Realising that she was still wearing the hospital gown, Callie blushed even more, feeling a bit self-conscious. ‘I’ll get changed,’ she said, reaching for the blanket to cover herself.Elias shook his head. ‘No need to change. Someone is bringing breakfast.’‘Who?’Before Elias could answer, a soft knock came on the door.‘Come in,’ he called out.Lemuel entered the ward, carefully balancing a tray filled with a sumptuous breakfast.The aroma of freshly brewed coffee, warm croissants, and a colourful assortment of fruits wafted through the room.He set the tray down on a bedside table and, looking apologetic, said to Callie, ‘Callie, I mean, Doctor Hawthorne, I’m sorry.’The contrite tone in Lemuel’s voice puzzled Callie, and she turned her attention to him, her eyes searching his face for clues.He continued, ‘I shouldn’t have lashed out at you, taken out my frustration on you. I was wrong, and I hope you could forgive me.’Callie saw genuine remorse in his eyes and responded softly,

‘The military academy is 2,500 miles away, and this trip is exhausting,’ Stuart said, voicing his concerns. ‘Why would you want to send Simon there, especially when Callie is there too? I don’t understand why you’d take this risk, especially after everything you’ve done to keep them apart.’Abby’s eyes glistened with tears, but she remained resolute. ‘Simon needs to see for himself,’ she said, her voice tinged with a mixture of hope and fear.Frustration tinged Stuart’s voice as he pressed further, ‘See for what? Abby, do you still love Simon? Are you trying to save the marriage or push your husband further away?’Tears streamed down Abby’s cheeks as she tried to find the right words. ‘Please help me one last time, Dad,’ she sobbed. ‘I want Simon to see that Callie has moved on and that there’s no possible future with her. I want him to come back to reality and then come back to me.’Stuart’s heart softened as he saw his daughter’s pain.He wanted to protect her from any more heartach

‘What’s the matter with all of you?’ Abby demanded, her voice sharp and filled with indignation.The nurses turned to face Abby, their faces pale and wide-eyed, suddenly aware of her presence.One of them stammered, ‘We didn’t mean to, Ms Colman. It’s just that we heard—’‘I don’t care what you heard!’ Abby interrupted. ‘It’s none of your d*mn business, and it’s certainly not something you should be gossiping about.’Another nurse tried to apologise, ‘We didn’t mean any harm, Abby. We were just talking.’Abby’s eyes narrowed.She crossed her arms. ‘Talking about my personal life is none of your concern. I expect a professional environment here, not a high school gossip session.’The nurses exchanged nervous glances, feeling the weight of Abby’s authority and status as the director’s daughter.They knew they had crossed a line, and they quickly apologised.‘We’re really sorry, Abby. It won’t happen again,’ one nurse said, her voice shaking with fear.‘The next time it does, you’ll all

As the dawn approached, Elias held Callie close, their bodies entwined as they caught their breath.He pressed a gentle kiss on her forehead, his fingers gently tracing circles on her back.‘You’re everything I ever wanted, Callie,’ he murmured, his voice filled with sincerity.Callie looked up at him, her eyes shining with love and affection. ‘And you’re everything I never knew I needed,’ she replied, her heart overflowing with emotion.With a tender smile, Elias pulled her closer, enveloping her in his protective embrace.‘I promise to always cherish and love you, no matter what life throws our way,’ he vowed silently as he watched Callie close her eyes.***As the first rays of sunlight streamed through the window, Elias woke up with a renewed sense of purpose.He gently disentangled himself from Callie’s embrace, leaving a soft kiss on her forehead before slipping out of bed.As he dressed, he couldn’t help but smile, thinking about the unforgettable night they had shared.Outside

The cadets and staff alike were stunned by this unexpected display of affection between the Major General and the soft-spoken doctor.Elias turned to face the cadets, his voice booming with authority. ‘Everyone, this is Callista Hawthorn, who is now Mrs Westwood. We are officially husband and wife.’A collective gasp swept through the room as the news sank in.The soldiers had been curious about the relationship between Elias and Callie, but no one expected such a bold and public declaration.Elias’s confident announcement left no room for doubt.He scanned the room, his gaze lingering on the young cadet who had been flirting with Callie earlier.A warning look from Elias was all it took to silence the young man, who quickly averted his eyes.Blushing under the attention, Callie couldn’t help but feel pleased by Elias’s declaration.He had taken matters into his own hands, making their marriage known in his usual decisive manner.It showed that he was proud of their relationship and h