Chapter 58 The Quall Family Memorial Hall Isn’t Open to Just Anyone.
Chloe’s face darkened. “You’ve got it all wrong. I was just here last night… doing my job as a bodyguard.”
William’s eyes dropped to her wrist. Brian’s hand was still clamped tightly around it.
He knew Chloe had been hired to protect Brian for three months, but since when did bodyguards start holding hands in bed? And since when had Brian needed to hold someone’s hand while he slept?
“Even as a bodyguard, there’s no way Mr. Steele would let you stay by his side while he slept,” William
said.
Brian had never let anyone near him while he slept.
“You should be asking him that,” Chloe shot back. “He was the one who grabbed my hand. I couldn’t get
away.”
Honestly, she was the victim here. Yet William looked at her like she had taken outrageous advantage of his precious boss.
“Really?” Brian’s voice was rougher than usual. “Was I the one who grabbed your hand?”
Chloe stiffened and turned her head. Brian was awake.
“Yeah. You weren’t resting well last night. I heard a noise and came to check on you. You grabbed my hand,” Chloe explained. “I didn’t get on the bed. I slept on the floor while leaning against the nightstand.”
A flicker of surprise crossed Brian’s eyes. His fingers were still curled around her wrist, and her warmth bled into his palm.
He hadn’t been resting well? He figured he must have had another nightmare.
He could still somewhat remember the sting of his father’s whip. Back then, no matter how much he cried
for help, it was useless.
Those dreams had haunted him for years. At one point, he had even seen a therapist and taken medication for them.
Eventually, the nightmares stopped. He hadn’t had one in years. Until last night.
Had it been because Chloe had seen the scars on his back? Had they stirred up memories he thought he had buried?
Yet, her hand felt warm.
Despite the nightmare, he didn’t feel that same nauseating sensation when he woke up. He wondered if it was because he hadn’t let go of her hand.
If anything, it had been the best sleep he had had.
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“Mr. Steele? Can you let go now?” Chloe asked. Her wrist was numb from being trapped in his grip all
night.
Brian frowned. “Didn’t we agree that you’d call me Brian, Chloe?”
Chloe wanted to roll her eyes.
William, on the other hand, looked like he had been struck by lightning. He had never heard Brian speak so intimately to a woman before, let alone ask her to call him by his first name.
Could Brian be interested in Chloe?
Chloe pursed her lips. “Fine. Brian, could you let go of my hand now?”
It was only a name. She could deal with that.
At last, Brian loosened his grip, and Chloe pulled her hand free. She flexed her wrist to get the blood flowing again.
“I’m going back to my room,” she said. “I have to go to the Quall Family Memorial Hall today, so I won’t be able to provide security for you. You’ll have to rely on your other bodyguards.”
After detailing her plans for the day, she opened the door and headed for her bedroom.
Brian lowered his gaze to his hand. Her warmth still lingered on his fingertips.
He hadn’t wanted to let go of her hand. He wanted to keep holding it. Holding her hand gave him a sense of safety he hadn’t felt in years. It reminded him of that day in the rubble when a little girl had pulled him up and refused to let go. However, her face was blurry in his memory.
“She didn’t leave me this time either,” he murmured.
“What was that?” William asked after snapping out of his thoughts.
“Nothing.”
Brian slowly curled his right hand into a fist.
The more she refused to abandon him, the more he didn’t want to let her go.
Clutching the urn, Chloe left the villa and took a cab to the memorial hall.
Today, she would place her parents‘ ashes inside, giving them a permanent resting place alongside her grandparents and the rest of the Qualls.
The car pulled up to the gates of the hall. Chloe stepped out of the car with the urn held tightly in her
arms. Pride swelled in her chest.
Above the entrance of the hall was a blackwood plaque that gleamed with five golden words, “The Quall Family Memorial Hall.”
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On either side of the plaque were a pair of inscriptions that read, “Honor the past. Live up to the future.”
The imposing hall radiated dignity. Standing there, Chloe could feel herself passing through time.
It was the hall James had risked his life to defend.
Just as she was about to step inside, someone blocked her path. “This is the Quall family’s memorial hall.
No outsiders allowed.”
“I’m Chloe Quall. Walter Quall’s daughter. My parents passed away. According to family rules, their urns must rest here for three days before I can put up their memorial plaques here.”
“Walter Quall?” The guard frowned. “As far as I know, there’s no one left from that side of the family.”
“My family has lived in Corvessia for years. Before I came here, I spoke with Winston Quall. He knows about this. Could you get him for me?” Chloe asked.
The guard shifted uncomfortably. “He isn’t here today.”
In truth, everyone knew he was off playing poker, but that wasn’t something they would admit to her face.
“What? He’s not here?” Chloe asked, surprised.
“I can try to call him,” the guard said. Just as he was about to take out his phone, a sharp voice cut through the air.
“Uncle Winston isn’t here today. I’ll handle this.”
Chloe turned. It was the woman she had met at the restaurant before.
Willow approached her, followed by a small group. They were all faces Chloe recognized from last night.
The guard quickly explained, “Ms. Quall, this young lady says she’s Mr. Walter Quall’s daughter and wants to place her parents‘ ashes in the memorial hall.”
“Walter Quall?” Willow sneered. “Everyone knows that branch of the family died out long ago. Besides, the Quall Family Memorial Hall isn’t open to just anyone.”
