Storms of the Heart novel Chapter 10

On the other side of the city, Julian stayed at the hospital and watched over Sienna day and night until an urgent assignment finally dragged him back to work.

By the time he finished clearing the pile of reports, it was already the next day.

"General Hauser, are we going back to the hospital or to the townhouse?" the guard asked.

Julian rubbed at the bridge of his nose, about to answer when the guard hesitated and added, "General Hauser, maybe you should stop by the townhouse. Mrs. Hauser took the 80 strikes on behalf of her friends that night. She's always been so delicate. I don't know how she is now..."

Julian's whole body went rigid, his eyes widening in shock. "What did you say? She took all the strikes for them? That's insane!"

A sharp, indescribable panic and ache seized him.

He pictured Trina's soft skin and remembered how she could whine for half a day over a scraped knee, how terrified she was of pain, and how obsessed she was with looking perfect.

How did she even endure 80 strikes?

It felt like an invisible fist had closed around his heart, squeezing until he could hardly breathe.

The feeling was so intense that it hurt even more than when he had seen Sienna jump from the building or fall into that frozen lake.

He didn't know what was wrong with him. He only knew he had to see Trina right away.

"Back to the townhouse! Immediately!" The order came out almost as a roar.

The car sped through the streets toward the quiet residential district.

As soon as the car came to a stop, Julian pushed the door open, ready to storm inside and see Trina, who had somehow driven him mad and made his heart ache.

But before he reached the steps, he noticed a group of officers and acquaintances he knew well gathered at the front door.

There were Air Force pilots, regimental commanders, and even a young diplomat from the foreign ministry. Every one of them was considered one of the most sought-after men in Flarora.

"General Hauser, you're just in time!" A blunt, cheerful regimental commander strode over, his face lit with excitement. "Is what the newspaper says true?"

Julian snatched the paper from him. His eyes locked on the bold black headline splashed across the top of the front page.

"Hauser–Shepherd marriage ends! General Julian Hauser and heiress Trina Shepherd officially divorced today!"

Julian's mind went blank, and a low buzzing filled his ears.

Divorced? He and Trina had gotten a divorce? When had that happened? How could it have happened without him knowing?

Before Julian could wrap his head around the headline, the Shepherds' old butler, Liam Ellison, came up the path slowly, carrying a sealed box in both hands. His expression was complicated—almost apologetic.

"General Hauser, Mr. Shepherd asked me to give this to you. It's the miracle drug that can treat Ms. Blake's illness."

Julian's head snapped up. He stared at the box, then at Liam, disbelief written across his face. "The drug? Why is Wayne suddenly willing to hand it over now?"

Liam sighed. "Ms. Shepherd made a deal with Mr. Shepherd. She asked him to give you the drug. In exchange, she gave up all rights to her inheritance and agreed to leave Flarora for good. She promised she'd never return for the rest of her life."