Chapter 2

The room went silent for a beat, then erupted with cheers and jeers.

Marcus Thorne’s face instantly darkened, the veins in his hand, clutching his glass, bulging. He shot me an icy glare.

Serena, seated beside him, nervously clutched the hem of her dress, biting her lip as she looked at him.

“Dr. Audrey, what kind of joke is that? How unbecoming for a female officer to say something like that. You must be drunk.”

I’d always been aloof, almost icy, in the military, and suddenly being embroiled in gossip made me the hot topic of conversation.

“I can’t believe it, Dr. Audrey keeps her secrets well. Who’s the lucky one that finally stole her heart?”

“I thought Dr. Audrey only cared about surgery! Didn’t realize she had someone warming her bed!”

I met Marcus Thorne’s gaze calmly:

“He understands how to respect me. Naturally, I’m willing to trust him. That’s my bottom line.”

In my past life, I thought war reporters like Serena, risking their lives to film, were truly dedicated to journalistic ideals, just wanting to convey the truth to the world.

It wasn’t until my license was revoked and she smugly told me she’d been after the Commander's wife position from day one that I saw her true colors.

Serena’s eyes turned slightly red. She looked piteously at Marcus Thorne, seeking help.

Lieutenant Commander Dawson, Marcus Thorne’s adjutant, stepped in:

“From the sound of it, Dr. Audrey’s guy must be truly exceptional. You should bring him around sometime and let us meet him.”

“If he ever dares to let Dr. Audrey down, we’ll show him what military regulations really mean.”

I couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle:

“Oh, he’d be terrified.”

The moment the words left my lips, there was a sharp *CRACK*. Marcus Thorne had crushed the wine glass in his hand.

Serena frantically grabbed his hand, carefully clearing away the shards while cautiously saying:

“It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t suggested we toast Dr. Audrey, she wouldn’t have drunk so much…”

“Dr. Audrey spends all her time in the operating room; how would she know anything about men and women? She must just be confused from the alcohol, right?”

She looked up, her eyes filled with expectation and pleading as she gazed at Marcus Thorne.

My expression hardened, my eyes fixed on Marcus Thorne.

Watching him nod after a moment of silence, my heart felt like it was being ripped apart.

Serena let out a breath of relief, a flicker of triumph in her eyes.

I only felt pathetic.

Even after living a second life, I still foolishly hoped to hear a word of honesty from him.

Just then, a man in a perfectly tailored suit pushed open the door and entered.

He took my wrist, saying softly:

“Who says? I, for one, admire a woman like Dr. Audrey.”

Everyone’s expressions varied, and even I was stunned.

Murmurs spread among my fellow officers:

“That’s Dorian Blackwood, The Maritime Baron, who controls the Southeast Asian seas! Even Commander Thorne has to be deferential to him!”

“Since when did Dr. Audrey know Dorian Blackwood?”