Callie, weakened but resilient, looked up as Elias entered the ward.A soft smile played on her lips despite the pain that lingered in her eyes. âI was wondering where you disappeared off to.âElias took a moment to absorb the sight of her, the woman he loved, fighting her way back to health.The bandages on her abdomen marked the physical toll of the recent events, but the warmth in her eyes brought a sense of calm to Eliasâs troubled soul.âHey, Bunny,â Elias greeted, his smile genuine as he approached her bedside.He gently took her hand, mindful of her injuries. âHow are you feeling?âCallieâs eyes sparkled with gratitude. âGetting there. The doctors say Iâll make a full recovery with time.âElias nodded, his heart heavy with the weight of recent events. âThereâs something I need to tell you.âAs Elias shared the shocking truth about General Conwayâs betrayal and the revelation about his parentsâ deaths, Callieâs expression shifted from concern to disbelief and, ultimately, sorrow
Callie felt herself falling into his trap, struggling to maintain a hardened heart as his doting gaze softened her resolve.âCallie, youâre my wife. We are supposed to share a bed,â his voice, deep and intoxicating, whispered in her ear.He embraced her tightly, a possessive need evident in his hold.âCallie, I want you to love me like before. I lied to protect you. But now I realise I was wrong. I promise, no more lies. Please, at least donât ignore me. It breaks me...â His eyes, full of affection, revealed vulnerability.Elias, usually so strong, trembled in his plea.His voice carried a hint of regret. âI messed up, and damn it, I know it. Are you willing to forgive me?âCallie sighed. âElias, just promise not to pull something like this again.ââI wonât hurt you with lies anymore,â he vowed.âNo more lies, Elias. Not even one,â she declared.âI swear.â To seal his promise, he planted kisses on her forehead, eyes, and nose, soothing her turmoil.Dylanâs knock shattered Eliasâs plan
Callie drifted in and out of a dream-laden slumber, the ebb and flow of consciousness gently pulling her into the waking world.The enticing fragrance of chicken soup teased her senses, coaxing her from the depths of sleep.Elias had returned, a culinary saviour armed with a thermos of steaming chicken soup. âI used the mess hall kitchen to make this for you,â he announced with a quiet pride.Drawing in a deep breath, Callieâs stomach couldnât contain its eagerness, emitting a low growl that echoed through the room.âCallie, tell me, whatâs that sound?â His question, though not a direct accusation, draped her in a blanket of embarrassment.âAhem!â Callie, determined to maintain her composure, responded with a feigned nonchalance.âI didnât hear any sound,â she declared, though the rumblings from her stomach suggested otherwise.She fought to suppress the impending growl, hoping Elias wouldnât witness this audible betrayal.âNo sound?â Eliasâs raised brow and assertive tone exposed her
Eliasâs eyes snapped open the moment he heard someone coughing.He sat bolt upright in the chair and turned towards Callie.Her eyes were open.âCallie! You are awake!âIn a haze, Callie recognised Eliasâs voice.Struggling, she forced her eyes open, greeted by the familiar sight of a white ceilingâa hospital room.Eliasâs hand held hers, his calloused palm brushing against her skin.âElias,â she whispered weakly, her eyes glistening with tears.Her voice, frail, held a hint of disbelief. âAm I still dreaming?âThe last she knew, Elias was in custody.The Elias before her now felt like a dream, and she doubted her reality.Elias, red-eyed and exhausted, held her hands tightly, reassuring her, âBunny, what are you talking about? Of course Iâm real.âCallie sighed. âGoodâŠâRelieved, she closed her eyes, slipping back into sleep.âCallie!â Eliasâs heart skipped a beat, fear gnawing at him.He rushed outside, calling for Jamison and the medical team. âQuick, take a look at her. She woke u
The puzzle of Mindyâs escape persisted, leaving Dylan in the dark, grappling with the mystery that allowed her to slip away undetected.A knock came on the door.âCome in.âDwight entered, settling gracefully into a chair opposite Dylan.He produced a pack of cigarettes, extending it toward Dylan.Dylan accepted it, extracting a cigarette, igniting it with a flick of his lighter, and indulging in the smoke that soon enveloped the room.Dwight, sensing Dylanâs foul mood, asked, âGeneral Sheppard, not in the best spirits today?âDylan retorted, âArenât you in the same boat?âA subtle smile played on Dwightâs lips as he selected a cigarette from the pack.His slender fingers expertly lit it, the room filling with the fragrance of tobacco and a haze of smoke.âAny updates on Mindy?ââNot yet,â Dylan replied after a brief pause. âWhich is a problem for you. That woman is more cunning than her father. I think sheâs the one behind your assassination plot, not Carl. By the way, when do you pl
âI planned everything single-handedly. This has nothing to do with my daughter Mindy,â Carl pleaded. âI only had her run a few errands for me. She didnât know what she was doing.ââDo you think your excuse is convincing?â Dwight retorted. âMindy isnât seven years old. Sheâs twenty-seven, an adult fully responsible for her own actions.âDylan, acting on Dwightâs orders, directed his subordinates to arrest Mindy and release Elias.Carl, comprehending the depth of his miscalculations, lashed out at Dylan.He felt betrayed by the very person he trusted.âDylan, you ungrateful scoundrel! I trusted you so much, yet you did this to me! You even took advantage of my daughter. You are going to hell for this!â Carl screamed, blaming Dylan for their downfall.Dylan was unfazed.Nothing Carl said mattered, not any more.Dylan exchanged a look with Dwight; there would be time to celebrate later.However, their joy was short-lived.About twenty minutes later, a soldier returned, reporting that they