After finishing the late-night training session, Bella began walking towards Officer Ethan's office when Norah's voice called out from behind,
"Bella, where are you going?"
Bella paused, turning around slightly as she replied,
"I... I was just going to ask for permission to call home."
Ellena offered quickly, "Should I come with you?"
Bella gave a small smile and shook her head, "No, you two go and get some rest. I'll be there in just a bit."
Both nodded and walked off down the hallway, leaving Bella standing alone under the dim corridor lights.
She reached Ethan's office and was just about to knock on the door when she heard voices coming faintly from the side window — a window that usually stayed shut and silent. But tonight, it was slightly ajar. Drawn by the sound, she instinctively stepped closer.
Inside, Officer Ethan and Officer Matthew were sitting on the couch near the window, deep in conversation.
"If you didn't want to get married yet, you should've talked to your parents... and Bella's," Matthew was saying, his tone firm but low.
"I did talk to my parents," Ethan replied quietly, "but they wouldn't listen."
Bella froze. Her breath caught in her throat as the weight of his words sank in.
Matthew's voice came again, calm but sharp,
"It's better to keep this marriage hidden for now. And Becky must not find out. Not under any circumstances."
Ethan sighed, "I know. That's exactly why I haven't made a public announcement. It's Becky I'm most worried about."
Bella stood there, rooted to the spot — heart sinking, eyes stinging. The voices blurred as tears welled up. Quietly, she turned away and walked down the hallway, her steps heavy, her chest tight.
When she entered the room, Norah and Ellena looked up and were immediately taken aback.
Bella's face was flushed, her eyes red and glistening with tears.
"Bella? What happened? Are you okay? You went to call your home, right? How is your dad?" Ellena asked, concerned.
Norah rushed to her and wrapped her arms around her tightly. Bella leaned into the embrace, trembling silently. Norah looked at Ellena and subtly gestured for her to stay quiet.
Bella cried in Norah's arms for a long while, the silence in the room broken only by her muffled sobs. Finally, she lifted her head, looked at both of them with a forced smile, and whispered,
"It's nothing... I just... I just miss home."
Ellena moved closer and gently rubbed Bella's back, offering comfort without questions. The room fell quiet once again, this time with an ache that lingered long after the tears.
*************************************************************************************
The next day, Bella made it clear she was avoiding Officer Ethan. As much as she could, she kept her distance from him. The days stretched into a week, and her efforts became more evident with each passing day. Ethan didn't notice it at first, but soon enough, Bella's behaviour became impossible to ignore.
It was after shooting training one afternoon, as they were walking off the field, when Ethan finally spoke up, his voice breaking the silence.
"Cadet Bella."
Bella turned around, her expression neutral. "Yes, Officer?"
Ethan stared at her, momentarily lost for words. He didn't quite know what to say. He just wanted to talk to her, to bridge the distance that seemed to have appeared between them. But it felt strange—awkward, even. There was an unfamiliar distance now, a coldness that had never existed before. The ease they once shared had been replaced with something unspoken, something distant.
"Officer Ethan," Bella's voice interrupted his thoughts. He snapped back to the moment, his heart racing a little. She was waiting for him to speak, but he couldn't find the right words.
"No, it's… nothing," he said finally, his voice softer than intended. "I just thought you might want to call home."
Bella nodded, her expression unchanged. "Okay."
and without another word, she turned and walked away. Ethan watched her leave, his eyes lingering on her retreating figure. A strange pull tugged at his chest, one that he couldn't quite explain.
He had never been one to let emotions take control, had always prided himself on keeping them in check. But now, something was different. A part of him wanted to call out to her, to stop her and talk to her, to understand what was happening between them.
Why did it feel like something had shifted? Was it because now, Bella was no longer just his cadet?
She wasn't just the girl he loved—she was his wife now. Mrs. Ethan Gray. And the weight of that title, of that reality, both thrilled and frightened him. She had always been more than just a role in his life. But now, with that title, everything felt heavier, and more complicated.
As Bella disappeared around the corner, Ethan stood there for a moment longer, his mind clouded. Why did it feel like she was slipping away, like something precious was just out of reach?