---- Chapter 18 The days that followed were a blur of sun-drenched landscapes and the quiet, steady presence of Hamilton. Provence was a balm to my soul, a place where the ghosts of my past felt a million miles away. Hamilton had been my lifeline. When | had called him that day, a broken, desperate woman, he hadn't hesitated. He had been a quiet, nerdy boy in high school, the target of bullies. | had stood up for him, a small act of kindness | had long forgotten. He had not. He had built a tech empire, but he had never lost the gentle kindness that | remembered. He used his immense resources to orchestrate my escape, creating a new identity, a new life for me in this peaceful corner of the world. He had given me a safe place to heal, the space and time to find myself again. We fell into an easy, comfortable rhythm. He never pushed, never demanded. He was just there, a steadfast presence, his love a quiet, gentle thing that asked for nothing in return. He was everything Jackson was not. We were at a friend's wedding, a beautiful ceremony in an old stone church. The air was filled with joy and hope. As the bride and groom said their vows, | felt a pang of sadness, a fleeting memory of my own wedding day, of the dreams | once had. ---- | felt a warm hand cover mine. It was Hamilton. He looked at me, his eyes full of a deep, quiet understanding. He didn't need to say anything. He just knew. The memory of Jackson's appearance at my gallery was still a raw, open wound. It had shaken me more than | wanted to admit, a brutal reminder of the life | had so narrowly escaped. The reception was in a beautiful garden, under a canopy of stars. | was laughing at something Hamilton said when a commotion near the entrance caught our attention. Aman, his face contorted with rage, had burst past security. He was screaming a woman's name, his eyes wild. It was the bride's ex-boyfriend. In his hand, he held a knife. The scene was a horrifying echo of my own past. My blood ran cold. My heart hammered against my ribs. The scar on my abdomen throbbed with a phantom pain. The man lunged towards the bridal table. People screamed, scrambling to get out of his way. But | didn't run. Something inside me, a strength | didn't know | possessed, took over. | was not the victim anymore. | would not stand by and watch another woman's life be destroyed. | moved before | even thought about it. | grabbed a heavy champagne bottle from a nearby table and, as the man ran past me, | swung it with all my might, smashing it against the ---- back of his head. He stumbled, his momentum carrying him forward. | didn't hesitate. | kicked the back of his knee, and he went down, the knife clattering to the ground. Security guards swarmed him, pinning him to the ground. The garden was silent for a moment, then erupted into a cacophony of relieved sobs and shocked whispers. Hamilton was at my side in an instant, his face pale with a terror that was all for me. He grabbed my hands, his eyes scanning me for injuries. "Elena, are you okay?" he asked, his voice trembling. | looked down at my hands. They were shaking, but not with fear. With adrenaline. With power. "I'm fine," | said, and for the first time in a very long time, | knew it was the truth. He pulled me into his arms, holding me so tight | could barely breathe. "You were so brave," he whispered into my hair. "But don' t you ever do that again. | can't lose you." | looked up at him, at his kind, worried face, and | saw my future. A future free of fear, of pain, of the ghosts of the past. A future filled with a quiet, steady, and unconditional love. | leaned in and kissed him. It was a kiss of gratitude, of hope, of a new beginning. It was the first day of the rest of my life. 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.