CHAPTER 120

Not far from here was the Rose Room.

“Head on over first,” Brian whispered to his companions.

“How are you going?” Drifting his gaze past Remington’s shoulder, Brian caught Dave at the end of the

hallway.

Dave nodded slightly in greeting, a silent acknowledgment of Brian’s presence.

“I was just about to tell you,” Remington murmured in response to the unspoken question in Brian’s

eyes.

As Brian watched Dave exit into the courtyard, he noticed a familiar figure busily packing up some

equipment.

He frowned, trying to place the person, but before he could get a clearer view, Dave had already closed

the door behind him.

“What are you looking at?” Remington followed his gaze with a puzzled look.

“Nothing.” Brian replied after a brief pause, shaking off the feeling. “I must’ve been mistaken.” This is property © .

“Good timing with you coming back today. Join me later when I head back to the base,” Brian

continued, his voice low. “Grandpa’s been worried sick about you ever since you got injured. He wants

to see you.”

Brian and Remington were relatives, albeit distantly related through three generations. Brian’s

grandfather, who was also Remington’s great–uncle, had practically raised Brian in the family

compound, which was separated from Remington’s house by a mere wall.

“How’s Davis doing?” Remington asked, pausing mid–thought.

“Stubborn as ever. He can’t sit still without making a trip to the base. He’s been ranting every other day,

saying you should never have gone overseas but stay right here with the troops.” Brian twisted his lips

into a wry smile.

Remington looked away, his response caught somewhere in his throat.

The Morales family, a sprawling family with a storied military history, had only Remington serving

abroad in a peacekeeping force, upholding the family’s legacy. With the Morales name on his

shoulders, there was no room for regret, not even if they had second thoughts.

“Speaking of family, you should visit your flancée while you’re back. It’s been nearly two years,” Brian

nudged.

Remington had only met his fiancée a handful of times. The last encounter was brief, during a seven–

day leave when the Morales family hastily arranged their engagement party. He barely remembered

what she looked like, only that she was the quiet type. Just like that, they were set for life.

12:01

Remington didn’t want to dwell on it. Inside the Rose Room, he quickly steered the conversation back

to the matter of mercenaries.

“It’s no surprise. A mercenary group won’t last without some serious tech skills like hacking these

days,” Brian commented after hearing Remington out.

Leaning back against the couch, Remington peered through the window at the dance floor and mused.

“That’s not the point. The point is that hacker, Azure, is just a kid. Early twenties, I’d say.”

The early twenties? Brian’s thoughts flickered to Natalie and then to the fleeting glimpse of Azure in the

courtyard.

Just then, Remington stood up abruptly and walked to the window, locking his gaze onto two figures on

the dance floor.

“Patricia Morales?”

At the mention of this name, Brian followed Remington’s line of sight. Sure, there was Remington’s

sister, Patricia, twisting and twirling in an outfit that left little to the imagination.

Brian was embarrassed to look at Patricia like that. Meanwhile, there was another woman next to her,

holding a drink, scantily clad as well.

Brian winced at the sight of Remington. Remington must have recognized his fiancée beside Patricia,

his face turning a shade of stormy blue.

The rumors of Remington’s betrothed, a lady from a respected literary family, seemed to have crashed

and burned spectacularly.

Brian watched as Remington stormed out, slamming the door behind him. Only then did the others

dare to enter the room.