Love on the Fast Track (Derek and Norah)

Chapter 144:

“Everything. | remember everything, Norah,” Kason replied.

Kason'’s eyes were deep and tender. The little girl he once knew had transformed into the stunning woman

standing before him, yet he hadn't connected the little girl with this dazzling woman until recently. Fourteen

years had passed.

Back then, in a village caught in the throes of war, the relentless sounds of gunfire and booming explosions filled

the air.

“Captain Hayes, the enemy has attacked the village ahead. Do we go in for a rescue?” In the thick of the jungle,

a man clad in camouflage, his face painted with military green, hurried over to Kason to ask.

Technically speaking, calling Kason a “captain” wasn’t quite right, as his face bore the freshness of youth, barely

an adult. But his presence was commanding, giving off an icy vibe that seemed to surpass those around him.

“Are all our team members here? And how many enemies are we facing?” Kason asked.

“I've checked. There's a small group in the village. All ten of us are accounted for. We've got this.” They were at

the border junction, a constant battleground with the neighboring country. Sgroups, ignoring the border,

tried to pass through, contributing to the ongoing war and turmoil.

“Let's move. We need to speed up the rescue,” Kason ordered. At his command, several men in camo gear

quickly moved toward the village.

Kason discovered Norah in an empty well, shivering in her light clothing against the cold winter, silent but clearly

terrified.

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“It’s okay now?” Kason took off his jacket and wrapped it around Norah. “Can you tellyour name? Do you

know where your family is?”

“Captain Hayes, we've taken care of the enemy. We found mostly older folks and kids in the village. A lot of them

didn’t make it.” While walking, a teammate filled him in. Hearing this, Norah trembled more in Kason’s arms but

didn’t say a word—she just bit her lip hard.

Kason had no clue who had left Norah in the well. When he passed by and saw the disordered footprints around

it, he looked and saw her curled up at the bottom. “There's nothing to worry about. You're safe with us.” Kason

gently patted Norah's back over the jacket, trying to calm her. “No need to be scared.”

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 cacross 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. 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 apologized, glancing at Norah, who was closely

clinging to Kason. “My apologies, | was just joking.”

Norah pressed her lips together, holding tightly to Kason’s hand, her gaze cast downward, silent. It was

discovered from the villagers that Norah had been orphaned and wandering the village since she was about

eight, 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

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. “Take care of yourself.”

That moment marked the last tKason saw Norah until their recent encounters. The young Norah remained at

the welfare home's entrance, tears streaming down her face as she clutched the brown teddy bear Kason had

given her, watching him disappear into the distance.

Later on, Kason 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.

Pushing 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.”

She had remembered him after someone mentioned his nat the bar recently. He had forgotten about her,

but 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. | get it.”

His military-green uniform was a symbol of his commitment. She held no grudge for being placed in the welfare

home. Back then, Kason had been her only hope. Over time, Norah had moved on. Later, she met Derek.

Reflecting on it, she realized just how much thad passed.

“Norah, were you the one who savedfrom the gang's headquarters?” Kason asked, his words slurred, his

mind clouded, not fully awake. He couldn't recall the events clearly.

“It was Mr. Scott,” Norah downplayed her role in the rescue, bringing Sean into the conversation. “I did the

surgery for you. So, in a way, | guess | saved your life.”

She paused for a moment, then added, “Lately, it feels like I'm always the one saving you when you get hurt.”

Kason gave a light cough. “You're really good at what you do. I'm lucky to have you save me.”

The girl who had once seemed fragile and pitiful had grown into a skilled and self-sufficient woman, and Kason

watched Norah with a deep sense of pride.

“Norah, how have you been all these years?” he finally asked, his voice carrying the weight of tand

unspoken thoughts. It had been over ten years since he last showed any concern for Norah or paid her any

attention. This recent injury had reminded him of the battle, and of the young girl he had rescued.

Kason wondered how Norah had managed in the welfare home. What had she experienced over the years? Her

relationship with Derek, her reputation as a doctor, and her connections with Sean—he wanted to know

everything. Yet, he was afraid that she might no longer see him as the supportive figure she once did.