?Chapter 960:


    Hand’s expression tightened. He barked at Elena, “No fighting on base! Is that clear enough for you?”


    Elena didn’t flinch. She stood steady,posed, her presence making Hand’s authority feel less certain.


    Her silence only irritated Hand more. He raised his voice like a drill sergeant scolding a recruit. “I’m speaking to you. Didn’t you hear? What, cat got your tongue?”


    Her eyes turned icy. A slight smirk touched her lips. “Is this what they taught you during training? use first, ask questionster?” Hand’s face reddened. If she weren’t a woman, he might’ve thrown a punch on instinct.


    N stepped in quickly, her voice calm and perfectly calcted. “Drop it, Sergeant Larson. Lucinda’s rattled, but a bit of rest will sort her out. It’s not worth getting yourself in trouble over.”


    But Hand was a soldier to the core, and right now, his temper was ring. “Don’t worry, Dr. Vance. I don’t care what her status is. She’s apologizing today.”


    He moved to block Elena’s path. “Apologize, or you’re not taking another step.”


    Elena gave him a slow once-over and replied coolly, “You think you can stop me?”


    Something about her tone sparked heat in Hand’s chest. A woman, thin as a reed, daring to challenge him? His hands curled into fists, forearms tightening. “If you weren’t a woman, I’d have put you on the ground already.”


    A quietugh escaped Elena. “Is that so?”


    Hand’s jaw tightened. Hell yeah, he’d have her on the ground in seconds. He could tten her without breaking a sweat.


    Elena’s eyes lit with amusement. “Then let’s settle it with a match. Or are you too afraid to take me on?”


    As soon as Elena spoke, the men around her broke intoughter. “This woman is either bold or just clueless. Who in their right mind challenges Sergeant Larson?”


    “Thest poor guy who tried ended up in traction. She’s practically asking for it.”


    “Sergeant Larson, you’re not going to go easy on her just because she’s a curvy beauty with that nice ass, right?”


    The group exchanged sly looks, their voices dripping with ridicule.


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    Wesley had kept quiet all along, but abruptly, a chill swept through the air around him. His expression turned razor-sharp, and his eyes cut through the crowd, pausing just a beat too long on the soldier who’d let that crudement slip.


    Though the soldier didn’t recognize Wesley, the tension in the atmosphere shifted, heavy and suffocating. A cold shiver crept down his spine, and theughter died on his lips. He dared not lock eyes with Wesley and looked away, throat tightening as unease gripped him. Just who was this man? The weight of his presence alone was more stifling than Kason’s ever was.


    For a fleeting second, the soldier felt like an animal caught in the crosshairs, frozen under the stare of something far more dangerous.


    Meanwhile, Hand, still riding the high of his so-called heroics, remainedpletely unaware of Wesley’s presence. His expression carried a hint of disdain, making it clear he didn’t take Elena seriously. In his eyes, she was just another spoiled, wealthy girl, someone used to getting her way in the outside world and now foolishly bringing that same arrogance into military territory. He’d already made up his mind to put her in her ce.


    With a smug curl of his lip, Hand said to Elena, “Let’s get one thing straight: I won’t be cutting you any ck. This is the Azure Dragon Base. No one’s here to pamper you. If you’re looking for pity, you’re in the wrong ce. Tears won’t help you here.”


    His voice hit like a p—blunt, dripping with scorn. The match hadn’t even started, yet he was already looking down on her.


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