Chapter 2

Soon after Natalie left, her stepfather, Jeffery Lonsdale, realized she was gone. Staring at the empty bed in the ward, he kicked the bed leg in frustration and cursed in his mind. Though Natalie wasn't his biological daughter, he had raised her for ten years. But she turned out to be such an ingrate. All he wanted was for her to marry his son. Decades ago, cousins could marry each other, so why couldn't step-siblings do the same? Since they were family, it would save on wedding gifts and other expenses. Jeffery thought it was the perfect plan. Frustrated, he stepped out of the ward and confronted the doctor on duty. "Didn't I tell you to use more sedatives to keep her out cold? Why did you let her escape?" The doctor hunched and trembled in fear. "I-I went to the commune for lunch. She was gone when I came back. Maybe you should ask that guy over there." He nodded toward the other ward. There were only two wards in the clinic, and the walls were as thin as paper. If one side had noise, the other side surely heard it all. Jeffery followed the doctor's gesture and noticed a soldier had recently taken residence in the other ward. The man had a decent rank, too. He knew that because the higher-ups had sent a telegram demanding that all local officials be on standby for that soldier's every need. Jeffery slapped his own face, instantly transforming from anger to a mask of respect. He walked over to the curtain separating the two wards and called out, "Excuse me, sir. Do you have a moment? I need to ask you something." A few seconds passed before a cold voice replied, "What's your relationship with her?" Jeffery hadn't expected the soldier to guess his question right away. After some thought, he replied, "I'm sorry to trouble you with this. That girl, Natalie, has been dating my son for several years. "They were on the verge of getting married, but she suddenly wanted to call it off. My son is distraught. He won't listen to anyone but her, so here I am, trying to have a word with her about the wedding." Jasper sat upright on his bed, a slight smirk playing on his lips. It seemed that that woman was both practical and opportunistic. Having already climbed the social ladder to the Locke family, how could she possibly still be interested in her boyfriend from Willowridge Village? "Do you know where she went?" Jeffery prodded when he noticed Jasper's silence. "I don't," Jasper replied flatly. Not daring to press further, Jeffery muttered a quick "thank you" and left. Moments after Jeffery left, the sound of a car engine filled the air outside the clinic. The driver's side door swung open, and a young man in a green military uniform hurriedly jumped out and strode into the building. "Captain Locke!" Upon seeing Jasper sitting there unharmed, the man let out a small sigh of relief. "The colonel wants you back in Kingston ASAP. There's an urgent mission. I've already secured tickets for the next train to Kingston." "Let's go, then. What are we waiting for?" Jasper glanced at his watch and moved toward the exit. The young man fell in step behind him. As soon as they jumped into the car, Jasper hit the gas and sped down the rural road. At the city train station, they handed the car to a military liaison and boarded the train headed to Kingston. … The old train rattled along the tracks, the scenery outside zipping by. The train carriage's aisle was filled with people, and luggage was stacked haphazardly together. Most of the passengers wore shades of black, gray, or deep blue. Women sported braids or short bobs, while the men had either middle-parted styles or messy hairstyles. But without exception, everyone had thick, lush hair. Some brought live poultry on board. Their clucks and cackles blended with the chatter, creating lively chaos. Addison had only managed to get three standard seats, and they weren't even together, so they had to sit separately. Addison and Phoebe sat at the front of the carriage, while Natalie settled at the back. As soon as Natalie sat down, she caught the attention of the man across from her. The reason was simple—her striking looks were hard to ignore. Her perfect braids fell over her shoulders, framing her smooth, fair face. Her sparkling eyes and high nose gave her an elegant air. Her delicate lips, tinted like fresh cherries, curved slightly even when she wasn't smiling. She looked both alluring and innocent, a combination that made even passing animals pause for a second look. The man sitting across from her stared unabashedly. He even tried to strike up a conversation. "Hey, how old are you? Are you working yet? Do you have a boyfriend? Are you going to Kingston to visit family or something?" These days, there were really only a couple of reasons for traveling far. Without replying, Natalie sized the man up. He was dressed in a deep blue uniform, clutching a black briefcase under his arm. His square jaw and black-framed glasses gave him an air of scholarly authority. He looked like someone working for a state-run enterprise. Never judge a book by its cover. Having just transmigrated into an unfamiliar environment, Natalie remained on high alert. The man hadn't given up. He was still trying to talk to Natalie. "Don't get me wrong. I'm not a bad guy, and I don't have any ill intentions. "I'm Kevin Stokes, the director of recruitment for Kingston Art Corps. I noticed you have a great look. Would you be interested in joining us? I could recommend you, and you wouldn't even have to take an exam." Natalie remained unfazed. "Thanks, but I'm not interested." Though she turned him down, the nearby women eavesdropping couldn't help but be intrigued. They gathered around the bespectacled man, eagerly asking him questions. Noticing that, a middle-aged woman standing next to Natalie looked at her incredulously. "Oh dear, do you know how many people are desperate to get into Art Corps? Are you really not interested? "They pay a salary of 35 dollars a month, and you won't have to spend a penny on food or lodging. Where else can you find a job like that? "And that's not all. You're at the age to start looking for a partner, right? With looks like yours, if you can get into Art Corps, you'll rub shoulders with military officers. Marry a higher-up, and you'd be set for life!" The woman chattered in Natalie's ear, and her eyes inadvertently met with Kevin's. Noticing the exchange, Natalie suddenly asked the woman, "Excuse me, do you have a daughter?" The woman nodded without hesitation. Smiling, Natalie said, "Since the job at Art Corps is that great, and the director of recruitment is sitting right here, why don't you help your daughter secure a spot? "Once she marries a higher-up, you'll be a big shot's mother-in-law. You'll be able to buy a ticket for a seat on the train instead of standing the whole way." As her words faded, a quiet chuckle echoed from a few rows ahead.