Now that Garrett was home, he felt safe and dropped his guard.He took off his glasses, picked up a bag
of chips on the table, and turned on the TV.
As he casually stuffed chips into his mouth, he said absent–mindedly, "I don‘t have any weapons
here.This is the twenty–first century.We‘re all civilized people."
"Why don‘t you ask your assistant to send us some guns? I know you have access to the arms industry.If
those guys make a move, I could protect you if I have a weapon."
Standing by the window vigilantly, Laney looked at Garrett, who was lying on the sofa and watching TV.
With his glasses off, Garrett looked less refined and more down–to–earth.He was thirty years old, but
there was still a bit of teenage spirit in his eyes.
Despite this, his jaw was firm and his eyebrows were straight.Now that she was getting a closer look at
him, Laney found that he seemed really matured and handsome.
"Don‘t worry about it.This is my place.We‘re safe here.Relax.Do you want some snacks? Chips,
chocolates, biscuits—whatever you like.My pantry‘s fully stocked." Garrett gestured at Laney with a bag
of potato chips in his hand.
Laney was bewildered.She had never seen this side of Garrett before.
Shouldn‘t the son of a rich family like him be a bit more self–disciplined? How could he be so fond of junk
food? Albeit a bit dubious, Laney walked over and sat beside him.She looked at the bag of chips and
swallowed her urge to eat some.
"That does not look healthy, Mr.Harding.Anyway, I‘ll find a way to drive those guys away.I can‘t hide in
your place forever."
While munching on the chips, Garrett plucked a piece of tissue from the tissue box on the table and
wiped his mouth and fingers.
Then he sat up straight and said seriously, "Let me see if I can talk to someone from the Burke
family.Just stay here in the meantime."
Laney was left with no choice but to agree.
Garrett put down the bag of chips and brushed the crumbs off his shirt.
"Now, let‘s find you a room." Laney nodded and followed Garrett around the villa like a meek puppy.It
didn‘t really matter to her which room she‘d stay in.
Finally, after a tour of the mansion, Garrett made her stay in the room next to his.
"It‘ll be more convenient here.You can shout for me if anything comes up."
At least, this was the reason he gave her.
Laney didn‘t object.
A room in a villa was a luxury to her, having spent many a night on the streets before.She walked around
the room and found no personal effects here.
Perhaps no one had lived here before.
Just as she was thinking about ordering some things online, Garrett said quickly, "I asked my assistant to
buy you some clothes and other daily necessities.Someone will bring them here later.If you‘d need
anything else, just tell me, okay?"
"Oh, thanks.I was thinking of buying them myself." Laney thanked him in a hurry.
It seemed out of character for Garrett to be so considerate.
But on second thought, she realized that he had had so many girlfriends before, so he should know
better than anyone else how to treat a girl right.
*******
And that was how Laney started living with Garrett.
In her eyes, Garrett had always been a playboy, but his house was far from what she thought it‘d be.
It was quiet, and he never brought his girlfriends here.
Unlike the image he used to keep up, he didn‘t go to bars or clubs on weekends.
He only liked staying in and watching TV dramas with junk food.
He would cry when he was touched, and he would cover his eyes with a pillow whenever he saw
disturbing scenes from horror movies.
Sometimes, when he‘d get scared, he‘d nestle in Laney‘s arms and whine, "Aren‘t you scared at all?"
"I‘ve seen a lot of real shit more horrifying than that," Laney would explain calmly.
At first, she couldn‘t understand whether Garrett was really scared or if he was just pretending.
But after listening to him complain, she‘d sigh and pat him on the back to comfort him.
"Don‘t be scared.It‘s fine.It‘s all fake."
Then Garrett would throw himself into her arms and held her tight.
On work days, he always had a routine.He would set out to the office and come home from work at the
same times, always making it a point to have dinner with Laney.
Although he didn‘t know how to cook and always left the kitchen in a mess, when Laney cooked, he
would stand to the side and praise her generously, like a supportive husband.
62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda