Dear Soldier, Put Your Gun Down

The president narrowed his eyes at Matt. "You watch your tone, soldier! Don't forget who promoted you to general in the first place!"

A trace of disappointment flashed in Matt's eyes. He knew the score - he owned his military career to the man in front of him.

Nonetheless, Matt locked eyes with the president, his gaze steady without fear as he said, "With that said, my achievements are my own - I put my life on the line for it, bled for it. If you're talking about obligations, don't forget who supported you in the first place and took a bullet for you too."

As he spoke, Matt suddenly ripped open his uniform, revealing the hideous scars on his shoulder.

It made the president recall the past. He looked at the young man in front of him, full of vigor and energy - from the day they met, they instantly became friends and stood by each other through thick and thin. "Matt, the quadrennial general election is just around the corner. Both Andrew Larson and Phillip Johnson may become my opponents, while that Christopher Winston is privately hedging his bet on the both of them. I will deal with him sooner or later - without compromising you in the process of course."

"Winona may be part of the Winston family, but she has cut ties with them. Don't worry; I have the situation under control."

The president got up and prepared to leave. "Good. Remember your promise. You're my best right-hand man; I don't want to lose you."

"By the way, you're satisfied with the gift I sent you, aren't you?"

"Yes, with this evidence, I can impeach Larson in Parliament. Just wait for my good news," he chuckled.

Privately, he could not comprehend how the father and son could harbor such hatred for each other, but this outcome was exactly what he wanted as it made making the next move easier.

After that, Matt stayed in the barracks for an entire week. Without his presence at home, Winona felt empty, a hole filling her heart with loneliness.

She went and located the mental health clinic according to the address Matt had given her, bringing Aileen along. The doctors were professional and the environment was great. Aileen liked it. Winona showed her a photo of the beautiful physician in charge. Looking at it, she pointed at the woman's features, noting her sparkling eyes and comely face.

"Wow, looks like Aileen likes beautiful women."

"You two have the same eyes."

Winona scrutinized the photo closely, noting the psychologist's name 'Dr. Lilian Tucker', and saw that the eyebrows bear some resemblance.

"I see. So Aileen wants to see me every day. I promise I'll come and see me every weekend, okay?"

Aileen nodded happily.

Winona hugged her in a tight embrace and stroked her hair. "Get well soon, Aileen."

Afterwards, she made arrangements for Aileen. When she was about to pay, the nurse smiled. "General Snider already paid for the treatment for up to 5 years," she explained. Winona's heart filled with gratitude. Matt always thought about everything.

As she walked to the door, she saw a familiar figure. Thinner in frame, the eyes sunken and lifeless, Sharon looked like a ghost. Her hair was disheveled and a scar ran across her face.

She slowly raised her head and locked eyes with Winona. A trace of anger flashed in those sunken eyes, but quickly dimmed just as fast.

Elizabeth came into view as she walked over and assisted Sharon. "What on earth did my daughter do to deserve this?" she said sorrowfully.

The people around started to murmur and point at them.

"Eh? Isn't she the woman from that scandal earlier? Is she a patient here?"

"Tsk tsk tsk... If only she knew what would happen to her now, she shouldn't have done what she did. I saw the video. She really did a number on those men, even crippled a few of them. How shameless." Listening to the remarks, Sharon's blood boiled with anger. However, she could only grin and bear it. She had to lay low, feigning weakness until the appropriate time to return to the Winston family; otherwise, she could not hold her head high moving forward. This was all because of that little bitch Winona! Thinking of this, Sharon slowly clenched her fists.

Winona walked up to Elizabeth and smirked. "So how did Sharon become insane all of a sudden? Did you find out?"

Elizabeth nearly exploded in fury. "All of a sudden? You dare accuse her of faking it? To think I raise you all these years, how could you say such a thing? She's like this because of you!" "Hmph! Well, there's more to come, mark my words."

Winona laughed with unrestrained glee. The dress she wore was once worn and exhibited on the runway by supermodels, highlighting its coveted value. The fact drove Sharon crazy with jealousy. All the wealth and fame she tried so hard to achieve was acquired by the one woman she despised with all her heart. When the two passed by each other, she couldn't help but grabbed a syringe from the nurse next to her and aimed for Winona's eye.

Winona smirked and pushed Elizabeth into the syringe's path.

"No!"

The syringe' needle embedded itself deep into Elizabeth's forehead, causing her to scream out in anguish.

Seeing her failed attempt, Sharon immediately feigned insanity and trashed about as she screamed, which prompted a nurse to step forward and restrain her. Another nurse helped Elizabeth to the medical room for treatment.

Looking at the back of Sharon being dragged away by the nurse, Winona knew she was not crazy at all, but in fact feigning it. It was with a clear mind that Sharon attempted to hurt her - had she become injured or even died, Sharon would not bear any consequence, given the law was very tolerant of patients claiming insanity.

But! To plot such an attempt meant critical thinking. She must pay the price. After making up her mind, Winona purposefully followed the nurse and Sharon.

She witnessed Sharon being locked up in a room, the contents of which the professed psycho randomly threw around as she screamed.

Standing at the door within earshot, Winona deliberately raised her voice and said, "Nurse, I came from a medical background, and I have some understanding of psychotic patients. I'm positive this woman is not insane."

"How is it possible? The patient's medical record stated very clearly."

"The insane usually likes to do irrational things, but with the exception of her temper being a little crass, everything else seems normal."

Sharon was shocked. It was true that her medical record was falsified - her father had blackmailed a doctor into issuing it. If the truth was exposed, she will be sent back to the Winston family immediately, where a divorce agreement awaited her. Unwilling to face reality, and pushed to the brink of desperation, Sharon decided to feign insanity as a last-ditch measure. She must not let Winona find out at all cost. The nurse hesitated. "Then we'll observe her for a few days before drawing any conclusions."

Winona snickered as she left her phone number with the nurse. "I'm a family member of the patient. Please let me know if anything happens." Inside the room, Sharon was almost mad with anger, but she had to continue the act, otherwise the fate of a divorcee awaited her. Winona enquired further and learnt that the psychotic ward and the psychiatric ward were separated, giving her peace of mind. Just as she exited the rehabilitation center, she received a video from the nurse earlier. Winona retched upon watching it.00000☐☐☐☐☐☐