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Chapter 15
Graysen babbled hurriedly, his voice gradually cracking, as tears threatened to spill. But to Caroline, every word was like a slap to her face.
She squinted her eyes and scoffed, taking a step closer. “Get married? Have a child?” with each question, she advanced another step.
Graysen, once so confident, faltered as he met her cold gaze. His heart sank, and he stumbled backward.
“I lost that child because of you. And you’ve finished the marriage procedure with Marlene, haven’t you? Now you come crawling to me, playing the victim? How dare you show your face?”
At the mention of the child, Caroline’s eyes turned bloodshot, and she trembled with emotion.
“I… and Marlene…” The words that Graysen had in his mouth were silenced by the sharp crack of a slap.
The sound was deafening. Graysen staggered back, his body swaying, but Caroline’s eyes remained stone cold, utterly unmoved.
“Leave! I don’t want to see you or hear about any of your nonsense!”
Graysen was stunned, his mind blank. He remembered how they had been together for seven years, and Caroline had never been fierce to him.
But now, Caroline had slapped him, her eyes filled with a cold distance.
With a heavy heart, he reached out to grab her sleeve, his face contorted with pain and remorse, his voice barely a whisper, “I know I was wrong. I hurt you. But you have to give me a chance to make it right. Caroline, please.”
Graysen’s voice cracked, his words raw with pleading.
Caroline turned to him, her expression cold. “Not a chance!”
She pulled out her knife, and in one swift motion, she cut off the sleeve, the blade just centimeters from his hand.
She didn’t even hesitate as she did this. Without a second glance, she turned and walked away, leaving Graysen standing there, broken and silent.
The next day, Graysen stormed into the office and found Beckham, demanding a new partner.
Beckham furrowed his brow, unable to hide his irritation as he said, “Why should I switch things up for you?”
Graysen clenched his teeth and answered with resolve, “We used to be in the same team. We’ve
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worked together for years, and we have chemistry.”
Beckham burst into laughter as if hearing the most ridiculous thing. But his eyes betrayed no
amusement.
Graysen’s already fragile confidence evaporated with Beckham’s every laugh.
After a long silence, Graysen added, “She’s my girlfriend. We’ve been together for seven years. Our chemistry…”
“You’re here to do a job, not to play lovebirds. If you want to be with her, go back to Maruland. This isn’t a place for weaklings.”
Beckham cut him off harshly, his glare cold.
Then, as if struck by a thought, Beckham added, “And by the way, she doesn’t want you anymore. Have some dignity and stop chasing her.”
With that, Beckham turned and walked off.
Graysen clenched his fists, his anger boiling, but here in Noredge, he had no connections or leverage. He had no choice but to swallow his pride. When the team switch didn’t happen, he had to team up with Marlene.
He endured her slow pace and the constant, awkward confessions she made, all while the rest of the
teams mocked him behind his back.
In Maruland’s bomb disposal team, Graysen was considered one of the elite members, second only
to Caroline.
But here in Noredge, because of Marlene, he was ridiculed and taunted day in and day out. His pride couldn’t take it, and after one final, exhausting mine–clearing task, he finally snapped.
Graysen said, “Marlene, if you can’t do this, just apply to go back to Maruland! You’re dragging me
down! Because of you, our team is always last. You don’t care about it, but I do!”
Graysen’s face turned red with fury. He hurled the equipment far away. The usually calm man was
now unrecognizable, his rage frightening Marlene into silence.
She sobbed, her eyes red, her voice trembling as she said, “Graysen, please don’t yell at me… You always protected me before.”
The rest of the team just stood by, silently watching the drama unfold.
Marlene’s face was wet with tears, but inside, her hatred simmered.
In Maruland, Graysen had always been gentle with her. But here in Noredge, he was a different man. She couldn’t help but think that Caroline was behind it all, pulling the strings.
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“Wait and see. I’ll make you regret this,” she thought bitterly.
The time for payback came soon enough.
A new batch of recruits arrived, and the leadership of the base decided to host a welcome dinner for them. After a long period of silence, the base finally buzzed with activity.
The bomb disposal teams gathered together, and the atmosphere was lively. The awkwardness of the new arrivals quickly faded.
Marlene’s eyes flickered with mischief as she thought of her next move. She grabbed a glass of wine and stood up, heading toward Caroline with a sly smile.
“Caroline, I just wanted to thank you. I’ve learned so much from you over the past few days.”
She raised her glass, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “This drink is for you. I’ll finish mine, and you drink yours as you like.”
Without waiting for Caroline’s response, Marlene downed the entire glass and casually flaunted the
empty cup.
Caroline said nothing, her face unreadable.
Marlene, undeterred, went on, “Caroline, I didn’t know you hated me so much. You can’t even drink a toast from me.” Her eyes reddened as if someone had wronged her.
Marlene’s words caused the whole table to fall silent.
Everyone’s gaze shifted to Caroline, waiting for her reaction. Beckham narrowed his eyes, a smirk playing on his lips. “She has a sensitive stomach. I’ll drink it for her.”
But before he could act, Graysen picked up his own glass, his face darkened with anger. “I’ll drink it for her.”
