Dear Soldier, Put Your Gun Down

Benjamin’s eyes glistened with tears. Winona’s answer drove a dagger through his heart. Had she slapped him a few times, or yelled at him, he might have felt better.

All this time, he wanted to ask her if she had ever loved him, but when the time came, he simply said, “Sorry.”

Winona smiled lightly. “I know it wasn’t your fault. As the head of the Larson family, you can only take on the family’s interest as your own responsibility. Even if they asked you to marry Aileen, you won’t hesitate.”

The Larson’s family was a shell of its former self; it needed the Winston family’s assistance to stay relevant, to maintain their political influence.

The understanding and care she displayed embittered him. After all, she was the only person he loved for so many years.

The night wind billowed, messing up her hair. He yearned to gather it up, to help tie her hair back like before, however instead of doing so he patted her shoulder weakly.

“Winona, only you would know me that well.”

She smiled. Strangely enough, despite his broken promise, she felt no anger towards him, no strong emotions such as love or hate. Only gratitude. She wondered whether she had any feelings at all.

“Benjamin, thank you for your kindness over the years. Both Aileen and I will not forget it.”

He swallowed the bitterness inside him and smiled, “Enough of that, Winona, or you’ll make me feel worse.”

The two fell silent.

After what seemed like an eternity, he turned and looked at her. “Winona, can I hug you?”

Winona was silent for a long moment before she finally nodded.

take care of yourself. Matt Snider is a complicated man, he’s sure to have

someone at the corner of the rooftop secretly took a

let go of her. He knew that sometimes when one let go of

engagement to Matt, Winona still had not figured out his purpose in doing so, however she decided to take a gamble.

cooking up, as long as he treats me well, I’m fine

too much. More to the point, she felt that in terms of wealth,

life, he could not bear to mention the truth, the one terrible secret that struck

I wish you

distance. When he noticed the faint light on the opposite side of the rooftop, he immediately realized something and said in a

Winona and rolled to the ground. With a bang, bullet holes the size of small coins peppered

gasped for breath. Someone cried out, “Benjamin Larson, what in the blazes

into view and stopped in front of the duo. Whipping out his pistol, he pointed it squarely at Benjamin’s forehead.

looked at him. “Matt, someone just

she merely pointed

he whispered a few words to Herman, who promptly glanced at the direction of

Winona’s hand, proceeded to

Winona shaking her head. It was clear to him that

close to hers, the expression on it cold and stony. He jabbed at her as he spoke, “Winona, let me be clear, I don’t care what kind of history you two have. But you’re now my wife. If you want to cheat, that’ll

through gritted teeth, he pulled out his pistol again and

on his head throbbing, his anger palpable. It seemed that in front of her, the man

him on the chin. “Don’t worry. I’m not in the

lips touched him, all his

where the banquet was being held, so he relaxed his hold on her hands, and instead swopped her into a princess carry.