Chapter 10
The Hart estate was a grand three–story villa, elegant and ostentatious. Richard had made his fortune early, and despite neglecting his daughter for years, he’d never once withheld money from her.
Jack stepped out of the jeep, lips pressed into a firm line as he stared at the lavish mansion. He walked in without knocking. Emily followed close behind.
Inside, the dining table was stacked with lavish food. Richard was raising his glass to toast his younger wife.
sweetheart?”
“Now that Olivia’s gone, off to Lakewood to marry some country brute, she’s finally out of your hair. Happy now,
The woman, still striking in her forties, gave a smug smile. “She should’ve left ages ago. I’ve been more than generous putting up with your ex–wife’s daughter all these years.”
Richard chuckled and clinked glasses with her–but before they could take a sip, the front door burst open with a deafening crash.
Jack strode in, drenched in fury, his commanding presence silencing the room. His voice was low, but lethal. “What did you just say? Where did Olivia go?”
Richard paled. Jack stood tall, and even without his uniform cap, his authority was bone–deep. “C–Captain Rivers… she didn’t tell you? She left for Lakewood. Got married. Said she wanted a fresh start. We even gave her ten grand to take with her.”
Jack’s jaw clenched. Olivia. Married? To a man in the countryside?
That delicate, temperamental girl who used to flinch at field drills and demand oat milk lattes during storm duty?
His stomach twisted.
Just then, Emily stepped closer, voice carefully laced with concern. “Jack, why do you want to know? Olivia’s gone now. Her reformation’s complete. You don’t need to worry about her anymore.”
Richard caught on quickly and plastered a fake smile on his face. “Yes, yes, she’s been such a handful. Thank you for taking care of her, Captain. But she’s someone else’s responsibility now. Come, sit down. Have dinner with us. Emily just got back, too.”
Emily shot Jack a hopeful glance, but he didn’t even blink. His eyes remained sharp, cold.
“Mr. Hart,” he said quietly, “you once asked me to make sure Olivia completed her reformation. I did. That makes her no longer my responsibility.” His jaw tightened. “But if you’ve sent her off to marry some stranger in the middle of nowhere–then I’m going to get her back. She won’t last a week out
there.”
The protective edge in his tone made Emily’s stomach knot with jealousy.
Even Richard looked uneasy. “Captain Rivers, I appreciate your concern, but this wasn’t just my idea. It’s part of a new government policy–encouraging more cross–placement between urban and rural communities. We had to send someone from the family. If you pull Olivia out now, it’ll have to be Emily who goes in her place.”
“Exactly,” Emily said, blinking away tears. “She did it for me, Captain. If you bring her back, I’ll be the one forced to go.”
Her voice trembled, her doe–eyed expression picture–perfect.
Jack hadn’t known this.
Now they were forcing him to choose.
He clenched his fists, eyes clouded with conflict. Then, wordlessly, he turned on his heel and strode out of the house.
“I’ll figure something out. I’m bringing her back.”
Emily froze. “Wait–Jack!”
He didn’t stop. Didn’t even look back.
Emily’s fists balled at her sides, bitter that Olivia was gone yet still lingered in their lives.
Chapter 10
