Chapter 404

Astrid’s POV

“Five?” I blinked, trying to process Adrian’s words through my throbbing headache.

I shook my head, certain of what I’d seen. “But there were definitely six bodyguards. Five grouped together and one standing apart. I counted them myself.”

Adrian’s face darkened. “There were five! Henry gave me ten guys total. One was driving us, four were in the car behind protecting me and Evelyn. The other five were watching Emma. That’s it.”

He whipped around to the nearby officer. “How many knocked-out bodyguards did you find at the scene?”

The officer checked his notes. “Five, sir.”

Adrian turned back to me, eyes cold as ice. “Only five bodyguards were found unconscious. So how exactly did you see six?”

I frowned, confusion battling with certainty. My eyes burned but I kept my voice steady. “That’s impossible… I know I saw six. I wouldn’t mess that up.” A thought hit me. “Unless… one wasn’t actually yours. What if he was… what if he kidnapped Emma?”

Adrian laughed, but there was no humor in it. “Still lying? Obviously –

Audrey’s POV

“I believe Astrid,” I cut in firmly.

Adrian turned to me, surprise flashing across his face.

“When I ask Astrid to handle something, she takes it seriously,” I continued. “She adores Emma. Before all this happened, she was worried about taking Emma to the garden. Why would she be careless enough to miscount the bodyguards?”

I turned to the hotel manager who’d joined us. “Do you still have the surveillance footage?”

garden cameras were down,

they left the room?” I pressed. ‘Do you

someone pull it right away.” He

“Do you remember how many guards

hesitation. ‘Six. Definitely

watched her skeptically.

always been our rock – even when Thalia Parker targeted her, when online trolls attacked her, she never broke down. She once

walked over and touched her arm gently. “Emma’s never been in danger before. Adrian’s just scared out of his

fine. He should

spun around impatiently. “What are you standing around for? Aren’t you coming to see the footage? Or are you

be there?”

attack Astrid. This hurt worse than if he’d aimed it at me. Why had I dragged her

deep breath and grabbed my hand. “Let’s go, Audrey. My memory’s solid. There were six guards. I’m

six bodyguards like I said, will you

an eyebrow. “To

to me,” she said firmly. “To

I turned, surprised. “Astrid…”

on Adrian. “Audrey’s just as worried about Emma as you are. This isn’t on her. She

tried to jump

cut me off. “I see what’s happening. If Adrian actually cared about you, he wouldn’t humiliate your friend in front of you. He might not be yelling at you directly, but I can tell he’s been taking his anger

shoulders. “So if the video shows six people, proving I wasn’t lying or careless, it means you’ve been wrongly accusing me and taking it out on Audrey. You owe her an

fell silent. Something

I’ve been worried sick about Emma and I took

holding onto Astrid’s arm and

The elevator dinged open.

member had

manager nodded.

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