The divorced military queen awakens novel

Military 569 Summary Laura firmly tells Weston that her feelings for him have long faded and she no longer loves him. Despite his recent efforts and concern, she refuses to risk her heart again or be with him out of obligation. She makes it clear that if she chooses to be with someone, it will be because she truly loves him, even if he looks nothing like Weston. She also compares Weston unfavorably to Gavin Huxley, emphasizing her emotional detachment. Weston, though hurt and rejected, insists on driving her back, unwilling to let her go easily.

Meanwhile, at the hospital, Gavin finds Julius sitting quietly by Quinn's bedside. Gavin criticizes Julius for acting rashly earlier, reminding him that if Laura had been seriously hurt, it would have been difficult to face Quinn. Julius expresses regret for taking his frustration out on Laura, acknowledging he owes her and wants to make amends. Gavin explains that Laura is unlikely to accept any gestures because she feels guilty about Quinn's injury, which happened while Quinn was protecting Laura from an acid attack.

Julius reflects on Quinn's protective nature, rooted in her military background and family tradition of service. As they talk, Julius recalls Quinn's history of self-sacrifice, including past incidents where she risked her life to save others, highlighting the depth of her instinct to protect. He wishes she could prioritize her own safety more, but understands this is part of who she is. Later, Fabian Wooley arrives at the hospital with news that the attacker is Sylvia Sanders, Laura's stepmother, who is now in police custody.

The police suspect Sylvia has been hypnotized, a revelation that unsettles Julius and hints at darker forces at play. Continue Regular Chapter Reading Below Military 569 569 Feelings Faded Away "I've already told you," Laura said firmly, her eyes locked onto Weston's without a hint of wavering. "The very first condition is that I have to genuinely like the man I'm with. My feelings for you? They withered long ago, Weston. So why should I keep risking my heart on you?" Her voice was steady, resolute. "I don't love you anymore, and it's not your fault.

I'm thankful for everything you've done for me recently, truly. But I refuse to treat my own emotions as some sort of debt I owe you. If I decide to be with someone, it will be because I want to be with him-because I love him. Sure, I'm the kind of person who notices a handsome face, a body that makes the mind wander. But that doesn't mean I can't give my heart to a man who looks nothing like you." Every word she spoke was clear and precise, delivered with the cold finality of a judge handing down a verdict. Weston's lips pressed into a thin, pale line.

Another rejection, sharp and clinical, carved itself deep into his chest. "And for the record," Laura added, her tone almost casual but cutting, "I don't think Gavin Huxley falls short of you in looks or stature at all." The words shattered the silence like shards of glass, each one ringing painfully in Weston's ears. "That's enough," she said, her voice firm. "I've said everything I needed to. Now let go of my hand. I have to get back to the office." Today, the company was in complete turmoil. Once she returned, the real storm would begin.

"I'll drive you," Weston offered abruptly, his tone clipped but unwavering. "There's no need. I can-" "I'm taking you, or I won't feel at ease," he interrupted, his voice final, like a door slammed shut. Since he'd heard about the acid attack she'd narrowly escaped-and now seeing the faint bruises encircling her neck-every breath felt like a struggle, as if it might catch in his throat. "Weston, I've made myself clear. I don't intend to be with you, and I won't fall for you again. Stop bothering me. I'm perfectly capable of getting back on my own," Laura said, her patience thinning.

"I know you've refused me more than once," he said quietly, his voice low and heavy like a dark river. "You don't have to repeat it. Either let me drive you back, or we stand here until nightfall. Your choice." Laura exhaled softly, a silent sigh escaping her lips as her patience frayed. "Fine. Drive me, then," she relented, weighed down more by her schedule than by pride. Weston's smile in response was small but unexpectedly warm, like the familiar, polished barrister she once knew had briefly resurfaced. They climbed into the car.

Weston pulled onto the avenue, stealing glances at Laura in the passenger seat whenever the city lights flickered across the windshield. Let her go? The very thought felt impossible, like a muscle he couldn't force to unclench. Rejected time and again, he still yearned for her devotion, silently begging for her gaze to rest solely on him, still dreaming of the way she had loved him once-without reservation. For that dream, he feared he might be willing to sacrifice everything.

- When Gavin stepped into the hospital room, he found Julius seated motionless beside Quinn's bed, his eyes fixed on her sleeping face as if the rest of the world had ceased to exist. "You acted too rashly today," Gavin murmured, folding his arms across his chest. "If Laura had really been hurt, how would you have faced Quinn when she woke up?" Julius's lashes fluttered. "How is Laura?" he asked quietly, barely louder than the steady beeping of the monitors. The sterile scent of disinfectant lingered in the air of the private ward.

Gavin capped his pen and regarded Julius with calm professionalism. "The damage is minor. I've applied an ointment-she needs to keep it on for a few days, and the bruising will fade. And for what it's worth, she isn't angry. I doubt she'll mention any of this to Quinn." Julius breathed out slowly, his shoulders stiff beneath the tailored suit jacket. "I know. I shouldn't have taken my frustration out on Laura. She's Quinn's friend, and Quinn chose to protect her. I owe Laura, and I'll make it right." A faint, knowing smile curved Gavin's lips. "She'll probably refuse any gesture you offer.

Right now, she's drowning in guilt because Quinn got hurt trying to shield her." Julius pressed a hand to his forehead, frustration simmering just beneath the surface. "Tell me, Gavin-why would Quinn risk herself like that? Her own life should come first. If she'd been even a second slower, that acid would have splashed onto her." Gavin exhaled through his nose, thinking carefully. "Because Laura is Quinn's friend. And don't forget-Quinn was a soldier. She may have retired, but the instinct to protect others under fire never really leaves." To Gavin, Quinn's choice was no surprise.

She had grown up surrounded by uniforms; both parents served, and she and her older brother followed the same path. In a family steeped in duty, throwing oneself into danger to save another felt as natural as breathing. Julius stared down at the tiled floor, his voice barely a whisper. "Yes. She's always like this-throwing herself between danger and someone else." He remembered the first time she caught his eye: a crowded mall, chaos erupting, and Quinn diving forward to pull him out of harm's way.

Long before that, in a childhood scarred by gunfire, she had dragged him from a burning village. Now, selfishly, he wished she could learn to put herself first-if only to stay alive. - Evening shadows stretched across the hospital ward when Fabian Wooley appeared, his tie loosened and askew from a hurried sprint through the corridors. "Mr. Whitethorn, the acid attacker is Sylvia Sanders-Laura's stepmother. She's currently in police custody, but the officers suspect she's been hypnotized. They're escorting her to the hospital for evaluation." The word "hypnotized" hit Julius like a cold blade.

His eyes narrowed, a dark possibility flickering in their depths. Conclusion The chapter closes on a poignant note, capturing the raw emotions that bind and separate Laura and Weston. Laura's firm declaration of her faded feelings underscores the painful reality of love lost, while Weston's quiet yearning reveals his unwillingness to let go despite repeated rejection.

Their interaction, charged with unresolved tension, reflects the complexity of human relationships where affection and heartbreak coexist, leaving both characters suspended in a fragile space between past intimacy and uncertain futures. Meanwhile, the concern surrounding Quinn's selfless courage and the revelation about Sylvia's hypnotized state deepen the narrative's emotional resonance. The protective instincts that drive Quinn's actions and the looming mystery of the acid attack add layers of tension and empathy, reminding us of the sacrifices made in the name of loyalty and friendship.

Weston's persistent desire to protect Laura clashes with her firm resolve to move on, setting the stage for a delicate dance of emotions that could either heal old wounds or deepen the divide between them. The quiet moments in the car hint at a fragile connection that neither is ready to sever, but the question remains: will their shared history be enough to bridge the growing gap? Meanwhile, the ripple effects of the acid attack continue to unfold, revealing layers of loyalty, guilt, and sacrifice among the characters.

Sara Lili Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland's breathtaking cold.