After Him Chapter 2

Riley walked in carrying a black and white funeral wreath, smiling sweetly.

My whole body started shaking, and I instinctively shrank back. "What... what are you doing here?"

She casually tossed the wreath on the floor, her smile both beautiful and venomous. "Came to see you off on your final journey. Since that severe allergic reaction didn't kill you, I figured I'd come finish the job myself."

Before I could react, she lunged at the bed and wrapped her hands around my throat!

I struggled desperately, but I was no match for Riley's years of combat training, not after the stomach pumping I'd just been through.

The air in my lungs depleted rapidly. My vision went dark.

Just as I was about to lose consciousness, a nurse burst in for rounds and screamed, "Colonel Hayes! What are you doing?! Someone help! Call security!"

In the chaos, I used my last bit of strength to grab the nurse's hand. "Call... the police..."

Then I blacked out completely.

When I came to, Jameson's cold face filled my vision.

His first words held no concern—only suppressed anger and reproach. "Emma, why did you call the cops? Riley's been taken into custody by base security!"

My heart felt like it had been stabbed. I couldn't breathe through the pain. "She just tried to strangle me to death! You're saying I shouldn't have called the police?"

Jameson's jaw tightened, as if I were the one being unreasonable. "I've told you before—Riley lost her father in combat. She acts out sometimes, but deep down she's not bad. She would never actually want you dead..."

"Not actually want me dead?!"

I cut him off, three years of fear, hurt, and rage finally exploding.

"She lured me into a minefield and I stepped on an active explosive! She left me in the desert for three days! She force-fed me hazelnut powder knowing I'm allergic, and just now she tried to strangle me! Which one of those wasn't attempted murder? If that nurse hadn't walked in, I'd be dead! Do you understand?!"

He seemed moved by my breakdown and reached out to comfort me, but I shoved him away.

"Don't touch me! This time I won't back down. I'm taking her to a military tribunal!"

Jameson was silent for a moment, his eyes gradually hardening. "Riley and I grew up together on this base. She's been spoiled, that's all. I'll discipline her—put her under arrest, write her up, even discharge her if necessary. But I won't let her go to prison and ruin her entire life."

Before I could respond, his aide stepped forward and thrust a document in my face.

"Sign this. We'll consider the matter closed, and everything can go back to normal."

I stared at those cruel words printed across the top—"VICTIM'S STATEMENT OF FORGIVENESS"—and felt my heart being carved up. I shook my head stubbornly. "I won't sign it!"

"Riley grew up on base. She's never been through anything like detention. She can't handle it. Emma, be reasonable." He pressed his fingers to his temples like he was losing patience.

"I said I won't sign!" I was almost shouting.

The next second, the aide stepped forward and roughly grabbed my arm, wrenching it hard!

"Ah!"

Searing pain shot through my whole body. He grabbed my trembling hand and forced it to sign the forgiveness statement, then pressed my fingers into an ink pad and stamped my fingerprint down hard!

Through it all, Jameson stood there watching coldly.

I was drenched in sweat, my face pale as paper. I looked up at this man I'd loved for so many years, my voice weak. "Jameson... for her... you'd do this to me..."

A flash of pain crossed his eyes, then he turned to the aide. "Get the medic. Use the best medication. Take care of her hand. Make sure she's looked after properly."

Then he took that blood-and-tear-stained forgiveness statement and walked out without looking back.