Chapter 2

Elizabeth's POV

Jonathan flew to Yorniso seven times in the three months after we became a couple. He would always bring bountiful supplies with him, such as medications, medical instruments, chocolates, and his handwritten letters.

"I saw a shooting star today, Elizabeth. I made a wish for your safe return. You're not allowed to make fun of me."

I kept those letters in a metal box and carefully stashed them at the bottom of my suitcase.

Later, I noticed that every letter had a tiny line of text at the end.

"Send my regards to the children of Yorniso on my behalf, Quinn."

Quinn was Jonathan's assistant. Or, more accurately, she was his father's friend's daughter, who had been assigned to Jonathan's side for training purposes.

I didn't pay much attention to her at first because she was just his assistant. But whenever I thought about the past, I realized how foolish I had been.

Truth be told, my pregnancy had been an accident.

I had just completed my assignment in Yorniso and was about to sign another contract to be stationed in South Sorelia.

A week before my departure, the pregnancy test showed two red lines.

I called Jonathan, who was on a business trip in Gardemo at the time.

The place he was in was very noisy when he picked up, and I also heard the sounds of a woman's laughter.

"What's up, honey?"

"I'm pregnant."

Jonathan fell silent on the other end of the line. His voice had changed when he spoke again, sounding softer and more careful as if he were handling something fragile.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Lizzy," he called out hoarsely and emotionally. "Wait for me. I'll come home tomorrow."

Jonathan kept his word and came home the next day. He had a ring and fresh flowers with him when he sank to one knee before me.

"Marry me. Don't go so far away anymore. I'll take care of you."

I hesitated.

I had studied medicine for years and been on the battlefield for five years. I had saved hundreds of lives with my scalpel. And yet, Jonathan was asking me to throw everything away with the promise that he would take care of me.

"Elizabeth," Jonathan said, looking up at me with bloodshot eyes. "Do you know how scared I get whenever I hear about how war has broken out again in the place that you're stationed at?

"I'm scared that you'll never come back. I'm terrified of the thought that I'll never get the chance to tell you that meeting you is the best thing that ever happened to me."

He paused before continuing in a low voice, "I know that your parents left you too soon. You've been shouldering everything by yourself since you were a child. But you have me now. Can you… Can you let me protect you?"

Jonathan's words struck my heart.

My parents were part of a foreign medical aid team. They died during an earthquake when I was only 12 years old.

I had been alone ever since.

But Jonathan told me that I had him now—that he wanted to protect me.

I trusted his words at the time and handed in my resignation letter.

My supervisor at the IDA called me three times, asking if I had lost my mind.

"You're the best surgeon I've ever taught, Elizabeth. Are you really going to give up on everything for a man? Is he worth it?"

"He is," I replied with a smile.

Even I was fooled by the resolute tone of my voice.

Everything began to fall apart later, just like a primetime melodrama.

It started when I had to go to my prenatal check-ups by myself.

"I have an important meeting today, honey.

"Quinn needs me to review a contract, honey. I can't leave.

"I'll get the driver to send you, honey. It's not like there's a difference."

Jonathan had an excuse ready every time, and he was absent for all the check-ups.

He also started coming home later and later.

The nights that I stayed up waiting for him grew longer and longer.

Whenever he stepped through the door, his collar reeked of an unfamiliar perfume.

When I asked Jonathan where he had gone, he smiled gently and said, "I was working overtime. Quinn was there too. I can get her to call you if you're worried."

I didn't question him further.

I thought that I was being too sensitive. Pregnant women always were, after all. They were prone to getting suspicious over nothing.