Chapter: 309

A teammate glanced at Norah being held by Kason. "Captain Hayes, she's really lucky to be alive."

As they looked for survivors in the village, they came across a heartbreaking sight of deceased elderly and children. Very few had been spared. That they could rescue Norah from the well was indeed a stroke of luck.

Kason always had a soft spot for the elderly and kids. He gently rubbed Norah's back and asked once more, "What's your name?"

"Nora." Norah's voice was quiet, and as she pointed upwards, her youthful face remained fearless.

"Got it." Noticing the dirt on Norah's face and the healed cuts on her skin, Kason quickly checked her over before bringing her back to town.

“Kason, where did you find this little one? Did you get yourself a future wife?" Stepping out of the car with Norah, Kason was met with his teammate's playful words. He responded coldly, “I found her in a village today. She's a survivor."

"Oh, my bad." Realizing his mistake, the teammate quickly felt sorry, looking at Norah who was closely sticking to Kason. "My apologies I was just joking."

Norah pressed her lips together, holding onto Kason's hand tightly, her gaze cast down, silent.

Kason discovered from the villagers that Norah had been orphaned and wandering the village since she was about 8, relying on the kindness of various families to survive. It was a generous villager who had saved Norah's life by hiding her in a well.

Kason spent two weeks with Norah at their base, but when a mission called him away, he took Norah to a city's welfare home.

"Kason, don't you like me?" Norah looked down, fidgeting with her fingers. "I can change anything you don't like about me."

"No, you're a good kid. I'm just swamped with work." Kason bent down to meet her gaze. "We'll catch up once I'm less busy."

“Really?” Hope shone in Norah's wide, bright eyes as she looked up at Kason.

“Absolutely, you're doing great." He embraced her gently, murmuring, “Take care of yourself."

That moment marked the last time Kason saw Norah until recent encounters. The young Norah remained at the welfare home's entrance, tears streaming down her face, clutching the brown teddy bear Kason had given her, watching him disappear into the distance.

Later on, Kason's team embarked on a mission that only he survived.

He buried the memories of his team and inadvertently forgot about Norah, who was waiting for him back at the welfare home.

Putting the past behind him, Kason muttered, “Norah, it's been a long time."

Norah's eyes shimmered with a touch of the past. "Kason, it's been a long time."

Norah remembered Kason after someone mentioned his name at the bar recently. He had forgotten about her, and it didn't bother her. After all, she didn't expect him to still remember her after all these years.

Kason's heart leaped when he heard her voice. "Norah, I'm so sorry..."

Back then, Kason had planned to visit Norah often and hoped the Hayes family would take her in, but plans changed.

Norah dismissed his apology with a wave of her hand. “It's fine. You were on a mission then. I get it."

His military-green uniform was a symbol of his commitments. She held no grudge for being placed in the welfare home. Back then, Kason was her only hope.