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

Unaware of her seductive stance, Callie focused on tending to his wounds.She applied anti-inflammatory medicine and spread it evenly with cotton balls.Her touch was gentle, trying to minimize Elias’s discomfort.The dedicated doctor was oblivious to the effect she was having on her patient.But for Elias, it was sweet torture.Her nimble fingers felt like feathers caressing his abdomen, getting dangerously close to the forbidden spot where desire simmered.Their proximity allowed them to feel each other’s breath, and as Callie met Elias’s gaze, she couldn’t ignore the flutter in her heart.It annoyed her that a handsome man like him could stir such feelings in her, even though she prided herself on being professional.Suddenly, Callie felt a change in Elias’s body, and her face flushed with realisation.As a medical student, she understood the physiological reactions all too well.Her mind raced, wondering how she could continue, given the state he was in.She abruptly sat up, putti

The woman’s oval-shaped face was mostly concealed behind a pair of oversized sunglasses, leaving Callie curious about her expression.‘Um, who...who are you?’ Callie asked hesitantly.The woman let out a low chuckle. ‘Don’t bother asking me who I am, sweetheart. I’m here to check out the lucky woman Elias has chosen.’Callie’s heart skipped a beat.Elias?Was this woman Elias’s ex-lover?Anger and insecurity welled up inside her. ‘Look, lady, I don’t know what you’re talking about. And if you’re here for Elias, I’m sorry, he’s not around.’The woman removed her sunglasses with a calculated flair, revealing piercing eyes that seemed to see right through Callie’s soul.With a sly smile, she purred, ‘Oh, sweetie, don’t bother denying it. Elias made it pretty clear that you’re his wife.’Callie’s mouth dropped open in shock.‘His... his wife? No!’ She waved her hands in protest. ‘I’m not... I mean, we’re not yet...’Leona Cohen examined Callie from head to toe, her gaze lingering a moment

Simon’s frown deepened, his tone laced with sneering mockery. ‘So now you’re acting all innocent after purposely seducing me? Coming here, dressed like that, smiling at me? Callie, you’ve changed! Who was the man you were fooling around with when I came to see you the other night?’Callie’s eyes flashed with indignation as she defended herself. ‘It’s none of your d*mn business! And I wasn’t trying to seduce you! Get over yourself!’Simon’s mouth twisted into a menacing smirk. ‘I thought you were just being shy when you refused to sleep with me. But it seems you’re nothing more than a deceitful b*tch pretending to be virtuous. What? You claim I treated you poorly? Well, now I understand, it’s you who should be begging for forgiveness! I bet you’d already shamelessly spread your legs to seduce another man! Tell me, who is he?’Callie’s eyes narrowed, her anger bubbling just beneath the surface.How dare he?He was the one who betrayed her, the one who cheated on her.Yet he had the auda

Stuart didn’t offer an explanation, but wore a wide smile as he approached Elias.Raising his glass, he greeted him with flattery. ‘Lieutenant Colonel Westwood, I’m so glad to see you here! When I sent you the invitation, I thought your busy schedule might prevent you from attending. I’m so honoured you’d find the time to come.’Stuart’s words dripped with adulation, attempting to win Elias’s favour.Elias, however, took another casual sip of his wine, seemingly unimpressed by the praise.His response was nonchalant. ‘I happened to have some free time.’Had it not been for Callie’s sake, he would have tossed the wedding invitation in the trash.Elias’s stand-offish attitude did nothing to dampen Stuart’s enthusiasm.If anything, it spurred him on.He nudged Abby forward. ‘Colonel Westwood, allow me to introduce my daughter, Abby Colman. She also works at Rosedale Hospital and was part of the team that treated your wounded soldiers.’Elias acknowledged Stuart’s introduction with a curt