Chapter 55

**Sarah**

Josh strode into the room, his brow furrowed with concern. "Who are those men?" he inquired, his voice laced with curiosity. It was evident he had crossed paths with those troublemakers.

"Just a couple of idiots," I retorted, my irritation palpable.

He settled onto the couch beside me.  "If you managed to come here to the bar, it means you're doing good."

"Yes! I wanted to take the medicine I used to rely on during panic attacks, but I resorted to eating instead. I also calm myself down and avoid negative things, focusing on what can help me."

Josh's gaze remained fixed on me.  "That's good to hear! But what usually triggers your panic attacks?"

I met Josh's gaze, unsure if I should disclose the truth. But since I had promised to trust him, I said, "Every time I remember the immense pain from when your boss and I were still married, I feel like I can't breathe, and my vision blurs or darkens. Surprisingly, since I started spending time with Philip, I rarely feel that way. I wanted to understand why."

"Because you mentioned he was also the source of your attacks. Somehow, your inner self wanted to heal using the same cause but overall, it was you, Madam Sarah. You wanted to heal on your own. I also think the activities you do help a lot."

Josh was right. I filled my days with meaningful activities and refused to let toxic influences affect me despite trouble consistently finding its way to me.

He added, "I didn't expect you to adjust so quickly."

"I followed your suggestion. The problem is, I drift off to sleep too quickly, and when I do, it's usually a deep slumber." Earlier, I was so out of it that I didn't even realize Philip did things inappropriately. That pervert!

"Your brain is still adjusting. The medication you were given was too strong," Josh observed.

That's the frustrating part. That doctor should be facing charges!

As I glanced at Josh, a wave of questions flooded my mind. Should I be more vigilant around Philip's bodyguard despite my decision to trust him? I couldn't shake the uncertainty about his true motives.

"Josh, who are you really?" I blurted out.

He met my gaze squarely. "It's better if you remain unaware, Madam Sarah."

"But you previously mentioned needing to retain your job, which led to me lifting your one-month suspension. What drove that decision?"

Why does he continue to stick with Philip? If I press further, Josh will surely catch on that I've been digging into his background. Sometimes, less is more.

"Because I need the money," Josh replied.

My mouth fell open. I hadn't expected such a straightforward answer from Josh. But why does he need the money?

"Don't doctors make a decent income? Why would you consider becoming Philip's bodyguard?"

I observed Josh squinting, his body trembling with anger. What triggered this sudden reaction? As he tightly shut his eyes, it became apparent that he was struggling to maintain composure, a valiant effort to prevent an escalation and confront his emotions head-on.

"Forget it! I won't answer," Josh declared, retrieving a brown envelope from his squared bag. "I know you're seeking retribution against Madam Cornell and Dr. Morgan. These files will help you..."

My brow furrowed as I accepted the thick envelope, curiosity urging me to peek inside.

The door creaked open, and Jane's surprise was evident as she entered, catching sight of Josh's presence.

"Josh?" Trey inquired with tension. "What brings you here?"

I explained, "I invited him over. He's just dropped something off for work. It's not that I doubt you; it's a simple task."

Trey cast a sharp glance at Josh and then at the envelope, a flicker of suspicion crossing his features. Surely, he wouldn't dare pry into its contents, would he?

"Madam Sarah, I must be leaving," Josh announced.

"Hold on," I halted him, swiftly reaching for my phone and capturing a snapshot of him.

"Madam Sarah, that's illegal," Josh protested, his tone serious, teeth clenched in frustration.

"I'll just save it as a contact photo. It's a habit of mine. Besides, you look quite charming tonight!"

Damn it! My heart's racing!

Jane discreetly cleared her throat, casting a pointed glance at the vigilant bodyguard.

"Remove it immediately!" Josh's voice carried a sharp edge, sparking Trey's vigilance.

With a roll of my eyes, I flashed my phone screen at Josh, conveying my compliance.

The screen showed 'Delete?' Without hesitation, I tapped the 'Okay' button.

"Are we settled? I wanted to update my contacts with pictures. Why are you so upset?" I asked, trying to diffuse the tension.

"Sarah, you should have asked for permission first. If you did this to others, they would be upset too," Jane interjected with a hint of disapproval.

"I apologize. I'm fortunate to have understanding friends," I expressed, acknowledging my misstep.

Ignoring me, Josh watched as I took out my wallet to pay for the consultation. His expression soured when I handed over the payment.

"Thanks for your help!" I waved the envelope cheerfully. Despite his initial reluctance, he eventually accepted it, his jaw stiffening with an air of pride. I couldn't help but wonder why he seemed so adamant about it.

As Josh and Trey exited the room, I dismissed their conversation from my mind. Examining the contents of the envelope, I discovered photographs of Madam Cornell and her schedule, alongside incriminating documents pertaining to Dr. Morgan's illicit transactions.

As I gaze upon Jane and myself, there's no retreat from the path I've chosen. I'm set to execute the very action that strikes fear into Madam Cornell's heart-to strip her of her title as Madam Cornell.  It's evident she's leveraging Philip to maintain her status, so he can't be her top priority.

"I promised my dad I'll stay at your villa," Jane said.

"Perfect timing! I want you all to myself!" I exclaimed, embracing her. "Let's venture out together and find men who'll give us genuine love!"

She grinned, and our glasses chimed.

Jane was nearly intoxicated when we arrived back at Amir's villa. Despite her haze, my thoughts remained lucid. Through the car window, as the car glided past Serenity Pines Estate, Philip and Megan were unmistakably entwined in each other's arms at the gate.

"Hold on! Is that Megan?" Jane's observation caught me off guard.

I shrugged. "Possibly. Unless your brother's a skilled womanizer who can summon any woman to my villa!"

It grated on my nerves, truly!

Once inside Amir's villa, I guided Jane to her room before succumbing to my frustration with a solitary feast. Today was a test, and I proved a lot of things!

Settling at the kitchen island with a bowl of ice cream, I initiated a video call with Jakob. With my laptop positioned before me, his voice came through the speakers, accompanied by the rhythmic tapping of his typing.

"How are you, doll?" Jakob's inquiry reached me as I savored another spoonful of ice cream.

To ensure Jane was in her room, I meticulously scanned the hallways and other areas via surveillance but found no trace of her anywhere in the villa. This confirmed she was indeed inside her room. I value her privacy and respect boundaries, which is why I haven't installed a camera in the room I've provided for her use.

"I'm not feeling great, to be honest. I'm still engrossed in revising the codes you requested," I responded.

"Have you been drinking?" he inquired.

"A bit, but my intoxication level is inconsequential. Don't fret about my state; I'm still perfectly clear-headed, especially since I'll be beginning my job at Luminary Productions tomorrow morning. Jane and I had a casual conversation at the pub. My only concern is that our tool might present challenges at the office." After all, we haven't tested it on anywhere else yet.

"So, how did it go? Did you uncover anything about Josh?" I inquired.

Earlier, I had shared a photo of Josh with Jakob. While I may have indicated to Josh that I deleted it, retrieving it from the recycle bin was simple.

The revelation about Josh's true identity left us stunned.