"Dad." Kevin hesitated before he spoke. He gave his father a questioning look as he wasn''t sure if his father would insist on punishing him.


    "I can see that you have found her. How about the words you gave me yesterday? You made a promise and you have to keep it." Nathan stared back to his son with a stern look. He believed that soldiers should always keep their words.


    "Yes, I know," answered Kevin. He didn''t even try to avoid what was before him. He was a man, not to mention, a man who had handled tremendous duties and responsibilities. He wouldn''t allow himself to cave in like a coward, even though the heavy rain would make the punishment even crueler.


    Leena baffled as she watched them. She could sense that topic had something to do with her even if she couldn''t understand what they were talking about. Slowly she began to feel uneasy.


    "What? Have youpletely lost your mind? It''s pouring outside! Don''t you know how cold it is out there? Are you sure you want our son to run outside under that rain?" Shannon was the first to protest. Over the years she got used to watching her son take running as a punishment. Nheless, they were never under heavy rains like this.


    "What kind of Major General is he if he just quits whenever the going gets tough? Soldiers don''t back down even in the hail of gunfire. I see no reason this light drizzle should be an excuse for him not to obey orders!" Nathan snapped. He didn''t ask for too much. He didn''t even order Kevin to climb a mountain. á soldier could be sent into action anytime no matter how the weather was, rain or no rain.


    "This is our home! This is not the army! If you want someone to take orders from you, please go back to the army base." Shannon also raised her voice. She was determined to defend Kevin. His father might not care much about him but she was still his mother.


    "Mom, it is fine. I would do it even if father didn''t mention it. A soldier should always mean what he says." Kevin gave her mother a reassuring smile. Like what his father had said, the weather was no excuse. He and the other soldiers had gone through even harsher training in worse weathers. A soldier was still a soldier even when he was home.


    "But the rain is so heavy and it is really cold outside. What if you catch a cold?" Shannon hesitated. Being a soldier''s wife made her fully aware of how hard their training could be. She was sure that his son had been through something much tougher. It was just that it never happened in front of her. She could try not to think about it as long as she hadn''t seen it. Today was different, she couldn''t just stand by and watch her son do it in the rain. It was a real wrench and she didn''t think she could bear it.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "Right. Dad, why not put it off until the rain stops?" Leena asked, in a trembling voice. It was very likely that her words would not be taken seriously yet she couldn''t seem to keep silent. How could she? It was the man she loved who was being punished. Moreover, she was probably the reason why he was punished by his father. She just had to say something.


    "What? Are you questioning my decision?" Nathan didn''t want to fight with his wife although her protest offended him. Now that Leena chipped in and her words lit the fuse, it was just natural for the old man to took it out on Leena. A dutiful daughter-inw should bring happiness and peace to the family. However, this one who just suddenly showed up dragged them into this mess and ruined everyone''s mood.


    "I..." Leena wasn''t able to finish her words as the old man''s stern look silenced her. She ended up biting her lower lip to swallow the painful lump in her throat and never dared to speak another word.


    "Dad, seriously, can''t you just dy the punishment? Kevin could get sick! He did nothing wrong. Why should he take the fall for someone else?" ire spoke up for her brother. She knew that standing against their father wouldn''t be easy. She would have celebrated grandly with a ss of champagne in her hand if it was Leena who would be punished.


    "One more word from you and you will run with your brother." Nathan nced around the room. It was just a minor punishment and everyone acted like he had done something unforgivable. He also cared about his son, alright? He also loved Kevin but what was done was done. He could never take his words back.


    "Dad, I hate you!" ire stamped her foot. Then without any more word, she turned on her heel and rushed upstairs. She didn''t dare say more for her brother in fear that her father might do as he said. She had no interest in getting soaked in the rain.


    "Fine. I will say no more. Remember this though, I''m not going to let you get away with this if my son gets sick." Shannon knew it was impossible to change her husband''s mind. To argue with him would just be a waste of time. All she could do now was to pray that Kevin''s years of training improved his health as to withstand how freezing the rain was.


    "Hem! You worry too much. He is a grown man. He is not so weak." Nathan grunted as he remembered how he was trained under harsher weather back when he was younger.


    "Leena, I will be back soon. You go upstairs first." Kevin smiled reassuringly as he tried to ease her mind.


    "But what about you?" Nheless, Leena couldn''t help worrying about Kevin. It was cold enough without the rain, what more was now.


    "Don''t worry. It is nothing to me." Kevin took onest look at her and then ran out of the door. The white shirt he was wearing soon vanished into the rain.


    Leena''s lips trembled as she watched the rain. Kevin was an adult. How could his dad have no second thoughts of punishing him like this? There was no doubt that Nathan was a very strict man. The thought of it made her even more scared of him.


    The sky was like a badly treated child who would never stop crying. Kevin was drenched as soon as he stepped into the rain. The cold was seeping through his clothes and went straight to his bones. He shivered yet continued to run to the yground without any hesitation. He had encountered a lot worse and he knew that he would not feel the coldter on.


    "Uncle, the rain is a little heavy. Will Kevin be alright?" Louisa never knew that Nathan could be so intimidating. He was always friendly and smiling at her. Therefore, this side of Nathan frightened her a little.


    "He is as tough as nails! The rain is hardly a hup to him. Let''s go. Tell me about your father. I have not met him for so many years." Nathan sighed when he thought of Commander Ye, hisrade from his days in the army. The years had passed by too quickly and he missed his old friends more than ever.


    "Okay. Uncle, I never knew that you and my father are brothers-in-arms." Louisa followed Nathan to the study. As she passed by Leena, Louisa raised her chin and intentionally bumped her with her shoulder aside. She looked triumphant when Leena lost her bnce and stumbled back two steps to steady herself.


    Leena thought that Nathan did have a warm side, it was just unfortunate though that the warmth was not for her. She gave herself a wry smile and then looked around the room. Her eyes fell on an umbre. The heavy rain made her uneasy as she was worried about Kevin. Thus, she decided to check him out.


    The wind was still strong but the rain seemed to ease up a little. The cold wind swirled around her, carrying the rain with it. Her clothes were getting damp and she shivered when the rain touched her tender cheeks.


    It wasn''t that long when a running figure came into her view. She unconsciously flinched. She never knew how bad it was until she saw him. The image was heartbreaking and automatically made her eyes red. It was as though she could feel him and was experiencing the same pain from how the wind and rain kept beating him down.00000