Callie’s eyes narrowed, and she didn’t hide her displeasure. ‘I don’t see why that should matter,’ she replied icily. ‘Our past is exactly that—past.’Wendy glanced back and forth between Callie and Simon, sensing the tension in the air.Simon looked taken aback by Callie’s cold demeanour, but he still tried to salvage the situation. ‘I just thought we could catch up, you know? It’s been a while.’‘We have nothing to catch up on,’ Callie retorted sharply. ‘I have moved on, and so should you.’Wendy cleared her throat, trying to ease the tension. ‘Simon, it’s good to see you again, but this is a military medical facility, not a social gathering,’ she said pointedly. ‘We’re here to work.’Simon seemed flustered, not expecting such a chilly reception. ‘I-I understand,’ he stammered. ‘I didn’t mean to cause any trouble.’Callie’s resolve hardened. ‘Just focus on your task and leave. There’s nothing for you here.’Simon’s words hung heavy in the air as he pleaded with Callie. ‘I know I’ve
When Callie was finally discharged, Simon gathered the courage to ask her to be his girlfriend, and she said yes without hesitation.Their relationship blossomed, and they shared moments of joy and laughter, growing closer with each passing day.But as time went on, the pressure of Simon’s ambitions had driven a wedge between them.He had pursued Abby, the director’s daughter, for the sake of his career, leaving Callie heartbroken.She couldn’t understand how someone could change so drastically in such a short time.The caring and compassionate doctor she had known had become someone else entirely, driven by ambition and willing to betray her in the process.As the memories flooded back, Callie couldn’t help but feel a surge of anger and hurt.But she had moved on from that Chapter in her life, and she wasn’t about to let Simon’s reappearance disrupt her newfound strength and independence.Wendy noticed the storm of emotions crossing Callie’s face and placed a comforting hand on her s
Callie shook her head, incredulous at Simon’s persistence.‘You are delusional. Get over yourself,’ she said firmly, attempting to dismiss his absurd claims.‘Come on, Callie, you can’t deny that you still have feelings for me. I can see it in your eyes.’ Simon tried to grab her arm.‘I don’t!’ Callie shot back, her tone unwavering. ‘I’m in love with Elias, and I’m committed to him.’Simon’s frustration grew, and he resorted to insulting Elias. ‘Elias is just a military man with a big ego. He’s not good enough for you,’ he sneered.‘How dare you!’ Callie’s voice rose with indignation. ‘Elias is twice the man you could ever hope to be. He’s brave, honourable, and he respects me. Unlike you, he’s never betrayed my trust.’‘But we were so happy together!’Undeterred, Simon tried to kiss Callie, but she pushed him away and delivered a resounding slap across his cheek.‘I told you to stop!’ she yelled, tears welling up in her eyes. ‘I won’t let you disrespect me or my husband.’She pushed
Callie fled the medical library, her heart pounding like a drumbeat in her chest.She turned a corner and almost collided with Angelia, whose eyes widened with delight at the sight of Callie’s red eyes and flustered state.It seemed that Simon was even more serious about pursuing Callie than she had hoped.‘Callie, oh my gosh, are you okay?’ Angelia asked, her voice dripping with faux concern.Callie clenched her jaw, struggling to keep her composure.She didn’t have the patience for Angelia’s theatrics right now.‘I’m fine,’ she snapped and pushed past her, not waiting for a reply.She needed to escape the health centre, away from Simon and his unwanted advances.She walked briskly, her steps carrying her far away from the suffocating walls of the medical library.Finally, she found a bench beneath a poplar tree and sank down onto it, her legs shaky from the emotional turmoil.Simon, the man she had once loved, had transformed into a stranger.His persistence was driving her further
Elias’s jaw tightened. ‘We’ll have to tread carefully. Establishing trust with the locals will be crucial. We need their cooperation if we’re going to root out Kee Ting’s network.’He leaned forward, his gaze intense. ‘This mission requires precision and coordination. We’ll divide the search area into sectors and deploy our teams strategically. Communication will be key – we can’t afford any missteps.’Elias’s eyes swept across the room, meeting each officer’s gaze. ‘Remember, Kee Ting has been responsible for a trail of destruction. It’s our duty to ensure he’s brought to justice.’A hushed silence settled over the room as his words hung in the air.The officers nodded in agreement, their determination evident.‘Let’s get to work,’ Elias declared, his voice firm. ‘We’ll reconvene in six hours with a comprehensive plan of action. This is our chance to strike a significant blow against the cartels and bring peace to these borderlands.’As the officers dispersed, the room buzzed with ac
Elias felt the weight of his responsibility lift slightly, especially after confirming there were no fatalities on their side, then it was replaced by a sense of pride in the men and women who had followed his lead into the heart of danger.But he also knew that the mastermind behind it all—Kee Ting—might still elude them, and the battle against the cartels would continue.Elias checked his watch.It was twelve-fifteen pm.Callie would be taking her lunch break right about now, he thought with a smile.Walking back to his tent, he reached for his phone.***Callie wiped away her tears and got up from the bench, ready to head back into work.She couldn’t and wouldn’t let Simon get to her.She paused when her phone started buzzing in the pocket of her white lab coat.She fumbled to answer, her voice hoarse from crying. ‘Hello?’There was a pause on the other end, followed by a deep sigh.Callie sniffed, her heart skipping a beat as she recognised the voice.‘Elias?’ she whispered, her v
Back in his office, Simon’s eyes fell on a small phial resting on his desk.He glanced around, his heart racing, and saw no one else in the room.The phial contained no label.The liquid inside was colourless and odourless, though Simon had an inkling of what it was.Who put it here?His suspicions immediately fell on Angelia; he could almost picture her sly smile as she left the provocative concoction for him to find.Simon’s fingers hovered over the phial, his internal struggle evident.Should he use it?He thought of the three years he had spent with Callie – the shared laughter, the whispered confidences, and the promises they had once made.And now, she had moved on so swiftly, marrying someone else without a second thought.A dangerous idea slowly crawled its way into his brain as he looked at the phial again.If he could persuade Callie to share a moment of passion, she might reconsider their relationship.The plan could backfire; Callie could end up hating him even more.But S
Simon’s gaze flickered with something akin to desperation. ‘Callie, you don’t understand. I didn’t realise I never loved Abby. I thought I did, but I was wrong. I love you, and I’m willing to leave all of that behind for you. Doesn’t that prove how much you mean to me?’Callie’s lips curled into a sneer, her eyes blazing with a mixture of anger and disbelief. ‘Give it a rest, Simon. Drop the act. You probably want to divorce Abby because you can’t stand her anymore. But guess what? I’m not falling for your empty words again.’Simon’s facade crumbled, his shoulders slumping in defeat. ‘Callie, please...’‘No, Simon,’ Callie said, her voice firm. ‘I deserve someone who loves me for who I am, not for the gifts they can get from me or the lifestyle I can provide. Our Chapter is over, and it’s time for you to move on.’She stopped to face him. ‘If that’s all you wanted to talk about, then I think we are done here. Goodbye.’Then she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Simon standin