‘What’s the matter with all of you?’ Abby demanded, her voice sharp and filled with indignation.The nurses turned to face Abby, their faces pale and wide-eyed, suddenly aware of her presence.One of them stammered, ‘We didn’t mean to, Ms Colman. It’s just that we heard—’‘I don’t care what you heard!’ Abby interrupted. ‘It’s none of your d*mn business, and it’s certainly not something you should be gossiping about.’Another nurse tried to apologise, ‘We didn’t mean any harm, Abby. We were just talking.’Abby’s eyes narrowed.She crossed her arms. ‘Talking about my personal life is none of your concern. I expect a professional environment here, not a high school gossip session.’The nurses exchanged nervous glances, feeling the weight of Abby’s authority and status as the director’s daughter.They knew they had crossed a line, and they quickly apologised.‘We’re really sorry, Abby. It won’t happen again,’ one nurse said, her voice shaking with fear.‘The next time it does, you’ll all
Elias simply didn’t like other men coveting her.He wanted her for himself.Callie nodded. ‘I know. I didn’t know those flowers were…you know. I’ll return them to Corporal Flores tomorrow.’‘It’s okay. You can keep them.’‘Really?’‘Really.’‘But I don’t want to send him the wrong message.’‘You won’t. Corporal Flores will understand soon enough.’‘Understand what?’‘That you’re my wife,’ Elias said firmly.‘I’m not your wife yet,’ Callie protested, though her heart fluttered at the idea.‘Yes, you are,’ Elias countered. ‘Close your eyes.’‘Why?’‘Just do it.’‘Does this have something to do with what you wanted to show me?’‘Yes.’‘Fine.’ Callie obediently closed her eyes.Elias took her elbow and guided her up the stairs to his room. ‘Okay, you can open your eyes now.’Callie did.She saw a white envelope stuck to the front door. ‘What’s this?’‘Take a look for yourself.’Callie removed the envelope and extracted a piece of paper from it. ‘Marriage Certificate, issued by the Departm
As the dawn approached, Elias held Callie close, their bodies entwined as they caught their breath.He pressed a gentle kiss on her forehead, his fingers gently tracing circles on her back.‘You’re everything I ever wanted, Callie,’ he murmured, his voice filled with sincerity.Callie looked up at him, her eyes shining with love and affection. ‘And you’re everything I never knew I needed,’ she replied, her heart overflowing with emotion.With a tender smile, Elias pulled her closer, enveloping her in his protective embrace.‘I promise to always cherish and love you, no matter what life throws our way,’ he vowed silently as he watched Callie close her eyes.***As the first rays of sunlight streamed through the window, Elias woke up with a renewed sense of purpose.He gently disentangled himself from Callie’s embrace, leaving a soft kiss on her forehead before slipping out of bed.As he dressed, he couldn’t help but smile, thinking about the unforgettable night they had shared.Outside
Angelia hesitated for a moment before blurting out, ‘I think Callie is using you for personal gain. She’s manipulative, and she’s not good for you or this academy.’Elias’s jaw tensed, his eyes narrowing at the accusation. ‘What makes you say that?’‘She’s always seeking attention and trying to get ahead,’ Angelia continued, hoping to sow seeds of doubt in Elias’s mind. ‘I’ve seen her flirt with officers and use her charm to get what she wants.’Elias’s expression darkened.He knew Angelia and Callie had a strained relationship, but he never expected such a vicious attack on his new wife’s character.Emboldened by his silence, Angelia recounted the rumours she had heard from her cousin Abby about Callie’s past relationships.She mentioned Callie’s ex-boyfriend Simon and how she was still in contact with him even after he married Abby.‘I hear she’s also been involved with a lieutenant colonel before coming to the academy,’ Angelia added.‘Rumours are just rumours,’ Elias said coldly.
The cadets and staff alike were stunned by this unexpected display of affection between the Major General and the soft-spoken doctor.Elias turned to face the cadets, his voice booming with authority. ‘Everyone, this is Callista Hawthorn, who is now Mrs Westwood. We are officially husband and wife.’A collective gasp swept through the room as the news sank in.The soldiers had been curious about the relationship between Elias and Callie, but no one expected such a bold and public declaration.Elias’s confident announcement left no room for doubt.He scanned the room, his gaze lingering on the young cadet who had been flirting with Callie earlier.A warning look from Elias was all it took to silence the young man, who quickly averted his eyes.Blushing under the attention, Callie couldn’t help but feel pleased by Elias’s declaration.He had taken matters into his own hands, making their marriage known in his usual decisive manner.It showed that he was proud of their relationship and h
‘Smuggling there has gotten out of control,’ Elias said. ‘And armed militias are fighting each other and the army for territory and survival.’‘Smuggling?’ Callie asked.An idea struck Elias. ‘Come. I’ll show you.’He logged onto his personal laptop and pulled up a declassified file.Callie peered over his shoulder. ‘What am I looking at?’Elias pointed to a map on the screen. ‘The southern border between Engalia and Kurtazagg. Each red dot represents an active drug trafficking operation. Yellow is for smuggling.’‘The map’s lit up like a Christmas tree!’‘Exactly.’‘I didn’t know there are so many drugs coming into the country.’‘Mostly heroin and methamphetamine. The traffickers have gotten smarter, using ingenious disguises and strategies to evade law enforcement efforts.’ He pointed to a green dot on the map. ‘And that’s the base where I’ll be deployed to.’Callie’s heart sank as she processed the gravity of the situation.She had heard about drug trafficking before, but to know t
‘Now, let’s make good use of those eight hours, shall we?’Elias carried Callie to the bed, their lips never parting.As he gently laid her down, their eyes locked, and the unspoken promise of their love filled the air.They made out with a passion that was both tender and intense.Their fingers traced each other’s curves, their hands exploring every inch of one another as they revelled in the intimacy of the moment.Their love for each other was evident in every touch, every kiss, every sigh that escaped their lips.The world around them faded into the background as they became lost in the depth of their emotions.As the hours passed, they made the best use of the time they had left.Their bodies entwined in a dance of love and desire, each moment treasured as if it were their last.Afterwards, Callie fell asleep, exhausted and sated.Elias gazed at her peaceful form for a long while.Then he rose quietly from the bed and went into the small living room.He sat down at the desk, took
‘I don’t understand,’ Angelia whispered to herself, her voice trembling with hurt and confusion. ‘Why wouldn’t he pick me? I’m a more experienced doctor than Callie, taller, prettier, richer, and I can understand a man’s needs better than she ever could.’She wiped away her tears angrily, unable to comprehend why Elias had chosen Callie over her.She had started developing feelings for Elias since the moment she saw him.His confidence and charisma had drawn her in like a moth to a flame.Deep down, Angelia knew that her feelings for Elias were not entirely genuine.It was not just about love; it was also about winning, about proving that she could have any man she wanted.***The helicopter’s rotors slowly came to a halt as the aircraft touched down on the helipad behind Valour Ridge Military Academy.Simon, wearing a long overcoat and a five-o’clock shadow, stepped off the helicopter with the help of a soldier.His face was still pale from the bumpy ride, and he felt weak-kneed afte