When His Perfect Mask Shattered I Awoke (Anneliese) novel Chapter 547

Right now, Zacharias was sprawled across the first-floor lobby and clutching his stomach in agony. His whole body was curled up in pain.

But even like this, his eyes burned with anger as he glared at Anneliese.

Anneliese went a little pale. Then, suddenly, a figure stepped in front of her, blocking Zacharias' line of sight entirely.

At first, she thought this casually dressed man was just some random passerby, and she was about to thank him.

But after he cut off Zacharias' view, he turned to her, and his voice was steady but tinged with concern. "Mrs. Fullbuster, are you alright?"

Looking at him, Anneliese immediately noticed the tension in his expression, the subtle edge in his demeanor, and the precision of his movements. This wasn't just a stranger.

She realized he had to be her bodyguard. Jonathan hadn't mentioned anything about this. Just like before, when he had Zaxton shadow her, he hadn't said a word.

A flicker of unease ran through her, even though she knew Jonathan's intentions were probably just to keep her safe.

"I'm fine. You've been following me all these past couple of days?" Anneliese asked, pausing briefly before speaking directly to him.

The man studied her carefully. Her expression and pale look made him choose his words carefully. "Mrs. Fullbuster, I'm Zaxton. Mr. Fullbuster was worried that if he wasn't around, someone with ill intentions might try to hurt you, so he had me assigned to protect you."

Anneliese gave a slight nod and said nothing else. She grabbed Jessica's hand and started walking out.

By now, Zacharias had managed to push himself off the floor. He held his stomach, every step sending a jolt of pain through him, but he still limped toward Anneliese, unwilling to give up.

"Anne, I didn't mean it! You're pregnant, and Jonathan isn't even here with you. He won't take you home for the holidays, and he's not sincere with you at all. How could you be so stupid, having a baby for someone like him, you—"

Zacharias didn't finish his sentence. Zaxton stepped forward and grabbed him by the collar, cutting off his venomous words.

"Let go! You dare get fresh with me, a dog of Jonathan's?" Zacharias sneered, eyes flashing with menace as he stared at Zaxton.

Zaxton stayed calm. His expression was unreadable. "You've got nothing on me. You're the CEO of a public company, and yet here you are, making a scene over someone else's wife in front of everyone. Honestly, you're living more like a stray than the rest of us, scraping by like it's all you can do."

Zaxton wasn't afraid of Zacharias. Sure, Zacharias had money, but he didn't work for him. As a bodyguard, Zaxton was doing his job with honor, and no one had the right to insult him.

Zacharias clearly didn't expect some little bodyguard to talk back. His mouth was as venomous as his obnoxious master, Jonathan's.

He threw a punch at Zaxton, but Zaxton was a professional—there was no way Zacharias would land it.

Zaxton caught the fist, twisted it, and with a smooth move flipped Zacharias over. He stumbled back, and when he regained his footing, Anneliese was already gone from the hall.

After all, he doesn't work for me, and he just protected me—what right do I have to give him orders? Really, it's not that I'm worried he'll report Zacharias to Jonathan. I just don't want Jonathan to know that Jessica is pregnant.

I'll deal with it when Jonathan actually finds out.

She thanked him and turned, slipping into the car.

Before she even made it back to Maple Bay, Jonathan's call came through.

Anneliese held the phone in her hand, staring at the screen for a long moment before finally answering.

She glanced out the window and held the phone to her ear without saying a word.

For some reason, the man on the other end didn't speak either.

Just when she thought she'd accidentally hung up and moved to check the screen, his familiar, low voice came through, calm and unhurried.

"Honey, are you mad at me?"

Her chest tightened, and she denied it instinctively. "No."

She didn't realize her tone carried a bit more stiffness than she intended.