He Ignored My Grief, I Chose Duty

Chapter 2

Serving your country is the greatest way to honor your parents.

Linnea's throat tightened with emotion. Her mother was right. Right then, she made a vow. She would serve her country, cherish her parents, and never again waste her life on love.

After she hung up, she booked a ticket for the 7 p.m. train home on September 29th. On September 30th, she would officially start at the Riverdale Police Department.

Just then, Dominic emerged, draped in a white bathrobe.

"Who were you talking to?"

"My mom. Just letting her know I'm safe."

Linnea lied.

In three years with Dominic, she had never once deceived him. Because she believed that being together meant trusting and loving each other, just like her own parents.

"Oh, by the way, Sonya sent you a message earlier. Don't forget to reply."

She stood up and headed to the bedroom.

Dominic picked up his phone, and a strange glint flickered in his deep-set eyes.

"Sonya's just joking. Don't read too much into it."

Linnea's steps faltered, but she didn't look back.

"Alright. Just remember... I'll believe anything you tell me."

Dominic's expression stiffened.

"It's late. Let's sleep."

Linnea shook her head. "You go ahead. I haven't finished packing yet."

"Packing? What for?" he asked, puzzled.

"I just got back, and my things are all over the place. I haven't had a chance to put them away," she replied.

In just five days, she'd be heading home. She needed to get everything sorted... mail what she could, toss the rest.

Dominic didn't press further.

"There's a victory celebration tomorrow night. Come with me."

"Okay." Linnea agreed.

It was perfect timing... tomorrow she planned to quit her job in Capital City, and they could have a farewell dinner.

At three in the morning, utterly exhausted, she collapsed onto the living room sofa and fell asleep.

*****

The next morning, when she woke up, Dominic was already gone.

After breakfast, she grabbed a cab to the office.

Four years ago, she had been offered a job at the Riverdale Police Department. But back then, Dominic had been gravely injured in a racing crash, and Sonya had broken up with him. Linnea chose to stay, nursing him back to health until he recovered.

A year later, Dominic returned to the track at McLaren International and clinched the championship title. He became the undisputed ace of FLY Racing Club, the reigning king of the track, code-named 'Phantom'.

After the race, he pursued Linnea for all the world to see.

"Linnea Valmont is my lucky goddess. Without her, I wouldn't be where I am today."

That day, the crowd erupted.

And just like that, they were together.

Back then, Linnea believed he had fallen for her over time. Little did she know, it was just gratitude.

Now she finally understood... gratitude, sympathy, caring for someone, even a relationship... none of it necessarily meant love.

She arrived at the office.

Her boss, Clara Evans, gave her shoulder a soft, reassuring squeeze. "I'm so sorry for your loss. Don't be a stranger when you're back home, okay?"

Linnea nodded firmly. "Mm, thanks, Clara."

She gathered her personal belongings, clutching the box to her chest as she walked out.

Clara watched her slender figure disappear down the hallway and let out a heavy sigh. "I should've known better than to pity a man."

Clara knew all too well that Linnea's boyfriend was the famous "Phantom." But she'd also caught wind of the recent online buzz... Phantom's ex-girlfriend, his personal navigator Sonya Nichols, had swanned back into the picture.

Four years ago, when Linnea first joined the company, Clara had learned that she'd spend four hours every day simmering soup, delivering lunch and dinner to Dominic, and nursing him back to health. She barely had a moment to herself. And now? Now, with his ex back, Dominic had conveniently erased it all from memory.

After leaving the company, Linnea made a beeline for a nearby makeup salon.

"Could you do my makeup, please?"

In the past, Dominic had never liked her wearing makeup, insisting she looked best bare-faced.

It was only later, through his crew, that Linnea discovered the real reason: his ex-girlfriend Sonya never wore makeup.