The Ice-Cold General Learned Regret in the Language of Roses Novel

Chapter 14 A week later , Ethan sat behind his wide desk , a cashier's check pinched between his fingers - the same one that had been sent back to him untouched . The edges of the check were still perfectly smooth , not a single crease in sight , as if the fortune it represented was nothing more than a useless scrap of paper in someone else's eyes . Worried that she might be struggling overseas , he'd gone out of his way to send her money , only to have it returned the same way it had gone out , along with a single message relayed through a middleman , cold enough to cut .

" I can't afford you . " He could almost see her face as she said it - those beautiful brows tilting up , th she could pull off , the clean , absolute way she drew the line . ffortless pride only He had used every connection he had to get the money into her hands through special channels , terrified she might face even the smallest hardship in a foreign country . She hadn't even bothered to look at it ; she'd just sent it straight back . " I can't afford you . " Those four words stabbed into him like ice - cold needles .

She had once spent his money like it was the most natural thing in the world . If she saw jewelry she wanted , a dress she liked , even a limited - edition sports car she only wanted on a whim , she'd loop her arm through his , pout a little , and demand without a hint of shame , " Ethan , pay up . " Back then , he'd thought she was frivolous , but he'd also secretly enjoyed the feeling of being needed by her . Now she wouldn't take a single cent from him . That clean , merciless cut between them suffocated him harder than any argument or accusation ever could .

He crushed the check into a ball , clenching his fist so tightly his knuckles went white , his face so dark it could have scared anyone out of the room . All that rage with nowhere to go followed him straight out to the training field . Under the brutal midday sun , the soldiers were in the middle of a standard tactical drill . A new recruit , rattled by nerves , hesitated for a fraction of a second crossing an obstacle and nearly threw off the rhythm of the squad behind him . It was nothing more than a minor mistake , the kind of thing more practice would fix .

But Ethan , who had been silently watching from the side , suddenly barked , " Stop . " Chapter 14 46.67 % The field went dead quiet . Every soldier froze , staring at him in confusion . Ethan strode up to the pale - faced rookie , his gaze sharp as a blade , his voice so cold it didn't hold a trace of warmth . " Because of you , the entire squad's rhythm fell apart . On the battlefield , that fraction of a second of hesitation could get all of your men killed . " The recruit shook so hard his teeth almost chattered , tripping over his own words .

" R - Reporting , sir, I- " " Explaining it only makes it sound more like a lie . " Ethan didn't give him the chance . His eyes swept the field . " Looks like training's been way too soft . All units - thirty - kilo packs , thirty - mile cross - country , Now . Move . " Everyone just stared at him . A forced thirty - mile run with a sixty - plus - pound pack was the kind of thing you over a tiny , almost meaningless mistake . for extreme training- Even the base's chief of staff frowned , stepping up to grab Ethan's arm and murmur , " Ethan , calm down . This is a routine drill .

Small slip - ups happen . This punishment is way over the line . " Ethan yanked his arm free , his chest heaving , the whites of his eyes shot through with red . " Over the line ? The more they sweat now , the less they bleed in a war . My word is an order . Anyone who says one more thing gets double . " He had never lost it like this in front of his soldiers before . The brigadier general known for being calm , controlled , and precise now looked like a trapped animal driven into a corner , fury rolling off him in waves . None of the soldiers dared say another word .

They silently shouldered their heavy packs and started running across the blistering field . The air grew thick with a strained silence and a simmering undercurrent of resentment . The chief of staff looked at Ethan's hard , exhausted profile and sighed , his tone heavy . " Ethan . Tell me what's going on with you . In this state , how are you supposed to lead ? " Ethan sucked in harsh breaths as he watched his men slog through the heat , saw that flicker of anger and confusion in their eyes , and a jolt shot through him . What was he doing ?

He was dragging his private misery into work and taking it out on soldiers who'd done nothing wrong . He pressed his fingers hard against his aching temples as a wave of helplessness and self - disgust crashed over him . He flicked his hand in a tired gesture . " End the drill . Let them rest . " His voice came out rough and worn . AL- 14 46.67 % Without looking at anyone else , he turned on his heel and walked away , and somehow his retreating back held a hint of shaken panic . When night fell , Ethan dragged himself back to the little house , feeling like his legs were made of lead .

Inside , everything was still drowned in darkness and silence . He stood at the door for a long moment , almost too afraid to push it open . Then he heard soft footsteps behind him and caught a faint , comforting smell of food in the air . " You're back , Ethan ? " Nora's gentle voice floated over . d warmth . " You She was carrying an insulated container , her face arranged in a perfect mix of haven't been looking well lately , so I made soup for you . I used the mildest , most nourishing ingredients l could find . Try it .

" She walked into the living room , flipped on the lights like she'd done it a hundred times , set the container on the table , poured out a steaming bowl , and held it out to him . The broth was clear , fragrant , and inviting . Ethan looked at the bowl but didn't take it . His gaze went distant , drifting through the steam as if he were seeing a completely different scene . " She never made soup , " he murmured , so quietly it was almost inaudible . " I still remember the first time she got it into her head that she had to cook for me . She almost burned the entire kitchen down ...

smoke everywhere , ash on her face , holding a plate of something burnt to a crisp , eyes wide like a kitten that knew it'd done something bad ... " The corner of his mouth tugged up without him realizing it , the faintest , softest hint of a smile . A crash split the air . The porcelain bowl shattered on the carpet with a heavy thud , hot soup splashing over Nora's skirt and soaking the cuffs of Ethan's pants . Nora went sheet - white , staring at him as her whole body trembled , tears spilling over in an instant . 46.67 % admin