Evelyn struggled to regain her balance, her hands instinctively pressing against John's chest to steady herself. She looked up at him, her eyes blazing with a mix of anger and confusion."Let me go," she demanded, trying to push away from him.John's grip tightened, not enough to hurt but firm enough to keep her close."No, I don't want to." He said.Evelyn's eyes flashed with an emotion he didn't quite understand."Why?""I like you being close." He muttered.Evelyn's heart did a flip as she heard those words but that didn't mean her anger had subsided. "No, Evelyn. We need to talk about this.""There's nothing to talk about," she snapped. "You made your choice.""Evelyn, please," John pleaded, his voice breaking.Evelyn's eyes widened because hearing him call her name felt so good and it warned her heart."What's there to talk about,?" She scoffed."You hate me." " I don't hate you." He contradicted."You think I'm the kind of monster that cannot be trusted even though I've made

"What is it?" Sullivan asked.She raised her gaze to look at him but she shook her head.Erica shifted slightly, resting her head more comfortably on Sullivan’s shoulder as the evening breeze whispered through the trees."Are you sure you don't have anything to tell me?" He asked."Don't worry about it." The gentle rustling of leaves filled the silence between them. For a moment, everything felt almost peaceful, as if the weight of the world had temporarily lifted.Erica’s heart was heavy with something she had been carrying for far too long.This was something she always wanted but she didn't want to feel like she was forcing him“Sullivan,” she began, her voice barely above a whisper.He turned his head slightly, sensing the seriousness in her tone. He was relieved that was finally ready to speak to him.“What is it?” he asked, his voice calm, though a flicker of concern crossed his features.She hesitated, gathering her thoughts. This wasn’t something she could just blurt out.

Erica walked quietly through the dimly lit hallway, her bare feet making soft sounds against the wooden floor. The weight of the night still clung to her, but she pushed it aside, focusing instead on her next task—checking on Evelyn.As she approached Evelyn’s room, Erica noticed the door slightly ajar. Pushing it open gently, she was surprised to find John sitting beside the bed. His tall frame was hunched over, his hands resting on the armrests of the chair, and his eyes were closed as he slept. She heaved a sighed as she stared him.His expression, usually so guarded and stern, seemed peaceful and almost vulnerable in sleep.For a moment, Erica stood in the doorway, her eyes softened as she took in the scene. She couldn’t help but think about how sweet they looked togetherJohn, the steadfast protector, and Evelyn was always fierce and she noticed she was independent woman.Often she found their bickering cute but she knew it was impossible between those two.But the fact still

The next morning just before breakfast a meeting was fixed so they could discuss how to solve the problem they indirectly created for themselves. The atmosphere in the room was tense as Sullivan, Erica, Evelyn, and John gathered around the table, maps and documents spread out before them. The weight of their responsibilities hung heavily in the air, each of them acutely aware of the dangers that lay ahead. The South had become a critical battleground, and now they were forced to adjust their strategies in light of the new developments.Sullivan ran a hand through his hair, his expression grim as he surveyed the situation. "We need to move quickly. The longer we wait, the more fortified their positions will become.""Since they already know we went to the south."John, standing by his side, nodded in agreement. His hand where in his pocket studying the items on the table. "We can’t afford to be caught off guard. Our enemies are expecting us, which means we need to outmaneuver the

Evelyn's heart was racing, but she forced herself to remain composed. Sullivan's apology had caught her off guard, and she was struggling to process the emotions it stirred within her. For months, she had carried the weight of her past actions, believing she was beyond forgiveness, even from herself. Yet, here was Sullivan, acknowledging her pain, even thanking her."Set things right?" Evelyn echoed, her voice tinged with bitterness. "You can't just say a few words and expect everything to be okay.""I know," Sullivan said, his gaze steady. "But it's a start. I don't expect you to forgive me, and I don't expect us to go back to how things were. I just wanted you to know that I recognize the good you've done."Evelyn looked away, her fingers fidgeting as she tried to hold back the tears threatening to spill. She hated how vulnerable she felt in front of him, hated that despite everything, his words affected her so deeply."Why are you doing this?" she asked, her voice barely above