Chapter 1 The Broken Promise
Chapter 1 The Broken Promise
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When Quinn Bridger delivered the project proposal to Trent Grafton’s office, she happened to see Trent fastening a ruby ne around Sidonie Stonehurst’s neck.
She stared at the ruby ne, entranced. It was the same ne she had begged Trent to bid for after seeing it in the auction catalogue.
In their three years of marriage, she had never once asked him for anything.
The first thing she asked him to do was to purchase the ne, simply because it was a cherished heirloom from her mother.
“A mere ne has you so captivated. I always said you were a vain one,” Trent’s friend, Yorick Lamont, said with a look of disdain.
Ignoring Yorick’s mockery, Quinn swiftly stepped forward, reaching out toward Sidonie’s neck.
In the next moment, her wrist was seized by Trent. “I’ve already given the ne to Sidonie.”
you promised to give me that ne!” Quinn said, her usually beautiful face marred by a rare disy of anger.
Trent frowned, a clear displeasure in his eyes. “Stop messing around. This is my gift to celebrate Sidonie’s promotion to co–pilot.”
<i>Messing </i><i>around</i><i>? </i>A chill ran through Quinn’s heart. “What if I insist on having that ne?”
From the side, Yorick mocked, “Trent, I’ve always said that Quinn is not worthy of you. She’s vain and ipetent. You should divorce a woman like her sooner rather thanter. Only a woman like Sidonie truly matches you.”
The marriage between Trent and Quinn was a secret known only to a select few. However, it wasmon knowledge that Sidonie was Trent’s first crush.
“Don’t be ridiculous. I have no interest in being a homewrecker,” Sidonie dered disdainfully, then promptly removed her ne and nonchntly tossed it at Quinn’s feet.
A ne worth millions was casually discarded on the ground as if it were mere trash.
Quinn’s eyes welled up with tears as it was the ne her mother treasured immensely.
Slowly, she crouched down<b>, </b>gradually drawing the ne into the palm of her hand.
The cold edges of the ne bit into the palm of her hand.
Condescendingly, Sidonie spat, “What a woman should truly care about is knowledge and perspective. Instead of squabbling with me over a ne, you’d be better off enriching yourself!”
What kind of knowledge or perspective does she have? She went to some trash university, and if it weren’t for Trent’s kindness, letting her hang around in thepany, she’d probably be sweeping the streets!” Yorick
scoffed.
All those insults<b>, </b>and Trent hadn’t spoken <b>a </b>single word in Quinn’s defense.
As such, Quinn rose to her feet, ignoring Yorickpletely. She fixed her <b>gaze </b>on Sidonie. “You keep saying
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Chapter 1 The Broken Promise
you don’t want to be the homewrecker, yet why did you readily ept a ne worth millions from someone else’s husband?”
Sidonie scoffed, “I merely regarded it as a casual gift from a friend. I didn’t pay any attention to its value!”
“Really? So friends casually gift million–dor nes now, do they? I assume Yorick is also your friend. Has he ever gifted you anything worth millions?” Quinn mocked.
Sidonie was left speechless. Even Yorick, who was standing next to her, wore a somewhat stiff expression.
“Enough,” Trent said irritably. “It’s just a ne. Don’t blow it out of proportion!”
Quinn tightly clutched the ne in her hand. To Trent, it was just a ne, but her mother once used it in a war–torn foreignnd in exchange for medicine and food, thereby saving fifty orphans.
For her, the ne was not just a mere piece of jewelry, but also a symbol of her mother’s steadfast conviction!
Taking a deep breath, Quinn recalled the phone call she had received before entering the office. It informed her that her parents‘ ashes were already on the ne, set to arrive in Jexburgh tomorrow.
She lifted her gaze toward Trent, saying, “All right, let’s not discuss the ne anymore. Tomorrow, my parents‘ ashes are being transported back from abroad. I would like you to apany me to collect them.”
What worried her parents the most, when they were still alive, was her marital affairs. They always hoped she would settle down and start a family.
She wished for him to apany her to retrieve her parents‘ ashes, granting her and her parents a measure of dignity.
Trent was momentarily taken aback. He remembered that during their wedding, Quinn had once mentioned that her parents had tragically died overseas due to an unforeseen ident.
A glint flickered in Sidonie’s eyes, while Yorick scornfully retorted, “Quinn, you really have no shame, don’t you? To think you’d even resort to such an excuse to get Trent to apany you!”
Quinn ignored Yorick and only focused on Trent.
A flicker of hesitation shed across his handsome face. However, he still said, “All right, I’ll apany you
tomorrow.”
Without uttering another word, Quinn turned around and left the CEO’s office.
As she stepped out of the room, she heard Yorick questioning, “Are you really going to apany this woman tomorrow?<b>” </b>
“No matter what, Quinn is my wife,” Trent said in a serious tone. “It’s my duty to apany her to retrieve her parents‘ ashes.”
That woman was absolutely spouting nonsense. Who in their right mind would travel so far from abroad just to bring back the ashes of an orphan’s parents<b>?</b><b>” </b>
Each mention of the word “orphan” pierced Quinn’s heart.
She lowered her gaze, studying the ne in her hands. “Mom, Dad,” she murmured, “<b>I’ll </be for you
tomorrow<b>!</b><b>” </b>
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Chapter 1 The Broken Promise
The following day, when the agreed–upon time came, Trent was nowhere to be found.
A flicker of unease subtly crossed Quinn’s heart.
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She dialed Trent’s number, only to be met with his impatient voice on the other end. “Sidonie’s mother twisted her ankle. I’m apanying her to the hospital.”
“Trent, hurry over here and help my mom,” Sidonie’s voice echoed from the phone.
“All right,” Trent responded, his voice ever so gentle.
Before Quinn could say anything else, Trent had already hung up the phone.
Quinn felt a chilling sensation enveloping her heart, as if her throat was being strangled. She wanted to cry out, to express her grievances, but in the end, she found herself unable to utter a single word.
How ludicrous<i>. </i><i>My </i><i>husband </i><i>could </i><i>apany </i><i>his </i><i>first </i><i>crush’s </i><i>mother </i><i>to </i><i>the </i><i>hospital </i><i>for </i><i>a </i><i>sprained </i><i>ankle</i><i>, </i><i>yet </i><i>is </i><i>unwilling </i>to <i>apany </i><i>me</i>, <i>his </i>wife<i>, </i>to <i>collect </i><i>my </i><i>parents</i>‘ <i>ashes</i><i>! </i>Taking a deep breath, she firmly stood up, left the mansion, and drove to the entrance of the military camp.
??? ?
The military camp was solemn and dignified. At the entrance, guards dressed in military uniforms stood, rifles in their hands.
Quinn stepped out of the car, her back straight and her steps firm.
Even though she had been discharged from the military three years ago, her stance still resembled that of a soldier.
She made her way to the military camp step by step. Once she reached the front, she stood firm, raised her right hand, and executed <i>a </i>wless military salute.
Even if she had to do it alone, she was determined to bring her parents‘ ashes back home!
Then, Quinn shouted, “Retired soldier Quinn Bridger from the original Falcon Special Forces, here to retrieve the ashes of former Peacekeeping Force members Montague Bridger and military doctor Arlene Gurney!”
Her voice pierced through the military camp’s skies as the gates slowly swung open.
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Chapter 2 Bringing The Ashes Home