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,
The sinister intruder, that bullet, was finally ousted, no longer posing a threat to Harriet’s fragile existence.Callie’s heart raced in sync with Harriet’s as she passed Jamison the vascular forceps he needed to stem the bleeding.Their eyes met briefly, a silent nod to their shared triumph over adversity.With meticulous precision, Jamison and Ramiro worked together to mend the damaged blood vessels and tissues, each stitch a testament to their unwavering dedication.Callie kept a watchful eye on Harriet’s vital signs, never wavering in her vigilance.The once-silent room now buzzed with a profound sense of accomplishment.They had won the battle for Harriet’s heart, but the war was far from over.Harriet’s frail form, still tethered to monitors and tubes, bore the scars of her ordeal.As the emergency operating theatre doors swung open, Ramiro and Angelia emerged, carefully transferring Harriet to a stretcher.Elias and Lemuel, their faces etched with worry, eagerly sought news of
Elias held Callie close, his lips gently brushing her forehead.With a sigh, he spoke, his voice tinged with concern. ‘You’re always looking out for everyone else, darling—Harriet, the patients, and me. But when do you ever look after yourself?’Callie smiled.She always wore a gentle smile, the one that made it seem like she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders without complaint.Even when she wasn’t happy, it felt like no one would notice.But she was his wife, and he sure as hell didn’t want to be the one neglecting her.She’d risked her career and medical license to save Harriet, even if Elias hadn’t asked.He might not have been a doctor, but he could still see the danger in that gunshot wound on Harriet’s chest.Elias couldn’t be with Callie in the operating theatre, but he could imagine the icy tension and the immense pressure the surgeons were under.Callie leaned against Elias and sighed contentedly.The rhythm of her heartbeat pulsed beneath his hand, but her hea
Elias’s breaths brushed against her neck, his lips grazing her delicate skin.‘Elias!’ Callie’s spine tingled. ‘I’m trying to have a serious chat here. Quit fooling around and get some rest.’She pulled back and playfully nudged him. ‘Off you go, back to your dorm.’She sent Elias on his way, his eyes filled with affection.Then, she headed to the intensive care unit to check on Harriet, who was still unconscious but stable.Afterwards, Callie got busy with her morning rounds, but the chilly air made her fingers stiff.Wendy couldn’t help but laugh. ‘Callie, you still can’t handle the cold. Let me see those hands.’Wendy took Callie’s hands and noticed they had turned red. ‘You’re freezing!’Callie grinned. ‘Looks like I might be growing frozen carrots.’Wendy teased, ‘Should I tell General Westwood? He might be quite concerned.’Callie chuckled. ‘Wendy, don’t be ridiculous.’Wendy persisted. ‘What’s absurd about it? Someone’s got to speak up since you won’t.’Callie shook her head. ‘
‘Harriet, can you hear me?’ Callie’s soft voice reached Harriet’s ears as she slowly came to. ‘Can you open your eyes for me?’With her strength returning bit by bit, Harriet blinked, cracked her eyes open, and focused on Callie.Realising Harriet no longer needed the oxygen mask, Callie gently removed it. ‘Harriet, how are you feeling?’‘Callie... Elias... See him...’ Harriet whispered, her voice feeble.‘No, you can’t,’ Callie replied firmly. ‘You’ve just woken up, and you’re still weak. Anything you need to tell Elias can wait until you’re in better shape.’Harriet disagreed but understood Callie’s point.She tried to speak again but realised how weak her voice was.Callie reassured her with a smile. ‘You are just out of a major surgery. Don’t push it. I promise to let Elias know you’re awake, and once you’re up to it, you can chat with him.’Reluctantly, Harriet accepted the advice and decided to rest.Callie made a mental note to inform Elias later about Harriet waking up.Close
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