The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 406

But as he remembered everything that had happened lately, a flicker of sorrow crossed his eyes.

If anyone else had asked, he might have tried to keep it together. But with Citrine standing in front of him, he felt an inexplicable urge to open up.

"One of my teammates was killed recently. The whole squad's been in a bad place. We completely fell apart during the last drill."

Citrine flinched at the word "killed," a shadow of grief passing through her gaze as well.

In the military, there's nothing more painful-or more terrifying-than losing a comrade.

She pressed her lips together and said earnestly, "The first lesson any real soldier learns is to accept death. Losing a teammate is devastating, but what's worse is not being able to face that reality."

"If you stay trapped in your grief, refusing to accept it, all that's waiting for you are more defeats and more fallen friends."

calm, and for the first time, Hastings sensed a composure in her that felt almost inhuman, as if she'd looked death in the eye more times than

keep telling myself to accept it, but I just can't," Hastings admitted, biting his

a moment before speaking, her tone deliberate. "Losing a teammate shakes you, makes you doubt yourself. That's when you have to ask: can you conquer your fear? Do you

dislike Hastings, but she couldn't deny his talent. With the right guidance, he could become an exceptional officer-someone who'd serve his country

like that, Citrine was always

she'd always been able to separate her feelings for the nation from her opinions about individuals. When

her words, but then his eyes lit up with sudden clarity. She'd cut right to the heart of the matter. "You're right. After we lost

we need to face our fears and hold onto

need to do now," he said, his voice trembling with excitement, as if a weight had

Citrine allowed herself a small smile. Maybe all her effort to talk sense into him

got what it takes to

never seen her smile like this

a little