Chapter 2

2

I pulled up the mission schedule and turned the screen toward the crowd.

The shifts and signatures were clearly visible to everyone.

"Macy Sterling, you were the lead technician on duty last night."

"I, Sienna Reed, was on mandatory rest after a 72-hour special operation."

"My name isn't even on this roster."

The second I finished, people in the crowd started to snap out of it, their bottled-up rage finding a new target.

"She's right! Sienna just got back from the 'Red Scorpion' mission. She disarmed three linked mines and could barely stand when she got back!"

"Exactly! Macy, you've been hiding behind Captain Miller's protection forever. You always dump the dangerous jobs on Sienna. Now that you've caused a disaster, you're trying to take her down with you?"

"You screw up and look for a scapegoat? You really are as pathetic as always!"

The accusations hit Macy like stones.

The color drained from her face, leaving her ghost-white before she collapsed back onto the ground.

Right then, a military SUV screeched to a halt at the perimeter.

The doors flew open, and General Brooks and my husband, Grant Miller, strode out. Both of them looked furious.

I looked at Grant. We used to be the golden couple of the service, the perfect match in everyone's eyes.

But now, his gaze swept past me without a hint of concern, heading straight for Macy.

He stripped off his jacket and wrapped it around her, pulling her into his arms.

"Don't be scared, Macy. I've got you."

His voice was gentler than I had ever heard it.

"I won't let anything happen to you."

My heart turned cold in that moment.

In my last life, he protected her the same way, telling me, "Sienna, she was just nervous. She's gifted. You need to encourage her more."

Now, he was putting his favoritism on full display in front of everyone.

The surrounding colleagues looked at them with even deeper disgust and anger.

General Brooks' gaze cut between the two of them like a knife before he barked at me to get into the command vehicle.

The moment the door slammed shut, his steady demeanor crumbled.

The battle-hardened General looked panicked for the first time in his life.

"Sienna! I don't give a damn about the regulations!"

He slammed his fist onto the map on the console, making the equipment rattle.

"You have to save that server!"

"If it's lost, every single person in this department―starting with me―is getting lined up against a wall!"

I looked into his bloodshot eyes and spoke calmly.

"General, I can try."

My voice was quiet, but it silenced the entire van.

"But I have conditions."

I pulled a document from my pocket and handed it over.

It was the authorization for "Macy Sterling's Specialized Intuition Field Application," signed personally by Grant after he fought off all opposition.

The word "intuition" looked like a sick joke now.

"He authorized the risk."

"I'm not cleaning up this mess alone."

"I want him to pay the price for this so-called 'innovation.'"

General Brooks' eyes narrowed as he snatched the paper.

After reading it, he slammed it onto the table with a deafening bang.

"That absolute idiot!"

His roar almost shook the roof off the van.

"Don't you worry. That expert seat he applied for? Consider it denied."

"Every promotion path he has is frozen as of today!"

A cold, sharp smile touched my lips.

I picked up a pen and signed the military order for mission exemption and liability waiver.

Grant, I'm cutting off your path to the top with my own two hands this time.