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
‘General Sheppard, could you please let go of my leg.’ Harriet sighed in resignation.She admitted defeat.Aside from Dylan’s higher military rank, her strength couldn’t hold a candle to his.If Dylan chose to fight, she had no chance of escape.Dylan’s gaze swept over Harriet’s visage.She dared not voice her irritation.It was the first time he had witnessed Harriet so visibly agitated due to his flirtations with another woman.Who was this woman to Harriet?Dylan’s mind raced as he slowly released his hold on Harriet’s calf.‘I’m still waiting,’ he said, his words measured.Harriet seethed with anger, her breath heavy.Dylan had done this intentionally.He seemed determined to watch her frustration bubble over.Well, if that’s what amused him, so be it.‘Good morning, Major General Sheppard,’ Harriet said through gritted teeth, offering a stiff salute.‘Barely a pass, but I’ll give you that,’ Dylan responded with a hint of amusement in his voice.Harriet rolled her eyes.Callie, wh
Harriet, taken aback by Elias’s furious tone, stared at him in surprise.‘Harriet, tell me,’ Elias continued, his voice filled with impatience. ‘What did Dylan do to Callie?’Harriet had intended to tell him that Dylan had been flirting with Callie, but she hesitated.She didn’t want to provoke Elias’s anger further.While Dylan held a similar rank to Elias, Harriet feared that if she mentioned the word ‘flirting,’ Elias might take it as a challenge and confront Dylan, possibly resulting in violence.Nervously, Harriet stammered, ‘Dylan was just fooling around. You know what he’s like. He wasn’t flirting with Callie. Absolutely not.’Harriet had entered the military straight after high school, so her combat skills were exceptional, but her social skills were lacking.Her current situation was a prime example.She thought her words would have placated Elias, but he clearly interpreted her statement differently.He was so furious that it triggered another fit of violent coughing.Elias’
Dylan’s words were direct, and Harriet seethed with anger.If she had the authority, she might have done away with Dylan a long time ago.Growing up, Elias had been her role model.She aspired to be like him, admiring his talent and the effort he invested.But Dylan was a different story.This man was simply talented.They had undergone the same gruelling training, and she had pushed herself to the brink of exhaustion while Dylan seemed carefree.Nevertheless, whether in written exams or combat, he outperformed her by a long shot.As Dylan confidently strolled into the meeting room, Harriet’s face flushed with anger.This man was so infuriating!***The meeting room soon filled with five high-ranking officers.Lemuel, Harriet, Elias, and Dylan were all present.Carl Conway occupied the front seat.Carl, in his fifties, sported a face adorned with wrinkles, but unlike Hershel, he constantly wore a faint smile.Hershel had always been the stoic one, while Carl seemed perpetually cheerfu
‘Maybe,’ Callie replied absentmindedly. ‘I’m not sure. I’ve only met him once.’Dylan had left an impression on Callie with his striking looks, but her heart belonged to Elias.She couldn’t entertain the thought of other men, even if it felt a bit silly.‘Wendy, you probably shouldn’t mention that man in front of Lemuel,’ Callie suggested.‘Alright.’ Wendy playfully stuck out her tongue and nodded. ‘I promise I won’t. You know, Callie, I used to think Lemuel was a bit clueless, but now I realize it’s not that.’‘He’s actually quite possessive!’ Wendy exclaimed. ‘You’re my only best friend here, and if I spend too much time with you, he’s going to get insanely jealous. Then, I’ll have to spend ages coaxing him...’In the end, Wendy concluded, ‘Callie, when a man truly likes you, their possessiveness can be downright terrifying.’Callie mulled over Wendy’s words.Possessiveness in a man who genuinely cared about her... it sounded like Elias.She bit her lip and let her thoughts wander.
Dylan’s eyes followed Harriet as she departed.It was the first time he had seen her get so worked up over someone other than Elias.Dylan’s mind wandered for a moment, but he quickly refocused on the files before him.***Despite the seriousness of Angelia’s injury, it was primarily superficial skin damage, and she made a swift recovery.Initially, she was advised to take a break in the infirmary or leave her post as a doctor to return to the military academy.However, Angelia was determined to stay, and in the end, her decision was respected.Adorned in a crisp white coat and a medical mask, Angelia examined the familiar tools in her hands.It had been less than a month, yet everything felt somewhat unfamiliar.She used to believe that she might meet her end at the hands of those monsters and never return to this place.Her perspective on the world had shifted.Observing Angelia in front of him, Jamison spoke gently, ‘Angelia, you can be my assistant for now. Eventually, you’ll be b