Chapter 111
Jasper knew it. Clea was at it again.
Suddenly, barking came from outside the villa. A huge dog came charging toward them.
Clea screamed and almost instinctively jumped up, clinging to Jasper's body and holding on tight.
Clea was afraid of dogs. All the Williams family bodyguards knew that.
Actually, being Clea's bodyguard was pretty easy. When there was no danger, all they had to do was help Clea keep dogs away.
Jasper didn't know why Clea was so afraid of dogs, but judging by how terrified she was, it wasn't just a simple fear. She must have had some scary experience before.
Like being bitten by a dog.
"Jasper, chase it away, chase it away!" Clea's voice choked up as she clung to Jasper in panic, wrapping tightly around his waist.
Jasper held Clea with one arm, his eyes darkening as he stared at the dog.
For safety, Clea's villa was bought in the middle of a lake. There were no neighbors around who kept dogs, so clearly someone had done this on purpose.
"Patrick, you guys follow and see." After chasing the dog away, Jasper had the other bodyguards go check whose dog it was.
"The dog's gone, get down." Jasper loosened his grip, telling Clea to get off him.
What was she doing? The other bodyguards were stunned.
But Clea flirted with Jasper eight hundred times a day, so the other bodyguards were used to it by now.
"I'm not getting down." Clea clung tightly to Jasper, refusing to come down no matter what.
Jasper raised his hand to pry her off, but felt a cool dampness on his shoulder. "Are you crying?"
Clea didn't say anything, just turned her head and rested it on Jasper's shoulder.
Jasper's body was so solid, it made her feel so safe.
She didn't want to get down.
"Why are you afraid of dogs?" Jasper was a bit curious.
Jasper clearly felt Clea's body stiffen.
He didn't know which of his words had offended Clea, but she got down from Jasper, her tear-streaked makeup making her face look dark, and walked straight into the house.
"Ms. Williams, this is James from Novaria. He says he's representing Everett Stevens and wants to discuss your husband's estate with you."
Clea's eyes were unusually sharp as she looked at the lawyer warily. "Everett sent you? I think I've made myself very clear. My husband left a will before he died, with video notarization. I am the beneficiary of his entire estate. It has nothing to do with his brother Everett. Do you understand?"
The lawyer politely stepped forward, wanting to shake hands with Clea. "I'm representing Everett..."
Clea backed away warily, but he still stepped forward, pulling out a knife he'd hidden in his sleeve and stabbing it toward Clea's heart.
Clea backed away in terror, instinctively closing her eyes.
"Watch out!"
The knife didn't pierce her body.
Her breathing stopped instantly. Clea opened her eyes, her voice trembling. "Jasper."
Jasper held her in his arms and kicked the lawyer away.
His back muscles were solid—the knife only cut him, not too seriously.
But there was a lot of blood. His white shirt was instantly soaked through a large area.
To Clea, it looked like Jasper was dying.
"Jasper, Jasper, don't die." Clea shouted in panic, turning to have the butler call an ambulance.
"I'm fine." Jasper said quietly, looking at the lawyer who had been restrained. "This person—what do you plan to do with him?"
Clea had no time for anyone else, holding Jasper tightly. "Don't die, don't leave me alone."
This wasn't the first time Jasper had taken a knife for her.
Jasper frowned, wanting to push Clea away.
He was paid well—taking a knife for his boss was part of his job. He didn't want Clea to have any unrealistic fantasies about him.
The two of them were from different worlds to begin with.
To Jasper, these rich people belonged to a different species than him.
How could different species develop feelings for each other?
Just like how people wouldn't fall in love with rats in the sewers, and stray cats on the street wouldn't fall in love with passersby.
Kindergarten.
Michael drove over to pick up Samuel.
Jasper had predicted that Clea wouldn't let him leave work on time so smoothly, so he asked Michael to let Nora leave on time.
Between him and Nora, at least one of them should be able to avoid being exploited by their boss and pick up Samuel on time.
Stopping at the kindergarten entrance, Nora was shocked. "Pick up Samuel?"
Michael glanced at Nora. "What else? Drop you off at school?"
Though his words were sarcastic, Nora somehow felt warmth. "I'll go get Samuel."
"I've already contacted the hospital. It was Walter who had the doctor use Samuel's checkup as an excuse to meet you. He's just using Samuel's condition to see you." Michael didn't hesitate to badmouth Walter.
Of course, this wasn't badmouthing—it was the truth.
He was just stating facts.
Nora's mouth opened in surprise, then she bit her lip. "Thank you, Mr. Smith."
That was definitely something Walter would do.
He knew that after what happened in Silverlight City that night, she would never see him again unless it involved Samuel.
"Does Jasper have custody of Samuel?" Michael asked before Nora got out of the car.
Nora quickly nodded, explaining softly. "Yes, Mr. Smith doesn't need to worry, it won't cause you any trouble."
Michael's face darkened. Nora had no sense of crisis at all.
Samuel was Walter's son. Even if Walter didn't fight for him, Noah wouldn't possibly not fight for Samuel's custody.
"Get Samuel's custody back as soon as possible." Michael checked the time. "Tomorrow—no, the day after tomorrow at the latest—have David go with you to handle the paperwork."
"But..." Nora wanted to refuse.
That way, because of the marriage certificate, Samuel would have a de facto custodial relationship with Michael. Legally, Samuel would be Michael's stepson.
Once that relationship existed, wasn't Michael afraid that Samuel would fight for his inheritance in the future?
"Samuel's out." Michael interrupted Nora.
Nora turned around and looked at the kindergarten entrance—where was Samuel?
"Hello, Samuel..." Nora ran over to ask the teacher.
"Samuel? Half an hour ago, someone picked Samuel up." The teacher looked at Nora in confusion.
Nora took a deep breath and grabbed the teacher's arm in panic. "How could someone pick Samuel up? How could you let someone take Samuel without our permission?"
Nora was panicking, speaking anxiously.
Seeing Nora about to cry, the teacher panicked too. "Wasn't it your person?"
In the car, Michael saw something was wrong and got out. "Where's Samuel?"
The teacher looked at Michael in shock, flustered. "Mr. Smith, Samuel—let me check the sign-out sheet. It says 'father'—he was picked up by his father."
Nora let go of the teacher and anxiously pulled out her phone to call Walter.
Had he sent someone to pick up Samuel?
"Where are you?" Walter answered the phone, his voice heavy with displeasure.
"Samuel—you had someone pick up Samuel?" Nora's voice was tearful and frightened.
On the other end, Walter paused. "Samuel? I didn't..."
He hadn't sent anyone to pick up Samuel.