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
‘Harriet...’ Callie murmured, dread filling her.She quickly proceeded to the emergency operating theatre.Elias stood at the door, his face tense and devoid of emotion.His military uniform was stained with blood, unmistakably Harriet’s.Lemuel was looking equally concerned. ‘Thank god you are here! Dr Angelia Hawthorne and Dr Meyers are already inside. They probably need your help.’Elias’s eyes focused on Callie, and at the same time, recognised Jamison who stood by her side.Callie quickly assessed the situation and hurriedly put on a surgical gown and gloves with the help of a nurse.As she was about to enter the operating theatre, Elias spoke, ‘Callie, you must save Harriet.’Callie understood the gravity of the situation.Harriet held a special place in Elias’s heart.She was a childhood friend and a trusted comrade.Elias saw her as a sister, and he couldn’t bear to lose her.‘I’ll do my best.’ Callie nodded at him, and entered the operating theatre alongside Jamison.Inside,