Callie had seen Elias and Harriet standing together, laughing and talking as if they were a perfect match.It was as if they were advertising a picture-perfect couple in their military uniforms.However, when Callie appeared, Elias barely acknowledged her.If she hadn’t wished him goodnight before leaving, he might not have responded at all.She now realized that Elias and Harriet’s interaction wasn’t just about official business.And worse, he regretted marrying her.Callie was torn apart, unable to find the right words to express her pain.Though her marriage to Elias had been hasty, she had never regretted it.She believed she had found the right person, and their time together had brought her happiness.But now, her happiness seemed to have vanished overnight.Her heartache was palpable as she sat in silence, tears streaming down her face.Wendy hugged her friend, trying to offer some comfort.Callie cried for a long time until she was exhausted, wiping away her tears.‘Callie, do
In Wendy’s eyes, Elias wasn’t in the same league as that scoundrel Simon.Callie and Elias had displayed their affection for each other openly.How could he so easily claim he didn’t love her?She couldn’t believe Elias didn’t care about Callie.Elias remained silent but clenched his lips even harder.‘Callie’s running a slight fever, but she’s still working. No matter how hard I tried to convince her...’ Wendy sighed, ‘I wanted to tell you to talk to her, to ask her to take better care of herself, but it seems unnecessary now.’Wendy concluded her words and walked away, not looking back.She knew she had partially fabricated that story, but if Elias truly cared about Callie, he would definitely make some inquiries about her.As Wendy left, Elias stood rooted in place, clenching his fists.He had wanted to keep their distance, to ensure Callie’s safety, and prevent her from being caught up in the Shadowfire matter.He was determined to stay away from her.Each time he encountered Call
Callie hugged herself tightly and buried her face between her knees.Determined not to cry aloud, she bit her hand to stifle the sound.Her teeth sank into her skin so fiercely that the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.Yet, even that couldn’t distract her from the pain inside.Callie had once thought that being abandoned by Simon was the worst thing she could experience.But now, she realised that Elias’s indifference was enough to break her down.Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.He wanted her to stay away from him?How could she possibly do that?***In Elias’s office, Harriet knocked on the door, holding a yellow file in her hand.‘Come in.’Harriet handed the file to Elias. ‘This is a document from the Northern Theater. Please give it a read.’‘Alright.’ Elias accepted the file and began to review its contents.His face remained as cold and decisive as ever, a thin layer of ice seemingly covering his every expression.Harriet observed him carefully, concern etc
In the infirmary, Callie sat in an armchair with an IV drip in the back of her hand.A series of coughs racked her body, her face flushed with fever.Wendy helped Callie hang the IV bag, silently berating herself for what she’d said earlier.Callie had been perfectly fine, but Wendy had instigated this situation by falsely claiming Callie’s temperature was on the rise.Now, the lie had become a harsh reality, and Callie was truly unwell.Callie’s head throbbed, and dizziness washed over her.Her sore throat felt like it had been sliced by a knife, causing her immense pain.She had no desire to speak, so she leaned her head back against the chair, tears slipping from the corners of her eyes.Watching Callie’s silent suffering, Wendy’s self-blame transformed into deep concern.She immediately knelt beside Callie and asked, ‘Callie, what’s wrong? Are you in pain?’It hurt—her head ached, her throat throbbed, but nothing compared to the pain in her heart.In the past, she’d never been one
Elias’s eyes and demeanour exuded indifference, like the cold of winter.He descended the stairs with the two guards beside him saluting.When he noticed Jamison, there was a fleeting change in his narrow eyes, quickly concealed.Jamison reached Elias’s side, his pace deliberate, and spoke firmly, ‘Elias, I have something to tell you.’Elias raised an eyebrow, ‘Private matters or official business?’His coldness was almost suffocating.‘Private matters,’ Jamison replied.‘Do you think I’m free to discuss private matters with just anyone?’ Elias’s voice was low. ‘If it’s not official, please excuse me.’He turned to leave, but Jamison’s voice stopped him. ‘You love Callie. Why did you hurt her?’The mention of Callie seemed to anchor Elias’s feet to the ground, despite his efforts to move away. ‘Whether I love her or whether I hurt her is none of your concern, Jamison.’Jamison, unflinching, walked back toward Elias and looked into his eyes. ‘You once called her your wife and asked me
Wendy was concerned that Callie was putting on a brave face to mask the inner turmoil.‘I’m truly fine,’ Callie assured her.She adjusted her blanket, adding, ‘Even though my fever is gone, I’m still a bit dizzy. I want to sleep for a while. Wendy, you can go. No need to worry about me.’Wendy nodded and said, ‘Okay.’As Wendy left, Callie descended into a deep sleep.This time, she didn’t dream of Elias.***Callie’s recovery was swift, and she returned to work, but her interaction with Elias had dwindled.Initially, Wendy worried about Callie’s emotional state, but she soon noticed that Callie was handling things quite normally.However, just as the days were passing uneventfully, they received shocking news.Angelia was rescued by the army.Her body was battered, covered in bruises and bleeding wounds, and she was swathed in a dark green military coat.Callie sprang into action, ready to provide immediate care upon her return.Angelia lay on a hospital bed, her once beautiful and s
Angelia, lying on the bed, feigned sleep, not wanting to confront the tormenting memories that haunted her every time she closed her eyes.Jamison approached her, his guilt evident when he saw the wounds on her face.He couldn’t help but feel responsible for what had happened to her.Angelia slowly opened her eyes, surprised that he had finally come to visit her.Jamison was taken aback by her wakefulness and muttered, ‘Angelia, I’m sorry...’Inside, Angelia sneered.Another apology.What did it change for her?All she saw in his eyes was pity and sympathy.‘Why didn’t you save me?’ Angelia asked in a soft voice, her tone tinged with bitterness. ‘Why did you choose to save her and not me?’Jamison had no ready answer.‘I’m sorry...’ He apologised again, his voice filled with regret.There was a cynical smile on Angelia’s lips.Was this apology born of genuine remorse, or was it simply a way for him to absolve himself of guilt?She was convinced that if faced with a similar choice agai
Callie chose to stay silent, not entirely sure what to make of this enigmatic figure.She wasn’t in the mood for a conversation with this man, so she offered a polite excuse, ‘I’ve still got work to finish. Excuse me...’However, the man didn’t seem too pleased with her dismissal.He stepped in her path and insisted, ‘Dr Hawthorne, I’ve come to see a doctor. Would you please spare a moment to take a look at me?’Callie side-eyed him, noting his jovial demeanour that didn’t quite match someone in need of medical attention.Nevertheless, she cautiously examined his body.But when he removed his uniform, revealing well-defined muscles, Callie’s eyes widened as she noticed a bullet wound. ‘The wound appears to have been treated but has torn open again. I think it needs stitches.’‘I’m all yours.’ Despite the obvious seriousness of the injury, the man spoke as if it were a minor inconvenience and showed no signs of discomfort.This left Callie perplexed.As Callie carefully tended to the m