Chapter 13 - The Woman Who Stopped Hiding
The commander returned to the podium.
The ceremony resumed.
But something had changed.
Everyone who watched now knew.
The woman in the simple black dress wasn’t an outsider.
She was someone they never understood.
My father remained silent.
My mother avoided my eyes.
Jason stood in formation.
No longer smiling.
No longer certain.
After the ceremony ended, he approached.
“I’m sorry.”
I studied him.
Those words would have meant everything years ago.
Now they meant something different.
“I believe you mean it.”
He looked relieved.
“But that doesn’t erase what happened.”
He nodded.
Because finally…
He understood consequences.
Then the commander approached.
“The next decision is yours.”
I looked at the folder.
And knew.
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The hardest part was still ahead.
📖 Chapter 14 reveals the final choice Olivia must make and why the commander waited for her decision. 👇
