For some inexplicable reason, Stella Cameron felt the man standing before her was acting incredibly strange.

"Joshua," she called out softly.

Joshua Gardner's eyes flickered slightly as he slowly walked over to her. He took the jacket from his arm and draped it over her shoulders.

"It's chilly tonight. Don't catch a cold."

That sudden, suffocating pressure vanished into thin air, as if the oppressive aura from just moments ago had been nothing more than a figment of her imagination.

Stella turned to Wilbur. "You can head back for now. Come pick me up tomorrow morning."

She had a contract to sign tomorrow and had already agreed on a time with Wilbur.

Wilbur nodded, exchanged a brief greeting with Joshua, and drove off.

As he watched the car disappear into the distance, Joshua's gaze grew unfathomably dark.

The next morning, Stella woke up early. She went through all the documents she needed for the signing, making sure nothing was missing, and then sat down to wait for Wilbur.

Wilbur was a sharp, highly observant bodyguard with excellent skills as an assistant. He had never made a mistake.

Usually, he would arrive forty minutes early and wait for her. He had never been late.

Today, however, not only was he not early, but the agreed-upon time came and went, and he was nowhere to be seen.

Did something happen?

Frowning, Stella pulled out her phone and called him.

No answer.

She tried twice more, but it still rang out.

Her brow creased in worry, and she dialed Gideon.

"Gideon, did Wilbur leave the house?"

"He headed out bright and early," Gideon replied. "Why? Hasn't he gotten there yet?"

"No, and I've called him several times, but he's not picking up. I'm a little worried something might have happened to him."

"Ms. Cameron, I'll track his location right now," Gideon said instantly. "Do you need me to send another driver to pick you up?"

Stella checked the time. "No, there's no time for that. I'll drive myself."

Just as she hung up, she saw Joshua walking toward her, car keys dangling from his fingers.

"Star, Wilbur got tied up. I'll drop you off."

Stella looked at him in surprise. "How do you know he got tied up?"

"He always waits out front well in advance, Joshua said smoothly "If he's not here by now, he must have run into some trouble. Come on, gr, le: take you. We don't want you to be

late for your signing."

Although Stella's hand was recovering enough that it wouldn't disrupt her daily lyfife she still needed.

to use it as little as possible.

She didn't refuse. "Alright."

Not long after getting into the passenger seat, Stella received a call from Gideon.

"Ms. Cameron, Wilbur got into a car accident on his way over. He was temporarily unconscious, which is why he couldn't make it."

Hearing the news, Stella's heart jumped. "How is he doing now? Is he badly hurt?"

"He's awake now," Gideon reassured her. "He only sustained some minor injuries. Nothing serious."

"Take him to the hospital to get checked out. Once I'm done with the contract, I'll head straight there to see him."

As she ended the call, Joshua glanced over. "What happened to Wilbur?"

Stella quickly explained the accident, her brow knitting with concern. "Wilbur was chosen after a rigorous selection process. He's incredibly skilled both in combat and behind. the wheel How could he juste suddenly get into a crash?" .net

Joshua's hands, resting on the steering wheel, paused for a fraction of a second.

His voice was as cool and clear as water. "No matter how good a driver someone is, accidents happen."

"I just hope it really was an accident," Stella murmured, "and not someone out to get us."