Chapter 149: A Deep Male Voice Called from Behind

"Elena!" A deep male voice called from behind.

Elena Ward and the young man beside her turned simultaneously. Adrian Stone stood a short distance away, his intense gaze fixed on them. Seeing Elena laugh so freely with another man twisted something inside him—she never smiled like that when they were together.

Though logic told him Elena wasn't the type to flirt casually, and he knew she had an older brother in the military, Adrian couldn't help the bitter sting in his chest. Did she really think so little of him?

"An... Adrian?" Elena's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't mentioned this sudden fiancé to her brother yet.

Daniel Ward narrowed his eyes, his sharp gaze sweeping over Adrian. The two equally tall men locked eyes, tension crackling between them.

"Elena, who's this?"

"Adrian Stone. Elena's fiancé." Adrian spoke first, determined to secure The Ward family's approval.

"Fiancé?" Daniel whipped his head toward his sister, disbelief written across his face. He'd only been gone half a year—how had she suddenly gotten engaged?

Elena cringed inwardly. Adrian always introduced himself this way to her family.

"Daniel, it's... complicated," she murmured. "I'll explain everything tonight."

Daniel turned back to Adrian and extended a calloused hand. "Daniel Ward. Elena's brother."

Their hands clasped firmly. As an elite special forces soldier, Daniel had no intention of going easy. If this man couldn't handle a simple test, he didn't deserve to be with his sister.

Adrian felt the pressure and immediately understood the challenge. Without flinching, he matched Daniel's grip, the two men locked in silent combat.

Elena watched as veins bulged on Daniel's forehead while Adrian maintained a calm façade—though the tension in his neck betrayed him.

"I'll... go help Rose with lunch," she said, wisely retreating. This was a battle best left to them.

The courtyard hummed with unspoken rivalry.

Daniel finally released Adrian's hand and rolled his shoulders. "Not bad. Care for a spar?" Meeting a worthy opponent had piqued his interest.

Adrian nodded, shrugging off his jacket and draping it over the woodpile. His olive-green tank top revealed well-defined muscles.

"Special forces?" Daniel stripped off his own shirt.

"Classified unit." Adrian kept it vague, but Daniel instantly recognized the implication—this was one of those shadowy teams with undisclosed identities.

They took their stances, fists and feet cutting through the air.

Meanwhile, in the front yard, Rose Jackson was hanging laundry.

"Elena, what's going on back there?" she asked curiously. "I saw Adrian heading your way earlier."

Elena suppressed a smile. "Who knows?"

Rose rolled her eyes. "Don't play dumb. But Adrian really is something—five visits in ten days despite his training schedule? And he keeps bringing gifts." She gestured to a package on the table. "I told him not to bother."

Elena unwrapped it to find brand-new uniforms and boots. Warmth spread through her chest—these were clearly for Rose's three boys. Adrian's thoughtfulness touched her deeply.

"Rose, these are for Luke, Aaron, and Samuel."

"We can't accept this!" Rose protested. "They ruin clothes so fast during training. He should keep them for himself."

Elena grinned mischievously. "Tell him that yourself. I'm not getting involved." With that, she ducked into the kitchen to prepare lunch. With Daniel home, they needed a proper feast.