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
The frostbite on Callie’s hand wasn’t as bad as yesterday, but it still looked a bit swollen, tugging at Elias’s heart.Elias crouched down, resting his forehead against Callie’s, his eyes locking onto her almond-shaped ones. ‘Does it hurt?’‘Not really.’‘Seriously?’Callie nodded, her cheeks warming as his breath caressed her face.Despite the chaos of the borderland they lived in, the scene sent her heart aflutter.Elias, a rugged man, stood before her in the snow, gazing at her with profound affection.‘Elias, I’m truly fine.’‘Alright.’Elias gently removed the glove from her other hand, sliding his own into her white coat pocket.From his military coat pocket, Elias produced a pair of leather gloves, passing them to Callie.‘I don’t like you wearing other men’s gloves,’ he stated firmly. ‘You’re mine. I don’t want the scent of other men on you.’Elias knew those gloves were from Jamison, meant to keep Callie warm.But he couldn’t bear the thought of another man caring for her.S
‘Whether you admit it or not, she’s still waiting for you. She’ll wait until you fall in love with her again.’‘That’s impossible,’ Elias interrupted Jamison. ‘I won’t fall in love with her.’‘I hope so.’Jamison’s eyes were as cold as ice, and he stared mercilessly at Elias.‘I hope you continue to bring happiness to Callie. I’ll be watching from the sidelines. But if one day you hurt her, and she’s disappointed in you, I won’t hesitate to take her away.’‘That’s never going to happen.’Jamison stopped talking.He adjusted the collar of his white coat and returned to the infirmary’s examination room.***As time passed, the gunshot wound on Harriet’s chest gradually healed.Being one of the highest-ranking officers on the base, she had a team of doctors taking shifts to ensure her recovery went smoothly.On this particular day, it was Angelia’s turn to tend to her.Lately, Angelia had been unusually quiet, often spending entire days without uttering a word to anyone.Her once radiant
Without hesitation, Ramiro swiftly produced a collection of cloth strips in various colours.Jamison distributed the cloth, his expression grave as he explained, ‘Green signals they’re relatively stable, yellow means they require more attention, and red screams for immediate treatment. Black... well, that’s a sign we’ve done all we can. Assign the appropriate colour to each patient, and let’s prioritise red, then yellow, and finally green.’Without wasting a moment, the doctors snatched up the cloth strips and began assessing the injured.Callie, with her heart racing, affixed a yellow cloth to two wounded soldiers and a red one to another.But then, a violent cough nearby caught her attention.Her gaze landed on a young soldier, barely in his twenties, coughing up blood.His abdomen was a gruesome sight, despite his futile attempts to shield it.Callie clenched her teeth and pulled out a red cloth strip from her pocket, swiftly tying it to the soldier’s arm, indicating it was an emer
Callie gasped. ‘What on earth are you doing?’Jamison’s voice quivered with emotion. ‘Trust me, I can treat you better than Elias. I’ll be there for you, and I will never hurt you.’‘Jamison, please, let me go!’ Callie pleaded, struggling to break free from his grasp. ‘Don’t do this.’But Jamison held her firmly, his desperation plain to see.‘Callie, why can’t you give me a chance?’ he implored.‘It’s not you, it’s me,’ Callie sobbed, tears streaming down her face. ‘I’m falling deeper in love with Elias every day. I never thought I’d care about someone so much that it hurts to be around others. You’re wonderful, kind, but now you’re scaring me. I don’t know how to face you. Please, just let me go.’As Jamison gazed at Callie, a profound sense of regret washed over him.Callie was crying profusely.Her pale face was wet with tears.She bit her lip so hard that it bled.As Jamison gazed at her, pain filled his eyes. ‘Do you truly love him that much?’‘Yes!’‘He’s not worthy of you.’ Ja
Elias held Callie close.‘I won’t let you go,’ he whispered. ‘Unless I die.’‘Elias, don’t say that!’ Callie covered his mouth with her palm. ‘I don’t want to hear that word.’‘What word? The D word?’She glared at him. ‘You are still saying it!’Elias chuckled. ‘I meant, dinner.’He held her hand. ‘Hungry? I hear they are serving beef stew in the canteen.’***The infirmary buzzed with activity as a fresh wave of wounded patients filled the space, leaving doctors and nurses utterly drained.Within the limited confines of the consultation room, Callie and Jamison’s paths crossed occasionally.They both stayed occupied, wisely avoiding any mention of their impulsive kiss to spare themselves the awkwardness.The wounded included soldiers from the base and residents of the Engalia border near Kurtazagg.These border dwellers, born in this rugged region, found themselves living a nomadic life due to Kurtazagg’s internal chaos and the illegal actions of mercenaries.Though her days were ch
The current situation was proof of that, with Angelia selected for the dangerous mission instead of Callie.Callie was always sheltered.But what about Angelia?If something happened to her, who would care?Angelia refused to accept this fate, biting her lip until it nearly broke the skin.She was terrified of death.After the meeting, Angelia stood in the cold wind, tears streaming down her face, her beautiful face contorted with hatred.She was alone in a secluded spot at the base, hiding from her colleagues.Suddenly, she felt a sharp knife against her chin.‘Dr Hawthorne...’Angelia’s heart raced as her neck, previously covered by warm clothing, was exposed to the cold air and the blade’s chilling touch.‘Who are you?’ Angelia’s voice trembled.Krug, disguised as a hunchbacked old man, straightened up and remarked, ‘I see General Westwood’s wife keeps a low profile.’General Westwood’s wife?Angelia realised that the old man had mistaken her identity.‘No, I’m not her,’ Angelia hu
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