Chapter 32 Chapter 32 C Angela grinned and said with absolute confidence , Dont worry , I wont spill a word .
But you better not get into a fight with Alex ! Hes manageable , but the real problem is his grandfather .
Got it , got it .
You nag just like my mom , I replied .
Angela hesitated for a moment .
I still think you should get a bodyguard .
What if those two come after you again ? I sighed .
Ill be fine .
Angela narrowed her eyes and went quiet for a moment before staring at me intently .
Laurel , I know you havent been in a good place lately , but you already broke your vow .
I dont want you to ruin your future over a couple of assholes .
I pressed my lips together and frowned slightly .
Ill hold back .
Angela studied me for a beat .
Are you sure you can ? Forget it , I replied .
Thinking about it , the fact that the Herrera family actually got me to break my vow was impressive in itself .
I promised Mom I wouldnt hit anyone .
And a girl shouldnt be getting into fights all the time .
I was growing up without a father .
Mom worried Id get bullied , so she enrolled me in a martial arts academy .
In reality , I always thought it was unnecessary .
Even as a kid , I was stronger than most .
As I got older , I realized it wasnt just that I wasnt just stronger than other girls ; I was stronger than the boys who used to pull my hair too .
That was until I slapped a kid so hard that he lost a tooth .
After that , Mom banned me from martial arts classes and even stopped me from watching action movies .
She said girls shouldnt watch violent stuff .
That a real lady uses her words , not her fists .
I wanted to be a real lady , so I held back .
Later , I made a boy cry during an argument .
He tried to fight me , but whether it was words or fists , he lost badly .
The principal called Mom to school .
After returning home , Mom got so upset she had a relapse .
Then I swore to be the perfect , obedient daughter .
No talking back .
No fighting .
After all , Mom was all I had .
I couldnt risk upsetting her .
Of course , I did break my vow once .
On my way to school , I saw a bunch of thugs bullying a student .
After they let the kid go , I couldnt help myself I gave them a beating .
That was the only time Angela found out my secret .
The next morning , as soon as Angela finished my discharge paperwork , she sent me straight home .
After freshening up , I was about to head to the hospital when I opened my door and saw a man in a black suit standing there .
I froze , feeling a little awkward .
I regretted agreeing to Angelas idea so quickly .
A personal bodyguard ? Wasnt that a little too much ? But when I stepped outside and saw the Rolls Royce parked downstairs , I couldnt help but envy Angelas lifestyle and feel lucky to have such a rich best friend .
At the hospital , I immediately called her .
Angela , take your driver slash bodyguard back .
Angela sounded confused .
What driver and bodyguard ? I stopped in my tracks and asked , The guy outside my apartment this morning .
You didnt send him ? Nope .
I was still trying to find someone I could trust , Angela said , sounding surprised .
Then after a pause , she added , Oh , I know who it is .
Who ? I asked .
Obviously your husband .
Hes probably worried Austin will cause trouble again , so he sent someone to watch over you , Angela replied .
I frowned .
Alex ? No way .
But aside from Angela , I didnt know any other rich kids who could pull something like this .
I had no idea what Alex was up to .
Since I woke up , Alex hadnt called or texted .
Not even a fake show of concern .
1/2 O Chapter 32 I even swallowed my pride and texted him to say I was discharged , and Alex didnt reply .
So why would he suddenly send someone to watch me ? A strange feeling settled in my chest .
I said , Angela , whats Alex trying to do ? Angela replied , What do you think ? One , he wants to protect you .
Two , he wants to keep an eye on you .
Laurel , you better take this chance to make him tell the Herrera family who you are , Angela added .
I doubt it .
If he wanted to go public , he wouldnt have sent someone to guard me , I replied .
If Alex officially acknowledged me , there was no way Austin or anyone else would dare come after me .
Laurel , are you overthinking this ? I think hes just into you .
Or maybe he has enemies and is worried someone might come after you .
A guy that good looking probably has plenty of women chasing him , Angela explained .
I thought for a moment and lowered my voice .
Im not worried about women .
Im worried about men .
The other end of the call went silent .
Angela ? You still there ? I asked .
When she finally spoke , Angela sounded pissed .
Laurel , are you insane ? A guy like Alex ? No way in hell ugh , forget it .
Ill prove to you that hes not what you think he is .
Before I could react , Angela hung up .
I had no idea why she was the one getting mad when I wasnt .
Thinking about it , though , maybe in Angelas eyes , Alex was already some kind of god .
If she found out her crush wasnt straight , itd probably be too much for her to handle .
When I pushed open the door to Moms hospital room , I stopped in my tracks .
Alex was sitting by her bed , a warm smile on his face .
Mom was smiling back at him .
The whole scene was … unsettling .
Laurel , why are you just standing there ? Bonnies voice snapped me out of my daze .
Both Alex and Mom turned to look at me .
I grabbed Bonnies arm , frowning .
But she feigned confusion , then suddenly seemed to remember something .
She gave me a once over .
Feeling better ? Why is he here ? I asked under my breath , feeling anxious .
Bonnie knew about my marriage .
Shed seen the certificate , but she always assumed it was fake .
Bonnie me a glance and said , Laurel , he is your husband .
Why wouldnt he be here ? My mind went blank .
The next thing I knew , Bonnie was pushing me forward , right in front of Mom .
You and Alex got married ? Mom asked .
Heart pounding , I nodded timidly , my whole body tense .
