Curtis knew exactly what kind of people his family were.
Self-centered, petty, with no bottom line when it came to getting what they wanted-and every single one of them held grudges like trophies.
Delia humiliated Craig and Vanessa right in front of everyone today.
Bold move, sure, but now they might turn all that anger they couldn’t aim at him toward her-because she looked like the easier target.
The thought of Delia getting dragged into trouble because of him made his chest feel tight.
He couldn’t sit still.
Anger bubbled up.
“Hold up,” he cut off Noah just as he was about to end the call.
“There’s something else.”
Noah immediately tensed, “Yes, sir.”
Curtis spoke quickly, his tone sharp.
“I need top-tier bodyguards on her.
Round-the-clock protection, rotating shifts.”
“I want updates on her whereabouts in real time.
Under no circumstance should she be left unguarded.”
The other end of the line went dead silent.
Noah was clearly stunned by the request.
Protect Delia?
The same woman who once left Mr.
Stockton mentally and emotionally drained?
It sounded insane.
He almost thought he’d misheard.
Curtis’s relationship with Delia had been a rollercoaster-high hopes in the beginning, crushed by disappointment.
Noah had witnessed it all firsthand.
“I want you to handle it personally.
This isn’t something we can risk messing up.”
Before Noah could even respond, Curtis had already moved on.
Noah opened his mouth, thought about questioning it, then quickly shut it.
“Yes, sir.
I’ll take care of it immediately.”
“Good.” Curtis let out a quiet exhale and finally hung up.
The hallway fell into silence again.
He dropped his phone onto his lap, staring off into nothing.
The screen went black.
The only sound left was his breathing.
What was he supposed to do now?
How was he supposed to interpret Delia?
How should he handle what was happening?
Nothing about it felt normal.
It was all just…
Like it had been scripted.
She used to hate him-he remembered the cutting words, sharp enough to bleed.
Now this sudden kindness and affection felt off.
Like it could be a carefully crafted mask hiding something dangerous underneath.
Something that looked sweet but could rot you from the inside.
Everything felt so good it terrified him.
And yet, no matter how much his gut screamed “too good to be true,” he couldn’t stop thinking about her:
Delia, bustling around the kitchen in an apron.
Delia, standing in front of him, shielding him from the Stocktons’ harsh words without hesitation.
Delia, clinging to him, whispering “I love you” over and over.
Delia, trembling slightly in the dark, inching closer until there was no space left between them.
He felt like someone who had wandered through a desert for ages, half-dead from thirst-when suddenly, on the horizon, a glittering oasis appeared.
Maybe it was just a mirage.
He knew that.
But something deep inside screamed at him to run toward it anyway.
To fall at its feet and drink in every drop, even if it turned to sand in his mouth.
Even if it was all fake, he was still willing to bet everything on it.
Lifting his hand, he pressed his fingers to his temple, trying to use the sting of pressure to force out the confusion in his mind.
Delia had come back like a brand-new person.
Now he didn’t know whether to move forward-or run.
Curtis sat alone in the corner for a long time, letting his emotions slowly settle.
He still didn’t have an answer.
Not yet.
But emotions had started to thaw, just a little, letting the warmth seep in.
For now, he’d decided to trust what he saw with his own eyes-to believe in Delia’s sincerity over the past few days.
As for Noah, well…
time would tell.
Curtis maneuvered his wheelchair back to their bedroom.
When his hand landed on the doorknob, he paused briefly before quietly pushing the door open.
The room was dim, lit only by a soft bedside lamp.
Delia seemed to be asleep already, facing away from the door.
Her breathing was steady and light.
He wheeled over silently, eased himself onto the bed with care, afraid of waking her.
For once, everything in him felt calm.
But just as he relaxed and began to close his eyes, the screen of the phone on the nightstand lit up with a soft buzz.
It wasn’t the distinct ringtone for important work emergencies, but it didn’t feel like something trivial either.
He frowned slightly and reached out to check.
The sender’s name appeared: “Benjamin Bennings.”
Seeing it, the crease in his brow eased, his mouth pulling into the subtlest of smiles.
Benjamin-one of the few people he could genuinely call a friend.
After graduation, Benjamin had gone abroad, making a name for himself thanks to his smarts and sharp business instincts.
They didn’t talk all the time, but the bond was still there.
More importantly, Curtis had been searching for someone capable-and trustworthy-to help Delia.
Someone who wouldn’t turn out like Edward.
Benjamin had been the obvious choice.
Professional, experienced, and solid in character-he checked every box.
Curtis had already tested the waters with him about the position, and Benjamin had said he’d think about it, needing to finish off some things first.
Now, the message was clear and to the point: [Wrapped up most of the work here.
Flight booked.
I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon.]
It felt like finding the perfect puzzle piece after hours of searching.
Curtis’s heart felt lighter.
He typed out a quick reply: [Safe travels.
Let me know when you land-I’ll treat you to dinner.]
He glanced over at the sleeping Delia, deciding not to wake her.
This surprise could wait till tomorrow.
*****
The next morning, a sliver of sunlight sneaked past the curtains and danced across Delia’s eyelids.
She slowly woke up, instinctively reaching out-her hand brushing against Curtis’s warm, solid form.
She blinked her eyes open.
Curtis was already awake, propped against the headboard, reading the news on his tablet.
“You’re awake?” Curtis asked, setting aside the tablet as he looked down at her.
“Mmm…” Delia murmured, rubbing her eyes as she scooted closer to him.
“When did you wake up?”
“Not long ago,” he replied, watching her sleepy movements.
Then he paused, remembering last night’s message.
“There’s something I need to tell you.”
“Oh?” Delia looked up with interest.
“What is it?”
“You asked me about someone who could take over at Fleming Group,” he said, voice calm.
“A friend of mine’s flying in this afternoon.
Very capable.
I think he’s the perfect fit.”
“Seriously?” Delia’s eyes widened.
She definitely remembered bringing it up, but this was way faster than she expected.
“Thank you, babe!”
Delia couldn’t hold it in-she grabbed onto his arm, eyes sparkling with excitement.