Chapter 1

In her third year undercover, Serene Hale still had not been called back. Three years. Three chances. Every single one had failed. In her first year, she could not stand the harsh conditions and constant surveillance any longer. She finally asked Ivan Kane to pull her out. He refused without hesitation and scolded her for lacking discipline. In her second year, her training injuries worsened. Her leg was close to permanent damage. She endured the pain and sent another request. Ivan said she could not handle hardship. He still approved someone else instead, just because of a twisted wrist. In her third year, Serene's hands shook as she sent her request. The reply came back immediately with a rejection. Her heart went completely cold. She had spent three years earning trust, only to be given just three days of leave. Serene packed her things and left. She needed answers from Ivan. Ivan, as the youngest commander in the Capitol, had always kept work and personal life strictly apart. She had been hoping that once this mission ended, she would be reassigned and finally marry him. The office door was not fully closed. Serene gently pushed it open. On the desk lay the latest reassignment order. Her name, Serene Hale, had been heavily crossed out and replaced with Wendy Stone. Her steps slowed and wavered. She gripped the desk to steady herself. Wendy. She had seen her inside before. She had only been there for one month. Footsteps came closer. Serene quickly wiped her tears and rushed to hide under the desk. "Ivan, why won't you bring Serene back?" Joseph Chance's voice rose with anger. "According to protocol, she should have been rotated out after three years. If she stays any longer and gets exposed, she will not survive. "This year let Wendy come back first. Next year, I'll bring Serene back for sure." "She has only just gone in. You could have waited until next year." Joseph shook his head slightly. His eyes showed disappointment as he looked at Ivan. "Wendy is different. She is too kind. How could she handle such a dangerous mission?" "Then, what about the past two years? The first year it was Wendy's friend. The second year it was her so-called sister." Serene trembled all over. She bit her lip hard and forced herself to stay silent. So, it was not that she was not good enough. She was simply not as important as Wendy. She and Ivan had grown up together. Their families had arranged their engagement since they were children. Back then, Ivan always stood in front of her and drove away the kids who bullied her. Before she went undercover, Ivan promised he would get her reassigned soon. He said once she was back, they would get married. Now, his attention was fully on Wendy. In her first year of the mission, Ivan told her a new recruit named Wendy had joined. He said Wendy was just like Serene used to be, full of fire and drive. Serene did not think much of it. New recruits came every year. In her second year, Ivan said she was not as disciplined as Wendy. By her third year, he said she was not as kind as Wendy. A chill ran down Serene's spine. Her whole body felt tight and cold. The truth was right in front of her. Ivan had changed. "Serene will be fine. She has been safe all these three years, hasn't she?" someone said. Serene's heart jolted. Her breathing tightened for a moment. Ivan's voice slowly faded into the distance. Serene looked down at the scars on her arms through blurred eyes. She had countless wounds across her body. To Ivan, that was what he called safe and sound. Every time she felt like she could not go on, she held on to one thought. Get out soon. Go back early. Marry Ivan as soon as possible. But decades of trust meant nothing compared to someone he had known for only a few years. Anyone connected to Wendy seemed to matter to Ivan. As for her, she did not matter at all. Serene wanted to laugh out loud, but no sound came out. Her gaze fell on the reassignment order. Without hesitation, she crossed out Wendy's name and replaced it with her own. Then, she submitted it.