Yasmine was clearly btrying /bto defend herself.

Charlotte bfixed /bbher /bwith a piercing stareb, /bher eyes sharp as desb, /bas bif /bshe could bore a hole straight through her.

“You should be thanking your lucky stars I was there today. If bI /bbhadn’t /bstepped bin/b, and Jenny had been killed by that man, you would’ve been looking at a murder chargeb./bb” /b

Yasmine bit her blip /band said nothingb, /bher face drained of all color.

Just thenb, /bJenny tugged bgently /bat Charlotte’s bsleeve/bb, /bher voice full of concern.

“Miss Riley, your arm… bit’s /bstill bleeding. You need to get to the hospital.”

Charlotte’s arm had indeed been shed. While the wound wasn’t life–threatening, it had bled a lot. Her entire left sleeve was stained red.

Without another word to Yasmine, Charlotte turned and left the firm for the hospital.

She had just picked up her prescription after getting her wound treated when she ran straight into Wendy.

Wendy’s expression was tight, her tone sharp.

“Charlotte? What are you doing here?”

Charlotte was a little surprised to see her.

So Wendy hade to Jersey City too.

Then again, it made sense. Wherever Zac went, Wendy always followed. He probably couldn’t bear to leave her behind in Harbor City. Charlotte didn’t want to waste time arguing. She simply walked around Wendy and kept going.

Wendy red after her, eyes full bof /bspite.

She narrowed her eyes. “Like a bad penny,i” /ishe thought. “Always turning up.”

Then she thought of Zac.

They hadn’t beven /bfinished their trip in Silverridge when Zac suddenly booked a flight to Jersey bCity/b. Was it because of Charlotte?

And were the injuries he gotst night rted to her too?

The more Wendy thought about it, the tighter she clenched her fists.

As soon as Sean saw the breaking news about the attack

bat /bS&Gb, /bbhe /bimmediately bcalled /bCharlotte.

“Lottie, bI /bbjust /bsaw the newsb–/bsomeone bcaused /ba bscene /bbat /byour firm, and bpeople /bgot stabbed. Are you okay? Where are you? bI’ll /be get youb./b” Charlotte was holding a bag of medication and pressing bthe /belevator bbutton /bas she answered, “I’m fine. I’m actually at bthe /bsame hospital you’re in. I was nning to bstop /bby byour /broom.”

Sean sounded visibly shaken.

“How bad is bthe /binjury?”

“Nothing serious. Just a cut on bmy /barm. Surface wound. bI’ll /bbbe /bbfine /bin a few days.b” /b

When Charlotte entered the hospital roomb, /bSean saw the bandage bwrapped /baround her arm. His expression darkened with concern.

“That looks serious,” bhe /bsaid quietly, his voice full bof /bpain.

Charlotte caught the look in his beyes/b.

bIf /bhe was this worried even after bthe /bwound had been cleaned and bwrapped/bb, /bhow would bhe /bhave reacted if he had seen her earlier when her whole bsleeve /bwas soaked in bloodb? /b

“I’m hiring a bodyguard for you,” bhe /bsaid, his tone firm. “bBeing /bawyer is clearly ba /bbdangerous /bjob. I won’t feel bat /bease unless byou /bhave bsomeone /bwith you. And don’t even think about saying bno/b. I bdon’t /bever want something like bthis /bto happen againb./b”

Charlotte pressed her lips btogether /band nodded.

b“/bOkayb./bb” /b

Sean gently btook /bher handb, /bbhis /bbvoice /bsoft.

b“/bbI’ll /bpick someone bgood/b–someone with real skills.”

b“/bbOne /bis enoughb,/b” she said. b“/bToday was an bexception/b. Things aren’t usually this dangerousb./bb” /b

Sean wasn’t budging.

b“/bbI’m /bstill notfortable with just one.”

“Alright,” Charlotte said, looking up at himb, /bbhesitating /bslightly. “But… I have bto /bgo to work. Having a bodyguard with me all the time might get in the way.”

“That’s easy,” Sean replied. “I’ll speak to the senior partners at S&Gb. /bHave them set up a private security office at the firm. He can be stationed bthere/bb, /bposing as a regr security guard.“.

“That actually sounds doable,” Charlotte admittedb. /bb“/bEspecially after todayb, /bI’m sure the firm will take security more seriously.”

Her eyes drifted bto /bbthe /bsmall table beside his hospital bed, where hisptop was sitting.

She frowned slightly.

“You’re still working? bYou’re /bsupposed to be resting.”

“There’s an important project going on at thepany,” he said. “I don’t trust anyone belse /bto handle it.”

Charlotte bgave /bhim a look.

b“/bJust promise me you’ll take care of yourself.”

Sean’s dark beyes /bsoftened, rippling with affection.