On the fifth day, Serene received a message from her superior and calmly packed her things and left early.
The official transfer order had not yet reached the team, but she was already walking down a familiar corridor.
As she turned around, she ran into Joseph, who looked at Serene with slight surprise before quickly regaining his composure.
"Welcome back," he said.
Ivan did not know Serene had officially rejoined the team.
She looked down at the note Ivan had sent her. [Serene, I'll definitely bring you back next year. There are special circumstances for this year.]
Three years in a row of special circumstances. She tore the paper apart without any expression and threw it into the trash.
The mission was over. She no longer needed to hide anything.
The next day Serene rejoined the team. Ivan's shocked and panicked expression had not even been concealed yet.
"Serene, why are you back?"
Despite the fear mixed with anger inside her, Serene remained calm.
He did not know she had changed the transfer order.
"Don't you want me back?" she asked.
Ivan's eyes flashed with conflicted emotions. Eventually, he took her hand, guilt in his eyes.
"I did not mean that. The organization had other arrangements for you.
"Serene, can you hold on for one more year?"
One year. Serene dug her nails into her palm hard.
One year after another. Even if there was no Wendy next year, there would be a Mindy Stane or someone else.
But it no longer mattered.
She no longer wanted Ivan.
"Serene, behave. Next year when you come out, we will get married. Just endure one more year."
Ivan kept repeating it anxiously. Serene gave a faint smile and pushed down the disgust in her heart.
"I know. They saw my performance was good and gave me a few days off."
Ivan let out a breath of relief. He opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by a colleague rushing over.
"Captain Kane, Wendy is injured."
Ivan's face instantly turned pale. His eyes were full of panic and worry.
He suddenly stood up, his voice trembling. "How bad is it? Where is she now?"
That tense look made Serene's heart clench in pain again.
Wendy had been thrown at the door. Her wounds were horrifyingly visible.
Ivan frowned tightly and hurriedly carried her straight to the infirmary.
"Wendy, it will stop hurting soon."
Whip wounds crossed her body. Blood seeped through her clothes, looking terrifying.
Serene watched quietly, her eyes calm.
The person on the bed let out a painful whimper. Ivan looked serious and spoke in a commanding tone, telling them to be gentler.
She lowered her head and slowly rolled up her sleeve. Layer upon layer of old and new scars appeared, some not even healed yet. Her injuries in the first year had been even worse.
She had gone undercover in a criminal underground organization. They were cruel beyond imagination. To gain trust, she was thrown into a pack of wolves and forced to fight for survival.
Dozens of wolves surrounded her, tearing at her arms. She held onto the belief that Ivan would come for her. She held onto their engagement. She forced herself up and fought back with a wooden stick she picked up from the ground.
In the end, she could no longer tell whose blood it was.
She only remembered that she won.
She secretly messaged Ivan, saying she was hurt, in pain, and wanted to leave as soon as possible.
Ivan only comforted her and told her to endure a little longer. He had never lost control like he did today.
The scars on her arms from those bites were still there, clear and piercing.
Wendy woke up and clung to Ivan while crying.
"I don't want to go back anymore. Ivan, please help me."
"Don't worry. I already submitted the application."
After speaking, he looked at Serene with guilt.
"Ivan, marry me. I can only transfer out if I marry you," Wendy said urgently.
Ivan's expression turned cold.
"Wendy, Serene is my fiancée.
"I only see you as a sister."
Wendy's face went pale. She reached out but grabbed nothing. Her eyes swept over Serene, filled with resentment and unwillingness.
"Serene, don't take it to heart. She is just scared from her first mission," Ivan said gently.
Serene looked at him coldly and gave a soft smile.
Ivan did not notice anything strange. He kept comforting her while defending Wendy.
Ivan had always been calm and controlled. Many women admired him, but none could shake his emotions.
Wendy was the first.
"Serene, I'll marry you."
He lowered his head and made the promise seriously. Serene gently shook her head and silently disagreed.
She would not marry Ivan anymore.
Aksara