Chapter 268:
Brad’s eyes darkened, and his hands tightened into fists.
At the end of the corridor, a sentry seemed to notice something amiss and cast a puzzled glance in their direction.
Brad led Rylie to a quiet corner, his voice sharp with anger. “Just a week before you arrived, they upgraded this equipment, and the military paid ten million dollars for it. Before that, it had already undergone seventeen rounds of maintenance.”
Although these numbers meant little to the wealthy Morgan family, from another perspective, Ronan’s family was shamelessly draining taxpayers’ money nationwide.
Rylie replied, “The machinery from Ronan’s family is impressive, though. Combining such intricate medical technologies is remarkable — almost too powerful. It’s no surprise they hold exclusive patents and act a little arrogantly.”
Brad studied her calm face before asking suddenly, “Could you do the same?”
Rylie tilted her head with a small smile. “Only if you let me dismantle one of their machines.”
It was no small matter, and Brad hesitated, silent for a moment. Rylie added lightly, “Consider it a joke then.”
Brad walked her into the office, pulled a hospital accreditation certificate from the drawer, and placed it in front of her. “It’s done.”
“That was quick.” Rylie arched a brow at him. “I take back what I just said.”
Brad leaned back in his chair. “Which part?”
“I wasn’t joking,” she said. “If I can take it apart, I’ll find a way.”
Brad’s lips curved slightly. “I understand.”
That evening, the navy held a barbecue outside the military mess hall. Only a handful of soldiers knew Brad had returned, and his presence during the exercise had lifted everyone’s spirits.
The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as everyone waited to see him. When Brad and Rylie stepped into the open space, the noisy chatter stopped for a beat before erupting into cheers. “Mr. Morgan!”
𝕄𝕠𝕣𝕖 𝕦𝕡𝕕𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝕚𝕟 𝕘𝕒𝕝𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝𝕤.𝕔𝕠𝕞
“The general is back!”
The soldiers set aside their skewers and drinks, standing tall as they saluted. A few of the younger navy men had tears glistening in their eyes.
Brad raised his hand in a formal salute, his gaze sweeping across familiar faces. “At ease. Tonight, just relax and enjoy yourselves. Forget about ranks and titles for a while!”
His words sparked instant cheers. A burly marine laughed as he moved in for a bear hug but halted when he spotted Rylie, scratching his head with an awkward grin. “Hello, ma’am!”
Rylie blinked in surprise at the greeting, but Brad gave a faint smile. “No need to be formal. And anyone who burns the barbecue tonight gets extra drills.”
The soldiers groaned in unison, but laughter quickly followed. Someone handed Brad a chilled beer, and he passed it to Rylie. “Want a taste? This is exclusive navy beer.”
In the glow of the fire, Brad’s stern features softened. He stood among the soldiers, listening as they shared reports on training achievements, occasionally offering a quiet comment. Rylie noticed how his deep eyes brightened whenever he spoke about military matters.
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