After dinner, Darnell cleaned up the table, feeling uneasy about Areli washing the dishes, suspecting it would lead to another disaster.
Areli knew she wasn’t good at chores, so she didn’t compete with Darnell for the task. Instead, she took out a bunch of fruits.
Humming a tune, she crafted a beautiful fruit platter and set out two forks, waiting for Darnell to join her.
She used to think wasting time was a crime, but tonight she was willing to settle down quietly.
“Boom!”
Suddenly, the night sky lit up with a thunderous roar, followed by the sound of rain pattering against the window.
A downpour descended from the heavens.
Areli dropped the remote control and rushed to the balcony in her slippers, intending to bring in the clothes. However, in her haste and with an injured finger, she couldn’t grip the clothes properly. It slipped from her grasp, lost in the darkness amid strong winds and heavy rain.
“Darnell, Darnell, it’s raining.”
Areli abandoned her usual strong independence and shouted loudly, “Come help me gather the clothes.”
“I’m coming.”
Darnell wiped his hands and dashed out of the kitchen.
He then quickly retrieved clothes that had been hanging for over three days.
“One pair of panda underwear, two pairs of panda underwear, and three pairs of panda underwear…”
After handing Areli her outerwear, Darnell began collecting underwear. First, he took down several bras before turning to the panda-patterned underwear.
Looking up at them, he saw a row of cute pandas waving in the wind as if greeting him. He hurriedly gathered these treasures into his arms.
“Miss Fanshaw, so many pandas! When will you let me visit their base?”
Areli was initially stunned but then shyly slapped Darnell’s back. “You scoundrel! What nonsense are you talking about? Give me my clothes.”
Darnell beamed, “No need. I’ll escort them back to your room.”
“Give them to me!”
Seeing Darnell clutching her panda underwear tightly made Areli’s face turn red. She snatched them away and gave him a playful punch.
“Ouch!”
Darnell exaggeratedly cried out and crouched down clutching his abdomen.
“What are you yelling about? I didn’t hit you hard.”
Areli felt a bit guilty. “Are you okay? Let me see.”
Darnell’s eyes brightened. “The most vulnerable spot… do you want to see?”
“You rogue!”
Areli knocked Darnell’s head. “Who wants to see that?”
She glared at Darnell and huffed, “Get up and close the windows.”
“I can’t get up.”
Darnell rubbed his abdomen in grievance. “You really hit me there. I’m hurt and angry. I need some comfort before I can get up.”
Areli hesitated for a moment before biting her lip with a flushed face. “Do you really need comforting?”
Darnell nodded repeatedly. “You definitely need to take responsibility.”
“Fine, I’ll comfort you.”
Areli reached towards Darnell’s abdomen but instead gave him a sharp pinch on his belly.
“Ouch!”
Darnell cried out and sprang up. “That hurts!”
“See? You’re fine now.”
Areli clapped her hands proudly. “My method worked, didn’t it?”
Darnell looked exasperated.
After tidying up the clothes and closing all doors and windows, they settled onto the sofa.
Areli stuffed a piece of melon into Darnell’s mouth before leaning back against the sofa to ask, “Darnell, would you tell me your story?”
Darnell paused slightly and turned to look at the expectant woman. “What story do I have? Don’t you believe I’m here to protect you?”
“I believe you. I’m just curious about your background.”
Areli popped a grape into her mouth. “Where are you really from? How did you end up in Africa? What did you do there?”
She didn’t know why but found herself deeply interested in Darnell.
“I only know I’m from Westergold. I don’t know my exact origin. I started working in Africa when I was very young.”
Perhaps due to their rare harmonious relationship, Darnell was willing to open up his heart and reveal some details to Areli.
“I started killing people when I was very young. At eight years old when I could hold a knife, I was assigned as an executioner-sometimes killing ten people a day or as few as three.”
Areli was slightly shocked and skeptical, probing, “Really? You had the courage to kill people? Weren’t you afraid?”
“Of course, I was afraid.”
Darnell sighed, “I still remember vividly the desperate look in the eyes of my first victim, but I had no choice.”
“If I didn’t chop off his head that day, I’d have no food or water. You know what no food or water means, right?”
“Death.”
The simple word made Areli shiver slightly as she gazed at Darnell with softer eyes.
“I didn’t want to die,” Darnell spoke in a low voice. “Moreover, pity is meaningless. Thus, I began my career as an executioner, even though it was against my will.”
“During my three years as an executioner, I beheaded at least a thousand people. I didn’t earn much money, but I learned to view life and death more openly while cherishing my own life greatly.”
Those three years also forged Darnell’s strong psychological qualities along with unmatched skills.
“After being an executioner, I became a mercenary-the youngest mercenary.”
“Luckily, having some skills coupled with a group of brothers fighting alongside me, I carved out my own world in Africa.”
“They gave me the title ‘Scarlet Bayonet’ meaning the person targeted would surely bleed by my bayonet.”
His expression darkened briefly. “But killing too many people, I felt tired, so upon hearing about a job protecting a beautiful woman, I ended up in Whiteville.”
“I thought it would be all about flirting, drinking, or maybe even marrying a CEO, but then I realized I’d been duped.”
Darnell turned towards Areli with a smile. “You’re quite sought after.”
Areli scoffed, “If I were truly sought after, I would’ve been snatched up long ago. I wouldn’t be standing here before you now.”
“You really are a catch. The reason no one has come to you yet is simply that timing isn’t right.”
Darnell looked at Areli, a smile lingering on his lips, “When that time comes, you won’t even make it to the door.”
Areli was a clever woman, and she somewhat guessed why, but she chose not to reveal. Instead, she popped another grape into her mouth.
After a long pause, she softly asked, “Will you protect me forever?”