Chapter 6
The morning mist hadn’t lifted when the rumble of a military jeep shattered the stillness.
Liana Langston listened to the wheels grind against the gravel, just about to close her eyes again-
Bang!
Her door was kicked open by a pair of military boots.
Slap!
A hand wearing a sharp ring struck her cheek. Blood welled instantly.
Zoe Young stood silhouetted against the
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light, her belly swollen with pregnancy, her eyes venomous. “So this is what a martyr’s widow does? Can’t go one night without seducing someone else’s husband?”
“You know exactly who came into my room.
”
Liana stopped herself mid–sentence.
What a joke. Adrian Graham was her legal husband, and now she was the one who had to explain away an affair?
“Don’t act all virtuous!” Zoe suddenly flung the window open.
The chill wind swept in. Standing at the ledge, Zoe glared at her. “Let’s see today- who it is that he’d rather protect with his life!”
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“This is the third floor. Are you insane?” Liana lunged forward, trying to pull her down
But Zoe yanked her hair viciously.
“Scared?” Zoe whispered by her ear with a chilling smile. “I already notified the Inspection Division. So tell me–will Adrian Graham save his sister–in–law or his unborn child?”
Liana Langstons
A cool breeze rushed into her windpipe as
staggered to steady herself against the windowsill. From the end of the corridor came the familiar sound of tactical boots clicking.
“Zoe! Liana!”
The door crashed open.
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And Liana remembered the time during disaster relief, when he’d shielded her under falling rubble and said, “Liana, I’ll always save you first.”
But reality-
He brushed past her outstretched hand, scooped Zoe Young into his arms, and ran straight for safety-
Without even glancing back as she fell from the third floor.
“Adri…an…”
The scream of someone drowned out her final cries for help.
Just before losing consciousness, she saw a memory from a military drill.
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He had climbed a wall and slipped a melting piece of chocolate into her camouflage pocket.
“Liana! Look at me!”
The sharp scent of disinfectant burned her nose as her lashes fluttered.
Adrian Graham’s face hovered into view, his collar soaked in blood, his left arm wrapped in a bloodstained bandage.
“It’s just a light fall. You’ll be okay. Don’t move your left hand–they just drew blood.” He reached out to adjust her IV, but she flinched away.
“Blood draw?” Liana croaked, her voice raspy. The concussion made her slow.
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Why… did I give blood?”
Adrian’s jaw tightened. “Zoe nearly miscarried. You only donated a little blood. What are you so upset about?”
Liana suddenly let out a dry laugh, her IV shaking wildly. “She accused me… and you believed her?”
“I’m her husband!” he roared, slamming his fist against the bedside table, knocking over bottles. “You think I’d believe a murderer like you?”
The word “husband” made the air go still.
Liana tore off the oxygen tube. Blood splattered from her hand onto the
snow–white bed sheet. “Then what the hell
are you doing here playing the grieving lover? Get out!”
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The monitor shrieked with warning tones.
Adrian grabbed her wrists to stop her thrashing. “Liana! Just ten more months! When the baby’s born, I’ll-”
Crash!
The saline bag burst at his feet.
Liana hurled a roll of gauze at him. “GET OUT!”
The gauze floated gently to the floor.
Adrian stood frozen among shattered glass, his Adam’s apple bobbing violently. Then he turned and slammed the door behind him.
The doorframe trembled, and a small metal box fell from the bedside table.
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A tin of nearly–melted chocolate-
Her favorite brand, the one she craved during her training on the plateau.
Liana grabbed the tin and smashed it against the monitor.
The chocolates scattered across the floor, just like her faith-
shattered beyond repair.
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