Callie had grown up an orphan, accustomed to solitude.She faced every challenge alone, be it illness or injury.Despite a longing for familial care, no relatives ever stepped in.Over time, this solitude forged her into an independent and strong individual.She’d learned to rely solely on herself.‘Elias, you know,’ Callie’s eyes welled with tears as she spoke softly, ‘I can’t even remember what my parents looked like... Maybe that’s why Simon left me in the beginning. I’m not one for pampering or being pampered. I find it pointless. I’ve always kept my feelings to myself.’Simon used to mockingly say, ‘My girlfriend is so self-sufficient that I, as her boyfriend, don’t know what I can possibly do for her!’But what he truly meant was that he found her dull and uninteresting.Ultimately, he chose to betray her entirely, all for the sake of Abby.By then, Callie had become a fortress of independence.She was accustomed to picking herself up and facing life’s challenges head-on.Elias
Jamison turned away, avoiding Angelia’s touch. ‘No one hit me; I fell on my own. You are right. I need to rest. Dr Hawthorne, I’m counting on you to keep an eye on things in the infirmary. Callie’s still sick, so I’ll need you to share part of her workload.’Reluctantly, Angelia nodded. ‘Fine.’She had little desire to help Callie, but she would do so for Jamison’s sake.‘Does Callie need my treatment?’ she asked, wanting to see Callie’s injury.But Jamison didn’t give her the chance. ‘No, I’m her attending doctor.’Concerned about the bruise on his face, Angelia bit her lip and asked, ‘Are you sure you don’t need me to check out that bruise on your face?’‘It’s not a big deal. I have to get back to work.’ Jamison put his hands in his pockets and rose.He glanced at Angelia indifferently before leaving.As Angelia watched him go, a sense of confusion crept over her.The more she got to know Jamison, the more she felt he wasn’t as she had initially imagined.His gentle demeanour seemed
Callie’s hands trembled as she pulled back the curtains and approached him. ‘Suthat!’The boy’s face flushed with embarrassment, his big eyes wide.He bowed his head, avoiding Callie’s gaze. ‘Doctor, I’m sorry...’‘Sorry?’ Callie frowned, her concern evident.She picked up the leaking IV drip. ‘You should be apologising to yourself. Giving up on treatment like this will only make your condition worse.’Looking at the frail boy, Callie’s heart softened. ‘Suthat, why did you pull it out? Why didn’t you want to get better?’‘Doctor, I don’t want to leave this place,’ Suthat said softly, his clear eyes locked onto Callie’s, each word deliberate. ‘I have no family here, no idea where to go. If I leave, I’ll be all alone.’Callie was shocked by his explanation, her body tensing.She had never expected this to be Suthat’s true motivation.‘Doctor, I thought that if my condition stayed bad, I could stay here forever,’ Suthat confessed, his voice trembling. ‘I’m sorry. You cared so much for me
Elias turned to his aide. ‘Go ahead. I’ll be there shortly.’Lemuel saluted and left the room, leaving Angelia alone with Elias.‘Now that he’s gone, you can speak,’ Elias prompted.‘General Westwood, I’ve told you that Callie isn’t the loyal type,’ Angelia’s voice was low. ‘You may not believe me, but I must tell you she’s not as innocent as you think. Apart from you, I’m afraid she also has feelings for Jamison.’Elias clenched his jaw when he heard the name ‘Jamison.’‘On what grounds do you make such a claim?’ Elias asked coldly, his expression darkening.‘I don’t have concrete evidence,’ Angelia admitted, smiling faintly. ‘But by the time I do, she’ll have already betrayed you. I just feel bad for you. You’re working so hard to protect our country, but she doesn’t seem to appreciate it. I just thought you deserve—’Angelia stopped there, unable to continue.Because Elias had grabbed her throat, choking her.Angelia coughed and spluttered, her eyes bulging, her face red.She gaspe
‘Could she be in the lounge?’ Wendy approached the room where Callie and Elias were holed up, her knuckles rapping sharply on the door.Callie stood close to the door and caught Wendy’s voice, her immediate reaction pushing Elias away.If Wendy, that notorious gossip, spotted them in this compromising position, she’d have enough ammunition for gossip to last a lifetime.However, Elias grabbed her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers and pinning her hands above her head.His body pressed firmly against hers, his chest melding to hers as if he was determined to keep her from escaping.‘Elias! Don’t—’ Callie started to speak, but the fear of Wendy overhearing held her back.Elias leaned in, his voice a low, intimate murmur against her ear. ‘Bunny, no matter what happens today, I won’t let you slip away...’Elias meant every word, his intention clear, not a teasing threat.Outside the door, Wendy, met with silence after knocking, attempted to turn the handle, but it refused to budge.
In the headquarters conference room, everyone appeared unusually solemn.Shadowfire might be lying low for now, but a storm was brewing on the horizon.Drug trafficking, firearms, and human trafficking were rampant on the border, destabilising the region.Finally, Harriet spoke up, ‘I’ll volunteer for this mission. I’ll lead the team.’‘Lieutenant Colonel Daniels.’ Elias frowned. ‘Dealing with Inga won’t be easy.’‘Inga’s a woman. So am I. I don’t see why I can’t take her down.’Harriet’s confident smile left Elias deep in thought.He tapped his slender fingers on the table but didn’t respond immediately.‘Major General Westwood, I know what I’m doing.’Elias looked at Harriet and saw the determination in her eyes. ‘Alright, you’ll lead the operation.’‘Yes, Sir!’‘Be careful, though. The mission’s important, but your safety is the top priority!’‘Yes, Sir.’Harriet stood up and saluted Elias.After Harriet left, Elias turned to Lemuel. ‘You are in charge of the prep work. Give Harrie
Callie’s surgical gown was stained with blood, and the exhaustion from the procedure caught up with her.After washing up, she curled up in a corner of the operating room, closed her eyes, and attempted to rest briefly.Jamison removed his mask and gloves, checked on the patient, then re-entered the room to find Callie slumped against the wall, fast asleep despite the constant din around her.Jamison couldn’t help but smile at the sight.He lifted Callie in his arms, carried her to the doctor’s lounge and placed her on a bed, making sure she was comfortable.Then he found an armchair and plopped down in it.The surgery took a toll on him as well.Hunger gnawed at him.Observing Callie, Jamison reasoned that she, too, was likely famished.Callie excelled at caring for others but often neglected her own well-being, and Jamison had grown accustomed to it.He decided to head to the cafeteria and grab some food for himself and her.Angelia spotted him and approached. ‘Dr Garcia, is this yo
‘Hear me out,’ Wendy asserted, releasing Callie’s shoulder and gently tilting her chin. ‘Besides Elias, Jamison was the only one genuinely worried about you. You didn’t see it because you fainted, but I did. Jamison cares about you a lot.’Callie didn’t find comfort in Wendy’s words.Instead, they felt like a heavy weight on her heart.Her smile vanished as she opened the thermos and sipped the contents, ignoring the untouched lunchbox.Wendy pushed the lunchbox towards her. ‘Callie, since Jamison packed it for you, why not have some? It’s still hot.’‘I’d rather not.’ Callie shook her head. ‘I don’t want to give him false hope or complicate things. It’s better to decline his kindness than to accept it without reason.’Callie had a soft heart and disliked hurting others.She understood that blurring the lines could easily hurt Jamison, which was something she wanted to avoid.The only person she truly cared about was Elias.Wendy respected Callie’s stubbornness and didn’t press furthe
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