[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-2603221E34AF-93":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},93,7,"Chapter 7: The Jewelry Meant for Her","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">My response was cut short, drowned out by another voice on the other end of the line. Roman didn't hear me.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Major General Armstrong, Sabrina is awake. She’s asking to see you.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I'll be there immediately.\" Roman’s voice was sharp with urgency.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He pivoted, heading straight for Sabrina’s room. Mid-stride, he seemed to remember something, coming to a halt. He turned to his guard, Brady Mason, and issued a command.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Is the Eternal Heart necklace I designed ready?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Brady nodded.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Send it over to Genevieve.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Roman knew Genevieve. He knew that, at her core, she was proud. He assumed that if he forced her to swallow her pride and apologize to Sabrina, she would be nursing deep resentment. But resentment was manageable. If you screw up, you pay the price. And Genevieve was always easy to placate; whenever she threw a tantrum, a small trinket was enough to make her smile again.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Oh, and the matching earrings? Give those to Sabrina.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">***\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">By the time Roman’s messenger arrived with the necklace, Joseph, my editor, was already playing a video of Sabrina’s interview on his screen.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">In the footage, Sabrina lay in her VIP suite while Roman leaned over, tenderly tucking her into bed. A reporter thrust a microphone toward her. \"Ms. Cole, are the rumors true? That Genevieve Hunter tried to intercept you and pushed you down the stairs after a failed attempt to wedge herself between you and the Major General?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Sabrina managed a pained, fragile smile. \"I don’t blame Genevieve. After all, Roman is such an exceptional man. Many people have feelings for him...\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The reporter’s expression turned indignant. \"So it’s true? How is this any different from breaking military protocol? It’s disgusting! How is a woman like that even fit to be a military correspondent?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Sabrina said nothing, merely smiling as she gracefully tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The reporter’s eyes lit up. \"Those earrings are stunning! Did Major General Armstrong give them to you?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Sabrina looked at Roman, feigning bashfulness. \"He designed them himself.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The reporter gushed toward the camera, \"The Major General is so devoted to Ms. Cole! This is the definition of a fairytale romance. There’s simply no room for anyone else!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Joseph couldn't take it anymore. He lashed out at the phone screen, hurling a string of curses that would make a sailor blush. He immediately kicked the guard Roman had sent to deliver the necklace out of the office.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The bureau wasn't going to take this lying down. They dug up the security logs of my building, proving I had entered and exited the premises on multiple occasions, and used our official channels to post a rebuttal.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">[The apartment wasn't applied for by the reporter, Genevieve? We see her coming and going constantly, unlike the 'Major General,' who rarely appears.]\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">[You have two photos of three people entering the same building at different times and that’s supposed to prove Genevieve pushed Sabrina down the stairs? Maybe there’s more to the story than what's being fed to us. Stop spreading baseless rumors!]\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The tide of public opinion had barely begun to turn when Roman’s personal account suddenly updated.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">[It seems Genevieve Hunter has been sneaking into my home whenever I’m away.]\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Attached was a photo of the original housing application.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">In that heartbeat, I felt the blood drain from my face. My head spun, a roar filling my ears.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The year he joined the service, he hadn't yet reached the rank required to apply for housing. I had been assigned that apartment as a commendation for my three years of service as a war correspondent. Fearing he might feel inferior, I had included his name on the application.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Back then, he had held me, smiling. \"Genevieve, don't overthink it. I trust what we have.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Now, that trust had been forged into a blade aimed straight at my throat.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Joseph was livid. He hadn't expected Roman to be this cruel. \"The marriage license! Post the marriage license! Genevieve, where is it?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Roman took it,\" I said, my voice hoarse.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">On the day we registered, he had been as giddy as a child, spinning around the room while clutching the certificate, promising to buy a custom crystal frame to display it.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Where was that frame now? The license wasn't on display. It had become the darkest secret he kept locked away.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Joseph fell silent, eventually letting out a heavy sigh. \"Genevieve, did you two really spend seven years together...?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I tried to force a smile, but my lips wouldn't cooperate.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">My phone chimed. A message.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">[Do you need help?]\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">It was William Graham.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">[Thank you, but no.]\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I shut the phone off and handed Joseph a thick manila envelope. \"Joseph, post this.\"\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272924013]