MY PERFECT BODY GUARD CHAPTER THIRTY SIX:FAMILY BONDS AND LAUGHTER

Richard and Linda followed their plan and arrived at Richard's house. Richard's mother was in the yard, hanging clothes, when they entered the compound. She turned, and upon seeing Richard, tears welled up in her eyes. She rushed to embrace him warmly.

"I really missed you, boy," she said with emotion.

"I missed you too, Mom," Richard replied, and when their hug ended, he noticed a scar on her face covered with a bandage.

"What happened to you?" his mom asked as she gently touched Richard's face.

"Um, Mom, please meet Linda," Richard said, introducing Linda as she stepped forward to greet Richard's mom. "It's a pleasure meeting you, ma'am."

Maria, Richard's mom, was clearly confused and didn't respond immediately.

"Who's she?" Maria asked, her bewilderment apparent. "Don't tell me you impregnated a girl while you were away?"

"Mom, why would you say that? Of course, I didn't get anyone pregnant," Richard quickly clarified, looking a bit flustered. "Let's go inside. She's feeling weak, and once she rests, we can talk."

Richard helped Linda to get inside the house, and he guided her to his room. To his surprise, the room was unexpectedly neat. He assisted Linda in laying down on the bed.

"Just get some rest. You're safe now," Richard reassured her.

Linda, feeling concerned, asked, "Do you think your mom will like the idea of me staying around?"

Richard confidently replied, "Of course she will. She's just nervous because I left without telling her anything other than a letter that I'm going on an important mission, so it's normal for her to feel nervous."

Linda expressed her gratitude, saying, "Oh, thanks for letting me stay."

Richard replied with a warm smile, "Don't mention it."

As Richard left the room, he closed the door behind him and approached his mom in the sitting room. Maria was visibly upset and started questioning him.

"What happened? Why did you leave without telling me anything? I thought you were dead," she said, her voice filled with concern. "And then I heard the news that my son is a thief. What have you done, Richard?"

"Hey, Mom, please stop. You know me well, and I'm sure you know that I can't do such a thing. You know that, so please calm down," Richard urged her. "Her name is Linda. Do you remember the bodyguard test I went for months ago?"

Maria nodded, recalling the event.

"Yeah, she's the daughter of the Prime Tech Company," Richard continued. "After I was sent away for being younger, the CEO came around to see me. He said he had a bigger task for me, and that was to take care of his daughter, Linda. Please, Mom, she's lost her dad and her mom, and the only thing she has left of them is that company. So, I'm trying to help her get it back."

Hearing the story, Maria felt sympathy for Linda. "She must have gone through hell," she remarked. "But, Richard, I don't want you to get hurt because of that girl, especially after the news."

"Mom!" Richard said in frustration. "Are you that scared? Can't you just trust me for once?"

Maria sighed, "I do trust you, my boy."

"No, you don't. You're just scared I might end up like Dad," Richard said with a hint of bitterness. "How dare you talk about your dad that way."

Maria's expression softened as she responded, "By the way, you're right. You're my only son, and I don't want to lose you too."

"Mum!" Richard exclaimed. "You know what? I know Dad might have died saving people, but one thing he never regretted was that he did it to save those lives. I made a mistake. I shouldn't have come back here in the first place."

Maria looked at him, and he made a decision. "My tomorrow, we are leaving."

"Richard, please come back," Maria called out to her son as he walked away, but he continued on his path.

In the evening, Cynthia returned home, and when she saw Richard, she ran to him, giving him a tight hug as she jumped with excitement.

"You're alive!" she exclaimed with joy.

Richard, smiling, teased, "You really think your big bro is that weak?"

Cynthia chuckled and admitted, "I know, maybe I just overthought it."

"I'm sorry I made you worried, Cynthia. I'll make it up to you," Richard reassured her.

"I didn't come alone. I brought someone, and I'd like you to meet her," Richard said. They both went into Richard's room, where they found Linda sitting on the bed.

"Hey, Linda, this is Cynthia, my little sis," Richard introduced.

Cynthia climbed onto the bed to get a closer look at Linda. She playfully commented, "Isn't she too pretty to be your girlfriend?"

Both girls laughed, but Richard clarified, "She's technically my boss, the rightful heir to the Prime Tech."

Cynthia, with amazement, exclaimed, "OMG! You mean I'm in the presence of a billionaire?"

She stood up and started bowing jokingly, saying, "Maybe I hope you stay for a long time."

Richard instructed his sister, "Hey, you go and bathe and change. Let's go to the market and get something."

Cynthia responded with enthusiasm, "Aye aye, captain," and left the room.

Linda continued to laugh as Cynthia left the room.

"You have a great sister," Linda remarked.

Richard smiled and replied, "Yes, she is indeed a great sister, even though she's my original tormentor."

Linda chuckled and said, "Come on, she's not that bad."

Richard nodded, "Don't mind me. She's the sweetest. You know, our family is a very serious one. They like making faces like stone, and they never laugh. Starting from my great-grandparents down to me, it was only Cynthia who has a sense of humor in the family. She's the funniest," Richard explained.

Linda expressed her longing, "I wish I had a sister or a brother."

Richard grinned and said, "Well, I have one for free."

As Linda laughed, the two of them shared a moment of lightheartedness in the midst of their challenging circumstances.

Richard and Cynthia left for the market, leaving Maria deep in thought as she sat outside the house. Linda noticed Maria and approached her.

"May I join you, ma?" Linda asked, to which Maria nodded.

Linda expressed her regret, saying, "I'm sorry for putting your son at such risk. I know you really don't want to lose your child, and I also know what it's like to lose someone you love so much."

Maria reassured Linda, "Hey, it's not your fault. You know, Richard has always wanted to be like his dad, keeping people safe. And believe me, I was once a big fan of it until I lost his dad. His dad died just because of exactly the same path Richard is taking. I have always supported him, but I feel like the same thing might happen to him after I watched the news of him being wanted. I thought maybe I might lose him too."

Linda sympathized with Maria, understanding her concerns. She also learned that Richard had never mentioned to her linda that his dad was deceased.

"I know that you're scared, and it's okay to be scared," Linda said. "When I asked Richard why he came for me anyway, even though he couldn't have if he wanted, he said keeping people safe is what he loves most. He knows that's what killed his dad, but he's doing it anyway. I just felt like it's his talent. I don't know, but I think your son is an amazing person. Three times he could have let me die, and ran for his life, and he always came back to me and saved me anyway. Your son is the best. If you don't want him to be going around with me, I can tell him to stop."

Maria was moved by Linda's words, realizing the depth of Richard's commitment. She said, "I always knew he was down this path. You and I know that Richard won't stop helping you. I always believed in him, and I will always do. And if he wants to help you, I think I shouldn't get in the way of his dreams. 'Cause I've never seen him happy doing something ever since he was young, but the happiness I see in him now when he's around you, I haven't seen it since he was 8, and now I'm seeing it. It means a lot to me. Thank you for bringing back that smile."

Linda reassured Maria, "Richard is a very strong person. He's going to succeed, I give you my word."

Maria then switched to a lighter topic, asking Linda, "So, apart from looking after you, do you think that guy is really romantic? I really thought him bringing you here, you must have been his girlfriend or something. It breaks me to hear he's just your bodyguard."

Linda smiled and responded, "Your son is a sweet person. He's shy; he's just not romantic."

Both women shared a laugh, and Maria shared an amusing childhood anecdote about Richard's aversion to girls.

"You don't need to tell me. My child, when he was 7, a lot of girls brought gifts for him. Do you know what he did? He ran away from the balcony of the house whenever he heard that a girl brought him a gift. He was really terrified by girls," Maria shared, and they both laughed at the memory.

As Richard and Cynthia returned from the market, they noticed Maria and Linda deep in conversation and sharing smiles. Richard was relieved to see them getting along and enjoying each other's company.

"What are you guys talking about?" Richard inquired as they both laughed. Linda leaned in and whispered their conversation to Cynthia, who burst into laughter.

Cynthia couldn't contain herself as she looked at Richard and said, "OMG!"

Richard was left curious and asked again, "What are you guys talking about?" Linda and Cynthia laughed and playfully ran into the house, with Richard chasing after them.

Later in the night, they all sat down for supper and felt like a family. They discussed and laughed, while Richard continued to ask what they had been talking about, and they playfully teased him, refusing to share the secret.

The supper was a joyous occasion, and Linda felt a sense of belonging and warmth in the presence of this newfound makeshift family.