5. The Savior

"Did I see it correctly? That guy was carrying a knife?" the blonde whispered tensely.

Another girl who was still sitting on the sidewalk swallowed hard. Before she could answer, her tall friend shrieked and covered her mouth with both hands. The guy in the hat had launched an attack. Drops of blood fell near Emily's feet, staining the sidewalk with their red color.

"Jeez! We could end up at the police station again! Guys, let's go! Don't let the police arrive first!" the blonde exclaimed.

While the three girls were helter-skeltering, Emily froze with her mouth and eyes wide open. She was too late to catch the attacker's hand. She also knew that blood had dripped on the sidewalk. However, why didn't she feel any pain?

Emily bowed her head lower. Finding another hand gripping the blade of the knife, an inch in front of her stomach, she gasped. Her whole body was shaking.

Only when someone pulled her back did she realize. Prince had saved her again. She didn't understand how he could arrive at her side on time. When she recovered her senses, the man with his hands covered in blood had pinned the attacker on the sidewalk.

"Emily, call the police!" Prince shouted while restraining the criminal from escaping his grasp.

"Emily!"

Emily blinked. With trembling hands, she took the phone. She didn't care if tears rolled down her face and her breathing sounded so bad. Her focus was only on one thing—carrying out orders from the person who saved her.

***

After giving her statement, Emily checked the next room. Her savior was still inside. From the window that wasn't covered by curtains, Emily could see him being interrogated with his hands bandaged.

"Who is he? Why is he so determined to protect me? He was even willing to sacrifice his hand to hold the knife," Emily wondered. She felt guilty for accusing him. She even doused him with hot chocolate before.

Not long after, the police officer left the room. With awkward steps, Emily finally entered.

"Hi .... How's your hand?"

The handsome guy looked at her with a stiff expression. "Why did you leave the hotel without telling me? Did you want to run away?"

Emily's faint smile turned into a grin. "I ...."

"You forgot about the danger that lurks behind you? You're lucky I arrived on time. If not? You're willing to risk your life just for your ego and childishness?"

Emily's lips pursed. Her head was slightly bowed. "You are nothing to me, and I am also nothing to you. Why are you scolding me as if I were the closest person to you?

The man took a deep breath. His expression turned patient. "This is not about who we are, but this is about your safety. Even as a stranger, I know that it's not safe for you to travel alone. As for you? Why are you so stubborn, Miss Harper?"

Emily blinked at the tip of her shoe. Cold sweat beaded on the back of her neck. She realized that what the stranger had said was true. She had no more reason to avoid it.

"Sorry. I was just trying to protect myself from anyone, including you. I thought you were a bad person. Because of that, I chose to run away."

The man now leaned back in his chair. His jaw shifted slightly, but his gaze was gentle. "What do you want to do now? Continuing the agenda without protection from anyone?"

"Yeah, there's nothing to worry about now. The bad guy has been arrested." Emily shrugged.

"Don't you know? That guy attacked you on someone's order. The real criminal is still out there."

Receiving such information, Emily's eyes widened. "Really?"

"You can ask the police if you don't believe me," he said while glancing outside.

Seeing the seriousness on that handsome face, Emily secretly clenched her fists. "What does he look like?"

Prince shrugged. "Even the guy who attacked you doesn't know what he looks like. They only communicate via phone and written messages."

Emily's eyebrows knitted together. While she was seriously thinking, the man in front of her reached out his hand.

"Where's your phone?"

Emily looked up again. Her hand was hiding behind her waist. "What do you want to do?"

"It's not safe for you here. You better go home. Ask your family to come pick you up."

Emily's mouth opened wide. A sigh of disbelief escaped her. "Who are you to dare control my life?"

"I can't always be on standby looking after you."

"I don't need anyone to look after me. I'm an adult. I never asked you to save me, right?"

Hearing the rising tone, the man was stunned. Emily felt guilty again about her rude attitude.

"You know what? I'm very grateful you saved me. But I hope you understand that I came all the way here because of one mission. I couldn't possibly go home without success. Therefore, I think we should separate here."

"And leave you alone?" The man raised an eyebrow. A second later, he shook his head and got up from the chair. "No. That's the same as giving your life for free to the mysterious mastermind. Give me your phone."

He grabbed Emily's hand. He knew her phone was there. However, Emily nimbly moved the phone to another hand. Holding it away from him, she moved back.

"We're at the police station. You dare steal my phone?"

"Hurry up and call your brother."

Emily's eyebrows twitched. "You sound like you know Louis. Is he your boss? He sent you here to urge me to go home?"

The man shook his head. "No."

"You're a special bodyguard hired by him?"

He exhaled quickly. "No."

"Then why do you care so much about me?"

Silence hung in the air. Observing his still face, Emily's eyes narrowed. "Is it possible that ... you are my secret admirer?"

The man snorted in disbelief. "Do I look like I'm crazy about you?"

Emily's lips pursed. "Then who are you?"

Suddenly, the police officer returned. While handing him a flash drive, he said, "Thank you very much for your cooperation, Mr. Evans. If there are any further developments, we will contact you immediately."

The world suddenly stopped spinning for Emily. Her round eyes trembled at the handsome guy who was now smiling sweetly and talking to the police.

"Mr. Evans? His last name is Evans? Is he ... Cayden Evans?" she screamed in her heart.

After blinking, Emily forced her lungs to work again. She watched how the handsome guy interacted with the officer. When the conversation ended, she quickly grabbed his arm.

"Actually who are you?"

The man who had just put the flash drive around his neck widened his eyes. "Me? The brazen jerk you can't possibly marry? A stranger who's not on the same level as the beautiful, stubborn heiress of the Savior Group?"

"I'm serious." Emily shook his arm. "Who are you? The police called you Mr. Evans. Could it be that ... you're Cayden Evans?"

The man was stunned into silence. His brown eyes were glued to Emily's gray eyes.

"Answer me!"