Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO

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?”

“The garden cameras were down, but

left the room?” I

nodded quickly. “Yes! I’ll have someone pull it right away.” He hurried off, clearly

remember how many guards were

nodded without hesitation. ‘Six.

watched her skeptically. “We’ll see about

herself, eyes red but determined. My heart ached seeing her like this. Astrid had always been our rock – even when Thalia Parker targeted her, when online trolls attacked her, she never broke down. She once told Ethan and

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

wiped her eye quickly. “It’s fine. He should be mad at me. This is my

you coming to see the footage? Or are you scared your phantom bodyguard

be there?”

felt a flash of anger watching him attack Astrid. This hurt worse than if he’d aimed it at

deep breath and grabbed my hand. “Let’s go, Audrey. My memory’s solid. There were six guards. I’m not afraid

if the footage shows six bodyguards

an

me,” she

I turned, surprised. “Astrid…”

just as worried about Emma as you are. This isn’t on her. She just trusted

tried to jump

of you. He might not be yelling at you directly, but I can

or careless, it means you’ve been wrongly accusing me and taking it out on Audrey.

fell silent. Something

“I’m sorry. I’ve been worried sick about Emma

holding onto Astrid’s

The elevator dinged open.

room, a staff member had the footage ready on

manager nodded. “Play