Blood And Promises Novel by Sabrina Hart Chapter 22

Blood And Promises Novel by Sabrina Hart Chapter 22

“Humberto, I appreciate you taking care of her. But she is my wife, and she will be for the rest of my life. I will not let go.”

Humberto’s gaze suddenly became incredibly sharp, like a drawn blade, carrying an unmistakable coldness and warning. “Your wife? Major General Cantrell, you both went together to collect the divorce decree, and the announcement was published in the newspaper. Do I need to remind you that, legally, you are now complete strangers with no connection whatsoever?”

“Samantha’s life has long ceased to have anything to do with you. Now, I am the one taking care of her. You failed to protect her before, and you are no longer needed now.”

Richard lay on the hospital bed, waves of intense pain in his back making his vision blur and cold sweat bead on his forehead. Yet his gaze remained locked on Humberto, refusing to yield in the slightest.

“No legal connection,” he gasped, each word squeezed from his chest, yet with a stubborn determination. “But here, she will always be my wife.”

With his free hand, he struggled to raise it and pointed to the spot over his heart.

Humberto looked at the pale face and those stubborn, unyielding eyes, and the last trace of gratitude he felt for Richard saving Samantha faded away. He stopped wasting words, and simply cast Richard a final cold glance, the meaning in his eyes unmistakable—stay away from her.

Then he turned and quickly walked in the direction Samantha had left.

In the hospital room, only Richard remained, lying on the bed that reeked of disinfectant, listening to his heavy, painful breathing and the wind howling outside the window. He closed his eyes, and all he could see was Samantha’s calm, emotionless gaze, and the words, “Some wounds cannot be healed just by risking your life.” The dull ache in his chest was even harder to bear than the torn wound on his back.

Richard’s injuries were serious, and the doctor forced him to rest in bed. But he stayed in the hospital for less than two weeks. As soon as he could barely walk, he insisted on being discharged. The wound on his back had not fully healed, and any large movement would pull at it painfully, but he seemed not to feel it. He still appeared every day near the Army Band, at places where Samantha might show up.

He no longer approached her, only watched from afar. He watched her enter the Army Band building, watched her laugh and chat with colleagues, watched Humberto’s car arrive on time to pick her up after work. He was like a silent shadow, stubbornly guarding from outside his own boundaries, greedily tracing her outline with his eyes, as if that could fill the enormous void in his heart.

Samantha could feel that gaze that followed her like a shadow. She did not look back, did not react, and simply poured all her energy into rehearsals. Sweat soaked her clothes, her muscles trembled with exhaustion, and only in this way could she temporarily forget the complicated gaze behind her, forget the past woven with blood and tears.

Until one late night, an urgent encrypted call came to Richard’s temporary residence.

Outside the border, a well-equipped group of armed men had infiltrated and taken several of our border scientific team members hostage. The situation was critical, their demands were outrageous, and negotiations had reached a deadlock. The higher-ups called for an elite squad to carry out a covert rescue mission.

Richard’s name was prominently listed.

“Your injury…” The old commander sounded worried on the other end of the line.

“The injury is fine, it won’t affect the operation.” Richard stood straight, answering in a deep voice to the phone, as if the hideous wound on his back did not exist.

“Good! The mission briefing and rendezvous point will be sent to you shortly. Richie, stay safe, and make sure… bring all our comrades back, not one less!”

“Yes, I guarantee the mission will be completed!”

After hanging up, Richard walked to the window. The night was deep, and in the distance, only a few lights remained on in the Army Band dormitory building. He did not know which window belonged to her.

This mission was very dangerous. Perhaps, it was also an opportunity. An opportunity to approach her in another way, to… atone.

The night before departure, he went to the dormitory building where Samantha lived. Autumn was deep, and the night wind carried a piercing chill. He stood there like a silent statue, from the moment the city lights came on, until the lights in thousands of homes gradually went out, until the sky began to lighten.

At dawn, Samantha pushed open the dormitory door, preparing to go for her morning exercise.

Then, she saw him.