A Sea of Love, A Shore of Hate novel

---- Chapter 9 I burst into tears of joy. "I'm sorry, everyone. I will never leave the team again. I want to travel the world with all of you and truly make a difference." Atlas gently wiped my tears with a handkerchief. " Constance, having you back is an honor for our team. Don't blame yourself. You've always been the best." Someone teased with a playful grin, "Now that Constance is back, no one's happier than Atlas. He's been waiting for you all these years.

He never even dated anyone else." I turned to him in surprise. Atlas ' cheeks flushed slightly as he pressed his lips together. "My feelings for you were mine alone. You don't need to feel burdened by them. I'll respect whatever decision you make." "There's one more thing," he hesitated, his gaze uneasy. "I'm sorry, Constance. The impact from the fall... the baby didn't survive it." Dazed, I touched my stomach. A quiet sigh escaped me for the little life that had briefly existed.

Perhaps it was for the best. From this moment on, I ---- would sever all ties with Maverick and erase every trace of him from my life. After that, I devoted myself fully to our team's rescue missions. We traveled through war-torn countries , one after another. In each place, we did what little we could to pull lives back from the brink of death. Children wove flower crowns for me, and adults prepared whatever humble meals and clothes they could offer.

Huddled around campfires in brief moments of ceasefire , we sang and prayed for hope and survival. These raw, heartfelt gestures gave me a deep, indescribable sense of fulfillment. It was only in those two short years that I finally felt truly alive. But what I never expected was that one day, I would see Maverick again. That day, as I finished bandaging a wounded patient, achild I had rescued tugged at my sleeve and pointed behind me.

Amid the rubble, the man who'd once stood tall was now hunched over. His face was rough with stubble, and his clothes hung in tatters. His eyes brimmed with tears of disbelief, his voice shaking as he called out, "Constance... "You're alive... Thank God. I thought I'd never see you again." ---- My expression remained indifferent. Frantic , Maverick fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a pair of dazzling rings. He held them out to me at the worst possible moment.

"Sweetheart, these are the rings I promised you. They can only be custom-made once in a lifetime. I brought them just for you... Will you wear them?" Only once in a lifetime? I coldly stared at him. "No need. I have no interest in goods that someone else has already worn." He probably never expected me to reject him so bluntly. His eyes reddened as he kept wiping his hands nervously on his shirt hem. "No one else has ever worn it-I had it made just for you. Sweetheart , I was wrong.

I know it's too late to say this now, but you're the only one I've ever truly loved. "T didn't see it before because I was blinded by Yana's lies. It wasn't until I saw her true colors that I realized .. [had already fallen for you. When I heard you were gone, it shattered me. I wanted to die with you." I laughed. "How are you even still breathing? And you still have the nerve to show your face? "Did you really think a simple apology could erase everything you put me through? The pills you forced