Guarded Love

"Lora, be a good girl, don't come out or make a sound, no matter what happens." Her mother hurriedly hid Lora Scott in the wardrobe, but in her haste, she didn't close it properly.

Lora widened her eyes and watched as a man raised a knife and attacked her mother. She helplessly watched her mother collapse into a pool of blood. Her mother stared at her, as if using her last bit of strength to urge her not to come out! Definitely not to come out!

Lora's body trembled violently. At twelve years old, it was the first time she witnessed such a gruesome scene. She was extremely scared and wanted to scream, and rush out. But her mother's words kept echoing in Lora's mind. She had to be strong, she had to hold back!

Just like before, as long as she obediently listened, her mother would give her candy. So as long as she listened obediently, after everything was over, her mother would still give her candy just like before. She just needed to be obedient!

Lora repeatedly urged herself to be strong, chanting it deep in her heart, but when her grandpa crawled in and was ruthlessly killed, Lora's defense collapsed. She couldn't bear it and screamed!

This scream immediately made the attacker turn around and look towards the wardrobe where Lora was hiding. He wore a mask, but his eyes were cold and menacing.

Lora trembled in fear, screaming and shouting, "Mommy! Grandpa, I’m scared, Mommy! Mommy, I didn't mean to be disobedient, I’m is really scared, Mommy, please hug me. Mommy, please I need a hug."

She desperately cried out, but her mother and grandpa lying in a pool of blood were already powerless.

The attacker coldly opened the closet, his eyes showing no warmth as if he were a killing machine, raising the knife... Lora opened her mouth and out came a shrill scream.

"Ahhhhhhhhh!"

'Boom!'

In the midst of Lora's frightened screams, a heavy gunshot rang out, and the attacker's knife fell. He looked at his injured hand with a more sinister expression, switching the knife to his other hand, to attack Lora.

But when the gunshot rang out once again, a group of well-trained bodyguards jumped in through the window, pointing their guns at the attacker while pulling the triggers.

The attacker quickly took cover, while more accomplices rushed in through the door. A gunfight erupted in this small room. Trembling, Lora hid in the wardrobe, bullets flying past her continuously, and her gaze was captivated by a scene.

In the doorway stood a man dressed in a black suit, cigarette dangling from his lips, confidently striding through the gunfire towards Lora. The previously trembling and fearful Lora suddenly became quiet. She stared blankly at this man, as if he radiated a brilliant light.

The man crouched in front of Lora, his voice deep. "Lora, be brave and stay quiet. I'm here to protect you. You shouldn't have seen such a scene with such beautiful eyes," the man said.

Afterward, he carried Lora out of the wardrobe. The assailant behind him raised his gun towards the man. The man calmly moved aside, still holding onto Lora with one hand while using the other to grab the gun of a nearby person. He aimed it at the assailant's forehead and pulled the trigger.

"Ah!" Lora woke up, startled, from her bed. She had the same dream again. It had been eight years since that incident, but she still dreamt about the brutal murder, of her mother and grandpa, she witnessed.

At that time, Lora thought she was doomed, but then the man appeared and took her away from the scene. He said, "Come with me, and I will protect you."

Lora was so terrified that she lost all rationality and was carried away by him like a ragdoll. She had felt at that moment that this man was extraordinary, like a divine being who had come to save her.

Little did she know that his seemingly innocent words that day would change her life, because he was not an ordinary man; he was Chris Valentine!

He stood at the pinnacle of the divine kingdom, establishing the ZY International Group at the age of eighteen, controlling the entire underworld and legitimate forces of Mantua City. Nobody dared to take advantage, or else they would face certain death! There were rumors that Chris came from an ancient family, the Valentine family.

That mysterious and powerful family possessed wealth that could rival all of Europe. However, nobody dared to investigate further. To investigate Chris would be inviting death. This man was known for his decisive and cold-blooded nature, but that was only the impression outsiders had of him.

To Lora, Chris was the person who gave her a new life. He did what he promised and, during these eight years at Crystal Mansion, he brought the best of everything to Lora. All the while, Lora worked hard to improve herself, both physically and intellectually, pushing herself to new heights, all in order to avenge her mother and grandpa.

As Lora thought about this, she was about to get out of bed when the alarm at Crystal Mansion went off.

"Oh no, Mr. Valentine has gone mad!" shouted the servants, and chaos ensued throughout Crystal Mansion.

Lora, didn't even have time to change out of her nightgown, rushed out and collided with Dr. White, who was hurrying over.

"Miss Scott!" Dr. White grabbed Lora's arm, a sense of urgency on his face. Lora looked at the chaotic servants in front of her and heard the sound of porcelain and objects being smashed.

"What happened to Mr. Valentine?" she asked.

"Miss Scott, Mr. Valentine's old illness has resurfaced," Dr. White replied.

Chris had a chronic headache condition. Once it flared up, he would lose all rationality and go mad, unable to be treated. Lora wanted to go find Chris, but Dr. White held onto her wrist.

"Miss Scott, in this situation, there is a way to save Mr. Valentine."

"Don't waste time, just tell me how. Is it related to me? Do you need me to do something? It is only right that I help him, after all he saved me. I will do anything for him!” Lora was impatient and couldn't stand Dr. White's evasiveness.

"I need you to be with Mr. Valentine..."

"Excuse me?"

"Last month, when Mr. Valentine had a relapse of his old illness, after he unexpectedly kissed you, his emotions stabilized. It was the only time in several years that his emotions had fluctuated."

"I understand." Lora didn't waste any words and walked straight to Chris's room.

"Miss Scott..." Dr. White wanted to stop her, but Lora left too decisively and couldn't be stopped. He didn't know if what she was doing was right or wrong.

When Lora reached Chris's room, the sounds of destruction kept coming out. She asked all the servants to leave. After taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open.

Immediately, a chill rushed out of the room. The dim room brightened slightly due to the sudden opening of the door, allowing Lora to see the debris scattered on the ground.

Except for a bed, there was nothing intact in the room. At the end of the room, the man almost merged into the darkness. Even though she only saw his back, he still exuded an aura of self-importance. He was filled with violence and absolute danger!

Lora held onto the doorknob tightly, feeling nervous, but still mustered the courage to take a step forward and closed the door behind her. At the moment the crisp sound of the door closing rang out, Lora felt everything go black before her neck was roughly grabbed and her body was pinned to the wall.

When she looked up, she met the deep gaze of that man. His profound eyes were like endless black holes, radiating an immeasurable danger. And that face was definitely a rare work of art in the world. Although his forehead was reddened from rubbing due to a headache, it couldn't diminish his enchanting beauty.

Lora was very nervous, even her heart was trembling, and she difficultly spoke, "Mr. Valentine, it's me."

As soon as these words were uttered, the man, who was previously in a furious state, suddenly paused and turned his head to stare at Lora.

It was Lora's first time being alone with the irritable Chris, and although she was afraid, she was very clear that she couldn't entangle herself with him at this moment, otherwise, it would be herself that would die.

Chris, in that moment had lost his sanity, because of his episode. Lora realized this and made a quick decision. When Chris slightly relaxed his grip on her, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed Chris's lips!!!