Chapter 19
The medal ceremony was more elaborate than Allison had imagined. Their mission had been executed with exceptional excellence. Standing on the podium alongside Markus and others, Allison felt the weight of the medals upon her shoulders.
Thunderous applause erupted from below. In the front row sat her brother in a wheelchair, clapping hard with tears glistening in his eyes.
Allison suddenly felt the urge to cry.
Father and Mother seemed to materialize nearby, their faces glowing with pride. I didn’t stay lost, she thought. Are you proud of me now?
After the commander–in–chief and general shook hands and embraced her, Allison declined the celebratory banquet. She walked alone down the
street.
“Allison!”
A familiar voice shot through her like a bullet. She froze mid–step.
The voice wound around her like a nightmare from the past.
Nearby, Jacob strode forward, eyes bloodshot, shirt crumpled against his frame. He looked thinner than she remembered, jaw shadowed with
stubble.
“Finally… finally found you.”
His face twisted between tears and laughter, his whole demeanor
Chapter 19
unhinged.
“Allison, I missed you so much.” He surged forward, arms spreading to
embrace her.
Allison warily stepped back–but in the next instant, Jacob was kicked away before he could reach her.
Stunned, Jacob stumbled to his feet, fury blazing as he snarled, “Who?!”
Markus stood shielding Allison, his gaze icy as if looking at a corpse.
That day on the deck, although Allison had rejected him, his attitude remained unchanged as he continued interacting with her normally.
Allison behind him gently pressed Markus’s arm, signaling him not to act rashly. She stepped forward and stared coldly at Jacob, “Why are you looking for me? We’re finished.”
“Allison…” Jacob’s voice softened, his posture collapsing like a puppet with cut strings. “Don’t you know I’m going mad? I’ve searched everywhere…”
“So what? Captain Stinson, why aren’t you flying off with your dream girl instead of harassing me here?”
“She isn’t!” Jacob suddenly flared up, raising his voice, “It was all Sadie’s deception! I love only you, only you, Allison!”
A flicker of mockery surfaced in Allison’s previously calm gaze.
“It has nothing to do with me. We have no relationship.”
“How can you say that? We’re…” Jacob’s voice suddenly cut off. He
Chapter 10
remembered that single status affidavit. Allison already knew their marriage certificate was fake.
Jacob panicked.
“Let’s go get married now! Please… I forgot before, it’s my fault. Hit me, punish me, do whatever you want, okay?”
“Who cares, Jacob? You disgust me.”
Allison had no more words to waste. She walked around Jacob and strode forward.
Jacob tried to grab Allison’s hand again, but Markus kicked him away
once more.
Markus looked down at him and said with a cold laugh, “Mr. Stinson, if you had known it would come to this, why did you do it? You deserve
this.”
With that, he walked forward and quickly caught up with Allison.
Jacob stumbled forward, but could only watch Allison’s back fade into the distance. He stumbled to his knees, sobbing uncontrollably.
“Allison, I won’t give up on you…”
Markus followed Allison, asking, “How should we handle this? If you want, I can take care of him…”
“No need.”
Allison smiled faintly, her voice icy.
“I’ll personally reclaim every debt he owes me.”
