‘I don’t have romantic feelings for you, but I care about you as a friend,’ Jamison said sincerely. ‘You are a good doctor. You treat your patients well. You risked your own life to save others. I don’t understand how you’ve—’‘I regret it.’‘Regret what?’‘Regret risking my life to save Callie.’ Angelia stared into space. ‘Life would have been much easier if she died back then.’Jamison was struck dumb by what he heard.After a long while of silence, he finally managed to say, ‘I’ll come visit you when I have time. If there’s anything you need, let me know.’Angelia shook her head. ‘You don’t have to come see me. I don’t want to see you.’***The wind raged, and sand and dust flew everywhere.Dylan swiftly leapt down from the armed vehicle, his black military boots caked in mud. ‘Stay put and wait for me.’‘Sure thing, General Sheppard.’Dylan waved at the driver and eyed the tile-roofed house nearby.With a forceful kick, he sent the fragile wooden door crashing to the ground, then
‘Yes, General?’ Dylan turned around.‘Let me ask you, do you really like that doctor Callie?’Dylan tensed. ‘Sir, may I know why?’‘You’ll know soon enough anyway,’ Carl said. ‘She got back together with Elias.’‘Oh.’ Dylan’s heart sank.This meant Callie and Elias’s facade had already been exposed.What happened after he left the camp?Carefully, he kept his voice even. ‘So that’s what it is. Sir, are you worried that I’ll get hurt because of love?’‘Won’t you?’‘Sir, I remember telling you that I was just playing with Callie,’ Dylan said nonchalantly. ‘I was just curious about the kind of woman Elias would fall in love with. I’ve never taken that girl seriously anyway.’‘Well, it’s a good thing you are not affected.’ Carl seemed satisfied with his answer.He had high hopes for Dylan, partly because he would soon become his son-in-law, but mostly because he’d chosen Dylan to be his successor.As Dylan left the general’s office, he did have a woman on his mind.But it wasn’t Callie.*
Reluctantly, Mindy said goodbye to Dylan and accompanied Carl back to the command division office.In Dylan’s presence, she seemed like a young woman, but alone with Carl, her demeanour shifted.‘Dad, the money from the arms deal has been transferred to our account.’‘Has it been laundered?’She gave him a look. ‘Dad, you underestimate me. I guarantee the money is safe. Even the best detectives couldn’t find out!’‘Good.’‘Dad, about Inga...’‘Dylan has dealt with her.’‘Then we’re not far from success.’Earlier, Mindy had arranged for soldiers to move boxes to Carl’s office.Now, her heels clicked as she approached one box, breaking the seal to reveal a bottle of wine.She pulled the cap with a pop, and the sweet fragrance filled the office instantly.Two expensive crystal glasses emerged from the box.She poured the wine, one for herself, and handed the other to her father.Military discipline frowned upon drinking in the army, but Carl took the wine without hesitation.‘Dad, with y
Harriet paced in her office, anxious and shocked.Elias had been taken away for investigation, charged with treason and colluding with foreign organisations for illegal arms dealing.She knew this was the general’s doing.Harriet hadn’t anticipated Carl’s ruthless approach.Once declared guilty, Elias’s life would be ruined.But what could she do?Carl Conway outranked her and she had no legal standing to challenge the investigation.Harriet crumpled a paper into a ball and hurled it into the trash can, frustrated.As she pondered how to save Elias, Dylan’s face flashed in her mind, but she dismissed the idea.‘He’s probably too busy courting Carl’s daughter right now.’ Harriet’s smile was bitter. ‘Why would he help me?’Her gaze turned towards the phone on her desk.Should she call Uncle Hershel?Elias was his adoptive son and protégé, after all.But she remembered how furious Uncle Hershel was when he discovered Elias had gone against his wish and married Callie.Hershel and Elias h
‘Callie, calm down,’ Wendy said. ‘I’m sure he only wants what’s best for—’‘He is a b*stard!’ Callie cried out breathlessly. ‘Did he think that keeping me in the dark is best for me?’Wendy handed her a tissue. ‘I don’t like it, either, but I can understand where he’s coming from.’‘Where is the evidence?’ Callie wiped her eyes. ‘What evidence does General Conway have to prove Elias is guilty of treason?’‘I don’t have all the details, but Lemuel said they found weapons at one of Shadowfire’s hideouts. Weapons made by Engalia.’‘That doesn’t prove Elias was the one who sold the weapons to them.’‘I know, but there’s something else, something more…d*mning.’‘What is it?’Wendy lowered her eyes. ‘A confession.’‘What?’‘General Conway has a confession, signed by Elias. It stated that he admitted to having colluded with Inga from Shadowfire and that he had done harm against the country.’‘How’s that possible?’ Callie was incredulous.Elias would never have signed something so ridiculous.
‘Dad.’ Mindy clung to Carl’s arm. ‘Once we are done here, I want to marry Dylan. I don’t want to wait until the presidential election is over, okay?’Carl scowled. ‘You are still so young. Why are you in such a hurry? Do you really like Dylan that much?’‘Yes!’ Mindy nodded. ‘I really like him.’‘Alright, alright.’ Carl sighed. ‘I can never say no to you. Fine. Do what you like.’‘Thanks, Dad, you are the best!’***The winter drizzle cast a gloom over Callie, the cold wind biting into her slim frame.Instinctively, she shuddered as her long black hair veiled her petite face.Though she had an umbrella, the rain, coupled with the biting wind, still clung to her clothes.Ignoring the discomfort, Callie stood resolute at the door, raindrops splashing on her head, face, body, and heart—each drop igniting pain within her.She yearned to see Elias, just once, yet circumstances held her back.Not far away, Jamison’s heart ached witnessing Callie braving wind and rain.His jealousy had waned
Callie and Elias had been through so much— from their impromptu marriage to the shared military journey at Valour Ridge Military Academy.Happiness was intertwined with tough times, turning every moment into the most dazzling one in Callie’s life.Throughout this journey, her love for Elias deepened, making it impossible for her to detach.Love, as always, had a way of consuming and losing oneself in its depths.Jamison’s face turned pale at the unexpected confession, and he loosened his grip on Callie’s hand.‘Elias,’ Callie called out, but there was no response.Anxious, she groped around for the man’s hand.‘Callie, I...I’m not Elias.’ Jamison withdrew his hand. ‘Look at me. I’m not him.’Callie struggled to open her eyes, only to find Elias had vanished.Jamison sat on the edge of her bed, looking pained.She shrank back. ‘Where’s Elias?’The fog in her brain finally cleared as memories flooded back.‘I remember now,’ she muttered. ‘He traded his freedom for mine. That’s why he ca
Mindy hesitated but agreed.She didn’t care where they spent the night, as long as she was with Dylan.Dylan, disgusted by the lustful gleam in her eyes, closed his door, and they headed towards her dormitory, Mindy still clinging to his arm.Mindy’s room, originally having the same Spartan layout as everyone else’s, now sported luxury in the form of ornaments and trinkets.‘This is my room,’ Mindy proudly presented it to Dylan.He surveyed it. ‘It’s nice.’Mindy pulled out a bottle of wine from the mini-fridge. ‘Let’s have a drink.’‘You know we are not supposed to drink on base,’ he reminded her.‘But who’s going to know? You are not going to tell on me, are you?’ She playfully swatted his arm.‘No, of course not.’‘Besides, doesn’t it feel like something’s missing without a drink?’Slowly, she unbuttoned her coat, revealing her leopard print lingerie.‘Not again,’ Dylan thought.‘Alright,’ he picked up the bottle, pouring wine for both.They clinked glasses, finishing the content i