Chapter 123

"You must be the Mrs., right?" The woman smiled at Diane. "We're the bodyguards Mr. Severin hired."

Diane's face contorted. "Bodyguards?" The women—all with excellent figures—were a striking contrast to her expectations. Some had a "girl-next-door" look; others were cold or sultry. They were the antithesis of what bodyguards should look like.

"Severin!" she gritted her teeth, her voice rising.

Severin rushed out, stunned by the sight of the sexily dressed women. "Uhhwho are they?"

"Oh? Aren't these the bodyguards you hired? Are you seriously telling me you don't know them? Who are you trying to fool?" Severin's bewildered expression angered Diane further. She suspected he'd been looking for lovers, not bodyguards. They seemed more interested in being taken care of than taking care of others. To her, Severin was already straying. She didn't mind the large villa or the money, but hiring women as "bodyguards" was unacceptable. What were his private intentions?

Severin frowned, a headache looming. "The bodyguards I hired?"

"Yes! Warren sent us!" One young woman stepped forward, exuding youthful energy.

Severin finally understood. "Oh, yeah! I asked a friend for bodyguards after the Stones threatened us. I was worried about the family's safety." He scratched his head. "I didn't expect an all-female team!"

"You can't leave, right?" one woman pleaded. "It was so hard to get hired! Please accept us!" Another woman agreed.

Judith and Maurice approached, curious. "These are the bodyguards? All women? Will they be competent? And how much did this cost? We don't need bodyguards, do we?" Judith’s concern centered on the expense.

A woman with permed hair smiled. "Ma'am, Warren paid us ten years' wages upfront! And don't underestimate women. We can handle a hundred men without issue!"

Severin was speechless. Warren had hired skilled people, but beautiful women were unnecessary. He assumed Warren was unaware of his wife and daughter; otherwise, he would have sent men, not women.

"Ten years' wages…upfront?" Judith stared at Severin. "What's your relationship with this friend? How could he afford that?"

"Fate," Severin replied simply.

"Honey, you decide. Send them away, or keep them. They seem strong enough either way." Severin looked at Diane. "Plus, female bodyguards are… convenient. They wouldn't look out of place shopping. I'd be less comfortable with a group of handsome men as bodyguards."

Diane rolled her eyes. "Hmph, I wonder if you deliberately asked for beautiful women."

"That's unfair! I just wanted bodyguards to protect my family!" Severin protested.

Diane laughed. "Okay, okay. Since they're paid, let's accept them." She turned to the women. "But you do brag a bit. A hundred men? Show me."

The youngest girl walked to a life-sized stone lion near the door, squatted, and lifted it with one hand. "How's this?"

(Note: I removed the repeated advertisement.)