Betrayed By Miss Wrong, Claimed By Mr Right

straight, his Blackwood G

zed, a sea of Wa

la "Izzy" Hayes, daughter of the

of the season, a merger of mili

, was at his side, but

ted to Ju

sionary and life coach, held a s

paradigms," his voice smoo

by him for weeks, by hi

hilosophy subtly painted Ethan's world

a a week later

microphones wer

e small stage, not w

light, was now fi

ent," she began, the

t to Captain

led throug

he back, felt his bloo

sewhere, with someone who unde

who watched from the wings

declared. "My previous life, my previ

was clear: Eth

ines screamed. Her family, espec

r her truth," enduring the pub

silence, the humiliation a

ip was r

, with or without my father's blessing. His modern perspective is what I

e news clips, re

te, clinging to Julian's arm

wever misguided Ethan thoug

candal, the disapproval – only

ix of pain and a da

more than the

his family's multi-generational military l

in th

a Medal of Honor recipient, a man

ho served wit

choices, dismisse

hey embodied, now a

, his integrity – all part of that

ion for him had perhaps been more a

e match, approve

a whirlwind of "new thoug

that appealed to Izzy's desire to br

aking free by falling f

llection of buzzwords and borrowed philosop

zy, to make her question e

the performer, made

sing authenticity over expectati

life is causing her this pain, perhaps I should step back,

anipulative play, mak

it was: a way to mak

e was fierce in a subsequent

ctations, least of all mine if they cause you

voted, her loyalty

ruin than return to a life that wasn't true to my spirit. A forced m

and absolute, echo

he interviews, the

otion to Vance

ptance sett

one who so clearly, so pub

elease her, ful

meeting with

imposing, oak-paneled,

y. "I've come to formally request the d

k something else, so

pled his fingers,

y own political forebears, with unwavering loyalty for generati

but the political and social ram

ition," Ethan said. "But Is

in Eastern Europe. Blackwood Global is de

tional crisis" h

. My grandfather, my father... it's in

the humiliation, t

a flicker of something – respec

s a good man, a

ughter broke your heart and embarrassed you

The public situation is... untenable for me here. This

'll expedite your deployment. Your country, and

," Ethan said. He h

Vance... I ask that you don't stand in her w

final act o

sed, then a grim understa

n than she deserves