With a wicked grin, Dylan quipped, ‘I know you won’t understand, Lieutenant Colonel Daniels. While work is essential, spending time with my woman is equally important. I worry about Callie working here. I can’t be at ease if I don’t come to see her.’Harriet gazed at Dylan, and it felt like something in her heart shattered.He appeared entirely indifferent to her, and she couldn’t fathom how she’d allowed herself to be in such a sorry state.His words, though seemingly insignificant to him, had driven her to the brink.She was bewildered and painfully aware that their kiss was probably no different from countless others he’d shared with other women.It didn’t mean anything to him.A sharp pant of pain welled up in Harriet’s heart, and she bit her lip to contain it.Elias couldn’t help but notice Dylan’s hand on Callie’s shoulder, and even though he knew it was all an act, jealousy still gnawed at him.Dylan and Callie’s feigned intimacy was hard to stomach, and he saw it as an eyesore
Angelia and Jamison sat in the consultation room, watching Callie and Dylan’s interactions through the window.Jamison’s complexion had soured, and he appeared distant.Angelia gazed at Jamison, hiding a sneer.She couldn’t help but prod him, saying, ‘Dr Garcia, don’t you resent her?’Jamison turned to her, momentarily taken aback, then shook his head. ‘I don’t resent her. I understand her choices.’Angelia let out a soft sigh, her tone laced with calculation. ‘You love her so deeply that you were willing to sacrifice your life for her. But what has she offered in return? Besides feeling touched and saying thank you, does she feel anything more for you?’Jamison had told Angelia that he didn’t mind, but her words still pricked his heart with bitterness.He replied with a tinge of resignation, ‘It’s not her problem; it’s mine. The only person she loves is Elias, not me or Dylan.’Jamison shifted his gaze from the window back to the room, a bitter smile tugging at his lips.His affectio
‘I would have done that even without you telling me,’ Harriet responded, unimpressed by his instructions.‘Is that so?’ Dylan replied with a sly smile.As he leaned in again, Harriet quickly changed the subject. ‘General Sheppard, what’s your mission this time?’‘It’s classified.’‘Are you going alone?’ Harriet tried to pry information from him.‘Are you worried about me?’Harriet snorted. ‘As if.’‘It’s a little dangerous. If something happened to me, what would you do?’ Dylan asked, his tone more serious.‘I’d say, good riddance,’ Harriet quipped.‘I don’t believe you.’‘Believe whatever you want.’‘I have to go now. Time to collect my parting gift,’ Dylan said and lowered his head to kiss her.This time, the kiss was tender and passionate.Harriet’s attempts to push him away were in vain, and she found herself lost in the moment.After a lingering kiss, Dylan finally broke away and left her with a roguish smile. ‘That’ll hold me for a while. After I come back, we’ll continue where
Angelia sighed and began to reveal a painful truth. ‘You should know that I was kidnapped by those people from Shadowfire.’Whitney nodded.Angelia continued, ‘I never told anyone what happened there, but I’ll tell you now. I endured a living hell. Those monsters treated me like a plaything because I wasn’t the major general’s wife. They unleashed their hatred and anger on me. Among them was a drug addict who not only used, but also forced me to use. That’s when I developed this addiction. It wasn’t my choice. I wanted to quit, but I can’t control myself when the withdrawal symptoms hit.’She held out both arms and rolled up her sleeves. ‘Look at my wrists, my arms. When the symptoms came, I bit myself to resist it, to fight back, but it was useless. I failed time and time again. So, I resorted to stealing those drugs from the pharmacy.’Whitney couldn’t help but shudder.She had heard some rumours about Angelia’s ordeal, but she had never fathomed the extent of her suffering.Being a
The sergeant continued, ‘We’re just soldiers. It’s best if you, as doctors, examine the cause of death. We’ll hand her body over to you temporarily and report the case to my superior. Later, someone will come to take your statements.’Callie and Wendy acknowledged this as they moved Whitney’s body to the surgical room, which had been turned into a makeshift morgue.The news of Whitney’s death sent shockwaves through the infirmary.Harriet, who was in Elias’s ward, overheard the commotion and asked about the cause.Elias was quick to notice Harriet’s troubled expression.Harriet relayed the grim news to Elias. ‘There’s a nurse named Whitney in the infirmary. She died from blunt force trauma to her head, likely from a rock, and there was excessive blood loss. Do you have any idea who might have done this?’Elias frowned, deep in thought. ‘I can’t say for certain, but I highly doubt it’s the work of Shadowfire. Even if they were within our camp, using rocks seems too random for them. Bes
‘Elias, is that all right?’ Callie asked, tilting her head.‘Of course.’‘Then we’ll continue the charade,’ Callie said earnestly. ‘I’ll do my best to take care of myself, so you don’t have to worry about me.’‘Will you blame me?’‘What do you mean?’‘Everything comes back to the fact that I’m a soldier,’ Elias explained. ‘If I were a CEO or a celebrity, maybe you wouldn’t have to go through this.’Callie smiled and shook her head, brushing aside his concerns. ‘There are plenty of CEOs in the world, but none of them are you. No matter how wealthy or promising their lives might be, they can’t compare to you. Only you can support me when I’m at my lowest, willing to make sacrifices for me. I only want you, Elias. No matter how impressive others may be, they’re not you.’‘Callie, how could I not fall for you?’ Elias murmured, as much to himself as to her.‘Elias, time for you to go!’ Callie urged, giving him a gentle push. ‘You can’t stay here. What if someone sees us? Go back to your wa
Jamison said, ‘We’ll have to go through a drug test.’Angelia’s face turned ashen.She had anticipated being exposed, but she didn’t expect it to happen so quickly.There was no time to frame Callie.To divert the focus, Angelia suggested, ‘Could it possibly be Whitney? She may have used the key to open the cabinet and traded the drugs with Shadowfire secretly. But after the deal, they might have killed her.’Callie was quick to dismiss this theory. ‘That’s unlikely. Whitney wouldn’t have done this, and no one has reported their keys missing. The person who stole these medications must be among us, doctors.’Angelia realised she was forced into a corner.She bit her lip, trying to change the topic. ‘Dr Hawthorne is right. If no one has any objections, let’s start in two hours.’Panicking, Angelia pondered her next steps.She knew the drug test would reveal her guilt and she couldn’t allow that to happen.Half an hour later, General Conway arrived at the infirmary to address the murder
Angelia walked back to the infirmary, her head held low.Jamison noticed her distress. ‘Angelia, you look pale.’‘I’m fine.’ She turned her gaze to the other eight doctors, clenched her fists, and announced in a loud voice, ‘The drug test had been called off.’Surprised murmurs rippled through the room.‘What? Why?’‘Because I’ve identified the culprit who stole the drugs and killed Whitney.’ Angelia took a deep breath. ‘It’s Callista Hawthorne.’Callie’s head snapped up.What?‘It’s not me!’ she protested, her voice firm, although she felt a growing sense of dread.Angelia couldn’t hide her satisfaction as she witnessed the other doctors’ reactions.The collective gasp of surprise was music to her ears.Even better, she saw two of the doctors turning their suspicious gaze towards Callie.In that moment, Angelia felt a sense of victory.Callie had always been the darling of everyone, cherished by Elias, Jamison, Dylan, and many others.But look at her now.Angelia relished the satisfa
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