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Chapter 14
Just as Jack reached the mess hall to get food for Emily, an officer rushed over, slightly out of breath.
ཏྱཾ རྗ ༈ འོ ཚ
“Captain Rivers, the security footage system that was down a while ago–it’s finally fixed. They’re waiting on your sign–off.”
Jack gave a short nod and shelved the meal run for now. It wouldn’t take long to sign off on a routine repair.
Back at the base, the tech crew was wrapping up their checks. “Sir, the damaged unit was from the central training field. It’s operational again. Take a look, and if it’s all good, I’ll clear out.”
Jack reviewed the footage, everything looked standard. He signed off on the report.
Their base stored live ammunition, so surveillance was tight–cameras in nearly every corner. Just as he turned to leave, something tugged at his memory. On impulse, he walked into the surveillance archive room.
Every soldier’s quarters had monitoring, mostly for safety
and
discipline.
He keyed in Olivia’s room number, brows furrowed. After a brief wait, the
The picture wasn’t crystal clear, but her face
missed that stubborn glare of hers.
still showed-
= “een lit
up with grayscale footage.
defiant. His chest tightened. She’d only been gone a few days, but he already
His lips
Olivia. She said
seven curved slightly at times. Until the footage turned.
ng, then, out of nowhere, slammed a pill bottle against the desk and
He kept watching, day by day, clip by clip–like flipping through
A different feed popped up. Emily was in the same room wiemories.
threw herself onto the floor, bursting into tears.
Olivia? She hadn’t done a damn thing.
Jack sat upright. He couldn’t believe it–this was the truth?
He fast–forwarded. More scenes played–Emily burning Olivia’s photos. Emily provoking her. Emily twisting stories.
The more he saw, the paler his face grew.
All this time, he’d believed Olivia was the one causing trouble. But she had been the victim, she was the one being wronged. And he’d punished her for it.
1
His hands trembled. He watched her final day at camp, the one where the rain never stopped. Olivia stood there, soaked to the skin, hour after hour, never once breaking. Until someone approached, and just like that, Olivia walked away from the unit without a backward glance.
The screen glitched. The tape ended with a harsh static hiss.
Jack stared at the black screen, numb.
No wonder she left without saying a word.
She’d given up on him.
The realization hit like a punch to the gut. He gripped the edge of the desk, knuckles white.
All this time, he’d felt some lingering guilt over Emily. But now, it twisted into pure fury. She’d manipulated him. Lied to him. And Olivia had paid the
price.
He knew then–without a doubt–he loved Olivia. He was in love with her.
Jaw clenched, Jack pushed off the desk and strode out of the room. He stormed straight to the hospital, his boots pounding the ground like a war drum.
Emily had a lot to answer for.
The moment he stepped into her room, Emily lit up with a smile.
“Jack, you said you were getting me food–what took you so long? I’m starving here!”
She was practically glowing.
“Oh, and Jack, would you come to dinner with me at my dad’s? He’s been hoping to see you again. You didn’t stay last time, and he thought it was a shame.”
It was a thinly veiled invitation to meet the family–as if she’d already secured her place in his life. If Jack hadn’t seen the truth, he might’ve gone along, eaten up by guilt. But now? All he felt was fury.
He didn’t say a word, and Emily’s smile faltered. “Jack? What’s wrong?”
