"Come here." Duke couldn't accept the fact Leena was married, let alone the image of her in another man's arms. She was his baby sister. He had taken care of her since she was a little girl. No one should be able to take her away from him!
"But… I said I'm going back with Kevin." Leena watched Duke's face carefully, afraid he would get mad and drag her home.
"What? Leena, say that again if you dare!" Duke's anger flared when he heard what Leena said. She married this man behind him and refused to go home. Where did she get the nerve?
A sudden shiver of fear went through Leena. She tried to hide herself deeper in Kevin's arms. What was she thinking, provoking Mr. Cold again? At this rate, she was going to pay a terrible price.
"Chill, Mr. Duke. Leena is my wife. She's no longer your responsibility." Kevin said slowly but firmly. Duke tried to keep his cool, yet he seemed aloof and intimidating. Kevin wasn't daunted by Duke's open hostility and made his point clear.
"Leena, you agree with him?" Duke asked, ignoring Kevin's words. He closed his dark cold eyes, and forced them open again. When he stared at Leena, his eyes were filled with disappointment and sadness.
"Brother, I…" Leena looked at Kevin, then looked at Duke. She just didn't know what to do. Whoever she chose, she would hurt the other guy. It pained her to make the choice. One was her favorite brother, and the other was her current husband. She wished there was some kind of middle ground where no one would be hurt.
"It's OK. I get it." Duke gave Leena a long look. Then he just turned and walked away in silence. This was a bet. Who was the more important one for Leena? A wicked smile formed on Duke's lips. 'Kevin, you never are a match for me.'
"Brother, I'm sorry. I'll go back with you." Leena called out before that desolate figure disappeared from sight. Duke had raised her since she was a little girl, taken care of her like a mother. His love for her was in his blood. She could not bear the thought of losing him.
Kevin just laughed at himself. He wasn't upset at all. Really, if Leena had chosen him over Duke he'd be disappointed. Duke had been living with her for more than twenty years and Kevin was just a stranger not long ago. If she didn't care about how Duke felt, he must say he married the wrong girl.
Duke could feel his heart singing. He won the first round. He couldn't undo Leena's marriage. He might not always be the winner in the future. But at least she still cared about him and this was enough to set him at ease.
"I'll come with you. I should meet the family and we can talk this out." Kevin said calmly, smiling at them. He didn't like running away from responsibility. He was willing to face any question or doubt her family might have about this marriage. Soldiers didn't drag their feet.
Then you can come. We can definitely use a talk." Duke sneered. He would probably talk to Kevin with his fists instead of his words. Kevin sensed the threat behind the sneer. Appointed as major general at such a young age, he was too sharp to miss the faintest hint in Duke's voice. He was a soldier. He could handle himself in a fight. Duke's threat was nothing to him.
Leena looked at Kevin apologetically. She realized what she had done might have embarrassed Kevin. But at present her brother meant more to her than anyone in the world. She wasn't heartless, so she had to go back with Duke.
When Kevin caught Leena's gaze, he gave her a reassuring smile. He understood she was in a difficult position. Kevin was a reasonable man. How could he blame Leena for this? He would do the same thing if he were her.
On the way back from the airport, Leena rode on Duke's car and Kevin followed them in his Humvee. Kevin had thought a lot about this. He knew what it would be like to face Leena's, family, bu he would take the bad with the good. After all he wasn't blameless.
Is Kevin so good? Good enough that you can marry him this fast? You sure he is worth it? Duke glance at Leena, his look restless. Before he know it, his little sister who used to follow him around had grown up and reached marrying age. There would be another man in her life. Everything would be different and he wouldn't be the only man she could rely on. The thought filled his heart with bitter sadness. He felt like he had been abandoned by her.
I... I don't know. I just have this feeling that I don't want to let him slip away. Duke, you don't like him? Leena said with a puzzled frown. What's so good about Kevin? She couldn't put her finger on it. They barely know each other. Kevin was still stranger to her.
This man stole my only sister. You really think I'd like him? Now I just want to punch him. That's what he deserved! Duke meant ig when he said this. Leena had just come back from abroad. How did she knew Kevin? How could she get married secretly in such a short time? Of course he was mad!