Leslie felt her scalp go numb and quickly tried to explain. “General Reyes, what General Phelan meant was actually…”

Before she could finish, Valerie cut her off coldly. “Shut up. No one asked for your opinion here.”

Then, out of nowhere, she smiled. Just seconds ago, she had been crying, but her mood shifted so fast, it was almost seamless.

That sudden change made it clear how cunning and unpredictable she was.

“Luna, I finally see it now. You’re so worked up about whatever happened between me and Andrew. Could it be you’re scared that there’s something between us, something you don’t know about?

“So that’s why you’re anxious, suspicious, even scared. You came all the way here to confront me because you’re terrified there’s more between me and Andrew than meets the eye. Am I right?”

To Andrew’s surprise, Luna stepped forward. She frowned and said, “You’re absolutely right. Valerie, you’re a noble lady from the powerful Chetvine family. You’re the precious heiress of the Reyes family, adored by your father and the elites of Chetvine. But that doesn’t mean I’m afraid of you.

“You and Andrew aren’t the same kind of people. I’m asking you not to hurt him and definitely not to drag him down. Andrew’s been through hell, and he’s suffered more than you could ever imagine, shed sweat and blood even soldiers like us couldn’t match. I don’t care what happened between you two, or what kind of drama you’ve got going on.”

She continued, “All I have to say is to stop clinging to him. If he owes you something, I’ll pay it back myself. But I have one non-negotiable condition: from now on, stay away from him and stop causing him trouble.”

Her gaze turned ice-cold. “And if you ever dare to pull those disgusting tricks of yours again, then we’ll settle it on the dueling field: life or death.”

Valerie froze for a moment. Luna was not the kind to throw around threats lightly, but when she did, she always meant it. Moreover, the consequences were never minor.

Leslie, standing there, felt completely stunned. She was no longer caught between two sides. She was paralyzed, like she had turned to stone.

Luna was openly defending Andrew and standing up to Valerie.

Both women were stars of the military, rising legends admired by everyone. Normally, they did not get along, but neither could overpower the other. Most of the time, they simply coexisted in tense silence.

But now, they looked like they were ready to draw swords, for a man, no less.

Leslie had seen plenty of men fighting over women, but never the other way around. And certainly not between two women like them, cold, untouchable, women who usually scorned anything ordinary or sentimental.

It was like watching two divine goddesses descend to earth, only to start fighting over a mortal man.

Leslie realized that she no longer understood Luna at all.

Not only that, but she had also never, ever seen Valerie cry.

When it came to stubbornness, indifference, and pride, Valerie could easily outmatch Luna.

Luna was proud, too, but at least she still had compassion. The high and mighty general would kneel to comfort a disabled girl in the slums, offering her a smile and a safe way out of the war zone.

Valerie, on the other hand, was the total opposite. During missions, she cared only about one thing: winning. She would walk right past the wounded without a second glance, her only goal being to take down her target.

That was the biggest difference between the two beauties. Yet now, both had fallen from their high pedestals, pulled down into the messy world of mortal emotions—and they were no longer the same as before.