Chapter 20
The moment Adrian Graham’s boots touched the borderland ground, the dry wind lifted the edge of his bleached collar.
“Excuse me, ma’am,” he said, stopping an old woman selling lamb skewers and holding out a worn photograph. “Have you seen her?”
The old woman squinted. “Oh, that’s the new bride at Colonel Lawson’s place!”
She pointed up the mountain to a small house, its entrance adorned with floral wreaths and a “Just Married” sign. “The reception’s today!”
As the bus screeched along the winding mountain road, blood oozed from Adrian’s reopened wound–left from climbing the
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quarantine fence to get here faster.
“Catch the bouquet!” Passengers shoved past him. “Colonel Lawson married the prettiest nurse from the military hospital!”
Amid the crowd, Adrian caught sight of the wedding banner.
Miles Lawson Liana Langston–Happy Wedding Day!
In the distance, the groom was hugging the bride. Her veil fluttered in the mountain wind, revealing the face Adrian had longed to see every sleepless night.
“Too late…”
The trumpet’s blaring fanfare pierced Adrian’s ears like knives.
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The crowd surged forward, confetti hitting his shoulders like bullets.
“Liana!”
The name exploded inside his head.
He stumbled, gripping a tree to stay upright, not even feeling the bark slicing into his palms.
He had seen this face in a thousand forms-
Shy as she kissed him.
Collapsed in despair, clutching his “funeral photo“.
Vacant and lifeless in the hospital when she discovered the truth.
But now, she was smiling–at another man.
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19
Her hand rested on Miles Lawson’s, and the old scar at the base of her thumb stabbed through Adrian’s eyes–that scar was from shielding him from a bullet all those years ago.
“Kiss her! Kiss her!”
Amid the chants, Adrian watched Miles lower his head and kiss Liana.
Her eyes closed in that moment, and she looked exactly as she had on their wedding night–when he first carried her to bed.
The love letters Adrian had carried across thousands of miles suddenly felt like a lead weight in his jacket.
Tears mixed with sweat and dripped from his chin as he finally looked up at the wedding
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Pwsanner.
the words “Happy Wedding Day” was
somewhat like the blood that had seeped from his forehead when he knelt before the Langston family’s door.
Richard Langston had broken three of his ribs with a wooden pole.
Vivian Whitmore had burned every piece of Liana’s clothes in front of him.
Even the executive officer who had always favored him said, “Adrian, it’s fate. Let it go.”
But he wouldn’t.
He’d checked every outbound train manifest, even begged the reconnaissance captain he once defeated in a tournament…
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w “y60
for what?
brides Lawson’s hand was now resting on dilemma’s waist–the very spot that should
ve been his medal of honor. He used to ch that spot at night to make sure he sn’t dreaming.
iana!” he shouted, voice ripped from his Hehroat.
The bride turned her head, gaze scanning the bipcrowd–then passing right over him like he
i was air
That’s when Adrian finally understood:
The worst punishment wasn’t being caught in that hospital when he was holding Zoe Young.
It was this-
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To be seen by her, and no longer be seen at
all.
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