Chapter 381 [ 478 words ] Chapter 381: “You can’t prove anything!” she stammered, her bravado gone. A cold, mirthless smile touched Caroline’s lips. “Can’t I? There are security cameras in the hallways. Timestamps of you entering and leaving my father’s room. And, of course, there’s my father’s testimony.” She
Chapter 380 [ 537 words ] Chapter 380: Caroline wiped at her wet cheeks with the back of her hand, her expression still cold and unforgiving. “There’s nothing to talk about,” she said, her voice flat. “Not until I’ve dealt with what needs to be dealt with.” Her focus was
Chapter 379 [ 494 words ] Chapter 379: She turned to leave, her mind set on a single, clear objective: find Corbett. A hand like an iron clamp shot out and seized her arm. Jarrod. He spun her around to face him. “Where do you think you’re going?” he demanded,
Chapter 378 [ 527 words ] Chapter 378: “I was scared,” Caroline choked out, her own tears starting to fall. “I didn’t want you to be terrified. I just… I couldn’t lose you.” Her voice cracked. “I know it was stupid. I just… I didn’t know what else to do.”
Chapter 377 [ 504 words ] Chapter 377: Brenna let out a long breath, her eyes darting between the couple as she recalibrated her understanding of the situation. She had known about the marriage, but seeing the legendary Colonel in the flesh was a far more volatile experience than hearing
Chapter 376 [ 502 words ] Chapter 376: “Caroline,” he said again, his voice softer this time, but with an underlying steel that was impossible to ignore. “Come to me.” Brenna, knowing perfectly well that the man before her was the elusive husband Caroline had spoken of in the past,
Chapter 375 [ 509 words ] Chapter 375: Her biological father was there, dressed in his street clothes, his face a mask of grief and stubborn anger. He was trying to walk toward the elevators, but a man was holding his arm, his grip gentle but firm, preventing him from
Chapter 374 [ 469 words ] Chapter 374: “I’m trying to calm him down,” Brenna sobbed. “The nurses are here, but he’s not listening to anyone. He’s packing his things.” Caroline’s mind went terrifyingly clear. The questions about Jarrod, the secrets of this house—they all evaporated. There was only one
Chapter 373 [ 496 words ] Chapter 373: It was a complete and total evasion. He was running away. Caroline stood alone in the driveway, watching his retreating back. The cold, hard certainty settled in her stomach. Jarrod Romero had a secret. A big one. And it had a name
Chapter 372 [ 495 words ] Chapter 372: “K.C.,” she began, her voice quiet but clear. “Can I ask you something personal? About the Colonel?” His eyes met hers in the mirror. “If it’s something I can answer, ma’am.” She took a breath. “I saw a picture. In his office
Chapter 371 [ 498 words ] Chapter 371: She saw K.C.’s eyes meet hers in the rearview mirror. His expression was carefully neutral, but she saw a flicker of something else. Something guarded. “His mission was extended, ma’am. No definitive return date at this time.” Her stomach sank. Of course.
Chapter 370 [ 512 words ] Chapter 370: Caroline looked at her friend, at the fierce loyalty in her eyes, and felt a wave of gratitude so strong it almost brought her to tears. She knew Brenna was right. If she collapsed, she would be useless to everyone. She needed
Chapter 369 [ 511 words ] Chapter 369: She slipped out of the room, leaving her biological father still sleeping peacefully, and headed for the staff locker room to change. Her body felt heavy, each step an effort. But her mind was a live wire, pulled taut with a mixture
Chapter 368 [ 512 words ] Chapter 368: Melanie’s smile widened, becoming something truly vicious. “Are you sure? Your father’s in a fragile state. It would be a tragedy if, say, I were to accidentally drop this report on his bedside table.” The threat landed with surgical precision, striking the
Chapter 367 [ 544 words ] Chapter 367: She twisted the cold tap, the water gushing out with a roar that filled the small space. She cupped her hands, splashing the icy water onto her face again and again. It did nothing to extinguish the fire in her gut, the
Chapter 366 [ 551 words ] Chapter 366: She pressed the heels of her hands against her mouth, stifling the sob that was clawing its way up her throat. A silent, violent tremor shook her from head to toe. Tears streamed from her eyes, hot and endless, soaking the front
Chapter 365 [ 503 words ] Chapter 365: Each optimistic word, each hopeful plan for a future Caroline already knew would never happen, was like a tiny, sharp piece of glass working its way into her heart. She smiled and nodded, playing her part—the cheerful, supportive daughter she was still
Chapter 364 [ 408 words ] Chapter 364: “He… he contacted you?” Caroline gave a small, dismissive nod. “He has his ways.” The fight went out of him completely. He slowly lowered his hand, the envelope looking foolish and unwanted. He looked like a man who had gambled everything and
Chapter 363 [ 545 words ] Chapter 363: Caroline didn’t wait for an explanation. She turned and walked out of the lounge, her heart hammering in her chest. But even as she fled, a small part of her understood the crumbling of a man pushed to the edge by forces
Chapter 362 [ 521 words ] Chapter 362: The door opened, and Julian stepped inside. He looked different tonight—more disheveled than ever, his tie loosened, dark circles deep under his eyes. He closed the door behind him, and the soft click of the latch made Caroline’s pulse quicken. “Long shift?”