Zachary was initially taken aback, remembering Seraphina's earlier mention of her "safe period." But Seraphina lifted her chin defiantly, "I lied. I wanted to make sure you'd come back. You wouldn't want our kid calling someone else 'Dad,' would you?"
Zachary felt a mix of frustration and joy. He grabbed the back of her head and kissed her fiercely, warning her possessively, "Listen, you're not allowed to marry anyone else."
Their words were filled with deep affection and reluctance, along with a promise to reunite in the future.
Seraphina's gaze was resolute as she told Zachary, "Then you have to come back. If you do, I won't marry anyone else. I'll marry you."
Zachary pressed his forehead against hers and nodded gently but firmly.
Standing at the door, Seraphina knew that by doing this, she could ensure that the fearless Zachary, no matter how dangerous the mission, would strive to return alive for her and their potential baby.
"Seraphina, wait for me."
Zachary's deep eyes were full of reluctance and determination as he promised once again to return safely.
He then gently cupped Seraphina's face and kissed her forehead tenderly.
Her voice was choked with emotion but unwavering.
Seraphina stood at the door, watching Zachary's car drive away until it disappeared from sight.
Tears welled up in her eyes, but she held them back.
She knew that the days ahead would be filled with endless waiting and worry.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm her emotions.
That afternoon, Seraphina received a call from Zachary. His voice came through the receiver, distant but still warm and firm.
"Seraphina, I've boarded the plane. My phone might be off for a while, but don't worry. Wait for my good news."
Seraphina's hand trembled slightly as she held the phone. She tried to keep her voice calm and optimistic, "Okay, I believe in you. You'll come back safely."
After hanging up, she couldn't stop her tears from falling.
She knew how much she feared losing him and how much she longed for his safe return.
Night fell, and Seraphina tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.
Zachary's words and their memories kept replaying in her mind.
She prayed for divine protection, hoping he would safely complete his mission.
It wasn't until dawn that Seraphina finally drifted off to sleep.
Her sleep was restless, filled with worry and unease.
When she woke up, it was almost noon. Sunlight streamed through the curtains onto the bed. She got up, washed, and had lunch before deciding to go out for a walk.
Just as she reached the door, she received a call from Indigo, inviting her to go shopping for clothes.
Understanding Indigo's good intentions and concern, Seraphina gladly accepted.
Indigo's car was discreetly parked outside Seraphina's house. She didn't plan to disturb Seraphina's parents.
After picking up Seraphina, they headed straight to a high-end boutique in the city center.
In the store, they sipped afternoon tea and chatted leisurely.
"Did you know? Zachary is known as the 'Invincible General'! He's never failed a mission before. He'll definitely complete this one and come back safely!"
Hearing Indigo's words, Seraphina felt much better. She nodded and smiled, expressing her belief that Zachary would return safely.
Indigo then talked about her adopted daughter, Nova. "I have an adopted daughter named Nova Ramirez. She's studying for her master's in translation abroad! She'll be back soon. Her parents were close friends of Gregory and me, and she grew up with us like our own daughter. I'll introduce you two when she returns. She's such a lovely and beautiful girl!"
Meanwhile, in a remote canyon far from the city center of Novaria, several black SUVs moved like shadows through the forest, their bodies covered with green fabric for camouflage.
Inside one of the vehicles, the captain ordered, "Send the scouts ahead." After the car stopped, Zachary, sitting next to the captain, opened the door to get out. The captain, Theo, quickly grabbed his wrist to stop him.
Zachary pushed Theo's hand away firmly, his eyes resolute. "I'm part of the team, not a spectator." With that, he got out of the car and disappeared into the night.
Theo watched helplessly as the scouts vanished into the darkness.
A team member reported to Theo that the mission was extremely challenging, with hundreds of enemies guarding the area, making the chances of rescuing the captured doctor slim.
But Theo was resolute, saying, "Even if we find the doctor's body, we must bring it back."
The stars were obscured by thick clouds, the ground was rocky and covered in snow, and the temperature was near freezing. The scouts crawled through the snow towards a faintly glowing cave, the enemy's hideout, which was easy to defend and hard to attack.
When the team informed Zachary that they couldn't get any closer due to guards, and suggested using a drone for reconnaissance, Zachary agreed.
The drone flew silently like a black bird in the dark, reaching the cave's entrance. However, it was soon detected and shot down, shattering into pieces and falling off the cliff.
Gunfire erupted from the cave, forcing the scouts to roll and find cover. The squad leader ordered a retreat.
The team obeyed, but Zachary remained still. When called, he shouted back, "You go first!" and then disappeared into the night.
The squad leader returned to the main group, sipping hot water in the car, only to be questioned by Theo about why he didn't bring Zachary back. The squad leader explained that Zachary was of equal rank and couldn't be ordered around.
An older team member mentioned that Zachary was known for not following orders, to which Theo sighed, acknowledging that Zachary's drive had earned him his position at twenty-six.
Theo emphasized the importance of maintaining communication with Zachary, as he might be the key to the mission's success.
Zachary couldn't afford to fail, especially with Aiden to answer to. Theo instructed his team to ensure constant communication, not missing any updates from Zachary.
Amidst the gunfire, Zachary was climbing the cliff, moving like a swift mountain wolf, focused solely on completing the mission.
Half an hour later, the SUVs hidden in the forest were covered in snow.
Inside one of the vehicles, Theo watched his team work on their computers, trying to get updates on Zachary.
Eventually, they reported that they couldn't receive any signals from Zachary, speculating that either his device was off or the cave had signal jammers.
A hot-tempered team member cursed under his breath, worried about Zachary's fate.
Theo remained calm, expressing his belief in Zachary's abilities.
However, another team member pointed out the enemy's formidable firepower and elite mercenaries, making it difficult to approach the cave.
Theo decided to wait for Zachary's updates, planning to reassess if no news came.
Back at home, after parting with Indigo, Seraphina sat by the window, her mind filled with thoughts of Zachary.
When her family spoke to her, she was often distracted, nearly dropping her utensils several times.
Her gaze was distant, her thoughts far away.
"Seraphina, what's wrong?"