— I hate you.
Blake remained silent.
Aïnis's words didn't seem to surprise him.
He knew she was hurt. He also knew that she needed to release all the frustration she had been holding inside for days.
He didn't blame her.
— Aïnis…
His voice was calm.
But this time, she didn't want to hear him anymore.
She suddenly looked up at him, her cheeks still wet with tears.
— You can leave.
Blake frowned slightly.
— What?
— I don't want to see you anymore from today onward.
She turned her face away to hide her tears.
— You've decided to leave? Fine. Go.
Blake remained still.
— Aïnis, I'm still your bodyguard until I leave.
— I know.
She quickly wiped her cheeks.
— But I don't want you coming into my room anymore. I don't want to have this conversation with you again. I don't want to keep trying to convince you.
She struggled to breathe evenly.
— I'm tired.
Blake watched her for a few seconds.
— You don't really mean what you're saying.
Aïnis immediately looked up.
— Don't do that.
— Do what?
— Don't decide what I'm thinking again.
Blake fell silent.
She was right.
Aïnis clenched her fists.
— You told me no. I understand.
Her voice trembled.
— You don't love me the way I love you. I understand that too.
She looked away.
— So at least let me be angry.
Blake didn't answer.
Aïnis wiped away another tear.
— I don't want you to comfort me.
She paused.
— I don't want you to tell me that everything will be okay.
Then she whispered:
— I just want you to leave now.
Blake remained silent for a few seconds.
Then he slowly nodded.
— Okay.
He walked toward the door.
Aïnis didn't look at him.
His hand rested on the doorknob.
But before leaving, he stopped.
— I'm sorry for hurting you.
Aïnis closed her eyes.
She wanted to answer him.
Tell him that he had no right to apologize.
Tell him that she would have preferred him to be cruel rather than kind.
But no words came out.
Blake finally opened the door.
— I'll leave you alone.
The door closed behind him.
Aïnis remained alone.
And the moment she heard his footsteps fading down the hallway, she covered her mouth with one hand to hold back a sob.
She had just asked him to leave.
But deep down, she still hoped he would turn around.
As Blake left Aïnis's room, he walked down the stairs.
He had barely reached the hall when a maid approached him.
— Mr. Blake.
He stopped.
— Yes?
— Mr. Morel would like to see you in his office.
Blake nodded.
— Very well.
Without wasting any time, he headed straight toward Victor's office.
⸻
Meanwhile, Victor was still in his office.
The room was bathed in dim light.
Several files lay open in front of him, but he had stopped reading them several minutes ago.
His gaze was fixed on his phone.
A message had just arrived.
Blake's transfer has been confirmed. His departure is scheduled in five days.
Victor locked the screen.
He leaned back in his chair.
Blake had been an excellent bodyguard.
Discreet.
Competent.
Reliable.
And above all, he had managed to earn Aïnis's trust.
That was precisely why Victor had agreed to offer him the new assignment.
He had noticed certain things.
The way Aïnis looked for Blake.
How easily she talked to him.
The way her mood changed whenever he was around.
Victor had never considered it something serious.
Aïnis was young.
She became attached easily to people who occupied an important place in her daily life.
But he also knew his daughter.
And he knew that an attachment could quickly turn into something more complicated.
So he had preferred to act before the situation reached that point.
A soft knock sounded at the door.
— Come in.
The door opened.
Blake appeared.
— Mr. Morel.
Victor looked up.
— Close the door.
Blake obeyed.
He walked toward the desk.
— You wanted to see me?
Victor folded his hands in front of him.
— Yes.
He paused.
— Is your departure still scheduled for five days from now?
— Yes, sir.
— Have you arranged everything?
— Almost.
Victor nodded.
— Good.
Silence settled between them.
Then Victor asked:
— Has Aïnis spoken to you about your departure?
Blake remained silent for a second.
— Yes.
— How did she take it?
Blake did not answer immediately.
— She's disappointed.
Victor studied his face.
— Only disappointed?
Blake held his gaze.
— She's become very attached to me.
Victor sighed.
— I suspected as much.
He stood and walked toward the window.
From there, he could see part of the garden.
— I didn't ask you to leave because you did your job poorly.
Blake said nothing.
— On the contrary. You did exactly what I expected of you.
Victor turned around.
— But sometimes, doing your job properly means knowing when it's time to move on.
Blake understood exactly what he meant.
— I agree.
Victor looked at him for a long moment.
— Are you certain?
— Yes.
— Even if Aïnis asks you to stay?
Blake did not look away.
— Yes.
Victor remained silent.
Then a faint smile appeared on his face.
— That's the answer I was hoping to hear.
Blake nodded.
He had known Victor long enough to understand that this conversation was not purely professional.
— Is there anything else you wanted to ask me?
Victor returned to his desk.
— Yes.
He sat down.
— I want your replacement to be someone I can trust.
— I can give you a few names.
— Do it.
Blake nodded.
He was about to leave when he heard:
— Blake.
He turned around.
Victor looked directly at him.
— Thank you.
Blake remained still.
— For what, sir?
— For protecting my daughter.
Blake's expression remained impassive, but his gaze softened slightly.
— It was my job.
Victor shook his head.
— No.
His voice was deeper now.
— It was your job at first.
He paused.
— But eventually, you came to genuinely care about her.
Blake did not deny it.
— Yes.
Victor slowly nodded.
— That is precisely why I believe your departure is the right decision.
Blake nodded.
— I think so too.
A brief silence followed.
Then Victor glanced at the time.
— Besides, you can go home for tonight. We'll see each other tomorrow.
Blake nodded.
— Yes, sir.
He left the office.
Victor remained alone.
He stared at the door that had just closed.
Then he sighed.
He loved his daughter deeply.
Perhaps too deeply.
He knew Aïnis would probably resent his decision one day.
But he would rather have her hate him today than watch her suffer even more tomorrow.
His gaze fell upon an old photograph sitting on his desk.
Aïnis as a child.
Smiling.
Carefree.
Victor allowed himself a faint smile.
— You're growing up too fast, my daughter…
Then his expression became serious again.
He knew the next five days would not be easy.
Especially for her.