Chapter 188 Someone Is Protecting Her

Chapter 188 Someone Is Protecting Her

Ember's POV

With a loud crash, the already cracked car window shattered completely, sending sharp shards of glass flying everywhere.

I instinctively pulled back, protecting my face and vital areas, but my arms still got sliced by several cuts from the glass.

"You stupid bitch, don't know what's good for you!" The harasser cursed furiously, reaching through the broken window and grabbing my hair. "Try to dodge me now!"

The strong smell of blood only fired him up more. His face was twisted with cruelty and madness. The sharp pain tearing at my scalp drained the color from my face, while the others took the chance to pound the car even harder. The whole vehicle was shaking more and more violently.

My heart leaped into my throat. What do I do...

Right at that critical moment, two blinding headlights suddenly cut through the darkness. The deep, steady roar of engines closed in fast. Two black SUVs pulled up and completely cut off the harassers' escape route.

The moment the doors swung open, several gammas jumped out. Without a second's hesitation, they moved straight to block my car door.

One of them shouted, "Move in!"

These gammas had a sharp, commanding presence. One look and you could tell they were professionally trained.

I was caught off guard. Who are these people? Before I could think it through, the car had steadied, and it was clear these people were here to protect me. Could Asher have sent them? Could he really have moved that fast?

Ahead of me, the harasser clutched his bleeding hand and glared. "Who the hell are you people? You think you can stick your nose in my business?"

Nobody answered him. The gammas moved in without a word. Their eyes were cold, their steps steady, and their strikes brutal. They took down the harasser's crew in just a few moves. One of his guys rushed over to him and hissed, "We can't mess with these people. The cops are almost here. We need to go now. We haven't got the money, and we're not throwing ourselves away on top of it. Don't forget how we got here!"

In the distance, sirens were already wailing, growing louder by the second.

The harasser's face darkened. He watched the gammas closing in and spat, "Shit! Looks like I'm walking away empty-handed. I never take a loss like this! You're going to pay for this, Ember. Next time, I'll make sure you suffer!"

"We have to go, right now, or it'll be too late!" The others were panicking.

The harasser fixed his eyes on me through the car window, his gaze full of venom and frustration. He ground his teeth, spat out a curse, then slashed his hand through the air. "Fall back!"

All the swagger drained out of them in an instant. They scrambled and tumbled into their off-road vehicle. The engine roared as they spun around and fled, disappearing in no time.

Even so, the gammas stayed on high alert. They spread out around the car, scanning the surroundings carefully. Only after confirming there was no further danger did they ease up slightly. The one leading them shot a look at one of his men. "Go report in. Now."

"Yes, sir!" The man immediately moved to the back of the car and made a call. I couldn't hear what he said, but his expression grew more and more serious. "Yes, yes, understood. Don't worry, we'll keep Ms. Hart safe."

Sitting in the car, I finally let out a breath. That had been way too close. If these gammas hadn't shown up, I would have been taken for sure.

Flashing lights in the distance caught my eye. Police cars. They came racing in and pulled up along the roadside.

Several officers jumped out quickly. Taking in the chaotic scene, they got straight to work. Some photographed the area while others checked my dashcam and pulled the full footage to preserve the evidence.

One officer came over to me. "Miss, were you the one who called this in? Are you alright? If you need medical attention, we can call an ambulance."

I slowly pushed the car door open, my legs still a little unsteady. "I'm okay. Just got hit on the arm a bit." It was only when I stepped out and the cold night air hit me that I realized my shirt was soaked through with cold sweat. The fear I'd been holding back came rushing in all at once.

But I pulled myself together quickly. I kept my face calm and walked the officer through everything that had happened, clear and in order. I stayed composed the entire time as I gave my statement. The gammas never left my side, standing guard in silence with serious expressions, right up until the officers finished their work at the scene.

Before leaving, one of the officers told me, "Don't worry, Ms. Hart. We'll make sure this is thoroughly investigated. The vehicles had no plates, so it'll take some time to trace them. We'll reach out to you as soon as we have any leads."

"Thank you all for your hard work," I said politely.

After the police cars drove off, the coastal road fell quiet again. It was just me and the gammas now.

I looked at my car. It was wrecked. The door was caved in, the glass was gone, and scratches covered every panel. The terrifying moments from earlier played back in my mind, sending a chill through my whole body. Even though the danger had passed, I still couldn't shake the fear.

The sea breeze drifted past, carrying the cool night air and lifting the loose strands of hair across my forehead. I turned to the gammas who had stayed by my side the whole time, pushed down every emotion, and said sincerely, "Thank you for stepping in tonight."

The lead gamma gave a slight bow and replied respectfully, "Please don't mention it, Ms. Hart. We were just doing our job."

I looked at him, and the questions building inside me finally spilled out. "I've never hired any gammas. Why were you here? How did you get to me in time?" I was certain I hadn't arranged any security for myself. Their arrival was too well-timed, too perfectly placed. It was as if they'd been following me all along.

The gamma didn't hide anything. "We were assigned by Alpha Asher. Wherever you go, we follow. Our job is to make sure you stay safe."

Asher?!

The name hit me like a thunderclap.

I stood frozen, my expression a mess of emotions. Surprise, confusion, and something else I couldn't quite name all flashed through my eyes at once. It all pressed down on my chest, making it hard to breathe. It was Asher... but why? Why would he send people to protect me?

Everything from the past and this quiet, unseen protection he'd given me kept crashing into each other in my head. I had thought he didn't care about me at all, that he never had. But now... My hand tightened against the car door. The calm I'd worked so hard to hold onto completely fell apart.

It had taken me so long to climb out of that failed marriage. I had made up my mind to let it all go, to build a good life for Evelyn and me, to give Zane a chance. And now Asher had shattered every bit of that peace without saying a single word.

I closed my eyes. When I opened them again, they were cool and distant. I looked at the lead gamma and said, "Please tell Asher when you get back that I don't need his protection. He doesn't need to send anyone after me anymore. Whatever was between us ended a long time ago. There's no reason for us to be involved in each other's lives."

I, Ember, had no desire to be tied to Asher in any way. I was done being held back by the past.