---- Chapter 10 The moment Candida moved back into the villa, she began her conquest. "| want this room," she declared, standing in the doorway of what had been my bedroom. Our bedroom. Jackson hesitated for a fraction of a second. The room was filled with my things, with memories of me. My scent still lingered in the air. "Fine," he said, his voice tight. Candida swept into the room, a victorious smile on her face. Joey ran in after her, his eyes wide with excitement. He bounced on the bed, then pointed to the nightstand. "Look, Mommy! A picture of us!" Candida froze. Jackson's head snapped up. On the nightstand, where a photo of Jackson and me had once stood, was a new picture. The one | had left for them. A perfect family portrait of Jackson, Candida, and Joey. Jackson was smiling, a look of pure, unadulterated happiness on his face, an expression Candida had never seen directed at her. Jackson stared at the photo, his throat tightening. Every trace of me was gone. My clothes, my books, my perfume on the ---- vanity. It was as if | had been erased. Candida saw the look on his face. She threw herself into his arms, her body shaking with fake sobs. "Oh, Jackson," she cried, her voice muffled against his chest. "You do love me! You did all this for me!" He stood rigidly, his arms hanging at his sides. He looked over her head at the smiling family in the photo, and his mind was a maelstrom of confusion and a deep, gnawing emptiness. He saw my face, my real smile, superimposed over the image. He heard my voice, whispering his name. He felt a sudden, dizzying sense of unreality. Who was this woman in his arms? Who was the woman who haunted his thoughts? Candida, sensing his distraction, pulled his head down and kissed him, her mouth hungry and possessive. She whispered against his lips, "Let's celebrate, my love. Let me help you forget." Her hands were all over him, her body pressing against his. But he felt nothing. He was numb, a hollow shell going through the motions. His body was with her, but his mind, his soul, was lost in a fog of grief and regret. He moved mechanically, his touch without passion. He was a puppet, and she was pulling the strings. In the haze of their passionless embrace, he heard my name. ---- Jackson. It was my voice, clear as day, whispering in his ear. He froze, his breath catching in his throat. He looked down at Candida, but it was my face he saw, my eyes looking up at him, full of a love he had thrown away. "What is it?" Candida asked, her voice sharp with annoyance. "What's wrong?" He didn't answer. He couldn't. "Are you thinking about her?" she demanded, her eyes narrowing. "Are you thinking about that dead bitch?" The question hung in the air between them, heavy and suffocating. He didn't have to answer. The look on his face was enough. She pushed him away, her face a mask of fury. She rolled over, turning her back to him. "Go to sleep, Jackson," she said, her voice like ice. "You're clearly not in the mood." He lay in the darkness, staring at the ceiling, the silence of the room a roaring in his ears. He was trapped. Trapped in a life he had chosen, with a woman he was beginning to realize he didn't know at all. And haunted by the ghost of the one woman he had truly loved, and had utterly destroyed. Title: A Princess? No! I'm the Female General! In "A Princess? No! I'm the Female General!" by CrushReel, Adela Taylor, a noble family's daughter, disguises herself as her brother to secure their Duke title by joining the army. Despite facing obstacles, she achieves remarkable success. However, upon her triumphant return, her brother betrays her, setting off a chain of events that will test her resolve and reveal hidden truths. This captivating novel delves into themes of secrets, reincarnation, revenge, murder, and drama. Adela's journey from deception to betrayal is filled with intrigue and suspense as she navigates through a world where power dynamics and family loyalties collide. What sets this story apart is its strong female lead who defies expectations and challenges societal norms in a quest for justice and redemption. Experience the riveting tale of Adela Taylor online at CrushReel and witness the transformation of a princess into a formidable female general.