I was born with one more soul and spirit than other people.
No evil thing could come near me, and from childhood I had never known what it felt like to be sick.
The day I came of age, the Pruitts sent someone to collect me and made me the shadow of their daughter, keeping within thirty feet of her, twenty-four hours a day.
It was only because Aria Pruitt had been born with a broken soul. Only when I stayed close enough could the expert the Pruitts had hired use me to mend what was missing in her.
During all that time my own soul and spirit could not be disturbed. The moment they were harmed, she would die in a matter of minutes.
Half a year ago, at a business conference, the man assigned by our host drove my car off its route, and Aria collapsed at the venue, on the edge of death.
That same day the company behind it was hit on every front in the industry, and within a week it went bankrupt.
After that, any time we traveled and were not in the same vehicle, the most advanced tracking system in the world was installed on each car.
A dedicated driver was assigned to me, who confirmed our position against Aria's driver at all times.
Until Aria's fiancé came home. Before she left for the conference, he offered to drive me himself. On the road, he had the tracker stripped out of the car and ordered the driver off the route.
In the rearview mirror, his lip curled in a cold sneer.
"I hear our Aria can't get more than thirty feet from you. The way I see it, that's just your excuse to stay close to her. A toad lusting after swan meat. Stop dreaming. I'm the only one who deserves her."
"I've already brought in the best internal specialist from abroad for her. You can fool the Pruitts, but you can't fool me."
I grabbed for the wheel, but the bodyguard he kept on him pinned me down and dragged me out into the wilderness.
And right then, miles away at the conference, the breath of life in Aria began to come apart.
…
Hearing Ernest's words, I frowned.
I had agreed to become Aria's shadow only because the family had spent a fortune to bring in the best medical experts to save my mother.
My one soul and spirit were anchored in Aria, completing what she lacked.
But now, as the car drove the wrong way,
I could feel that pair of soul and spirit drifting steadily away from her,
and a good part of it had already returned to me.
Which meant Aria's life had begun to weaken.
If the soul and spirit came back to me completely, she would die in a very short time.
I pressed down the urgency in my chest and explained patiently,
"You've got it wrong. I'm only here to repay a debt. I have never wanted anything of the Pruitts' fortune."
But at that, Ernest gave a scornful laugh.
"Do you even believe that yourself? We're both men. I don't know how you faked your way into the Pruitts' trust."
"But now that I'm back, as Aria's fiancé, it's my duty to clear a parasite like you out of her life."
"I'm the future master of the Pruitt house. I will not allow you to walk off with a single cent of theirs for nothing."
"And I won't allow you to have a single improper thought about Ernest Henson's fiancée."
At that the driver turned in his seat, looking anxiously at Ernest.
"Mr. Henson, he's telling the truth. If we get too far from Ms. Pruitt, she really will die."
"Let's turn back now, please. There's still time if we go now!"
The next moment, a dagger pressed against his side.
Ernest snapped at him.
"You're nothing but a Pruitt servant. You don't get a say here. Keep driving."
Threatened, the driver did not dare say another word.
But just then, the alarm he carried on him let out a shrill warning.
"Safe distance exceeded by three thousand meters. Please shorten the distance immediately!"
"Warning!! Warning!!"
