Yours, Until Needed
Chapter 44: She knows

Chapter 44: She knows

"Help!" Lara tried to scream this time, foregoing her nature and purpose. She just wanted to get rid of this guy. But he was relentless and blocked her mouth with his free hand.

She was much shorter than her assaulter, barely reaching the man’s shoulders, so it had been easy for him to hide her in his arms, easily masking his crimes from anyone’s view.

Just as Lara panicked at being stifled, the guy suddenly grunted, and Lara felt his arms suddenly slacken.

With a swoosh, the man fell back, leaving Lara crouching after her legs gave out.

Did she see that right?

She looked up, only to see a gorgeous girl with her leg raised, fresh from kicking the drunk man in the face.

Light gray eyes, all determined and sharp. Her short jet-black hair swayed as she sent the assailant flying with a high kick. Red lips and pale skin, she glittered under the afternoon glow. Her slender body looked poised and sharp, a huge contrast to Lara’s current pitiful bearings. This woman was radiating power and confidence.

Lara’s heart thumped as she saw her stance. She felt her chest suddenly squeezing as she looked at her savior.

"What the hell do you think you’re doing to her?" The woman asked, her tone bearing heavy weight, like an answer she didn’t like would merit another beating.

The guy managed to get his bearings together. He tried grabbing onto the woman but was kicked in the groin instead, causing him to scream in pain.

Lara looked from where she crouched. The man was on the floor, writhing in pain, while the woman closed in on him, prepared to step on his groin with her sharp heels.

Then, several men dressed in black suits came rushing, securing the criminal on the floor.

"Ma’am, we’ll take care of this. Are you hurt anywhere?"

"No, I’m fine. But send this guy to the police station. And have someone standby in case she needs more help." The woman gestured to Lara, who was still reeling from earlier.

As she protected herself, she didn’t see the guards pointing at her and the woman’s head shaking. All she heard was her saying, "I know. I’ll take care of it myself."

"Yes, ma’am." The men disappeared with the criminal, and Lara felt relieved.

She had no idea she’d face something like this by coming out herself.

She hugged her knees and did not care for the things scattered on the ground. Just then, the woman who rescued her asked, "Are you alright? I’ll get you somewhere safer if you’d like."

Lara looked up again, this time with a clearer mind. She had been too high-strung earlier to register the woman’s image and actions as if in slo-mo.

Eliana Thornhill. No, Eliana Sinclair.

It was her.

Lara couldn’t imagine meeting her this way. She had half expected to feel anger and disdain, feelings she’d harbored before this moment. But nothing. Instead, Lara panicked when Eliana reached out to help her.

She suddenly flushed. She was probably blushing to her toes. Her heart was beating too fast like she was about to have a heart attack. But then she remembered Eliana’s outstretched hand.

She took her hand, and the feeling was entirely the opposite of what she got when the man touched her. Her hand was soft, but not as soft as hers, which rarely got used. Eliana’s hand was that of someone who used her hands but was able to take care of them, too.

"I’m fine, I...I should probably head back now. I’ve been gone for too long." Lara said after thinking about it. She was still feeling weak, but it wouldn’t do her any good to stay here for longer.

What if someone recognized her? She did put in effort to disguise herself a bit, but she couldn’t do much without assistance from her staff.

So she had to leave, even if she felt distressed as she said that.

"Do you need help getting home?" Eliana asked politely, still holding Lara’s hand as she steadied her up.

"I’ll be fine. Thank you." Lara hesitated but decided to ask. "If you could leave me your name and contact number, I could thank you better later."

Eliana tilted her head as she observed Lara, who now fiddled with her hands as she waited for her reply.

"I’m Eliana. There’s no need to thank me. I just did what anyone would’ve done. I’ll have someone leave my contact information at the station in case you need someone to testify."

"But still, thank you, I’m Lara. And I should go now."

Just as Lara was about to turn around, Eliana said, "I know."

"You should take better care of yourself, Lara. It’s pretty dangerous outside, especially if you go out without your guards."

Lara was stupefied. She thought she had managed to pass off as normal this whole time, but this woman knew.

She searched Eliana’s face but got nothing. Her expression didn’t change much, and there was no trace of repulsion—unlike him.

"I’m not sure why you’ve come over, and I’d rather not assume. But you should be more careful. If you don’t want help from us, that’s fine. Though, I’m telling you now so, we won’t spook you even more. I’ll have my people watch over you until you safely get a ride home or elsewhere. I’m not a fan of witnessing such crimes, after all."

"You...You know who I am. Why would you do this?" Lara was indeed a tomato right now. For some reason, she feared Eliana’s reaction to learning who she was. She had secretly hoped that she knew nothing more than her name.

Maybe he never said anything to her.

Only for that to be shattered. She knew. Eliana knew about her. And that made Lara’s heart nearly drop off its cage.

"Why? Should there be a "why" when helping people in need? Sure, I hope you’ll do nothing untoward. But that’s another thing from being assaulted in front of me."

Lara froze while Eliana turned to the side after hearing someone call her name.

"There’s really no need to thank me, but if you don’t like owing people anything, just be good for as long as you can. I promise there are way more things worthy of your attention."

"Take care." Eliana waved a hand at Lara, running over to Rina Zellner.

Lara had them all memorized so she knew who this girl was. She was running while carrying two cups of ice cream, and Eliana smiled at her, her eyes showing genuine happiness at seeing her friend with the dessert.

Then, another feeling invaded Lara’s heart. She was jealous. Eliana flashed such a smile at Rina.

Lara gripped the hand that Eliana held earlier. Feeling the need to protect it, she was hesitant about washing it once she bathed.

She lingered in place, watching the two friends leave as they chatted and ate their ice creams. Lara wanted to take photos but remembered that she was being watched.

And Elaina told her to be good.

Lara thought about that as she went to her hotel, replaying the incident repeatedly.

I need the surveillance footage from different angles.

Lara thought as she lay in the tub, a hand hanging from the side, careful of wetting it.