Chapter 22
“You think you can just walk away from me?” Leonard completely lost control, veins bulging across his forearm. “Evelyn, you’re coming home with me! Whatever it is-we’ll deal with it at home!”
He lunged forward, reaching for Evelyn again-this time faster, with brute force behind it.
But Daniel stepped in with swift precision, placing himself squarely between them. He raised his arm just in time to block
Leonard’s grasp, locking his wrist firmly in place.
This time, Daniel didn’t hold back. His fingers pressed directly against the sensitive bone of Leonard’s wrist joint.
“Ahh-
Leonard grunted through clenched teeth, pain shooting up his arm like a live wire. His forehead broke out in cold sweat as
he stared at the man before him, stunned.
The warmth in Daniel’s eyes was gone-replaced with sharp alertness. “I see you don’t respond well to polite
conversation.”
Daniel released his grip and raised a hand toward the plant’s security office.
Two uniformed security officers in navy jackets came jogging over from the dormitory gate.
“Mr. Whitaker-what’s going on?” the head of security asked, winded.
“This man was harassing a female employee at the entrance,” Daniel replied coolly. “Refused to cooperate. Per protocol, take him to the security office and contact his employer to pick him up.”
“You wouldn’t dare!”
Leonard’s face flushed with rage and disbelief. He was a battalion commander-for a plant security team to detain him
like a common thug? If word got out, it would be humiliating.
“I’m Captain Leonard from the Central Military District. Do you realize what you’re doing here?”
The security officer hesitated, glancing between Leonard and Daniel.
Daniel answered with a calm edge, “Military regulations are stricter than ours, aren’t they? Assaulting civilians, especially
women-that won’t look too good once it reaches your chain of command.”
That struck a nerve. Leonard’s face went pale, then red. He knew Daniel was right.
The military’s code of conduct was unforgiving when it came to behavior-especially personal conduct. If this got
reported to the Political Division, his newly-earned rank could be stripped overnight.
“Take him.”
Daniel nodded at the security captain without sparing Leonard another glance.
The officers exchanged a look, then stepped forward hesitantly. “Captain Grant, we’re going to have to ask you to come with us. Please cooperate.”
Leonard locked eyes with Evelyn, fury and humiliation swirling in his gaze. “Evelyn,” he growled, jaw clenched tight, “you’ll regret this.”
Chapter 22
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Evelyn didn’t even look at him.
The security guards half-led, half-escorted Leonard away toward the administrative building.
As he stumbled and tried to glance back, he saw Daniel bend down, picking up the grocery bag of tomatoes that had
fallen during the commotion.
He handed it to Evelyn and said something too quiet for Leonard to hear.
She took it, nodded slightly, and the two walked side by side toward the dormitory.
A wave of bitter regret washed over Leonard’s chest, twisting deep.
