The Special Agent Never Forgives

Director, we have a situation. Its about your son. The kidnappers... they threw him. He didnt make it.

Declan froze. He was still buttoning his shirt, the warmth of the woman on the couch behind him still clinging to the air. His pupils contracted into pinpricks. He slammed his hand onto the mahogany desk, the sound cracking through the room like a gunshot.

"Why am I only hearing about this now?"

The aide wiped a bead of sweat from his temple, his voice trembling. "Three days ago, sir... you gave a direct order. You said you thought your wife was pulling another stunt to check up on you. You said, under no circumstances were you to be disturbed."

Declans face drained of color. The blood in his veins turned to ice.

After my son - Neil died, I excised every habit of mine that Declan despised.

I stopped calling to check on him. Even when he didnt come home for days, I didn't cry, I didn't plead, and I certainly didn't ask where he had been.

When I fractured my arm during a training simulation and the medic asked to contact my next of kin, I just stared at the white wall.

"I don't have a husband," I said, my voice flat.

The doctor paused, recognizing me. "Mrs. Kensington? Director Kensington is literally two floors up in the briefing room. Shall I send someone for him?"

Right. I had forgotten. This military hospital fell under his jurisdiction.

I shook my head. "No. Don't bother."

But thirty minutes later, Declan walked in anyway.

He wore his authority like a second skinthe sharp cut of his suit, the heavy brow, the invisible weight of power that followed him into the room.

"Why didn't you call me?"

I lowered my gaze to the sheets. "It's just a hairline fracture. It's not important."

My toneso detached, so lightseemed to irritate him.

In his memory, I was the fragile one. When we were dating, a paper cut was enough reason to curl into his lap and demand a kiss to make it better. But now, with my arm in a cast, I didn't even frown.

Declan opened his mouth to speak, but the chatter of nurses in the hallway drifted in through the open door.

"Director Kensington is obsessed with Ivy. She just twisted her ankle, and he called in the entire orthopedic surgical team. He hasn't left her side. He actually carried her to radiology."

Declan glanced at me sideways, bracing himself. He expected the old Norathe one who would explode in jealousy, the one who would scream.

Instead, I closed my eyes and leaned back against the pillow. I didn't even twitch.

The silence unnerved him more than the screaming ever did. His voice dropped, heavy with frustration. "Don't listen to the gossip. Ivy twisted her ankle during field ops. I was just dropping her off."

"Okay," I whispered.

"Do you not believe me?" His temper flared, sudden and defensive.

"I believe you," I said, and I meant it. "She's your subordinate. She's your foster sister. Its only natural youd take care of her."

In the past, he would cold-shoulder me, lecturing me with that condescending tone: Ivy is family. I can't just ignore her. Its a sibling bond, Nora. Stop being psychotic.

Now that I was finally acting exactly how he wantedquiet, compliant, reasonablehe didn't look relieved. He looked like he was suffocating.

Just then, a nurse burst in. "Director! Miss Ivy is saying her ankle pain is unbearable. Shes asking for you."

Declan snapped. "If she's in pain, get a doctor! I'm not a medic. What the hell am I supposed to do?"

The nurse flinched and scrambled out.

Declan turned back to me, his expression shifting to something resembling guilt. "Nora... are you still thinking about Neil? Look, what happened... it was a lapse in judgment on Ivys part. Ive already reprimanded her."

He sat on the edge of the bed and reached for my hand. "We're young. We can have other children. Ill clear my schedule for the next week. Ill stay here with you. Okay?"

I pulled my hand away. It was a subtle movement, quiet and fluid.

Declan frowned, his jaw tightening, ready to argue. But then, a commotion at the door stopped him.

Ivy stumbled into the room, leaning heavily on a crutch, and dramatically collapsed in the doorway.

Declan was there in a heartbeat, scooping her up. "What are you doing? Youre supposed to be on bed rest."

"I heard Nora was hurt," Ivy sobbed, clinging to his lapels, looking up at him with wide, tear-filled eyes. Then she looked at me. "Nora, please don't hate me. I didn't mean for Neil to get taken... I didn't mean for it to happen..."

I didn't speak. I just closed my eyes.

Declan lowered his voice. "I'm going to take her back to her room. Ill be right back."

He carried her out. He didn't come back that night.

Instead, my phone buzzed. It was a secure line from Special Operations Command.

"Agent Ruan, are you confirming your participation in Project Chimera?"

"Once you're in, youre deep cover for ten years. Zero contact with the outside world. That includes spouses."

"I confirm," I said into the dark room. "Don't worry. I've already filed for divorce. The cooling-off period ends in a week. Ill have the decree in hand. Ill be a free agent. This mission is perfect for me."

The handler on the other end hesitated. "Agent Ruan... are you sure? Everyone knows how devoted you are to Director Kensington. You turned down the General Staff promotion for him."

My chest ached, a sharp, physical pang.

I was supposed to be the rational soldier. But when it came to Declan, my logic always failed.

We had been rivals at the Academy. "The Power Pair," they called us. The results were always the same: Declan first, Nora second.

I hated it. I trained until my muscles screamed, trying to beat him. But Declan was a natural tactician, born for command.

On the surface, I competed with him. Beneath it, I worshipped him.

Before graduation, I cornered him, my face burning. "Declan, if I beat you in the final war games... will you be my boyfriend?"

I expected him to laugh. Instead, he leaned in, his voice low and smoky. "If you take first place in the joint exercises... I'll marry you."

For that joke, that half-promise, I nearly killed myself training. I took first place.

And Declan didn't back down. At the commendation ceremony, in front of the entire corps, he proposed. There were helicopters trailing colored smoke in the shape of a heart. It was the grandest gesture anyone had ever seen.

"Nora, I love you. Marry me."

I thought I was the protagonist of a fairy tale.

I didn't know then that the spectacle wasn't for me. It was a smokescreen. He needed a massive public distraction to bury a scandal involving him and Ivy. I was the decorated female soldier, the media darling. I was the perfect shield.

"Agent Ruan? You still there?" The handlers voice was gentle. "Are you having second thoughts? You loved him a lot."

"I'm not regretting anything," I said, cutting him off. "And I won't. Because I don't love him anymore."

The door clicked open. Declan stood there.

The air around him was frigid. His eyes were dark, dangerous pools.

"What did you say?"

He walked closer. "You don't love who? Say that again."

I had hung up the phone the second I heard the latch. Now, I lay still, eyes shut, feigning sleep.

Declan loomed over the bed. Seeing my closed eyes, he let out a breath hed been holding. He thought I was talking in my sleep.

But the relief was short-lived. Even in my dreams, he couldn't tolerate my indifference. He shook my shoulder. "Nora? Wake up. You were having a nightmare. Were you dreaming about Neil?"

I opened my eyes, staring past him. "Nothing. I just dreamt Neil asked me why his mommy doesn't love him anymore."

Declan flinched as if Id slapped him. He pulled me into a hug, too tight. "Neil's death isn't your fault. Stop torturing yourself. We're young. We can have a dozen kids if you want."

I stayed silent. I was cold, all the way through to my marrow.

I could have another child, yes. But my son was dead. Did he think children were replaceable? Like goldfish?

I was too tired to fight. "Why are you here in the middle of the night?"

He pulled back, looking at me. "Tomorrow is the seventh day since... since it happened. The vigil. Ill go with you to the cemetery."

My body went rigid.

"Director," a nurse called from the hallway, terrified. "Miss Ivy had a nightmare. Shes screaming your name. Shes hyperventilating."

"Understood," Declan said. He looked at me, a long, searching look. "Rest, Nora. Well say goodbye to Neil together tomorrow."

I stared at the ceiling until dawn.

The next day, Declan drove us.

The Kensington family estate was draped in black crepe. The atmosphere was heavy, suffocating.

I hobbled into the main hall on my crutches, desperate for one last look at the small casket. But before I could cross the threshold, my mother-in-law, Eleanor, launched herself at me.

"You have the nerve to show your face!"

She slapped me. The force of it knocked me sideways. Then her hands were in my hair, pulling, tearing. "You killed my grandson! You knew you were a target, yet you paraded him around town! Why didn't the kidnappers kill you? You poisonous bitch, you wanted him dead!"

I froze, stunned.

Ivy was the one who took Neil out. Ivy was the one who lost him. Why was Eleanor screaming at me?

I looked at Declan. He turned his head away.

The rest of the family swarmed, feeding off the matriarchs rage.

"Heartless woman!"

"Get her out of here! She doesn't deserve to be at the funeral!"

I had dragged my broken body here to say goodbye to my son, and they were treating me like a criminal. A rock thrown from the crowd struck my forehead. Blood trickled into my eye. Someone kicked my crutch away.

I fell hard, the impact jarring my broken arm.

Finally, Declan stepped in. He stood over me, his voice booming. "Enough! This isn't Nora's fault. Anyone who touches her again answers to me. Do you want to spend the night in a military brig?"

The crowd parted. He was the head of the family now.

He carried me upstairs to the guest room and opened a first aid kit.

I watched him clean the blood from my forehead. "Ivy took Neil to the mall. Why does your mother think it was me?"

Declans hand paused. He didn't look at me.

"Nora... you know Ivy's position is fragile. Shes a foster child. The family never really accepted her."

He sighed, finally meeting my eyes. "If they knew she was the reason Neil died... theyd destroy her. She wouldn't survive it."

"But you," he continued, "you're my wife. You're strong. I can protect you. No one can actually hurt you."

"So," he finished, voice soft, "just take the blame for her. Please. As compensation, Ill transfer the deed to the lakeside villa to your name."

He braced himself for the explosion. He expected me to scream, to throw things.

"Fine," I said. "Whatever."

He blinked. "Don't overthink this. Ivy is like a sister to me. We grew up together. When she found out she was adopted... she lost her whole world. I can't abandon her."

"I understand," I said. "You don't need to explain. Explanations are for people who care. I don't love you anymore, Declan. I don't need your reasons."

Before he could process that, a security guard burst in, panting.

"Director! Disaster! Miss Ivy came to pay her respects and got into a fight with Harper!"

Harper. The Kensington's biological daughter, kidnapped years ago and raised in poverty. She hated Ivythe girl who lived the life that was stolen from herwith a burning passion.

Declan panicked. He dropped the gauze. "Wrap it yourself. I have to go down there before Harper kills her."

He ran out.

The moment he left, Eleanor marched in. She wasn't alone. She had two of the house staff with her, and she was holding a heavy wooden cane.

"Declans gone," she hissed. "No one to save you now."

"You killed my grandson. Im going to make you wish you were dead."

The staff grabbed me. They hauled me up and slammed me onto the hardwood floor.

Eleanor stepped on my broken hand, grinding her heel down. "I bet it hurt when those men threw Neil, didn't it? Did his bones snap like this?"

The pain was blinding. I curled into a ball.

Did Neil hurt this much? When he hit the ground... did he call for me?

Eleanor nodded to the servants. They lifted me up and threw me down again. And again.

"You're special forces!" she screamed, tears streaming down her face. "You could have saved him! You let him die to punish Declan! You were jealous of Ivy!"

I laughed. Through the blood in my mouth, I laughed. Even the old woman knew. Everyone knew Declan chose Ivy. Only Declan pretended it was "brotherly love."

They beat me until I stopped moving.

"Madam, stop! Shes barely breathing!"

Darkness took me.

I woke up back in the hospital.

I struggled to sit up. My phone had two notifications.

One from the City Clerk: Divorce Decree finalized. Please collect within 3 days.

One from Special Ops: Project Chimera initiates tomorrow. Send extraction coordinates.

I stared at the screen, and for the first time in forever, I smiled.

But I had one stop to make.

I heard Ivy had been injured by Harper and was in the VIP wing. I grabbed my crutch and dragged myself down the hall.

"Nora? Here to gloat?" Ivy lay in bed, looking pristine. "You're pathetic. Youre half-dead and Declan isn't even there. I twist my ankle and he holds my hand all night."

I ignored the bait. "Ivy. I want the truth. That day at the plaza. Did you lose Neil, or did you let him go?"

Ivy laughed. It was a cruel, ugly sound. "You really want to know? Fine. Declan was there."

I froze.

"Declan was there," she repeated, savoring the words. "I led Neil to the alley. I let go of his hand. When the men came... Declan was twenty feet away. He saw it. But he ran to me. He tackled me to 'protect' me because I screamed. He watched them take your son because he was too busy being my hero."

The room spun. Declan was there.

"And the best part?" Ivy smirked. "He knew I was carrying a concealed weapon. I didn't need saving. In his heart, you and your son combined aren't worth my little finger."

Tears blurred my vision, but I wiped them away instantly. That was the last tear I would ever shed for Declan Kensington.

I turned and walked out.

I took a cab to the City Clerks office. I sat on the steps all night until they opened.

I got the certificate. I asked them to mail Declans copy to his office.

A black military Jeep was waiting at the curb.

Before I got in, I took out my phone. I uploaded the recording of my conversation with Ivy to the internal military network.

Neils death wasn't an accident. It was negligent homicide, covered up by a high-ranking official. The law couldn't touch them, but the court of public opinionand the military tribunalwould destroy them.

I tossed the phone into a trash can.

I climbed into the Jeep. The engine roared. I was free.