---- Chapter 14 Ellie looked at Marcus, her expression unwavering. "Yes, Marcus," she said, her voice ringing with certainty, her eyes shining as she turned to David. "David, | love you. And yes, | will marry you. With all my heart." She completed her vow, the one he had so violently interrupted. The words struck Marcus like a physical blow. He staggered back a step, a hand flying to his chest as if to stop his heart from breaking. Pain, raw and agonizing, ripped through him. Ellie saw his distress, the sudden pallor of his face. A flicker of something - concern? confusion? - crossed her features. "Marcus, are you alright?" she asked, her voice still polite, distant. "Is there something else?" The officiant, recovering her composure, cleared her throat. "Shall we... proceed?" she asked David and Ellie. They both nodded. Marcus was forced to watch as the ceremony resumed. As Ellie and David exchanged rings, as they were pronounced husband and wife. As they kissed, a long, tender kiss that sealed their union. ---- sh sSA His phone buzzed in his pocket. Chloe. He ignored it. Again. And again. He had come here to stop this. He had believed, somewhere deep in his arrogant heart, that he could. That one word from him, one look, would make Ellie abandon this folly and return to... to what? He had pushed her away, told her it could never be them. This was the outcome he had engineered. His stated desire. Guests began to congratulate the happy couple. He heard snippets of conversation. "..known David for years. He's adored Ellie since they met in Florence." ".such a devoted couple. They've been through so much together." The words were like acid, eating away at his insides. This wasn't some whim, some rebound. This was real. Deep. Enduring. Ellie loved David. And David clearly cherished her. Marcus felt a desperate, suffocating need to feign happiness, to offer congratulations, to play the part of the benevolent guardian. But the words wouldn't come. He couldn't do it. He couldn't watch her build a life with another man. He couldn't accept this. ---- Later, during the reception in the villa's courtyard, he saw Ellie slip away into a quieter part of the garden. He followed her. She was standing by a fountain, trailing her fingers in the cool water. "Ellie." She turned, surprised to see him. Her initial shock quickly faded, replaced by a calm, almost detached composure. "Marcus. Is there something you need?" He just stared at her. At the way the Tuscan sunlight caught the pearls at her throat, the delicate lace of her dress. At the new, unfamiliar serenity in her eyes. "Do you love him?" he blurted out, the question raw, desperate. She didn't hesitate. Her answer was patient, as if explaining something simple to a child. "Yes, Marcus. | love David very much. He's kind, he's honorable. He's funny. He listens to me. He believes in me. He makes me feel cherished, and safe. With him, | feel... whole." Her words, each one a testament to her happiness, were like individual daggers to Marcus's heart. He saw the genuine joy in her face as she spoke of David. A bitter, corrosive envy filled him. She had never spoken of him that way. Not even in her most passionate, youthful confessions. "And what am | to you now, Ellie?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper. "Now that you have him?" ---- She looked at him, a faint, sad smile on her lips. "You're my guardian, Marcus. My uncle, in a way. The man who took me in when | had no one. I'll always be grateful for the care you gave me, for many years. And I'm glad you came today, even if it was... dramatic." Her maturity, her calm distance, was a revelation. This wasn't the emotionally volatile girl whose sketchbook he'd found. This was a woman. Strong, self-possessed. A woman who no longer needed him. A single, desperate word escaped him. "Why?" Why him? Why now? Why couldn't she have waited? Why didn't she still love *him*? Ellie looked at him, her head tilted slightly, a flicker of irony in her eyes. "Isn't this what you always wanted, Marcus? For me to grow up? To find someone else? To be happy... without you?" Silence descended, thick and heavy. She turned to leave. "| should get back to my husband." "Ellie, wait." His voice stopped her. She turned back, questioning. He took a step towards her, his face a mask of anguish. "| regret it," he said, the words torn from him, raw and broken. "Ellie, | regret everything." 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.