---- Chapter 15 "Ellie-bean." The forbidden endearment, the one he'd used when she was a child, when their bond was simpler, purer. It fell from his lips now, laden with a sorrow so profound it made the air around them shimmer. She wasn't surprised. Deep down, she'd suspected. For years. His overreaction to her sketchbook. The way he'd kept her locket, treasured and hidden. His strange, panicked behavior when Maria had mentioned her resemblance to Chloe. It wasn't a sudden revelation. It was a slow, dawning confirmation of a truth she had buried, a truth too painful to acknowledge. He had loved her. Perhaps he still did. The thought brought her no joy. Only a deep, aching sadness. He had loved her, even then, four years ago. When he'd sent her away. When he'd ignored her desperate calls from Florence. He had loved her, and he had chosen to let her suffer, to push her away, to deny his own heart. Why? ---- Cowardice? Fear of societal judgment? His own twisted sense of propriety? If he hadn't loved her, his actions would have been cruel, but understandable. A guardian discomfited by a ward's inappropriate crush. But to love her, and still do what he did... That was a betrayal far deeper, far more unforgivable. He'd sent her away to avoid complications. He'd taken a substitute, a pale imitation, in Chloe. The physical resemblance between her and Chloe, which had once puzzled and vaguely disturbed her, now made a sickening kind of sense. It wasn't romantic. It was grotesque. She had anticipated this moment, this confession. Dreaded it. She tried to step around him, to escape. He moved, blocking her path, his hands shooting out to grip her upper arms. He pressed her back against the cool stone wall of the fountain. His face was close, his breath warm on her skin. The familiar scent of sandalwood, now mixed with the faint, stale odor of airplane travel and desperation. She tried to turn her head away, but his grip tightened. A drop of moisture landed on her cheek. Then another. She looked up at him, startled. Marcus Thorne, the strong, composed, unshakeable Marcus, was crying. ---- Tears streamed down his face, unchecked. Great, silent, agonizing tears. She had never seen him cry. Not when her parents died. Not ever. A fleeting pang of something - pity? empathy? - pierced through her resolve. It was quickly suppressed. Her own heart was clear, unwavering. *| love David.* *| am David's wife.* "Marcus," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "You are engaged to Chloe. | am married to David." She looked him directly in the eye. "You once told me, very clearly, 'It's never going to happen between us, Ellie.' Do you remember?" She tried to pull away, but his grip was like iron. "| was wrong," he choked out, his voice thick with tears. "| was a fool. A goddamned, blind fool. | love you, Ellie. I've always loved you." She clapped a hand over his mouth, silencing him. She couldn't bear to hear it. Not now. It was too late. "Don't," she whispered, her own eyes suddenly burning. "Don't say it." She took a deep, shuddering breath. "When | was in Florence," she began, her voice low, intense, "after you sent me away... | nearly died. Three times." 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.