Chapter 10

On the other side of the city, Julian stayed at the hospital and watched over Sienna day and night until an urgent assignment finally dragged him back to work. By the time he finished clearing the pile of reports, it was already the next day. "General Hauser, are we going back to the hospital or to the townhouse?" the guard asked. Julian rubbed at the bridge of his nose, about to answer when the guard hesitated and added, "General Hauser, maybe you should stop by the townhouse. Mrs. Hauser took the 80 strikes on behalf of her friends that night. She's always been so delicate. I don't know how she is now..." Julian's whole body went rigid, his eyes widening in shock. "What did you say? She took all the strikes for them? That's insane!" A sharp, indescribable panic and ache seized him. He pictured Trina's soft skin and remembered how she could whine for half a day over a scraped knee, how terrified she was of pain, and how obsessed she was with looking perfect. How did she even endure 80 strikes? It felt like an invisible fist had closed around his heart, squeezing until he could hardly breathe. The feeling was so intense that it hurt even more than when he had seen Sienna jump from the building or fall into that frozen lake. He didn't know what was wrong with him. He only knew he had to see Trina right away. "Back to the townhouse! Immediately!" The order came out almost as a roar. The car sped through the streets toward the quiet residential district. As soon as the car came to a stop, Julian pushed the door open, ready to storm inside and see Trina, who had somehow driven him mad and made his heart ache. But before he reached the steps, he noticed a group of officers and acquaintances he knew well gathered at the front door. There were Air Force pilots, regimental commanders, and even a young diplomat from the foreign ministry. Every one of them was considered one of the most sought-after men in Flarora. "General Hauser, you're just in time!" A blunt, cheerful regimental commander strode over, his face lit with excitement. "Is what the newspaper says true?" "General Hauser!" another called, his eyes shining. "If you and Ms. Shepherd really aren't together anymore, does that mean we can finally compete fairly for her?" "Julian," a close friend said, completely unashamed, "Trina is stunning. She's so bold and full of life. There isn't a man in this city who doesn't like her. I've admired her for ages. I only held back because she was your wife. Now, I can finally pursue her!" "Exactly! Introduce us when you can! We're all ready to make our move!" They spoke over each other, every word dripping with open admiration and determination, like hunters who had caught scent of their prey. Seeing their eager faces, Julian felt a rage unlike anything he had ever felt. It blasted through him like a firestorm and wiped out the last shred of his self-control. "Introduce her? Compete? Pursue her? Do any of you have the slightest idea what you're talking about?" His voice dropped to a terrifying chill. "Trina is my wife!" His outburst stunned them into silence. They all stared at him, completely thrown off guard. One of his closer friends blinked, then slowly lifted the newspaper in his hand and held it out. "Julian, you didn't know? It's on the front page of this morning's newspaper. Your divorce has already been announced." Julian snatched the paper from him. His eyes locked on the bold black headline splashed across the top of the front page. "Hauser–Shepherd marriage ends! General Julian Hauser and heiress Trina Shepherd officially divorced today!" Julian's mind went blank, and a low buzzing filled his ears. Divorced? He and Trina had gotten a divorce? When had that happened? How could it have happened without him knowing? Before Julian could wrap his head around the headline, the Shepherds' old butler, Liam Ellison, came up the path slowly, carrying a sealed box in both hands. His expression was complicated—almost apologetic. "General Hauser, Mr. Shepherd asked me to give this to you. It's the miracle drug that can treat Ms. Blake's illness." Julian's head snapped up. He stared at the box, then at Liam, disbelief written across his face. "The drug? Why is Wayne suddenly willing to hand it over now?" Liam sighed. "Ms. Shepherd made a deal with Mr. Shepherd. She asked him to give you the drug. In exchange, she gave up all rights to her inheritance and agreed to leave Flarora for good. She promised she'd never return for the rest of her life."