All Chapters of Back to the Blast That Took Them Both: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

"You're to cease your actions right now, Hope Linwood!" Callum Johnson, my husband, yelled.I then heard the deputy commander's bark through the comms. "You're the only shot we have since the bomb disposal robot was hit by heavy interference. The assault team can't find a sniper position!"I raised my gaze and looked coldly through the blast-proof mask at Callum. He was holding my wrist in a death grip. I could see that his eyes were brimming with unmistakable disgust as he said, "I told you to wait for Shirley, the primary figure of this operation."It was happening all over again—just like in my past life.I looked at the red digits on the bomb's timer—09:43—and turned my gaze toward the silver-haired academician bound to the chair with a gag in his mouth, shaking with terror. I then looked at Callum before I pried his grip from my wrist, finger by finger. I said calmly as I stepped back, "I'll wait for her, then."Callum was visibly taken aback. He must have assumed I would f

In the end, the massive explosion never came. Instead, there was just a muffled pop, like a bottle of stale champagne being uncorked. In addition, the bomb's timer display immediately went blank, and all indicator lights were extinguished.Every light in the room and the hallway, and every monitor in the command center, died simultaneously. It suddenly fell silent—a deathly silence that lasted for ten seconds."What's going on here? Where's the backup power? Get it running right now!""There's a total circuit failure, so we've lost all outside communication!"In that instant, chaos erupted throughout the command center.Callum and Shirley, standing by the doorway, were gripped by panic as well."D-Did it go off?" Shirley asked, her voice shaking."T-That can't be right… How could it be so quiet, then?" Callum noticed something was off, too.In the blackout, I utilized an independent secondary channel, reaching only one person. "It's Hope Linwood speaking here, Tyler."Just bef

I dodged her charge, watching as she tumbled onto the ground in a heap. "You'd better watch what you say, Ms. Gibson."I held up George's phone and played the recording of her call with George out loud. "...You can't even handle a mere woman after I spent all that money to plant you there as an insider!"In that instant, Shirley's wails came to a sudden halt, her face turning deathly pale. Callum, on the other hand, stared at me in utter shock, his lips trembling in silence.Tyler emerged from the crowd, looking furious. He ignored the two traitors and walked right up to me, saying, "You've done well, Hope. If you hadn't stepped in, we'd be facing a catastrophe right now."I stood at attention and saluted. "I'm simply fulfilling my duty."Tyler nodded in acknowledgment before turning to Callum. He then stated coldly, "As the overall commander for this mission, you disregarded regulations and engaged in cronyism, almost resulting in a catastrophe. You're suspended effective immed

I closed the document and said, "I'm going to need a brand-new identity."Tyler stated, "I've already prepared it for you. You're "Mandy Steele" from now on—a lone orphan surviving in Aureotrigon. You'll be recruited by one of Kai's subordinates who was impressed by your combat ability. You need to work your way up to Kai once you're in and secure the specifics of the trade."He then looked at me and said, "It's going to be a very dangerous mission, with almost no chance of survival. Is this something you really want to do, Hope?"I gazed out the window at the scenery rushing past as I recalled how I had no choice in my past life. I still don't have a choice in this life, but there was a difference—the choice was mine to make for my own sake. "Yes, Tyler."…It was three months later, and the rainforest in Aureotrigon was thick with humid air and the stench of insects and rotting vegetation.I was clad in a camouflage vest, with several hideous scars I had carved myself on my a

Callum reeled as if thunderstruck, his face draining of all color. "H-How could that be? Hope is only a bomb disposal expert…"Kai erupted in mocking laughter. "You think she's merely a bomb disposal expert, huh? You were married to her for 5 years, yet you've never discovered her true identity! How pathetic of you, Mr. Johnson! "You ought to know that your ex-wife not only knows how to defuse a bomb, but she also knows how to kill. You see, she took out every man you sent after her without breaking a sweat!" He pressed the muzzle of his gun harder against my temple. "You, on the other hand, actually betrayed your country and came here to me to seek death for the sake of this woman. You're probably the most foolish man on earth, Mr. Johnson."Callum immediately broke down. He met my gaze, his expression a mix of deep contrition, suffering, and utter despair. "I-I'm so sorry, Hope. I—"I met his gaze with icy indifference, offering no reply. His apologies were useless at this poi