As evening approached, Callie said goodbye to Wendy, then made her way to Elias’s dormitory.She unlocked the door with the key Elias gave her.She’d barely managed to slip off her shoes before Elias’s grasp found her wrist, tugging her into a fervent embrace that pressed her body against his firm chest.Slightly dizzy, Callie succumbed to a kiss that Elias had longed for all day.Urgently, he trapped Callie between him and the door, fingers intertwining as he savoured the sweetness of her mouth, a balm to his yearning.The kiss left Elias breathless and wanting more.He drew back, his eyes—long and narrow and darkened with desire —fixing on her. ‘Has your Aunt Flo left?’‘No,’ Callie panted. ‘We’ll still need to wait... another day or two.’Elias rested his head on her shoulder and let out a frustrated grunt.Callie giggled. ‘Elias, how did you manage before me?’‘I didn’t have this problem before you,’ he replied, his fingers threading through her hair.A flicker of restraint shimme
Cory’s voice interrupted, ‘General McCullough, an urgent strategy meeting has been called. It starts in ten minutes. Your presence is required.’‘Uncle Hershel, I heard your aide,’ Harriet said, relieved. ‘You should go. I know how busy you are.’Hershel sighed. ‘All right. I’ll call you another time, then.’As the call ended, Harriet stared at her phone thoughtfully.When she was five, her parents were both killed on the battlefield.Uncle Hershel took her in and raised her as his own.He was never married and didn’t have any kids.Harriet called him Uncle, but saw him as a father figure.The bond between them eclipsed that of mere blood ties.She’d never questioned his guidance.Yet, should she follow Uncle Hershel’s advice unquestioningly?Elias was a good man, and she knew he respected Uncle Hershel as much as she did.But was that enough to make him a good husband for her?Harriet wrestled with the thought, then eventually drifted off to sleep.***On day two of special training,
‘Oh, I almost forgot.’ Harriet smacked her forehead. ‘I came to ask you if I could borrow that dress you mentioned yesterday. It’s sort of a date, and I don’t want to show up in my PT shirt.’‘Um, sure.’ Callie checked the time. ‘I’ll go get it for you. Actually, why don’t you come with me? My friend Wendy may have some shoes you can borrow. And I have makeup you can use.’‘Great. Thanks, Callie.’Back in her dormitory, Callie dug out a long lilac dress from her suitcase.After Harriet slipped it on, Callie let down her long hair, allowing it to cascade over her shoulders.Harriet had an excellent physique due to rigorous training, her body well-proportioned and her muscles toned.Moreover, she possessed mile-long legs that Callie envied.As soon as she donned the elegant dress, she radiated grace and drew attention.Harriet’s thick eyelashes and somewhat bold eyes required no help from eyeliner or mascara.‘Wow.’ Callie stepped back to admire the view.‘Wow,’ Wendy echoed.She’d lent
Elias heaved out a long sigh.He could relate.Less than half a year ago, he was exactly where Harriet was right now.But things had changed.‘Harriet, do you genuinely like me?’‘Yeah.’‘Really? Do you even know what genuine affection feels like? Not a brotherly love, but a romantic love.’Harriet frowned. ‘Hey, don’t treat me like I’m a wide-eyed maiden. For your information, I’ve had boyfriends before. I’ve slept with my share of—’Elias raised a hand to stop her. ‘Okay, okay! I don’t need to hear the details.’‘You would know if you spent more time at home,’ Harriet muttered.Elias sighed. ‘Then why couldn’t you pick one of your many boyfriends to marry?’‘Nah.’ Harriet shook her head. ‘They are just a temporary distraction. Fun for a while, but I usually get bored after the second or third date. Besides, you know Uncle Hershel would never approve of any of them.’‘So I’m like a backup choice for you?’‘Not a backup. You are a safe choice.’ She added with a smirk, ‘An approved cho
‘Because he doesn’t approve of my choice for a wife, just like he doesn’t approve of your choice of boyfriends.’ Elias’s smile faded. ‘I submitted the marriage application to Uncle Hershel months ago, but it was denied repeatedly. After my deployment to Valour Ridge, I took it to General Wyatt.’Harriet pulled a face. ‘You know Uncle Hershel and General Wyatt don’t get along. If he finds out you went behind his back, he’s going to blow a gasket.’Elias shrugged. ‘It couldn’t be helped. General Wyatt approved my application. Callie has been my wife for about a month now.’Harriet glanced around.Seeing no bench nearby, she sank onto the floor. ‘That’s a lot of information to take in.’‘Take all the time you need.’ Elias sat down next to her. ‘I would have told you on the first day if I had the time.’‘I understand.’ Harriet plucked up a blade of grass and twirled it around her finger. ‘Does this mean I’ll have to find another husband?’‘I’ll keep an eye out for suitable candidates.’ El
Callie stifled a laugh. ‘Not really. I mean, she thought you were, because you never dated and never had a girlfriend.’Elias muttered something inaudible, but Callie was pretty sure it was a swear word.She mumbled, half to herself, ‘I still find it hard to believe you are the one Harriet’s into.’‘What’s so hard to believe?’ Elias demanded. ‘That other women would find me attractive?’‘From the way she talked about you, I’m not so sure she’s really attracted to you.’ Callie perched on the coffee table, facing Elias. ‘What did she say to you, exactly?’‘She popped the question, asked me to marry her.’Callie stopped smiling and folded her arms on her lap, studying Elias intently. ‘And what did you tell her?’She held her new friend in high regard and wanted her to find happiness.But when she discovered that it was Elias Harriet was pursuing, a pang of jealousy stung her heart.Harriet was quite the catch, to be fair.Gorgeous, charismatic, already a lieutenant colonel at her age – s
A small smile tugged at Elias’s lips. ‘Silly girl, next time, try to understand the whole picture before jumping in to help, okay?’‘Yes, sir!’ Callie nodded vigorously. ‘I won’t try to play matchmaker again.’Noticing her tear-streaked face, Elias lifted her into his arms.He carried her to the bathroom, setting her on the counter.He took a fresh towel, ran it under the tap, wrung it out, then gently wiped her face clean.Callie enjoyed his attentiveness. ‘So, um, did you reject Harriet tonight?’Elias pinched her cheek. ‘If I didn’t, would I be here right now?’‘Sorry, stupid question.’ Callie’s thoughts wandered to Harriet. ‘Did you let her down gently? Will she be okay?’‘Her feelings for me are not what she believes to be. She thought she loved me, but she doesn’t.’Callie nodded. ‘I sort of got the same feeling when she talked to me earlier. She called it a date, but it was like she was carrying out a mission. She went through all the necessary prep work, you know, the dress, t
After a while, Harriet spoke first, ‘I need to say something. Look, I’m sorry about last night. I didn’t know you and Elias were married.’‘It’s fine,’ Callie said placidly. ‘We just got our wires crossed.’Harriet’s shoulders visibly relaxed as she released a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. ‘Phew. I was worried you might think I did it on purpose, you know, to stir things up.’Callie’s smile was warm, a sign of reassurance. ‘No, I don’t believe you are that kind of person. It’s just a big misunderstanding.’With the air cleared, Harriet resumed her usual chummy attitude. ‘So, you and Elias, huh?’Callie nodded, smiling. ‘Yes.’Harriet’s eyes lingered a moment longer on the hickeys on Callie’s neck.She wanted to tease the young doctor about them, but was afraid she’d take offence.Callie seemed like the bashful sort.Harriet chuckled to herself.She used to think Elias might be uninterested in women, but now she understood it wasn’t a lack of interest.He just hadn’t m
Callie, weakened but resilient, looked up as Elias entered the ward.A soft smile played on her lips despite the pain that lingered in her eyes. ‘I was wondering where you disappeared off to.’Elias took a moment to absorb the sight of her, the woman he loved, fighting her way back to health.The bandages on her abdomen marked the physical toll of the recent events, but the warmth in her eyes brought a sense of calm to Elias’s troubled soul.‘Hey, Bunny,’ Elias greeted, his smile genuine as he approached her bedside.He gently took her hand, mindful of her injuries. ‘How are you feeling?’Callie’s eyes sparkled with gratitude. ‘Getting there. The doctors say I’ll make a full recovery with time.’Elias nodded, his heart heavy with the weight of recent events. ‘There’s something I need to tell you.’As Elias shared the shocking truth about General Conway’s betrayal and the revelation about his parents’ deaths, Callie’s expression shifted from concern to disbelief and, ultimately, sorrow
Callie felt herself falling into his trap, struggling to maintain a hardened heart as his doting gaze softened her resolve.‘Callie, you’re my wife. We are supposed to share a bed,’ his voice, deep and intoxicating, whispered in her ear.He embraced her tightly, a possessive need evident in his hold.‘Callie, I want you to love me like before. I lied to protect you. But now I realise I was wrong. I promise, no more lies. Please, at least don’t ignore me. It breaks me...’ His eyes, full of affection, revealed vulnerability.Elias, usually so strong, trembled in his plea.His voice carried a hint of regret. ‘I messed up, and damn it, I know it. Are you willing to forgive me?’Callie sighed. ‘Elias, just promise not to pull something like this again.’‘I won’t hurt you with lies anymore,’ he vowed.‘No more lies, Elias. Not even one,’ she declared.‘I swear.’ To seal his promise, he planted kisses on her forehead, eyes, and nose, soothing her turmoil.Dylan’s knock shattered Elias’s plan
Callie drifted in and out of a dream-laden slumber, the ebb and flow of consciousness gently pulling her into the waking world.The enticing fragrance of chicken soup teased her senses, coaxing her from the depths of sleep.Elias had returned, a culinary saviour armed with a thermos of steaming chicken soup. ‘I used the mess hall kitchen to make this for you,’ he announced with a quiet pride.Drawing in a deep breath, Callie’s stomach couldn’t contain its eagerness, emitting a low growl that echoed through the room.‘Callie, tell me, what’s that sound?’ His question, though not a direct accusation, draped her in a blanket of embarrassment.‘Ahem!’ Callie, determined to maintain her composure, responded with a feigned nonchalance.‘I didn’t hear any sound,’ she declared, though the rumblings from her stomach suggested otherwise.She fought to suppress the impending growl, hoping Elias wouldn’t witness this audible betrayal.‘No sound?’ Elias’s raised brow and assertive tone exposed her
Elias’s eyes snapped open the moment he heard someone coughing.He sat bolt upright in the chair and turned towards Callie.Her eyes were open.‘Callie! You are awake!’In a haze, Callie recognised Elias’s voice.Struggling, she forced her eyes open, greeted by the familiar sight of a white ceiling—a hospital room.Elias’s hand held hers, his calloused palm brushing against her skin.‘Elias,’ she whispered weakly, her eyes glistening with tears.Her voice, frail, held a hint of disbelief. ‘Am I still dreaming?’The last she knew, Elias was in custody.The Elias before her now felt like a dream, and she doubted her reality.Elias, red-eyed and exhausted, held her hands tightly, reassuring her, ‘Bunny, what are you talking about? Of course I’m real.’Callie sighed. ‘Good…’Relieved, she closed her eyes, slipping back into sleep.‘Callie!’ Elias’s heart skipped a beat, fear gnawing at him.He rushed outside, calling for Jamison and the medical team. ‘Quick, take a look at her. She woke u
The puzzle of Mindy’s escape persisted, leaving Dylan in the dark, grappling with the mystery that allowed her to slip away undetected.A knock came on the door.‘Come in.’Dwight entered, settling gracefully into a chair opposite Dylan.He produced a pack of cigarettes, extending it toward Dylan.Dylan accepted it, extracting a cigarette, igniting it with a flick of his lighter, and indulging in the smoke that soon enveloped the room.Dwight, sensing Dylan’s foul mood, asked, ‘General Sheppard, not in the best spirits today?’Dylan retorted, ‘Aren’t you in the same boat?’A subtle smile played on Dwight’s lips as he selected a cigarette from the pack.His slender fingers expertly lit it, the room filling with the fragrance of tobacco and a haze of smoke.‘Any updates on Mindy?’‘Not yet,’ Dylan replied after a brief pause. ‘Which is a problem for you. That woman is more cunning than her father. I think she’s the one behind your assassination plot, not Carl. By the way, when do you pl
‘I planned everything single-handedly. This has nothing to do with my daughter Mindy,’ Carl pleaded. ‘I only had her run a few errands for me. She didn’t know what she was doing.’‘Do you think your excuse is convincing?’ Dwight retorted. ‘Mindy isn’t seven years old. She’s twenty-seven, an adult fully responsible for her own actions.’Dylan, acting on Dwight’s orders, directed his subordinates to arrest Mindy and release Elias.Carl, comprehending the depth of his miscalculations, lashed out at Dylan.He felt betrayed by the very person he trusted.‘Dylan, you ungrateful scoundrel! I trusted you so much, yet you did this to me! You even took advantage of my daughter. You are going to hell for this!’ Carl screamed, blaming Dylan for their downfall.Dylan was unfazed.Nothing Carl said mattered, not any more.Dylan exchanged a look with Dwight; there would be time to celebrate later.However, their joy was short-lived.About twenty minutes later, a soldier returned, reporting that they
Inga was supposed to be dead, but Dylan assured him that he’d killed her, even brought back her charred corpse.And the witness secured by Mindy couldn’t be Inga.Dylan must have made the switch.Carl was right to suspect him; his protégé had betrayed him.Carl glared resentfully at Dylan, at the culprit who crushed his dream of presidency.Dylan leaned against the wall, hands in pockets, unfazed.‘Dylan!’ Carl bellowed.The general seemed to have aged in a matter of minutes.Dylan gave him a mischievous smile. ‘Did I do something wrong, General Conway?’‘You—’ Carl yelled, ready to tear into Dylan for the betrayal.But glancing around the room, he halted.Others were present—Harriet, Dwight, and the three cabinet ministers.To reprimand Dylan would be akin to admitting to his own crimes.Fury painted his face as he contemplated his next move.Dwight glanced at Carl.The situation resembled a chess game, with Carl in the inferior position.He should sense his disadvantage, understandi
Carl waited in his office, too worked up to sit still.A knock on the door, and then Mindy entered. ‘Dad, it’s done. We have the witness and evidence. Everything will unfold just as you want.’Joy sparkled in Carl’s eyes, grateful for his daughter’s assistance. ‘Good, Mindy. Get Dylan here immediately. I want Elias’s trial to begin ASAP.’Mindy nodded, a wicked smile on her face, and left to find Dylan.She brought Natee along, with the woman’s face veiled to conceal her identity.Meeting Dylan, Mindy relayed Carl’s instructions.Dylan’s eyes lingered on her earlobes, adorned with the pink pearl earrings. ‘You did an excellent job. Your dad is right to be proud of you. I am, too.’Mindy shrugged. ‘It was easy.’Dylan shifted his focus to Natee. ‘Mindy, go get changed. I’ll handle your witness. We’ll gather everyone in half an hour.’‘Alright!’ Mindy nodded.***The Kurtazagg border weather was frigid, and the air threatened to freeze.Dwight, draped in a wool coat, moved towards the m
But Dylan’s eyes remained ice-cold as he swiftly secured the earrings onto her earlobes. ‘Done.’Standing on her tiptoes, Mindy gave him a quick kiss on the lips. ‘Thank you.’Dylan didn’t reciprocate the kiss.He just looked at her with a smile, concealing the disgust he felt.Duty called, and Dylan left the dorm shortly after.Usually, Mindy would have been disappointed.But tonight, she had other plans—meeting the leader of Kurtazagg’s largest militant group and collecting the evidence framing Elias.Once the trial was over, Elias’s fate would be sealed, and her father would be one step closer to the presidency.Mindy shed her luxurious coat for a sleek black suit and donned a plain black mask.She examined her reflection in the mirror and noticed that the pink pearl earrings seemed a bit conspicuous.About to take them off, she remembered Dylan’s words and kept them on.These were Dylan’s gifts, and she’d wear them always.Ready, she stepped out of the dorm and found two men in bl