Chapter 5

"I'm calling the police!" Chloe screamed, her voice trembling with panic.

"That won't be necessary," the second man said calmly, pulling out a gun.

*Bang!*

The gunshot echoed through the room, and the other man crumpled to the floor, lifeless.

I gasped in horror, my entire body frozen. Mum and Chloe screamed, trying in vain to muffle the sound with their hands. The metallic scent of blood filled the air, and I felt my stomach twist violently.

The man calmly reset his gun, tucking it back into his waistband as if nothing had happened.

"Don't worry," he said softly, his tone unnervingly steady. "I'm not here to hurt you." His eyes scanned the room, lingering briefly on Mum and Chloe before finally settling on me. "Astrid Bennett Caldwell. Pleasure to meet you. I'm Cole Donovan, your new bodyguard."

He extended a hand toward me, but I recoiled instinctively, my heart racing with terror.

"Get away from my sister!" Chloe screamed. She grabbed a lamp from the bedside table and charged at him, swinging it with all her strength.

Cole moved swiftly, catching her wrist mid-swing. His grip tightened, and Chloe winced in pain.

"Drop the lamp," he growled, his voice low and threatening. "I told you—I'm not here to hurt anyone."

"Oh, really?" Chloe spat, struggling against his iron grip. Her eyes burning with rage. "Says the bastard who broke into our house and killed a man. Astrid, quick call the police!"

I was in a daze, my mind still reeling from the attack. My throat ached, and my hands trembled as I tried to process what was happening.

"Astrid!" Chloe yelled again, her voice breaking.

I flinched, but I couldn't bring myself to move. My legs felt like lead, my mind spinning with fear and confusion.

Cole's gaze flicked back to me, his expression unreadable. "I'm not your enemy, Astrid," he said, his voice steady but firm. "I was sent here to protect you. That man," he gestured to the lifeless body on the floor, "was here to kill you. If I hadn't intervened, you wouldn't be alive right now."

Chloe let out a bitter laugh, still struggling against his hold. "Protect her? By breaking into our house and murdering someone? Great job!"

Cole released her wrist with a sharp exhale, stepping back. "Look, I understand how this looks. But you don't have the full story. All I ask is for a chance to explain."

I just stared at him, unable to utter a single word.

"What the hell is going on?" Mum finally croaked, her voice trembling as she clutched the doorway for support.

Cole didn't answer her. His piercing gaze was fixed on me, as though I held the key to everything. Slowly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a phone.

"What are you doing now?" Chloe snapped, her body tense, ready to pounce again.

Without a word, Cole unlocked the screen and tapped a video file. He turned the phone toward me, the light from the screen illuminating his face.

"This is for you," he said quietly.

I stared at the screen, and as soon as the video began, my breath caught in my throat. The room around me seemed to fade as the familiar voice of Mr. Caldwell filled the air.

"Ah, Astrid," the old man's voice was warm and reassuring, the sight of him on the screen bringing an unexpected wave of calm over me. He was seated in his favorite leather armchair, the one by the grand window overlooking the garden. His expression was serene but tinged with seriousness.

"If you're watching this, my dear, it means I'm no longer here," he began, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "First, let me say how grateful I am to have had you in my life. You brought light to my final days, and I can never thank you enough for your kindness, your patience, and the care you showed me."

My eyes blurred with tears, the rawness of his words cutting through the chaos of the moment.

"I know my family, Astrid," he continued, leaning forward slightly, his tone taking on a sharper edge. "They are dangerous people, full of greed and malice. They will stop at nothing to claim what they believe is theirs. And that puts you at great risk. You, my dear, are a good person in a den of wolves, and I will not allow you to face them unprotected."

Chloe shifted uncomfortably beside me, but I couldn't tear my eyes away from the screen.

"I've assigned Cole Donovan to be your bodyguard," Mr. Caldwell said, gesturing slightly off-camera as if acknowledging the man standing in the room with us now. "He is one of the very few people I trust implicitly. He will keep you safe, no matter what."

Cole's face softened slightly, but he remained silent, letting the video speak for itself.

"Astrid, I know you're probably overwhelmed right now," Mr. Caldwell continued, his voice softening. "I know you may be questioning why I left you everything. But please hear me: you deserve it. Every last bit of it. Not because you took care of me, but because you are the only person I know who will use it wisely, who will do good with it. You have a kind heart, and I trust you to make the right decisions."

My hands trembled as I clutched the edge of the bed, tears streaming down my face.

"I hope you'll consider something else," he added, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Taking the Caldwell name. You're already more of a Caldwell than most of my blood relatives, and I'd be honored for you to carry it forward. Think of it as a reminder that you belong—not to them, but to the good you can create with what I've left you."

The video ended with him sitting back in his chair, his smile fading into a look of quiet resolve. "Be strong, Astrid. Trust yourself. And trust Cole. He's there to help you, as I would if I could. Goodbye, my dear. And good luck."

The screen went dark, and the silence that followed was deafening.

I sat frozen, my mind spinning. All my fear, anger, and confusion seemed to dissipate, replaced by a sense of clarity I hadn't expected.

Chloe was the first to break the silence. "I told you, you deserved it."

But I couldn't reply. I could only stare at the man who had just saved my life, the man Mr. Caldwell had trusted with my future.

Cole met my gaze, his expression steady. "Now you understand," he said simply.

And for the first time, I did.