He Gave Her Strawberries, Gave Me Hives (Ford and Sylvia) novel Chapter 148

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1. r. Evelyn Thorne was NASA’s youngest Chief Engineer, but she’d been playing housewife to Colonel Dante Blackwood for three years.

ante had no idea that the “Dr. Thorne” on CNN every night was the same woman packing his lunch every morning.

ay after day, she cooked his meals, delivered food to the whole squadron, and smiled when everyone called her “The Perfect Military Wife.”

ne thought this quiet life would last forever. Until the day she overhears Dante’s buddy at the base:

Jude, you still carry Seraphina’s photo in your wallet? After all these years?”

Yeah,” Dante replies without hesitation.

hen comes the knockout punch to Evelyn:

Come on, man. Evelyn’s been amazing to you-”

What I like has never been this kind of dutiful housewife who just hovers around the kitchen. It’s someone like Seraphina–someone outstanding enough to and beside me as an equal.”

f it weren’t for my mom being seriously ill back then, wanting to see me settled down before she passed, I never would’ve married her!”

RASH!

he soup container crashes to the floor.

Then Dante finds her standing there, devastated, all he says is:

What are you doing here?”

hat’s when Evelyn remembers last week’s house fire–how Dante charged through flames to save his wallet. She’d thought it contained important documents.

>… what was treasured inside were only Seraphina’s photo.

Without a word, Evelyn went directly to the military district’s political office and submitted a forced divorce application.

hen she dialed a number that had been buried for years.

he phone picked up on the first ring.

Dr. Thorne?! We’ve been trying to reach you for years!”

It’s me. I want back in.”

low she’s leading America’s most classified space program.

and when Dante finally discovers the truth? She already be UNTOUCHABLE,

That’s incredible!” The voice on the other end was practically bouncing with excitement.

Dr. Thorne! You have no idea–ever since you left, our rocket development has been completely stalled! The Pentagon is launching Project Artemis now, Issembling an elite team for the most classified research in U.S. history. Five years of complete isolation at the Nevada facility, total blackout from the outside world! We desperately need someone with your expertise to lead it! If you come back, the position is yours–no question! This could be the breakthrough our national defense has been waiting for! Are you… would you be interested?”

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Project Artemis. Five years in isolation. Complete separation from everything.

“Yes!” No hesitation whatsoever. “I’m in.”

“This is amazing!” The relief in his voice was palpable. “Before the team goes into lockdown, we’re throwing a massive send–off gala. You’ll be giving the keynote speech as project director. All the top brass will be there–senators, Pentagon officials, NASA executives. Dr. Thorne, what happened back then… that wasn’t your fault. In this field, sacrifice is inevitable. Professor Williams, he… he would have wanted you to continue…”

Evelyn made a noncommittal sound and then hung up.

Her eyes drifted to their wedding photo on the mantel. Dante looked stern and uncomfortable even on their wedding day, while she was glowing with happiness, like she’d won the lottery.

The memories came flooding back.

Three years ago, she’d been NASA’s rising star–a rocket propulsion genius with her whole future ahead of her.

But then came that terrible calculation error that caused the lab explosion.

Professor Williams had thrown himself between her and the blast, using his own body to shield her from the debris.

As he lay dying in her arms, he’d whispered, “Evelyn, you were born for the stars. Don’t let my death end your story…”

But she couldn’t forgive herself.

So at one rainy night, she’d walked to the lake behind the facility, planning to end it all. Just as she was about to step into the dark water, strong hands pulled

her back.

Dante, soaking wet and scowling: “Whatever’s eating you alive, this isn’t the answer. You’ve got to keep fighting.”

In that moment, he’d been her savior. Her light in the darkness.

So when she learned his mother was dying and desperate to see him married, Evelyn saw it as fate. She hid her identity, got close to him, and even proposed marriage herself.

Only after the wedding did she discover that Dante’s heart already had a permanent resident.

Even when they made love, he’d whisper “Seraphina” in the dark.

She’d been so naive enough to think that if she loved him hard enough, long enough, she could eventually melt that frozen heart of his.

Now she understood the truth. She could never get inside because he’d never made room for her.

Fine.

He could keep his precious memories. And she had rockets to build and stars to reach.

That night, Dante didn’t come home.

Until the next morning, Evelyn was quietly packing her things when she heard the front door open and voices in the hallway.

She walked out to see Dante entering with a stunning young woman.

Designer dress, perfect makeup, confident bearing–and that face. The exact same face from the photo in Dante’s wallet.

Seraphina Voss!

Her heart felt like it was being stabbed with tiny needles, the pain spreading through her chest in waves.

Not only had he never forgotten her–now he’d actually brought her home!

Dante saw Evelyn and didn’t even blink. His tone was casual, like he was introducing a coworker: “This is Seraphina Voss, my old friend, and she just got back from her fellowship abroad. She needs a place to stay temporarily while she apartment hunts.”

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le didn’t even ask for her opinion, merely giving her notice before naturally leading Seraphina toward the guest room: “How long are you planning to stay this

ime?”

eraphina’s laugh was like silver bells. “Probably permanently! I just got accepted into the Jet Propulsion Laboratory–well, as an intern for now, but still! I eard they’re putting together this incredible elite team called Project Artemis. Five years of classified research at some top–secret facility. They’re even throwing big send–off gala for the team. The project director is supposed to be some legendary scientist who’s been off the grid for years! I’d give anything to work with omeone like that… God, I wonder when I’ll ever be that accomplished…”

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