로그인People screamed and scattered. The air filled with dust and chaos.Marcello's face hardened. He immediately pulled out his gun and ordered his bodyguards to cover us."Protect Phoebe!"His shout drew the extremists' attention. Cursing, they charged towards us, guns blazing.Marcello, quick as lightning, returned fire, then twisted, grabbing one of the men's wrists and subduing him.I saw the muzzle flashes, and the memory of past attacks flooded back.I trembled uncontrollably, clutching my child and backing away.I tripped over a suitcase and fell hard to the ground.Another man saw his chance. His eyes hardened, and he aimed his gun at me.I couldn't move.All I could do was shield my child with my body and close my eyes."Ugh..."A grunt came from behind me.I looked back in disbelief. Two bullets had pierced Marcello's chest.In that split second, Marcello had thrown himself over me, taking two bullets meant for me.Blood stained his suit.Stained the floor beneath us.Marcello's v
I turned to walk away and ran straight into a hard, warm chest.Klaus had a faint smile on his lips as he took my backpack from my hand."Let's go. We're on a tight schedule."He... he heard me?I was completely stunned, letting Klaus lead me to the vehicle.The car drove smoothly. I was so nervous I couldn't even lift my head.After a long silence, I finally managed to squeak out, "Klaus... when... when did you get here?"Klaus's voice was gentle."I heard what you said."My breath caught. "I didn't mean...""I did."Klaus cut me off, his tone serious and sincere."I want to be with you, to build a life with you. The marrying kind, not just a fling.""Phoebe, I know you've been hurt. But I'm not Marcello. When I choose someone, I'm all in. There are no other women, no one else in my heart. I will treat your child as my own.""Can you give us a chance to get to know each other? If we're a good fit, I'll request permission from my superiors to marry you. Would you be willing?"A warmth
I dove into my cot and pulled the curtain, my heart pounding.My tent-mate, another doctor, saw my flushed face and sidled up, full of gossip."Phoebe, what's the story? Whispering sweet nothings with Commander Klaus? Or is it about that man who stormed in today? Who was he?"I burrowed into my sleeping bag. "Don't ask! It's definitely not because of that man!"The nurse looked thoughtful. "So it is because of Commander Klaus..."I pulled the sleeping bag over my head, feeling a little dazed.The old me, the one who slaved away on the operating table, who poured her heart and soul into a love that imprisoned her, would never have imagined that I could have this vibrant, new life.That day, I had dragged my injured body from the exploded warehouse. Before my ride could find me, I collapsed from exhaustion.In my hazy memory, a young man had rushed forward, cleaning and bandaging my wounds.His movements were incredibly gentle.When I bit down on his arm in a pain-induced reflex, he didn
Marcello's head snapped up, his eyes hostile. "Who are you?"The man was tall and straight, dressed in camouflage, with an air that was both sharp and gentle."Hello, Mr. McCarthy. My name is Klaus. I'm a senior commander in the peacekeeping force, and Phoebe's best... friend."Klaus's gaze was filled with disdain for Marcello, but when he looked at me, it was with a gentle affection.Marcello, of course, noticed Klaus's feelings for me and the blatant challenge.He took a deep breath, wiping away his pathetic look. "This is a private matter between me and Phoebe. Commander, even the best of friends is still an outsider. You have no right to interfere."Klaus smiled."Your 'private matter' is chasing down someone who doesn't want to see you, causing a scene at a military camp, and forcing your will on others? Is that what you call private?"His words were like daggers, leaving Marcello speechless.I gave Klaus a helpless look.He was right.I was no longer the Phoebe who needed to depe
I was silent for a moment.So, Marcello didn't know we were divorced.Of course.He never loved me, so he never paid attention to anything about me.But the me of today wouldn't cry over it.I continued, my face impassive, as if telling someone else's story."The reason I disappeared so completely is because I filed for a dissolution of marriage with the New York courts. I got my decree a long time ago.""Your copy is probably still in a pile of mail somewhere. Or maybe you just forgot to check. Our marriage no longer exists.""Congratulations. You can finally be with Camilla and our... no, your child, out in the open."Even mentioning the child that wasn't mine anymore, my heart ached."No..."Marcello's eyes were vacant. He muttered, dazed, "No... impossible..."My few simple words had just passed a death sentence on his months of desperate searching, on our entire marriage.He grabbed my hand, his eyes red as blood."Phoebe, you're lying, right?""You wouldn't leave me. We were marr
(Phoebe's POV)It all happened so fast.One second I was preparing for surgery, the next a strong hand grabbed me."Phoebe... it's really you!"Marcello clung to my hand like it was his entire world."You're not dead! You're not dead! If you're not dead, why didn't you come back to me? Where have you been? Do you know I held a memorial for you? I thought I killed you..."He had changed.The confident, dashing man was gone.His once sharp, deep-set eyes were now clouded with confusion and emptiness.His straight posture was slightly stooped.And on closer inspection... there were strands of white in his hair.This Marcello was a stranger.I had prepared for the day he might find me.But I never expected to see him like this.Marcello's reckless behavior alerted the guards. Peacekeeping soldiers immediately moved in, trying to drag him away.But he refused to let go, his eyes glued to my face."I'm not leaving... I'm not leaving...""Phoebe, I finally found you. I have to talk to you!"I







