Chapter 70

Ethan's POV
We continued our discussion, devising a strategy to defeat the enemy. Every second was nerve-wracking as we evaluated how the changing scale of the viewpoint would affect our tactics. We discussed who could be deployed where and how to divide up the tasks between our forces. The sense of responsibility always weighed on me.
“Word is spreading that this battle is dragging on,” Lucas continued. “Perhaps we should seek an alliance with another group to strengthen our position.”
I nodded, realizing that this might be the only way to survive. “We should do it. I’ll take a few men to contact them,” I said, struggling to keep my spirits up as I discussed our next move.
“Perhaps we could also use the terrain to our advantage,” Lucas suggested. “If we can set up a location where the enemy will be trapped, we can take advantage of a surprise attack.”
Our discussion continued as the chaos outside showed just how dire the situation was. The enemy forces were like a never-ending wave. The worry about Isabella kept nagging at me—I wondered if she was safe where she was, but the less time we had, the more pressure we faced.
In the midst of an increasingly intense battle, every strategy had to be thought out carefully. Our squad wasn’t just fighting to survive, but to protect our homes and loved ones. So the tension fueled my desire to fight harder and defend every inch of our territory.
“We will not retreat,” I told Lucas and the rest of the squad firmly. “We will fight for everything we hold dear—for Isabella, for our families—until the end.”
As the adrenaline built up again, I could feel hope starting to rekindle. We had less and less time, and we just had to work together as hard as we could to get through this storm. Every beat of my heart echoed with the belief that we could fight, and every step we took to fight would change everything.
The day of battle arrived, and after making sure of all the preparations, I said goodbye to Isabella with a heavy heart. “Stay here and be safe, Isabella,” I said, hoping she would listen and understand how important it was for her to be safe as we faced the enemy.
However, as I faced the enemy lined up in front of me, I suddenly saw her figure. Unexpectedly, Isabella had followed me into the battlefield. My heart was pounding, a mixture of worry and anger at her rash decision. “Isabella!” I cried in my heart, but there was no time to dissuade her decision.
She wasn’t alone; Mia was with her beside her. I hoped and prayed that they were both okay in the midst of this chaos. But worry was eating away at my mind. “If she’s hurt, it means I failed to protect her,” my heart whispered in panic.
As we fought, Lucas turned and asked, “Ethan, why is our wife here?” He remained focused on the approaching enemy, but I could see the worry on his face for Isabella.
“I don’t know either,” I replied, still focused on the battle but my heart couldn’t get away from Isabella and Mia’s presence.
One by one the enemies attacked, and as I tried to shield Isabella from a distance, I felt caught between two tasks—protecting my men and keeping her safe. With every move and attack, I tried to make sure they stayed out of harm’s way.
“Isabella! Come back!” I shouted, but again there was nothing I could do to stop her. She was here, and she must have had a good reason. Even so, the anxiety in my heart could not be ignored. The worry became a burden that hampered my movements.
At the same time, seeing her stand strong and fight showed me that she was a strong woman. But as the battle raged on, I knew that this situation was far more dangerous than she could have imagined.
Lucas and I continued to fight, fighting to keep them safe. However, in the depths of my heart, nothing was more important than protecting Isabella. My hope was to end this battle soon and return to her side, so that we could be together again without fear and anxiety.
With a burning passion, I held onto the hope that we would all get through this safely. There would be many challenges ahead, but together, we would fight to survive and protect each other.
The chaos on the battlefield was unavoidable—our troops were losing, and many soldiers were falling. As the series of attacks hit, I frantically searched for her. Nothing was more important to me right now than finding Isabella safe.
Nervously, I peered around, trying to make out her figure in the crowd. But the fear deepened as I searched for her. The feeling in my heart grew more and more pressing, and when I finally saw her, my entire body froze.
Isabella was lying on the ground, covered in blood and unconscious. The sight of her, like a bolt of lightning, ripped through my heart. “No!” I screamed, running to her, my heart racing in panic.
“Isabella!” I shouted again as I reached her side, feeling my heart skip a beat. Quickly, I lifted her body, trying to carry her away from this horrific battleground. I didn’t care about anything else going on around me—only her and the urgency of getting her to safety.
When I arrived at the hospital, I ran into the emergency room. “Help, my wife!” I screamed, my panicked, trembling voice echoing throughout the room. The nurses and doctors stared at us in shock as they saw the extent of Isabella’s injuries.
They rushed over, and even though their gazes reflected pity, I couldn’t care less. What mattered most was Isabella’s safety. They started to try to handle the situation, but my heart couldn't calm down. It felt like time had slowed down, and everything around me felt blurry.