“What’s that…?” Halle hesitated, unable to suppress her curiosity. The compass seemed to gleam mockingly under the moonlight, almost bringing tears to her eyes.
Darlene snapped out of her reverie and smiled, a look of fondness crossing her face. “This? This is my treasure. It’s been with me for ten years.”
'Ten years. Again,' Halle flatly thought.
The realization hit her like a punch. The compass she’d been cherishing wasn’t unique. It was just a replica of one Terence had made a decade ago.
All his talk about a “custom-made, one-of-a-kind” gift? It turned out they were just lies. She shouldn’t believe a single word from him anymore.
As Darlene casually toyed with her compass, Halle instinctively hid hers beneath her clothes, as if shielding a counterfeit from being exposed.
She then looked at Darlene and a mix of admiration and resignation filled her chest.
The night deepened and the moonlight fell softly on Darlene’s face, giving her a serene and graceful aura.
'What a perfect match they make,' Halle complimented bitterly in her heart.
One was like a hawk—bold, fierce, and unstoppable, while the other was like moonlight—calm, steady, and quietly strong.
The thought spilled from Halle’s lips before she could stop it. “Captain Benson, you and Terence… you’re like a match made in heaven.”
Darlene laughed upon hearing the latter, her eyes crinkling with warmth. “We’ve known each other for over a decade. I know him inside and out. We were comrades-in-arms. Of course, we seem compatible.”
She paused, then added with a smile, “If there’s anything you want to know about Terence, feel free to ask me.”
The words stung more than Halle expected. Her ears burned as a wave of heat swept through her.
'It's crystal clear that they love each other. Darlene’s so kind and understanding as well. What reason do I have to hold on anymore? Just one more week, Halle,' Halle thought to herself.
In seven days, she’d leave this place without looking back. It would be her way of giving them her blessing—and finding her own freedom.
Her life had been stuck in limbo because of Terence for three years. It was now time to get back on track.
“By the way,” Darlene interrupted her thoughts. “Do you want to hear about Terence when he first joined the team? Back then, he was even more intense than he is now. Poor Captain Howell could barely handle him.”