Chapter 7
Before I could refuse, my mentor led me outside.
A tall, handsome man in a military uniform stood before me, making me feel instantly intimidated. I reflexively saluted.
My mentor seemed pleased, “This is my son, Luke. He’s your age, so you don’t need to be so formal
with him.”
She began to introduce me further. “This is my most accomplished student, Anna. It’s not easy for a girl like her to be out here. You take care of her a bit more, don’t let anything happen to her. If she does, I’ll hold you accountable!”
Luke’s face showed some helplessness, and he repeatedly agreed, “I know, you’ve told me so many times on the way here, my ears are almost sore from hearing it.”
Watching their interaction, I couldn’t help but smile.
I knew that trying to act tough in such a dangerous environment was the most foolish thing to do, so I just followed my mentor’s advice and said, “Comrade, I’ll rely on you from now on.”
He froze for a moment, his bronzed face turning slightly red as he replied seriously, “It’s not about guidance, serving the people is my duty.”
After the introductions, my mentor pulled me aside and whispered, “By the way, there’s something I need to ask you. Didn’t you tell your husband you applied to be a part of the Doctors Without
Borders mission?
He was looking for you at the hospital a while ago. I thought he knew, but I didn’t want him to be affected by it. Is that alright with you?”
I shook my head, “It’s fine. He has no right to interfere with my choices. I’m not worried about him.”
The airport here had long been closed due to the war, and only relevant personnel could be here.
Even if Henry knew, it wouldn’t matter.
Besides, right now, he only cared about Nancy and their child. He had no time to worry about me.
“That’s good, I was worried it might affect your relationship,” she said.
12.47
The Ruined Bride of Velvet Nights
1 pressed my lips together, looking toward the smoke filled horizon and said in a low voice, “We’ll soon be strangers?
I knew Henry wouldn’t agree to a divorce, so I planned to live separately for some time, and when the time was right, I would go back and file for divorce,
Heither of us had a chance of reconciliation.
Time passed, and a year later, I left the battlefield, which had signed a ceasefire agreement, and returned to my home country,
Once back, I had nowhere to go, so I booked a room at a hotel near the airport.
1 knew it wouldn’t be long before I would be sent to another country that needed our help.
After checking in, I finally had a good rest.
The next day, full of energy, I went to meet Luke as planned. He had made the reservation, and I just had to show up,
I left half an hour early to avoid being late.
But when I walked into the restaurant, the first person I saw wasn’t Luke–it was Henry.
Henry clearly didn’t expect to see me here, and his eyes quickly flashed with surprise before they softened with the joy of finding me again. “Anna, is it really you?”
“You’ve come back… I missed you so much.”
His eyes were red, full of attachment.
Henry stepped forward excitedly, wanting to reach out to me.
I calmly took a step back, avoiding his touch.
In contrast to his excitement, I felt only coldness and distance.
Henry, provoked by my actions, his eyes turned red, and his voice cracked with emotion,
“Anna, ever since you left, I’ve been waiting for you to come back. Every day without you, I went to the temple on the mountain to pray for your safe return…”
12:47
The Runed
Velvet Nights
Chapter 7
Saying this, he pulled out the precious peace amulet he had kept, offering it to me like a treasure.
“Look, Mom used to say that this temple’s prayers for peace are the most effective. I specially went. to pray for you…”
Before he could finish, a cute little girl suddenly ran in from outside the restaurant, shouting, “Mom!”
The little girl laughed and ran over, immediately throwing herself at my legs.
I softened my previous cold demeanor, crouching down to wipe the sweat from her forehead, “What did you play with dad? Why are you all sweaty?”
Upon hearing this, Henry’s face suddenly turned pale. He stared at us in disbelief and stammered, “Anna, who is she? Why is she calling you mom?”
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