Chapter 16
The two men locked eyes across the room, their gazes fierce. The people around them exchanged glances but dared not speak.
A flicker of jealousy flashed in Marlene’s eyes, and her hands beneath the table twisted until they turned red.
In the next moment, Caroline suddenly said to Marlene, “You pulled this trick in Maruland. Are you seriously going to try it again? Aren’t you getting tired of it? I won’t drink this wine. You’re right, I really can’t stand you. Just the sight of you makes me sick.”
The room fell silent, the air thick with awkwardness.
But Caroline didn’t stop. She stood up, offering an apologetic smile to everyone. “Guys, I’ve got an old stomach issue. Tonight, my partner will drink this on my behalf. I’ll treat you all to dinner another time.”
Beckham didn’t wait for her cue. He picked up the glass and downed it in one go, throwing in a playful quip. “Dinner’s on you, but don’t forget–there’s that meal you owe me.”
His lighthearted joke lifted the heavy atmosphere, and everyone burst into laughter.
Caroline gave Beckham a grateful look, and the two exchanged a knowing smile.
All of this hurt Graysen. His grip tightened on his glass, nearly crushing it in his hand.
He thought, “Caroline actually let another man drink for her… She actually smiled at another
man…”
Graysen kept drinking, but the familiar smoothness of the liquor was gone, replaced by a bitter, lingering taste.
The suffocating pressure in his chest made it hard to breathe. Flashbacks of the past rushed at him,
and he remembered that moment of persuasion.
He thought of Caroline’s pale face, and an ache shot through his heart.
Only now did he fully understand how much he had wounded her.
Graysen sat across from her, heart heavy with regret, while Marlene beside him fumed with quiet
fury.
After the welcome banquet, the bomb disposal team’s work began.
Graysen desperately sought to make amends, grabbing every opportunity to get close to Caroline, but she gave him no chance.
One day, Caroline’s water heater broke, and the other female team members were all out on
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assignments.
Only Graysen, busy with writing reports, remained behind.
Seeing her carrying her clothes and washbasin, he quickly pieced together the situation and called out to her, “I have a single room too. You can use mine to wash up.”
As he spoke, Graysen pulled a key from his pocket and handed it to her.
Caroline hesitated, unwilling to owe Graysen anything, but the sweat on her body made her unbearably uncomfortable.
Just then, the door beside her opened, and Beckham emerged, shirtless, wearing camouflage pants.
“Caroline, come to my place. I’ve already set the water temperature for you,” Beckham said.
His tanned skin glistened with sweat, his abs clearly defined.
Caroline quickly diverted her gaze, her heart racing.
Graysen’s face darkened as he furrowed his brow, displeasure seeping into his voice. “I spoke first. Why do you have to steal even this?”
Beckham gave a lazy smile, but he said coldly, “As her partner, I have to ensure her safety and keep
any ill–intentioned people away from her.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Graysen’s eyes narrowed with anger, as if he were about to throw a punch at Beckham.
“Isn’t it obvious?”
Beckham ignored Graysen’s fury, walking past him with a smile to take Caroline’s washbasin.
Caroline, almost as if on purpose, shot a sideways glance at Graysen and said, “Thanks, but I’ll go
with Beckham.”
Graysen watched helplessly as Caroline followed Beckham into the room, unable to do anything.
He could only punch the wall in frustration, venting his anger, while Caroline’s voice, calling out
“Beckham,” echoed in his ears.
Even though Graysen wouldn’t admit it, it was clear now that Caroline had no affection for him
anymore.
Her smiles, once his alone, were now being given to someone else.
Graysen was no longer Caroline’s only choice…
The thought struck him cold, a sharp, aching emptiness in his chest. He knew she was slipping
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away, and yet, he felt powerless to stop it.
With a furious kick, he slammed his foot against the wall again, ignoring the blood dripping from
his knuckles.
At that moment, Marlene’s words came back to him, almost unbidden.
He couldn’t help but wonder, “Is it because of this man that Caroline came to Noredge? Is he the reason she ran away from her wedding?”
