Courtyard House: I Have Countless Bodyguards

Led by Emily, Liu Jianguo walked through a deep corridor covered with heavy carpets and hung with ancient portraits, and arrived at a sunny room on the second floor of the manor.

Emily knocked gently on the door, and Isabel responded with a slightly languid tone.

Liu Jianguo gestured for Emily to stay outside, and then pushed open the heavy oak door himself.

The room was spacious and bright, filled with a classic atmosphere, with a warm fire flickering in the fireplace.

Isabel was standing with her back to the door, in front of the sun-drenched French windows.

She wore a loose, soft, off-white velvet dress, her long golden hair loosely tied back, with a few strands hanging down her neck.

She gently supported her protruding belly with one hand, while the other hand softly stroked it.

With her head slightly tilted, the sunlight cast a soft golden edge on her beautifully contoured profile and long eyelashes, creating a serene and maternal glow.

She was pacing slowly and carefully by the window, seemingly engrossed in communicating with her unborn baby.

Liu Jianguo stood at the door, staring silently for a few seconds before tiptoeing over and speaking in a softer voice:

"Why are you up? Didn't the doctor recommend more bed rest?"

His voice broke the silence of the room. His tone was steady, but if you listened carefully, you could detect a faint hint of concern, unlike his usual commands or inquiries.

He walked to Isabel's side, his gaze falling on her profile, which had become much fuller and softer due to her pregnancy, before sliding down to her abdomen, which she was protecting with her hands.

There, a new life, connected to him by blood, was being conceived; this realization came in such a tranquil and private setting.

It became incredibly real and concrete, casting a pebble into the lake of his usually calm, calculating, and methodical mind.

A circle of unfamiliar, soft ripples spread out.

His gaze fell on her rounded belly, where his child was being conceived, and a strange and unfamiliar sense of responsibility quietly arose within him.

Isabel turned around at the sound of his voice, and when she saw him, her emerald eyes seemed to light up instantly, and a genuine and warm smile spread across them.

Pregnancy seemed to magically soften her wild, untamed, and proud lioness-like temperament, adding a gentle, even somewhat dependent, quality to it.

She followed his words, softening her voice, with a slight hoarseness characteristic of pregnancy and an unconscious, almost coquettish tone, as she spoke:

"Master, you've arrived."

She tilted her head slightly, gestured towards the window, and continued:

"Look, the weather is so nice, it's rare to see such good weather. Lying in a dimly lit room all the time is making my bones rust and my heart feel stuffy."

The doctor said that if I feel okay, taking a walk will be beneficial for both me and the baby.

As she spoke, she naturally and tentatively took a small step closer to him, as if seeking support or showing that she was in good spirits.

This subtle gesture, and the blend of maternal glow and the natural sense of relief she felt upon seeing him in her eyes,

They were completely different from the independent, sharp, and even somewhat arrogant policewoman she used to be.

Liu Jianguo stepped forward and gently helped her to sit down on the velvet armchair next to him.

"Be careful. You still need to be extra careful; you're not alone anymore."

He sat down in the chair opposite her, shifting his gaze away from her.

Having regained his usual composure, he got to the point and said:

"A few days ago, the Hong Kong police reacted strongly to the 'Eight-Party Alliance,' but the reaction was quickly suppressed, and they went on high alert. Did you use your connections?"

Isabel nodded, her fingers unconsciously twirling a slightly curled strand of hair hanging down her chest. This slightly uneasy little gesture betrayed a hint of her inner turmoil.

"Um."

She responded, her voice steady, but her pace slightly slower, clearly choosing her words carefully, and continued:

"I received the inside information relatively early, through some..."

Yes, through family connections, a message was delivered to the Commissioner of Police and a key figure in the Security Department.

The statement wasn't explicitly stated, but it hinted that the "Eight Directions Alliance" wasn't simply a local gang conflict; it might involve complex transnational business interests and...

Unofficial security cooperation agreements, if a large-scale crackdown operation is rashly initiated,

This could trigger unnecessary international attention and commercial backlash, which would be detrimental to stability.

She paused, looked up at Liu Jianguo, her emerald eyes appearing deep in the glow of the firelight, and then said:

"The surname Cavendish still carries some weight and influence in certain circles."

They didn't know the details and didn't want to get into any potential trouble.

Therefore, they chose to observe for the time being rather than launch an immediate and decisive attack.

She took a deep breath, gently placed her hand on her abdomen, lowered her voice, and continued with a barely perceptible tension:

"However, using these relationships is like throwing a stone into a calm pond; the ripples are difficult to control completely."

My parents... they eventually found out.

Knowing that I not only used family resources to maintain an obscure "alliance" far away in Hong Kong,

"And know me better..."

She didn't say anything more, but the position of her eyes and hands said it all.

The news of her pregnancy, along with her recent unusual behavior, has undoubtedly dropped a bombshell within this ancient family.

After she finished speaking, she carefully and nervously observed Liu Jianguo's expression.

Seeing that he didn't show the expected displeasure or resistance, but simply listened quietly,

With her gaze deep and unfathomable, she finally mustered the courage to voice the request that had been lingering in her heart for so long.

Her voice was even softer than before, carrying a cautious probing and a deep-seated expectation as she spoke:

"So... Master, my father and mother... they really want to meet you."

There are some things, about me, about... this child.

Perhaps there are other things they hope to discuss in person.

I don't know... if you'd be willing, or if it's convenient for you?

After saying that, she pursed her lips, her fingers unconsciously gripping the soft fabric of her skirt.

She knew what this request meant—it meant that Liu Jianguo would be stepping into the Cavendish family's centuries-old estate.

Face those two proud, old-fashioned old men, who must be filled with doubt and scrutiny at this moment.

This is undoubtedly a potential exposure and risk for him.

But for her, this was the only way to resolve her current predicament and secure a brighter future for the child in her womb.

Liu Jianguo remained silent for a moment.

On a personal level, Isabelle was carrying his child, an undeniable blood tie and responsibility, even though this "responsibility" wasn't defined that way in his original plans.

Logically, he not only "got" Isabelle, but Emily also followed him in some way. In the eyes of the Cavendish family, this was tantamount to "abducting" their two daughters, although the processes were different.

From the most basic perspective of human relationships, he did indeed owe the other family an explanation and a face-to-face conversation.

In this Hong Kong incident, Isabelle utilized the remaining influence of the Cavendish family, and this favor was genuine.