When Be felt Sean’s embrace slowly loosen, she took a step back to see his face more clearly.

He looked handsome as usual, with a smooth and clean face, unlike people who returned from dangerous missions, which she usually saw in action movies where the leads returned with several wounds on their bodies.

Be felt relieved to see this man still the same as when shest saw him a few months ago.

"Sean,e with me. Let’s sit first," Be said, walking to the sitting area without waiting for him to respond.

However,

Before Be settled on the sofa, she looked at Sean, who now sat on the single sofa opposite her.

"What would you like to drink, Sean?" She tried to act casual, but her stiff tone rified her awkwardness.

"As usual, please—"

"Okay." Be immediately made her way to the minibar to make his favorite Earl Grey tea and atte for herself.

"Thank you, Bells..." Sean smiled at her, but his smile slowly faded when he saw her back facing him. His hand was slightly clenched as he tried to maintain his calmness.

Sean couldn’t understand why, but he sensed an apparent anxiety and unhappiness in Be’s gaze. Her smile also didn’t reach her eyes as it usually did when they met in the past.

Or was he overthinking? Yes, he must be. Be might be nervous, just like him, after they were separated for almost four months withoutmunication.

Before long,

Sean saw Be walk to the seating area with two cups in her hands. He immediately maintained his expression, smiling at her.

"I’m d you’re finally back, Sean," Be said as she handed him the cup of tea before sitting across from him.

’Thanks," He epts the cup.

"There’s something I want to tell you," she continued.

Be couldn’t dy this; she had to tell him about her status with Tristan.

"No, please. Let me tell you the good news first." Sean stopped Be from speaking further.

"Good news?" Be was slightly surprised to hear that. At the same time, she was also worried about what he wanted to say.

A loving smile now graced his face as he began to exin.

"Bells, I am no longer deployed with my unit and station in North City. I am now an officer at the military base here in the capital. So, from now on, I won’t have any more long overseas missions that take me away from you for extended periods," Sean exined. His tone and gaze showed how happy he was now.

Seeing that, Be felt her heart hurting even more. She slowly ced her emptytte cup on the table and continued to listen to him in silence.

"And I called my mother to tell her about you. She was super happy to know about you, Bells. She invited you to have lunch with her. Can you spare some time this weekend to meet her? We can meet her in a nice restaurant..."

Sean smiled lovingly at her as he waited for her response. He couldn’t wait to bring Be to meet his mother. But his expression slowly changed from happiness to worry when he heard her refusal.

"Sean, I’m sorry. I… I can’t," Be’s voice sounded slightly shaky. Her clenched hands in herp expressed her guilt.

Sean’s worry increased when he noticed her strange expression.

"Bells? Is there something I don’t know that I need to know? Why are you apologizing? And why don’t you want to see my mother?" He asked.

Sean now realizes that Be’s attitude has changed since he saw her earlier.

’Did I leave for too long, making her upset? And now, she no longer wants to continue our n!?’ he wondered.

Suddenly, the scary thoughts that often arose in his mind while he was abroad returned to haunt him; Be left and married someone else.

"Sorry if I can’t keep my promise to you. I can’t give you a chance, Sean. I—"

"Wait! Wait... Bells... Wait..." Sean immediately stopped Be from continuing. "If it’s hard for you when I’m missing in action for too long, I apologize...please forgive me."

After calming the hurricane in his heart, he continued speaking, "But as I said, that was myst assignment. From now on, there will be no more long missions. I’ll be stationed in this city and can always be with you."

"Sean, that’s not why I broke my promise to you..."

A thin line slowly appeared on Sean’s forehead. He heard her words, confusing him even more.

"That’s not the reason? So what?" Before Be could respond, Sean spoke again as he realized something. "Bells, is it because of my aunt? Did something happen? Did she meet you?"

Be silently took a deep sigh.

"Did you speak with your aunt before meeting me?"

"Not yet. Could you please tell me why you suddenly changed your mind? I know I’m at fault here—I didn’t keep my promise. I asked for three months, but now I realize I’m toote. I’m sorry."

"It’s not because of your aunt but because of Tristan—"

Sean’s heart tightened upon hearing Tristan’s name.

"Tristan? Did he threaten you?" he asked, worried.

"No, he didn’t. But...Tristan never submitted our divorce papers to the court. I’m still his legal wife, Sean. I’m really sorry I couldn’t keep my promise to you to give you time to convince your parents."

Even though her words would hurt Sean, Be didn’t want to give him false hope. Her legal status with Tristan remains unchanged, and she cannot deny her feelings because she still loves Tristan.

It would hurt them even more if she forced herself to be with Sean when her heart longed for and belonged to Tristan.

"I’m really sorry, Sean—" No words coulde from her lips now as she saw Sean’s calm expression slowly turn miserable.

As this kind and humble man showed his lowest and weakest side, sadness and disappointment, Be could feel the pain seeping into her heart and soul.