That incident thrust me into the eye of a storm.

In the hospital room, Renee was on her tenth call with a reporter, her voice alternating between furious roars and sycophantic pleading.

I flipped through the newspapers on the bedside table.

*<Decade's Pop Queen Tumbles from Stage, A Love Affair Gone Wrong?>*

*<Elara Vance's 10th Anniversary Concert Accident: A Hidden Story? An Audience Member Reveals All!>*

Thankfully, the stage wasn't too high. My fall only resulted in minor injuries.

Looking at Renee's grim face, I felt a pang of guilt.

"I'm sorry, Renee. This is all my fault... Just deduct all the financial losses from my account."

Renee sighed and waved her hand. "That's not what's important."

"What's important is that you can't stop taking your medicine again."

She didn't mention the phone call I made during the concert.

I knew she had contacted Landon after I was admitted to the hospital.

But one of his soldiers answered, saying he was too busy to take the call.

Something this big had happened, and Landon didn't even offer a single word of concern.

I stared at my phone, at the empty call log and inbox, my heart filled with disappointment.

Renee looked at me and seemed to sigh again.

...

The scandal only began to fade after two months.

I spent those two months in the hospital, my injuries not fully healed.

But the charity concert I had promised could not be delayed any longer, so I forced myself to check out.

There was another reason, too... I wanted to see Landon.

As for why he never called to check on me when I was hurt, why he didn't trust me before—all those questions...

I didn't want to dwell on them anymore.

I just wanted to see Landon. To see his face, to hear his voice.

That's all.

The next day, I arrived at Fort Irwin.

The ones assigned to receive me were Landon and another captain.

I looked at Landon and softly called his name, "Landon."

Landon's eyes darkened, his tone distant. "Ms. Vance."

I froze, a bitter taste spreading from my heart to the tip of my tongue.

Before I could speak again, the man beside Landon spoke up. "Ms. Vance, Captain Rexford isn't much of a talker. If you need anything, just find me."

"My name is Caden Shaw."

I snapped back to reality and politely extended my hand. "Hello, Captain Shaw."

Just then, Lila Monroe came skipping over. "Captain Rexford, there you are! I've been looking all over for you!"

My heart trembled at the sight of her.

Landon seemed completely used to it.

Lila then turned to me, her smile as bright as the sun. "Hello, Ms. Vance! I absolutely love your songs. It's so amazing to finally meet you in person!"

Her cheerful demeanor reminded me of my younger self.

Just then, Landon gently tapped Lila's forehead. "Don't cause trouble."

This gesture made me freeze again.

Such an intimate action... were they that close?

Lila dragged him away on the pretext of needing help moving equipment.

They walked away, side by side.

I watched their retreating backs, a bitter taste filling my mouth.

Beside me, Caden Shaw suddenly snapped his fingers in front of my face. "Hey, stop staring. No one can get between those two."

I hastily pulled my gaze back. "What do you mean?"

Caden smiled. "Just a friendly reminder, Ms. Vance. Don't waste your time on a lost cause."

"There are plenty of good men out there. Don't set your heart on a married man."

A married man?

I felt as if I'd been plunged into an ice bath, my throat constricting, unable to speak.

I clenched my fists. "I don't understand what you're trying to say..."

Caden pointed at Lila. "Look at her right hand."

I followed his finger and saw, on the ring finger of Lila Monroe's right hand—

A simple silver ring, glinting in the sunlight.