---- Chapter 16 The news that he was sterile, that the son he had briefly known was another man' s, was a one-two punch that should have knocked Jackson out. But the revelation that Elena might be alive was a jolt of pure adrenaline, a defibrillator to his dying soul. He woke up in a stark white room, the smell of antiseptic sharp in his nostrils. A man he vaguely recognized as his family doctor was standing over him "You gave us quite a scare, Jackson," the doctor said, his voice grim. "You' re lucky to be alive." Jackson tried to sit up, his mind already racing. "Elena..." "Lie still" the doctor ordered. "You' re in no condition to go anywhere." He explained, in clinical, detached terms, the full extent of Candida' s poisoning. The love gu, the sterilization drugs, the subtle neurotoxins that had kept him in a suggestible, emotionally volatile state for years. "We' ve flushed most of it from your system," the doctor said. "But the damage is done. The sterilization is permanent." Jackson barely heard him. All he could think about was Elena. ---- He had done those things to her. He had hurt her, abused her, terrorized her. But it wasn't him. Not the real him. It was the poison. It was Candida. The thought was a flimsy shield against the crushing weight of his guilt, but it was all he had. "| have to find her," he said, his voice a raw whisper. Just then, his assistant burst into the room, his face alight with a triumphant glow. "Sir, we found her." Jackson' s heart stopped. "She' s in a small town in the south of France," the assistant said, reading from his phone. "Living under a new name. She' s an artist. Apparently, she' s become quite successful." France. She had run to the other side of the world to escape him. "Book me a flight," Jackson commanded, throwing off the hospital blankets. "The next one out." He ignored the doctor's protests, the assistant' s pleas for him to rest. He pulled the IV from his arm, a sharp sting of pain that was nothing compared to the agony in his soul. He had to get to her. He had to explain. He had to make her understand that the man who had hurt her was not the real him. The real him loved her more than life itself. ---- He stood up, and the world spun. He fell back onto the bed, his body weak, his mind a whirlwind of hope and despair. He would get his strength back. And then he would go to France. He would find his wife. He would crawl on his hands and knees if he had to. He would spend the rest of his life making it up to her. He had to. It was the only thing that mattered now. 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.