Twenty years ago, a classified project by Country A's National Academy of Sciences was suddenly sabotaged, forcing it to come to a screeching halt halfway through. To protect what was left, a couple vanished with the project and disappeared from everyone’s radar without a trace.
Fast forward more than two decades, the battlefield was a mess—smoke, blood, and lifeless bodies scattered everywhere. The fierce fighting that had taken place was clear at a glance. Not far off, clumps of enemies were gathered.
They had circled a woman in a blood-soaked uniform, ready for another strike. She was clearly at her limit, barely standing, completely worn out.
But just because she couldn’t fight anymore didn’t mean they were going to stop. These were cold-blooded mercenaries—they didn’t care about weakness. Orders were everything to them. Compassion? Nonexistent.
The fight flared up once more. Already wounded and drained, the woman could barely defend herself. Still, she didn’t go down easy. Their guns had run out of bullets—now it was all about close combat. Things were getting desperate. She kept falling back, finally collapsing entirely. If not for her clutch on that military dagger, she’d have hit the ground.
Just then, a flash of cold steel cut through the air...
She felt the sharp stab slice into her. The pain was terrible, but her face—though smudged with blood—showed no fear. Her wounds were awful. She could tell she was in critical shape.
He probably wouldn't make it in time, huh...
Not even a goodbye?
Her bloody, pale face looked hauntingly beautiful, eyes full of regret and despair.
As her attacker raised his weapon again, planning to end her pain for good, a small unit dressed in the same camo as her appeared without a sound. They quietly wiped out the surrounding enemies before they even realized what hit them—every last one gone in flash.
And she saw it. Saw her comrades coming for her. She managed a weak smile. At least she got to see them one more time. But her eyes still searched, still waited. Still no sign of him.
"Whoosh—" A military chopper hovered overhead. Before it even landed, a man jumped out. Dressed in uniform, looking sharp and fierce, his eyes held the kind of intense focus only soldiers had. But the second he saw her—still trying desperately to stay upright, soaked in blood and barely breathing—it was like something inside him shattered. The sharpness vanished in an instant, replaced by heartbreak and overwhelming guilt written all over his face.He rushed over, practically stumbling as he dropped to his knees, carefully scooping Amanda Collins into his arms like she might shatter if he wasn’t gentle enough. Blood soaked through her uniform, and her body was limp, completely lifeless. His chest tightened at the sight, rage and grief flooding him as he cradled her closer and raced her onto the chopper. If he could, he would tear apart every last person who hurt her.
“I was gone for a month. Just one month,” his voice cracked, an edge of disbelief biting through the words. “Didn’t I tell you to wait for me? To take care of yourself? I said we’d handle everything together when I got back. Why’d it have to turn out like this?”
His arms trembled as he pulled her tighter against him. He wanted to yell, to shake some fight back into her, but one look at her frail face stopped him cold. All he could do was speak low, gentle—like she was made of glass.
He looked back at the team, his panic barely masked beneath an icy glare. “Where the hell is the rescue team?”
“They're on the way. We called them—should be here any second,” one of the men answered quickly.
He'd never felt fear like this before. There were too many wounds. He didn’t dare move her, didn’t dare risk hurting her more, so he just sat there, frozen with her held against his chest.
Then, suddenly, his head dropped, shoulders trembling. “No… don’t...”
A drop hit Amanda’s cheek—and then another. She could barely sense anything, but the warmth of his tears landing on her face tugged her back. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open. She saw him—saw those familiar, tear-filled eyes—and, somehow, she managed the faintest smile, like she didn’t want him to worry.
She opened her mouth, voice thin and scratchy. “You’re finally here... I’m sorry... I don’t think I can keep my promise. Next life... if there is one... I swear, I’ll stay with you. Live an ordinary life… never leave you, okay...?”
His voice broke as he screamed hoarsely, “No. I don’t want a next life—I want now! Amanda Collins, did you hear me? You’re not dying on me. Not now. We said once this mission’s done, we’d put it all behind us. Walk away. Live normal. Be together. You gave me your word. Don’t you dare break it! Don’t leave me, you hear me?!”
She didn’t respond. No movement, not a sound. Her eyelids hung heavy, her breath shallow. Like a flower too exhausted to keep blooming.
And it terrified him. He held her tight—careful but desperate, like he could somehow hold her soul in place. Like a kid trying to fix something he broke.
But Amanda... maybe she was just too tired. Her eyes slowly closed again, this time for real.“No, Amanda, wake up! You can’t do this again, don’t leave me like this!” The man broke down completely, sobbing like a wounded beast. They say real men don’t cry—only because they haven’t been heartbroken like this. Even the tough-as-nails soldiers nearby had to turn away, quietly wiping at their eyes.
He held her close like time had frozen, like he couldn’t let go even for a second. When they finally reached the military hospital, she was rushed into emergency care. The man clutched the doctor’s hand, his voice shaking, eyes pleading, “Please, just save her. I’m begging you.”
“We’ll do everything we can,” the doctor said quickly before disappearing into the ER.
For eighteen hours straight—eighteen endless hours—he sat there like a statue, eyes glued to the flashing “In Surgery” sign. He didn’t sleep a wink. Nobody knew what was going through his mind.
Then—“Click.” The light above the door went off. Slowly, the door creaked open. He jerked up, ready to move—then froze, grounded by dread. He didn’t want to hear the words coming.
“Sir,” the doctor finally said, nervous, clearly intimidated by the man’s presence, “we managed to stabilize her, but due to extensive blood loss, she’s fallen into a coma… A vegetative state, medically speaking.” He paused, then added carefully, “I-I have to ask… do you want us to continue life support or… let her go peacefully?”
“Keep her alive,” the man rasped, his voice raw and broken.
“Understood…” the doctor sighed softly. Love can really tear you apart.
The man turned to the bed, eyes never leaving her face. She looked asleep, like she’d open her eyes any second. “When will she wake up?” he asked, not really ready for the answer.
“We honestly can’t say,” the doctor said, hesitating. “It could help to talk to her, remind her of things—people or memories she’s attached to. Maybe in a year or two… or maybe never. She could stay like this her whole life. In the best-case scenario, she has ten, maybe fifteen years before her body gives out.”
“Alright…” His voice cracked again, barely audible. He sat down beside her, holding her slender, lifeless hand.
Amanda, I know I’m selfish…
But I can’t lose you. I just can’t…
Back in the doctor’s office, as he settled in, a nurse handed him Amanda’s full report. He glanced through the contents casually—until his eyes caught something that made him freeze.
There was a baby.
She was pregnant.
Incredibly, despite everything she’d been through, the baby was still alive—perfectly fine. Unbelievable.
