Dear Soldier, Put Your Gun Down novel Chapter 16

Benjamin’s eyes glistened with tears. Winona’s answer drove a dagger through his heart. Had she slapped him a few times, or yelled at him, he might have felt better.

All this time, he wanted to ask her if she had ever loved him, but when the time came, he simply said, “Sorry.”

Winona smiled lightly. “I know it wasn’t your fault. As the head of the Larson family, you can only take on the family’s interest as your own responsibility. Even if they asked you to marry Aileen, you won’t hesitate.”

The Larson’s family was a shell of its former self; it needed the Winston family’s assistance to stay relevant, to maintain their political influence.

The understanding and care she displayed embittered him. After all, she was the only person he loved for so many years.

The night wind billowed, messing up her hair. He yearned to gather it up, to help tie her hair back like before, however instead of doing so he patted her shoulder weakly.

“Winona, only you would know me that well.”

She smiled. Strangely enough, despite his broken promise, she felt no anger towards him, no strong emotions such as love or hate. Only gratitude. She wondered whether she had any feelings at all.

“Benjamin, thank you for your kindness over the years. Both Aileen and I will not forget it.”

He swallowed the bitterness inside him and smiled, “Enough of that, Winona, or you’ll make me feel worse.”

The two fell silent.

After what seemed like an eternity, he turned and looked at her. “Winona, can I hug you?”

Winona was silent for a long moment before she finally nodded.

Gathering her into a tight embrace, he said, “I can’t protect you anymore in the future. Remember to take care of yourself. Matt Snider is a complicated man, he’s sure to have plans for you when he chose you to marry.”

At this moment, someone at the corner of the rooftop secretly took a photo with a mobile phone.

Benjamin reluctantly let go of her. He knew that sometimes when one let go of something, they lose it for eternity – this was one of them.

Thinking about her engagement to Matt, Winona still had not figured out his purpose in doing so, however she decided to take a gamble.

“Putting aside whatever secret plans he’s cooking up, as long as he treats me well, I’m fine with it.”

Winona was smart. She merely wanted to live comfortably without caring too much. More to the point, she felt that in terms of wealth, power and influence, she held no value even as a bargaining chip.

Something flashed in Benjamin’s eyes. Even towards her, the love of his life, he could not bear to mention the truth, the one terrible secret that struck at the heart of both families’ woes.

“Then I wish you happiness.”

He absentmindedly glanced at the starry sky far in the distance. When he noticed the faint light on the opposite side of the rooftop, he immediately realized something and said in a panic, “Careful!”

Acting instinctively, Benjamin grabbed Winona and rolled to the ground. With a bang, bullet holes the size of small coins peppered the skylight above.

Now filled with tension, they gasped for breath. Someone cried out, “Benjamin Larson, what in the blazes did you do?”

Matt, with Herman in tow, sprinted into view and stopped in front of the duo. Whipping out his pistol, he pointed it squarely at Benjamin’s forehead.