Merry took several breaths, trying to calm her racing heart. She always knew that this moment would come and that she couldn't keep her secret forever.
Sasha stabbed her with a mocking look, "If you know I'm your aunt, why did you try to run away when you saw me?"
Then Sasha's gaze shifted to Lilia's changing room, which Merry didn't have time to lock. She narrowed her eyes with an irritated expression.
"Why are you together with Lilia Pangestu?" Sasha asked in a demanding voice.
Merry closed her mouth tightly, but Sasha already had her own guess. It's just that, Sasha still felt that her guess was absurd. Merry was the darling daughter of the Hiroshi Family. How could her overprotective elder brother let Merry work as a model assistant?
"Didn't you hear my question?" Sasha urged when Merry didn't answer.
Merry shook her head vigorously, "Y-You don't need to know about that!"
Merry wouldn't let Sasha blame Lilia just because she worked as her assistant no matter what. Lilia didn't even know Merry's true identity!
For a moment, Sasha seemed taken aback by Merry's defiant tone. Anger immediately colored her expression.
"Merry Hiroshi, who do you think you're talking to? I am your aunt! How dare you use such a harsh tone to me!" Sasha scolded her.
Sasha gritted her teeth and glared at the small woman. She had hated Merry since they were young!
Sasha was raised as the youngest child of the Hiroshi Family and everyone's favorite daughter. But everything changed when Merry was born. They were only six years apart in age, but the adults always reminded Sasha to take good care of Merry.
She wanted to scream that she hated the little girl and didn't care what happened to her. Such a wild child born to an obscure woman was not worthy of being compared to a daughter of an honorable family like her!
Merry took a step back when she saw Sasha's deadly gaze. However, she scolded herself for showing her fear. Merry lifted her chin high and replied, "If you really are my aunt, why did you have the heart to beat me at that time?!"
That unexpected reply made Sasha hesitate, "I-I ..."
Sasha couldn't deny that she had beaten Merry before. But that was because Merry was misbehaving! The little girl poured all the perfume that was on Sasha's dressing table into the potted plant that she was so painstakingly taking care of!
Merry smiled triumphantly when Sasha did not answer her, "I have other business, so I have to go!"
She used this opportunity to turn around and run away from there.
"Wait a minute!"
She had only taken a step forward when Sasha suddenly grabbed her by the arm. The woman grabbed Merry's arm hard and made her stagger backward.
"Did I tell you that you can go?" Sasha yelled, her voice was filled with anger, "You have not answered my question. Why are you together with Lilia Pangestu? Are you working as her assistant?"
Merry groaned in pain as Sasha pinched her arm, but she didn't dare to scream. If anyone saw this incident, Lilia's name would be dragged along too!
Lilia's assistant gritted her teeth and said, "I'll tell you if you let me go!"
Sasha's anger grew even higher when she heard that, "Damn brat, it turns out you are getting more and more insolent!"
Without thinking, Sasha pushed Merry with all her might. She didn't realize that she had pushed the young woman against the stone wall.
Merry could only close her eyes and prepare herself for the pain to come. In her heart, she repeatedly apologized to Lilia for causing trouble for her. Merry just wanted to support and help the model, but now she's making trouble for Lilia.
But the pain that Merry had been waiting for did not come. Instead, she hit someone's body that felt well built. The woman slowly opened her eyes and looked back. Merry's eyes widened in surprise, "Clifford!"
Lilia's personal bodyguard nodded at her. He had arrived on the set earlier and was looking around looking for Merry, but Lilia's assistant wasn't there. Clifford's fierce appearance made people panic, but luckily Lilia stepped in to intervene. The model explained that Merry still hadn't caught up with her.
Clifford guessed that Merry might get lost or become frightened by the dim atmosphere of the building, so he went to the changing room. But he didn't expect that he would find this situation.
The man helped Merry to her feet. Merry then immediately hid behind Clifford's burly body, "Help me! There's a bad person trying to attack me!" Merry said in a voice full of exaggeration of fear.
Merry was sure that Sasha would immediately run away when faced with this burly man, but Clifford did not move from his place. Then she slapped her forehead as she realized the mistake she had made. Sasha was Jean's childhood friend, so obviously Clifford knew her aunt!
"Miss Sasha." Clifford said respectfully, as he stepped forward and positioned himself between the two women.
Sasha laughed coldly at Clifford's protective attitude, "Looks like all of you already know that Merry works as Lilia Pangestu's assistant?"
Clifford didn't answer and simply lowered his gaze. He was indeed guilty of not reporting Merry's whereabouts to his boss.
Merry's anger rose when she saw Sasha blaming Clifford. She popped her head from behind the man and shouted, "Aunt Sasha, this has nothing to do with Clifford! Do not try to taint the good name of an innocent person!"
Hearing that, Sasha shot a knife-sharp gaze at the young woman, "Merry Hiroshi, you really don't know yourself! Let's see if you can still be this cheeky when Brother Samuel finds out what's going on!"
Sasha turned and left the place full of anger. She wanted to know how Lilia would explain this matter to Samuel. The model had kidnapped the Hiroshi Family's beloved daughter and hired her as an assistant! Her elder brother must be furious!
After Sasha left, Merry's knees turned limp. She slumped to the floor as if she had lost all strength. Merry knew that the time for her freedom was over.
"Are you alright?" Clifford asked as he examined the young woman.
"Clifford ... what shall I do ...?" Merry whispered with teary eyes.
Once the Hiroshi Family heard about her whereabouts from Sasha, she wouldn't be able to run away again. Merry still wanted to be by Lilia's side and see that model become the best supermodel in the world! But now her future felt gray and gloomy.
Clifford reached out and stroked Merry's head. If they were to be separated soon, he hoped Merry would let him comfort her for just a moment. Clifford's heart was torn as he realized that they would never be able to spend time together again like they were now.
But the man immediately recalled his obligation. He was the personal bodyguard of the Widjaya Family, while Merry was the favorite daughter of the Hiroshi Family. From the start, they weren't supposed to meet.
Clifford pulled back his hand and clenched it tightly. If he didn't hold back, maybe he would hug Merry just to stop her tears from flowing out.
"Clifford ...?" Merry looked up as the man withdrew his hand.
The man looked at Merry with his usual expressionless face. He felt a little relieved that the woman could not see the inside of his chaotic heart. Clifford had an idea to help her, but he was reluctant to say it. But seeing Merry's big, tearful eyes made Clifford's heart melt.
He took a deep breath before saying, "You can ask Young Master Chris a favor."
Clifford didn't know how bad the consequences of tonight's incident would be, but at least Chris could help ease Merry's punishment. Jean's security chief clenched his fists so tightly that his nails tore off his palms.
This was a chasm between Clifford and Chris.. He could only protect the woman he loved from physical harm, but Chris was able to protect Merry even more perfectly.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺