After giving it some thought, Wesley grabbed the bag in her arms and took out his phone.


    “How much was it? I’LL pay you back. WeChat Pay okay?”


    “No, you don’t have to. I-” She wanted to tell him that she had money now; her aunt had floated her


    some funds.


    But Wesley interrupted her.


    “It’s not easy to win a schrship. You’re taking the GRE test, right? Studying abroad is expensive. You


    shouldn’t be spending money on stupid things.”


    ir said dully, “My uncle will help me out.”


    Since she would have to ask her uncle to help her with Living expenses and schooling once she was


    overseas, she didn’t think the meager thousands of bucks she had spent on the lighter would make


    much difference.


    “In that case, let me buy your ticket. It’s the least I can do.”


    ir was disappointed seeing how persistent he was to pay her back.


    “Seriously, guy? Why can’t it just be a gift? No strings.”


    ninjanovel


    Wesley had never gotten a present from a girl before, so he had no idea how to handle this. He gave


    her an infuriating answer, in his single-word style: “Because,” he said eventually.


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    For a moment, ir didn’t know what to say, nor did he; the apartment fell quiet. After a while, she


    smiled, “Okay. I’ll remind you to book a flight for me before I leave.”


    Her smile was so sweet, but Wesley wasn’t fooled. The sadness behind her expression was obvious.


    “No problem,” he said.


    ir decided she needed to get out of there, but needed a way to make a graceful exit. She didn’t run


    away.


    She walked straight to the door and then stopped. Without turning back, she asked, “Wesley, the kisses


    we shared…were those…just punishments?”


    That question caused him to think of so many things-his future, her future, their future…


    ir left his ce without waiting for an answer. If that were true, she didn’t want to hear it. Being


    rejected again and again would finally break her heart. She might be a confident, skilled woman, but


    underneath she was just a girl with a fragile heart, after all.


    Wesley eventually had to go back to work. Once he was back on base, the hellish days for his soldiers


    began. He was merciless-the slightest mistake meant a harsh punishment. Meanwhile, Wesley wasn’t


    easy on himself either. He put himself through strenuous training exercises: hiking up mountain trails


    with a loaded backpack, kicking a tree to toughen his feet until he could barely walk, thrusting his fists


    into ice-water, and lifting weights until he dropped from exhaustion, shuddering from muscr failure.


    Seeing him like this, the soldiers started wondering what was bothering him.


    One day, during a break, Talbot found Wesley, who was gulping down a bottle of water. He spotted one


    or two drops of water spilling from the corner of Wesley’s mouth and streaking down his neck. He


    looked extremely masculine at that point. Talbot couldn’t help but marvel at this man, who seemed like


    the iconic soldier—square-jawed, well-developed physique, rugged features. He looked for all the world


    like he had been made up for amercial.


    Talbot was in a daze for a while, lost in reverie. Wesley noticed it and red at him. Talbot came back


    to his senses and asked, “You okay,


    Chief? I know you’re a ruthless taskmaster, but you should treat yourself better. You’re pushing yourself


    harder than anyone. What’s wrong?” Wesley shot him a stern look.


    “Hey, hey, don’t take this wrong.


    The men are worried. These exercises are kicking our collective asses, and you end each day looking


    Like something the cat dragged in. Is there something going on?”


    Wesley threw the empty stic water bottle into the bin.