Callie bit her lower lip, her thoughts racing as she tried to gather her thoughts.
The demands of her gruelling schedule as a surgical resident had left her with little time for personal matters, and she had honestly forgotten about Elias’s proposal.
She looked up at him, uncertainty in her eyes.
‘I... I’m sorry, Lieutenant Colonel Westwood, I—’
‘Just call me Elias.’
‘All right. Um, Elias, the past few days have been a blur. I completely forgot about your, um, your proposal.’ She shifted uncomfortably, feeling the weight of the decision pressing upon her.
Before she could utter another word, her phone buzzed in the pocket of her pristine white lab coat.
The caller ID flashed ‘Abby Colman.’
Confusion washed over Callie’s face—why would Simon’s new girlfriend be calling her?
The two women certainly weren’t friends, given the tension that had lingered since the end of Callie’s relationship with Simon.
Curiosity gnawed at her, and she stepped away from Elias, answering the call. ‘Hello, Abby. What do you want?’
Abby’s voice dripped with a mixture of smugness and malice. ‘Surprised to hear from me, Callie? Well, I have some news for you. Remember that article you sent to the International Journal of Medical Science and Research? The one that got rejected?’
Callie’s heart sank.
She had poured her soul into that article, hoping for recognition and validation from her peers.
The rejection had been a blow to her confidence, but she hadn’t expected Abby to have any involvement.
‘What about it, Abby?’ Callie asked, her voice tinged with anger. ‘Did you have something to do with it?’
Abby couldn’t contain her glee as she revelled in Callie’s misfortune. ‘Oh, you bet I did! Your article was nice, Callie, but I couldn’t bear to see your name in such a prestigious journal. So, I pulled a few strings, made a few calls, and got it rejected. Consider it a little gift from me.’
The weight of Abby’s vindictiveness crushed Callie’s spirits.
She couldn’t fathom why this woman took pleasure in causing her pain.
Tears welled up in Callie’s eyes, threatening to spill over.
She fought to hold them back, refusing to show weakness in front of Elias.
Her voice trembled with a mix of anger and hurt as she demanded an explanation. ‘Why would you do this to me, Abby? What did I ever do to deserve your cruelty?’
Abby sat nonchalantly on her bed, her face twisted in a sneer. ‘Oh, Callie, can’t you see? I can do whatever I want to you because you’re nothing. Just a pathetic orphan with no family, no connections. You could never hope to compete with someone like me.’
Callie’s fury bubbled up within her, fuelled by Abby’s heartless words.
She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. ‘You think you can teach me a lesson? Warn me about snatching Simon away from you? Well, guess what, Abby? I don’t want him. I gave up on him a long time ago. So, your little game is pointless.’
Abby’s laughter cut through the air, dripping with a mix of arrogance and vindictiveness. ‘Oh, sweetheart, you can lie to yourself all you want, but I know the truth. Simon and I are getting married in two days, and you’re invited. If you don’t have the guts to show up, it’s fine. It’ll just prove that you’re nothing but a coward.’
Callie’s heart pounded in her chest, a tumultuous mix of fury and sadness coursing through her veins.
She couldn’t understand why Abby was so determined to torment her.
The worst part was that Abby held power over her—a connection Callie couldn’t afford to lose.
Abby’s father, the director at Rosedale Hospital, held Callie’s professional fate in his hands.
Bitterness laced Callie’s words as she forced herself to speak calmly, masking her inner turmoil. ‘Abby, believe what you want. But I have no interest in Simon or your wedding. I have a life and a career to focus on. You can keep playing your games, but they won’t break me.’
Abby’s eyes narrowed, a glimmer of doubt flickering in her gaze.
She refused to believe Callie’s words, clinging to her own twisted version of reality. ‘You’re lying, Callie. You still want him. I can see it in your eyes. But don’t worry, you’ll be at the wedding. And when you see Simon marrying me, you’ll finally understand your place.’
With that final taunt, Abby ended the call, leaving Callie seething with anger and frustration.
She thrust her phone back into her pocket, tears streaming down her face.
Callie felt her world crumbling around her, suffocated by the torment Abby seemed determined to inflict upon her.
She longed to find solace within the walls of Rosedale Hospital, but the presence of both Abby and Simon as colleagues, coupled with the fact that Abby’s father held a powerful position as the hospital director, cast a shadow of uncertainty over her future.
What was she supposed to do?
Resign?
And then what?
Without completing her surgical residency first, her chances of finding employment at any other hospital were slim at best.
Lost in her desperation, Callie didn’t notice when a pair of strong arms enveloped her, pulling her close in a forceful yet comforting embrace.
She was spun around, her face pressed against a warm, solid chest.
It was Elias.
The intensity of his touch sent a surge of both confusion and arousal coursing through her veins.
She looked up, her eyes meeting his, and for a moment, the world faded away.
Elias’s gaze held a depth that seemed to reach into the very core of her being.
His face was framed by the hazy glow of the moon, lending an air of ethereal mystery to his presence.
Callie’s heart raced as she struggled to break free from his grip, but her resistance only seemed to fuel his determination.
Just as Callie attempted to pull away, Elias leaned down, his cheek grazing against her lips.
The tantalizing touch sent a surge of electricity through his body, his muscles tensing with desire.
Callie’s voice trembled as she demanded to know if he had been eavesdropping on her phone call with Abby.Elias’s gaze never wavered as he spoke, his voice deep and resonant. ‘There were only the two of us up here on the roof, bunny. I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation. It wasn’t intentional eavesdropping.’His words held a mix of apology and understanding.Humiliation washed over Callie, her vulnerability exposed before this man she barely knew.Her voice broke as she sobbed. ‘Why? Why is she doing this to me? I don’t understand. All I want is to focus on my work as a doctor, to make a difference in people’s lives. Why is Abby persisting in tormenting me?’Elias’s strong presence remained unwavering as he leaned down, his voice a whisper against her ear. ‘Callie, be my woman. Marry me.’His words held a promise of protection, a vow to shield her from any harm that might come her way.He spoke with conviction, his voice tinged with the authority of a soldier accustomed to g
‘I... I didn’t...’ Simon stammered, his voice filled with desperation as he tried to salvage his delusion. ‘I know... deep down, you still have feelings for me. Your indifference only hides the space you’ve kept for me in your heart.’Callie’s patience wore thin as she listened to Simon’s feeble attempts to hold onto a love that no longer existed.She mustered her strength and shot back, ‘Simon, there is no space in my heart for you. You need to understand that and move on.’Desperation tinged Simon’s voice as he persisted, his words slurred and laden with false promises. ‘I want... I want to tell you not to come to my wedding. I’m afraid you’ll be hurt. Don’t worry, once I have everything, I’ll divorce Abby. I’ll choose you over her.’Callie clenched her teeth, her frustration boiling within her.She glanced up to meet Elias’s gaze, expecting to see a hint of disdain or triumph.However, to her surprise, his eyes held a clear, unwavering gaze.‘Give me the phone,’ Elias said, his voi
‘All right,’ Callie agreed, slipping off her white coat and making her way downstairs with Elias.Elias was in civilian clothes, his jacket devoid of any intricate design, yet the man exuded a charm that captivated those around him.His face remained impassive, and his dark eyes resembled the depths of a bewitching night, luring people into their enchanting gaze.As Callie and Elias stepped out of the lift, their mere presence drew the attention of the entire room, with most of the eyes falling on Elias.It wasn’t because Callie lacked in beauty, but Elias possessed a natural magnetism that compelled all eyes to gravitate towards him.Feeling overshadowed by his dazzling allure, Callie instinctively created a distance between them.She attempted to do so discreetly, but as a perceptive soldier, Elias caught onto her actions.Amidst the scrutinizing gazes of onlookers, he took the initiative and gently clasped Callie’s hand.Her hand, petite and delicate, was effortlessly enveloped by
The deafening sound of her own heartbeat made Callie wonder if Elias could hear it too.‘Are you mad?’ he asked.Rolling her eyes, Callie snorted. ‘Mad at you? Please, don’t flatter yourself.’‘All right, let’s go then.’ Elias stepped down on the gas pedal.The Pagani roared to life, then sped out of the parking lot.Under the night sky, Callie glanced at Elias by her side and couldn’t help but feel a whirlwind of emotions.Marrying a man she had only known for a few days—a soldier, no less—was beyond surreal.And on top of that, he was wealthy.It felt like she had stepped into a dream, a beautiful but unreal fantasy.Elias, observing Callie’s gaze, had the urge to flick her forehead. ‘Why are you looking at me like that? Having second thoughts? Bunny, let me make it clear: you’ve already made a promise, so there’s no turning back.’Callie shook her head, a playful smile curling her lips. ‘I wasn’t thinking about that. And who said I didn’t want to marry you? No matter how you look a
Elias frowned at Simon, still clutching onto him like a bear, his expression a mix of disgust and annoyance.Without hesitation, Elias delivered a swift karate chop to the back of Simon’s neck, causing him to instantly lose consciousness.With Simon incapacitated, Elias effortlessly lifted him in his arms, carrying him away from Callie’s house.He placed Simon on a bench about fifty meters away, ensuring he would be safe before returning to Callie.As the events replayed in Callie’s mind, she couldn’t help but burst into laughter once again, her joy infectious. ‘I can’t believe that just happened!’ she exclaimed, wiping away tears of mirth.Elias raised an eyebrow at her, a mixture of amusement and exasperation in his eyes. ‘You really have no sense of self-preservation, do you? What would you have done if I wasn’t here today?’‘I... I don’t know,’ Callie stammered, her eyes flickering with vulnerability.She fidgeted, unsure of how to express her gratitude to Elias.The man just prot
Callie emerged from the bathroom, her damp hair falling in loose waves around her shoulders.Spotting Elias engrossed in a book on the sofa, she approached him with a smile.‘I’m done. It’s your turn now,’ she announced cheerfully.Elias looked up from his book and his eyes widened at the sight before him.Callie’s slender legs, flawless and captivating, seemed to go on forever.He couldn’t tear his gaze away, his thoughts veering into dangerous territory.‘D*mn, she’s got legs that could stop traffic,’ Elias thought, his mouth going dry.Callie, oblivious to Elias’s internal struggle, walked closer, her legs carrying her with grace.She absentmindedly wiped her wet hair with a towel, unknowingly intensifying the allure.Her proximity overwhelmed Elias.His normally disciplined self was being tested by the irresistible temptation.He swallowed hard, his desire threatening to break free.‘Uh, Elias?’ Callie’s voice broke through his trance. ‘Aren’t you going to shower?’Elias quickly s
Elias, who had been lying there still as a corpse, shifted slightly.With a gentle touch, he carefully turned Callie to face him, his arms effortlessly encircling her in a warm embrace.In that moment, his heart swelled with an unfamiliar warmth, melting away the icy barriers he had built around himself.It was a vulnerability he had rarely experienced.A soft chuckle escaped Elias’s lips as he watched Callie sleep, her peaceful expression accentuated by the moonlight filtering through the curtains.He marvelled at the stark contrast between the men he had slept beside, all muscular and imposing, and the delicate girl in his arms.‘You’re something else, aren’t you?’ Elias whispered, his voice filled with tenderness. ‘I never thought I’d find myself yearning for someone like you.’As the night enveloped them in its tender embrace, Elias’s heart danced to a different rhythm.The walls he had built to protect himself began to crumble, replaced by an overwhelming desire to protect and ch
Elias leaned against the doorjamb, his gaze fixated on Callie’s delicate frame as she moved with grace and purpose.Her slender calves flexed as she tiptoed to reach for something in a cupboard, a mesmerizing sight that sent a thrill through his veins.Callie hummed a cheerful tune, her voice carrying a melody only she could hear.A smile played upon her lips, her eyelashes fluttering like the wings of a butterfly.She hung the washed olive military uniform with care, her small hands treating it with reverence.Outside the window, the sky painted a breathtaking scene—a canvas of blue with fluffy white clouds.The sunlight filtered through the glass, casting a golden glow upon Callie’s white shirt—his shirt, accentuating her radiant beauty.Elias’s heart skipped a beat as he witnessed the ethereal image before him.A surge of gratitude filled his chest, the thought of marrying such a lovely woman like Callie becoming an unexpected blessing.She was like an adorable bunny, captivating h