Chapter 2
All she wanted now was for him to stand beside her-so she could give her parents the dignity they deserved.
Clayton paused, slightly taken aback. He vaguely recalled her mentioning that her parents had died in an accident
overseas.
Joyce’s eyes flickered, but Jimmy immediately sneered, “Aline, seriously? You’ll use any excuse just to get Clayton to go with you.”
Aline ignored him and kept het gaze fixed on Clayton.
A flicker of hesitation passed over his face. But in the end, he said, “Alright. I’ll go with you.”
She didn’t say another word. She turned and walked out of the executive suite.
As the door closed behind her, she could still hear Jimmy’s mocking voice. “You’re really going with her tomorrow?”
“No matter what, Aline is my wife,” Clayton replied coldly. “It’s my responsibility to go with her and bring back her parents’ ashes.”
“That woman’s just making things up. Who would go through all that trouble to bring back some orphans’ ashes from overseas?” Jimmy scoffed.
The word orphan cut through Aline like a knife.
She looked down at the ring in her palm. “Dad, Mom… I’m coming to bring you home.”
*****
The next day, when the agreed time arrived, Clayton was still nowhere to be seen.
A quiet dread began to creep in.
She called his phone, and was met with a curt, impatient voice. “Joyce’s mom twisted her ankle. I’m taking her to the hospital.”
In the background, she heard Joyce say sweetly, “Clayton, hurry-help my mom up.”
“I’m coming,” he replied, his voice gentle and warm.
Before Aline could say a word, the line went dead.
Her heart turned to ice.
Her throat tightened-she wanted to shout, to cry, to ask why-but in the end, nothing came out.
How laughable. Clayton had no problem rushing to the hospital with his first love’s mother over a twisted ankle, yet
0.0%
11:27
Chapter 2
couldn’t be bothered to help his own wife receive her parents’ ashes.
She drew in a long breath, then stood up and walked out of the house, driving straight to the military base.
The entrance was solemn and imposing. Armed guards stood tall in uniform, rifles in hand.
Aline got out of the car. Her back was straight, her steps firm.
Though she’d been discharged from service three years ago, she still carried herself like a soldier.
Step by step, she walked up to the base gates, came to a stop, and raised her right hand in a crisp, precise salute.
Even if she had to do this alone, she would bring her parents home-with dignity.
Her voice rang out, loud and clear.
288 Vouchers
“Former Falcon Special Forces soldier Aline, here to receive the remains of former peacekeeping officer Arturo and military doctor Nita!”
The sound of her voice echoed through the air, resolute and unwavering.
Slowly, the heavy gates of the military base began to open….
Whoosh-
Two rows of soldiers marched out in perfect sync, stopping at the gates of the military base. They raised their right hands in a crisp salute to Aline.
Then she saw the old commander step forward. Dressed in full military uniform, he walked solemnly toward her, holding a black sandalwood urn in both hands.
A national flag was draped over the urn.
The vivid color stung Aline’s eyes.
It was more than just a flag. It was the symbol of everything her parents had believed in.
When they accepted the mission to join the peacekeeping force overseas, they had already made peace with the possi- bility of never coming back.
“The remains of your parents… when we found them, they had already been fused together,” the old commander said gently, with a trace of regret in his voice. “So they were cremated together and placed in the same urn.”
Aline looked at the urn beneath the flag and nodded. “That’s okay. They loved each other so much. I think they’d be happy staying together, even in death.”
