Chapter 664 A Confession Too Stupid to Make

“I’ll go test the check!” one of the business owners shouted. “The rest of you–keep an eye on Paul. Don’t let him escape!”

Two reporters followed him out, cameras rolling to capture the whole process.

The second Paul saw this, he panicked.

Just as he tried to shove Taylor aside and flee, Alan stepped in from behind and twisted his arm back with force.

“Mr. Paul, you were all smug a minute ago spreading lies,” Alan sneered. “What happened? Losing your nerve?”

With a sharp snap, he broke Paul’s wrist cleanly. “As long as I’m here, don’t even think about running. Prepare to suffer.”

Ten minutes later, one of the small business owners still inside got a call.

His face changed instantly. He glanced at the check in his hand, voice rising. “It bounced? The account’s empty?!”

He turned and landed a punch square on Paul’s face.

“He’s still lying! These checks are useless! Powell Corporation’s broke–he scammed us!”

With that, the other furious business owners surged forward, descending on Paul like a swarm.

Alan let go and stepped aside.

He walked up to Taylor and calmly reported, “Miss, your plan was successful. The media have already begun reporting the Powell Corporation’s collapse. In less than an hour, the stock is going to crash.”

Taylor sighed. This was the result she’d wanted–but her victory felt heavy. So many shareholders were about to lose everything because of Paul’s selfishness.

She didn’t look back at the chaos behind her. She and Alan walked out of the building together.

Once they reached a quiet, empty spot, Taylor came to an abrupt stop.

Alan instantly halted as well.

She turned to him with a flat, unreadable expression.

His heart skipped, “Miss… did I do something wrong?”

Taylor gritted her teeth. “Didn’t you get a message telling you not to make that vow?”

“I told you you were acting without permission. Now I have to punish you.”

Alan said nothing.

Then, in one smooth motion, he dropped to one knee, eyes downcast. “Alan accepts any punishment the young lady sees fit.”

With total sincerity, he knelt upright, held his belt high above his head with both hands–offering it to her for his own punishment.

But after several seconds of silence, Alan looked up in confusion.

No reaction?

Did she think the belt wasn’t enough?

In all his years of serving her, he’d never once defied an order. This was his first time. She must be furious.

He tossed aside the belt, looked around, and spotted a decorative stone lion nearby.

It was the size of a bowling ball.

Without hesitation, he walked over, grabbed it, and prepared to smash it down on his own head.

Taylor finally spoke. “Alan.”

He froze, turned back to her, stone lion still in his hands.

“Miss, I know you’re angry,” he said solemnly, “but this thing’s kind of heavy. If you hit me with it, your wrist might hurt.”

Idiot. He was worried she’d get hurt beating him.

Taylor’s voice turned low. “That vow you made back there–did you mean it? You really only want to be my bodyguard forever? You never even once thought about crossing that line?”

Alan furrowed his brow, then nodded seriously. “Yes, Miss. I’m just a bodyguard.”

Taylor’s brows furrowed so hard they nearly collapsed into each other. This man… is such an idiot.

“Just a bodyguard? You’re also a man.”

She wanted to say: Any man has the right to go after the woman he loves.

But this idiot didn’t even have the guts to admit it.

Serves him right to be a hopeless frog at the bottom of a well.

And in her frustration, she blurted out, “You stupid toad!”

Alan flinched, then immediately nodded. “Yes, the young lady is right. I’m a toad. You’re a swan. I’m fully aware of my place. I would never dare have delusions.”

Taylor was speechless. What the hell is this tragic self-deprecation?

“Alan,” she ground out, “do you not understand anything? Would it kill you to just admit you like me?”

Alan’s eyes went wide. He looked completely dumbfounded.

Taylor had launched into a long, indignant rant and was about to storm over and yank the stone lion from his hand when–

A calm voice echoed in her earpiece.

“Sorry,” Yunice said with a chuckle, “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”

Taylor froze. Her face flushed scarlet on the spot.

“I just wanted to remind you your earpiece is still on,” Yunice added, amused. “But don’t worry–I think Alan’s vow wasn’t a bad thing. Even if he’s ‘just’ your bodyguard, that doesn’t mean his feelings are any less real. And that kind of sincerity… is more precious than any promise.”