303 He Forgot About Me

She got the scare of her life the moment she came down in order to leave early, she really didn't want to always be with Harvey.

But then upon coming down, Ashton was sitting down in the living room, seemingly waiting for her. Then with his poker face and voice that has no emotion he spoke to her to cook a hangover soup and breakfast for Harvey.

She wanted to rebuke but he just looked at her as if saying, you will be staying in his place. Are you going to stay here for free?

It is not like she wanted to stay there herself but then she had no choice, if Amber arranged this then that only means that the ones who wants her life have the force and Russel alone wouldn't be able to fend them of by herself.

Well, that was quite obvious, the day she was shot, she barely did anything. Even being startled by enemies suddenly appearing in front of them while Amber killed them the moment they appeared.

That is why it is quite obvious that she would really need help.

Though she does needs to ask why Amber does not trust hired bodyguards.

"I'll pick you up this afternoon," Ashton said as he placed a hand on top of Amber's head, to which she nodded and smiled bidding him goodbye.

"Please do inform me if your husband is to appear in front of me again. I was completely caught off guard. Do you know how scared I was a while ago? He was sitting in a dimly lit room with his cold face."

"I thought I was facing an assassin coming for my life," Russel complained the moment they entered the restaurant.

A few staffs were already there greeting them.

Amber laughed at the haggard look of Russel, she must have scared witless by Ashton.

"How would I know? He left without telling me where he was going," she answered with a shake of her head.

Well, that's just who he was. He supports his friends on his own way at the same time does not stop her from her own support.

"You didn't know? What if he went out to meet another woman?" Russel asked instantly.

Amber raised an eyebrow, to which Russel smiled sheepishly.

"So how was your first night then?" Amber asked afterwards.

"Oh please, don't ask me. I was lucky I was too tired that I get to sleep instantly. If not I would have surely been awake and without a wink of sleep now," Russel answered with a roll of her eyes.

"By the way," she then remembered the question she had since a while ago.

"Hmmm?" Amber was already busy reading some files as she started checking the current ingredients and menu for the day.

"Why do you hate hired bodyguards? And if so why not just hire some and make them loyal to you?"

"Let's just say I've seen too many hired ones who was not doing their jobs properly ending with their master being placed in danger," was her answer.

Then came into mind what happened to Ashley in the past where she had to step in in order to save her. Then those times where they were found because those they hired were blinded by money ending up with them once again running away.

"And why not have some trustworthy ones?" Russel asked finally looking at Amber and it didn't escape her eyes when Amber's eyes turned gloomy.

Amber sighed before she smiled, "I can answer that but you have to answer my question first, what was with you and Harvey?"

It is time for Russel's eyes to shift, she knew Amber would ask this. Who wouldn't with her reaction yesterday? She was unable to stop herself when he was once again faced by him.

She knew that sooner or later with her current standing in the culinary world that she will be facing Harvey in one of the events. She just didn't expect that she will be facing him again as her protector instead.

She started tapping at the table, thinking how she would answer this.

It is not that it needs to be kept as a secret when Amber knew who she was and very slowly she was finally stepping away from that family of her father.

"He forgot about me," was how she started when more staff came in and Amber knew that this talk should wait for they still have work to do.

It was around noon that they finally have time for themselves, Amber brought her upstairs, in the VIP lounge where the place was divided into rooms, giving privacy to the customers.

"In reality, I was never that mad at him. He may have promised me that he will protect me but then again, his devotion towards his family was stronger. At first I was really mad at that."

"Wait, wait, wait, he promised you?"

"Yes, I was already being bullied by my family even before my father died and even end up being hit multiple times by them. Until one day, he stepped in to stop another painful kick heading towards me."

(Flashback)

It was another hot summer day, her father was once again in a business trip and the 14 year old her was left alone in the mansion to be ostracized by her mother, whom she still believes as her birth mother.

And her sibling who was a year younger than her.

Then her grandfather that never looked at her with warmth.

Within the family, she can only feel warmth from her father alone.

No, her grandmother would sometimes be there as well, but she has no power to help her or her father when up against her grandfather.

It was a hot day but she was forced to do her homework outside the house, this was their way of mistreating her. No matter how hot, she is not allowed to use the air conditioning of her room.

That is why she chose to stay outside instead, at the very least there was still win in there.

*CRASH*

But her concentration was interrupted when a loud crash came from close to her. Looking up she saw her younger sister smiling at her before letting herself plop down on the broken flower pots.

Russel stood up in her shock and knew what this girl was doing, Russel also knew that they have a visitor today.

But the moment she stood up, Gwyneth started crying loudly calling the attention of everyone inside.

When Fatima saw her daughter on the ground she walked up to Russel, "How dare you hurt your younger sister like that? Is that how I raised you?"

*PAK*

She felt like her whole world was spinning when she suddenly received a strong slap on her cheek.

She could only bite her lower lip, she knew what these two are doing, once again making her look bad in front of their visitors. She really has no idea what she had done to them. 

She was also her daughter and was also her elder sister but the two of them just loves mistreating her so much.

"Answer me!!" Fatima shrieked before giving her a strong push leading her to fall down on the chair she was just using.

The chair has some parts that was sharp, ending with her wounding her arm.

But she still didn't speak, for if she said she was not the reason behind that wailing then she will just receive more pain. So what's the point?

"You little- How dare you not answer me!!" Fatima raised her feet to give Russel a kick.

"Madam."

But was stopped by a man's voice.

She looked back and saw Harvey Carter coming closer, he was just 18 this time but he exudes the aura of maturity. And if they were to be compared, Harvey was more dashing than Henzler.

He may not be the heir but he was still the direct blood of the heir. And even has more capabilities than his brother. The reason why Gwyneth has her eyes on him.

Yet her daughter was still crying on the ground but this person didn't even look at her and instead walked towards Russel who remained silent.

He squatted down and peered at her face that was bowed down.

He pulled out his handkerchief and dabbed it on her lip that was wounded by the sudden slap. Russel blinked a few times looking at him.

Harvey smiled and helped her up before looking down at the notebooks and fixing it for her. He took them in his arm and held unto her wrist.

"I'll borrow this young lady for a bit," he then said looking at Fatima and his looks tells her that he was not asking for some permission but was telling her instead.