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
‘That’s why I thought of asking her out for a drink,’ Lemuel mumbled. ‘You know how alcohol loosens tongues.’‘Not her. She can drink three of you under the table.’ Elias tapped a finger on his thigh. ‘So, you are not romantically interested in her?’Lemuel shook his head vehemently. ‘Absolutely not, sir. Any interest I might have had in her was crushed when she broke two of my ribs. Besides…’ Lemuel cleared his throat. ‘I’ve already got my sights on someone.’A knowing glint danced in Elias’s eyes. ‘I think I have an idea who you are talking about.’‘Sir, if you don’t mind me asking, how did you manage to sway Callie?’‘Sway?’‘Apologies, wrong word choice. I meant, how did you get her to marry you? What was your secret?’Elias contemplated, a smile tugging at his lips at the memory of Callie’s blushing reaction to his impromptu proposal. ‘I think it was a mix of timing and charm...’‘Charm?’ Lemuel glanced at his own face in the rearview mirror. ‘I think I’ve got some of that.’‘But
The medical personnel who had previously served at Valour Ridge had been dispatched to Nordland to aid in a challenging peacekeeping assignment and had yet to return.Other than Craig, none of the current staff had been there for more than three months.Craig explained the situation and let everyone speak their mind.Ramiro Meyers raised his hand first. ‘I’ve worked in conflict zones and disaster-stricken regions before. And I’ve worked with civilians, soldiers, and children in crisis.’The 34-year-old doctor was a recent transfer.His skin was deeply tanned, and a jagged scar ran across his left forearm, a souvenir from a particularly intense field operation.Heads nodded around the table.His experience might be just what was needed in a tight spot.Matthew Carlson, 31 years old, was the second to volunteer.Before coming to Valour Ridge, he’d served in peacekeeping corps around the world.His experience extended beyond the battlefield, encompassing his dedication to improving healt
Elias’s voice cut through in the tense air, his tone low, his gaze reflecting the storm inside. ‘The danger there is real, Callie. I can’t let you go.’‘Real danger?’ Callie’s lips twisted in defiance, her words dripping with stubbornness. ‘So, Kurtazagg’s border is a threat, but it’s okay for you, huh? Why the double standard?’‘Callie!’ Elias’s eyes bore into her, frustration etched on his face. ‘I’m bound by duty as a soldier. I follow orders, no questions asked. But you...’ He sighed, a touch of vulnerability slipping through. ‘You’re different.’‘Different how?’ Callie’s voice sharpened, her eyes locking onto his with determination. ‘Elias, you can’t just use your authority to keep me from Kurtazagg.’‘Yes, I can.’ His response was sharp, the word slicing through the charged atmosphere. ‘You’re not going. End of story.’That finality struck Callie like a slap, stoking a fiery anger within her.She wrenched her hand away from his grasp, taking a step back.Why did she want this mi
Seated in his office, Elias combed through the latest intel from the Kurtazagg border and Citadel Alpha Base.Lemuel cast occasional glances his way.Sensing his superior’s foul mood, the captain wisely chose silence.Elias handed over a roster to Lemuel. ‘Get this to Major Spadaro for confirmation.’Lemuel’s gaze snagged on Wendy’s name, caught off guard.His heart raced, mirroring Elias’s unease.No soldier wished such a perilous path for someone they cared about.Kurtazagg was a brutal realm, a crucible that tested even seasoned warriors.For individuals like Callie and Wendy, the odds were far from favourable.Observing Lemuel’s hesitation, Elias’s brows furrowed. ‘Something bothering you? Why are you just standing there?’‘Nothing, Sir! I’m on it.’ Lemuel saluted promptly and hurried to the vice principal’s office.Raindrops, like delicate whispers, trickled in through the window, grazing Elias’s face.Thoughts of Callie’s sorrowful eyes replayed in his mind.A pang of longing su
Elias felt a tug in his chest, witnessing the tear-stained visage of Callie.With a reckless abandon, he bent down and claimed her lips with fervour.Salty tears mingled with the bittersweetness, turning the kiss into a poignant collision.‘Callie, look at me.’ Elias tilted her chin gently, coaxing her gaze towards him.He wiped away her tears with his thumb. ‘It’s a treacherous terrain out there. Explosions and combat could erupt anytime. Lives could be lost in a heartbeat. Someone chatting with you one moment might breathe their last beside you the next. I can’t vouch for my safety, let alone yours.’He wasn’t taking any chances, not when it came to his beloved.The thought of losing her was unfathomable; it’s why he dug in his heels, forbidding Callie from venturing to Kurtazagg, even if it meant wielding his authority like a weapon.Callie’s tears welled, yet she managed a smile. ‘Elias, who’s gonna have your back when you’re wounded? You’re tough, true, but you’re also flesh and
Elias sauntered over to Lemuel’s side.Spying Callie, Lemuel couldn’t hold back his curiosity. ‘Sir, Callie’s really tagging along?’‘The girl you’ve got an eye on’s enlisting too, right?’ Elias responded, deflecting the question.Lemuel cast a glance at Wendy by Callie’s side, murmuring, ‘Yeah, she volunteered.’‘I didn’t want Callie to come,’ Elias admitted in hushed tones. ‘But that was selfish of me.’Truth was, Elias had conferred with Craig over the phone before visiting the health centre.The veteran nurse’s opinion was more inclined towards Callie than Angelia.For battlefield roles, courage and a sense of responsibility were non-negotiable.From Craig’s standpoint, Callie seemed a better fit than Angelia.But Elias had placed pressure on Craig to favour Angelia, fearing the peril Callie might face.Now he realised that was the wrong thing to do.‘Sir, I know how you feel.’ Lemuel patted Elias’s shoulder.‘Let’s not dwell on that. It’s time for the roll call.’Lemuel nodded an
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