Chapter 53 Protectors

Chapter 53 Protectors

'That's quite a flimsy excuse,' Emily thought, but she didn't challenge Morris. Instead, she simply murmured, "Thank you, Mr. Anderson."

They got into the familiar Rolls-Royce Cullinan together. Morris turned to her. "I'm not your boss anymore, so perhaps that form of address should change, don't you think?"

"Force of habit," Emily averted her gaze, trying to change the subject. "Let's go. It's getting late."

"Not so fast," Morris locked the car doors. "You need to change how you address me, or you're not going home tonight."

Emily glared at him, mentally calculating what to call him.

"How about Mr. Morris Anderson?" she suggested tentatively, and sure enough, saw him frown.

"That's even more formal than before," he said, his voice tinged with exasperation.

Emily felt her face growing warm. On impulse, she remembered Morris's childhood nickname and decided to tease him to break the tension. "Then how about Morrie?"

"I like that," Morris's eyes brightened, and he leaned in closer. "Say it again so I can hear it properly."

Emily opened her mouth but found herself unable to speak, as if something was blocking her throat. In the end, she used his full name instead. "Let's go, Morris Anderson. I'm exhausted."

"Fine." Morris didn't push her further. Using his first name was already a significant breakthrough.

Early the next morning, Emily baked strawberry toast that Felicity liked and prepared oatmeal with milk.

After setting breakfast on the table, all three family members emerged from their rooms. When she saw her parents, Felicity hesitated briefly before slowly walking to the table and sitting down.

Emily observed this, feeling a pang in her chest.

She remembered when she first started in sales, how she was so nervous during her first dinner with a major client that she could barely hold her cutlery, and how she had to swallow her tears when the client mocked her. But Felicity's situation was worse—her anxiety came from the people who should have been closest to her.

After just a few bites, Brian found Felicity's timid demeanor irritating. He slammed his knife and fork on the table, snapping, "Look at you, acting so pathetic! Can't you behave normally when we have someone staying with us? You're not even going to school—you're absolutely useless!"

Iris pushed her bowl away and started arguing with him. "She's sick! Don't you understand what depression means? Haven't you heard her crying at night? All you do is criticize!"

"What depression? She's just being dramatic," Brian's voice grew louder. "Send her to wash dishes at a restaurant for a couple of days, and I guarantee any 'illness' will magically disappear!"

The air around the breakfast table instantly froze. Felicity hung her head even lower, seemingly unaware that strawberry jam had smeared onto her hand.

The couple eventually parted on bad terms. After they left for work and the house quieted down, Felicity's face showed both shame and embarrassment. As she tried to escape to her room, Emily caught her arm.

"Felicity, do you want to go back to school?" Emily had noticed a workbook in Felicity's room last night. The handwriting was neat, and all the answers were correct—signs of a student who enjoyed learning.

Tears welled up in Felicity's eyes as she silently shook her head.

"Listen to me. If you want to go back to school, I'll help you deal with the people who bullied you. I'll make sure they never bother you again."

"Really?" Felicity looked skeptical. "But there are so many of them. The two of us can't fight them all."

Emily smiled. "We don't need to fight them ourselves. We can get help. First, tell me if you want to go back to school. If not, I won't waste my time on this."

Seeing that Emily wasn't joking, Felicity paused before nodding slightly. "I do."

Emily took out her phone and posted on Twitter: [My sister is being bullied at school. Urgently need six large, heavily tattooed men to escort her to school. Will pay. DM me with photo and rate if interested.]



Within minutes, the post went viral. The comments section filled with offers from muscular men who volunteered to help, most refusing payment. Emily selected the six closest to Felicity's school.

She added them all to a group chat and arranged to meet the next morning at the school entrance.

She explained tomorrow's plan: they should appear civilized but intimidating, introduce Felicity as their sister to every student, and have a "friendly chat" with her bullies.

Felicity's voice trembled. "Emily, will this really work?"

Emily stopped typing and showed her photos of the six burly men. "Felicity, don't these gentlemen make you feel safe? With them escorting you to school, I guarantee no one will dare bully you again."

"But what if they still do?" Felicity remained fearful.

Emily stroked her head. "If this doesn't work, I'll think of something else. Don't worry—I'll always be by your side."

Felicity looked into her determined eyes and finally nodded slightly. The moment tugged at Emily's heart. In her previous life, when she faced workplace bullying, her parents had only advised her to endure it. No one had ever told her, "I'll always be by your side." By helping Felicity now, she was also helping the lonely, helpless version of herself from her past life.

At seven the next morning, the six tattooed men met punctually near the school.

They all wore simple black T-shirts, but their imposing physiques carried natural intimidation—clearly not people to be messed with.

Felicity clutched Emily's hand, her palm sweaty. Emily gently patted the back of her hand and whispered in her ear, "You haven't done anything wrong. Don't be afraid. They're the ones who should be scared."

At the school gates, the six men naturally surrounded them. They greeted everyone they passed with friendly smiles, saying, "This is my sister Felicity. She's a brilliant student, just a bit shy. Please look out for her."

"If you see anyone giving my sister trouble, let me know. I'll buy everyone coffee."

The girls who had bullied Felicity approached, then stopped in their tracks when they saw the entourage, fear flashing in their eyes.

Seeing them, Felicity began to tremble.

Emily positioned herself protectively behind Felicity and smirked. "Aren't these the ones who bullied my sister?"

"What do you think you're doing?" one girl shouted. "Security! I'm calling the police!"

Emily crossed her arms. "We're just escorting my sister to school. Why would that require police? Or is there something you've done that makes you afraid?"

The tall girl tried to argue, but Emily cut her off. "My sister has protection now. Nobody will bully her again!"

The bullies looked at Felicity with newfound wariness. Recognizing this shift, Felicity suddenly found unprecedented courage. She walked into school with her head held high, no longer afraid of these people.

For the next week, tattooed men escorted Felicity to school every day. The bullies never bothered her again, and she gradually began talking to classmates. Her eyes regained their confidence.

Yet Emily noticed she still often sank into pessimistic moods and cried secretly.

Seeing Felicity's room filled with merchandise of a particular anime character, Emily thought of a way to cheer her up.