,” he continued quietly. “It’s my whole world too.”
She exhaled slowly.
“You really think he’d try something?”
“I don’t know.”
“And that’s what terrifies me.”
That evening, two black SUVs pulled up outside the house.
Elara peeked through the curtain.
“Oh my God.”
Two men stepped out.
Professional.
Composed.
Earpieces.
Dark suits.
This wasn’t casual.
Wayne stepped outside to greet them.
She watched from inside.
The men scanned the surroundings instinctively before approaching him.
Minutes later, Wayne brought them inside.
“Elara, this is Daniel and Marcus. They’ll be rotating shifts.”
Daniel nodded respectfully. “Ma’am.”
Marcus gave a small smile. “We’ll keep distance. You won’t even notice us after a while.”
She looked at Wayne.
“You really did it.”
“Yes.”
She studied the men.
“Do they sleep here too?”
“No. One stationed outside. One in the vehicle.”
Her house suddenly felt different.
Less private.
More guarded.
Marcus spoke calmly. “We’ll conduct perimeter checks, monitor surroundings, and accompany you if you leave.”
Elara hesitated.
“Even for a walk?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Her independence bristled.
But so did her memory of those footsteps.
She nodded slowly.
“Okay.”
Wayne’s shoulders finally relaxed slightly.
When they were alone in their bedroom, Elara sat on the edge of the bed quietly.
“You’re upset,” Wayne said softly.
“I’m adjusting.”
He came to sit beside her.
“I don’t want you to feel trapped.”
“I don’t.”
“But I don’t feel normal either.”
He took her hand.
“Normal left the moment that message came.”
She leaned her head against his shoulder.
“You think he’ll back off now?”
“If he’s smart.”
“And if he’s not?”
Wayne’s eyes darkened slightly.
“Then he’ll regret it.”
She turned to look at him.
“Don’t do anything reckless.”
“I won’t.”
“You promise?”
He hesitated for half a second too long.
“Wayne.”
“I promise I won’t act without thinking.”
“That’s not the same.”
He cupped her face gently.
“You matter more than my anger.”
She believed him.
Mostly.
The next morning, when Elara stepped outside for fresh air, Daniel was across the driveway, pretending to check his phone.
She felt… exposed.
But also safer.
When a stranger jogged past, Daniel’s eyes followed him until he turned the corner.
When a car slowed slightly near the curb, Marcus noted the plate number casually.
Wayne watched from the doorway.
Still tense.
But calmer.
She walked back inside.
“They’re good.”
“Yes.”
“You picked them well.”
“I don’t choose carelessly.”
She studied him.
“You won’t sleep until this is over, will you?”
“No.”
She stepped closer.
“I need you calm too.”
He brushed his thumb over her cheek.
“I’m calm.”
“You’re controlled.”
“Same thing.”
She smiled faintly.
“Not exactly.”
That evening, Marcus knocked on the door.
Wayne answered immediately.
“Sir.”
“Yes?”
“We spotted someone parked two streets over. Black sedan. Tinted windows. Same vehicle passed twice.”
Wayne’s body went rigid.
“Plate?”
“Running it now.”
Elara felt her stomach drop.
“He’s close,” she whispered.
Wayne turned to her.
“Inside.”
“I’m already inside.”
“Bedroom.”
“Wayne.”
“Now.”
She didn’t argue this time.
As she walked toward the hallway, she heard Wayne’s voice change.
Cold.
Measured.
Dangerously calm.
“Keep eyes on that vehicle. Do not engage.”
“Yes, sir.”
Her heart pounded.
This wasn’t imagination anymore.
This was escalation.
Wayne entered the bedroom minutes later.
“They’re monitoring.”
She searched his face.
“Is it him?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Wayne…”
He came to her and pulled her into his arms tightly.
“I won’t let him near you.”
She wrapped her arms around him.
“I don’t want to be the reason you turn into someone hardened.”
He kissed her hair softly.
“You’re the reason I stay strong.”
Outside, a car engine started.
Drove off.
Daniel’s voice echoed faintly from the hallway.
“Vehicle moving. We’ll track.”
Wayne’s hold tightened slightly.
The message had been clear.
She shouldn’t walk alone.
Now the response was clearer.
She wouldn’t.
Not anymore.
And whoever thought they could circle her life unnoticed had just stepped into a different game.