The sun rises beautifully like every other morning. Yelena didn't manage to sleep for even an hour but her mind was clearer than ever. She wanted to do something and she was more than determined.

She will return to the capital in the afternoon and that made her free for half a day. Therefore she already asked Colonel Maverick to meet her in the pavilion once again.

​​

Dressing casually, she stood still in the pavilion waiting for the Colonel to come. She had made up her mind and desperately hoped that it was the right decision.

After waiting for five minutes, Colonel Maverick approached the pavilion. Judging from the look on his face, it was clear that he didn't have a good night either. He seemed tired and somehow, it made the Captain flustered.

The legend of the Silveren Army wouldn't look like that just because of one sleepless night, right? There must be some other things going on with him. However, she decided to not care about him. All her respect for him had vanished yesterday.

"Have you made your decision?" Colonel Maverick make his way to her and stood beside her. There was a shadow of nervousness in his seemingly calm face.

"Yes. I will give you one week as you asked. However, I want one of my people to take part in managing the Iselin's for the week. You know, I can't fully trust you in this. For me, this is a matter of life and death. All the work that I put in for the past 6 years depends on this." The Captain's voice was stern and so does her face. She didn't care about ranks and hierarchy anymore!

"I will do that. I know it's hard for you but thank you for making this decision." Colonel Maverick narrowed his eyes on the floor. "After one week, I will answer whatever question you ask. I will do anything you want me to do." His face was unreadable yet it seemed like he was thinking of something which the Captain had no idea of.

"I hope you keep your word. If not, I won't hesitate to end you. This is for my brother, Colonel. I'm willing to do anything as long as it's for my late brother." She warned the Colonel and her eyes were cold as ice. Her beautiful face was devoid of any expression.

Much to the Captain's surprise, Colonel Maverick slightly smiled despite her unpleasant warning. She turned her head to him and look at him thinking if he had gone crazy!

"Marvin was one lucky man. He had a great younger sister like you, who would do anything for him." He remarked. Sadness was hidden beneath his slight smile which the Captain noticed. However, she was too hurt to care about it.

"Please, will you not say my brother's name? You don't have a right to say that." She clenched her teeth as she uttered the words. How dare he!

"I know. I'm sorry." Colonel Maverick muttered. Fixating his gaze on the ground, he seemed to be lost in his thoughts just like he did before.

"Yelena." He called her name after a few seconds of silence. He gave her a key which he takes out from his pocket. "Hold onto this. It's the key to a small house in the countryside. If something happens before the end of this one week, you will receive the address. Make sure to go there without telling anyone. Mark my words. Don't trust anyone."

Staring at the key for a while, Yelena finally reached out her hand and took the key from the Colonel's hand. Why did this give her a bad feeling? The Colonel's sad smile was also something that she finds it hard to ignore! Trying to brush away the thoughts, she spoke up intending to change the topic.

"I already asked one person whom I could trust, to fly here. He will reach soon and like agreed, he will stay with the Iselin's for a week." She informed Colonel Maverick.

"Okay. I plan to leave in the evening, so I will sort things out before that."

With that said, Yelena turned around and left the pavilion. Just like last night, Colonel Maverick stared at her disappearing form for a long time.

"You said that there is nothing between the two of you but why do you act so suspicious?" Lt. Col. Lucas said as he approached Yelena who was already many steps away from the pavilion.

The Captain sighed at his words. "You're one doubtful man, sir. You might already forget but I'm quite frank. It's hard for me to tell a lie."

"Is that so?" Lt. Col. Lucas simply smiled. "I'm leaving the base and I will return tomorrow. That means you will already be gone by the time I return." He said to Yelena.

The Captain raised a brow. "Does that mean we won't see each other again?" She asked.

"I don't know but I hope to see you again one day. So, I'll say my goodbyes for now." Lucas flashed a smile that always made him look friendly and approachable.

"Take care, Lt. Colonel." She bid him goodbye.

Lucas nodded. "You too, Captain."

He smiled one more time and walked away. After taking a few steps, he suddenly halted his movement. He let out a breath and then turned around once more.

The Lt. Colonel's eyes trailed to the Captain who was approaching the building where her room was located. Briefly, just briefly, the sight he witnessed from afar last night way played on his head. The super rare scene of a Colonel kneeling before a Captain! Does that even make sense?!

It was the first time he witnessed a superior behaving that way to a junior officer and it probably might be the last too! That defined how rare the scene was!

There might be two possible reasons. One, they might be lovers. If that's the case, the legend kneeling made some sense. Or, two, the Captain knows the secret of the Colonel which might be very dark and inappropriate for others to know.

Staring at the Captain who was about to enter the door of the building, Lucas was overwhelmed with his troubled minds. His desire to know this woman more had increased tenfolds ever since he witnessed that scene last night!

"Captain Yelena Arista." He muttered. "What is your secret? What are you hiding?"

* * *

Landing a foot in her hometown, Silveren City, Yelena felt lost. She was indeed happy to return to the capital but it felt like something is missing. Was it because of her unexpected experience in Silvervale? It might be.

Even though she sort out everything before she returned such as visiting the Iselin's, instructing one of her people on his task for a week; she still didn't felt great.

The man whom she instructed to come to Silvervale was Kevin, a member of the family who worked for her family. The young man was skilled in combat and using guns, so he was the best choice for the work.

However, she was sure of one thing. Her family would surely ask her about the matter. She could hire someone but she wanted someone familiar whom she could trust wholeheartedly. As such, she was left with not much choice.

Hiring a taxi, she went home in the very first place. She didn't have to go to work for the day which she was glad about. She was too occupied to work. It was 3 p.m. when she reached home and she was still left with a few hours before her dinner appointment with King Lawrence, Felix's father. She must rest.

Meanwhile, in the Moray Hospital, Lexus was still glued to looking after Gina. The woman's condition had greatly improved after meeting Felix that day and of course, her father attempt to meet her that didn't go through.

Though she still didn't speak, she had a physical response much more than before. She had more movements than before. Her pale and lifeless face had slowly regained its usual colour and her eyes were not that dimmed now compared to before. All these improvements were possible in just two days! Like always, the one who felt the happiest due to these improvements was none other than Brigadier Lexus Jivaro.

The Marquess spend almost all his time in the hospital, looking after her. He would work with Fabian during the time when Lord Philip and Sophie stayed with her. The lack of improvement in his investigation was what made the perfect Colonel worried the most. However, Gina's condition that had become better each day was the thing that always made him forget his other worries.

Brigadier Lexus had received a call from Fabian about their investigation and it was quite urgent. So, he called the cousin to come and stay with Gina until he returns. The coupled will take about 20 minutes to get to the hospital but the Brigadier couldn't wait for that long.

"Gina, Philip and Sophie will be here after a while but I have an urgent matter to take care of. Will you be okay to be alone for just a few minutes?" He calmly said to the sick woman.

Gina quickly nodded her head and he ran a finger through her hair. "I'll be back very soon." He smiled and rushed out of the room and then the hospital, not knowing that a few minutes was enough for his love to face her worst nightmare.

Therefore, after a minute when the Brigadier left, one man showed up in the room where Gina was alone. His lips curved into a sinister smile when he saw the woman. He finally got to meet her after she made that silly decision to end her life in order to free herself from his reins.....