How the fake bodyguard fell in love with the presidents nerdy daughter

Abandoned Ex-Wife: Now Untouchable

Tao Yaoyao

My five-year-old daughter was dying in the ICU, her heartbeat replaced by the continuous, electronic scream of a flatline. I gripped her cold hand, my throat sealed shut by a terror so absolute I couldn't even cry out. I dialed my husband Grayson's private number, the one reserved only for me and his assistants. He declined the call instantly. A second later, a text buzzed against my palm: "In a meeting. Do not disturb. Stop calling." Five miles away, Grayson was at a luxury gala, adjusting his silk tie and laughing with Belle Escobar. He told her I was just being "dramatic" and using our daughter's "fever" as an excuse to avoid the event. He had no idea Effie's heart had already stopped. When I finally reached our penthouse, soaked from the rain and carrying Effie's small socks in a plastic bag, Grayson didn't even look at me. He snapped at me for ruining the hardwood floors and asked if I'd left Effie with the nanny just to "feel sorry for myself." Three days later, while I buried our daughter in a small, lonely ceremony, Grayson was at the Hamptons. Belle posted a photo of him golfing with the caption: "A mental health day with the boys." He didn't even attend the funeral, but he returned home demanding I clear out Effie's room to make a study for Belle's son. The injustice burned through me until there was nothing left. I swallowed a handful of sleeping pills, desperate to join my daughter. But instead of the darkness, I woke up to blinding lights and the scent of Grayson's expensive cologne. I was standing in a ballroom, wearing a blue silk dress I had already burned. Above me, a banner read: "Happy 5th Birthday Kaiden & Effie." I was back, exactly one year before the tragedy. This time, I wasn't going to be the grieving wife. I was going to be their worst nightmare.

Modern Parenting Ex-wife Drama

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*Tessa*

The message I have been waiting for all night comes in.

"I just arrived at the location. You have roughly twenty minutes to be here before the doors close. Please try to make it this time."

And then, another one enters.

"I love you."

Marin peers at my phone from over my shoulders. "You should stop grinning so wide if you want your bodyguards to suspect your intentions."

The smile on my face dies immediately as my eyes scan the room, searching for them.

The first one is standing by the door, dressed in a dark suit that stands out so annoyingly in the loud club. Even the neon lights bouncing all around do nothing to change its colours.

"She looks so serious," Marin mutters, rolling her eyes. "Do you think she is as dumb as she looks?"

I giggle under my breath. "Shall we find out?"

Marin nods eagerly, falling into step with me as we sneak out through the side doors of the club. The doormen outside give me a look, but I tip them enough to let me off just this once.

Clutching onto my best friend's hands, we stay glued to the wall, our breaths raging all around us and our knees bent. We don't stop until we reach the stairs by the side of the building.

But rather than go up, we hide underneath it, finally letting our laughter out.

"That was fun," Marin breaths, holding on to her chest like we just ran a marathon. "Remember the last time we did this and your brother fired everyone? Do you think that will happen a second time?"

"I hope it does," I reply, pulling down my dress to reveal just the right amount of cleavage. "And this time, I hope he doesn't hire any more. I'm tired of them following me around like I am some President's daughter."

"You might as well be on the path to that," Marin reminds me. "If your brother wins the elections, he isn't going to stop at the Senate level. None of them do."

I groan loudly just as a shuffle of footsteps halts in front of us. A frustrated sigh follows next. Marin and I hold our breaths. The next few minutes will determine whether we make it out of here undetected.

"Shit! I can't believe you lost her again!" The leader of the security detail that protects me yells to the rest of them. They are ten in number.

Ten.

Who do they think I am?

"I'm sorry, Sir," the lady blurts. I would have felt sorry for her if she didn't scowl at me each time I asked to be left alone. "She was right on the dance floor with her friend and then, suddenly..."

"All your excuses won't matter if something happens to her!" he snaps. "Find the kid and take her home."

Instructions are belted out, and footsteps follow until I cannot hear any of them.

"Do you think it's safe to go out now?" I whisper, turning to look at Marin.

"All we have to do is make it out to the streets and flag a taxi. By the time they notice us, it will be too late."

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