Chapter 8

With everyone watching, I finally called out the truth that Thomas always believed would stay hidden.

Thomas' face went ghostly pale in an instant.

All these years, he'd always been flawless.

He was one of the finest soldiers and had made Captain before he was thirty.

Now in his thirties, he was a candidate for brigade commander.

He famously doted on his grandma, and was known for getting along with his fellow soldiers.

He was tight with my dad, and would tell everyone he treated me like his own daughter.

Perhaps the only blemish in his life that he feared others would find out about was his five‑year secret relationship with me, who was eight years younger than him.

I'd kept this secret for five years, always on edge, always terrified of getting caught.

But now, the moment I finally said it out loud, I didn't feel a trace of panic.

I just felt an overwhelming sense of relief and freedom.

Olivia's coughing grew so violent that she suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.

She shot Thomas a furious look, her eyes blazing. "Just as I thought. Thomas, you really let me down!" She gasped between coughs.

Thomas was at a total loss, barely managing to steady her, his face as pale as a sheet.

He frantically called for the medical staff, then turned to me, his eyes practically begging.

"Nina, please, please, just stop," he pleaded.

His eyes were red and swollen.

After all these years, I'd never seen him look like this.

Was being with me really so unbearable for him?

The doctors rushed over, steadying Olivia as they gently laid her down on the gurney. Her chest was rising and falling in ragged, frantic breaths.

I looked at Thomas, and in his eyes, all I saw was endless guilt and disappointment, as if he was judging me for not acting the way he wanted.

My voice was steady, almost icy. "Thomas, I despise you."

Grace burst into tears and screamed at me. "Olivia is already in this state! Nina, just take it as my fault. I am apologizing to you. Please stop talking!"

It was disgusting. How could someone like her even deserve to be a teacher?

I stared back at her pathetic, tearful face, cold as ice. "Stop pretending, Grace. I don't want him anymore. He's all yours now. Congrats."

I walked back to my dad's ward.

Thomas called out to me, his voice trembling. "Nina, wait for me. I'll talk to you later."

What was there to talk about?

*****

That night, I went back home and tossed a few clothes into a bag. Then I called Casey. We agreed to take the afternoon train tomorrow and head south together to find Evan.

It was a long journey, thousands of miles to cover, and we'd be stuck on the train for days.

I went back to the hospital and stayed by my dad's side all night.

Outside the hospital window, the first snow of the year was falling over Northbridge.

I watched the snowflakes swirl and tap against the windowpane.

For a split second, it felt like I'd been transported to another world.

On this trip down south, if Evan was willing, I would probably have a fiancé by the time we headed back.

*****

The next day, just as I was about to leave, Thomas showed up again.

He said he wanted to take me out of a meal, the two of us, so we could really talk.

I turned him down at first, but he pleaded, "Nina, please, for the sake of that time five years ago, when I saved you."

I was silent for a long time, but in the end, I nodded.

I told myself this would be our last meal together.

For the sake of the Thomas who once risked everything for me, five years ago.