Chapter 5

Natalie was taken to the crew lounge by the train attendant. The attendant helped her onto the bed, saying, "Don't be afraid, miss. Just rest here. I'll be right outside the door. We still have half a day until we reach Kingston." "Thank you," Natalie replied. Her mind was clearer now, but her body was still weak. She didn't dare fall asleep, so she just lay on the bed. As she reflected on the embarrassing scene from the restroom, the humiliation made her want to forget it all. She hadn't expected Kevin to drug her with that kind of drug, nor did she anticipate acting so shamelessly toward a stranger. She was like a desperate woman on the prowl. Luckily, by the time her senses returned, Jasper was gone. She didn't know how she would face her savior otherwise. Natalie's incident happened in the train's last carriage. Addison, who was sitting in the front carriage, broke out in a cold sweat when he heard the news. He quickly went to find a train attendant for more information. Seeing him in military uniform reassured the attendant, who promptly led him to the crew lounge. "Captain Gregory." Natalie sat up when she saw Addison enter. Addison looked her over, worry etched on his face. "Are you alright, Ms. Wynn? Do you feel sick anywhere?" "I'm fine, Captain Gregory. You don't have to worry," she replied, shaking her head. He breathed a sigh of relief and handed her a boxed meal. "Here, eat something. Just rest here. I'll tell Ms. Yates that I'll be here with you." Before she could decline, Addison hurried off. Feeling hungry, Natalie glanced at the meal on the table. She opened it and started eating. Before long, Addison returned, this time with Phoebe. With the attendant's help, the three managed to sit in the same carriage. The journey went smoothly after that, with no more disruptions. … Meanwhile, at the Railway Police Department, it was confirmed through interrogation that Kevin and his gang were indeed part of a long-standing group trafficking women on trains. They targeted attractive women, who fetched a higher price. Once they identified a suitable victim, they would lure them in under the guise of Art Corps recruitment. After the women took the bait, they would create an excuse for a medical checkup or interview mid-journey to trick them into getting off the train. From there, they would drug and sell them to the buyer. If they couldn't lure someone on the train, they would resort to tactics like the one used on Natalie. They would stage a domestic dispute, with one person pretending to be the mother-in-law and the other the sister, leaving the victim with no choice but to get off. After their business at the police department, Jasper and Zachary headed out. The train they were on had already left. Not far away was the aviation squadron's base, so the two decided to take one of the squadron's training aircraft back to Kingston. They arrived half a day earlier than Natalie and the others. Upon reaching the base, Jasper learned that the "urgent mission" was actually a full medical checkup at the military hospital. Once cleared, he returned to his dorm and began writing a detailed report on the recent secret flight mission. Just as he was deep in concentration, a knock sounded on the door. "Jasper. Are you busy?" Henry Jackson entered, dressed in his green military uniform, with hands clasped behind his back. "Yeah, I'm working on a report." After setting his pen down, Jasper stood up and pulled out a chair beside him. "Please, have a seat." Henry sat down and glanced at the desk. "There's no need to rush on the report. I'm giving you a week off. Go home and rest. You can submit the report later." He figured Jasper would be eager to dive right back into work upon returning. Jasper was both smart and hardworking. Someone like him deserved to excel. Henry tucked away his inner thoughts and continued, "I heard that your two godsisters are coming to the Air Force Base Housing. Since you have some time off, you should take the opportunity to visit them." Everyone in the base housing knew Gideon had taken in two fallen comrades' daughters. At the mention of this, Jasper recalled overhearing Lilian and Natalie's conversation at the clinic. A fleeting glimmer of shadow passed through his eyes. He was determined not to give Natalie any opportunity to approach him. However, he also couldn't pretend to be casual around that fake sister. He was very clear about his liked and disliked. His expression alone could freeze anyone who displeased him, and he wouldn't even bother to fake it. So, he decided to minimize his visits home to avoid encountering her and prevent her from having any chances. Resolutely, he told Henry, "I'm fine, Colonel Jackson. I can jump right back into training. I don't need a break and would rather save my leave for later." Henry understood Jasper's character to some extent. He knew that whatever Jasper said was likely the result of careful consideration. "Alright, as long as you're sure. Oh, by the way, we're having a networking event with the Air Force Art Corps at the end of the month. You have to attend. You're 25 now, so you can't keep putting off your love life." With that, Henry quickly left, eager to avoid any objections. A networking event… Jasper couldn't help but think of Natalie, whom he had saved on the train and thrown herself into his arms, calling him "honey" and kissing him boldly. Frowning, he shook off the thought and returned his focus to the report. As he was finishing up, the communication office's operator knocked on the door. "Captain Locke, you have a call." "Thanks. I'll be right there." He tucked his notebook into a drawer and locked it, then strode over to the communication office. "Jasper speaking." He stood tall and straight as he picked up the receiver from the desk. His voice was as cold and rigid as he was. On the other end, James was already accustomed to his voice. "Jasper, don't tell me you've forgotten that we have two new sisters coming. Mom and Dad said they were coming home early to welcome them. When are you coming back?" Jasper replied flatly, "I have training this week and the next, so I can't go home." "What? You're not coming back? Mom wanted a family dinner. If you're not coming, you'll need to at least get some gifts for the girls. I'm thinking of buying two boxes of Elegance Frost Snow Cream. I hear all the ladies love that. I could give one box to each of our sisters." Jasper understood the basic etiquette of interpersonal interactions. After a moment's thought, he said, "I've got gifts ready. You can deliver them for me. In the third drawer under the desk in my room is a fountain pen for Phoebe and a book for the other girl." The fountain pen was a souvenir he received during training in Aclana. Having earned multiple awards domestically, he had a stash of them—at least five, if not ten. He had simply left one in his desk drawer when he returned home, never having opened it. As for the book, it was perfect for that scheming sister. "Alright, Jasper. Is there anything else before I hang up?" James felt relieved to hear that Jasper had prepared the gifts. The base's phone calls were public, and the operators were well aware of who called and what was said. Jasper couldn't go into too much detail, so he only offered a hint to James. "James, you're 18 now. Make sure you understand the boundaries when interacting with women. Use your brain, and don't let anyone take advantage of you. Okay, bye now." With that, he hung up the phone. At the Locke residence, James put down the phone, puzzled. He couldn't quite grasp what Jasper meant by that last comment. Meanwhile, their mother, Celeste Quinn, who had been waiting by the phone, asked, "So, is Jasper coming home?" James shook his head. "He's busy with training, so he won't be coming, but he's got gifts for the sisters." "That's fine, too. You can pass them along." Celeste had no issues with Jasper prioritizing work. After all, Gideon was the same. However, her tolerance for Jasper didn't extend to Gideon. Both of their goddaughters were coming, but Gideon was still busy with meetings at the military base recently. He left her to handle a mountain of chores. She was busy enough with her work at the hospital. Why should she be the only one worrying about family matters? "I'm back." Celeste was still mulling over her complaints when she heard Gideon's steady voice coming from downstairs. She gathered her thoughts and walked down from the upper floor. Gideon looked up at her and asked, "Is everything ready?" Seeing him return lifted Celeste's spirits slightly. "I cleared out the inner room on the second floor. Once the girls arrive, we can see if anything else is needed and get it all at once." Gideon nodded. "That's good. Thanks for your hard work these past few days." Celeste sank into the couch and took a sip of water to clear her throat. She couldn't help but voice her frustrations. "I don't mind you taking in Phoebe. She's lost both her parents and grandparents, so she's truly alone. But what's Natalie doing here? She still has a mother and a stepfather." The coffee table held freshly brewed tea from the housekeeper, Evelyn Harper. Gideon sat next to Celeste and glanced at her for a second. He then picked up the teacup and blew on it. "Didn't you always want a daughter? You thought our boys were too boisterous. Now, you've got two daughters. Isn't that great?" Celeste turned to glare at Gideon. "One daughter would have been enough. Why do you have to take in two at once? It's your reputation that benefits, but it's me who has to deal with the extra burden. "And don't think I don't see what Natalie's mother is up to. She just wants to use Natalie to climb the social ladder here at the base housing. She claims Natalie is too pretty for no one to protect her in the village. I'll see just how beautiful she really is!" Celeste wasn't just being dramatic. There were plenty of stunning women in Art Corps. A girl like Natalie from the countryside wouldn't stand a chance against them. She wouldn't even be in the running for any high-status match. Gideon understood that Celeste had a sharp tongue but a soft heart, so he didn't take her words too seriously. "Alright, calm down. Natalie's dad was one of my men who sacrificed for our country. As his supervisor, I have to look after his daughter." As they spoke, they heard the sound of a car engine coming from the driveway below. Addison was back with the ladies.