Chapter 76: I Will Protect You!

Olive didn't have any male friends, but she teased Elvis on the phone. "Yeah, there are so many handsome guys in the Ivory Council. I met some today."

Elvis was silent for a moment, then chuckled low and provocatively. "Oh, really?"

Olive, sensing his anger, quickly backtracked. "I lied. They're not as handsome as you."

Elvis smiled, a hint of amusement in his tone. "Little liar. Lying doesn't suit you, don't you think?"

"Mr. Augustine, you're the most handsome man to me. Other men's handsomeness is none of my business," she declared, expressing her loyalty.

Elvis was pleased. He knew he shouldn't interfere in her life, but her intelligence and beauty would undoubtedly attract many suitors.

"Olly," he whispered. Olive rarely heard him use that nickname; he usually called her Mrs. Augustine.

"What?" she asked.

"Olly, I don't like boys who study medicine. Don't get close to them."

Olive laughed. "Mr. Augustine doesn't like boys who study medicine, but likes girls who do. What an irony."

"Olly, I'm serious. My brother studied medicine. He's been a medical genius since childhood. He's quite good," Elvis said, revealing something Olive hadn't known. North had told her Elvis had only been in LA seven years and that Mrs. Samantha was his only relative.

"Mr. Augustine, you have a brother?"

"Stepbrother. My mother passed away when I was young. Mrs. Augustine is my stepmother," Elvis explained. Olive shivered; their backgrounds were surprisingly similar. She mused silently, So, his father, stepmother, and medical-genius brother lived together, while he lived with his grandmother in LA?

Elvis, usually reserved and mature, had never shared this before. He rarely spoke about his family.

"Mr. Augustine…"

"I don't want to talk now. Study hard and take care," Elvis said, abruptly ending the call.

Olive glared at her phone. He'd initiated the call, only to end it so quickly. She placed her phone on the table. The quiet man had returned. His footsteps were unusually light, and Olive felt a sudden chill.

She noticed a flask of instant noodles in his hands. Olive's stomach rumbled; she'd only eaten a small lunch and hadn't had dinner. She was starving.

The man was reading a medical textbook. His fingers were long, slender, and beautiful – the kind one might expect on a pianist or a doctor. But Olive wasn't interested in his hands; she was focused on the noodles. He seemed in no hurry to eat them.

Approaching him, she said hesitantly, "I'm sorry to bother you. Are you going to eat those noodles? I haven't had dinner. Could I have them? I'll return them tomorrow morning."

Without looking up, he said simply, "Take them."

Olive gratefully accepted the noodles and hurried back to her chair. Her phone rang – it was Mr. Augustine.

"Hello, Mr. Augustine," she answered.

Elvis's deep, warm voice filled her ear. "Come out."

Her eyes widened. She quickly put down her fork and ran out. A Rolls-Royce Phantom sat by the curb – Elvis's car.

She stopped, staring at him. He leaned back in the car, looking striking in a gray shirt. She hadn't lied; he was the most handsome man she'd ever seen.

"Mr. Augustine, I'm here!" she called.

Elvis turned and stepped out. Olive ran into his arms. He immediately wrapped his arms around her waist. She pressed her face against him, nuzzling like a kitten.

"Mr. Augustine, why did you hang up on me? Were you afraid I'd comfort you?" They both knew it was unusual to see Elvis vulnerable.

"I've forgotten what I said, so should you," he replied.

Olive nodded obediently. "Okay. Forget it. But never forget what I'm about to say. I don't want to comfort you."

Elvis raised an eyebrow. "Okay?"

"From today onwards, I'll always protect you."

He playfully spanked her waist. "Protect me? You?"

"Mr. Augustine, don't underestimate me. There are three of them, but there are three of us – Grandma, you, and me. I'm not afraid of any medical geniuses. If they dare to bully you, I'll definitely protect you."