I Married the President-Chapter 24: A New Realization

Adrian Quincy instinctively pulled her into a tight embrace, wishing he could meld her into his very bones. "It’s okay now. I taught him a lesson for you. Calm down, okay?"

"I... I want to get someone to change the locks... I promised my sister I’d protect myself... I did protect myself... I really did... I want to get someone to change the locks..."

She rambled incoherently, unable to calm her racing thoughts.

Adrian Quincy’s heart ached as he looked down at her trembling lips.

He then noticed the bruises on the corner of her mouth, her neck, and her arms. She had been hit.

’Damn it, she was actually hit!’

Adrian Quincy was consumed with self-blame. ’If I hadn’t left her here alone, this never would have happened. It’s all my fault for being so arrogant!’

"Claire Sinclair, look at me!" he demanded, forcing her to meet his gaze.

Claire Sinclair’s vision swam for a moment, as if she’d been jolted awake. Then, her tears began to pour. "SOB... I thought it was all over... SOB..."

Adrian Quincy frantically wiped away her tears. "It’s okay, you’re fine. I’ve already taken down the bad guy for you. Look."

He turned her head toward the unconscious Logan Linden on the floor, forcing her to face reality.

Claire Sinclair froze. At the sight of the unconscious Logan Linden, her blank mind slowly started to function again.

’I’m finally safe. I’m saved.’

But the tears wouldn’t stop. She didn’t want to cry, but she couldn’t control it.

’Maybe it was the heartbreak, maybe it was my terrible judge of character, maybe it was the relief of surviving... or maybe it was because he saved me...’

’Finally, there’s someone by my side, just like my sister. Even though he’s the high and mighty Adrian Quincy, he’s my husband now. My family.’

In that moment, she realized with profound certainty that he could be trusted.

’Adrian Quincy... he’s really a good person.’

’So that’s why I’m crying. I’m touched. Makes sense.’

Her tears were like scalding water, searing Adrian Quincy’s heart. Watching her cry, he felt a lingering fear from the close call.

If he had arrived just one minute later, he dared not imagine what would have happened to her.

He began to realize he had made a foolish mistake.

’Every time I saw her face, I couldn’t help but equate her with Quinn Sinclair, the most capable person at the training camp. I ended up holding her to Quinn’s standards.’

’Now I see it clearly. She isn’t Quinn Sinclair. She’s just an ordinary young woman with no special training and no deep-seated devotion to serving her country.’

’Like most citizens, she’s completely defenseless and fragile in the face of violence. That’s why we need a strong military to protect them.’

’But even if I can look out for the countless citizens of Aridia, what right do I have to run for that position if I can’t even protect the person closest to me?’

For the first time in his life, Adrian Quincy questioned his own abilities—all because this young woman had been hurt.

"I’m sorry," he apologized in a low voice. He had misunderstood her, and he blamed his own arrogance.

Claire Sinclair was taken aback, thinking she must have misheard him.

"Are you apologizing to me?"

"I will investigate this matter thoroughly. From now on, no one will dare to hurt you. You don’t have to be afraid."

Claire Sinclair stared blankly into his deep, dark eyes. ’Is it my imagination, or is he blaming himself?’

Adrian Quincy suddenly swept her up into his arms, startling her. She instinctively struggled, worried about what he was going to do.

He suddenly whispered in her ear, "Go take a shower first. I’ll take you away from here when you’re done."