Chapter 148 CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-EIGHT: KEEP YOU SAFE

Chapter 148 CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-EIGHT: KEEP YOU SAFE

AIDEN 
“You are right, Z!” I said, taking her hand in mine. “I am sorry; I shouldn't have hidden the Rylan situation from you." 
“You shouldn't have," she shook her head. 
“I will update you on everything concerning Rylan after dinner," I said, gesturing to the stew that was simmering over the stove. 
“Was that the reason you were so absent-minded at my parents' place?” 
I nodded. “I was scared that he would get to us," I confessed. I didn't want to be the man who couldn't protect her. 
"Oh, thank heavens." She breathed out a sigh of relief and pressed her fingers into my skin. 
“Zara?” 
“I don't know, for some reason I thought you didn't like the idea of me being promoted at work, and that was why you reacted that way to Dad." 
My lips parted, and my eyes widened. I couldn't believe the grave misunderstanding she would have had if this had not come up. I blinked, trying to find the right words to reassure her that I would gladly let her stand on my shoulders just so she could shine the brightest. 
“I would never do that, Zara," I said, my hand going up to her shoulders. “I mean, your success is my success, so why wouldn't I want you to succeed?” 
“I don't know," she mumbled, refusing to meet my eyes. “Male ego or something like that." 
“I am so proud of you. Of the woman you are. You managed to pull off something so impressive without anyone. 
She leaned in and played with my chats with a smile on her face. “I was not alone," she whispered. “I had you," she added, fiddling with my button. 
“And if ever a day comes when you feel like….” 
She shook her head and hugged me. “I know a day like that won't come." She pressed her face into my chest and then added in a murmur that vibrated us both. “Ever” 
I ran my finger over her hair and nodded. 
“Yes, Zara. I want you to never forget that a day like that would never come." 
Zara had fallen asleep while waiting for dinner to be ready. She looked so peaceful as she napped that it felt wrong to wake her to have a meal. 
She was holding onto her appointment letter like it was some kind of treasure as she curled up on the couch. 
I mean, I couldn't be prouder of her. I heard how Rylan ruined the moment for us. I tucked her hair behind her ear. 
“I swear I am going to make Rylan pay for disrupting our peaceful life," I murmured to her. She shifted on the couch and scratched her neck. 
I was ready to carry her in when my phone pinged a notification for the front door. I checked the feeds, and it was my father and just one guard. 
He must have heard about Rylan. 
I carried her to the bed and took off her clothes so she could sleep well before I went out to meet my father. 
“Rylan is out?” He didn't sound too impressed, but honestly, I couldn't blame him. 
How could the police lose him so easily? It didn't make sense. 
“I thought I put him away forever, but somehow he made a deal with someone high up and now…” 
“We can't sit around and watch him prance around." 
“I agree." 
I already knew how far my father could go to protect what he owned. Even if it meant cutting off his brother’s son for being such a villain. 
“You agree?” he asked, taken aback by my voice. 
I looked toward the room. The thought of anything happening to Zara didn't sit right in my chest. Rylan was cornered and alone now, which meant he would go to extreme lengths. 
He laughed and tapped the handle of his chair restlessly. “I guess you've finally learned what it means to protect something." 
“I will do anything to make sure she stays safe," I murmured, finally snapping my gaze back to him. 
“Rylna wants a claim to the company even though this never belonged to him." He sounded very annoyed. 
Rylan had been taken in by my father after his father – my dad's brother – abandoned him and disappeared into thin air. 
Ever since then, Rylan had lived in such luxury. He grew up with it that anyone would think he was born into a wealthy family. The reality was that his father was a man who never had any claim to the company. 
"It's not every day you find a dog who bites its master." 
“And how are you going to handle this?” I asked, shaking the cup of scotch I had poured for myself. 
"Well, if he wants a share of the company, I am going to give him a share of the company." 
I didn't like the smile on my father's face. I finally understood him and what he meant by saying there was no way I could run the company with completely clean hands. 
“I know you want no part of this." He dropped his glass to the table and stood up. “I will handle Ryaln. Your job is to keep Zara safe and the company's stock. It must not drop. Not even by a point." 
“Let my men go with you. " I got up as well. 
“I didn't come to you because I didn't know how to handle this. " He shook his head. “I came here because I wanted to make sure you knew what it took to rule." 
“I do, Father." 
He clapped and then turned his back to me. “Then I would leave ruling to you." 
Zara was sleeping so soundly when I stepped into the room, but her face was pale. I pressed my hand to her forehead, afraid she was running a fever, but she seemed alright. 
Her lips were parched, and I could imagine her screaming her lungs out when she saw it in the morning. 
I climbed into the bed and pulled her closer. Her scent filled my nose. I closed my eyes and whispered into her hair. 
“I promised to keep you safe, Zara. And that is what I would do."