President's Daughter's Bodyguard-Chapter 68: A Cage That Smiles

Chapter 68: A Cage That Smiles

So, after that night, a few more days had passed...

When Danielle woke up to the sound of silence, she immediately noticed that there were no employees around and especially no father.

She sat up slowly and rubbed her temples.

Every morning felt more dragging than the one before.

Standing up and walking to the door, pulling it open, Danielle was looking for that one person.

The hallway was too weird and too empty. She saw one guard at the end, leaning against the wall, and being half asleep.

"Where is my father" she asked.

The guard straightened. "The President left early, ma’am. Political trip. Four days."

Four days! Without Elias...

Her heart did not know if it should feel relief or fear.

She walked away and found Theo in the main living room already in uniform. He was just near the large windows, watching the road outside like a predator waiting for movement.

Danielle crossed her arms. "I want to go out." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Theo did not turn around. "No."

She blinked. "I was not asking. I am bored in this golden prison."

"You are safe in this golden prison," Theo replied. "Outside is not."

She stepped closer. "I am not a child who needs to be hidden."

"You are a target, and Ethan is nearby. We just do not know where exactly since the signal keep disapearing."

Danielle scoffed and shook her head. "Theo, the king of rules."

"King of survival," Theo corrected.

They stared at each other for a minute longer, and frustration against his silent stone wall started bubbling like hot water in the kettle.

Danielle turned and walked away. If Theo would not listen, then she would ask someone smarter.

She found Frank near the kitchen, organising files with three phones ringing beside him.

"Frank, can I go outside today" she asked kindly.

He looked up. "What do you want to do"

"Walk.. Breathe... Remember I am human," she muttered.

Frank exhaled as if he understood perfectly.

"Go ahead," he said.

Her eyes widened. "Really"

He gave a tired smile. "Really. Having a life is important."

She looked almost shocked by how easy that was. But before she could thank him, Theo stormed in.

"No," Theo pointed at Frank. "You cannot allow that."

Frank raised a brow. "I just did."

Theo clenched his fists. "He is out there."

"Yes," Frank replied calmly. "And she cannot live like a ghost. Her mind will break."

Danielle was standing between them. "So which one of you actually cares about me"

Theo glared at her. "I am trying to keep you alive."

"And I am trying to keep you sane," Frank rolled his eyes.

Theo turned away, but Danielle could see his tight jaw. He hated that Frank was right.

Danielle walked past him with victory in her stride. "I will go get dressed."

Theo waited until she left the room. Then the walls between him and Frank started crumbling.

"You are risking her life," Theo growled.

"And you are risking her spirit," Frank responded. "She must feel like a person. Not a weapon her father placed in a cage."

Theo grabbed Frank’s arm and whispered sharply.

"You know who is out there. Ethan is not a threat. Ethan is a nightmare. He has no rules. No conscience. He will use her against me."

Frank looked straight into Theo’s eyes.

"Then do not give him that chance."

Theo took a slow, shaky breath. Frank leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms.

"You have always protected her like she was your mission," Frank said. "But she is more than that."

Theo did not respond to his statement because it was true, but he also didn’t want Danielle to get hurt.

To him, Danielle was like a reckless pigeon not knowing where to fly for food, and he cared about his pigeon.

Frank lowered his voice. "You love her."

Theo went still and skipped his breathing.

"I do not have that luxury," he said finally which was, of course, another lie...

Frank gave him a knowing look. "You do not allow yourself to have it."

"This is not the time to talk feelings. We should be talking strategy."

Frank nodded. "Good. Because we have a bigger war coming."

He gestured for Theo to follow him into Elias’s private office. The room felt colder without its owner in it. Papers spread across the desk, maps pinned on the walls, and photos of Zack’s network were circled in red.

Frank spoke first. "Zack is planning something massive. Ethan’s capture failed. And that means he will move faster."

Theo stared at one picture of Zack. Hatred darkened his eyes.

"He wants us to kill each other," Theo murmured to himself. "Then crown the last corpse standing."

Frank nodded. "He wants his empire to survive through a son. Any son..."

Theo’s voice grew louder. "It will not happen."

Frank looked at Theo. The silence between them turned into a plan.

"The President is no savior either," Frank reminded him. "He wants absolute rule. He uses his daughter as a chess piece. He controls the military like a private army."

Theo’s breathing deepened. "We cannot let either man hold the throne."

Frank stepped closer.

"If the President stays in power, this country will drown. If Zack takes the power, this country will burn."

Theo’s fists slowly closed.

"We have to remove them both."

"Once the President leaves again. Once Zack makes his move...we strike."

Theo smirked with cold promise. "A future without kings, huh?"

Frank grinned back. "A future without devils."

Their shared hatred built a silent alliance.

Theo asked, "What about Ethan"

Frank tapped his fingers on the map thoughtfully.

"He is dangerous. But he hates Zack more than he hates you."

Theo shook his head. "He will try to kill me anyway. Because he never forgives."

"Then let him come...Let him be a weapon pointed at Zack first."

Theo stared at the maps again.

"And when the war is done," he whispered, "I will finish what Zack started."

Frank exhaled for way longer... "You believe you will survive."

Theo met his gaze with an eyes that were colder than death.

"I do not believe, so. I know."

The silence was broken when Danielle’s voice echoed from outside the office.

"I am ready."

Theo and Frank turned. Danielle was waiting there in jeans and a soft sweater. She looked like a normal...Human.

Free for one fragile moment.

Theo looked away quickly.

Frank smiled. "Enjoy your walk. I will send two guards to watch from far away."

Danielle nodded and left the room.

Theo watched her disappear. Every step she took away from him felt like he was losing control. Losing everything.

"We will protect her," Frank said.

Theo lowered his eyes.

"Yes...Even if we become monsters to do it."

Little did Danielle know that once both tyrants were removed, Theo was planning to kidnap her and keep her to himself only...